Kindergarten-12

Elise Guerrettaz14 December 2009

Education W200Module 6

SPICING UP THE CLASSROOM

Menu• 5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010: A Look at the Top

Technology Tools and Trends to keep an eye on in the Coming Year– http://thejournal.com/Articles/2009/12/10/5-K12-Technology-Trends-

for-2010.aspx?Page=1

• Middle School Geography Curriculum Adds Reality, Virtuality to Mix– http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/12/01/middle-school-geography-

curriculum-adds-reality-virtuality-to-mix.aspx

• Engineering Graphics Programming Goes to High School– http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/11/20/engineering-graphics-prog

ramming-goes-to-high-school.aspx

5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010

• Brief Description: This article focuses on 5 key points dealing with the recent emerging technology. The five different technologies this article touches upon are; eBooks, netbooks, interactive whiteboards, personal devices in the classroom, and tailored curricula.

Posted Reviews of Article:

Daren Indiana: I will be going to grad school next fall for Education Technology and Curriculum, all five of your predictions are beliefs that I share. Students need technology to help add relevance to their education, and teachers need technology to steamline their ever increasing responsibilities; using tech to enhance already proven teaching strategies while making assessment more meaningful and efficient.

Denis Florida: Excellent article. My biggest hope is a tailored curriculum. I am kipping my fingers crossed.

5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010(cont)

• In-depth descriptions:– eBooks

• So many people use eBooks now to read fiction and non-fiction books it is only a matter of time before textbooks in the classroom will become obsolete. This fad will become the new way to read and study for class.

– Netbooks• We see this new technology trend everywhere we go, these affordable

computers will help students have easier access to the internet for a low cost.

– Interactive Blackboards• High-tech blackboards are making a fast appearance in schools around the

national and they are a necessity for an interactive classroom.

– Personal Devices• In the past cell phones & iPods have been a bother for teachers although

soon we maybe seeing them as a benefit in the classroom. Students are attaining them at such a young age nowadays and make it very simple to access the internet.

– Tailored Curricula• Teachers are asking for a technology-based way to record and access

students grades in K-12, which in return will make it easier for teachers and students to track their grades.

My ReflectionPoints that caught my eye:•eBooks• I was shocked when reading that eBooks were going to make their

way into K-12 classrooms. Some of my friends own eBooks and they absolutely love them. I personally think this technology is very interesting and useful, and now even more so considering students won’t have to be carrying around heavy old textbooks.

•Interactive blackboards• The High School I went to had interactive blackboards in all the

classrooms, which from my personal experience was a great learning benefit.

•Netbooks• This article made a great point about being able to eliminate the

high cost of computers by bring netbooks into the classroom. I personally doing own a netbook but A LOT of my friends do and I think they are an excellent idea for a classroom setting. Especially those that do not always have the money or resources to spend over $200-300 on a single computer.

Geography Curriculum

Brief description: This is a very interesting article on a new tool to teach Middle School students geography. It is called myWorld Geography, it was recently launched by Pearson and will be available for purchase in January 2010. It is a virtual reality experience for students to travel around the world while using.

The background of this slide is a picture of my little sister in Spain. She is a senior in high school and she travelled abroad this summer with the IU Honors program. myWorld Geography is a great way to expose students to the concept of the world outside of their own at a younger age than the norm.

Geography Curriculm(cont)

This is an excellent new program for Middle School classroom. They get to virtually experience the life a teenager living on the opposite side of the earth. Many different skills are also gained by using this program such as; students’ social studies skills, information gathering and analysis, and media and technology skills. One section in particular is called “myStory ambassadors” which offers illustrated stories and videos which make the subject much more engaging.

“The goal of these features, said a spokesperson for Pearson, is to expand students’ social studies skills beyond mapping and graphing by integrating 21st century skills such as innovation, collaboration, information gathering and analysis, and media and technology skills, into the print and digital components.” (Scott Aronowitz, 2009)

My ReflectionMy views on Pearson’s myWorld Geography.• Benefits of this program:

• Makes geography class more exciting and interactive for students.

• Looking back on my personal experience in my middle school geography class, this would have been a useful program for me at the time.

• This new program is also a great way to help students become more comfortable with technology and using it in the classroom.

• Another benefit of this program would be how it introduces students to international life at an early age.

If you would like to access and learn more about this new program that will be available in January 2010 click in the following link to access the website: myWorld Geography

Engineering programming advancing

in High Schools National Instruments has introduced a new LabVIEW software designed for High School students. This software in called LabVIEW Education Edition, a.k.a. LEE. LEE is designed for high schoolers to get a “hands-on experience” with engineering classes using the same technology professionals use in their everyday work.

LEE program(Cont)

The CEO and director of the Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach Chris Rogers thinks great things will happen with LEE. “Engineering is a powerful motivator for learning math and science as it makes it possible for students to be innovative and creative while learning.” This program was developed in collaboration with National Instruments and Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach.

My ReflectionWhy LEE is beneficial for high school classrooms:

• offers a hands-on lab experience for high school students in STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).• This also offers an easy program for students

to be able to work on class projects in a professional matter.• This program can also help in better

preparing students for college level classes. • LEE can help direct students towards their

career interest.

Citations & conclusionAll these articles had very interesting programs, software, and technology trends.

Aronowitz, S. (2009). Engineering Graphics programming goes to High School. Retrieved December 06, 2009 from The Journal: http://thejournal.com/ articles/ 2009/ .Aronowitz, S. (2009). Middle School Curriculum Adds Reality, Virtuality to Mix. Retrieved December 06, 2009 from The Journal: http://thejournal.com/ articles/ 2009/ .McCrea, B. (2009). 5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010. Retrieved December 06, 2009

from The Journal: http://thejournal.com/ articles/ 2009/ .