Since everyone seems to be dreading the end of the summer and the return of the school year, we got to thinking…Is it really that time of year for everyone?
When Is Back To School—Actually
It’s just about that time again—the exhilaration (for teachers) and the dreading (for students) of going back to school to embark on another year of tech-filled learning opportunities. Or is it time yet? Or maybe you’re already late? Have you ever wondered if every child in the world starts school on the same day or, if they don’t, how long have they already been in class? Well, the answer is that not everyone starts school at the exact same time, but, relatively speaking, back-to-school dates around the world generally are not too far apart from each other—even in vastly different countries.
We traditionally—at least in New England—think of back to school time as the day after Labor Day (Sept. 8 this year in Boston). For a lot of schools, that is correct. By that time, however, kids in Jacksonville, Ill. have already gotten used to school again having been there for at least three weeks (Aug. 17) and those children from Mobile, Ala. have been there for almost a month (Aug. 10). Though it may feel more like winter than fall, kids in Anchorage, Alaska began school on Aug. 19 while in the northern part of the continental United States, Green Bay, Wis. heads back on Sept. 1 and Boise, Idaho began on the 24th. If some of those dates sound a little early, they’re not. Los Angeles schools were back in session on Aug. 18 and in Tucson, Ariz. doors opened way back on Aug. 6! Wow!
What about around the globe? Well, that’s a bit different than here in the United States—but not for all countries. In some countries, the school year is broken up into multiple terms with more breaks instead of the one long summer vacation we are accustomed to having here. In others, however, they have the same model as the United States, so it all depends where you’re lucky enough to grow up! Down under in Australia, the school year is broken up into four 2-month terms with the most recent one getting started way back on July 20. It will run until Sept. 25 when kids will have two weeks off to recharge.
Japan and Brazil follow similar patterns as the kids in the heart of Tokyo will begin again in September and go until Christmas before a lengthy break from January-March and in Brazil, the second term begins in early August and runs until December with a month off in between the two terms. In Finland and France, you better enjoy summer while it lasts because before they know it, kids are back in school. Finland began summer break on June 30 and will start on Sept. 1 while children in France got out July 3 and will be back in class on the first of September. Yikes! Elsewhere, in Beijing, school began on Aug. 20. In Iceland, classes got underway on Aug. 24 and in Ghana, kids have until Sept. 7 to milk the remaining days of summer.
No Reason Not To Take Tech On Field Trips
Educators can use technology in so many ways to enhance in-class instruction with interactive and easily recognizable examples of learning in action that students can truly relate to and apply. In recent years, tech use in education has even been expanded to include at-home use in the ‘flipped classroom’ model and has been met with praise by a good deal of users. Now, however, as the new school year is just about set to take off, so too is yet another use for educational technology. Tech use has truly changed the way that students learn in the classroom and it’s now being used to help them learn even when they’re out of it.
We’ve covered school and we’ve covered technology use at home, so what else is left? What about field trips? Genius! Teachers already use field trips to supplement kids’ knowledge of a particular subject matter or unit, but using technology on those fun days spent outside of the classroom can be extremely beneficial for each student. Tech gadgets and tools have made it possible to enhance field trips to help drive home the deeper meaning for the reason students get to spend the day outside the classroom. Even if you’re not actually physically going on a field trip, technology enables educators to bring field trips right into the classroom for a day off from textbooks. These virtual field trips are just as beneficial for students and using technology to learn skills like engineering or coding is highly beneficial for their future.
Tablets, for example, can help prepare kids for the field trip they’re about to take by providing outlets for informative videos and can also be a source of collaboration once returning to school via online discussion forums. This helps hone their inquiry and digital literacy skills in a way that’s unique to them and, thus, much more enjoyable. By incorporating tech tools when students are out of the classroom and walking around, they are likely to leave with a more beneficial and hands-on experience from their trip. It’s a great chance to have students test out the real applications of the skills you’ve been instilling in them all year long!
6 Tips For Managing A 1:1 Classroom
Now that you’ve convinced your administrators to allow a laptop or tablet for each student in the room and somehow found the money to pay for 25 or 30 of them plus a fancy shelf to help keep them safe, what are you supposed to do? There are so many options and programs you can introduce that it can sometimes be too exciting for your own good. Not to worry, though. As more schools continue to move to 1:1 environments, there are plenty of examples of what to do, but more importantly, what not to do so that students can get the most out of their new, innovative toys.
