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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation, Elementary Education, Trending Topics

What is Digital Literacy?

Every educator is familiar with the concept of literacy—the ability to read and write. A person who is illiterate, who cannot read or write, will inevitably struggle to get along in society. It’s impossible to go on to higher education or get a high-paying job without the ability to read and write. Even daily tasks, like reading a newspaper or filling out job applications, are difficult for an illiterate person.

In today’s world, literacy goes beyond just the basic ability to comprehend text. Today’s students will also need to master a new skill—digital literacy. Cornell University defines digital literacy as “the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technologies and the Internet.”

Digital literacy, by this definition, encompasses a wide range of skills, all of which are necessary to succeed in an increasingly digital world. As print mediums begin to die out, the ability to comprehend information found online becomes more and more important. Students who lack digital literacy skills may soon find themselves at just as much of a disadvantage as those who cannot read or write.

Because digital literacy is so important, educators are increasingly required to teach students digital literacy in the classroom. In many ways, this is similar to what educators have always done in teaching students to read and write. In other ways, however, digital literacy is a brand new skill.

Most students already use digital technology, such as tablets, smartphones, and computers, at home. Many students already know how to navigate the web, share images on social media, and do a Google search to find information. However, true digital literacy goes beyond these basic skills.

One of the most important components of digital literacy is the ability to not just find, but also to evaluate, information. This means finding the answer to a question or a bit of needed information and then judging whether the source is reliable. Educators can, and should, teach students how to tell whether information on the internet is true. The ability to weed out false information and find reliable sources is a key part of digital literacy and a crucial life skill in the 21st century.

Educators can start by teaching students how to find author information, dates of publication, and other information that can reveal whether an online source is reliable. Students should also learn to tell the difference between different types of websites. For example, a .com site may be less reliable than a .edu site. Understanding these differences is one example of digital literacy.

Learning how to locate information is just one part of digital literacy. Knowing how to share information is another. Students today are constantly warned about the dangers of posting inappropriate images or text online, but it’s still important for teachers to discuss. The ability to create and share online is considered a part of digital literacy and should be taught in schools.

Students should know how digital writing differs from traditional writing—for example, how to include images and links in writing. They should also have an understanding of what kind of audience they’re sharing with online. Just like a personal narrative essay differs from a research paper, a post on Facebook is different from an article for a website or blog.

As technology becomes a part of daily life, it’s more important than ever for educators to teach digital literacy. Whether they plan on going to college or not, students will need digital literacy to be successful in their personal and professional lives.

How can educators help their students navigate the digital world? Let us know what you think about digital literacy and education!

 

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation, Trending Topics

16 Apps that Support the Creative Process

Creativity is more than the ability to paint a pretty picture; it is a way in which original ideas are born and how they take form. It is about pushing boundaries, solving problems and bringing together skills in unique ways.  In a recent poll, 60% of CEO’s agreed that creativity was the most important skill to have in the workplace. With that in mind, it is important that we start turning to technology to facilitates the creative process. Through technology, we are not only offered new mediums but ways in which to organize our thoughts. Below are 16 apps that will support the creative process for both artists and big thinkers.

  1. Brain Sparker

Having a creative block is something that happens to everyone. Brain Sparker provides random, creative prompts that will inspire writing, art or just brainstorming session. With more than 150,000 users, there is no doubt that the prompts are inspiring people every day.

  1. Oflow

Oflow is a collection of techniques that help the creative brain. There are words of encouragement, prompts as well as features to collect and collate work in one app.

  1. Tayasui Sketches

While this may just seem a simple sketchpad, the possibilities are endless. There are options to paint in watercolors, acyclic or create complex, layered art. Artists have already put this app to the test, and the gallery is full of examples of what can be accomplished. Great for art classes and personal use.

  1. Ideament

This app is made to facilitate planning and the presentation of ideas. Draw flow charts, diagraphs, mind maps or store pictures and text in one convenient space. Perfect for the classroom and workplace.

  1. Magic Piano

Music has long been linked to the creative parts of the brain, and this app pushes composition and musical play. Learn to play classical and pop songs or simply play around and play around and let the music inspire you.

  1. Paper

Writing on paper is still a favorite of many creatives, and this app allows just that. Take pictures of important writings, pictures and other scraps of paper and save them all in one space. This virtual scrapbook is perfect for the disorganized creative.

