Using Technology To Motivate

One of the most difficult tasks a teacher may have is to motivate an unmotivated student. There is an endless desire to reach students who don’t want to be reached. The teacher investigates every avenue they can think of to come up with an idea that will help. Getting into the student’s world, finding relavence, and using tools they are comfortable with, are all commonly mentioned techniques a teacher can use. But how to learn about students whose generation is 20, 30, 40 sometimes 50 years younger?
step in the latest technological device that every 12 year old clings to like a life saving machine.
A few years ago, my husband and I purchased an MP3 player….not because we wanted to have an MP3 player, but because we knew that the technology was moving so fast, that if we didn’t stay familiar with it, we would be dependant on our 5 year old to teach us how to run our Blue Ray. Now, with clouds and other ways to store information, MP3 players are nearly irrelavent. My students can absorb the new information and technology much quicker than (older) teachers. My advice for teachers: Do not be afraid of new technology, instead, purchase, practice and stay familiar with the new developing world around you…it may even motivate you to learn more….that is why I started this blog.

photo credit: rAmmoRRison via photopin cc

Flipped for Flipped Learning

Ever hear of Flipped Learning? I have been hearing about teachers who are using technology in a constructive way, instead of just games. I didn’t know it had a special name, but I knew the technique. Students access the next day’s lesson the night before at home through video, podcast or other such visual demonstration. Students can view the lesson several times at their own comfort and convenience. The next day when the student goes to class, they “practice” the information they learned the night before. In class, the teacher can work with small groups of students who need extra instruction and/or they can go help students practice their new learned skill. Now, what I just discussed is a very “generic” version. I began investigating this technique and came across “Flipped Learning”. The idea is students learn the concepts at home, and then practice in school. I did more investigating and found the “Flipped Learning Network”. There is a link in my BlogRoll.
It is free to join. Learn and practice a new philosophy on how to increase practice time in your classroom, and how to differentiate learning for all the learning levels you may have in your class. Their are webinars, discussion groups and support if you have questions. Please comment about your experience with flipped learning, or if you have even heard of it….it may motivate you! It motivated me to try….but I need to learn more…..how about you?