Blog Assignment #5

iSchool Initiative

Okay, this is so crazy to me. Mainly because I did not think our technology would ever be this advanced. It is really mind boggling. I think Travis' iSchool idea is exciting, fun, and brilliant. It is mobile learning at its best; this can be the solution to the educational system problems of budget cuts, larger classes, and teacher layoffs. Travis makes the argument that iSchool can and will take the place of books, printer, papers, and even #2 pencils.
Apps such as Email, Star Walk, Formulae, Recorder, and Scientific Calculators are all helpful applications that are energy efficient and resourceful tools that are easy for all teachers, parents, ans students. The iHomework application will able all students to communicate with massive texts and even allows students to save their work in a mobile device. The ischool argument allows all of its users to keep up with classes, assignments, grades, lunch menus, and allows its users to make agendas for themselves. It gives the students a sense of responsibility, it gives the teacher a sense of organization, and it gives parents security in their children's education.
Parents are able to monitor their kids with the apps that iSchool offer. The mobile learning idea is lockable to schools, so only those in the school system have access in the educational system and allows kids to personalize their iTouch so their style can shine through the uniformed clothing. This idea saves the education system at least $600 per student. I really love that this creates a positive impact on the environment and involves corporations, business professionals, and Apple iTouch producers.

Virtual Choir

My reaction to Virtual Choir is just like "WOW!" Their voices are amazing and its so beautiful. The fact that all of these people are on their PC, at home, and in different countries just proves to its viewers that technology advances are coming and it will be slapping the none believers in the face! Smart move!

Teaching in the 21st Century

Kevin Roberts views education in the 21st century as a challenge to the youth and to the future teachers. He makes the statement that "Teachers are no longer the source, we are the filters." This is so true. We as aspiring teachers/ already teachers no longer have to answer the questions of "Who wrote this?", or "Why is this?" Every student question that is asked in the classroom can be found with on click of a button. Teaching will no longer be the method of teaching others common knowledge. It is about creativity, evaluation, and applying ones self. Students will not slide by doing the bare minimum anymore. They will actually have to learn how to paraphrase, reflect, subscribe, comment, tag, post, search, upload, link, network, and a lot more. I feel that this will teach our future generation responsibility, reliability, and integrity, while at the same time creating professionalism for the world. However, I do feel as if this will be a huge change and a major challenge for the those who are having trouble keeping up with their education now.

Flipping the Classroom

Flipping the Classroom is basically a method of teaching that reverses the usual classroom attention span. Normally, a teacher would spend 75% of the class time teaching a lesson and 30% exercising that lesson. Well flipping the classroom turns that around. With the help of technology, teachers can spend only 30% of the time teaching and 70% excercising. This is an excellent approach to the common classroom problem of different levels in one class. Teachers can not teach different lessons in a classroom that is on three different levels. By combining the flipping the classroom method and technology allows the impossible and that is the problems stated above. I would most defiantly use this method in my class because it has proved to be effective for the teacher in the video.