Searching for Apps? Use an app search engine!

Submitted by mkberg
on Fri, 02/17/2012 - 17:29

As personal and school owned devices grow and enter into the district many of you are left searching for hours on end for apps that may be of interest to you.  How do you find apps that work for you?  How do you know what is good and what isn't?  How can you find free apps?  These are all very good questions and answers to them are just now being formulated.  One new entry into the market of the apps world is an "apps search engine."  What can you do with an apps search engine?  Check out the information below on one "functionality based" search engine.

Quixey is a new type of search engine that doesn't just let you search for apps on math, or education, or on a limited number of topics.  Quixey uses search tactics that work with "functional searches."  Basically the way it works is like this:

1.  You visit the website: http://www.quixey.com

2.  You locate the search box (it is really big on the home page)

3.  You type in what you want to do with an app (instead of typing "math" try "I want to work with fractions"...or even better "subtract fractions")

The Quixey search engine runs and you are returned with app results (linked to app stores for convenience).  The really nice part of this is that Quixey doesn't just do iPad apps.  It does Android, Blackberry, iPad, iPod, Web OS, Windows, Mac, and more.  These limiters show up on the left of your search results as links you can click to narrow down your search.  You can also switch from paid to only free apps on the side of the search results.

As the market grows you are sure to find more search engines like this springing up with even better results as the search methods become more advanced.  Give it a try, you might just find that app that you have been looking for.

 

What Exactly Is a Flipped Classroom?

Submitted by mkberg
on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 14:04

Have you ever heard of the term "Flipped Classroom" before?  No it doesn't involve using Flip Cameras with your students.  The flipped classroom is a new trend in teaching which is drawing both praise and criticism from educators and parents.  Let's lay it out plainly.  Below we will look at a traditional classroom and then at a flipped classroom.  
 

Traditional Classroom
Flipped Classroom

Organization:  Teachers teach lessons in class.  In class work is completed.  Some homework may be sent home.

Preparation:  Resources are prepared ahead of time. These may include PowerPoint, Prezi, Smart presentations, websites, worksheets, etc.  Teachers largely rehearse lessons in their heads as they develop them.  Lessons mostly stay with the teacher.

Expectations:  Students come to school as sponges ready to soak in knowledge through activities with the teacher.  They then go home and work on reinforcement through practice/homework.

Organization:  Teachers record video lessons.  Class time is devoted to review of concepts.  Homework every night (watch the concept video for next day).

Preparation:  Teachers prepare resources for teaching and review.  These include the same as a traditional classroom.  Teachers record lessons far in advance and build a video library of lessons to share with students and other staff.

Expectations:  Students watch video lessons the night before they come to school.  Students receive individualized attention and help throughout the day.  Live whole class review is used as needed.

If you critically think about both situations you can come up with a list of pros and cons for each.  The main idea behind a flipped classroom is to give students more time with the teacher in a one-on-one environment and empower parents to learn more about what their students are actually learning.  Critics of the idea site that students lack the drive to learn independently and watch video segments at home.  Proponents say that the flipped classroom teaches student's independence and skills they will need later in life.  I suppose I see both sides to the coin.....but I must admit, the Idea of it all intrigues me.  Especially if video lessons are shared and can be used for reinforcement to the classroom teachers instruction.  What do you think about the concept?  Is it sound and is it feesible?  Check out the video below to see one classroom experience.

Discussion Groups/Forums and Why You Should Use Them

Submitted by mkberg
on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:48

Discussions have been around since man first uttered words....okay maybe even grunts.  Discussions help us to learn through social interaction and help encourage social growth at the same time.  You do this in your classrooms.  You do this in your homes.  You do this with complete strangers from time to time.  This is one of the fundamental ways humans gain knowledge and grow as human beings.  Discussions are everywhere.  Discussions are even online these days.

The discussions you see online are usually in forums and to keep things relevant forums usually have strict topics.  There are moderators (just like if you have a discussion in class), participants (again, just like in class), and streams of discussion can blossom from unexpected places and take you places you hadn't anticipated (just.......hey are you catching onto a theme here?).  A discussion online does everything you expect a discussion in a face-to-face environment to do (except allow you to talk directly to someone's face).  An online discussion also does more though.

Discussions online are a matter of public record in a sense.  Words spoken online are not just confined to a small room with a limited audience.  Discussions online are in print, and as such require editing and more forethought than answers blurted out in the heat of the moment.  Online work encourages even the most meek and timid to "come out of their shells," as it were, and that can lead to higher self-esteem.  You can use online discussions in your own classroom to "go green."  You can use them as a reflective tool for students.  You can even use them to get feedback from your classes on how well they are understanding the material you are covering with them.

The main reason some would shy away from this type of work in their room deals directly with liability.  Contrary to popular belief, all forums are not the same.  A forum is as safe and appropriate as it's moderator wants it to be.  Schools have tools to allow you to do this safely.  At our own school we have Moodle, which can do only forums if that is what you would like or it can do more.  We also have our teacher pages which have a discussion area if that is more your taste.  In either case you are the one in control of the "classroom."  It is as safe, and functional, as you allow it to be.

Think about it.  Can you use a discussion forum in your classroom to expand on what you teach?

Educators Looking for Summer Opportunities?

Submitted by mkberg
on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:10

Are you a particularly tech savy teacher?  Perhaps you are one of those educators that craves an audience?  In either case you may be happy to know that there are opportunities out there for you to earn some extra $$$ this summer.  LearnZillion is a company which unites great educators with a distribution source (themselves) to pump video lessons out to the masses.  LearnZillion is looking for some new "Dream Team" members for the summer.  If you feel up to the task I would encourage you to apply.  Reach more students than just those in your classroom and impact on a greater scale.  The details are below:

LearnZillion: Scale your impact! LearnZillion is looking for teachers who want to have a broader impact and who have the talent to craft dynamite video lessons. Dream Team members receive lesson creation equipment, $2000, and recognition on LearnZillion's website. Each member will create 20 lessons this summer. Lessons will be available for free on and linked to professional development platforms in multiple states. Click here to apply, or visit www.learnzillion.com/join. LearnZillion was recently featured on the NPR show Marketplace.