  1. Trello

Working creatively as a group is difficult to manage. Trello makes this easy by providing a place where teammates can see their assignments, upload documents and pictures and ensure that everyone is on track.

  1. Quik

Editing videos should not be complicated. This app makes the process easy and allows for the addition of music and still images. It also works on GoPro videos and is a must have for anyone putting together videos for social media or personal use.

  1. Sync Space

This interactive “whiteboard” allows for collaborative creating. This is not a file sharing app but rather a space where creative minds can meld together and work in the same space. This is great for collaborative efforts and project brainstorming.

  1.  Moleskine

Evernote and Moleskine have teamed up to bring this amazing app. Convert written notes into digital ones though the use Evernote’s camera feature. This great team up ensure that all those scribbled in the sidelines of your Moleskine journal make it into a formal format.

  1. 123 Catch

Turn any imagine into a virtual 3D creation with 123 Catch. Pictures of things and people can be converted into 3D images that can be used to study, explore or print with a 3D printer. This creative tool can be used in any academic sphere or simply to create art.

  1. Moment Diary

Keeping a diary is a must for any creative thinker. Moment Diary is a great way to contain all these thoughts and ideas. The writings are time stamped, and users have praised the flexibility and privacy of this app.

  1. Loop

Animation has very been this easy. This app turns hand drawn pictures into animated features that can be shared and used in projects. The simplicity of this app makes it a winner and users have praised it for its minimalist quality and its all-around ability to make simple drawings come alive.

  1. iThoughts

Available both on Apple products as well as Windows, this mind mapping app is a great way to visualize concepts and organize ideas. Easy to use and simplistic in design this app gets the job done.

  1.  Behance

Being inspired by others is an important creative tool, and with Behance, it is a click away. This space brings innovators, inventors and creative minds together and encourages users to upload portfolios of their work, in the hopes of finding investors and collaborating.

  1. MindTools

Creativity and business skills come together in this app. There are sections that teach problem-solving and push its users to think of business in a creative light. There are over 100 skill lessons included in this app.

So, there you have it. Push the boundaries of creativity by using an app to help organize, create or simply learn a new skill. Creativity has no bounds, so explore it with one of these apps.

 

 

 

 

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Matthew Lynch published in Education Leadership, Education News

How genetics could help future learners unlock hidden potential

This article was written by Darya Gaysina

Salman Rushdie recently caused controversy by bemoaning the lack of “rote learning” in schools. He spoke about the benefits of learning poetry by heart – a method many see as archaic and outdated in today’s classroom.

Despite the criticisms of Rushdie’s comments, the debate around the effectiveness of different learning strategies in modern education is as active as ever – with many recognising that each pupil prefers a different learning style and technique.

This can of course make it hard for teachers to gear classes up for each individual’s preferred style of learning. Especially given that one style, such as social learning, can appear to be the exact opposite of another style, such as those who prefer a more solitary style of education.

Research shows that when it comes to learning strategy preferences or even A-level choice, they are pretty hard wired in each individual – with genes playing a large part in the process. And we know that genes can also shape our relationships with other people – whether they be parents, teachers or peers.

Why genes matter

“Educational genomics” is a relatively new field, which has been expanding rapidly in the recent years because of advances in technology. It involves using detailed information about the human genome – DNA variants – to identify their contribution to particular traits that are related to education.

And it is thought that one day, educational genomics could enable educational organisations to create tailor-made curriculum programmes based on a pupil’s DNA profile.

A number of recent large-scale genetic studies on education-related traits – such as memory, reaction time, learning ability and academic achievement – have identified genetic variants that contribute to these traits. And studies using even more advanced technologies are also currently underway, promising to add to our growing knowledge of what helps us to learn.

This information could then be used to find out what DNA variants contribute to reading and mathematical ability, or school achievement. And then used to predict whether or not a pupil is likely to be gifted in a particular field such as music or mathematics, for example. These “traits” could then be nurtured in the classroom.

A personalised approach

But despite all the existing evidence for individual differences in learning, genetics is rarely a consideration when it comes to education. Though, recent years have seen a rise in funding and research into personalised medicine. This involves “mapping” genetic differences among people to predict and target potential health issues in later life, which has allowed doctors to adjust treatment and prevention approaches to try and stave off risks before they even begin to develop.

