The best science classroom tool that students already have

By Joseph Calmer

Introduction

• What is the best tool for learning that (most)students already own

• Their phone• Are teachers ready to give up their instructional

power to this new source of information delivery?

• Are/ should teachers compete for attention?• Despite this, we are still responsible for creating

citizens.• Did the technology debate start with math

Research Quotes

• Technology holds students’ interest (and teacher’s)• Thomas Edison had a vision of technology use in

education• New and innovative instructional strategies and

curricular plans help individualize the educational experience

• Having engaged/ interested students, is the best classroom management strategy

• Finding and doing teaching best practices before Admin has to tell me (my own)

More Research

• Positive climate= "sustained positive school climate is associated with positive child and youth development, effective risk-prevention and health-promotion efforts, student learning and academic achievement, increased student graduation rates, and teacher retention.”

• Student prefer to use devices

His quote

• "Books will soon be obsolete in the public schools... our school system will be completely changed inside of ten years.”

• Editorial- very little has actually change in 100 years in education

• Why

Recent Article

• 91 days with which to teach out of 180 because of state testing, district testing, roll, holidays, etc

• How can technology improve this?

How may of these could be avoided?

The Pros/ The Cons

Pros of phone use in class• Tools• Pictures• Access to all the facts in the

world• Interesting• Websites and other

auxiliary applications for learning that are designed for phone usage

• BYOD

Cons of phone use in class• Distractions• Not learning traditional

study skills• No interaction with others• Teacher is not the ultimate

source of information• BYOD

History

• The basics: Websites, flash animations, background info, pictures

• Next: advanced searches• ItunesU, use for basic work• Gradebook, attendance, teacher assistant• Students- take pictures, record, etc. class labs• Formative assessment

Types of Phone

Smart• Internet• Apps• Tools• Flash Cards• Interactive learning

websites/ apps/tools• communication

Dumb• Tools– Notes– Calendar– calculator

• Can text Google- it will answer (no internet)

What can be done with this contraband?

• Recorder• Calculator• Agenda• Reminders• Dictionary• Picture• Note taking

• Tweet- share what they learn

• Study pics/ vocabulary on bus rid

• Retrieve old lessons• Post pictures of their

work• Use apps as resources• Use as textbooks

My Examples

• Plant Histology, Brain MRI, common core, textbooks, tweet out new word learned, concepts learned, calendar/ reminders, google docs, socrative, agendas

• ItunesU: lectures, books, courses, create iBooks, study blue

Google picture to answer

Why I immediately liked this

• Did not know what all students were thinking• Not enough time to hear from everyone• Students did not participate in class• Students were not engaged in my classes• Some students do not ask their questions

during class• Wanted to enhance my classroom technology

use (without spending money)

Poll Everywhere

• How it works• You ask a question• Audience responds• Can have a setting that allows for moderating

before an answer is displayed• Can be done via a website (so you do not need

phones)• Google Forms can be used similarly

Example Student responses

Another Idea

Socrative

• A virtual classroom for students to assess the class’s learning objectives

Plethora of Articles

Conclusions• Teach students how to use this properly, not a toy

but a tool• They have to learn responsibility• More is added everyday, it requires being proactive • Builds positive technology skills for life• Math divide revisited: Using technology to solve

problems means we understand the nature of the problem; same with any device

• New Technology and Engineering Literacy framework

Principles and Goals

• Differentiated learning• Personalization and customization• Depth and complexity• Digital citizenship• Collaboration• Flipped teaching• Research• Organization

Google Apps for Educators

Research themes

• Multitasking problem?• Gadgets distract- teaching “generation M”

because devices are not simply entertainment• BYOD?- how to manage• Students learn at their own pace• Effect of technology with CCSS• Setting goals with technology: Needs and Desires• The use of Google forms to allow for students to

elaborate and explain their thought thoroughly

Email Lists

What is the role of the teacher now?

• Teacher as coach• Youtube for content• Share lessons (pop song about gamma rays) on

twitter (followed another teacher)• Digital formative assessment• Use of Edmoto• No more 40 minute lectures and wonder if they

“got it”• Ability to provide “targeted, individual feedback”

This headline grabbed my attention

“Returning to my original premise: great teachers do not teach. They stack the deck so that students have a reason to learn and in the process can't help but learn mainly by teaching themselves. This knowledge then becomes permanent and cherished rather than illusory and irrelevant.”

Resources• Accomplished Teacher• ASCD• Edutopia• Google Apps for Educators:

http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/• Google contact: 46645 (emailed about reinstating)• ItunesU• Poll Everywhere: polleverywhere.com• Socrative: http://www.socrative.com/• http://www.studyblue.com/#• Tech and Learning• Google forms

Article links• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/persistent-appeal-technology-in-learning-terry-

heick• http

://www.huffingtonpost.com/darrell-west/five-ways-teachers-can-us_b_3228851.html

• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/beat-classroom-clock-tips-ben- johnson• http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/with-tech-tools-how-should-teachers-t

ackle-multitasking-in-class/

• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/rethinking-how-we-use-calculators-jose- vilson• http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130523/NEWS01/305230024/Cold-Spring-stu

dents-benefit-from-i-Learn-a-new-approach-in-education?nclick_check=1

• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-in-schools-defining-terms-matt- levinson• http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/22/32el-changingrole.h32.html?tk

n=URCC%2Bg2TDRVClu23rpm8OnzJX4VAA%2BH4%2BkBX&cmp=clp-sb-ascd

• http://www.nagb.org/assets/documents/publications/frameworks/tech2014-framework/ch_toc/index.html

Future Ideas

• QR codes- can make your own so student can find what you want- now address typing