Mobile Web & the Proliferation of Mobile Apps

So, I have to admit...I love my mobile web.  I have access to my email, the Internet, information and pretty much anything I need anytime I want.  According to Richard MacManus of ReadWriteWeb, the Mobile Web really became popular this year.  And due to it's popularity, thus has begun the proliferation of Mobile Apps. 

To give you an idea of the growth in the Mobile Apps, here are some astounding statistics from "Top Trends of 2010: App Stores" by Richard MacManus, "At the start of the year, Apple's App Store had about 120,000 apps and the Android Market 20,000. Now, iTunes is carrying over 300,000 apps and has had over 7 billion downloads - according to statistics on Wikipedia. By comparison, Android has around 175,000 apps and has had 2.2 billion downloads, according to AndroLib. So while Apple's App Store is nearly twice as large, Android Market has had the most growth over 2010." 

Regardless of which App store has more or experienced the most growth, downloading Mobile Apps has become the biggest fashion for your phone.  You can pretty much get an App for anything you want out there: games, weight loss tips, horoscopes, I.Q. tests, and even weird bodily noises (we don't need to go any further!) 

So, why do you think Mobile Apps are the new hottest thing? The article really doesn't think about that.  Is it that we are bored with a phone that just rings and connects you to a person on the other end?  Are we now a society that needs a constant distration?  Or, is it just cool? 

Have you ever downloaded a Mobile Web, if so, what do you think?  What are some of your favorites?

Top Trends of 2010: App Stores. Richard MacManus. ReadWriteWeb. 11-25-10. Retrieved 11-27-10.

Project Based Learning - Challenges to Change How Students Learn

Project-Based Learning, a somewhat new concept in how we teach.  I have heard many excellent things about what PBL has to offer working usually with real world problems, students developing deeper understanding into curriculum, strengthening time-management and critical thinking skills, and learners taking ownership of their learning.  However, until I read Suzie Boss's blog "Project-Based Learning: A Case for Not Giving Up", I had never really thought of the challenges to implementing PBL into the classroom.

Ms. Boss details how, in the beginning, implementing PBL can be frustrating, not only for the teachers but the students as well.  Change is never easy.  So, when we try to change how our kids learn, it can be challenging.  Implementing PBL should be a gradual process as we teach the students to become responsible for their learning without use to traditional classroom tools such as "text books, tests and teacher-driven instruction." (Boss, 2010).

"Project-based learning can pose challenges for teachers as well as students, especially when both are new to this approach...some project management skills may need to be taught explicitly. Formative assessment has to happen early and often, and a teacher needs to be ready with support for students who are struggling. Handing over responsibility to the learner happens gradually, not all at once." (Boss, 2010)

Have you implemented any PBL into your classroom?  What challenges have you encountered?  What would you consider the benefits?  Do the benefits outweigh the challenges?

Resource:
Project-Based Learning: A Case for Not Giving Up. Susie Boss. Edutopia Blogs. 11-26-10. Retrieved 11-27-10.

Using Social Media to Engage Students

So, we all know that today's tech savvy students can't seem to let go of their phones, iPods, MP3 players or computers.  And, it is probably are rarity to find a high-school student (and possibly middle school student) without a FaceBook or MySpace account.  So, can using what our students use really engage them in today's curriculum?

If you ask Chuck Moore, a Tinley Park High School English teacher, he would definitely urge you to use classroom friendly web tools to engage your students and keep them interested in what they are doing in class long after the bell rings. 

Mr. Moore just gave his fellow colleagues, as well as district board members and parents, a presentation on how he is using PBworks and edmodo (free web tools) to help students stay focused and deleve deeper into ancient=old classroom tools...books.  "'They use this site and they start talking about the book ... it's like natural to them,' he said. 'It's like what they're used to doing when they socialize with each other.'...Although this style of learning gives students a bit more autonomy, Moore has noticed they actively contribute and are respectful of their peers' contributions." (Fanuko, 2010).

Mr. Moore feels that his students have grasped and developed a greater understanding of the current book they are reading - Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" - due to the students being able to use what comes natural to them to study the content.  "This online component allowed students to quickly grasp the book's historical elements, which in turn helped them develop a deeper understanding of the book's content, he [Moore] said. (Fanuko, 2010).

Personally, as a 30-something year-old, I love social media and technology.  That love is even deeper for generations younger then myself.  Using tools that kids already have a love and understanding of helps engage them in what they are doing.  I hope that educators, administrators and parents continue to realize the potential behind classroom friendly tools. 

Resource:
Tinley teachers uses social media as learning tool. Kate Fanuko. Southtown Star. 11-22-10. Retrieved 11-27-10.

