February+Videos

February Videos

**#7 Trends, Tool & Tactics for Digital Age Learning – Literacies for the Information/Creativity Age**  [|**http://kevinhoneycutt.org**] “With all of the new tools we can bring to bear in learning, it’s still all about the relationships we create with kids.” That is how speaker Kevin Honeycutt started this session, stressing how important relationships are to fostering student success. He works with high risk students in Kansas as a technology integrationist and for the past three years has hosted ArtSnacks ([|http://artsnacks.org]), a creative learning site.

Honeycutt focused on creative engagement with a series of stories about how he has engaged and empowered students with Web 2.0 tools. One interesting point he made was that the web provides a “buffet of learning opportunities,” but we’re only using a “napkin” of it. His stories centered on project-based approaches to learning full of technology and problem solving.

One of the examples he told was how one of his students wanted to publish a book of poetry to sell online. He helped her with the writing and publishing process, discussing the pricing, etc. He went online and purchased a copy which he placed in her hands at school. She immediately realized it was filled with numerous spelling errors. He said that all the rubrics and state standards included spelling/grammatical errors, but they did not have the same impact that a published book filled with her errors did. That had a more profound result than all the graded papers could ever have. (A revised copy, which she did herself, was done by the following day.)

**#5 - The Tech Commandments: 10 Ways to Revitalize Education With Technology**  Adam Bellow, eduTecher (6/28/2011 presentation) This session explored the ten ideas presenter Adam Bellow, eduTecher, focused on in his article the “Tech Commandments” about modern educational technology. Based on an article he wrote, the Tech Commandments based on his experience with technology. This session included anecdotal information of real-world situations Bellow has encountered as an educator and suggestions for ways to change schools and “revitalize” education. The Ten Commandments he discussed are as follows: 1) Training is essential and should be continual. He contends that education wastes money because technology purchases are not supported by proper and continual teacher training. 2) Money Isn’t What Makes Educational Technology Work. 3) Restricting Access is Too Extreme – Yes, we must keep students safe but restricting access does not really educate students with what they will encounter outside of school. Educating parents and students on the topic is essential. 4) Banning Tech Tools is Detrimental – The cell phone should be viewed as a powerful and valuable learning tool. (Consider all the uses: replacement for scientific calculators, student response systems, computers that take 15 minutes to load, etc.) 5) Teach with an Understanding of Today – In today’s culture, students live in world full of interactive experiences, communication and information. Schools that do not recognize that will be viewed as an interruption in the students’ day. (Mobigo – a new childhood handheld device this past year shows how students are growing up with these devices.) 6) Collaboration is Key (Wikis, Skype and Google Docs) 7) Schools Need Direction – Teachers can lead the way for bringing technology into classrooms, but must choose the tools that maximize effective learning. 8) Using new technologies in the classroom can be tricky. (This generation should not be allowed to be a cut-paste generation.) Also teachers are learning about technology right along with students. “Free is not always sustainable.” Sometimes website disappear overnight, so have a plan b. 9) Tech for Tech’s Sake Can Be Worse than no Tech at all – Tech is a tool and should be treated as a tool. Adding it forcefully to a lesson does not make sense (e.g. writing an essay does not required a calculator). 10) Understanding Buzz Words and Keep Your Fingers on the Pulse – Keep a sense of humor while teaching. Teachers need to be open to the new technologies, because their students are using them.