Numbers 1.5

Ebola Survey Statistics

103 P3 Pharmacy students participated in a survey that asked them to answer questions about Ebola, then watch an informational video, and then answer the same questions to determine if their answers had changed. Experiments include dependent and independent variables. In this instance, the biggest independent variable is the survey and the factor that all the participants are being asked the same questions. The climate in which the survey and information session are being conducted in are also under the control of the experimenter, making them independent variables. Some dependent variables that could impact the survey results are respondents previous knowledge or awareness of the Ebola virus. How much they follow the news and the stories regarding the outbreak could cause them to have a bias in their answers.
The most significant change in survey answers came on question 26. The average response was in disagreement that living in Texas decreased the likelihood or risk of catching Ebola. After the information session, respondents became stronger in their disagreement with the statement. Among all the survey questions, question 26 was the only one that had a change in the mode. In the pre- portion of the survey, more respondents disagreed with the notion that living in Texas reduced the risk of Ebola. However, after the session, more respondents strongly disagreed.
For question 27, the average for the responses changed the same amount as question 26, but a majority of the responses already strongly disagreed. After the information session, some respondents changed their mind, but the majority were already decided and the information session did not alter their opinion.
The survey response for question 28 is the reverse of question 27. There is a change in the average response, however the majority were unchanged. Prior to the information session, most respondents strongly agreed Ebola is a serious illness. Following the information session, more respondents became stronger in their agreement, but the majority response was unchanged.
The statistical change in question 29 is the most interesting. This question had the largest average change with the pre- score of 1.27 and a post- score of 1.17. The mode did not change, with the majority strongly agreeing with the notion of isolated infected patients from healthy people. However, the change in average is noteworthy. The information session did seem to cause several respondents to move from disagreeing to strongly agreeing. These same respondents also changed their view on the prior question, regarding the seriousness of Ebola.
Questions 29 and 30 had the least amount of statistical change. The majority of respondents strongly agree with the notion that healthcare workers must familiarize themselves with Ebola and that communities must play a part in prevention.
Evaluating the descriptive statistics for the survey results helps to highlight where to focus the attention. Comparing changes in median to mode helps to show if there were truly significant changes in responses and why.

Maps

The United States, while being a young country, has a rich history. Some of our history includes great accomplishments and others are moments to be learned from and not repeated. Studying and understanding history can show the development of a society or culture. One of the benefits of living in the DC area is the opportunity to visit sites that pay homage to our history and people that have made significant contributions to our cultural and societal growth. Another benefit is many of the sites are free, so a school field trip could be of minimal cost. Examples of sites a class could go visit:

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial opened in May 1997. Lawrence Halprin designed the memorial to showcase Roosevelt's 4 terms by showcasing each one as a separate outdoor area. Considering Roosevelt's disability, the designers of the memorial wanted to make it more accessible for visitors of varying physical disabilities. Eleanor Roosevelt is depicted in the entrance of the memorial, and is the only First Lady included in a presidential memorial.

 One of the newest sites in DC is the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. It opened August 2011 and features a granite by sculptor Lei Yixin. Two interesting facts regarding the location of the memorial:
1) It's directly across from the Lincoln Memorial where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech
2) The official address is 1964 Independence Ave commemorating the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The King sculpture is inspired by a line from his speech "out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope."

Students would benefit from such a field trip in multiple ways. The opportunity to learn important pieces of our history as well as art and architecture, as seen in the examples above. Based on this map, there are numerous spots to review in a short distance:

The map of DC landmarks shows several museums and landmarks within a 3 square mile area. This would be an ideal Spring or Fall field trip.

Numbers 1.4 Hypothesis Testing

The sad reality in education is there is a performance gap between ethnicities. The reasons behind this are debatable, as are the solutions, but what cannot be debated are the facts. Comparing three ethnic groups in reading display some of the disparity that is occurring in US public schools. The mean score for white, eight grade students in reading is 18 points higher than black students and 26 points higher than hispanic students. To be certain that the data is statistically significant, we compare the descriptive stats between the three groups and ascertain if the hypothesis is true or false. For the three groups, there are the following hypotheses:

White/Black Test

Ho There is no statistically significant difference between white and black student test scores

H1 There is a difference between white and black student reading scores

White/Hispanic Test

Ho There is no statistically significant difference between white and hispanic student test scores

H1 There is a difference between white and hispanic student reading scores

Black/Hispanic Test

Ho There is no statistically significant difference between hispanic and black student test scores

H1 There is a difference between hispanic and black student reading scores

Comparing the scores for the White/Black test, the mean score white students is 274 compared to 256 for black students. Using a T-Test to compare the scores and determine the statistical significance, the p-value shows we should reject the null hypothesis. The difference between scores is significant.

