WHAT TECH INNOVATION WOULD YOU LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM?

Published: The Wall Street Journal; October 15, 2013; www.wsj.com Alternatively, just google the title and writer’s name

Level of difficulty: **

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Describe your latest classroom: what tech innovations did you have?

·         Now describe your ideal classroom: what features would it have? What tech innovations would it have?

NOW CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING SITE AND VIDEOS

Teacher Mate http://www.innovationsforlearning.org/teachermate

QUESTIONS

1.       What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This needs to change”?

2.       What additional features would Lee Newman like the current technology he uses to have? He would like it to be:

·         More interactive

·         More attractive

·         Cheaper

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

·         Other: please specify

3.       Lee newman would like the new technology to help provide:

·         The opportunity to make presentations, hand in papers, do work in class

·         The opprtunity to share videos and reading material

·         Better quality and more detailed feedback

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

·         Other: please specify

4.       What does “that” refer to in the sentence “We are moving towards that”?

5.       What conclusion can be drawn from Robert Howell’s description of a “traditional classroom”?

6.       Robert Howell describes the online education model. The most important advantage of this development is that it provides the opportunity to……………………………………………………………….

7.       While agreeing that technological innovations are very exciting, Jon Erickson states that they are no use unless……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8.       What does “That” refer to in the phrase “That’s what we must aspire to”?

9.       What current problem in education could be tackled with online quizzes?

10.   What current practice employed in the training of pilots and medical professionals could benefit managers?

11.   What would the advantages of using simulators in a management class be?

WRITING TASK

This task requires that you complete both the reading task you have just done as well as “”What College Will Be Like in 2023?”. While reading each text, make a note of the effects the new technology will have on the way teaching is conducted. When you have done so, write an essay discussing the effects of new technology on teaching. Some of the main points made in the texts are listed below; you will, however, need to refer back to both to support them. Before you start, also think about organization: can the points be grouped in some way? The effects that are mentioned in the texts are as follows:

·         Levels the playing field  for learners (greater access to material)

·         Easier to share content

·         Easier to host discussions

·         Easier to keep track of student work (real time feedback possible,this further accelerates and enhances education)

·         Fast learning possible (undergraduates look impressive, lets schools pocket more revenues)

·         Students engage in social learning experiences

WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION WOULD YOU LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This brilliant text based on a Wall Street Journal report outlines some of the changes experts would like to see in their classrooms and why.The text transported me to a very happy place as I was reading it and daydreaming so the activity is dedicated to all who still prefer black boards and chalk in the hope that they will change their mindsJ

1.       The fact that these two economic forces limit both the quatity and the quality of feedback that students receive; OR the limits to …

2.       More interactive

3.       Better quality and more detailed feedback (It is much more general; check the text)

4.       Having more telepresence screens ( to run…)

5.       Traditional classrooms were not very high tech

6.       Reach far more students than those sitting in the physical classroom.

7.       Teachers are able to fully leverage their capacity to improve student learning

8.       A learning environment in which great teachers do what they do best, technology does what it does best and students benefit from every element of the education system working to their best advantage

9.       The lack of technologies that allow a professor to assess how much each student in the classroom has retained from the session…

10.   Simulators

11.   The team would bond together and develop executable strategies in attemting to beat the simulation while under real world pressure