ContentSocial Media: TechLearning Conference (SQWORL.COM)

The livesteream of a techlearning conference displayed various ways to use sqworl.com and Google docs to motivate and teach student learners.

1. The teacher can build in the assignment and assessments in real time. This allows the teacher to see instant progress of the students and determine who may be struggling and needs help. With the real time capability, the teacher can also determine if lessons need to be changed or if students need partners.

2. Teachers can curate relevant, engaging content. By using this method and utilizing sqworl.com, a teacher can create and implement motivating lessons associated with their specific curriculum discipline.

3. Students can work at their own pace to complete tasks and submit assignments. By accessing sqworl and Google docs from the website, students can start a project or assignment at school and finish at home or at the library. It is convenient enough to allow students to regulate the pace in which they complete the work assigned.

4. Students like options. Be sure to give them relevant, explicit choices in the learning.

5. In curating assessments, ALWAYS have a backup plan!

5. Power My Learning is broken down by subject discipline: math, science, language arts, history, etc. Lessons and activities can be assembled on the website and imported for use on the Google doc or print. Using this application adds variety and acts as a means to keep students engaged.

6. In using this application and importing to Google docs, you can add sound, voice overs, and other tagging options for viewing by the students.

Also, I like how the facilitator of the workshop used Google docs on the projector screen and had the workshop participants participate hands-on.

The Future of Education

The filmmakers were headed in the right direction with being able to see another person via a "computer" screen. That aspect reminded of present applications like ooVoo, Skype, FaceTime, ect. It was interesting to see that even thirty years ago, we wanted the capability of being able to have access to other people who are not in our same location. Even though the set up was a bit exaggerated compared to how video calling/conference actually is today, the overall concept was along the same lines of these modern day applications. With distance learning more prevalent today than ever before, I could see the similarities of the teacher being able to have access to the students even if they were not physically in the classroom. We see this same format with Wimba, BlackBoard, and other applications that allow educators to communicate with students despite their specific location.

The young boy being able to speak to the computer and operate the device with voice is very similar to speech to text and other accessibility programs that we use on smart phones, computer, tablets, and other devices. Although the screen is nothing like what we use today the concept was basically the same. We can tell our devices what to do. We can even hook up devices and control them from remote places. This can be seen with Bluetooth capabilities especially in vehicles.

Technology is so advanced and new innovations are occurring so rapidly until I can't predict what the future will be like. I have wishful thinking of teleporting, flying cars, and all kinds of inventions that will continually change the way in which we thrive and live. In education, I predict devices that will assist students on every level (mental, physical, emotional, etc). We already have so many innovations and devices that have completely changed the way we learn and teach. One thing I know for sure, it can only get better. Why you may ask? Because if no other technologies were made after today, we have come so far from pix-elated screens, type writers, huge monitors/CPUs, until we can make great use of and find new ways to use our already existing technology.

This concept is quite interesting. I would like to think that our world won't become so impersonal and driven by technology to the point where we can not thrive if it were not to exist one day. I also am a firm believer in God and my rearing (or upbringing) in the Word won't allow my brain to process a world or place we live in as such.

But I digress....

He makes a great point. However, I am confused as to how this will benefit the future. Why do genomes or genes need to be counted? I know this may seem like I am ignorant...but I guess I am ignorant to this in the sense that I have never thought about it. And being just an ordinary civilian who goes about her daily life work, school, church, family, friends...I haven't really thought about how aging happens or ways to pinpoint when it happens. Guess I am a simple country girl...you're born...you live...you die...you hope that your name is on the role to make it into heaven.

Things like this video also make me wonder why do we even want to know stuff like this in the first place? I don't know...

Immortality is just not something I care to entertain. . .

The Science Behind Foldit

Now first me let me say that I am not a math and science type person at all. I have always had to work harder than peers in both those subjects. It took me a while to get the concept of the game and really see what I was doing. And in all honesty, I am not sure if I completely get the objective of the game but I can clearly see the benefit in it though. However, after looking  over the website and drawing from things I previously know about protein (which isn't very much by the way), I concluded that the game is quite insightful and if used innovately can be a great asset to the student learning process. The graphics are phenomenal and even though I had no idea what I was doing, the mere look of the game with the 3D effects bright screen made me want to learn and succeed at the game to reach the amount of points needed to complete a protein strand.

