Tips by Tony

Articles I Found Interesting in the Last Week

These are just a few of the articles I found interesting last week.

• What’s the purpose of going 1:1

  A good article that looks at the reasons for a 1:1 laptop program, and how to assess what you need to have in place to succeed.

  Like any tool…before you launch it you need to know what you want to do with it. What do you want users to be able to do, what do you expect and do you have a system in place to support it.

• It’s not ‘the tests.’ It’s us.

  Thought provoking article that disputes the excuses that standardized tests and No Child Left Behind are the reasons many schools are failing. As with many controversial articles, a lively debate ensued in the comment section.

  Is anyone willing to argue that achievement gaps were smaller before evil NCLB came along and messed us all up? Does anyone think that we were doing a fine job of meeting the needs of underserved populations before ‘the tests?’ Have we all forgotten that school has been boring for generations?

  It’s not ‘the tests.’ It’s our unwillingness and/or inability to do something different, something better.

• It is the test! Or is it . . .

  A reaction to the previous article (It’s not ‘the tests.’ It’s us.)

  The testing culture is symptomatic. I would suggest the disease is a failure of the education professional to stand up and “be heard.” I wanted to argue Dr. McLeod’s point and I remain an avid anti-standardized testing professional, but in the end, the conversation in my thoughts led me to the same place. This is not an indictment of the teaching profession. Society bears a good portion of responsibility in not moving to a paradigm where teachers are viewed as “practicing professionals” like doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. However, we can be in control of the issue, if we step up and make our voices heard.

• Why Educational Technology?

  A short post that argues technology for the sake of technology is of no use if new ways of teaching and learning aren’t developed to take advantage of the tools.

  …it’s not actually technology that we should be defending. Rather, it’s good pedagogy that can be supported and extended with the use of technology as a tool.

• My “Verdict” On Twitter

  A reflection on the use of Twitter for education, 5 weeks after joining.

  Twitter has clearly become an important part of what many call a PLN — a Personal Learning Network.

• HOW TO: Simplify Your Social Media Routine

  Some good tips on managing your time online, a necessity with the advent of Twitter, Facebook, blogging, and other tools.

  It’s impossible to consume ALL the information that comes at you. It’s like trying to drink from a fire-hose — not only is it a waste of your time, it can be damaging, because you have other important things to do.

  So be selective. Find sources of information that are valuable. And scan to get the gist of what’s going on, instead of trying to read every message. Let go of the need to stay on top of everything. Let it go! And instead, just take a dip in the river now and then.

• 50 Terrific Open Courseware Classes for Innovative Educators

  Open courseware classes offer a great opportunity for educators to expand their knowledge base while working at their own pace–and without spending any money. The following classes provide an opportunity for you to learn creative approaches to teaching various disciplines, reach special populations among students, bring technology in the classroom, and strengthen your abilities as an administrator or teacher.

• iMovie ‘09: Curriculum in Action

  I still have iMovie ‘08 (and I’m using Final Cut Express more and more,) but these handouts and resources for an iMovie ‘09 class look useful should I ever upgrade…

• iPods help ESL students achieve success

  Read how one educator is using iPods to help her ESL students learn English through songs, audio books, and more.

  In one scenario, students are told to listen to a specific song. Poli uses songs for grammar exercises, and she chooses songs that have repeated phrases and patterns. She listens to songs for specific types of adjectives and verbs, and she also chooses songs that have appropriate subjects that her students can discuss after the exercise.

  Grammar activities can include filling in the blanks for grammatical patterns, word banks, matching, organizing lyrics in strips, theme-related activities, open-ended questions, spelling and rearranging letters, and figurative language activities.

Who/What I’m Following on Twitter

Added in the last week: @RichWhite, @TekserveNYC, @TeacherMelissa, @jonmott

Related posts:

1. Monday Morning Roundup (5/4/2009)
2. Monday Morning Roundup (5/11/2009)
3. Monday Morning Roundup (07/27/2009)
4. Monday Morning Roundup (4/20/09)
5. Monday Morning Roundup (4/27/09)
6. Monday Morning Roundup (8/31/2009)
7. Monday Morning Roundup (8/24/2009)
8. Monday Morning Roundup (08/17/2009)
9. Monday Morning Roundup (06/01/2009)
10. Monday Morning Roundup (9/14/09)