Carrying on to the second testing group, the average score for hispanic students is 249. The disparity of these two groups is even larger than the first. The p-value score tells us to reject the null hypothesis and believe that the difference in reading scores is significant.

For the comparison of the black and hispanic students, the difference in average test scores is seven points, 256 to 249. Even though the disparity is less than the first two test cases, the difference is still significant.

Batchgeo

We often hear the phrase "it's a small world," especially when realizing someone we just met as an adult was in the periphery of our life growing up. The US population is 322M people. The roster of the EDU 585 class is 22 people. 15 of us were born within a 50 mile radius of each other. However, I haven't met anyone from our class in person, that I can tell. It's also interesting that historically, the Washington DC area was always a transient area. This first map of the classes birth locations indicates that while some have moved into the area, a majority of the class was born and raised here:

Full Sized Map of EDU 585 Birth Locations

The strong majority of the class is from the east coast, with one lonesome dove hailing from Utah. The big cluster is from the Washington DC metropolitan area:

Washington DC Metropolitan Cluster

One aspect that would also be interesting to note for this class and project would have been birth years. I was born in 1976, and that the time, the US population was 218M people. It could have

been interesting to compare birth

locations by year and see how the demographic potentially changed. Part of my fascination with the amount of people in this class that were born in the DC area is I am used to people moving away from the area after a certain number of years. Growing up here, many of my friends were military, so they left after 2-3 years. It seemed like it wasn't until the late 1990's, when the tech industry became popular, that people were more settled here. Even with that in mind, I would expect the map to show more people born in other areas that eventually moved here. I hypothesize that this map would look different for a class of students that were studying IT or another computer related topic.

Pecha Kucha

One of the benefits of the internet and technology is the ability to communicate in multiple ways. Presentations no longer have to be in person to be effective; in fact, they don't even need to be live. Presentations can be created and stored for later or continuous review. A good presentation will inform in a clear and concise manner. A presentation that is too wordy will have difficulty keeping readers engaged, especially because they'll likely be over wrought with facts. Presenters should keep in mind that people don't trust what they don't understand.

Here is an example of a poorly designed slide on a presentation. The amount of text on the slide makes it difficult to read. The presenter should have summarized his or her points into bullets. Such a wordy slide doesn't leave the presenter much to say that isn't already in the slide. Also, the background of the slide clashes with the text of the slide.

In this example, the use of color, graphics, and succinct text makes this a good slide. The presenter can explain the slide without having to repeat what is already said on the slide. It's important for presenters to keep an audience engaged with their presentation by being able to explain what is on the slide without reading the slide to them. 

Another form of presentation that takes into consideration modern technology and how it can positively influence good presentations is the concept of Pecha Kucha. The idea is 20x20; 20 slides presented in 20 seconds per slide. This keeps the presenter focused and the audience engaged. The following link is a presentation that utilizes this concept: Pecha Kucha Presentation

Screencast O Matic

When creating instructional videos, there are several factors that have to be thought about to maximize engagement. Analytics by Melanie Hibbert from EDUCause and Adam Conner-Simons with MIT provide some good insight for getting started. Educators have to consider platform, topic, level of detail, and presentation style as main factors for driving video engagement.
When considering platform, educators creating a video want to ensure they take into consideration the likelihood the video will play on as many browser and computer types as possible. For example, using Adobe flash will limit users because of the inability to play on iPad or iPhone.
Students are also more likely to engage when the instructional video is related to specific assignments. The video should capture expected output and provide examples. Visual representation of expectations gives students a stronger understanding of what they should be doing. Students are also more engaged when the instruction is detail oriented.
When presenting, the instructor should be seated, giving the presentation a sense of informality (Conner-Simons, 2014). Students also report to responding better when the instructor includes humor and a casual tone. If they opportunity presents itself, the instructor should include anecdotes which helps students relate better (Hibbert, 2014).
Students are more likely to complete videos that are brief and concise. Four minutes seems to be the most accepted time length for an instructional video, and anything longer than six minutes is almost guaranteed to lose their audience. Students are nine times more likely to watch instructional videos on the computer, likely because they are doing their work while reviewing the video. This increases the opportunity for the video to include animation or graphics that help students stay engaged. As our culture becomes more and more immersed in the digital age, learning needs and expectations are going to rely more heavily on online education practices.

