In
September 2011, the U.S. Department
of Education sponsored a new project called Digital Promise. The
bipartisan, public-private initiative will fund research in educational
technology and will bring leading technologies into the classroom to help
students with problem areas such as STEM subjects. Review the main directions
of this project using the provided link and post your thoughts on which
initiatives could be particularly helpful for the development of next-generation
learning environments in Alabama schools and colleges. (Focus on your own
subject area and grade level.)
The main thing that stuck out to me in this article was how fast we will be able to access what is working and what is not working. As a previous student of psychology I know how long research can take and let's be honest, teachers do not have the time to wait for results of research. We need to be giving our student's the best education we can RIGHT NOW! I like that the iuntroduction of this project really helps us in developing methods that work almost instantly. Also, as a student studying to be a teacher in Literature I know how important technology can be. Just this semester I have learned how valuable Wiki spaces can be as well as blogs for student participation. High school students will not only find new technology helpful but they will also find them interesting and engaging.
ReplyDeleteThe Digital Promise Initiative sounds incredible by reading the Fact Sheet. What excited me most were the new investments by NSF (National Science Foundation) on Cyber-learning. The prospect of having a robot that teaches vocabulary based on non-verbal cues could be such an effective tool in the early childhood classroom because many students have limited language skills. Additionally, the technology for children with disabilities would also be very useful in a child's first school experience.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading over the fact sheet, there were several things that excited me about Digital Promise. A few of my favorites were the digital tutor, the robot that uses non-verbal cues to teach vocabulary, systems for students with hearing disabilities, and online tutors. Having these tools would be an amazing way to supplement a traditional classroom setting, especially the online tutor. With an online tutor, the student would not have to stay after school to receive tutoring, and instead could receive tutoring at home in their own time. I was also really excited that this covered STEM! I work for a computer services business, and many of our employees volunteer for STEM related projects locally! It's a great way to get students involved in fields that have not been as popular in the past, but are quickly gaining popularity. Fields such as engineering and technology are often not covered as part of the curriculum in school, and sometimes only exist as a robotics club or a Photoshop elective.
ReplyDeleteIt would not surprise me one bit if the Alabama State Department of Education tried to form a partnership similar to the one that League of Innovative Schools has with Digital Promise. If you've ever heard Dr. Bice (state superintendent of education) speak, then you know how much he encourages innovation! It's great to see schools stepping outside of the box to bring fun and challenging programs to our schools. I'm also glad to see that both the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) are both supporting gaming in the classroom and library. I researched this last year and purchased MinecraftEdu for our computers in the library. The students love playing Minecraft, and it really builds on STEM skills while having fun.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the first key challenge mentioned in the fact sheet about identifying breakthrough technology such as a software called Digital Tutor. The online tutor is a genius idea! How cool would it be for students to be able to go home and receive tutoring. I pay a lady to tutor my 15 year old son in Geometry. He goes twice a week and it is costing me a fortune. I feel online tutoring would be cost sufficient and would provide one-on-one services for any student. Kids buy into anything that involves technology.I think it is encouraging to know that Digital Promise is partnering up with tech firms.
ReplyDelete.I also agree with Shera P's comment about not being surprised one bit if the Alabama State Department of Education tried to form a partnership similar to the one that League of Innovative Schools has with Digital Promise. Our state superintendent, Dr. Tommy Bice, wants Alabama high schools to focus on students being engaged learners. He feels that teachers need to check their technology knowledge and stay one step ahead of students.
I am excited about what Digital Promise is doing in education.I went onto their website and really liked their manifesto. It said they make a promise to improve the opportunity to learn for Americans of all ages and stages of life through technology and research. It is important for students to figure out how they learn and take what they know and apply it to their lives. Technology can open up a world of possibility for students and can bring out creativity and imagination.
After reading the above article on The Digital Promise, I was impressed by many initiatives that the Department of Education have taken to bring new technology into the classroom. Technology is everywhere in society and we need to be educating our students on new technology to help prepare them for future jobs. DARPA/Navy have begun utilizing a "digital tutor" to reduce the time it will take to become an IT expert. This provides ample opportunities for high school students to utilize once they graduate and to begin working in the workforce quicker. I also liked how the states New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine are utilizing buyers' consortium. They have been bulk ordering products to obtain a higher quality of products at a cheaper cost. I agree with a few other classmates who have posted about how beneficial having an online tutor is. I also love that robots have been introduced to teach vocabulary to students. Common core has helped to improve the landscape for educational technologies as well as STEM. The Digital Promise is a wonderful project that has been introduced and I can't wait to see Alabama to begin utilizing it as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Digital Promise is appealing to all stakeholders in education. Teachers need to be able to engage students in technology-integrated core subjects to prepare them for the future. Being able to provide students access to digital tutors and GeoGames are fun ways to get kids excited about learning. But when I read about the robot that teaches vocabulary with non-verbal cues and the system for students with hearing disabilities, I immediately thought about my work with students who have autism, hearing disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and speech difficulties. These and other emerging technologies could change the way we teach special education.
