FLIPPING CLASSROOMS AND CLOUD COMPUTING

FLIPPING CLASSROOMS AND CLOUD COMPUTING.

It’s incredible how classroom can turn over from a conventional space of teaching to an extraordinary place of learning. As Khan said “it’s time to get (classroom) to the next level”. Our labor should have a social value, making our work to transcend. These videos and articles have shown me another way to improve the classes. "Flipping Classroom" is a practice that has impressed me a lot, since its aim is that the teacher becomes a support for the student, leaving his passive state of "teaching". I understand this type of activity is beneficial to the whole class, because improves the continuous interaction, not only in the classroom but by using technologies thru internet.

The impact on the educational system can be scaled considering the idea of ​​adopting this educational system. An online resource such as Kahn Academy provides an impressive idea of ​​how teaching can evolve further. I believe that students, through this system, they have the opportunity to learn at their own pace and become more participative in class, as they carry their doubts and reflections to the classroom.

There are many ways and “teachniques” in order to help and get involve every student during the lesson, so none of them left behind. It’s a goal to “humanize” the classroom. If a student is in advantage than the rest of the class, this student could be trained by me (as his professor) so to become a peer mentor of the classroom and much more, this student can help other students outside his school by using technology.

The idea of including e-book on cloud computing sounds great! Internet use through new devices, along with new technologies such as cloud storage, ensure growth forecasts of online education. The cloud technology allows the information to be always available to the user need. I think it's a tremendous tool that can be integrated into the classroom, because in this era where globalization is essential to open to new horizons, education is in the process of transformation to a better future.

Teachers cannot “push students to learn a lesson”, that shouldn’t be the goal. Professors guide scholars so they can “learn in their own time”. I believe teachers are learning motivators, not inquisitors. Because of this definition, instructors are responsible to “reinvent” classrooms and I have to say I’m excited to become part of this teaching movement!

ADVANTAGES OF IT DEVICES IN CLASS

ADVANTAGES OF IT DEVICES IN CLASS.

From the educational point of view, we live in times when challenges have multiplied and strategies to overcome them need constant development. It is unlikely that the learning expectations are met using traditional methods. Our students today are more complex, short-term and closely linked to communication technologies diverse interests. It is also shown that you learn best actively experimenting and testing hypotheses, solving problems and becoming aware of your own progress. 

There are multiple benefits of using technological devices in the classroom. Some of these advantages are:

• They put except the backs of schoolchildren.

• Paper saver.

• Money saver.

• Maintain, improve and increased student attention.
• Learning can be adapted to the student.
• Countless applications towards the classroom.

Many wonder whether the use of mobile devices was a question of modernity and efficiency. Research shows, mostly, their use in the classroom significantly improves learning, as the student's experience with respect to the course topics is growing and expanding, plus the knowledge to be acquired would be constantly updated and can be verified by between these devices and with the help of the teacher. 

To finish, my point of view is that the technological resources that help both the teacher and the student can use the visual representation, communication strategies and they can discuss the outside world in a particular way and present it in the classroom. I really like to introduce technology during class because the consequences are very and truly positive for the learning process.

A NEW CLASSROOM PERSPECTIVE

A NEW CLASSROOM PERSPECTIVE.

The use of technology in education has been an important key to the development of distance education and the creation of educational technologies for everyday use in the classroom. The implementation of new technologies being developed in parallel with changes in teaching methods and even the way of thinking about learning and teaching, which increasingly are the students themselves who takes control of the process and materials, and resources meet their requirements and possibilities.

For a long time, the incorporation of resources in education’s main objective was to support the teacher in his task, which was progressively having more media, while the student had only his textbook and teacher conferences as support. To some extent, the technological resources are strong support for change by providing individualized instruction of interactive learning, distance learning and new teaching methodologies and supported by computer, which brings real transformation in the teaching process learning by giving students the title role.

