Sample topics include:
21st Century Skills, Literacies & Fluency
Are they Buzz words? A cliche? Another Fad? Or are we in the middle of an educational revolution?
We are a decade into this “21st century” that seems to be part of labels for everything in education these days. What does it mean to be literate in 2010? What will being educated mean for the class of 2023?
Let’s look at some of these terms, their implication for our schools, and examples of educators who have embraced “new forms” of teaching and learning.
Learn how you can look past the semantics and work towards preparing your teachers and students for the future, not the past.
It’s not about Tech Tools, It’s about 21st Century Skills
We are not podcasting in order to teach Audacity nor Garageband. We are not recording students for the fun of using microphone, nor are we blogging, so we can practice typing, we are not skyping for the purpose of using a webcam.
Teachers, parents and administrators, unfamiliar with the tools, might worry that “important” academic time is being lost and wasted as teachers are taking the time to podcast, blog, skype or wiki! It is important to explain that it is not about the latest technology tool.
- It is about basic literacy skills (reading & writing).
- It is about curriculum content
- It is about engaging and motivating students.
- It is about addressing, integrating and embedding 21st century skills and literacies, such as media, information, network and intercultural literacy.
Storytelling- An ancient form of teaching and learning. Digital storytelling combines audio, image and video tools that harness students’ and teachers’ voices to tell, present and distribute their stories in a whole new way. Helping teachers integrate digital storytelling by using tools such as MixBook, Voice Thread, MovieMaker, Wordle, Animoto, Google Maps and Photostory. Digital Storytelling combines technology with communication, language arts, and media literacy skills by encouraging students to create new ways of communicating a story, different from the traditional paper and pencil linear narrative.
The world we live in requires schools to address new kinds of literacies in addition to basic literacy. These new literacies include media, information, intercultural, digital citizenship, ethical and network literacies in addition to specific skills such as communication, collaboration, and being able to create connections. Modeling and creating a learning network for and with your students, that include peers from across the globe, experts on subject matter, authors of books, etc. breaks down barriers between the sage on stage and the learner. Skype is a tool that can easily be used to successfully integrate these literacies and skills in different subject areas as well as at all grade levels. The presentation will address strategies on how to find and contact possible partners and explore many other ideas how to use Skype in the classroom with students.
Geography skills play a significant part in forming connections with a greater world, a world that is bigger than our own backyard. Attendees will learn how to engage students and make geography real and tangible by creating connections through technology. Understanding is directly related to being able to connect new material, facts, ideas, and concepts to previously learned knowledge.21st century skills not only include being able to make connections, but also communicate as well as collaborate with others. In an effort to increase geography skills and interest in other people and cultures, while emphasizing the fact that geography is all around us, the presenter used tools such as blogs, maps, geotagged images and videos. The presentation will highlight concrete projects, examples, ideas, and collaborative tools to enhance and develop geography skills and global awareness.
Blogging with your Students
Interested in finding out why you should be blogging with your students? Already convinced and ready to use a blog? Don’t know where to start? Need a guide about what platform to consider and the logistics of setting up a classroom blog or individual student blogs? Prepare your students with lessons on internet safety, digital footprint, blogging and commenting etiquette. Learn about blogging as a hyperlinked writing genre. Get tips and resources on connecting your classroom blog with others around the world for collaborative and connected learning. This presentation will get you ready to take the plunge.
iPods- iSpeak- iSing- iListen- iLearn
iPods and other MP3 players have revolutionized the way kids listen to and purchase their music and videos. They have also entered the classrooms as a teaching and learning tool as well. The foreign language and ESL classroom can especially benefit from the possibilities the iPod opens up, such as podcasting, video capabilities, and audio recordings. The popularity of such devices directly effects students’ engagement in the learning process. The presentation will demonstrate ideas and ways teachers can easily create and distribute authentic language and culture, pronunciation guides, audio books, lectures, notes, and much more for their students. Participants will hear and see specific examples how foreign language and ESL teachers can incorporate the use of MP3 players creatively to engage and motivate their students in the target language. Envision students being journalists in the target language fulfilling an authentic task of interviewing a native speaker. Imagine students using their cell phones to record a message in the target language that will be published on a blog or incorporated into a class podcast. Visualize your students listening to authentic language on their own time, extending the learning time beyond the classroom. Picture your classes creating a culturally authentic electronic recipe book and sharing them with the world.
Other topics:
- Using SmartBoards for Higher Level Thinking Skills
- Global Collaboration Projects
- Copyright, Creative Commons, Fair Use, Public Domain
- Using Backchannel in the Classroom
- Internet Safety and Digital Footprints
- Shifting to 21st Century Learning
- Infusing Global Awareness Through Technology
- Technology Integration in Elementary School
- World Languages and Technology Integration
- Designing and Maintaining your School Website
- Building a Personal Learning Network