So it wouldn’t be a great leap to use these same databases – and research funding – to advance the field of educational genomics. Meaning that every child in the future could be given the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential.

It is well-known that hundreds or even thousands DNA variants are involved in complex human traits. Shutterstock

But it is also important to bear in mind that our genes do not work in isolation. The human genome is a dynamic system that reacts to the environment. And the role of the environment in education is just as important to the development of a child.

For example, musical talent can be inherited, but can only be developed as a skill in the presence of specific environmental conditions – such as the availability of musical instrument and hard practice.

And educational genomics aims to uncover this complex relationship – to look at how the genome works in different environments. This information will then help researchers to understand how this interplay affects brain and behaviour across the life of a person.

By considering DNA differences among people in the future, educational genomics could provide the basis for a more personalised approach to education. This would most likely be a much more effective way of educating pupils because educational genomics could enable schools to accommodate a variety of different learning styles – both well-worn and modern – suited to the individual needs of the learner.

And in time, this could help society to take a decisive step towards the creation of an education system that plays on the advantages of genetic background. Rather than the current system, that penalises those individuals who do not fit the educational mould.

Darya Gaysina, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Sussex

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation, Higher Education, Trending Topics

Why Professors Shouldn’t Ban Smartphones

As smartphones have become more common, educators have struggled with the question of what to do with smartphones in the classroom. For K-12 educators, the answer has been to ban smartphones from the classroom completely. College professors have also banned smartphones in increasing numbers. But now there’s some evidence to suggest that banning smartphones in the college classroom isn’t such a good idea.

A study conducted by researchers in Singapore found that undergraduate students who were allowed to keep their phones with them actually scored better on tasks that measured their cognitive functioning. Even when they weren’t allowed to use their phones, students who were allowed to keep their phones in their pockets performed better than students whose phones were confiscated.

In this case, researchers theorized that the poor performance by students without phones was due to a kind of smartphone withdrawal. When students had their phones taken away, they may have been anxious about missing out on something—a text message or friend request, for example. This anxiety could take students’ minds off of what they should be learning.

Smartphones could have academic uses

While professors may be quick to ban smartphones, it’s rare to find a professor who doesn’t allow laptops in the classroom. Most professors who allow laptops but not smartphones would likely argue that laptops can be used to take notes or for other academic purposes. However, as smartphones have become more powerful, they can do many of the same things.

Microsoft Office has long been the standard for productivity, and for years it was only available on PCs. Today, many smartphones can run Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Smartphone users can also find a wide variety of apps that replace old paper-and-pencil methods. There are apps for note-taking and calendar apps that students can download for free.

In some cases, smartphones are even better than laptops. In addition to being easier to carry around, smartphones have features that laptops lack. Smartphones enable students to instantly snap photos of anything the professor presents, such as charts, pictures, and diagrams that may help them understand concepts when they study.

Smartphones are also a great tool for student who like to record lectures. Students no longer have to carry around a recording device—they already have one in their pocket. Listening to those recorded lectures is a lot easier with a smartphone, too, since students are never far from their phone.

Smartphones are always handy

The fact that students always have their smartphones with them actually makes their phones a better tool. Anything that students save on their phone, whether it’s a recorded lecture, class notes, or pictures, is accessible anytime.

Cloud-based apps, like Google Drive, have made it even easier for students to access information on their phone. Students can store anything they want on the cloud using their phone, then go home and review what they saved on a laptop or tablet.

Banning smartphones might be impossible

Any professor who’s tried to ban smartphones can attest to the fact that it isn’t easy to get students to give up their phones. There will inevitably be students who try to sneak their phones in anyway or refuse to hand them over. This can lead to wasted class time, as professors are forced to argue with students or impose consequences on those who refuse to comply.

Ultimately, trying to ban smartphones is nearly impossible. When it is possible, it can end up taking up more time and effort than it’s really worth. After all, if college-aged students are so distracted by their smartphones that they aren’t learning, it may be time for them to learn a lesson about using technology appropriately in the form of a lower grade. Smartphones, like laptops, are a tool—they can be used for academic purposes or can be a detriment to learning. It’s up to students to find ways to use them correctly.

Can professors make smartphones a useful classroom tool, or are they too much of a distraction? Tell us what you think!

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation, Trending Topics

Using EdTech To Get Your Learners Motivated and Active!