When to the term technology is added the “training” qualifier, it’s about all the technical sources that support the training content and are always based on objectives to be achieved and the characteristics of students which they are intended. New technologies produce a new training model, characterized by the passage of one-way communication to a more open model that allows interaction, diversified media information and self-learning.

The computers in education can be understood as an instrument, a tool to work better or at least differently teaching contents. Use for educational purposes is commonly given to the computer; it has been for the development of tutorials, simulations, multimedia programs, and access information banks globally. For Example: one-way activities, although they are supervised, applied or suggested by the consultants, you develop the skills that are best for finding information and may also be limited to the following instructions.

To achieve learning interaction is necessary enabling this confrontation and socialization of knowledge, exchange of ideas, questioning and clarifying doubts that enrich the learning and supporting such learning. Taking the interaction and action to socialize and share ideas with other views, knowledge and attitudes concerning an object of study, and assuming that this only happens between people because it involves a reciprocal influence, we can say that learning will be to support and will use technology as a means to achieve the interaction, however, are more important peers and advisors the most sophisticated computer programs.

Starting and accepting that education is primarily a relationship between people and above all a social fact, advances must occur in this relationship. Educational innovations should consist of the renovation of the learning environments in which an item will be the advances in technology but not the only nor the most important.

THE CONE OF EXPERIENCE

THE CONE OF EXPERIENCE

   During the process of learning, the teachers need to adequate all the instruments to the objectives of the class. Teachers must determine what kind of achievements they want their students to achieve. That’s the importance of understanding that each goal is determined for many situations that affect one way or another student’s learning experience. About that is Dale’s “Cone of Experience”.

 

Every student learns in a different way. Some observe; others interpret the drawings and images very well; others like to read and write. There’re different ways to involve the student in the class, can be passively or actively. In short, direct experience (active) allows the student to fit the class material and interpret it; the teacher can better assess student participation in the course and obtain better achievements from him.

   In my opinion I agree with Dale because I think in the interpretation of learning methods, where the base is formed by the most effective and participatory process. I think that most human beings learn more, and even internalize better, what they learn with things that require their activity and direct involvement. Besides that each tool serves us to clearly understand what we learn, getting involved in the class also allows us to remember and memorize that lesson in which we were actively involved.

   When it comes learning technology, I definitely think about audiovisual and multimedia devises and software. First, the tablets are a really good instrument for learning and to get involved into class activities, because it allows students to participate directly in class. For example, when I was explaining any situation at class, the students were searching at internet all the concepts and sharing them in during the class hour. Second, I like very much Microsoft PowerPoint as an audiovisual software and multimedia program, because you can construct an argument that linked learning theory with audiovisual communications. I believe this tool is very helpful because it allows us to save any kind of information using the slides design, introducing images, videos and sound to captivate the attention of the public; empowering us enough to be creative and to show our knowledge in a very fun and uncommon way.

I WANT TO BE A CHAMPION!

I WANT TO BE A CHAMPION! 

This Rita Pierson's video from a TEDTalk conference is rich enough to motivate anyone to cross all boundaries and be the kind of teacher students deserve. As the presentation of the video says "A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level". Enjoy!

Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs A Champion.

THE EDUCATION OF THE FUTURE

THE EDUCATION OF THE FUTURE.

Hi! Read this article on www.edutopia.com and I wanted to share it immediately. How can we improve education? Why we, as educators, need to become the support for students in order to get better results? Why don’t we just “let it be”? How students can develop new skills by technology? Why it’s so important to empower students? Here are the answers!

"FIVE WAYS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS"

By Adora Svitak. February 8, 2012

"What's the most powerful resource in your classroom? Is it the formidable stack of textbooks, the encyclopedia, the computer? As much of a reader and education technology enthusiast as I am, I believe this most powerful resource is something else entirely. It's something collective -- the diverse imaginations, observations, opinions, hopes and dreams of students. By empowering students, you can engage them further in learning, provide a more democratic learning experience and, of course, find the most powerful resource in your classroom: us.

