Digital Classrooms in the 21st Century

Have a read of this article from the Stuff website.  It's about plans for 21st century learning in New Zealand.  The article starts:

'A classroom where a digital teacher delivers a lesson from another city is being touted as the way forward for education in the 21st century. 

The education and science select committee's "Inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy" focuses on redesigning education and creating modern schools'. 

I really like some of the ideas and vision in the article.  However, what I can say from my own experience as a teacher and leader in New Zealand schools is that there is a long way to go in regards to infrastructure and resource allocation before these ideas come to fruition, especially in low decile schools. 

To read the article in full, click here.

Using Twitter as class blogs

Lakeview School has recently started using class Twitter pages instead of class blogs.  Already I can see that this is going to be a lot more successful.  Here's why:

• It's so easy to send a Tweet
• Posts are only 140 characters
• Attaching photos and video is very simple
• Parents can access through their phones (this is the only Internet access some of our families have)
• All teachers have been provided with iPads, with the Twitter app loaded, signed in, and ready to go.

You can check out our Twitter pages through the links on our website homepage.

Making Science Teaching Fun!

This is from the TED website:

'High school science teacher Tyler DeWitt was ecstatic about a lesson plan on bacteria (how cool!) -- and devastated when his students hated it. The problem was the textbook: it was impossible to understand. He delivers a rousing call for science teachers to ditch the jargon and extreme precision, and instead make science sing through stories and demonstrations'.


 

Colin Powell's thoughts on kids needing structure

Check out this TED talk from Colin Powell (former U.S. Secretary of State) re kids needing structure.  Some interesting thoughts and ideas.