References:

Hibbert, Melanie. What Makes Online Instructional Video Compelling? EDUCAUSEreview;
              http://er.educause.edu/articles/2014/4/what-makes-an-online-instructional-video-compelling,  
              2014

Conner-Simons, Adam. What 6.9 million clicks tells us about how to fix online education. MIT News;
             http://news.mit.edu/2014/what-69-million-clicks-tell-us-about-how-fix-online-education,
             2014. 

Presume

Education is intended to grow, enrich, and enable. To educate someone means they will need to be challenged in order to learn something new, whether it's a new skill, idea, or theory. However, the methodology for educating should also consider different learning styles. With modern technology, separating oneself from the pack requires creativity and digital savvy. That doesn't come easy for everyone. Some people are naturally more creative and artistic; others think more linearly and pragmatic. When a tool or app is designed to help the pragmatic be more creative, it should be designed to teach in a pragmatic way. Trying to build a creative resume for online presentation through Prezi was a difficult task, and that proved to be unsuccessful for me.
One of the first difficulties I ran into was the requirement of a Facebook login. I am not someone that uses Facebook and do not want to, so that was a decision process. I initially tried to find an alternate tool or app that did the same thing. However, there weren't any free versions and I wasn't going to pay just to build something for one assignment. Secondarily, I don't have the creative ability to build an online resume in the manner that the Prezi tool presents itself.
Once I decided to use the tool by recreating my Facebook account, I started having difficulties navigating the product. I have 16 years experience working in online environments and managing digital products. I did not think the Prezi tool navigates easily, and it's not very intuitive. As a result, my attempt at a creative digital resume looks like:

Initially, I was able to add in points along the timeline to show significant moments in my career. However, at some point, when I was trying to add in a new point along the timeline it stopped working as it was and I was unable to recapture what I was originally doing. This is not a tool I would recommend using, specifically to someone that isn't naturally creative.

This experience also reminds me that teachers need to try out any tools before implementing them in the classroom. They should be familiar with how the tool works and any potential hindrances or challenges students could face when using it.

Numbers 1.6

Researchers and data analysts test data points to ascertain statistical significance in order to prove or disprove a hypothesis. T-Tests are a way to evaluate large data sets and determine the significance of the numbers. In 2011, the NAEP recorded the reading scores and categorized them based on student reported race. Classifying the reading scores generates two hypotheses:

H1    There is a statically significant difference between the NAEP mean scores of Black and Hispanic students on the 4th grade reading assessment.

H0: There is no difference between the mean scores.

To prove one of these hypothesis, this requires evaluating the reported scores by way of the T-Test. This can be accomplished through excel, or an online tool. Using an online tool is helpful for time, efficiency, and accuracy. Students should learn to use Excel to do the data analysis for the sake of growing their skill set, and can use the online tools as a resource to verify accuracy. Below are screenshots of the T-Test results from an online tool and Excel:

Raw Data with T-Test of Reading Scores

Online T-Test of Reading Score Data

The data points for the T-Test in Excel match the output from the online tool. This helps verify the accuracy of the work done in Excel.

In this particular data analysis, H0 is proven to be true. There is a 3 point difference between the mean reading score for Hispanic and Black students. Additionally, the P-value for the scoring is .012 further confirming the lack of statistical difference between the two reporting groups.

Numbers 1.3

Excel is an excellent tool for analyzing large sets of data. Basic knowledge and understanding of the tool is beneficial to teachers and students alike. The attached link shows a line graph for reading scores from 52 reporting districts. Below is a screen shot of the original data set:

It's important, in data analysis, to summarize the content into a compelling story that explains the reasoning behind the data set. Large data sets without context are just numbers. It is also imperative that the data set is reviewed for accuracy. Utilizing descriptive statistics helps to evaluate the statistical significance of what has been collected. For the reading scores that were collected, below is a screen shot of the descriptive stats:

A link to the full spreadsheet is available by clicking Here. One of the data sets that stands out is the break down between male and female students. Overall, the mean score for female students is 10 points higher than male students. What is also significant, the female score is six points higher than the mean score for all students, while male students scored 5 points below the mean score for all students. 

