How does anyone inspire learning and creativity? This question must be asked and attempted to be answer if you are implementing National Educational Technology Standards (Nets) These standards will assist educators in at least motivating students who have been nurture in the 21st century with many types of technology outside of the classroom; therefore, needing similar familiar tools in the classroom to inspire and promote creativity.
One way to promote learning and creativity for students when it comes to written or typed communication is to facilitate what students are already using. The website, National Council for Teachers of English, (NCTE) assists educators by providing research, articles, and lesson plans which definitely will at least motive student learning. For example, a recently featured lesson on the NCTE website invites students to think about language--email language. Students would use several levels of Bloom's taxonomy thinking to complete the activity while using technology. (The lesson is actually part of readwritethink.org.)
A second way to promote learning and creativity for students through technology may be a webquest. It appears that through zunal.com that an educator or may even a student could access a web page that facilitates learning on many academic concepts. Educators can definitely create webquests that give instruction to their classroom students as well as anyone who has Internet access.
Another way to promote learning and creativity as well as touching upon another technology standard indicator--promote student reflection using collaborative tools is to facilitate collaboration through technology. A wiki, which is just the ticket, allows students to use technological collaboration. There are several sites on the Internet which allows educators to assist students in creating a wikispace. For example, wikispaces.com invites educators for free to do just that.
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Rena,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a webquest. I had not heard about that type of activity before, but it seems like something students could really enjoy.
Rena-I never heard of wikispace. Anything that has to do with collaboration I am interested in. I think students/teachers sharing ideas through technological collaboation is an ideal way for pertinent information to be passed along and also reinforced. But as an educator I cannot forget that despite all the available technology it is my job to teach, motivate and inspire. Technology is only a tool to assist in that effort. Phillip Epaves
ReplyDeleteRena- thank you SO much for your webquest website (zunal.com)! I am thinking of incorporating a webquest into a Mathematics project with my students, and I am finding lots of helpful things on this site. I suggest it for anyone who is interested in/ is not familiar with using webquests.
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to know more about WebQuests checkout http://webquest.org/index.php
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a great point about facilitating "what students are already using" in order to promote learning and creativity. Many students are drawn to and truly interested in technology so it seems logical to play to their interests by incorporating technology in the classroom. One of our contributors at the TI Teachers Lounge believes that incorporating technology in lesson plans will not only engage the student but also inspire creativity and encourage critical thinking. Our contributor discusses the importance of technology and even lists a few fun math activities for students. To check out what she has to say visit: http://timath.com/blog/?p=442
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