Shadow Scholar: Super Hero or Super Villain

So, until today, I have never heard of the Shadow Scholar.  Have you?  If you have, you were probably just as shocked as I was.  Or, maybe – you have used his services.  The Shadow Scholar has written numerous papers and completed just as many courses for students of all levels.  

On November 12, 2010, the Shadow Scholar gave The Chronicle of Higher Education an indepth perspective into his unique profession by writing the article, “The Shadow Scholar -The man who writes your students' papers tells his story”.   Under the name of “Ed Dante” the Shadow Scholar details “the story of how he makes a living writing papers for a custom-essay company and to describe the extent of student cheating he has observed.” (Editor Note, 2010).  Plagiarism at it’s finest!

Here are some highlights of Mr. Dante’s article:

·         He has written over 5,000 pages of scholarly material in the past year.

·         He will earn approximately $66,000 this year.

·         He has written papers for all levels of education: high school – doctorial degrees.

·         On any given day, he works on an upwards of 20 assignments.

·         His company generates tens of thousands of dollars.

·         His work is not limited to anyone content area.  He has written papers in the areas of cognitive psychology, business, hospital, accounting, cinema, labor relations, history, pharmacology, maritime security, sports management – and many, many more.  (Dante, 2010)

His warning to teachers and educators, “You've never heard of me, but there's a good chance that you've read some of my work. I'm a hired gun, a doctor of everything, an academic mercenary. My customers are your students. I promise you that. Somebody in your classroom uses a service that you can't detect, that you can't defend against, that you may not even know exists.” (Dante, 2010)

This man has been given passwords to learning systems to access pertinent course documents, and he has even participated in online classes as if he were the actual student.  

However, what is even more concerning to me is the underlying message that I believe the Shadow Scholar is trying to convey – “You would be amazed by the incompetence of your students' writing.” (Dante, 2010)   Although, Mr. Scholar or Mr. Dante – whatever you prefer to call him – gives an example of an international student who can barely speark/write English (as he shares actual pieces of her emails in the article), he wonders how educators don’t pick up on the blatant cheating that occurs.   “Do you ever wonder how a student who struggles to formulate complete sentences in conversation manages to produce marginally competent research? How does that student get by you?” (Dante, 2010)

His article is kind of ironic.  He is provoking educators to take another look at what their students write, even though that could lessen the number of clients who ultimately use his services. 

So, how often do you evaluate what your students write?  Do you have techniques for detecting work that is not their own?  Do value the article that the Shadow Scholar has written?  To your students, he is a Super Hero.  Is he a Super Villain to you?

Reference:

The Shadow Scholar - The man who writes your students' papers tells his story. Dante, Ed. The Chroicle of Higher Education. 11/12/10. Retrieved 11/20/2010.

Sharing through Blogging - Impact on Learning

If asked to write a paper on a specific topic with pre-defined outcomes, you may have a student that does well to please his or her teacher or to earn an "A".  Other students may do the paper just to pass the class, while others may fail.  However, ask the student to blog about the same topic, and you may see great results in the connection between your students and the material. 

Blogs and other social media are connecting students in many ways that traditional assignments cannot, as we can be seen in the article Middle school students sharing opinions on their blogs by Amy Crawford.  First, they are collaborative.  And as you learn in basic Ed Psych, collaboration in the classroom can help facilitate knowledge and eliminate misconceptions.

Further, not only can students write a blog, but they can also see other students' blogs.  The thought of peer review is more motivating than a teacher reading what is written.  "'The power of classroom blogging is that students are not merely writing to their teachers, what they think the teacher wants to read, and only for a grade,' Warlick said. 'They are writing with the knowledge that at least their classmates will be reading what they are writing and responding to what they are writing.'" (Crawford, 2010)

Then, you have homework.  Homework that no longer feels like homework as students go home and check their blogs and review other blogs - as social interaction takes homework to a whole new level.  In addition, the blog goes beyond the classroom.  Anyone who views it, can comment on it and contribute to the understanding of the student.  "'They extend learning and collaboration beyond the classroom to anyone that visits the blog,'" said Edublogs spokeswoman Ronnie Burt. (Crawford, 2010) 

Students are able to connect with others from all around the world - gaining greater perspectives on the world around them, from a far.  For example, students can gain firsthand knowledge of what and how it may look like to live near where Hurricane Katrina from students and people who have lived there by reading their blogs.  Instead of reading newspaper articles or a text book, they can gain insight into first-hand knowledge from those who have experienced it. 

Have you implemented blogs into your classroom?  If so, what have been the benefits and impact on learning?  What are the down-falls?

Middle school students sharing opinions on their blogs. Amy Crawford. Pittsburg Tribune-Review. 11/15/10.

