Alternative School Ideas

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Permalink Reply by Obe Hostetter on August 14, 2010 at 5:54pm

I would suggest SMART Boards or interactive whiteboards are great for instruction and Student Response systems (clickers) are great for assessment and keeping student's attention. I would ask several companies to do a demo for you to see which technologies would best suit your school, teachers and students.

There is also a lot of web 2.0 websites and software you can buy or use to help students collaborate and learn from people from around the world.

Another idea might be to use ipod touches, ipads or tablet PCs.

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Permalink Reply by E Cohen on August 14, 2010 at 6:21pm

Could you be more specific about what kinds of technology you have in mind? There are some great ideas but they depend on what you have available...

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Permalink Reply by Johnathan Chase on August 15, 2010 at 5:47am

Have them create their own song-inspired media projects and PSA's ...

http://www.edmestoncentralschool.net/uploads/jchase/musicvideoto.htm

http://www.youtube.com/user/getwhatugive

Here is an article about the media project and other tech ideas...

http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_12366...

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Permalink Reply by Tracy on August 15, 2010 at 10:39am

I visited your site and love the idea of song insipered projects.

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Permalink Reply by Johnathan Chase on August 15, 2010 at 11:38am

Also check out Learning From Lyrics FB group for more project examples and resources. See info page for additional links, new members always welcome ! http://bit.ly/aK5LT5

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Permalink Reply by Tracy on August 15, 2010 at 10:38am

By the end of Sept we will have smartboards, netbooks for each student, responders, digital cameras, and flip videos.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Stafford on August 15, 2010 at 11:26am

Since you seem to have all the technology you need the next step would be to look at web 2.0 apps to put the tech to work.  Glogster comes to mind as a 
attention grabbing site.  Visuwords and wordle would good tools 
for language lessons.  Doing videos with kids on topics they care about
would go a long way to engaging their interests.  

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Permalink Reply by Laurie Hartnett on August 16, 2010 at 11:38am

My students loved glogster last year. I am interested in trying some other activities this year- I like the idea of learning from lyrics... There are so many great opportunities for students to learn creatively now!

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