Three of the first things you need to do are as follows: develop effective device procedures, empower students by holding them accountable and create an online home. First and foremost, ask yourself some key questions and make quick decisions about whether you’ll keep the devices in the classroom every night or let the students take them home. Do you want them to be out all day long or only during specific times? Then, teach students a bit more about customization and encourage them to truly make their devices their own. There are countless ways for them to personalize their devices with custom wallpaper, icons and bookmarks, which will, in turn, build interest, comfort and ownership. Next, create an online home as a base for students to go when they log on to their devices so that they know exactly where the learning begins (when it’s time to get serious). It can be a Google site, Twitter, class website or personal teacher site—whatever works best for the group!
Once you’ve got a handle on the first three steps, without moving too quickly, feel free to graduate to some other equally important things like setting clear expectations, knowing where to turn for support and doing what works for you! For starters, make sure children know what to expect once they’ve been given all the power that comes with their device. Make sure they’re using down time appropriately and consistently growing. Also, encourage them to ask for help as much as possible—which brings me to my next point: know where to get support for yourself when you need it. Remember, this is still new to you and you may get stuck at times. Thankfully, there should be other teachers in your school or district who can offer first-hand advice that you can really benefit from. And, finally, do what works for you! You don’t need to force anything—especially after spending all that money! Try new things often—stick with what works and throw out the rest. There’s no one perfected way to go 1:1—just harness the power of being connected and enjoy!
Teachers + Twitter In The Classroom
The use of EdTech is a practical and readily available way for educators as well as their students to become true digital citizens and enhance education in the process. The best way to make this happen is to take advantage of every tool possible to bring all aspects of the modern world into the classroom. One tool that is extremely useful in modern classrooms, though it might surprise you, is the social media giant, Twitter. Since they spend a good chunk of time, however, each day trying to keep their students off of the mobile app, some educators might be skeptical. Get ready to be convinced.
Assuming that both teachers and students utilize the site for its up-to-the-minute nature and sharing capabilities rather than chatting and scrolling, there are a lot of benefits to using Twitter in education. In the 21st century, teachers increasingly have seen positive results from using Twitter in the classroom. Twitter is a valuable learning tool and even more valuable as a tool for sharing and collaboration—two of the most crucial things that help students to continue to grow and develop.
Basically, there’s no reason we can think of to discourage any educator from using Twitter in education. As a resident in the 21st century, you have access to the Internet—probably at your fingertips constantly. As an educator promoting the values of learning and sharing results, you have a growth mindset and Twitter (surprisingly perhaps) is a great tool to multiply students’ growth. Finally, Twitter enables the possibility for national and international connections from right in the classroom. Still not convinced? Create an account and follow us!! You’ll be hooked!
Mobile Technology Helps Students Learn Everywhere
Education technology is always expanding and, as is the case with most technology, it’s becoming smaller and much more mobile. What used to be thought of as an innovative classroom containing a rather large desktop computer is, well, not…so much the case anymore. As technological capabilities are expanding, they are (eagerly) pushing their way into classrooms too. And then finding their way out. No, we’re not saying they’re being rejected—they’re mobile technologies; and they are being used as such.
The biggest thing that mobile technology, such as iPads and other tablets, provides is access to information from anywhere. And teachers want access. Even if kids don’t have access to devices in a 1:1 ratio, those devices that are in the room will still be monumentally beneficial. If teachers are comfortable, this access will allow students to make their mobile devices truly mobile and work collaboratively from home, outside on those nice, sunny days or from the other side of the classroom. The power is in their hands!
To alleviate some of your concerns, we’ll let you know that it might not always work perfectly every time, but mobile devices nowadays have just about all the capabilities as computers do in a fraction of the size. Teachers and students can stream video, engage in interactive lessons and exchange feedback all from their phone or tablet. You can’t take the classroom computer home (if you even still have one), but you’re able to use tablets anywhere and that access to, well, constant access, is a truly beneficial thing to have in today’s world of education.
Enjoy those last few days of summer.
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