Learning by using technology can be fun, productive, educational, and can engage all types of learners, regardless of their ages! Younger students can be motivated to learn through active games, programs, and apps. Older students can be motivated through the use of interactive projects with groups or individually, or viewing media. iPads now being provided by many public schools have a wide variety of apps for student learning that include opportunities for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) learning. Regardless of the age of the student, technology, if used correctly, can provide students the perfect supplement to traditional style classroom learning.

Learning Together

Many professionals, educators, and researchers have reported the benefit of using technology in and outside the classroom to improve learning. According to the Office of Ed Tech, learning by using technology in a group of two or more can be very beneficial. The Office of Ed Tech, part of the US Department of Education, reports that when working with young learners, in particular, it is important to work with them side by side when engaging technology or watching media. By sitting with a young learner, we are able to ask them questions about what they are doing, viewing, and learning. We are asking our young learners to not only engage with the technology by also with their educators and peers. Of course, the Office of Ed Tech also notes that too much time in front of a screen, an app, or other device is not ideal for young learners. Children should still be encouraged to engage in forms of play suitable to the child’s age, as play is also a healthy part of a child’s development.

Learning Through Games and Online Resources

Not every technology, resource, or app requires students to be sitting still and not moving. There are many apps that you can use in the classroom to incorporate active learning into your lessons. https://quizlet.com/mission is one program that allows students to become engaged in active learning. Quizlet, used by millions of learners from across 130 countries, gives students practice questions, and students can learn through online quizzes and games. Other websites such as http://www.elllo.org/english/Mixer.htm offer online quizzes in many subject areas for a wide variety of learners. If you are offering your students a “mind break,” and have a rainy day, try releasing their energy through programs on the Wii, such as Wii Fit. Another highly recommended online game to get students active and moving is Kahoot! Kahoot, as described by EdSurgeNews, is an excellent resource for students of all ages. Teachers can also find more ideas for active learning on social medias sites such as pinterest.com and viewing boards on teaching materials such as the one available at https://www.pinterest.com/allisonnier/active-learning/.

iPads, Anyone?

iPads are possibly becoming one of the most popular resources for games and learning inside and outside the classroom. iPads are slowly popping up in classrooms across the country as resources for teachers in the classroom; they can be used as tools in the classroom, and many low-cost or free apps are available to student learning. For example, according to Willow Becker, Hopscotch, is a free app that encourages learning about technology and coding for students in grades 4 to 6. Willow Becker also mentions that there are many free apps now available to teachers included and not limited to NASA Visualization Explorer for all ages, Get the Math for middle and high school students, Earth-Now Jet Propulsion Laboratory App for students in grades 5 to 12, and DIY Nano for ages K-5. Many programs are available not only on iPads but also online if your school does not have access to iPads.

The Classroom of the Future

Whether your students are working individually or in a group, technology can be used daily in our classrooms as a way to enhance learning. Regardless of the types of technology that you have available to you, there is something for everyone. Teachers can use online programs that allow them to develop their own Jeopardy questions, or they can present materials in the form of visual media. For older learners, Ted Talks can be a great way to introduce a topic, and launch a classroom discussion. From discussions about global warming to ancient history to equal opportunities for students, Ted Talks are an excellent way to engage your learners and encourage them to think for themselves and develop their own opinions. There is something for everyone in the classroom of the future, whether it be free or low-cost iPads and games, the Wii, or online quizzes and games such as the ones found on Quizlet and Ello, there are endless learning materials available at a range of costs for every level student.

 

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Matthew Lynch published in Assistive Technology, Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech, Higher Education, Trending Topics

20 of the Best Virtual Reality Games in Education

As the edtech market explodes, established companies and startups are scrambling to be the first to take advantage of the “next big thing.” For many, that means entering the virtual reality market, or more specifically creating virtual reality games. With so many companies and startups developing virtual reality games, how can schools and private citizens decide what product to spend their money on? This may seem like a simple choice, but making the wrong decision can cost you a lot of your hard earned money, and stunt the user’s intellectual growth and development. As you can see, the stakes are very high, and the margin for error is minuscule.

Since we have been covering this market for several years, we feel as though we are experts in predicting what virtual reality games will give you the most bang for your buck. That’s why we decided to create a list of the best virtual reality games in education so you can make an informed decision. The games that we chose to feature are either free or low cost, and we tried to stay away from more pricey options unless their value proposition was worth the high price tag. Without further ado, here is our list of the best virtual reality games on the market.

