Research


 * =** Research **=

◦ What are the documented uses and benefits of this resource?
== ◦ Post a link to at least on one article, essay, or web-based paper that provides classroom examples, best practices, or research about the use of this technology. Include a brief one-paragraph summary of the information contained in the article, essay, or web-based paper. ==

**CNN Student News by Julie Carson**
====Using CNN student news enables students to stay connected with current events and will support them to have an interest in current events as they mature into adulthood. Additionally current events easily integrate across curriculum topics as well as provide a commonality for students and parents to engage in conversation.====

====This article on education world titled Why Teach Current Events? By Gary Hopkins, explains a long list of reasons that current events should be taught in the classroom. One of the reasons I connected with is that it is that current events “ Offer ideal opportunities for cooperative-group instruction, classroom discussions and debates, purposeful follow-up writing, and much more.” Time in the classroom seems very limited and I want to ensure that my students are receiving purposeful teaching and learning that prepare them to be active citizens in a changing world. ====

====Additionally, this article titled [|Teachers Weigh the Benefits of Teaching Current Events] written by Abby Duker highlights a classroom that also watches CNN students and quotes students and teachers who find it beneficial. For example, one student said, “It is important that we watch the news because it’s what’s relevant now,” Gimlett added. “I think, our education on the world is limited to whatever topics we study in class, and it’s important that we are fully aware of not only the Byzantine Empire, but also present day.” I also find that students are more interested when they are able to connect information to current news. For example, a class learning about the Great Depression may be able to make comparisons the recession or unemployment rates in the United States. It becomes more meaningful and engaging for students when they are able to make connections.====


 * Animoto by Katrina Hampton**

This support article by educator Chris Roche explains what Animoto is and praises its use for the classroom. Animoto for Educators is free and through a personal promotion code allows up to 50 students to use the account. Roche explains why Animoto should be used in the classroom and what lessons it supports. Students can create digital stories. Teachers can set up vocabulary activities and book trailers and Roche provides an example of The Alchemyst for viewing. []

Another support article by Sara Wilson interviews the founders of Animoto. Brad Jefferson, Jason Hsiao, and brothers Stevie and Tom Clifton started Animoto in August 2006. It was inspired by the "boring" slideshows that Hsiao would frequently view. They thought that the way to show experiences and how its evolving is to create a tool that would demonstrate it. Additional sections include Animoto for Educators and Animoto for Businesses. []


 * Technology as a Resource by Lori Cogdill**

“Technology improves performance when the application provides opportunities for students to design and implement projects that extend the curriculum content being assessed by a particular standardized test” (Smith and Throne, 2007 p. 8). Differentiated Instruction (DI) is concerned with addressing the needs of individual students while maintaining content. According to Smith and Throne, there are several fundament components of DI. (http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/DIFFK5-excerpt.pdf ). DI promotes student accountability through group interaction as well as whole class participation. DI focuses on quality of work and not quantity and requires educators to organize and present content in such a way as to increase learning in a safe and comfortable environment. Technology provides opportunity to maximize time and allows educators to focus on organization and accuracy of materials and skills presented. Technology improves performance when integrated with curricular content into the typical instruction of the day, when working cooperatively in groups, and when teachers and administration embrace and support technological change (Smith and Throne, 2007). Differentiation and technology are both important aspects of all learning experiences and soon may be dependent on one another in order to truly differentiate instruction for all students. "Streaming meadia puts learning in the hands of the students" ([]). It places resposibility for learning on students and allows both teacher and student to focus on important aspects of content.

=Research by Ellen Bankaitis=

My replacement idea was the use of the video editing and presentation tool VIDDIX.

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There are multiple documented uses of using videos and presentation tools in the classroom, both teacher-made and student-made. All of these noted that the use of technology in general captures (hooks) the students attention and keeps them focused on the lesson at hand. This New York Times article states: “They (teachers) are intensifying efforts to use technology in the classroom, seeing it as a way to connect with students and give them essential skills.” []. =====

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It also notes how students like to hop from topic to topic and do not stay on task well as a result of their “digital diets”. This makes me wonder if too much use of technology in the classroom will exacerbate their lack of on task staying power. Immediate gratification is also noted in the article. Will today’s students be able to deal with working hard over a long period of time to complete a task or will they be more likely to give up because they are not getting the results they want right away. Learning from mistakes is an important part of the educational and professional process – when will they learn this? Overall, this article brings to light many points of how technology is affecting our 21st Century students, the negative and the positive. =====

As I was researching my video use in the classroom I ran across this article form NYSUT (New York State Teachers Union on Skyping in the classroom. I really liked the idea and could see it used in my IUP. [] . It gives a list of tips for Skype success! Additionally, this teacher posted his top ten ways to use technology in the classroom [].

Research-Tiffany Armstrong Starfall.com

After doing some research into what parents and educational sites feel about this site, it seems that the review are clear, Starfall is a great website for children from 16 months old, to those in the early elementary grades. Parents feel comfortable letting their young children use it to work on ABC identification, and recognition, as well as a source for developing reading skills. The following website provides some of the comments that parents shared about Starfall: []

The educational site educationalworld.com gave Starfall a five star rating. The site reviewer, Sarah Caron (2011) commented that “The ideal use of Starfall is as a supplement to in-class exercises and lessons. It’s engaging for kids, and extends the lessons with fun visual and audio”. [|__http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2003/r0303-18.shtml__]

Research-Peter Ahart Flat Classroom website for more information

http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/About
===I struggled to find proven information (scholarly) about Flat Classroom, many of the websites I ran across were solely testimonials about the benefits of Flat Classroom. This entire concept was taken from a book entitled //The World Is Flat.// I believe this initiative is too recent in order for extensive research to have been done. With that said, I understand everything has draw backs, but I find it hard for Flat Classroom to have very many. Obviously the first and most apparent drawback is technology failure, if your computer doesn't run, then this program will not be a success. The benefits ultimately outweigh the negatives on this program. This idea promotes 21st century in very many beneficial ways; allowing students to become lifelong learners, technology usage, globally aware, collaborative thinkers/workers resourceful and responsible.===

Media Player will come under the broad heading of digital media players. Attached is a link my Liza Mathers explaining the advantages of Digital Media Player http://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-of-Digital-Media-Player&id=4744447 Mathers (2010) outlined that Digital Media Players meet the latest technological needs. This software can carry out all the required needs of an individual. It is ‘user-friendly’ meaning that it is very simple to operate. The software is very flexible in terms of storage and it is very convenient. In addition, it keeps files safe and secure. Moreover, it offers individuals a satisfactory experience. Another article explored is “Using Audio As a Teaching Tool” by Michael Preston. http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/enhanced/primers/audio_as_teaching_tool.html This article discusses the usefulness of Digital Audio which includes software such as Media Player. Preston (2009) sees the use of digital audio as very affective. In his view, digital audio “…reproduce a wide range of aural experiences and distribute them easily over the Internet to provide students with "anytime, anywhere" exposure to content, along with increased opportunities to practice the skills we'd like them to learn.” Preston (2009) further states that digital audio serves a study aid and assists with revision. It can be used to instill demonstrative skills. In addition, it can be used frequently. This serves to help students learn and retain information.
 * //__RESEARCH-SHENILE DANIEL __//**