ReplyDeleteAnother great part about the Digital Promise is the Urban Education Lab. Our disadvantaged students deserve the same quality education with technological benefits and gold standard testing in their schools.
Students would find the STEM video game challenge and the Valve education prize very exciting. Video games can be a great teaching tool and incentive for students in the classroom as well. Many teachers have incorporated video games in their classrooms to help students improve problem solving and critical thinking skills by playing games like Scribblenauts, Math Buster, and even Minecraft.
The Digital Promise ensures timely research findings, keeping up with the latest technology, and provides benefits that can be tailored to suit a wide variety of students with different learning styles and abilities.
After reading the fact sheet, I appreciate that the Digital Promise is interested in finding out what is working and what is not for educational purposes. We need to be able to offer our students the best, up to date resources possible. I also like the fact that they are researching the newest technologies that are being offered and looking in to developing new approaches for our students.
ReplyDeleteI found this to be an interesting read because the school system I currently work in has dedicated a lot of money into personal computers for the students. Now that we have them, I would like for us to be able to use them effectively with the knowledge of the newest break throughs.
One thing that I thought could help with learning in my subject area, art, is the initiative to create video game style technology to help students learn. Much of art is extremely hands on but art history and concepts are something that could be learned through games. Adolescents in this generation are so involved in their video games that I can see this interest rolling over into games about any subject, including art. The elements of design or drawing with perspective could make great games. I could also imagine a role playing game involving a period in art history. I have always used a sketchbook to begin to create my work. Students today may be more comfortable using a computer. A program to help them to see what they imagine may facilitate the three dimensional creation by giving them a good blueprint. It could also help to see structural problems or design problems before a student invests hours into the actual project. For example, a program that understands the properties of ceramics could help a student build a project by giving a time frame for the different parts of the process and an idea of what the ceramic piece would look like finished. As I learned, this was done by trial and error and it can take weeks to finish a ceramic piece due to the drying and firing times. Then you start all over because it needs to be adjusted. It can take months to create a finished piece. This costs money and uses large amounts of time. Schools don’t have and resources to waste and students don’t have time to waste. To be able to shorten this creative process would be great for the students and schools.
ReplyDeleteSometimes institutions of higher learning choose learning technologies because the technologies are the latest thing, what is novel. College and university technology departments must make evaluation of learning technologies a priority and do the work of vetting learning technologies before they are adopted full scale. Using technology for the sake of using technology must be recognized as a waster of resources and a potential impediment to learning outcomes. Only those learning technologies which have been proven to produce gains in learning or environments conducive to gains in learning, for example increased engagement, should be adopted by an institution of higher learning. Resources should be directed toward products and initiatives which have evidenced their effectiveness.Research and Development (R&D) for learning technologies is related to the aforementioned concerns regarding evaluating learning technologies. Those in the business of creating, marketing, or selling learning technologies must devote the necessary time and money into research and development so that a quality product which meets learners needs may be produced on a first iteration.
ReplyDeleteAs a Math teacher in an economically disadvantaged high school, this appeals to me on so many levels! Normally, I’m a little apprehensive about relying on technology. I feel like learning to actually do things is more important than learning how to have technology do something for you. What catches my interest the most is the Digital Tutor. For kids to have immediate feedback and then have their program instantaneously adjusted to suit their learning needs is a wonderful, invaluable piece of technology.
ReplyDeleteI related the Digital Tutor to a portion in the Rapid Testing paragraph that mentioned how “schools can accelerate the pace of learning.” Taking it slightly out of context, to me, it demonstrates how much more material students can learn. My students struggle with basic skills. I have some that can’t read, much less interpret word problems and successfully create equations they can correctly solve. If I had access to software that could fit each individual student (some classes have nearly 40 people!) then I would be better equipped to help each student gain mastery of each objective. I appreciate the comment on the issue of access, because I feel schools with disadvantaged children perhaps have a higher need for this kind of technology.
Another interesting point was the STEM Video Game Challenge. Our students are already immersed in a world of gaming, whether it’s through Facebook or a more traditional video game. By creating this challenge, organizations like Microsoft and PBS are helping to create interest in subjects that students tend to shy away from. I did notice that the Girls Scouts were listed as an outreach partner, but the Boy Scouts were not. I find that curious, but I’m also excited to see an organization aimed specifically at girls encouraging an interest in STEM subjects.
As a Math teacher in an economically disadvantaged high school, this appeals to me on so many levels! Normally, I’m a little apprehensive about relying on technology. I feel like learning to actually do things is more important than learning how to have technology do something for you. What catches my interest the most is the Digital Tutor. For kids to have immediate feedback and then have their program instantaneously adjusted to suit their learning needs is a wonderful, invaluable piece of technology.
ReplyDeleteI related the Digital Tutor to a portion in the Rapid Testing paragraph that mentioned how “schools can accelerate the pace of learning.” Taking it slightly out of context, to me, it demonstrates how much more material students can learn. My students struggle with basic skills. I have some that can’t read, much less interpret word problems and successfully create equations they can correctly solve. If I had access to software that could fit each individual student (some classes have nearly 40 people!) then I would be better equipped to help each student gain mastery of each objective. I appreciate the comment on the issue of access, because I feel schools with disadvantaged children perhaps have a higher need for this kind of technology.
