Empowering Struggling Students in the Age of

Technology

Sean BennettFayette County Alternative School

Gwin Jordan Whitewater High School

“this discovery of yours will create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls,

because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written

characters and not remember of themselves.”

1. There is no Silver Bullet

2. Technology should solve problems3. Assignment first, then Technology

4. Software shouldn’t cost Anything- Socrates against the use of paper in “The Phaedrus”5. Teachers are even more important

• Aggregated the findings from 500 individual research studies

• Control scored in the 50th percentile, Experimental in the 64th Percentile

• Increased motivation• Results not generalized in

all areas.

James Kulik (1994)

• Aggregated the findings from 219 research studies from 1990-1997

• Increase in achievement and motivation

• Level of effectiveness influenced by several factors

Jay Sivin-Kachala (1998)

“The level of effectiveness of educational

technology is influenced by the specific

student population, the software design,

the educator’s role, and the level of

student access to technology.”- Jay Sivin-Kachala

• Students who participated increased test scores on the Stanford 9

Determining Factors:• Student access• Positive attitudes • Teacher training

Dale Mann (1999)

“BS/CE was more cost effective in

improving student achievement than (1)

class size reduction from 35 to 20

students, (2) increased instruction time,

and (3) cross age tutoring programs.”

- Lewis Solomon (1999)

Marked Improvement• 5% Increase in 6th• 42% Increase in 7th

• 24% Increase in 8th

Key Factors:• Teacher Professional

Development• Teacher / Student

Engagement

TIP Texas (2007)

• Significant increase in teacher effectiveness (Lumley 1991)

• Staff development increases student learning (Lewis 2004)

• Diagnosing strengths with technology is key to Motivation (Lumley 1991)

Motivation• Students feel smarter

and empowered (United States DOE 1991)

• Increase in self-esteem and classroom interaction (Page 2002)

• Multimedia increases interest, attention, and curiosity (Boster el al. 2002)

Mark Johnson• Disadvantaged• IEP data Lacking• General Disorganization• Disruptive in Class• Inattentive• Difficulty with Projects• Struggling Reader

Meet Mark

IEP Data Collection

Remind101 101 Step #1: Teacher signs up and

receives a code

Step #2: Students and parents text the code to the Remind101 number

Step #3: The teacher sends out a message, and all parties get the info

DisorganizationStep #1: Student opt in by filling out the mobile

setup form in calendar settings

Step #2: Teacher creates a class calendar that students and parents subscribe to.

Step #3: Events on the class calendar are automatically texted to the students or parents

Classroom ManagementAdvantage 1: Document student achievement

and behavior challenges (carrot and stick).

Advantage 2: Instant feedback used to create positive classroom experiences.

Advantage 3: Students can keep up with their points, and parents can be accurately informed.

• Students take notes in class during the day

• Notes are recorded in print on internet driven software.

• Records audio during class and can replay at the touch of the pen to the notes

Notetaking

Poster Projects

Students can embed video, text, images, sound

bites, and links to other sites – levels the

playing field for disadvantaged students.

40,000 free books available on both the

internet and smartphones. For audio versions,

check out librovox.

Literature

Beth Smith• Twice Exceptional• Disorganized• Craves Social Interaction• Easily Disinterested• Struggling Reader• Visual Learner• Social Anxiety• Needs Research Help

Meet Beth

Organizational Resources

Organizational StorageGoogle Drive Dropbox

Free Storage 5GB 2GB

Pricing 25GB for $2.49/Mo 50GB for $99/Mo

Max File Size 16TB 1TB

Max File Upload Size 10GB

Unlimited on Desktop, 30MB on Mobile

Desktop Apps PC and Mac PC, Mac and Linux

Mobile Apps Andriod, iOS soon iOS, Androis, and Blackberry

Online File Management

Yes Yes

Special Features Collaboration in Google Apps, Web App Search Functions, and Additional Gmail and Picasa storage

Free storage upgrade options, instant photo uploads on Android

Google Presentation • Allows students to work simultaneously on

the same project• Allows for Chat and Editing Remarks• Integrated with Microsoft PowerPoint

Google Docs• Great for grading essays and any writing

assignment• Becoming more and more popular at colleges• Student and teacher can work simultaneously• Documents all versions and time stamps• Archived material is useful for classroom

examples

Creating Interest

• Converts almost any text into spoken word

• Works in a multitude of different languages and voices

• With a scanner, NaturalReader can convert printed material to spoken word.

Struggling Readers

Visual Resources

Smart Phone Apps

Droid – AnkiDroid

iPhone – Flashcard Deluxe

Speaking and Listening

Great for any presentation project – it removes

the fear of performing and provides an outline

for discussions.

Teacher Toolbox

Social Classroom Management

Online Learning Systems

Assign and Grade Assignments

Create and Share Quizzes

Grades Calculated in a Grade Book

Smart Phone Apps

Calendar to Keep on TrackWorks Well with Other Apps

Advantages of EdmodoNo limits on how many files you can attach

You can comment on the assignments themselves

Fill in the blank tests and question banks

Award students with new badges (awards)

Allows for co-teacher access

Advantages of SchoologyUse threaded discussion boards

Interconnectivity with Google and Khan

True Learning Management System

Analytics function to track student involvement

Several learning apps within the program

But, My Teachers Won’t

Spend the Time

Learning New Software.

Looking at the NumbersAverage Number of Papers 14 a year XAverage Number of Students 130 XAverage Time Spent Grading 7 Minutes =12,740 Minutes or 212.3 Hours or 8.85 Days

orSaving 1 minute per essay = 30 Hours of Work