  1. Star Chart – with over 20 million users this app brings the universe a little closer. Students can learn about constellations by aiming their phones at the night sky. There are additional features that allow students to interact with facts about planets and space discovery.
  2. Google Translate – while conventional Google Translate may not sound like a VR app, its new camera feature students can translate 30 languages by aiming their camera at a Students can watch in real time as the text is translated. This additional feature is great for language student
  3. Cleanopolis– Fighting climate change becomes interactive with this app. Students learn about CO2 and battle along with Captain Clean to save the world. Not only is this a fun game but the educational quality would make it great in any science classroom.
  4. Public Speaking VR – practice the skills of public speaking with this immersive VR experience. With photorealistic environments, students can prepare for a job interview of a class presentation.
  5. Quiver – Watch colored in creations come to life with Quiver. Though VR technology, 2D images become 3D and “walk “ off the page. Ideal for younger students.
  6. Boulevard – Art classes can now be supplemented with visits to some of the world’s best art museums. Students can tour six art museums, interact with famous artworks and learn about the art, all thanks to the advancements of VR technology
  7. Unimersiv – History comes alive with the apps developed by Unimersiv. Students can explore ancient Greece, the Titanic or the Egyptian Mysteries.
  8. InMind– Neurons and brain tissue have never looked more realistic. Travel into the brain and learn about anatomy with this great app.
  9. Apollo 11 VR – Be part of one of the most significant space expeditions. Though VR technology, students can have a front seat in this documentary style app. This award winning app is pushing the possibilities of VR as an educational tool
  10. Earth AR – See the globe from new unseen angles. Motion detection and zooming capabilities will make geography more interactive.
  11. Cospaces– creating virtual realities is not as impossible as it sounds. Students are actively involved in the creation and creative process that goes into building a VR world
  12. TiltBrush – Creating 3D paintings is every artist’s dream, and now with TiltBrush, it is a reality. Painting Is done using a handheld “paintbrush,” and the creation possibilities will be awe inspiring for any creative student.
  13. Anatomy 4D – study the human body with clear images that come to life. Ideal for biology students or anyone with interest in the inner workings of the body.
  14. Sites in VR– explore famous landmarks in all their splendor. With an emphasis on Islamic temples, tombs, and ancient cities, students will get to see sites that otherwise would be inaccessible
  15. King Tut VR – Explore the tomb of the legendary Egyptian king and get lost in the secret chambers full of hieroglyphics and treasures
  16. Flashcards- Animal Alphabet – Made for younger students, this immersive flashcard game teaches students words while bringing it all together with some colorful animal friends
  17. Imag-n-o-tron– Stories jump off the page with Imag-n-o-tron. Downloadable content makes this app suitable for any age. Students improve their reading while engaging with complimentary images making the VR world an educational space
  18. EON Experience – This collection of VR lessons encapsulates everything from physics to history. Students or teachers can create their VR lessons from preloaded content.
  19. Titans of Space – This guided tour of space is both informative as it is breathtaking. With voice overs, facts and scored music it is a cutting edge VR product.
  20. Discovery VR Discovery TV channel compiled all the content for this app. Students can explore exotic natural locations and interact with our planet in a futuristic way.

Well, that’s it for our list. Did we miss any?

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation

Ten Apps to Help Students Develop Writing Skills

Communication skills are of vital importance in the world today.  With an increasingly reliance on technology, teachers sometimes fear that students are losing the art of face-to-face and formal written communication.  But instead of fearing technology’s impact on student communication, why can’t teachers leverage technology to help students hone their written communication skills?  Whether students are still struggling with basic to complex grammatical concepts, or they need help elaborating their thoughts in thoughtful, sensical written pieces, teachers can rest assured: there’s an app for that!

Grammar & Spelling Skills

Building students’ grammar and spelling skills is foundational for strong written communication.  The following apps are great tools for helping students master grammar and spelling.

  1. Sentence Builder

Winner of the 2010 IEAR Language Arts App of the Year, Sentence Builder is an app geared toward elementary students.  It uses a game-like interface to teach students to form grammatically correct simple, compound, and complex sentences.  The app offers audio reinforcement, progress monitoring, and a “teen” module for older or struggling ELA students.

