Day 1: EDPD 604
Discussions from the day...
Predictions from the Past:
It may seem futile to predict the change that may be seen in technology in the next day, let alone the next 20 years. Nevertheless, some have tried. In the poorly constructed outline below, our group of teachers have shown some of the accuracies (and inaccuracies) mentioned by author Ronald S. Brandt.
Education in a New Era
Tomorrow: New Architectures for Distributed Collaboration
Summary
This article was written in right around 2000
The author emphasizes that any educated guess that we may make about future technologies and classroom integration of those technologies may prove foolish
“IBM could not envision the United States ever needing more than five computers”
Pervasive Connectivity
Collaborative Systems
Narrowing Digital Divide
Technology Supports Data Collection on Student Understanding
Any tools will support more timely and frequent assessments
Assessments should be provided through preset or standardized methods
Many teacher-developed tests lack the measurement qualities needed for assessment
Formative Assessment programs will collect data which can digitally be applied to created assessment
Technology will lessen the time required for creating assessments
Teachers will have more time available to work with students in other ways
Accuracy of Predictions
Relatively accurate
Technology seems to be moving slowly towards its ideally predicted usage
Further Discussion
Advantages to digital methods for collecting Formative Assessment are not yet saving time for teachers
21 Trends for the 21st Century...a few points:
What Guideline for 21st Century Learning Environments Can We Establish from Our Readings?
Environments should:
1. Be flexible (i.e. teachers, learners, and physical space)
2. Be easily accessible (i.e. digital resources & assessment access for parents and students, spacious physical space for all learners)
3. Be comfortable for learners (i.e. minimal environmental distractions, calm atmosphere)
4. Allow for collaboration (i.e. global/digital citizenship skills)
5. Encourage broad & critical thinking skills (i.e. teach through Big Idea, Interdisciplinary Learning)
6. Provide personal choice (i.e. time, media, location, work habits, standing or sitting)
Innovative Learning Environments:
Case study from Instituto Escuela Jacint Verdaguer (Sant Sanduní d’Anoia, Catalonia, Spain):
Alternative lesson or styles for teaching responsibility and self-control, through yoga, music, etc.
The learning space is wide open, with access to diverse technologies
Teachers raise questions, instead of providing answers (inquiry-based learning)
Case study from European Elementary School Dr. Leopold Zechner, Goldschlagstrasse, Vienna, Austria):
Parent and community involvement is key
Teachers/schools collaborate with colleagues from other countries when forming curriculum
Students are able to work independently in flexible grouping
