Tech Basics for Active, Collaborative Learning

By Leila Meyer, Campus Technology

While every active-learning classroom is unique — based on the physical space itself and the needs of students and faculty — there are features common to many of them. Typically, the instructor has a podium at the center of the room. Surrounding the podium are large, round tables that each seat six to nine students. Movable chairs allow students to easily shift between small groups of three to larger groups of six or nine. Each student table may have its own large display or interactive whiteboard for collaborative work and sharing, and many of the rooms also feature writable walls, where students can collaborate on virtually any vertical surface in the room. This classroom design enables instructors to spend a few minutes guiding the whole class from the center of the room, and then quickly transition students into collaborative work without needing to reconfigure the furniture or organize students into groups.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/08/06/tech-basics-for-active-collaborative-learning.aspx

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/axiff1NiyZM/

Back to School Anything but Routine for Alaska Virtual Academy Students

By Marketwatch

New school supplies and meeting new teachers are still part of the first day of school for Alaska Virtual Academy (AKVA) students across the state. They’ll meet each other in homeroom and catch up with classmates from last year, but there won’t be any backpacks, school cafeteria food or catching the bus for these students, who go to school full-time online. Instead, they’ll be learning how to log on, manage their homework and meet their assigned teacher as they learn from home. AKVA is a tuition-free, online public school, available to students in grades K-8 across the state of Alaska. Students attend school full-time online, and use the internet to access the engaging, award-winning K¹² curriculum. A public school choice, AKVA gives parents and families the opportunity to maximize their success with individualized learning.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/back-to-school-anything-but-routine-for-alaska-virtual-academy-students-2014-08-12

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/qg6jn13FeIs/

How Assessment Can Lead to Deeper Learning

by Edutopia

One key to addressing both of those issues that we understand at our Envision schools is the understanding that they are inextricably linked. While in some circles, assessment is a top-down process done by teachers who decide where students are on the continuum of learning, we engage students directly in assessing their own progress. This is part of our Know, Do, Reflect approach to learning. The reflection step in this on-going learning cycle is an essential element where assessment happens. Reflection invites students and teachers to recognize growth and accomplishments as well as identify opportunities for improvement and development. It is not separate from the learning process: It is an integral step on the path to deeper learning — it’s assessment as learning.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-assessment-can-lead-to-deeper-learning-bob-lenz

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