Another interesting point was the STEM Video Game Challenge. Our students are already immersed in a world of gaming, whether it’s through Facebook or a more traditional video game. By creating this challenge, organizations like Microsoft and PBS are helping to create interest in subjects that students tend to shy away from. I did notice that the Girls Scouts were listed as an outreach partner, but the Boy Scouts were not. I find that curious, but I’m also excited to see an organization aimed specifically at girls encouraging an interest in STEM subjects.
After reading “Digital Promise” Factsheet, I was pleased to learn that some school systems are working together to gain valuable resources with reduced costs. I was also pleased to see a push for rapid evaluation of product to determine its success. However, all of this aside, no technology will eliminate the need to require our students to perform. No technology will replace the will to learn. This is not a new issue for I have original education books from the 1930’s that discuss the same problems. What I see different today is the sheer number of students that must be educated compounds the problem. Technology is just one tool that educators should have access to, it is not the answer to all our problems, and certainly not the answer for all students.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things that industry does better than education and R&D is one of those areas. I am all for inviting industry to develop the products we need, proving they work, and then allowing us to use them. After all, we are training their future employees. My students are already complaining of the number of websites they must navigate for their classes and the usernames and passwords they must remember. This is particularly problematic for my lower achieving students. It is compounded by the restrictions and costs involved with using the technology. I love technology, but I don’t agree the with the massive amounts of dollars that are thrown at it without results and established repercussions for those providing the resources that are not functioning.
In my opinion, The Digital Promise Initiative would be beneficial to higher education in many ways. However, two points in the fact sheet stood out to me. First, “breakthrough technologies” that could provide results as beneficial to the student as having apersonal tutor would help prepare many more students for college. As well, this technology would alsohelp reduce costs for colleges if a course or program that takes years could be learned in months (TheWhite House, 2011). A major role of higher education administrators and professionals is to provide ahighly skilled workforce for the community and nation. The Digital Promise Initiative lines up with this mission by using technology in postsecondary education to deliver more efficient and positive student learning. Second, a transformation of the learning technologies industry could mean new and improved technological advances that could be incorporated into higher education. If more entrepreneurs are entering the market than the developers will need to do more research and, in turn, produce better products. As well, the competition could also make the new technology more affordable for universities and colleges. I was very excited to read about the initiative and be provided the fact sheet. Although there may besome challenges, I think this type of collaboration among the leading technology companies and education could only result in positive outcomes.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, The Digital Promise Initiative would be beneficial to higher education in many ways. However, two points in the fact sheet stood out to me. First, “breakthrough technologies” that could provide results as beneficial to the student as having apersonal tutor would help prepare many more students for college. As well, this technology would alsohelp reduce costs for colleges if a course or program that takes years could be learned in months (TheWhite House, 2011). A major role of higher education administrators and professionals is to provide ahighly skilled workforce for the community and nation. The Digital Promise Initiative lines up with this mission by using technology in postsecondary education to deliver more efficient and positive student learning. Second, a transformation of the learning technologies industry could mean new and improved technological advances that could be incorporated into higher education. If more entrepreneurs are entering the market than the developers will need to do more research and, in turn, produce better products. As well, the competition could also make the new technology more affordable for universities and colleges. I was very excited to read about the initiative and be provided the fact sheet. Although there may besome challenges, I think this type of collaboration among the leading technology companies and education could only result in positive outcomes.
ReplyDeleteBy reading over the fact sheet, I found that the Digital Promise is something that will be very effective in the classroom. I found many interesting facts. One of those interesting facts being the new investments that the National Science Foundation will be researching in order to find ways to help push cyber learning. The one research project that stood out to me the most out of the four was online tutors being able to access a student's comprehension in "real-time" and have the ability to show what learning and teaching strategies that can be put into effect to help accommodate the student. As a student myself with disabilities, this research project is important. I also found that through this initiative, teachers, students, research analyst, other education institutions/companies will be able to identify which learning technology is working and which is not. Because of our ever evolving society, it is important to find ways to teach our students using technology. However, if one way works better than another, why would we continue to use it? As mentioned in the fact sheet, schools that are flexibility in this arena will be able to find what works in order to benefit their students. With these few things being said, I think this initiative is one that will most definitely help improve teaching and learning strategies in the future within our classooms.
ReplyDeleteThe initiative from NSF on Cyber-Learning sounded like a gold mine to me. "Online tutors that asses a student's real-time comprehension" could be absolutely wonderful for ESL students. Imagine how much more an ESL teacher could accomplish in the classroom if the students were to use this technology at home?
ReplyDeleteEspecially the robots which "use non-verbal cues to teach vocabulary to kids." If my students had this home to learn vocabulary, I could focus more on usage and deeper understandings of cultural aspects of the language in the classroom.
Unfortunately, these things sound expensive, and according to my experience and what I've heard from ESL teachers, these technologies are probably not affordable for schools or the families of ESL students.
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