Education Blog

Click here to vote for the finalists!

Tell Us for Your Chance to Win A Netbook for You and a Tablet PC and Projector for Your Classroom!

Today, learning is no longer limited to the four walls of a classroom. Students around the globe, no matter how young or old are developing 21^st Century Skills and are increasingly comfortable with technology. You can look up the definition of a word, learn about current events happening hundreds of miles away and connect with people on other continents with one touch of a button. In this digital age, we are learning continuously.

Starting from October 15, we are bringing you the Where Do You Like to Learn photography competition. We are kicking-off the month-long contest, where we want you to show us where you like to learn!

Whether it’s in your favorite bookstore or on your living room floor; in your neighborhood park or your best friend’s backyard, we can all be a little more creative with where we choose to study. Learning can take place anywhere!

Entering is easy. And, the reward even bigger! Simply email your photograph(s) to edu4u@dell.com for the chance to win the competition. The winner nominates a school and student under the age of 18 to receive the grand prizes - a tablet PC for the classroom and Dell's new Latitude 2100 netbook for the student.

You can also follow us on Twitter @Edu4U and send us a link to your photo sharing site. Each contestant is allowed up to four photographs. You have until November 15, 2009 to enter. A group of judges will determine the top 5 finalists. And, starting November 17, 2009, you’ll have a chance to pick your favorite photo! The photo with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be our winner. The grand prize is a Latitude 2100 for the student and a tablet PC and projector for his or her classroom. Parents or teachers must enter for children under 18 years of age. Full contest rules, judging criteria and answers to frequently asked questions about the competition can be found here.

Let the photo sessions begin! Be sure to join the Edu4U community and check back to vote.

Follow @Edu4u on Twitter and use the official hashtag #dell.

Good luck!

Jim Dachos. Education Manager with Glogster EDU (edu.glogster.com), Multi-state certified teacher with eight years of teaching experience. Former Senior Director in Assessment Services with National Evaluation Systems, now Evaluation Systems of Pearson.

Twitter: @glogstereduman

Glogster EDU is a rapidly expanding Web 2.0 network of educators and students linked through innovative and imaginative learning experiences.
http://hbhskat.glogster.com/Cellular-Respiration/ *

Glogster EDU’s platform easily allows users to upload photos, videos, text, audio, and other exciting resources in creating unique online, interactive posters (Glogs) to express their knowledge and skills on classroom projects.
http://v7ps.glogster.com/english-final/ *

This free, dynamic, innovative digital outlet captures student’s excitement for online creations, keeps students engaged in course content, and makes learning more fun. Glogster’s digital platform encourages educators to integrate dynamic multisensory learning experiences into traditionally text-oriented subjects and motivates student’s desire to explore topics in which they may previously have been less interested. http://lolzz.glogster.com/Artemis-Fowl/ *

Creating Innovative and Interactive Learning Communities:

Teachers can easily and safely register up to 200 students in their monitored online learning community. Each teacher within the Glogster EDU learning community receives unique login names and passwords, distributes them to their students, and monitors the individual student-designed profile pages.

Once the administrative tasks are complete, learners may begin to share their teacher directed “Glog Assignments” with other members of their learning community. Teachers are secure, knowing that their students are engaged in a private and safe environment that is monitored directly by the teachers themselves.

The teacher designs, implements and directs the assignment while controlling the activities within the virtual classroom.

Teachers and students share ideas, work together, and build positive peer and student/teacher relationships as they demonstrate creative self- expression, and content knowledge and skills through individual or group projects. Both, teachers and learners, can comment on the work of others, share ideas, and evaluate best practices and outcomes. Thus, Glogster EDU democratizes the classroom to allow for a participatory culture and prepare students with skills necessary for the 21^st century.

