TRETC conference part 3

The second session I attended was about learning portals. Learning portals are a great way to extend learning outside the walls of the classroom.

Walls come tumbling down

• http://learningportals.wikispaces.com
• What are learning portals?
• real time learning
• diverse learning
• 24/7
• provides more resources
• discussion boards
• polls
• reminders/calendars
• contact
• enrichment and review
• links and resources
• videos / podcasts
• class notes
• paradigm shift in instructional design
• we need to change the way we think to present information differently
• We don’t need to know how to code or know how to create websites to create a learning portal
• A learning portal is never finished it is fluid and grows
• this is a blended approach used for supplementation
• digital divide is shifting from have and have not to know how and  not know how to

• Tools to create a learning portal:
• wikispaces.com
• wix.com
• wordpress.com
• edublogs.com
• weebly.com
• googlesites.com
• wetpaint.com
• pbwiki
• moodle
• jimdo
• webs
• webstarts
• ning
• moogo

Things to put on your webpage

• animoto
• crocdoc
• slideshare
• coveritlive
• screecast
• edistorm
• quizlet
• glogster
• khanacademy

Resources

• edistorm - similar to wallwisher free post it not bulletin board, able to vote on ideas!
• coursesites.com - free online management of instruction, tools, assessment

TRETC conference part 1

Good morning. I thought I would take some time to discuss the TRETC conference that I attended yesterday with a colleague of mine. Here are some notes from the keynote speaker panel.

• Gregg Behr - keynote speaker along with panelist
• great time to be a kid to learn about informal learning - anytime, anywhere learning
• kids today are learning anytime and anyplace
• Neil
• students can create sites, videos, blogs, podcast, etc as independent study or differentiated instruction assignments
• Traci Blazosky
• give students choices regarding assignments (tic tac toe board)
• go on virtual field trips with your class by using google earth
• combination with Web 2.0 tools such as Glogster, blabberize
• technology evens the playing field for projects and assignments.
• Dr. Wilder
• find your element
• ask students
• let students find their dreams
• Karen Cater
• education is a matter of national security and economic development
• challenge students get them fully engaged
• shift to digital learning environment from paper based
• learn from people, books, and interfaces
• accessibility is vital
• text to speech, video calls online
• assistive tech and accessible options are made for individuals with disabilities, but are used everyday by others
• opportunity to learn and engage at this time are strong

• Badges or achievements in formal education
• informal learning spaces
• badges for mastery of topics learned
• move to competency based system

Resources from the keynote:

• https://sites.google.com/a/propelschools.org/theplaneteers/ - recylcing site made by a student from Propel School in Pittsburgh, PA
• www.b-7bobcats.wikispaces.com - Traci Blosky’s site
• Cha-ching - earn, save, spend, donate, financial literacy
• http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/ - great way to review and learn about bugs in your own backyard!