Blog Assignment #5

The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen
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Zeitgeist Youngmind's Entry by Travis Allen
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Travis Allen asked the question "Does Technology belong in our classrooms?"  Travis started the iSchool Initiative which has become a digital learning revolution showing the capabilities of mobile learning in the classroom.  His goal is to prepare our youth for the digital future.  He wants to change public education with the iSchool which is developed on Apple's iTouch platform.  It has applications, recorders, notes, calendar, and email.

Some of the benefits would be that the students would have access anytime and anywhere to the classroom material.  Parents would be able to access their child's progress and see the lessons for the class.  The iSchool would save money by not having textbooks and other resources.  The costs would be $150 for iSchool this would be a savings of $600 per student.  My thoughts are that not every student would learn best with this method. Some students learn best by being in the classroom with a teacher giving the lesson and having classroom discussions.


Eric Whitacre's Vitural Choir by Jennifer Chambers
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This was an awesome video!  This video shows how much can be done through all of the new technology with internet.  The choir was made up of 185 people  who had never met.  Together with technology they perform Lux Aurumgue.  It was put together and then put on youtube.

Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts
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Roberts speaks about the challenges teachers face.  Teachers have to look at how and what they are teaching. He makes you think and he uses sarcasm.  Things keep changing in the world of technology. Teachers do not teach they way they use to because of technology the answers are only a click away.

Flipped Classroom
"Why I Flipped My Classroom" and "Flipped Classroom" by Katie Gimbar
"Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ- Flipping the Classroom" by Dr. Lodge McCammon
"Flipping the Classroom-4th grade STEM" by Ms. Munafo

Flipping the classroom is designed to decrease in-class instruction time and increase application in class.  It is designed to let students learn at their own pace.  I think that lecture in class is great because it gives the opportunity for class discussion.  Not everyone has access to internet and the extra time at home to learn this way.  I think that subjects should be taught during class time!  I think I would post lecture notes or slides prior to class for students to get familiar with the material, but it should be taught in-class.   This is how I learn best because I have too many distractions at home.