Each member of the community is able to network with other teachers and peers in collaborative dialogue, interactive classroom projects, thematic units, and school or district-wide initiatives. Since “glogs” may contain text, graphics, audio, video and image elements of a thematic activity, their versatility encourages educators in language arts, science, math, social studies, art, music and other disciplines to integrate shared activities. Projects may be saved and revisited at any point during the school year or archived for future classes and historical perspectives on projects completed in past years. Moreover, parents may be encouraged to participate in classroom activities, monitor their child’s progress, and contribute to projects in creative ways.
http://nobile3rdgrade.blogspot.com/

Virtual classrooms may extend beyond the immediate educational surroundings to include other Glogster EDU communities throughout the world. The results will be expanded opportunities for authentic work, global audiences and concrete experiences of students and educators making valuable contributions to their learning communities together.
http://b-7bobcats.wikispaces.com/Glogsters

Glogster EDU was conceived to imaginatively, productively, and collaboratively respond to the dynamic educational landscape encouraging the participation of all of its community members. We value the participation of educators and strive to assimilate their contributions.

* Please note that the links provide will access our social networking site, Glogster and not Glogster EDU. Since all glogs on Glogster EDU are private the Glogster links are provided to illustrate creative examples. Additional content on Glogster, other than the glogs provided may contain objectionable materials.

Stay tuned to Part II, “Student-Centered Classroom/Activities and Instruction”. Your comments and Glogster EDU project suggestions are encouraged.

During the launch of Connected Classroom in The American School of Milan, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Alan Austen, The American School of Milan Director. Watch below as we discuss the technology they implemented in the School, the Learning Ecosystem and how to equip students with the 21st century skills they need to be competitive in the global economy.

Last week we held our first “International K12 Education Advisory Council” since the inception of our Global business. Twenty-five customers from 9 countries and 14 school districts from around the United States participated in the two and half day event. It was very interesting to hear about many of the similar challenges faced by educators internationally. Students from around the world are truly digital natives and all schools are faced with engaging them using the technology amidst budget issues and proper training for teachers to use that technology in their curriculums. It was great to get the feedback from these customers to make sure we are bringing technology to the classroom that helps them prepare students for future success! One overriding theme we heard throughout the event was the need for “access” for students, teachers, faculty and families to be competitive in today’s environment.

I also had the chance to sit down and discuss technology’s role in education with Dr. Sheryl Abshire of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Lets’ be honest – diving into evidence based research reports issued by the US Department of Education was not likely to be on the summer reading lists for many of us over the past few months. One such report that did catch my eye however was a research publication that was released in May, 2009. “Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning” is a study that looks at the effectiveness of online learning. Specifically, this research study set out to answer the following questions:

1. How does the effectiveness of online learning compare with that of face-to-face instruction?
2. Does supplementing face-to-face instruction with online instruction enhance learning?
3. What practices are associated with more effective online learning?
4. What conditions influence the effective of online learning?

Unlike that summer thriller that you may have read at the beach, let’s jump to the end immediately. Key findings from this study include:

• Students who took all or part of their courses online performed better than those who took the same course solely in a traditional face-to-face environment.
• Instruction that combined elements of both online and face-to-face delivery had a larger advantage than instruction provided solely online.
• The effectiveness of online learning approaches appears to be broad across different online content and student types.

What does this study potentially mean? First I would say that it provides evidence to show that online learning is a viable alternative to traditional methods for delivering instruction. Other research studies have similarly shown that students are achieving at equal if not higher rates in online courses compared to traditional face to face settings. Secondly, I would point to the finding that showed a combination of both face-to-face and online instruction yields the highest achievement gains. This is consistent with the message that I have been sharing with you that the role of the teacher is a critical component to student success even in online courses. Finally, I would advise you to not assume that all online course providers will offer the same level of instructional interaction and student engagement; two key elements of success in online learning.

Bruce Friend is a pioneer in K-12 online learning. As a founding member, teacher, and chief administrator of two state-wide virtual school programs, Bruce has considerable experience in providing online learning opportunities to home school students. In 2003, Bruce was honored with the Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Award by the U.S. Distance Learning Association. In recent years he has consulted with online program developers and families throughout the United States. He is currently the Director of SAS® Curriculum Pathways® (www.sascurriculumpathways.com). bruce.friend@sas.com.