Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom

Click on this link to read an article about using social media in the classroom: http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/01/19/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx. Do you see a place for it in your future classroom? Why or why not? If you choose to use it, which site would you use and how would you use it? How can it be misused and even abused by students and teachers?

Apple Announces iBooks 2, A New Textbook Experience For The iPad

Click on the photo to read about the new Apple initiative to put interactive textbooks on the iPad via iBooks. Do you see this as a game changer for education? How?

Of Course iPads Belong In Classrooms — It’s All About Balance

iPads are the new educational tool being used in classrooms across the world. After reading the article, do you believe this is just a passing fad or the wave of the future? Why?

Go to this link: http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/19/of-course-ipads-belong-in-classrooms-its-all-about-balance/ to read the article.

Schools of Thought: Flipped classrooms give every student a chance to succeed

Click on the link below to read about flipped classrooms and to watch the CNN video: http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/18/my-view-flipped-classrooms-give-every-student-a-chance-to-succeed/
Do you think the "flipped classroom" is the remedy that will reduce the large failure rate in our nation's schools? Post a comment explaining why or why not you think this strategy will work?

Does Service Learning Really Help?

Read the New York Times article using the link below: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03service-t.html?pagewanted=all

Have you thought about the other side of service learning? Do you think service learning hurts or helps organizations that accept student volunteers? Why? Do you think that it is important to have plans in place for both the organization and the student volunteers to optimize the learning experience? Why or why not? How is service learning a positive educational experience for students? How can it become a negative experience?