EDU6215 Journal #3

Fink, R. (2017). Rap and Technology Teach the Art of Argument. Learning Disabilities -- A Contemporary Journal, 15(1), 39-53.

SUMMARY
The main focus of this article was how the utilization of rap songs and technology in ELA can help assist students who have learning disabilities with their understanding of effective argument writing. I am going to focus more on the technology piece. 

tT

RECOMMENDATIONS
While there is a big focus on literary analysis writing in high school English, it has become apparent with common core standards and state testing that it is actually more important for students to be able to write clear and convincing argumentative essays that include credible evidence. This article touches on the fact that it is difficult for students to grasps the different steps of argumentation (1 . Identify the author’s perspective. 2 . Identify the author’s claims. 3 . Identify the evidence. 4 . Identify the closing argument). It is hard for ANY student to be able to identify someone else's perspective and prove it with evidence, let alone for a student with a learning disability to do so. This research shows that using digital/multi-model argument projects in the classroom will better help students understand how to WRITE argumentative essays. The article states that a  multimodal argument is "the presentation of a thesis with a clear point of view—utilizing various modes, such as expository writing, poetry, song, rap, movement, dance, images, and video. As with traditionally written expository arguments, multimodal arguments are presented and supported by logical, clearly presented details and evidence. The main difference is that multimodal arguments include digital evidence". By having students analyze and create arguments through technology, they will be more engaged throughout the learning process, and will then remember the steps when writing an essay.

REACTION
During this year's SAT I sat with a group of students who each had a learning disability, and therefore had extended time on the test. Throughout the first testing day, you wouldn't have been able to tell that any of the students had a disability. They stayed on pace, followed directions, and bubbled in their answers as they went along. On the second day (writing) however, I couldn't help but feel sorry for these poor students. They opened the essay prompt, and sat there with glazed over eyes and had utterly confused looks on their faces. Students were so used to writing their opinion on topics, and had no idea how to take someone else's opinions and evidence to prove a topic. I think that both the rap idea and multi-modal project ideas would really assist some of the students in my class.

D

EDU6215 Journal #2

Zoukis, C. (2016, September 28). Technology Boosts Prison Education. Retrieved June 20, 2017, from http://www.prisoneducation.com/prison-education-news//technology-boosts-prison-education


Summary
The author of this article is actually a prisoner himself, and acts as a prisoner education advocate. He has published multiple non-fiction works about his experience in prison, and is currently working towards earning his bachelor degree. This article touches on the pros and logistics of using technology in prison education today.

Recommendations & My Reaction
One of the biggest reasons why people are such big proponents of educational technology, is that it focuses on individualized learning. Technology has allowed for students to be in control of how they learn and at what pace. This article states that this is also the case for educational technology in prisons and that  "This is especially important within the prison system where resources are limited, and where there are a wide variety of people with very different backgrounds and education levels". This made so much sense to me after reading it - prisons probably have the most diversity in economic/educational status between prisoners, so how could they have 1 size fits all courses - they would be set up for failure from the start! I thought about how much this would cost, but the author shares that the devices/services purchased can be circulated between prisoners and can replace the need for multiple staff members. The author also shares that "The use of new technology also has the potential for more content creation by each institution, and can be used for vocational training, rehabilitation, careers skills, and mental health services". Something else that I found interesting, was that prisoners would be able to "play" educational games or lessons, and would be able to unlock a song they could listen to after achieving a certain score. This would be more rewarding for prisoners to want to further their education and better themselves. After reading this article, it makes so much sense to utilize educational technology in prisons. There are definitely people skeptical about the fact that prisoners will have access to these devices/technologies, but the author ensured readers that there are specific systems that make sure they are secure and unable to be hacked. overall, I think that educational technology being used in prison is a great idea!

Podcast

Please enjoy listening to the soothing sounds of my voice, 

reading the first paragraph of Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.

Audio recording and upload >>

Reflection on Open Resources

There are many ways that Open Resources can cause change in schools, both positive and negative. 

Being "open" and having a variety of openly licensed resources, definitely increases educational equity, allowing more students to have access to the same information that they otherwise would not have. Using technology and the internet versus textbooks insures that information is going to be more updated - for example, some schools still have Geography books that have countries included on maps that don't even exist anymore! For History/Government classes, there are constantly things happening in the world around us that students should be having discussions about in school that won't be included in traditional old textbooks, but can be found on the internet. I really like that these open resources will allow for teachers AND students to be more creative and have access to things that wouldn't have before. There are some negatives about this idea as well. The Office of Educational Technology's website says that "Switching to educational materials that are openly licensed enables schools to repurpose funding spent on static textbooks for other pressing needs, such as investing in the transition to digital learning. In some districts, replacing just one textbook has made tens of thousands of dollars available for other purposes." This is something that I struggle with because I do not believe that this statement is true for a LOT of schools. There is obviously going to be a large upfront cost of purchasing 1:1 devices for students, and some schools don't have textbooks or money for them in the first place to be allocated towards technology. I also worry that teachers are eventually going to rely too heavily on the internet and the open resources that it provides. 

EDU6215 Journal #1

Drabkin, R. (2017, May 23). Meet Caliper, the Data Standard That May Help us (Finally) Measure Edtech Efficacy. Retrieved from Edsurge.com.

Summary
IMS Global Learning Consotrium is a non-profit member collaborative inventing the future of educational and learning technology. At an annual conference made up of 500+ educational technologists, there was a very well attended session that covered a new IMS Caliper analytics standard that may help us better measure Edtech Efficacy. The article covers information on this new standard and its implications.

Recommendations

• Caliper enables a deeper level of data sharing
• Because there are so many different types of technology tools, it has been almost impossible to have 1 standard way of sharing data among them. Edtech companies can sign up to use Caliper which offers improved data architecture and ease of use. When a student is using a certain tool, Caliper can collect and share data on students' answers to quizzes, responses on worksheets, views of videos and even the number of clicks on interactive resources - it can even capture the exact start and stop time of each of those activities. Caliper can help teachers see which tools are more engaging for students.
• Other potential uses of Caliper
• Data sharing through Caliper would allow ANY provider to communicate to users which resources are most engaging, or whose usage correlates to improvements in learning outcomes. This would save teachers/districts a LOT of time trying to find the most useful tool for their students.
• What Caliper needs to work
• Like anything else today, Caliper can really only grow and be effective if it is being bought/utilized by companies and schools. The more people that use Caliper, the more data is captured to help understand the power of the many different educational resources.

Reaction
First of all, I had to Google what "IMS" meant (Instructional Management System), before I could fully grasp what the article was about. The Educational Technology area can become very overwhelming. Every day, everywhere you look, someone has created a new technology resource that can be utilized in school. How much time are we supposed to spend trialing each one? How do we know if it is actually working/producing legitimate results from our students? It was really interesting for me to finally to start thinking about the big picture aspects of education technology.

Screencast

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