Let's Follow Detroit Public Schools: Science Gone Digital

Detriot Public Schools has gone digital - at least with their science curriculum.  Scott Aronowitz's article Detroit Takes Science Education Digital appeared in The Journal on November 12, 2010 covering this ground breaking news for the school and for the teachers.  Over the summer, over 200 middle and highschool science educators in the Detroit Public Schools underwent intensive training on implementing digitized science curriculum into their classrooms.    "They prepared to integrate the extensive audiovisual and other digital content offered by the company's services, streaming and Discovery Education Science (DES), into their regular curriculum."  (Aronowitz, 2010)

Detroit Public School's master facility plan includes an "academic rebirth."  Per Barbara Byrd-Bennett, DPS chief academic and accountability auditor, 'The process of rebirth includes changing the way we engage students in learning. Student's today are different. They inhabit a digital world.' (Aronowitz, 2010)

Engaging today's student isn't all about the student, it is about the educator as well to be open to new experiences.  "Sherry Ulery, deputy chief of academic affairs for DPS. 'After witnessing the growth of our teaching staff this summer and [seeing] the positive impact our efforts to incorporate digital content into our curriculum have had on student engagement, I can say that this initial step towards a digital curriculum is good for the kids.' (Aronowitz, 2010)

 Bravo, Detroit Public Schools!!!!  I applaude the efforts of this school system, and the efforts of all the educators who gave up their summer to immerse themselves in how to engage students in this type of curriculum.  Thank you for recognizing that we cannot teach today's students they way that we were taught.  Although we will never catch up to them technology wise, we can try and draw kids into today's curriculum by engaging them with what they already know. 

Detroit Takes Science Education Digital. Scott Aronowitz. The Journal.   11/12/10. Retrieved 11/15/10.

Hmmmmm....Let's ask the teacher. Why didn't we ever think of that before?

In a profession where there is a 50% attrition rate within the first 5 years, it is hard to find a teacher a good mentor and resources to help them make their classes the best they can be, especially for those instructional areas for STEM. 

 

The article "State Business and Education Leaders to Create New Tool for Teachers" by Liz Bowie recounts how the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Business Roundtable on Education are collaborating on using Race to the Top funds and over $300,000 from major business contributors to design an online Internet resources for teachers teaching in the STEM curriculums. 

 

What I found most interesting in the article, they actually asked the experts what would help them most.  They brought in 30 teachers to ask them to think of an "online network that would help them become better teachers." (Bowie, 2010)  It seems like a simplistic enough idea, however, too often we see grants and funds used to implement to improve instruction, but teachers (the end-user) are not included and often are left out of the planning stages. 

 

Applause to the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Business Rountable on Education for recognizing that teachers should be consulted on the design and implementation of such a valuable resource. 

 

 

State Business and Education Leaders to Create New Tool for Teachers. Liz Bowie.  The Baltimore Sun (MCT), Teacher Magazine.  Published Online: 11/11/10. Retreived: 11/11/10.

Value Added Evaluations - Are They Worth the Cost?

When I read the article, "Los Angeles to Develop Value-Added Teacher Evaluations" by Connie Llanos, it wasn't the thought of implementing teacher evaluations that astounded me.  It was the cost to implement.  In a world where budget cuts are happening on an almost daily basis, I am shocked that a school system would pay $4.5 million dollars to contractors to "study and develop the new teacher evaluation methods." (Llanos, 2010) 

 

Maybe if we thougth about giving teachers that kind of money for resources for their classrooms, improved school infrastructures and technology, we wouldn't feel the need to base teacher evaluations on student achievement.  Why is it that the closest to our children in the classroom are the furtherest from the old purse strings?

 

Los Angeles to Develop Value-Added Teacher Evaluations. Connie Llanos. L.A. Daily New - Teacher Magazine. 11/11/10. Retrieved 11/11/10.

Using Current Events in the Classroom

When I was in school, I remember being allowed to watch a current event if it was "historical" in nature.  Or, we would use a currrent event in writing or english class.  I even had a class in current events where we talked about the happenings of the world.  However, I don't recall a single class (even through my college years) where a current event was used in a math or science class.  We often say, "I'm not sure why I had to learn that in school, I never use it" - especially in the area of math and science.

In "Ripped from the Headlines: How to Turn Current Events into Real-World Projects" by Suzie Boss from the Edutopia website, gives strategies for implementing current events into real-world science and math.  They include:

• Look for Messy Problems - "These are challenges for which there's no single right answer. You can't Google a solution. Instead, getting to an answer may require trial-and-error or creativity." (Boss, 2010) Students may have to collaborate, and often when you have problems that require more than on right answer - it will cut across curriculums. 
• Make It Relevant - Current events happen all the time.  How do you make the event at-hand relevant to what you are teaching?  You also need to pick a topic that is going to sustain student interest over a long period of time.   One example of making a topic relevant would be to "connect students across distances." (Boss, 2010) Students who live closer to an event that is happening now may have a different perspective on it or know how to make a better action plan.  Another strategy would be to find events closer to home.
• Encourage Action - dont' just have the students learn about the topic, but what they can also do about the current event.  Ms. Boss gave real-world examples of the 33 miners who were rescued and the gulf oil spills.