There is no doubt that a teacher can use this gaming application in the science classroom. It can be implemented as a supplemental learning tool, a reward, or means to motivate learners to learn how to connect and understand the dynamics of protein as it relates to the lessons on the subject during lecture time in the classroom.

In addition, the hints and window pop ups were extremely helpful. They showed me ways to connect the strands and clear a clashings. Being able to see the points decrease and increase when moving the strand forced me to be alert as well as take notice of exactly what I was trying to accomplish. I think this application can be a helpful tool outside of the classroom too. Students can practice at home or a local public library. There is chatting tool right on the screen. So teachers could require that students chat and asks questions using this tool for bonus points or some other creative way to incorporate an incentive.

MathLab Gamification

Case Study:
Math Teacher Uses Gamification to Help At-Risk Students Succeed

"You don't have to be good at gaming to be good at gamification."

The concept of gamification still intrigues me greatly. Just like this very class in which I am writing this blog for still amazes me. I love the pace. I love the gratification after completing a level or receiving a reward or seeing a new rank or points that have been added. I am an adult learner and if those simple things inspire and motivate me, I can only imagine the impact it can and will have on students especially at-risk students who are already struggling to achieve.

My hat is off and kuddos to this teacher and the almost seemingly perfect integration of technology in the form of gaming to her students. I especially like the concept of the avatar board. The avatar evolves with the student as they learn and "level-up". Brilliant!

Gamification takes:
Preparation
Dedication
Extensive prior planning
Adequate resources
Creativity
Motivation
"Tweaking"

Great, inspiring case study!

Oh wow! Where do I start!

This was by far the BEST experience I have had in Second Life to date. My classmate Amy was AUsome :)! It took me a while to get my avatar situated but with Amy's help and when my common sense finally kicked in, I made the box and sat with Amy.

Now, I have been quite skeptical of SL but this gratifying feeling of just feeling accomplished proves to me that gaming can and will most set precedence in education if used properly. After I researched and did the gamification movie, I wasn't completely sold on gaming as a whole. I could agree with the benefits but was unsure of the actual implementation. But as we say in 4H, the students learn most by DOING. Boy oh boy, doing that just gave me so much life and dare I say it, I am proud of myself.

It has been a rough semester for me. And although this may seem farfetched, I came to work this morning thinking I am going to be great today. I feel great. I had a great weekend. I look great. I will do great in all the things I endeavor to do on this day. Even took pics on the way to work and posted them on instagram. Just in an all-around great mood which is rare for me on a Monday. Now who would have thought building a box in a virtual world with my classmate and simply sitting would make me feel  ot just great...but the GREATEST!

I built a box. I sat. I am great. :)

Interesting Challenges in Learning Games

Interesting Challenges in Learning Games


What do you find most interesting about using Games for Learning YOURSELF? and What do you PERSONALLY consider the biggest challenge to using Games for Learning in your Learning Environment?
The most interesting part of games for learning like I have mentioned in my responses before is implementation. This school has found a way not only to integrate but more importantly implement some very favorable techniques, methods, and strategies to obtain the most advantages from gaming to learn. We can talk about integration all day and all the benefits and what we can do to make sure it’s relevant for our learners. But having actual plans for implementation is “a-whole-nother” story.

 However, I think that implementation is also the biggest challenge as well. As educators and coming from someone who has sat in on countless meetings that focus on how to implement an initiative for hours just to have the same people leave the meeting and talk amongst themselves about how it can’t be done, the strategies won’t work, everyone won’t cooperate, there is no real implementation process, and I could go on and on. It was truly impressive to see a school recognize the problem, devise reasonable solutions, integrate technology holistically, and implement a plan that motivates students, encourage creativity and higher order thinking, and glorifies learning gratification with results to back it up.