Home-schooling parents turn education into play

This family inspires me. I will need to definitely step my game up. I am asking the Creator for strength!

Speedy Math - The Biggest Mental Math Competition

Game Based Learning for All!

To learn more about game based learning visit this link: http://www.edutopia.org/made-with-play-game-based-learning-resources?


 

Problem Based Learning with Phrasal Verbs

Challenge or Problem Based Learning in Language Arts

Shifting the curriculum to meet the challenges of problem based learning

Reinventing a Public High School with Problem-Based Learning

Problem based learning

An Introduction to Project-Based Learning

Dan Meyer at TEDxNYED - Dan Meyer’s Math Lessons – throw away the text book

Once you here this, you will change the way you think about math education. This is real EiE-STEEM. You've got to love it!

Infinite Campus Tutorial - The Basics of Setting Up Your Gradebook

Leveraging Technology to Differentiate Instruction

Leveraging Technology to Differentiate Instruction from OHIO ITSCO

The Impact of Media in Learning by Shenica Bridges-Mathieu

Introduction

In the mid 1990’s the world as we knew it changed with the major introduction of the internet.  Anyone who is less than 22 years old has grown up with technology screaming at them from ear to ear.  No one under the age of 25 is immune.  The question is, why has it taken so long for the world of education to catch up to the thought processes of young minds?  Essentially, the roles have reversed, flipped and gone off of course and it is up to teachers to embrace the change or face extinction.  More teachers need to realize that instructional media has a positive impact on student learning in the 21^st Century when used correctly. 

Body

Before the debate begins, some history needs to be explored.  Over the past few decades, scholars have been pondering the role of the media or instructional technology in the classroom.  Two educational leaders have been instrumental in fueling the debate – Clark and Kozma.  The story of Clark versus Kozma represents two extremes.  On one hand, Clark believes that media will never influence learning.   Then on the other hand, Kozma believes that at some point in time media will influence learning.  The author of this paper believes that the truth is somewhere in the middle because the teacher needs to be factored into the equation.    The arguments of Clark and Kozma are still relevant today when you look at scholars like Todd Oppenheimer who discusses the fact that people have been trying to improve education with media for over 100 years but still there have been no major changes in learning.  He goes on to state “Since personal computers and the Internet first arrived in classrooms, in the early 1990s, schools have spent approximately $100 billion on technology,” and alludes that the results show a steady decline in learning (2009, February 4).  Thus, Oppenheimer is more of a student of Clark than Kozma. 

 Koza’s theory would pan better with Sweller’s cognitive load theory because it deals with attention, processing, and schema development.  This theory supports the argument that quality e-learning and instructional design are essential to maximizing the use of our working memory.   Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning support this even more by explaining that students need a multi-sensory approach to learning, and this is best done through instructional technology.   Using a multi-media approach will help working memory, and increase cognitive load, so the theories of Sweller and Mayer may be used to resolve the Clark versus Kozma debate by proving that assistive technology via instructional media may be the breakthrough to closing the educational divide.  Case in point, there is a huge push for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in education in Georgia Schools and on a National Level because out national NAEP test scores are low as compared to other countries.   One way that is presented to solve this problem is by increasing the use of effective and relevant technology.  Involving media in the learning process will help to accomplish these goals. In Keeping Track, researcher Jeannie Oakes (1985) says, "We can be quite certain that the deficiencies of slower students are not more easily remediated when they are grouped together" (p. 12).  Allowing a STEM based curriculum can help educational gaps and tracking.  For example, one of the top schools in Georgia is one of the name STEM certified schools in this state; The Gwinnett school of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) is its name, and it allows all levels and types of learner’s entry.  Unlike some of its STEM certified counterparts, there is no discrimination with test scores or past success of failures as a barrier for admission.  Instead, there is a high level of expectation for the student going forward.  The school has a deep focus on appealing to the students via extended block scheduling, class combinations like physics and technology integrating into a mega class, “a state of the art music and recording studio and broadcast video engineering space, and even high tech equipment that will allow teachers to conduct literary discussions as far away as Mexico.” (STEM School, nd)

Conclusion

In summary, 21^st Century teachers of diverse learners must use a broad range of strategies that include instructional technology. “Some children may be global thinkers; others, more analytical. Some children may learn best from lecture and reading; others, through manipulatives and other hands-on experiences. Some children may thrive on competition; others may achieve far more in cooperative groups.” (Cole, 2008).  With this being said, the debate of whether media has a positive or negative experience in a child’s life is conquered in this paper because the evidence presented has proven that the influence of instructional media in education is more positive than negative.

