Schoology for Learning Management & More

Schoology, a CODiE Award winner, helps teachers and administrators put easy-to-use tools to work to develop their own educational communities. The system encourages collaboration and integrates nicely with other platforms like Google Apps, Moodle, Blackboard, Turnitin, etc. It allows schools to put all content in one easily accessible place. edshelf reviews call it “Facebook-like in appearance and navigation” and an “unbelievable classroom tool”.  Schoology includes different levels of pricing and is free for basic management and administrative features. A limited admin plan is free for schools and includes privacy controls, word filters, and data import and export. Schools and districts interested in advanced management and administrative features should contact Schoology for pricing.  This program is getting a host of great reviews by teachers who use it.

Some of the Most Unique Classroom Timers You’ve Ever Seen

Online-stopwatch.com offers fun timers for classrooms, faculty meetings, or wherever you may need them. You’ll find an egg timer, a rocket timer, a candle timer, racing timers, clocks, bombs, and more. The timers are quite easy to use, and the children will love them. The rocket, for example goes off when the time is up, flies around the screen, and ends with fireworks.

Classroom Timer Apps

If you are looking for a classroom timer that will work with the iPhone, iPad, or iPad Touch, the Classroom Timer Pro ($1.99), by Walsall Academy, is easy-to-use and good for timing classroom activities. There is a free version of this product, but the Pro version had better reviews. Glen Storey offers Silent Light—Classroom Timer and Decibel Meter ($3.99) for the iPhone and iPad. It uses the microphones on iPhones and iPads to monitor noise; you can share its screen through projectors and Apple TV.   Designed to help students with management and productivity, ClassTimer by Ventura Educational Systems ($.99) requires iOS4.2 and is compatible with iPads.

White Paper on Online Testing and Common Core Standards

T.H.E. Journal and VMware offer a White Paper targeting pending state mandates for online assessment in Kindergarten though Grade 12 schools by the 2014-2015 school year. Information will be available on how the Tyler Independent School District in Texas virtualized desktops in order to create a secure testing environment. According to the White Paper, using virtual desktops, the district was able to save money, better utilize resources, have increased security and reliability, and focus on teacher core competency. Download the report to learn more.

Is Algebra II Algebra II?

According to a piece by Erik Robelen (09-04-13, Education Week), what is called Algebra II in today’s American schools doesn’t have the rigor of Algebra II of the past. Robelen focuses on a study by Dr. Tom Loveless of the Brooking Institute, which says that the good news is that more students are taking Algebra II today, but that the bad news is that scores are declining. Loveless doesn’t know the reason for the problem but suggests that it could be that more low performing or poorly prepared students are taking the course, that the quality of the materials used has declined, and/or that teaching is less effective. It was found that, while students are not failing Algebra II courses, they are failing in Algebra II testing.

ALEKS—Artificial Intelligence for Learning & Assessment

Courses in elementary, middle school, high school, college prep, and college mathematics are offered by the Web-based ALEKS (Assessment and Learning Knowledge Spaces) program. The system features individually-targeted instruction correlated to Common Core and state standards. Using ALEKS, students work at their own level, a level determined by ALEKS artificially intelligent assessment techniques. The system selects questions based on students’ previous answers and then presents topics students are ready to learn. ALEKS assesses progress periodically to make sure students are mastering and retaining content. To find out more about ALEKS courses and assessment, take an ALEKS tour or sign up for a free trial.

Encouraging Creative Kids

Research often tells us what we educators already know. This time, it’s about creative kids—they are the ones who not only do well in academic assessments such as the SAT and ACT but also in the ability to take apart and put together objects. These are students who do well on Differential Aptitude Tests, which measure spatial ability.

The problem is that spatial ability, “sometimes referred to as ‘orphan ability’” often goes “undetected”.  To solve this problem, researchers at Vanderbilt suggest that SAT, ACT, and other tests should include more questions involving spatial ability.  If we were better able to identify students with excellent spatial skills, these students could receive improved career guidance. Considering the world’s needs for the future, we should encourage those young people with spatial competence as part of their makeup to prepare themselves to become the innovators of the future. In the meantime, before the tests are changed, we know that teachers who detect signs of spatial ability in their students will continue to encourage them to move forward with this seemingly innate talent.

Video Capture in the Classroom

Video capture is a great way for teachers to observe the effectiveness of their teaching. For example, while watching a video of themselves and their students in action, they’ll think of ways they can improve their techniques and interact more effectively with students.

Teachscape, a company that provides solutions for professional learning and teacher evaluation, offers a variety of software and hardware tools to enhance professional development. Coming soon to Teachscape will be the Teachscape Pano Camera System—the latest in video capture technology. This camera can record over 8 hours of instruction, view classrooms at any angle, and with its omnidirectional microphone, can “hear” student voices no matter where they are in a room.  It’s also easy to set up and move among classrooms.

Achieve 3000

Achieve 3000 is all about believing in students and reaching them at their own levels. It’s about making sure students believe in themselves and know that they can go on to the next level of learning. Achieve 3000’s products provide differentiated instruction in both literacy and science. In reading, individual student levels are determined and are continually assessed as students move through the program. Science instruction through eScience3000, a core science program, and The World of Biology, a supplemental curriculum for middle and high school students, are designed to help teachers “produce the forward-thinking scientific minds that will meet the demands of the 21^st century.” Case studies and implementation models are available on the Achieve3000 site.

Flipped Learning Research

The Flipped Learning Network, Pearson, and George Mason University have been working together to review Flipped Learning.  According to the Flipped Learning Model whitepaper, to achieve student engagement through Flipped Learning, schools must have flexible environments that allow for varying learning modes and student levels; a student-centered learning culture; intentional content that teachers have evaluated; and professional educators who understand how to observe students, get help from others, and “tolerate controlled classroom chaos.”

A review of the research finds that while Flipped Learning seems promising for K-12 education, there is actually not much empirical evidence about the technique. Surveys of teachers using Flipped Learning found that nearly 70% said student achievement improved, most felt that student attitudes improved, and about 90% said that their job satisfaction improved.  Students surveyed reported favorable comments about the learning.

Concerns reported include the worry that teachers may rely on online videos, some of which may not be the best to use; the fact that some students may not have access to high speed Internet at home; the worry that face-to-face Socratic instruction will be missing because of time needed for activities; and according to journalist Gary Stager, “The model emphasizes traditional homework and lectures” simply flipped and is actually “a means of standardizing learning.”