  1. American Wordspeller

Spelling is a cornerstone of strong writing.  But how can students locate a new word in the dictionary if they don’t already know how to spell it?  American Wordspeller is an app that can solve this problem by helping students to “find a word by the way it sounds!”  Students can type the first two to three letters that they think the word starts with, and American Wordspeller will use a predictive function based on the letters’ sounds to generate a list of suggested words and help the student identify the word he or she is looking for!  This app builds agency and confidence in proper spelling.

  1. The Interactive Grammar of English

Written by a team of linguists from the University College of London, the grammar in this app is based on the most current research and reflects real situations and real sentences, not just the repetition of archaic rules.  The app is progressive, spanning concepts from basic level understanding to complex, collegiate-level pieces of writing.

  1. No Red Ink

Technically, No Red Ink is an interactive website, but it is so functional and easy to navigate, that it has earned its place on a list alongside self-contained apps!  No Red Ink is a personalized approach to drilling grammar skills.  The site uses the students’ self-reported interests to build sentences that pretest, practice, and evaluate students’ grammar knowledge and acquired learning.  Teachers can set the topic for a class, monitor student progress, and peruse the data provided by the site reflecting students’ achievement.  It’s an easy and effective grammar skill tool.

Writing Skills

  1. Writing Challenge App

The Writing Challenge App allows students to enjoy writing in the guide of a fun, interactive game.  The app provides a prompt to get student writing started…then, every minute, the app supplies another prompt to add new ideas, words, characters, sentences, places or actions to the plot.  Students who have a hard time getting started with creative writing assignments will enjoy the fast-paced, game-like setup of this app.  And in the end, they’ll have been inspired to write an entire story!

  1. Writing Prompts

This app generates fiction, and nonfiction writing prompts, helping students master the skill of the short write.  The app uses current events, scene elements, words, pictures, colors, and even random tidbits from fiction works to inspire students to write both short and long pieces.  The 600 creative writing prompts are available both on- and offline to encourage student writing wherever they may be.

  1. Story Builder

Story Builder is an app from the same company that produces Sentence Builder.  Story Builder was Huffington Post’s 2011 winner of Best Reading App.  The app is designed to help students improve paragraph formation, integration of idea, inference, and abstract thinking and expression.  The app’s use of audio clips promotes access to writing skills, even for students with special needs.  The app offers a talk-to-text function, which allows students to narrate their thoughts and see them transformed into paragraphs; this is an essential scaffold for struggling writers.

  1. Write About This

Write About This is an app that addresses all genres of writing throughout elementary school, engaging students and making them feel excited about writing!  Educators report that even struggling writers are engaged and motivated by the game-like feel of this writing app; by the end of its integration, many couldn’t get their students to turn it off!  This app is worth investigating for teachers of reluctant writers.

  1. Storyrobe

Storyrobe allows writers to write, share their work, and receive feedback from others.  This is a great way to integrate student editing and revision as well as teaching how to incorporate positive feedback to writers.  With this app, you can easily save and upload your story to social media platforms as well!

  1. Google Docs

For traditional essay writing in classrooms, there is no better app than Google Docs!  Google Docs has all the traditional functionality of Microsoft Word but allows for collaboration between students and for easy-to-give and easy-to-receive feedback from teachers through the commenting and suggesting functions.  When paired with Google Classroom, Google Docs makes the assigning, collecting, and grading of essays a breeze for teachers and students.

It’s time to harness technology’s strengths, instead of dwelling on their weaknesses.  While written communication can, at times, be undercut by social media, teachers can also use it to motivate students to write more and write better.  By tapping into these writing apps, teachers can get their students invested in improving their writing skills!

 

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation, Equity

Districts Need To Set Up Wi-Fi for Students in Public Housing

Students who live in poverty are among the most at-risk students in the public school system. There is extensive research to show that students from low-income families struggle more with behavior and academics for a wide variety of reasons related to poverty. Often, this means that students who come from poverty are left behind in the classroom.

Many students whose families live below the poverty line also don’t have internet access at home. This creates all kinds of problems as well. Students who have access to the internet can go home and get online to work on homework, do research, or just learn about something they’re interested in for fun. Students without the internet may struggle with completing assignments, or feel stuck when they can’t get easy homework help.

As more and more teachers give homework assignments that require internet access, the problems created by the digital divide get bigger. When students are expected to use the internet just to complete their assignments, those students who can’t get online inevitably get left behind.

