Thinking About Learning

Over the past several months, I have become convinced that iPods have an important role to play in the classroom, both as a tool for learning and a tool for sharing learning.  Two teachers in my school each have 3 iPods that they are using regularly with their classes.  My math coach and I recently received a grant to get an iTouch that will be made available for check out by math teachers.  We are in the process of creating some standards-based math content, and I’ve searched extensively for online content.  Here’s a short video that is a summary of a presentation I shared with principals and technology integration specialists in my district.

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This video is also available on TeacherTube.
Here are some resources for free podcasts available online:

Apple Learning Interchange
How Stuff Works (informational)
Lunchbox Lessons (science videos, sea creature informational videos, video books with text, writing videos)
Free Learning Content A-Z (listing of content by subject area)
M3 – Math Movie Minute (great example of student created instruction)
Children’s Fun Storytime Podcast
Mastery Maze (more high school oriented)
iTunes U:
Lit2Go (mp3 stories and poems)
Meet the Author Interviews with Children’s Books Authors & Illustrators
iTunes Podcasts:
Storynory – Audio stories for kids
Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (each contains an advertisement)

Educational podcasts for purchase:

Raybook!
kids.audible.com

TeacherTube and YouTube are also good resources!

This spring my district offered our teachers a wonderful grant opportunity, the DLT Mac Grant, Designing and Learning with Technology and a Mac.  After submitting grant proposals, 24 teachers were selected to receive equipment and training.  Fortunately, 2 of my teachers applied and won!  They each received a MacBook, 2 Mac-minis, 2 KVM switches, 3 iPods, a microphone, and a digital camera.   The purpose of the grant is to focus “on changing pedagogy to improve student learning rather than acquiring technology skills.”

As their supporting TIS, I also received a MacBook.  We spent 4 days in early June learning about our new equipment (we are a PC district), and “learning how to infuse technology into the classroom curriculum by conducting research, completing an assigned project using available technology tools, and designing a curriculum unit.” (The quotes are from the original grant flyer.)  I did a presentation about project-based learning for the training, and we also set up a Diigo DLT Mac user group so we can share resources.  It was a great, intensive week!  There was a lot to learn, but we jumped right in.  The group was very motivated and enthusiastic.  It will be exciting to see the outcome of this grant.  Our district has purchased a new Apple server, so we will be able to host our own blogs, wikis, and podcasts next year.  I am so proud be part of a district that is proactive with 21st Century learning and technology.  I think that providing this grant opportunity is an excellent way to begin developing those pedagogical changes that are necessary if we are going to be effective educators in this rapidly changing world.