Flipped Classroom

I spent some time this week exploring the TED-Ed website as well as doing my own research on the concept of flipping lessons.  This whole concept of sharing different lessons digitally online could significantly improve collaboration among teachers and improve the overall quality of teaching and learning throughout our state and country.  Instead of being forced to create your own lesson from scratch, TED-Ed allows you to modify, change or enhance an existing lesson that has already been created and published online.  This allows you as the teacher to customize the lesson to fit your specific learning activity and you students learning styles.  I am really excited about the prospect of using TED-Ed and other video sharing website such as YouTube to share and flip lessons that I have created.  I really believe that this could change the way that teachers learn, share, interact and collaborate with each other.

Copyright and Fair Use

 

Almost any sort of media whether it be pictures, music, books, movies, video games ect. can be shared easily and almost instantaneously via the internet.  This has caused huge debates among people regarding copyrights and piracy.  All of these types of media can be legally purchased through e-stores such as iTunes and the Android store among others.  However these files are also illegally shared and download for free through various file sharing websites.  Our courts and legal system have successfuly  shut down prominant file sharing sites such as Napster and Limewire.  However when one sites gets shut down it appears that two or three other new websites quickly line up to take its place.  I guess the question to ask is can internet security and technology come up with some measures to prevent this sort of piracy and theft.  Because the great majority of musicians, authors and artists depend on the sales of their work to pay their bills and make a living wage.  If this sort of digital theft continues on a widespread scale then it could possibly decrease the quality and quantity of art and original work that is digitally created.

OER and Open Courseware

I have looked at many different math learning and tutoring websites and none have impressed me like Khan Academy.  This site was started in 2006 by Salman Khan who was tutoring his niece in mathematics remotely.  What started off as a math tutoring website now offers over 3000 video tutorials in mathematics, science, economics, computer science, humanities and test prep.  I use the video tutorials for my student who were absent from class and missed my lecture.  I also assign video tutorials and additional practice problems to students who may need additional help.  I am also able to assign students assessments and view their results online.  If you have not tried Khan Academy you should definitely check it out, it is a terrific supplemental teaching aid.

Dangers of Social Media

I just recently spoke with my sister and she told me a story about her friend who recently took a two week vacation to Peru.  She was sharing photos, thoughts and experiences of her vacation via Facebook.  However it wasn't only her friends that knew that she was out of town, but somehow a burglar was also able to obtain this information by looking at her Facebook account.  Two weeks out of the country was the perfect opportunity for a burglar to strike while no one was home.  Let this be a warning to everyone out there,  be careful about what information you share and post via social media.  There may be some unsavory characters out there who will use this information to harm or take advantage of you.

MOOC on Databases

When looking for possible Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) I spotted this class on Stanford University's website.  My undergraduate degree is in Engineering so I have some experience and interest in computer programming.  This course in particular, Introduction to Databases focuses on how databases and database systems are used in programming and online computer applications.  When took a course similar to this one many years ago I really felt like the face to face interaction and class time with the professor helped to aid in my learning and understanding of the topics.  Now I am curious to see how effective this class can be as a MOOC.  I am wondering if it will be much more difficult to learn the content in a strictly remote, digital, and online manner.