So what can school districts do to help students whose families can’t afford internet access? One solution is to provide Wi-Fi for these families, free of charge. This sounds ambitious and expensive, but it may be one of the best methods educators have to fight the cycle of poverty.

We already know that there are millions of families with school-age children who don’t have internet access. Almost all of these families lack internet access because they can’t afford it. Additionally, we know that this creates problems for students in school. So why not eliminate these problems completely by simply providing internet access to needy families?

An easy way to target the families who are most likely to be unable to afford internet access would be to give free Wi-Fi to students in public housing. Public housing developments are home to families that live below the poverty line. The government provides assistance with housing for these residents, who must meet certain income requirements.

Providing Wi-Fi to students in public housing is an easy first step for districts looking to close the digital divide. Public housing developments contain a large concentration of low-income students and families, and setting up the infrastructure needed for free internet access would be easiest here.

The benefits of providing free Wi-Fi to students are numerous. Students would be able to complete homework and research on their own time. They would also be able to build crucial digital literacy skills that their peers with easy access to Wi-Fi already have.

Though it may still sound far-fetched, consider the number of school districts successfully implementing similar programs. Kent School District in Kent, WA built kiosks that provide free Wi-Fi for students in public housing, and they’ve had success with students using the kiosks. Families are using the Wi-Fi to check students’ grades and stay in touch with schools, and students are using it to do homework.

Other school districts have tried similar approaches. In California, Coachella Valley Unified School District has put free Wi-Fi on school buses. Students can get online during the ride to or from school. The buses are also parked in trailer parks where many families don’t have internet access. The program has been a huge success, and it’s given internet access to students who need it most.

As internet access becomes more important to students, it’s crucial that districts take the steps necessary to ensure all students can get online. For school districts where students can’t afford Wi-Fi at home, providing it free to those families who need it most may be the only solution that ensures all students have equal access.

Do you think districts should provide Wi-Fi for students in public housing? Let us know what you think schools should be doing to close the digital divide.

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Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech, EdTech & Innovation, Higher Education EdTech

How Virtual Reality Could Change the Way Students Learn

Virtual Reality (VR) is changing the way people see the future. As with video games emerging into the classroom in the early 2000s, this new technology will soon be making its way into classrooms as well. Many teachers are receptive to working with this technology, but some of them are not quite aware of the effect VR can have on a classroom environment. It can change the way students learn in the long run.

Student Motivation

In an age awash with ever-growing and changing technology, students are become more difficult to motivate in the classroom. Instead of learning what they need to know for graduation, they are more fascinated with their Smartphones and tablets. They would rather chat, take selfies, and play games than pay attention to what their teachers have to say. There is a suspicion that VR use in the classroom can alter that motivation. It can take students’ love of technology and refocus it to be directed at curriculum instead of their social lives outside of school.

Collaboration Opportunities and Independence

VR offers chances for students to interact with one another and classrooms around the world in ways that traditional classroom technology has never before seen. Students can create their avatars for use across many applications and platforms that are unique to them. Therefore, they feel a sense of independence and autonomy in their VR lessons because they feel fully immersed in the technology. When collaboration takes place, though, they do not have to fear speaking or to interact directly with people if they are a little sky. The avatar does the interaction for them in the long run. This aspect also allows students to work on their social skills in a way that is not so isolated.

Accessing the Abstract

Some curriculum aspects can be difficult for students to learn. Many abstract concepts in math and science can be very difficult to learn for students because they cannot visualize what is going on. VR experiences help to make those abstract concepts a reality. They become interactive to the point that students can almost reach out and touch them, handle them in a way that could never have happened without VR technology.

Entertaining While Educating

Because students feel as if they are being entertained with VR technology, they are more likely to immerse themselves into curriculum concepts. They can take a journey into parts of the body, for example, in ways that make the systems and their functions real life. They can reach out and interact with certain organs and make things like cells move from one area of the body to the next. They are surrounded by visual and audio aspects that cannot be taught in a standard classroom.

Effect on Learning Retention

Students are more likely to remember experiences where more than one sense is involved. Therefore, more concepts can be branched together while new connections are formed in the brain through different senses. Instead of only reading and hearing about a concept, they are able to lay their hands on something through VR. They do not necessarily feel weight or texture, but their imaginations are activated in a way that makes a personal connection to them during the learning process. Therefore, they are enjoying the experience more, so retaining this information becomes easier in the long run.

