Flipped Classroom

I know that a lot of the discussion this week revolved around the idea of the flipped classroom, and in most cases, everyone seemed to just on board the flipped classroom train!  I hate to be a Debby Downer (lol), but I am not one of them.  Now, I am speaking specifically for the grade that I teach (3rd), but I do not see this as something that I would use in my classroom in the near future, or really...ever.  

The following are some downsides to using the flipped classroom model: 

1. Students may not have access to the technology needed to complete the lessons at home. 
2. Requiring students to learn the lessons at home requires time.  Many teachers do not believe in giving homework, and this could definitely rob a child the time to just be a kid when they get home from school. 
3. Lecturing does not = learning.  "The flipped classroom is built on a traditional model of teaching and learning.  I lecture - you intake.  While this method of teaching works for some learners, many others thrive with a model that takes a more constructivist approach" (Nielson, 2011). 

The above information was taken from a fellow blogger, Lisa Nielson.  You can find her blog at: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com 

Although I am not a firm believe of the flipped classroom in the elementary setting, I believe that it could work in the high school setting, although I do not think that it should be used for every lesson.

It is said that, "Devoting class time to application of concepts might give instructors a better opportunity to detect errors in thinking."  Flipped classrooms also leave more time for collaborative projects during class time, where students can reinforce what was learned at home through hand-on, motivating activities.  

I can see both sides to using the flipped classroom model, but for now, I think I will stick to what is working for me. :)

The following cite includes a lot of great information on how to flip your classroom.  There are also a few good videos to watch: http://www.flippedclassroom.com/

Edcause. (2012). 7 things you should know about flipped classrooms. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7081.pdf. Retrieved on October 11, 2013.

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

When completing the discussion this week on assistive technology, I thought that it would be a good time to share my experience with using an FM system for a student who is hearing impaired in my classroom.

I'm going to backtrack 2 years ago, and begin my story when this student, we will call her Amy, was in the first grade.  Two years ago, I was a long term substitute at my current school.  At the end of each day, I was in charge of walking my class out to their busses, as well as a few students from another class.  Amy just so happened to be one of the students from another class who would join the end of my line to walk out to the busses.  For first graders, it is essential that we walk the students to their individual busses, and make sure that every child gets home.  This can be very stressful for a teacher who is trying to lead a class of 20 students down a crazy, loud, crowded hallway.  I always stressed out about this, and worried that some students would get lost.  I constantly told the students that they needed to look for me in the hallway, and walk in a straight line.  Every day, Amy joined the end of my line, and EVERY DAY, she would make a wrong turn, and lead a group of students out the wrong door, and out of my site.  I would call out after her, but she would just keep going, seeming to ignore my calls!  I eventually got very annoyed with this, and had a serious talk with her about following directions.

Fast forward 2 years, and Amy is currently in my class, and I found out that she is hearing impaired.  In the first grade, no one ever told me this, and this was the reason that she kept getting lost going out to the busses.  She wasn't ignore my calls, she just couldn't hear me!  You can imagine how bad I felt about being annoyed with her, thinking that she just chose not to follow directions!

Amy has a degenerative hearing impairment, and she has hearing aides that connect to an FM system.  At first I was leery about using the device, because I wasn't sure if it would be simple to use.  As it turns out, it is extremely easy to use, and never bothersome in class.  I simply have to clip a little box to my belt, and attach a microphone to the top of my shirt.  The microphone is connected to Amy's hearing aides, and helps to amplify any sounds that I make.  I am constantly thankfully for this assistive device, as it would be very difficult for Amy to learn without it.  Assistive technology can really make a world of difference for children in need!

Below is a picture of a teacher using an FM System that looks similar to mine.

http://bilingualaudiology.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/teacher-wears-individual-FM-system.jpg

The following are some useful resources when dealing with assistive technology in the classroom:

• http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/strategies-for-learning-disabilities/assistive-technology/
• http://www.teachthought.com/technology/8-helpful-assistive-technology-tools-for-your-classroom/
• http://www.phonak.com/content/dam/phonak/b2b/C_M_tools/FM/Children-Hear-Better-with-FM.pdf
• 
  

Wikipedia is Whack!

After this week's conference discussion on Wikipedia as a research tool, I really started to reflect on my own Wikipedia use throughout my life.

Although there is much evidence that Wikipedia can be a poor source of information, it is so difficult to NOT stumble across a Wikipedia article while browsing the web.  I found that when I Googled any topic, Wikipedia was in the top three searches that came up!  This makes it fast and easy to click on the first piece of information available.  I hate to admit it, but I feel as though I always seem to fall for this trap, and I know that I am guilty of using Wikipedia when researching.

While browsing the web, I came across this interesting article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/170874/The_15_Biggest_Wikipedia_Blunders.html

This article discusses the 15 biggest Wikipedia blunders, and while it is a fun read, it is also very telling of how great the "mistakes" can be.  Number 13 states, "Conan O'Brien assaults sea turtles while canoeing" (Raphael, 2009).  Something tells me that this was no mistake, and someone was just bored one night and decided to see how many people they could fool.  There are multiple hoax's that have been played using Wikipedia, and that goes to show you how dangerous this website can really be!

Raphael, J. (2009). The 15 biggest wikipedia blunders. PC World, Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com

Welcome to my blog!

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog!  I have always enjoyed reading blogs of friends, family, and fellow teachers, but I had never thought of making one myself.  Hopefully this gives me the opportunity to not only explore a new technology to use in my classroom, but also to provide a creative outlet for me to discuss classroom, and related technology topics!  As Will Richardson states in his book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, "the best way to fully understand the potential of Weblogs as a teaching and learning tool is to become a blogger" (Richardson, 2010)  I am very excited to see what this course has to offer!


Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed., p. 43). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.