References

Clark, R. E. (1994). Media will never influence learning. Educational Technology Research and Development, 42(2), 21-29. doi: 10.1007/BF02299088

Cole, R. (2008). Educating Everybody's Children: We Know What Works—And What Doesn't. In Educating everybody's children: Diverse teaching strategies for diverse learners revised and expanded 2nd edition. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107003/chapters/Educating-Everybody's-Children@-We-Know-What-Works%E2%80%94And-What-Doesn't.aspx

Instructional Technology. (n.d.). : Research Related to Clark vs. Kozma Media Debate. Retrieved from http://reedintechnology.blogspot.com/2009/02/research-related-to-clark-vs-kozma.html

STEM SCHOOLS. (n.d.). Georgia STEM. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://stemgeorgia.org/schools/stem-schools/

Sweller, J. (2010). Element Interactivity and Intrinsic, Extraneous, and Germane Cognitive Load. Educational Psychology Review, 22(2, Cognitive Load Theory: New Conceptualizations, Specifications, and Integrated Research Perspectives), 123-138. Retrieved March 09, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/23364125?ref=search-gateway:5b24a5dfaeeafa35208d10022e4806a4

Technology not the panacea for education. (2009, February 4). SFGate. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/Technology-not-the-panacea-for-education-3173636.php

The Clark-Kozma Debate in the 21st Century from Katrin Becker

3 Phases of Educational Technology (+playlist)

Design and the Future City Competition.

The Future City program is the pinnacle of innovation for students, and it is essentially what the EiE-STEEM program is all about. Take a look at the videos below. After watching the videos, think about how your school could benefit from getting involved in a project like this.



  The first place winners for 2014. Look at how confident they are in their presentation style.

This is an hour long webinar explaining the essay process for the Future city process. Notice the ELA connections to this STEM project. Then when you connect it with a sales pitch atmosphere, you create the meta discipline of EiE-STEEM. Do you see how awesome the paradigm shift to EiE-STEEM is?


http://futurecity.org/

Exploravision and STEM

The deadline has passed for this year's entries, but we need to start preparing the students to enter this contest now.  Download materials from the website http://www.exploravision.org/.



 

Awesome Websites to Plan your STEM Lessons!

Here is a list of my top 15 awesome websites that will help you to take the shackles off of your lesson plans for free!

http://app.discoveryeducation.com/ - Here you will find instructional content, resources, tools, professional development and assessment services designed to help you accelerate student achievement.  Please note that your school may have an account with them already, so get the code so that you can start cooking with grease.

http://sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans.html - Enjoy a wide range of fun science lesson plans featuring educational activities for kids, ideas for teachers, free online resources and more to help bring interactive, hands on science to your home or classroom.

Covering topics such as earth, animals, technology, water, biology, chemistry and space, these science lesson plans and activities are perfect for teaching students the basics of science. Challenge kids from an elementary to high school level with science activities that they will enjoy. Find a topic you're interested in and get started today!

https://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/about-ceismc - CEISMC is dedicated to the enhancement of STEM education in the schools based on the enormous scholarly accomplishments of GT faculty. CEISMC advocates and participates in efforts for systemic changes that lead to improved appreciation and performance in STEM for all students at the level of K-12, especially those under-represented in STEM education, and to disseminate best practices to districts and through scholarly works.

http://www.discovere.org/our-activities - hands on STEM activities

http://www.illustrativemathematics.org/ - Illustrative Math Lessons

http://www.ldc.org/ - Awesome lessons that intergrate science, socials studies, and language arts to create a rignorous learning environment and promote the high order critical thinking skills to complement the EiE-STEEM approach.

www.TeachingChannel.org - Project based learning videos and lessons.

https://www.udacity.com/ - Rigorous technology lessons

http://bie.org/project_search - In my opinion this is the best website of them all.  There are hundreds of projects to chose from that are directly aligned to the common core standards.

http://www.codecademy.com/ - Learn how to program computers for free!

http://www.khanacademy.org/ - Immaculate Lessons at all levels!

http://www.eie.org/eie-curriculum/curriculum-units - They have the best and most easy to adapt curricular units.

 

http://www.tenmarks.com/ - common core aligned lessons for math

http://stemgeorgia.org/ - this website will connect you to Georgia STEM office and all things STEM. 

http://www.nsta.org/publications/calendar/ - a list of educational science grants, opportunities and resources

 

Save the Date for The Georgia STEM Forum

The Georgia Department of Education

Presents

THE STEM FORUM

STEM Workshops, Activities, Keynote Speakers, Panelists

OCTOBER 20-21, 2014

ATHENS, GEORGIA CLASSIC CENTER

Designed to support K-12 efforts to include STEM education in the school curriculum.

STEM Mini-Conference

STEM Mini-Conference

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2014

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Place: Georgia Tech, Student Center, 350 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA 30313

Fee: Free

Audience: Educators

Download: Flyer for this event (PDF)

 

The Georgia Tech Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) will present a STEM Mini-Conference for 6th-8th grades mathematics and science teachers.  This conference will focus on real-world applications that integrate mathematics and science concepts, which will be presented in grade level sessions. The sessions will be conducted by Georgia Tech faculty and graduate students.  Participants will receive copies of all lesson plans. Continental breakfast will be served.

 

For additional information or questions, please contact gustavia.evans@ceismc.gatech.edu

 

FREE parking is available in parking lot W21 adjacent to the Physics/Boggs/Mason, Bunger-Henry/Howey buildings.

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