Looking at scores for the state of Virginia, the mean score of all students is 1 point higher than the reported score for all 52 reporting districts. Female students in Virginia score 10 points higher than male students, similar to the national picture.

Both nationally and in-state, female students are placing more value in reading comprehension as a skill. 

SAMR

Similar to the basic idea of education, the SAMR model for technology adoption builds on itself to help develop better understanding. When teachers are building lesson plans, it's with the understanding that students need to develop a base understanding of a theory, concept, or idea and then build on it to develop comprehension and then formulate next level conclusions. Technology adoption through the SAMR model begins with the idea that technology in the classroom begins with substitution. Replacing a physical item with a digital one, like a text book, can present cost and time savings, but if there aren't any functional enhancements, it is a direct substitute. The next level of the model introduces functional enhancements from the technology, bringing about augmentation. Moving to digital text books that students can access from mobile devices may also include in tool capabilities to look up vocabulary terms. Enhancements and greater efficiencies can help teachers introduce modification into lesson plans and curriculum. Students may be challenged to work in groups and create digital notes that can be shared among the group and with the teacher. This can help monitor progress on a project or assignment. This also aids students in understanding how technology can assist in an ecosystem that requires thought sharing and accountability. As teachers help students grow and become braver, the ability for redefinition is presented. Apps that weren't previously considered or even in use can be introduced or even built by the class.

Literally having to write a paper could be stressful for students and unproductive. Learning how to research a topic is a valuable lesson, but one that can still be taught through the use of digital means. Using physical books is a matter of preference for many, but the inclusion of them in school environments is lost on a generation that is growing up in a digital norm. Students today are used to text, chat, e-mail and other forms of digital communication. Learning should incorporate the forums they are used to and help them enhance it for greater success.

The millennial generation in the United States consumes more than 50% of its media through digital devices (MarketingCharts.com, 2014). This generation of students will only increase the mobile first mentality displayed by millennial generation. If the goal of education is to teach for the purpose of growth, it is imperative that curriculums and lesson plans are aware of the direction the culture is going and include it today for the development of tomorrow.

Numbers 1.2

Microsoft Excel is a great tool for calculations and analytics. There are many functions in the tool set that make it easy to manipulate large amounts of data and reassign values. Over the course of a semester or year, a teacher can work with anywhere from 30 to 80 students depending upon the grade level. Managing a grade book over a school year can become an arduous task and it's vital that a teacher do it correctly. Excel can help maintain a correct grade book and convert numeric scores into letter grade equivalents.

This image capture shows a sampling of numeric grades converted into letter grade equivalents. The tool bar at the top shows the use of IF statements to evaluate the number grade and populate a corresponding letter in the Grades column. Using functions in Excel can help teachers automate their grade book and make the overall process more efficient.

Here readers can see the grade book and the letter grade conversions.

Jing Screencast

As technology becomes more ubiquitous and paramount to our daily lives, one of the benefits are applications that are built with free usage. Teachers and students can be beneficiaries as they implement more technology into their classroom environment and culture. It is becoming more imperative that communication and curriculum incorporate digital opportunities for today's students. Two products that help in those requirements are Jing and Trello. Below are examples of how both can be utilized in a classroom setting to assist teachers and students. For this example, I used Jing to capture and screencast a tutorial on using Trello. That screencast can be watched here.
Trello is an application that has great benefit to teachers. It can be utilized to build lessons, create class projects, communicate status, and track progress. The benefit to students is that it's a tool that is in use with a number of companies so students will get a head start and gain valuable familiarity with the tool. Below are some image captures of the example Trello board:

 This screen capture shows the Trello board opening.

This screen capture shows the individual cards within a project.









The benefit to creating a screencast is that it can save a teacher time putting together directions or building a tutorial. Building step by step instructions with screen grabs and written out instructions can be time consuming. Creating a five minute video tutorial can save a teacher a third of the time and students have a platform by which they can see and learn the instructions in a more beneficial manner.

