Blog Post #5

iSchool Initiative By: Travis Allen
     When Travis Allen was 17 he started his iSchool initiative.  He had concerns about the public schools because he noticed all of the negative changes in his own high school. He argued that his high school was experiencing massive budget cuts, teachers were being let go,and the classes were getting larger.  Travis believes that he has the solution for the education problem in America.  He states that, "The public education system is broken and needs to be changed." His solution, the iSchool.

     Travis pointed out great benefits to having the iSchool implemented. The iPhone has email, scientific calculator and even a calendar that could be used for attendance or important due dates for assignments.  There are other beneficial apps such as the Constitution, Presidents and WorldWiki applications.  This all sounds good and undoubtedly has wonderful benefits but I don't know if I would like to see the entire school system turn into an iSchool. What happens to those students who can not afford the iPhone or who really need that one on one time in a classroom setting with a teacher. Yes, a lot of the students of today have iPhones and Macs but there are still some who do not. I like Travis's thinking but I don't know if it will be a good idea for all students.


Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
     This was absolutely amazing. It really proves to us the importance of technology. Look at all of the wonderful things that can be done with it. Mr. Whitacre led 185 singers as they song Lux Aurumque. The most unique thing about this choir is that these people were from all over the world and had never met.  This video is a must see and takes technology to the next level.




Teaching in the 21st Century
     Kevin Roberts poses the question, what does it mean to teach in the 21st century? New technologies are steadily taking over the classroom.  What are the roles of the teacher and students? This video says that teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge anymore, we are the filter.  As for students, they do not need to be entertained, but they need to be engaged.  From this video, I learned that entertainment is passive, short-lived, and doesn't require relevance. Engagement is active and requires learning.  Teaching in the 21st century means that we must teach our children to problem solve and think critically. We must teach our students skills and not only facts.




The Flipped Classroom

Dr Lodge McCammon's FIZZ

     Flipping the classroom is a different approach to teaching. It is a way to spend more time actually applying what has been taught and less time on the lecture. Katie Gimbar realized that after 5 years she had been spending 10% of her time doing the application and the rest of the time was lecture.  Flipping the classroom allows the teacher to make instructional videos so that children who needed more lecture time can watch at their own pace. On the other hand, students who grasps concepts faster could be applying what had been learned at their own pace.

     Dr. McCammon states that the flipped classroom is a way to combat inefficient, non-engaging lecturing classroom by allowing the students to watch a series of presentations at home that were created by their teachers.  This allows for students to work at their own pace. Students can listen to the teacher at home and the teacher can spend more time with application in the classroom.