The class in the Slate article was using software called ALEKS. To learn more about it, check out this video below:
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Kids are using tech even earlier
“Parents don’t need a guilt trip — parents need guidance and support and better-quality stuff that is more intentionally educational, more culturally resonant and relevant, and which they can discover easily with their children.” – Michael Levine, co-author of the recent book Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) even modified its recommendations for parents, saying that face-to-face interactions with adults are preferred, “devices such as smartphones and tablets could be educational, even for toddlers, if a caregiver reads or plays along to guide the learning.”
Among other findings, according to their parents:
• 20% of 1-year-olds own a tablet computer.
• 28% of 2-year-olds can navigate a mobile device with no help.
• 21% of 4-year-olds own a gaming console.
• 28% of parents said they use a mobile device to put their children to sleep.
Recommended App: Amazing World Atlas
Recently, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came out with their 25 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning for 2015. The apps were chosen because they foster innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration.
This week week we highlight Amazing World Atlas. Created by Lonely Planet to explore and learn about world geography, Amazing World Atlas includes flag and capital information in interactive games, quizzes, and exploration tools. AASL’s tip: use the app for a more interactive way to do research on world geography, including continents, countries and cities
The app is $2.99 for iOS devices and recommended for Elementary students. Check out the quick preview video below:
Tools for verifying the validity of social media content
How do your students fact check a claim on social media? Or do they even bother? Shockingly, we can’t always believe what we see or hear on social media. Journalist’s Resource to the rescue! Their Tools for verifying and assessing the validity of social media and user-generated content is a list full of sources for students to make sure that what they are seeing or reading about on social media is true. The list isn’t just reference type materials. The social media landscape demands tools that go beyond facts. For example, the image tool list allows students to analyze images to see if they are real or modified. There are even tools for research and case studies that can be discussed in class or used for instruction.
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Alejandro Escamilla), licensed under CC0 1.0
Follett announces integration with OverDrive, Mackin
Sue Polanka recently highlighted an announcement from Follett about their Destiny product. At the AASL Conference, Follett said that soon students and teachers won’t have to log into each separate product once they were logged into Destiny. Polanka explained the integration:
“The product integrations ensure that once users have logged into Destiny, they can access OverDrive or MackinVIA content without being presented with another separate login prompt from those vendors’ platforms. Students and staff can easily access the content from Destiny with a single click of a consistent open button, further negating the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords.”
It seems an unlikely partnership, but all parties involved are on board. This is an exciting announcement for Destiny users!
Read the whole post from Polanka now.
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mlmxvl5, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0