Chris, Jamie and Michael discuss the articles of the week and share their tech tips.
Articles of the Week
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/08/29/five-bad-education-assumptions-the-media-keeps-recycling/
As a teacher at a school that often out-Exeters Exeter, I agree with this article’s assertion. The surface treatment of educational issues and the recycling of tired assumptions that assume the power of common wisdom sabotage actual, substantive discussions. Please keep the conversation going. Please fight presumption with good, “old fashioned” data. - http://scottkinkoph.com/goals-for-a-tech-coach/
1. Developing a personal relationship 2. Developing collaborative efforts between teachers, groups of teachers, and grade levels 3. Support the work of educators in and out of the classroom. 4. Establish what it means to integrate technology. – The goal is to share a working definition of integration. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGckntP3ynw
Sal Khan gives a sneak preview on his new common core aligned math videos - http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/14/laptops-in-classrooms_n_3756831.html
ORONTO – Laptops have replaced pen and paper for many post-secondary students but a Canadian study suggests using computers during lectures could be hurting their grades and lowering their classmates’ marks. - https://www.edsurge.com/n/2013-08-08-sal-khan-gets-common-core-aligned
This week Khan Academy announced 2,500 new math practice problems specifically aligned to the Common Core, with the help of a team of teachers and content specialists who’ve vetted and reviewed each item. Teachers can find them in this new Common Core map that outlines each Common Core math standard and links them to practice problems. No longer limited to multiple choice, the new problems will ask students to write equations, create graphs, and fill in tables.
Tech Tips
- SelfControl | Steve Lambert
Is email a distraction? SelfControl is an OS X application which blocks access to incoming and/or outgoing mail servers and websites for a predetermined period of time. For example, you could block access to your email, Facebook, and twitter for 90 minutes, but still have access to the rest of the web. Once started, it can not be undone by the application, by deleting the application, or by restarting the computer – you must wait for the timer to run out. - Everyday Mathematics Esuite
For schools that have adopted Everyday Math Esuite is an amazing addition to the program. It allows students to access everything they are learning at school at home, includes interactive presentations teachers can use, all the math games, and even has links to apps that can be downloaded on iPads. - Telligami Tellagami is a mobile app that lets you create and share a quick animated Gami video.
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