AAMOF, 404

What does that mean? "As a matter of fact, I have no clue." Even though I use tech in my job and teach middle school, I still am not savvy on text language. Is it detrimental to written and spoken language? I think so, and here is why.
I taught writing classes at the University of Illinois and Rend Lake Community College and currently I teach technology at a K-8 charter school. Not only have I seen LOL, lack of capitals, writing "ur" for "your" or other texting phrases in rough drafts, but I even heard professionals replace common language with abbreviated text message lingo. Like instead of saying "I don't know" they said "IDK". I don't know if this is impeding the spoken and written language, but I'm guessing so, at least from a professional, educational standpoint. However there are some that disagree and even a study that looked at the phenomenon.

Is Texting Killing the English Language?

Text speak does not affect children's use of grammar: study

How Slang Affects Students in the Classroom

LOL, texting, and txt-speak: Linguistic miracles

 

 

 

My Teacher Uses Facebook

What? Did you just say that? Yes, probably they do use Facebook for personal connections, but what about using it in the classroom?

Facebook is blocked in my school but there are tons of ways you can use it without having access on campus. Here are some ways:
1. Setup a class (closed group).
2. Hold discussions, project/homework questions/answers.
3. Invite a "guest speaker" on the page.
4. Post outside, online resources for projects or research.
5. Post polls, publicly shared on their individual pages to get more responses.

There are tons of ways to incorporate FB into your classroom. Check out some of these articles for more ideas:
Ways to use Facebook effectively in class

100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook

10 Ways to use Facebook as a teaching tool

Cell Phones or NO Cell Phones...that is the question.

While we sometimes think banning cell phones, iPads, iPods, and all other electronic devices is a way to "manage" tech violations, it may be adding to the frustration of teacher managed behaviors in the classroom. I've had my share of students trying to use their cell phones to snap a pic in the classroom or texting their parents, siblings, and friends. Each time I catch them I ask them for the device and walk it down to the Principal's office so that they can pick it up at the end of the day. It is our policy, stated in the handbook, that no electronic devices are to be used during the school day. Devices can only be used before or after school.

I recently observed a Principal from another school district and found students using their cell phones at lunch, in the hallways, and after they were dismissed at the end of the day. The students are also allowed to use wireless devices educationally in the classroom. They have 1:1 iPads but students are also welcome to use wireless devices from home leaving an iPad for another student.

My conclusion: This will continue to be a debate. But I do think it depends on the teachers, how much tech is involved in the lesson plans (flipped classrooms), and how well the infrastructure is built (wifi signal).

Here are some other articles that may shed light on this topic:


Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Mobile Phones to Education

What is BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and Why Should Teachers Care?

One in Ten have an iWhat!

A new study based in the UK indicates that one in ten children, under ten years old owns an iPhone. One in twenty children in Primary have an iPad.

Not surprising to me because this year my 6 year old is getting an iPad! Using a device enhances the achievement of children academically, however I think it causes a larger divide for socialization.

If this targeted age group is allowed to get a device, parent monitoring is a MUST!

http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/09/21/one.in.20.primary.school.kids.have.an.ipad/

iPads needed in schools to close gap!

50%-60% increase in student achievement in reading, math, and science? I'm skeptical but it's something to look for in the near future. More research should be focused in this area. It would help Apple and help the students all the same!

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/09/19/university_study_finds_students_with_apples_ipad_perform_better.html

The students should be the teachers!

Activities included "Storytelling for the YouTube Generation", using the Kinect for the xbox 360 in the classroom, and debating the "digital divide" at the 21st Century Learning Symposium at Marysville HS.

*Great links for other activities.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20110826/NEWS01/108260313/Teaching-technology?odyssey=nav|head

Apps for Assessment

Wahoo! A list of assessment apps to explore are listed in Tech&Learning magazine/website. You can subscribe for a paper copy or digital updates. It's a great resource for teachers who implement any type of technology into their curriculum.

Here's the list that features assessment apps.