Facebook over Moodle

16. May 2010 by MrBall.

Concordia students prefered Facebook as a means of sharing work. I was sharing things with Concordia University Ed students via moodle only to find out that they have created a page for the course. We were even using ietherpad.com to share links to Math resources but that failed for me. I asked them to put together the days assignment on Microsoft Word only to find out that many had actuall switched to Facebook as a sharing tool.

They weren’tall friends with each other but they did all use the page. They posted photos and links and managed discussions all on Facebook before I even knew that the ietherpad was failing for them. Move over Moodle and iEtherpad Facebook is taking your place.

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Discovery Streaming PD

12. May 2010 by MrBall.

I was asked recently by another consultant team to give them a tour of the Discovery Education Streaming site so that they could present it to other teachers. Yeah, I know. We’re not going there though.

I quickly grabbed Smart Notebook 10 Software and started planning where I would take them on a screen recording session. I logged into my account and found that they had a professional development section (picture below). So beig the lazy yet efficient guy that I am I simply recorded a 60 second screen cast of where to find those resources.  Thank you Discovery Education! 

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4 Freedoms of Play

16. March 2010 by MrBall.

4 Freedoms of Play

What are the barriers that are preventing these from entering the school system? Is it a deeper part of our social structure that dictates that school has to be serious? From the idea that hard work is more important than perhaps joyful work. When we get over the fact that work can and should be enjoyable then I think we will see a shift in education that will dictate that learning should be fun. It can’t always be fun but it should be enjoyable and purposeful.

Posted in Engagement, Games, Presentation | No Comments »

ISTE NETS and Alberta’s ICT outcomes

10. March 2010 by MrBall.

I really enjoyed the simple way that this video and the others like it are shot.  I found this video sitting on http://scottmeunier.com/ .   He is an Edmonton educator who I was able to hook up with via EmpireAvenue.com.  While watching the video I was reminded of the International Society for Technology in Education’s - National Educational Technology Standards (ISTE NETS) Here are the sites for more information- Implementation Wiki and Main ISTE NET.

 

I quite like that the ISTE NETS refocus the teaching with technology back towards the curricular outcomes and students. I’ve heard talk that the Alberta ICT outcomes are being refashioned around the ISTE NETS. With that change and the push towards the TPACK model I am hopeful that the sometimes over-hyped classroom technology tools will fit more comfortably into the classroom of today. Don’t get me wrong I love the tools but I don’t like that teachers being forced to adopt technologies that create the classroom of the future. They can have the classroom of the future tomorrow. Lets just teach the kids today.

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Skype in the Classroom

2. March 2010 by MrBall.

I’m not sure if I am being lazy or efficient with the presentation I am planning for Thursday. I’ve never done Skype in the classroom before so I am feeling a bit under prepared experience-wise. I am going to rely primarily on Langwitches.org and Silvia Tolisano’s experience with Skype.To start with I will simply show the staff the mechanics of Skype and their webcam/mics. I want them to be able to do simple trouble shooting for the hardware and software. I also want to make sure that their security features are turned on so they don’t get spammed. I use Skype at home to connect my daughters with my parents and I’ve had a few issues with unsavory people trying to connect with (no horror stories). I will definitely get them set up with the proper permissions. Check the names I’ve had to block from contacting me below.    Next Langwitches’ video on Skype in the classroom (~20 min) with highlights on preparing and managing a class during a classroom Skype call. The Langwitches.org website has loads of resources that I will show the teachers. It will be up to them to review the ones they value. There is also 50 Awesome Ways to use Skype in the ClassroomI will then finish up with a couple of ways that teachers can use their webcams other than Skype. The first is through VoiceThread.com they have a few examples posted here of how educators are using it. Some lower elementary examples are listed here…Grade 6 Math Grade 1 ScienceKindergarten Language Arts If I have time left over I am going to show the teachers how they can use youtube.com to have their students quickly and easily record and save their ideas. I like this kind of recording especially for recording fluency.If I have missed anything you feel is important please leave me a comment below.

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Video Games in Education 2/27/08

18. February 2010 by admin.

Criteria for evaluating games in education
1. The game has an educationally-accessible context (historical, contemporary, hard science-fiction).
2. Game play has genuinely educationally-accessible content.
3. Success depends on intelligent choices and decisions.
4. Failure exists and teaches when it happens. It is possible to lose.
5. The tutorial is crystal clear, and checks for understanding.
6. There are multiple victory conditions.
7. The feedback model is short - students can quickly see how a decision effects a larger whole picture.
8. The game becomes increasingly challenging and difficult.
Taken from:
http://www.mackenty.org/index.php/site/comments/criteria_for_evaluating_games_in_education/

Websites of note:
http://digiplay.info/
Research papers and other publications on the topic of understanding digital games.

http://powerup.wikispaces.com/ -
Mark Wagner is completing his PhD.

http://www.furl.net/member/ewagner -
A list of educational games.

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/index.php -
Entertaining games with Non- Entertaining goals. (Serious Games)

Games:
Starfall (K- 2)
Multiflier (Gr. 3)
Plupon (3- 6 warm up)
Third World Farmer (Gr. 6-
Games for the Brain (Gr. 7-9)
‘Speare (Gr. 10- 12) password needed
Not a game- Game Maker (Gr. 8- 12)

Posted in Fun, Engagement, Games, Edutainment, Presentation | No Comments »