Hypothesis Testing - Ebola

Data analysis is an intersection of math and science as it requires the calculation, interpretation, and explanation of data. The successful conclusion of data analysis can be achieved through different means. For this post, analysis of a survey conducted among 103 pharmacy science students will require a t-test to compare data from a matched pair. The pharmacy science students completed a survey prior to and after an information session regarding Ebola. The analysis will look to determine if there was any significant changes in their answers following the information session. When conducting a survey, there are factors that cannot be controlled but may have an impact on the output. In the instance of this survey, the students are all in the same pharmacy science level, but there isn't any indication regarding their performance. Suppose, for example, that of the 103 students surveyed, 13 are top performers, 10 are above average, 70 are average, and 10 are below average. How does their academic ability and understanding impact their survey answers? Also, was the survey timed? Were all the students given the survey at the same time and in the same conditions? Were all the students in the same information session? Independent variables have to be considered when analyzing data because of the opportunity it creates to skew data. The dependent variables in this scenario would be the fact that all the students are answering the same question and are from the same program.
Here the survey data can be viewed with descriptive statistical analysis. Reviewing the TTest results and the standard deviation, the overall survey responses were not statistically different prior to and following the information session. Among the 103 students surveyed, questions 26 and 27 showed the greatest change in attitude based on the higher standard deviation. Interestingly, some students went from disagreeing to agreeing while others went the opposite direction. Considering the research question is to determine if the information session had any impact on the students knowledge or attitude, the data analysis would say it was unsuccessful. The low standard deviation for the questions indicate there wasn't a significant change in student answers following the session.

Top Free Tools

Before making the decision to transition into teaching, I was working in digital media. While I worked for companies that were trying to make money, increasing profit margin was aided by using software and tools that were free or low cost. Reviewing the list of the top free tools of 2015, I have used or currently use the top 6. I have also used Skype, Evernote, Wikipedia, and LinkedIn. All told, I have used 30% of the apps and tools listed in the top 100 for 2015. In my experience, there are very few apps that you really need to pay for because someone will create a free version that will provide the basics of what you need. The app I currently engage with the most is Twitter. I primarily use it to follow news and information from people and organizations that I care about. My initial reasoning for  signing up for Twitter was as a means to stay engaged with my teenage children and be aware of the tools they were using. Coaching high school soccer and moving into teaching has made it more beneficial.
Tools that make it easy consume and disseminate information, and whose interface is slick and easy to use are the most appealing to use.

Blogging

The diagram to the left demonstrates the multiple aspects of blogs that can help develop a successful online learning environment. Audience, presentation, community, and comments are tied together and are necessary traits in building a successful online environment. This diagram isn't exclusive to blogs but is applicable to any digital product. In the specific case of blogging, however, a publisher needs to be cognizant of its intended audience and ensuring the content is formatted to appease them. A key feature of diagram is that there isn't a clear start or end point. Good presentation without an audience will not yield a long lasting output. Also, the aspects of comments and community are interdependent for success. Enabling comments is critical for building a community, but that is not only step in creating a true community. A blog designed for an educational program should consider the potential for multiple audiences. A teacher or professor may blog to help disseminate information to students in the class. Depending on the age of the students, will parents become part of the audience, or do they become the audience if students are still too young to be fully engaged in a digital curriculum. Even high school classes benefit from keeping parents informed of class rules, expectations, and assignments. For high school students, perceived independence doesn't always match actual responsibility and maturity. Building a comments area provides a forum for interaction and engagement. These can be the building blocks to community. Using a high school elective course as an example, the community may consist of more than just the people commenting on the blog. Parents may read the blog to follow along the expected workload and stay engaged with their son or daughter. Prospective students may read the blog to get an early understanding of what is required to be successful in the course. So for blogs, the aspects of audience, presentation, comments, and community are interwoven and essential in making it successful.

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One of the benefits of using digital environments to enhance learning is the opportunity to save information for later retrieval. Students need the ability to go back to information they may have forgotten, so using a blog to list out class rules, expectations, projects, and other things is beneficial to learning. Students can also engage with the learning experience by commenting and sharing their understanding or perspective. This helps create a community dynamic. Blogs can also be used to create a feedback loop between students and teachers which helps teachers ensure students are engaged. This process of idea sharing has students extremely involved in the learning process and enhances retention. 

The current generation of students are significant consumers of content via digital means, so their learning environments need to adapt to that culture. Blogging in the classroom is a viable way to meet that expectation.

