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Health & Fitness

Back to School - Technology in the Classroom

Technology and digital media are not passing fads in the classroom. They are a part of an increasingly popular movement to transform education. How will your students learn this year?

Can you believe the summer is almost over? Well for teachers and kids everywhere it almost is. So it’s time to think about school again, and how teachers will teach, and students will learn this year. Besides securing that new pair of shoes, and other historically popular back to school items, we need to be aware of the digital transformation upon us.

The advent of some amazing technologies has permeated my professional learning this summer, as it has for many educators everywhere. So let’s look at some of the unique ways our students may be able to learn this school year.

Mobile devices: iPhone devices, iPod devices, iPads, and Androids are becoming increasingly more available to people, including students and teachers.

"Technology Integration Isn't About Technology."  http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/leading_from_the_classroom/2011/05/technology_integration_isnt_about_technology.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+LeadingFromTheClassroom+(Leading+From+the+Classroom)

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There are a plethora of free or inexpensive educational apps that are on the market, and hopefully will be incorporated in more classrooms everywhere.

"The Impact of iPads on K-12 Schools."  http://www.convergemag.com/classtech/Impact-iPad-K12-Schools.html?elq=18f19dd466864545bd381f34b3aa50ca 

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"Apps in Education." http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2011/06/12-ipad-apps-for-storytelling-in.html

The technology REALLY isn't about the technology. It's about the relationships, connections, collaborations and communication that can empower and enlighten our educators and students.

Student-Generated Video: It is my hope and goal that all teachers everywhere, K-12, offer their students more options to CREATE their own video projects to show content comprehension and lessons learned. Even if our teachers are not experts at making videos, it’s no big deal! Our students may be. But even still, the ease to create a content-rich video (minus the polish, that’s okay) becomes easier and more available everyday.  

"7 Tips for Video Tutorials." http://create-tutorials.net/7-tips-for-video-tutorials/

Through the creation and study of video, media literacy (critical thinking, collaboration, and analysis) becomes a 21st Century skill that needs to become inherent in our learning. "Gateway Media Literacy Partners"  http://www.gmlpstl.org/

Social Media: The facts are undisputed about the global connections students can make with the world around them to learn through social media, or maybe more appropriately named, “Social Learning.” While parents and educators MUST remain diligent to protect our kids, and take the necessary steps to make sure social learning is APPROPRIATE and SAFE, the possibilities to incorporate a positive social media experience in the classroom are endless. (Facebook, Twitter, Edmodo.) Before we just say no, let’s investigate the positive.

"100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom." http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/

Publishing: Years ago, writers would hire agents, market their wares and hope a publishing company would someday be interested in their material. No longer is this necessary. ANYONE can become published. By writing blogs http://www.weebly.com/, http://www.edutopia.org/ posting videos on safe, teacher-moderated free websites http://www.schooltube.com, and thousands of other sources, students can now take an increased level of ownership and “authorship” in their schoolwork to become published. Students can create online portfolio's of their work, which could help them secure an internship or include for college admission. How cool is that? My experience shows students will work harder, smarter, and happier on schoolwork. Seriously. 

Technology and digital media are not passing fads in the classroom. They are a part of an increasingly popular movement to transform education. How will your students learn this year? What forms of digital media and technology will be available to them at their schools? Ask your teachers. Ask your principals. Support your educators to obtain the tools necessary to properly teach our kids. OUR futures depend on it.

Have a great school year!

Don Goble is a Broadcast Technology & Film Instructor at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Don is also an advocate for technology and digital media in the classroom. To contact Don, email: dgoble@ladueschools.net. Or follow me on Twitter at dgoble2001.

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