Another great example of helping students with problem solving, is teaching them the ability to code. In the article "Coding in the Elementary School Classroom", 4th grade students are shown how to use MIT's Scratch. The educator initiates the program by discussing the basic blocks of coding. The students master the basic concepts and then their imaginations go wild. They are able to create and use problem solving techniques to code. Students deal with challenges like creating their own backgrounds and reprogramming things to make it better. The teacher found the students to be both enthusiastic and analytical while programming.
I think coding and programming is a powerful tool for students. It uses art, creativity, math, logic, and problem solving techniques to make a game or program. These skills would only help students be better in school and perhaps a career path. I think early exposure to coding and programming is a smart move as well, because as people age they tend to be fearful of the challenges of technology.
The teacher in this article states they started this curriculum for the students, because of the ISTE Standards for Students and Common Core State Standards. Coding was an innovative way for this teacher to implement these new standards. Hats off to this teacher for finding such a great way to help students and spark their interest by implementing new standards.
Mak, J. (2014). Coding in the elementary school classroom. Learning & Leading with Technology, 41(6), 26-27.
ISTE. (2007). ISTE standards: students. International Society for Technology in Education.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Student-generated Screencasts
In my prior post, I highlighted the use of electronics by students. Frequently, students are distracted in the classroom with their smartphones, iPods, iPads, and other devices. In the article, "Students explain everything using iPads", a more productive approach is shown for students and educators by using screencast apps on their devices. The screencast app that is explored in this article is ExplainEverything. The screencast app proves to be valuable on both sides of the classroom, teachers and students. For educators, ExplainEverything shows the steps a student will take solving a problem. It will show slide by slide the written process by students to solve the equation and it will also capture the students voice explaining what they are discovering as they write out the problem and solve it. These are critical steps to see where there could be misconceptions and for teachers to redirect their lesson. These screencast apps are also proving to engage students and promote their understanding of class material.
I see the use of ExplainEverything and other screencast apps as valuable tools for educators. The process alone for the student: (1) To analyze the problem, (2) Speak aloud the problem and all of their thought processes and steps, (3) To be able to visually create models with the graphics and tools provided by the app, (4) All to find a solution, (5)And teachers get to witness this whole process through the app. This is gold. From my experience volunteering at my daughter's school, I am given worksheets with errors by students. I am then instructed to work one on one with students to help them with misconceptions or lack of understanding with lessons. These worksheets could have been completed yesterday or last week. And it takes effort to reengage the student with the worksheet and then go through the entire process of the problem to find where there was a lack of understanding. I definitely can see where ExplainEverything can be valuable in every classroom for students, volunteers, and teachers.
This article about screencast apps directly links to ISTE standards for students and teachers. This technology gives students a tool to use critical thinking for problem solving (ISTE, 2007). It also helps educators facilitate learning and promotes self-reflection using the app to clarify their insight and thought process. Overall, I find this to be a step in the right direction. There are schools in certain districts assigning iPads to students for the school year and this is a great app to see how the students are solving problems. I also, recently read another article "The Secret to Raising Smart Kids" and this article stresses the importance of children's problem solving abilities. This article informs us about how important the process of problem solving is and how it encourages effective strategies and consistent personal effort. The article claims this process is what truly helps students become high achievers not the ingrained belief they're talented or smart.
Soto, M., & Hargis, J.(2014). Students explain everything using iPads. Learning & Leading with Technology, 41(7), 32-33.
ISTE. (2007). ISTE standards: students. International Society for Technology in Education.
ISTE. (2008). ISTE standards: teachers. International Society for Technology in Education.
Dweck, C. (2015). The secret to raising smart kids. Scientific American.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/
I see the use of ExplainEverything and other screencast apps as valuable tools for educators. The process alone for the student: (1) To analyze the problem, (2) Speak aloud the problem and all of their thought processes and steps, (3) To be able to visually create models with the graphics and tools provided by the app, (4) All to find a solution, (5)And teachers get to witness this whole process through the app. This is gold. From my experience volunteering at my daughter's school, I am given worksheets with errors by students. I am then instructed to work one on one with students to help them with misconceptions or lack of understanding with lessons. These worksheets could have been completed yesterday or last week. And it takes effort to reengage the student with the worksheet and then go through the entire process of the problem to find where there was a lack of understanding. I definitely can see where ExplainEverything can be valuable in every classroom for students, volunteers, and teachers.
This article about screencast apps directly links to ISTE standards for students and teachers. This technology gives students a tool to use critical thinking for problem solving (ISTE, 2007). It also helps educators facilitate learning and promotes self-reflection using the app to clarify their insight and thought process. Overall, I find this to be a step in the right direction. There are schools in certain districts assigning iPads to students for the school year and this is a great app to see how the students are solving problems. I also, recently read another article "The Secret to Raising Smart Kids" and this article stresses the importance of children's problem solving abilities. This article informs us about how important the process of problem solving is and how it encourages effective strategies and consistent personal effort. The article claims this process is what truly helps students become high achievers not the ingrained belief they're talented or smart.
Soto, M., & Hargis, J.(2014). Students explain everything using iPads. Learning & Leading with Technology, 41(7), 32-33.
ISTE. (2007). ISTE standards: students. International Society for Technology in Education.
ISTE. (2008). ISTE standards: teachers. International Society for Technology in Education.
Dweck, C. (2015). The secret to raising smart kids. Scientific American.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Electronics & cell phones in Education
What is a pressing issue in education?
An issue I have noticed in the local schools of San Diego, is the use of electronics and phones by students in the classroom. There is a growing number of students that are bringing iPods and smartphones to school. It is proving to be a distraction even at the elementary level. From a personal standpoint, I have a daughter in the Carlsbad School District and several of her friends bring phones and iPods to school.
An issue I have noticed in the local schools of San Diego, is the use of electronics and phones by students in the classroom. There is a growing number of students that are bringing iPods and smartphones to school. It is proving to be a distraction even at the elementary level. From a personal standpoint, I have a daughter in the Carlsbad School District and several of her friends bring phones and iPods to school.
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