About Me

My name is Stephane Longchamp and I am pursuing my Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Shenandoah University. My immediate goal is to earn my Master's and teaching certification with the hope of becoming a full time teacher in Loudoun County. I currently work as a substitute teacher in the county which has helped me gain valuable experience working in the classroom. I have a B.S. in Business Administration so I would like to teach Business, Marketing, or a class along those lines. I am also the head coach for varsity soccer at Potomac Falls High School.
When teaching, studying, and coaching aren't keeping me busy enough I have my family to help. I have six children that range from 18 to 7. My oldest son graduates high school in June and will be attending Radford University in the fall. My second oldest is a junior and then I have 4 elementary aged children in 5th, 4th, and 2nd grade.
I have enjoyed the experience so far, even though at times it has been overwhelming. I also look forward to making new connections, so I hope folks will reach out. You can find me on LinkedIn. Good luck to everyone.

Stephane Longchamp

Self Portrait

My Simple Self Perception

Even when we look at our reflection, we can perceive ourselves differently than what it reflected. Our perceptions can be skewed by the qualities we like most or least about ourselves. Attempting to render that perception can also be affected by personality traits. Creating a self portrait in Picassohead demonstrates both of these issues. The tool allows you to create a self portrait in an abstract manner. As I chose to demonstrate my individual features, I became more concerned about some of my traits. Physically, my eyes are larger and rounder than I have depicted in my portrait. However, I'm also the type of person that is constantly watching what is going on around me. In my perception, my eyes are narrow and focused so that I don't miss anything that is happening. My rendering of a self portrait is also simplistic. Perhaps because I'm not artistic or it's a reflection of my personality. There is an element of me that wants the rendering to be accurate, and the options for some of the features did not fit my own. I like to keep my hair short, but there weren't any options that properly displayed it the way I wanted. I chose, instead, to keep a bald representation of myself because I considered that to be closer to accurate. The lack of hair also draws attention to my ears. As a father, I am always listening to what is happening among and around my children. I also try to be a good listener for my wife.


In comparison, here is an actual photo of myself. This exercise is quite valuable from a  teaching perspective. Teachers should get to know their students, and one good way to find out about them would be to see how they see themselves. A tool like Picassohead is a free and easy way to introduce this as an ice breaker at the beginning of a school year. Students are presented the opportunity to learn early graphic skills, computer literacy, and it's a chance for students to bond with each other. Sharing how we see ourselves can help create friendships, empathy, and trust in the classroom. Teachers should also create a self portrait to help build camaraderie with students and lead by example. It's an easy way to start a school year off on the right foot.

Jing Image

There are numerous learning types that teachers need to be prepared to teach. Students can learn by auditory, visual, or tactile means. A tool like Jing helps build visual components that can be included into lesson plans and curriculums. Part of a lesson plan for a business class would include analytics and how a business uses them. Using Jing to screen capture features in Google Analytics is helpful to providing examples.

Using this example image, students can be shown how Google Analytics incorporates audience reporting into their system. Teachers and students would also be able to discuss if these report features add value to a business' analytics needs.



Jing screen captures can be utilized to include in a lesson plan, but it also provides a share URL for the images. In this instance, the screen capture for the audience report can be shared from the following URL: /Users/Stephane/Desktop/GoogleAudienceReport.png. This can be shared with students that either miss the lesson or need to go back and review the topic further.

Jing outputs the actual images in PNG formats which are optimal for uploading and sharing. The PNG file can be saved when the capture is completed, with ease of use by naming the file and saving it to the desktop or creating a relevant file folder. Downloading Jing is simple and the tool is easy to use. The tool includes a quick tutorial and then it's ready to use. A tool that is free and simple is ideal for teachers to assist them in building quality lesson plans and curriculums.

Numbers 1.1

New apps and websites are helping teachers be more efficient in the classroom. Promethean boards, game apps, and websites keep students engaged with learning by making curriculums more interactive. There are older technologies that teachers still need to rely upon to perform their jobs. Grading homework, tests, and projects over the course of a school year is demanding and requires attention to detail. A miscalculated average could be the difference between an A and a C for a student. For managing a grade book, Excel still offers efficient and simple ability to tool sets.

This photo shows a list of students and their quiz grades over the course of time. By using Excel, a teacher can easily and correctly calculate the averages for each student. 

The next image shows an additional column with each students scores averaged for all the quiz scores represented. Using Excel can mitigate the human risk factor for making an error. The grades need to be entered correctly to start, but calculating the scores can become more automated. 

