Due Thursday 5/21 - Digital Natives and Web 2.0

Today we will be exploring how the digital world has changed the world, the people and how we interact with one another. This week's assignment begins with an article by Marc Prensky about Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. This is followed by a group of videos to introduce you to blogs, wikis and twitter. There are a couple of podcasts that include interviews of educators about using new technologies in schools. Have fun!!!

Prensky, M. (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.
This is the classic article about generation differences. Reflect how this applies to your life and your associates.

Blogs in Plain English
You have heard of blogs. Do you know what they are? This 3-minute video does a good job of describing blogs and blogging in plain, easy-to-understand, English.

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Blog in the Classroom
Here are the opinions of 10 high school students about why to use blogs in the classroom. It isn't educational theory, but it provides some personal insights of students.

Blogger: How to Start a Blog (YouTube Video)
A 2-minute video on how to create your Blogger blog and begin with your first posting.

Wikis in Plain English
Another plain English introduction to a technology tool. This 4-minute video describes how a wiki works.

Using Wikispaces in the Classroom (Podcast)
This is a 30-minute interview with Vicki Davis, a high school teacher in GA, and Adam Frey, the developer of Wikispaces.com.

Twitter in Plain English (YouTube Video)
A 3-minute video explaining Twitter.

Shifting Our Schools Episode 9: How to Go Deeper in Student Learning. Why Go Deeper?
This is an exceptional podcast where Michael Lambert shares some of his instructional and assessment practices that take the learning deeper and make it more meaningful for his students. Mike will talk about making connections in the brain and making connections between other areas of study. You can read more about this in the podcast's "show notes."

Optional

Learning Styles of the Net Generation
9-minute video about how educators should address teaching today's students.

photo:www.flickr.com/petervanallen

Due 5/13 - Organizational Tools

The Key Learning Community: Cultivating Multiple Intelligences - Video (9:00)
Describes how a K-12 school addresses students needs by addressing their multiple intelligences by providing exploration and development opportunities.

Concept Mapping: How to Start Your Term Paper Research - Video (3:55)
Video on how to create a concept map to organize a paper.

Kidspiration - Video (6:14)
Introductory tutorial on how to use Kidspiration.

Kidspiration Math View - Video (4:12)
Select the Math View link under the "How to Use" title.

Social Bookmarking in Plain English - Video (3:25)
Simple intro to social bookmarking and using Del.icio.us. This video is more conceptual than instructional. Good overview.

Google Docs in Plain English - Video (2:50)
Simple intro to using Google Docs. It provides an overview of the Google Docs process.

Google Docs Forms Tutorial - Video (4:41)
Learn to create online forms using Google Spreadsheet.

Wikiwall: Natural Concept Mapping - Video (4:17)
Demo of touch screen concept mapping software. It's not Inspiration but it's an interesting format that uses some of the same technology interface as the iPhone.

Photo: flickr.com/thomcochrane