Eclectic Technology

"Top students aren’t made, they’re born. After effortlessly absorbing whatever the teacher throws at them, they spout it back on tests and watch the A’s come rolling in. They have exceptionally high IQs, making it next to impossible for the rest of the class to compete with them. They’re the ones who leave exams early and breeze through the most complex material in the syllabus. They are eggheads, nerds, geeks, and their success is the result of innate talent and ability."

It starts with an image. Present ideas. Pack it full of content. Create links to amazing sites. Explore, share and create with ThingLink in the classroom!

Recent research illustrates how writing by hand engages the brain in learning. And in an interesting twist, new technology is starting to reinvigorate this age-old practice.

So how does writing by hand engage the brain in learning? Research shows that:

* One study using an MRI machine which looked for "neural activity in the brain" showed that "children who had practiced printing by hand [showed] neural activty [that] was far more advanced and 'adult-like' than those who had simply looked at letters."

* Another study "demonstrated that in grades two, four and six, chilren wrote more words, faster,and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand versus computer."

There are a number of other studies discussed in this post as well as a link to a short video that discusses some of the research.

"When used effectively, technology plays an important role in enhancing the learning process. Teachers can use digital devices to present supplemental material for lessons or to encourage students to take a more hands-on role in their education."

The question is how do we keep students engaged and focused on the lesson...knowing how many distractions exist once a student is sitting at a computer. 
Suggestions include:

* Encourage direct engagement

* Use real-world problems

Read on for additional ways to use technology to enhance your lessons and support student learning. 

This is the new buzz world this year in our schools. But, is it really new or is it just integrating the computer lab into the classroom? Or is it doing what some of the best teachers already do? T...

Now more than ever, students need to understand the basics of social media and how it can affect their future both negatively and positively.

What are some of the issues students need to be aware of when it comes to social media? This post recommends six area:

* Your online reputation

* The concept of privacy and having a "professional public appearance online"

* The value of connections (as in your personal network) 

* Helping student establish their expertise (blogging, etc.)

* Internet savvy (as in "find the cheapest textbooks online")

* Staying updated

As the article states "social media will drive the upcoming generation" so teaching them how to use the Internet and "manage" their online identity is critical.

Big News on Best Of TED 2011.Includes blogs, news, and community conversations about Best Of TED 2011...Starting today, we will be counting down 18 of 2011's most impactful TEDTalks -- and combining them with new blog posts written by the people who delivered them.