"There is a crisis in American education today, as evidenced in falling graduation rates, entrants unprepared to enter college and the workforce, fewer people seeking science and math degrees, costly teacher turnover, and poor retention rates," said Mary Ann Wolf, SETDA's executive director. "Our students deserve better. We know how the proper uses of technology in education can transform teaching and learning to improve student engagement and achievement."
The report cites several statistics to press home the need for swift action. For example, according to SETDA, the high school graduation rate is just barely over 70 percent, and fewer than 50 percent of graduates are prepared for the workforce or college. Among all U.S. industries, education ranks dead last in the use of technology.
Also, by 2010, more than 90 percent of all scientists will be living in Asia, and the United States ranks 20th in the world for graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
In many ways, this is nothing new. But it is still shocking. We think of ourselves as world leaders. For how much longer will this be true (if it even is true today)?State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has issued new guidance for reforming the nation's schools with the help of technology. Do they have any teeth? Who will see that these changes take place?
I have to be the change I want to see. I have to do my part, no matter how small. Out of SEDTA's ten recommendations, I can do my part in one: Ensure that technology tools and resources are used continuously and seamlessly for instruction, collaboration, and assessment.
2. "Feedback," a podcast in The Learning Times Green Room
In the previous article, one of SEDTA's recommendations is: 5. Incorporate innovative, consistent, and timely assessments into daily instruction. This podcast addresses feedback teachers provide to learners.
Since I am an online high school Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, I correct/provide feedback for a lot of written assignments. I've tried all sorts of methods of showing feedback (primarily formative) on a document with varying degrees of success --
- email comments
- inserting comments (highlighted or using caps) within the text
- creating text boxes on the document
- returning only segments of the doc with summary feedback for each paragraph
- general suggestions
- specific suggestions
- examples for suggestions
- phone conversations
- rubrics
3. How to Motivate Students by Errol Craig Sull, eLearn Magazine
Sull has great suggestions on how to motivate online students. They include:
- Be honest
- Always address students by name
- Asking students to send you materials
- Send "fillers" or "lite bites"
- Offer a challenge
- Include related jokes, anecdotes, and cartoons
Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. If you are ho-hum and lackadaisical about your course, expect the same from your students. They internalize and project the emotions you put out, and the more "into" the course you are, the more excited the students will become. Unlike a brick-and-mortar school where students have the physical presence of the instructor to help lead the class, here all you have is the written word to enthuse, arouse, and motivate the students' involvement in your course. Don't neglect choosing your words carefully, remember exclamation marks indicate a great energy behind those words (But be forewarned, use an exclamation mark at the end of every sentence and it will quickly lose its vibrancy).
Yes, it is okay to use exclamation marks, casual language like "Bummer", ellipses (looks like this... ), emoticons, whatever you need to communicate your enthusiasm with your students. Just don't take it to excess.
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