Blog Post #3

Peer Editing

In the YouTube short Peer Editing the viewer is shown many tips and helpful hints that could make the process of editing a peer's assignment easier for the editor and more constructive for the peer.

The video helps the editor by creating an easy to use, three-step template for editing. The narrator of the video reminds the viewer to stay positive and to start with giving compliments about the elements within the assignment that are well done. The next step is giving specific suggestions about what could be improved as far as writing style, organization, etc. The third step is corrections- looking for any spelling and grammatical errors within the assignment.

The template outlined in Peer Editing assists the peer being edited in that it reminds the editor to stay positive, lessening the chances that the peer will become defensive and less receptive to the edits. The template also emphasizes the importance of being specific with what needs to be edited, as well as providing suggestions for how the writer can improve. This prevents to absolute frustration of such nonconstructive feedback as "Your blog post is bad."

Tutorial Peer Editing

This slide show reviews the suggested procedure for peer editing. It goes through the steps outlined in the Peer Editing video: compliments, suggestions, and corrections. The only real difference between the slide show and the YouTube video is that the slideshow gives suggestions on what say in the compliments step, such as "My favorite part was_______because..."



Technology in Special Needs Education

Watching Technology in Special Education has opened my eyes to a whole new way of using technology to help those with learning disabilities. It is wonderful to know that students who could not learn in more traditional environments are being set up to achieve beyond what was thought possible before. The testimonies of the children in the video are heart-warming. They are not only able to learn more effectively, but they are able to communicate more clearly with those around them and form connections. This is not only exciting for them in the short-term, but also opens up greater opportunities for independence later in life. To see them exclaim that what used to be difficult and isolating is now made easier for them is proof that technology has a rightful place in every classroom.

If I have the privilege of teaching a class with special needs children, I would love to incorporate as much of a variety of technology as possible. As discussed in another video, "Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts," when you only have one method available for students to learn, you are only teaching one type of student. Some examples of the tools available that I would like to incorporate would be laptop pcs with the program ZoomText installed for those who need assistance with the visual aspect of an assignment. Another creative use of technology shown in the video that I liked was audio books on an iPod for students who understand material better when it is read to them. This is also useful because it allows the student to pause and rewind sections as needed.



Writing Peer Review TOP 10 Mistakes

Writing Peer Review TOP 10 Mistakes is an adorable YouTube video with a group of fourth graders detailing the big mistakes and mishaps that can occur when we are peer editing. It is a reminder once again for those doing the editing to be kind and stay positive, and to be specific about what needs work. The kids also bring up the importance of staying on topic and not rushing the editing process. If the editor takes his or her time the final product will be much better. The kids also point out behaviors that the peers being edited should look out for. Being a "Whatever William" is not very conducive to the editing process, nor is being a "Defensive Dave." If you are not involved or interested in the editing, or unwilling to take criticism, you are wasting both your and the editor's time.

Super Why ABC Adventures

Super Why ABC Adventures is a game published by PBS Kids for the iOS platform. The game is based on a popular children's television show. It utilizes characters such as super heroes and princesses to help teach word recognition and pronunciation. I believe that using an already popular TV show with colorful, recognizable characters will help students get involved with learning using the app in the classroom setting. The show and app also make use of familiar storybook plots to assist in the retention of information learned.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicky Davis is an award-winning blogger, and a pioneer in using technology as a teaching tool. She teaches a class in a small rural town in southern Georgia and manages to connect her students with other students around the world. Using a program called OpenSim , the students in her class are separated into groups and given a specific area of the program to learn and then teach to their classmates. Two interesting facets of her teaching style are that she actively learns right along with her students (she explains that even she did not know how to terraform in OpenSim until that team in her class did their presentation), and she does not feel that she should have to define every term for her students because they are capable of defining terms themselves. Her students are not "learning" because the teacher gave them information and they regurgitated it, they are learning because she taught them how to effectively use their resources to solve their own problems. In getting her students to collaborate with other students in such faraway places as Bangladesh and Qatar, Davis empowers them to learn about the world beyond their rural town. In an increasingly global society, the ability to communicate across cultural and geographic boundaries is a great skill to have.