chronobits » teaching

Learning on the Periphery

Matt — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:47:34 +0000

I’ve been like a remora this week. I’ve been cruising in the slipstream of a Great White, waiting for the tasty bits that have been filtered behind. Two major educational conferences BLC10 and CMK10 are wrapping up this week. While I (and my school) did not have the money to attend either, I’ve been lucky to pick up the filtered nuggets of wisdom that have come out on the web pages, Twitter hash tags, and individual blog posts. It is a different experience participating in these conferences in person. The energy, enthusiasm, and influence is taken down a notch when it is experienced through a computer screen. My first takeaway, is that we have no excuse to start implementing the conditions that will help our students learn. Cost should not be a factor: if you can’t find a free alternative to a tool you need, you aren’t looking hard enough. Administrative approval shouldn’t be factor: if you can’t demonstrate how this will help kids learn, you are probably doing it wrong. The time for navel-gazing is over, it is time to get off our butts and do something.

My second takeaway is a bit of a rant, worthy of it’s own post. So tune in next time.

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Back from the Beyond

Matt — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:00:54 +0000

It has been a while and a crazy year. I’ll be heading back to full time technology coordinator, and this coming year I want to come out swinging. Lots has happened since my last post. I’m still trying to find the ideal tools to make us more connected. With so many resources, there is a bit of option paralysis. I want something clean, simple, and ubiquitous. Students should be able to access it from anywhere. Connected 24-7. Could it happen? Is there an ideal workflow? We’ll see.

Luring Teachers with Technology

Matt — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:49:17 +0000

I’ve always tempted students with external rewards to encourage participation. While the idealist in me believes in learning being its own reward, I think I would be foolish not to appeal to more basic instincts.

I’m starting the same tact with our teachers. I’m starting the laptop of the month program. This month the teacher who updates their site with timely information. I’ll be throwing bonus points for additional media (pics and movie) as well. The the games begin.