Post 9

A flipped classroom is a newly emerging concept of a learning system that has students watch lectures and take notes and go through lessons on their own via their technology and then do their homework in a dynamic group setting of a classroom. I think the flipped classroom is a brilliant idea, but only if students truly put in the effort it requires. I think younger students still require more of a fully in class presentation of material so that teachers can be there to get a read off of the students in person and check to make sure that they are truly understanding the content and not rushing themselves. Older students would do well with the blended delivery system. Here is a source I found when researching the type of material that can be accessed through the flipped classroom model: flipped classroom

Professional development is the process by which teachers continue to develop their skills in teaching and stay updated on the changing environment that is the classroom by taking courses or attending conferences or lectures that connect them with new information that enhances their classroom performance. Technology has worked to connect teachers with experts no matter their crazy schedules or distance from the experts. One really interesting resource for professional development I stumbled upon is Diigo.

Diigo is an online bookmarking site that allows teachers to flip through hundreds of sources and mark ones that are important to them. Diigo also allows teachers to join groups and share information with each other. You can annotate directly on articles through Diigo and see what other people are saying about work that is circulating the academic world. Diigo has worked to combine the internet, your personal notes, your spur of the moment reactions, and you well though out commentary/ research of your own into one easy to access sight. I like the fact that it removes the middle man and lets teachers have such direct access to each other and to the experts, it narrows down on clutter.

This week's assignment had us testing out out new skills in Microsoft Powerpoint. I really liked some of the information in the Do's/Don'ts informational sheet that instructed us on our

Powerpoints. I have been using powerpoint for years and have formulated my own list of tips and tricks, but a lot of my knowledge about good slides has never been pinned down before. I thought the & words a line and 7 lines a slide rule was very helpful along with the three color limits. Powerpoint is a classroom essential. My teachers have been using it almost daily since I was in kindergarten. If I plan on being an educator, this is a skill I will have to be absolutely fluent in the in's and out's of the programing. I have been lucky enough to have had access to this programing since elementary school and have been well practiced in it. This project was just another opportunity for me to refresh my memory.