Conclusion

Learning with VR is becoming more and more a reality for some classrooms. It does not matter what the cost of this technology is financial. The benefits students reap from using it in the long run with motivation and retention alone outweighs those costs considerably. Students will be able to change the way they learn with VR easily since they can adapt to this technology in ways that previous generations never thought to.

 

 

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Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation

How Will Libraries Drive the Future of Learning?

When I was a child, I remember taking walks with my mother to the library to pick out a book or two. If I was lucky, and I was on good behavior, the librarian sometimes allowed me to take out three books from the library. As I grew older in school, I learned about the Dewy Decimal System, and how to find a book by using a library catalog. When I began college about ten years ago, there were floors and floors of somewhat outdated books on the shelves, and although I did not quickly find what I needed, there were books everywhere.

What I did not know then was that even ten years ago, the future of libraries had begun to change. I completed the majority of my research online, and I found myself meeting in the library with classmates to research needed information for group projects. Shortly after I graduated, my university announced it would be completely renovating the library in order to create a more technology-centered library with an increase in spaces for group work.

What I did not know then was that even ten years ago, the future of libraries had begun to change. I completed the majority of my research online, and I found myself meeting in the library with classmates to research needed information for group projects. Shortly after I graduated, my university announced it would be completely renovating the library in order to create a more technology-centered library with an increase in spaces for group work.

What Has Changed in Just the last Five to Ten Years?

All over the globe libraries have become, and are continuing to become places where learners meet, gather, and collaborate. Gone are the times when learners sat individually at tables and were told “be quiet” because they are being too loud. Although there may be space reserved for individual study, now the majority of new and renovated libraries are featuring collaboration spaces for students. Some libraries have even begun to include juice bars or mini cafes to encourage student collaboration. Group workstations are developing, and large open spaces with wide tables and laptops are becoming the norm, rather than the exception.

What Does the Future of Libraries Look Like?

Although printed books still play a critical role in the learning process and in libraries, libraries are becoming spaces that are more focused on the availability of technology, access to online libraries and resources, as well as e-books. Instead of ordering a book from your university library, and waiting for it come from another university, students can request materials online from enormous online university databases. Libraries are becoming furnished with armchairs and iPads. While students are studying in the library, iPads can be “checked out” for individual student use and research. iPads may have numbers or codes on them, just like books.

The Makerspace Movement

In addition to libraries transforming into technology centers with readily accessible iPads and laptops, modern libraries are including what are called “Makerspaces.” Makerspaces are learning centers, that can be as simple as a station with Legos for young learners to creative, invent, and build, or can even be as complex as workshops and stations for various crafts and tradespersons. Makerspaces can even be full and complete labs equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and or power and hand tools.

Makerspaces can contain work stations equipped with tools for any trade such as artists, seamstresses, engineers, computer programmers, computer hackers, painters, woodworkers, graphic designers, and more. These stations are becoming popular in new and modern libraries, as libraries become places of cooperation and teamwork, and are falling away from the traditional idea that libraries are quiet places for individual silent work only. Libraries are becoming learning commons for all ages, for artisans, for students, for families, and for all who wish to access the new world of Makerspaces and online learning.

What Is the Future Environment of Libraries?

Due to a shift in pedagogy and new education methods, as well the steady and fast increase in accessibility to modern-day technology, even the environment of the future library is being altered. The present and future of libraries not only include laptops and high-speed internet, but also rooms with whiteboard paint and chalkboard paint and large glass windows to allow sunlight to stream into studies spaces. As we march through the 21st Century, the century of technology, MOOCs, numbered iPads, and SmartBoards are quickly becoming standard in many libraries. Some libraries are including even Apple TV’s and other devices that we would never have found in a library, just 15 years ago.

What Are Some Concerns Regarding the Future of Libraries and Learning?

Some altruistic librarians are clutching their hardback books, and Dewy Decimal System in their hands, as books are becoming less popular in modern libraries. Physical books are being replaced by study spaces, Makerspaces, and computer labs. Although many if not all libraries still hold books on their shelves, the future of libraries is unknown. Will there always be physical books on the shelves of libraries in the year 2050? Maybe. Maybe not.  Although there is a danger in books disappearing from libraries altogether, advances in technology are making it more possible to spread information and knowledge at an ever-increasing pace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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