(Boss, 2010)

I love the thought of implementing this type of current event into the classroom.  This type of project can help students reach a deeper level of understanding in all areas while they are actually learning on how it applies (and they can use it) in the world.

Ripped from the Headlines: How to Turn Current Events into Real-World Projects. Boss, Suzie. Edutopia. 11/8/10. Retrieved 11/9/10.
.http://www.edutopia.org/blog/real-world-projects-news-events-suzie-boss?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader. 

Attacking Copyright

Since this course deals a lot with the correct use of copyright, I thought it would be appropriate that when I found the article "Anonymous DDoS Attacks Crash U.S. Copyright Office Website" by Audrey Watters on the ReadWriteWeb site, I thought I had better give it a read. 

I never thought that one would be widely opposed to copyright laws to the point where attacks would happen on the U.S. Copyright office!  However, apparently, I am wrong.  There is a group called "Anonymous" who do not see copyright as a legal means to protect intellectual property, but a means to control and limit the freedom on the Internet.

"Anonymous sees itself as the defenders of the Internet, using the denial-of-service techniques as a sort of 21st century form of non-violent civil disobedience. Not a formal political group or organization, Anonymous is rather a loose coalition of individuals who see the crackdowns against file-sharing, done in the name of copyright protection, as contrary to the very freedom of the Internet." (Watters, 2010)

Today, Anonymous released havoc on the U.S. Copyright website and several websites of defenders of copyright - including Gene Simmons website.  Yes, that is "the" Gene Simmons from Kiss!  (At first I thought odd, but I can see where Mr. Simmons would have a slight interest in protecting intellectual property and copyright.)  This group went so far as even redirecting web surfers to a piracy website. 

I love the enthusiam behind this group.  I love that people are willing to make a stand for what they believe in.  However, I do not see that the actions of Anonymous as gaining them any support.  If they are in deed wanting to be a political group that gains support for their cause, they will need to find some respectable means for getting across their message_not antics that gains them some 5 minutes of fame in the media.

Standarized vs. Differentiated

In Alexander Russo's, This Week in Education on the Scholastic website, John Thompson questions Bill Gates and his love of standardized testing in his blog entitled, "Thompson-The Two Sides of Testing".  In his blog, Thompson reveals a sad story of a little boy named Ryder who's love of learning dissappeared as a result of having to try and learn for standard tests.  Mr. Thompson asks,   Mr. Gates, just because you love standardization, don't impose it on the rest of us." (Thompson, 2010)

I completely agree with Thompson.  At what point are we going to align what and how we ask our teachers to teach with needs instead of standards.  If we are asking them to teach for testing, why then to we ask them to learn and try and implement strategies such as differentiated instruction in their classroom?  Not all students learn the same way or at the same pace. Some kids learn best by listening, some by doing and some through watching.  Then, you could also get into some psychology of it all.  If we are teaching to meet standardized testing, what about those students with learning disabilities?  What about the students that are gifted, yet aren't recognized because standardized testing doesn't allow for them to fully grow beyond there potential?  So, they get bored.   So, isn't standardized testing then best for those you fall in the middle?  So, why then standardized tests? 

Facebook Used to Compile Statistical Data

So, is Facebook becoming the be-all to end-all?  I have known just how much Facebook has become a social tool used for many to keep in touch, then for businesses to advertise but collect data?

In "Facebook Knows When You'll Break-up" by Doug Gross on CNN's Tech news, Mr. Gross reveals how Facebook was used to compile the most likely dates that couples split.  The data was compiled from a British journalist named David McCandless. 

The facets that Facebook has exploded into just absolutely blows my mind.  Let's go over some of the features:

-Calender/Event Reminder - birthdays, anniversarys, upcoming special events
-Invitation sender
-Advertiser - you can liekk your favorite store, restaurant, coffee house, newspaper, (Find us on Facebook!)
-Social media
-Phone book/contacts/e-mails
-Games
-Inforamaton finder
-Media outlet
-Statistic and data
-Find people (adoptions, lost relatives, etc.)
-Catch theives (google "Robbers caught by Facebook")

Today, Facebook is being used a national motivator in the United States to get people out and vote.  I wonder what we will hear after the polls close tonight.  My guess is that we will have seen an increase in voting during this non-presidential election year.  I also predict you will also see an increase in younger generations at the voting polls. 

To what end will Facebook ever end in its abilities?  What is it about Facebook that makes it so powerful?  And if you don't think about Facebook as being powerful tool, you need to post "I don't get it!" as your status update.