Peer-Review Journal Article
It is time to take advantage of Open Educational Resources. There is a vast growing number of educational resources available for free. I believe that by integrating the use of digital lesson plans and resources we can cut the cost by going textbook free. By having each teacher decide what they would like to cover in their classes and go seek the resources out, we are giving them freedom. I found a very interesting article out there, by Valerie Wells published on Converge Magazines site, about an Illinois school district that has already implemented this strategy. In the article Ed Moyer who is the district’s chief instructional officer states “What’s possible is an amazing level of collaboration, an incredible level of accountability, but also a generation of excitement among teachers who are now given some opportunities to say, ‘What should be happening in my classroom?’” (Wells, 2016). I think this is a very real result. The teacher is allowed to hand pick, or virtually pick the exact material they would like their students to study. It creates the ability for the student to have all of the info and be able to access it at any time. The task may be time consuming initially, but I think once it is up and going the library of digital information will grow and be easier to add too. I think the students will enjoy the up to date materials as well as the abundance of them. Kids today will benefit from adding to their digital illiteracies, by using this method of lesson planning.
Resource
Wells, Valerie (September 12, 2016). Teacher-Created Digital Lessons Will Replace
Some Textbooks in an Illinois School District. The Herald & Review. Decatur,
Ill. http://www.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/Teacher-Created-Digital-Lessons-Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in- an-Illinois-School-District.htmlwww.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/Teacher-Created-Digital-Lessons-Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in-an-Illinois-School-District.html
Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in-an-Illinois-School-District.html
Resource
Wells, Valerie (September 12, 2016). Teacher-Created Digital Lessons Will Replace
Some Textbooks in an Illinois School District. The Herald & Review. Decatur,
Ill. http://www.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/Teacher-Created-Digital-Lessons-Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in- an-Illinois-School-District.htmlwww.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/Teacher-Created-Digital-Lessons-Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in-an-Illinois-School-District.html
Will-Replace-Some-Textbooks-in-an-Illinois-School-District.html
Thought-Leader Insight
Practice in K-12 School
Software/App Review
I think 3-D printing in schools is doing great things to include a larger variety of learners. This type of capability is fantastic for kinesthetic learners. It is one thing to read about an idea or structure. It is a completely different learning experience to be able to have a tangible item. I think having this kind of equipment at schools can be a great benefit to all students. We all learn differently, that is for certain, however we are not always aware of our learning capabilities. I think this is a good way to offer variety to help students discover how they learn best. I think the 3-D printers is also a good way to get girls and boys interested in STEM. In the end, I would have to say that giving students access to 3-D printers is absolutely worth it.