Site reference: http://l4l.escambia.k12.fl.us/podcasts/rssl4l.html
This site has five brief podcasts related to collaboration and the promotion of literacy through the use of laptops provided through a grant to these Escambia County, Florida schools. Is this near any of you guys? Maybe it's even one of your schools? A mixture of elementary and middle school teachers discuss their successes and challenges, and the opportunities for collaboration the program has offered. The technology gap that exists between teachers themselves steers much of the collaboration as those who have more "tech" skills assist those new to the technology. Literacy is discussed in some detail, with the notion that "literacy" is much more than just reading and writing and that the laptops offer the students a chance to hone their "21st century skills." Discussions also revolve around getting parents involved, bridging the digital divide with a 98% free and reduced lunch student population, encouraging higher-order thinking skills, selecting valid sources when doing internet research, and the motivation access to these technologies offers the students. The podcasts offer a "visual" and "audio" component to an otherwise text-burdened research base. They also bring to light some of the multiple facets involved in a 1:1 initiative.
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Hi, Ann!
I watched the podcasts, and I agree with you, it is a nice way to change up the pace during your research.
I think laptops and learning is a great notion. I wish we had the funds to put laptops in some of our classrooms.
The idea of having the more technologically able teachers and students teach the less technologically literate made sense. I suppose that is what we are doing with our technology committee at my school. It is comprised of teachers at every grade level who are more comfortable and use technology more often. Even better than that though, I love that students are teaching students.
I also like that the parents are getting involved. When my nephew was in middle school, he had a laptop available for his use, but the only time his parents went to any kind of workshop was to purchase the insurance for it and give permission. They never had classes to show what they could actually do.
I look forward to seeing all the other information you come up with.
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