Blog Assignment # 5

On Travis Allen's iSchool Initiative
As a senior in high school, Travis Allen made a YouTube video about utilizing technology in the classroom to save money and natural resources. He later formed the iSchool Initiative and a group of 25 students at his university to travel the world and inform teachers, parents, and students about the future of education. Through many already existing applications on iPhones and iPads, students and teachers can gain access to any book or textbook without the expensive print copies and hardback covers. Parents can also view grades through applications like these just by having access to a phone or a computer. I think it is much more economical and environmental to get rid of the pencils and paper and take advantage of the technology available to us today.

Technology not only entices children and is more fun than pencil and paper, but it is a useful skill they can use throughout their lives. If we continue to teach like we have in decades past, and Mr. Winkle would still be comfortable coming into to our classrooms, then why do we have this technology? We have made use of it in daily life, by using cell phones, tablets, computers, GPS systems, etc. We use technology to order pizza or buy movie tickets, so why not use it to teach our children? I "liked" the iSchool Initiative on Facebook, and I fully support it. I recommend you do the same, because why wouldn't we want to better educate our children with technology that we have access to?
On Jennifer Chamber's Post and The Virtual Choir
Eric Whitacre conducted a virtual choir made up of singers who have never met or performed together and posted it on YouTube. This is extremely interesting and amazing to watch. It's a very unique way to make use of the internet and technology like computers and video-editing programs.
On "Teaching in the 21st Century: The John Strange Version"
Kevin Roberts, the original creator of this video, believes that teaching is changing because kids today get most of their information from the internet. Teachers are becoming more of a "filter" of this information to try to help students differentiate the good and bad information. For example, you can learn things from Wikipedia that are completely incorrect because anyone is allowed to edit the information on that website. It is also necessary to focus more on lifeskills than straight facts. Children need to be better prepared for things they will have to figure out on their own in everyday life. Teaching is changing, and I think this will affect me as an educator because it will determine the style and expression of how I teach.
On Flipping the Classroom
In this video, Katie, an 8th grade math teacher in North Carolina, explains why she flipped her classroom. So what is flipping the classroom? Rather than lecturing 90% of class time and applying the skills you've taught 10% of the time, it's just the reverse of that. This prevents you from having to repeat yourself and enables the students that are either ahead or behind your instruction to succeed and be adequately challenged or caught up. Katie uses videos on her class website that students are allowed to pause, rewind, or fast forward and watch as many times as they like. This let's them become familiar with the material before class so they can apply the skills taught and ask any questions that arise from that application. They can also post their questions on the website for their peers or teacher to answer prior to class. I think this sounds like a very efficient method in teaching students to apply skills, especially in a subject like math or science. I will remember this when I start my classroom, and I believe it is a wonderful method to use. I may not use it every day, but for lessons I believe will need to be repeated otherwise I would love to use this approach. I will definitely have a school website and I think videos of lectures is a great idea, as long as it isn't taken advantage of by students who never come to class. For more information about flipping the classroom visit this website.