1) Give Your Students a Voice Through Forums for Student Feedback

You may remember from your own school days how much students sometimes complain about teachers ("she gives so much busywork," "he gave me a D just because I turned it in a day late!"). Now that's only amplified through social networking. What if you could use that to your advantage? I'm both a teacher and a student. I receive a lot of feedback from teachers for class work and homework, and I also really appreciate getting constructive feedback from the students I teach via video conferencing. Setting up a forum for students to provide constructive and timely feedback -- criticism or praise -- through mediums like a group Google Doc, Twitter hashtag, Edmodo site, blog, etc., helps you improve your teaching. It also helps students, emphasizing that learning is about partnership and working together. 

2) Give Students Decision-Making Power in an Area of Curriculum

This might seem like an unrealistic idea in an age of common core standards and high-stakes tests -- what if students veer drastically off the required course? However, this is actually entirely possible to incorporate with existing curriculum. For instance, if you teach language arts and the goal of the unit is teaching students how to write an effective response to literature or a literary analysis essay, who says everyone has to write about the same book written by some ancient dead writer (no offense, dead writers)? Besides, if you're already scared of writing your very first response to literature, having to decipher ancient syntax isn't going to help. So instead, why not have students pick a book of their own choosing -- a novel like The Hunger Games, even (gasp!) a graphic novel like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, or even (double gasp!) a smart comic book like Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes? All these works provide plenty of themes to analyze and are compelling reads. You could turn this response to literature unit into a book club unit where students make cases for picking their suggested book to be read and analyzed by the rest of the class. This student-directed curriculum idea is applicable to many other subjects. Giving students the power to choose creates a sense of ownership over the learning. 

3) Put Yourself in the Sandbox

Jump in to work with students. When I teach language arts, I love using collaborative writing to explain concepts like figurative language or to demonstrate how to start writing different types of pieces (like an essay or a suspenseful personal narrative). I ask for student involvement and feedback; they throw out the ideas while I link them together. The best part is that this helps provide a crucial link between the explanation of the topic and the "Go do this at home and turn it in" moment. By getting students to collaborate with you, they're starting to work on their own but also getting the concept reinforced.

 4) Encourage Meaningful Technology Use in the Classroom

Many teachers tell students to turn off their devices when they walk into the classroom. However, it can be incredibly empowering to do just the opposite. By having your students bring their own devices, you open up a world of new learning opportunities (like the flipped classroom model, web quests, podcasts, virtual field trips via Skype, livestreaming with classes across the world, etc.), and you reaffirm that learning can happen anytime, anywhere. When students use their devices during class time to access learning resources that they can also get at home or on the go, we see that learning doesn't just happen within the four walls of a classroom. Plus, it literally puts learning power in our hands. I know some teachers who have expressed concerns about rolling out any kind of technology they themselves didn't know how to use that well. However, if that's the case, don't be scared to let your students teach you a thing or two about technology. If you're worried about students slacking off on digital devices, it's worth checking out the #pencilchat discussion. 

5) Involve Students in "Real" Issues

A big complaint a lot of students have about what we learn in class is that it doesn't seem applicable to the real world. Have students practice skills they've learned or topics they've come to understand in service learning, debates, leadership/volunteerism/community service, or by having opinions on "real" issues like education reform or the 2012 election (shriek! politics! you might think, but as long as you stay objective, the students are civil to each other and parents are okay, politics can be one of the most energizing topics there is for students). Have your students make a difference with what they've learned, and they'll be more motivated to learn further -- because they're seeing that it's having an impact. They're learning to help others instead of just working toward some lofty, seemingly distant goal of graduating and going to college.

Ultimately, empowering students is about a realization: teachers and students have a lot to learn from each other. After all, as the pioneering American librarian John Cotton Dana once said, "Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." Empowering students helps us all do just that."