Teachers can also use Excel to compare overall performance on the assignments. This link will show some additional calculations that were included from the original set of test scores. Being able to see high performance and low performance can help a teacher respond to the students that need the most help. They can also see the average score for the class and figure out if the class as a whole needs more review. 

A teachers primary role is to ensure students are comprehending the subject matter. Reviewing results in an aggregate and singular manner will help to show if the material is being understood.

Social Bookmarking: Diigo

Technology is constantly growing and evolving. It's been estimated that software, features, platforms, and the like become obsolete in 18 months. The continuous evolution enables and causes consumers to adapt to the way technology is used. Many times, it's because of the way we consume technology that causes a rapid shift in the usefulness of a product or tool. Smartphones have shifted the way we consume, process, and share information. Communication has shifted from desktop to mobile as e-mail and messaging apps are primarily accessed on smartphones. Social media has altered the way we access and share news and information. Major news publications are being archaic because the internet has opened the gates for user-generated content sites.
Another shift in technology is the ability to aggregate similar content from different sources and save it to one location. Diigo allows users to do things like highlight, bookmark, and tag content from a site and aggregate it and share within a community of like-minded users. Some sites allow you to highlight and notate content as an in-app feature. However, Diigo lets you visit different sites and capture content you deem interesting and tag for easy reference. A user need only go to Diigo and create a new account. Then, using the browser add on, diigolet, the user can start perusing internet pages and tag content they want to bookmark and potentially share. Social bookmarking is a new way to efficiently aggregate data that can be stored, tagged, annotated, and shared without having to use browser history or try and remember search terms that were previously used.
Here is the beginnings of my content aggregation: https://www.diigo.com/user/stephane3l. I have started out by researching content related to ADHD. As someone who suffers with it, along with two of my sons, I am continuously trying to read about any developments scientists, doctors, and educators are making in the cause and treatment of this disability. Using Diigo, I have been able to find different articles related to ADHD and different aspects of the disease. I am able to group the content together by subject matter, but also differentiate them based on the specificity of the content.

Here is one example of a content entry. The tags can group or separate the content as necessary. There is also the opportunity to write a description of the content based on my perception.

This screenshot shows a piece of content with the browser add on in use. In this instance, I'm using Safari with the add on added to my bookmarks. When I select the add on, a tool bar appears to the upper right that allows me to utilize different features. In this instance, a piece of content has been highlighted, and now it can be added to the Diigo library, bookmarked, or other options.

The concept of social bookmarking has many valuable aspects that can be utilized within education. In this instance, the opportunity to efficiently research and aggregate data on a particular topic is meaningful to me.

Jeopardy: Engaging Students in the Classroom

From 2003 to 2011, the percentage of school aged children diagnosed with attention disorders rose from 7.8% to 11% according to the CDC. There are plenty more children that suffer without a diagnosis. Teachers can face the unenviable task of trying to keep students engaged in learning even without the added pressures of attentive disabilities. In classrooms that range from 20-30 students, each child will have a different learning style. Using multiple formats is one idea that helps keep students engaged. One truly effective way to help students learn and keep them highly engaged is incorporating games into the curriculum. Robert Marzano conducted sixty studies of classrooms that incorporated games into the lesson plans, and concluded there was a 20 percentile increase in student achievement. Another viable option for including games into classroom work is for test preparation. Decreasing the tedious nature involved in studying for a test helps students engage in the learning and retain more information.
One easy format for including a game scenario is Jeopardy. Children are naturally competitive; so grouping them together, and challenging them in a fun activity will benefit them greatly. Here is an example of an online Jeopardy game set up to prepare students for a test on mobile technology. Students can be grouped into teams and the game can be projected onto a large screen. Engaging students in a quiz show format in preparation for a test helps keep stress level down and high points relevant content students will need to know. Part of Marzano's conclusions to utilizing games in class were to include inconsequential competition and target essential academic content. By keeping the immediate outcome of the competition inconsequential reduces any burden the students feel to answer correctly. Sometimes, the best way to learn is by failing or making a mistake. When a student answers incorrectly, the teacher has an opportunity to reiterate the content and help the student comprehend the correct answer. While the intent of the game is to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere, the grander outcome should be students learning the material. The content of the game should highlight topics that are most important for the students to retain and comprehend.
One of the positive attributes of technology and the internet is the opportunity to find free websites that can be used to create game settings. The Jeopardy game that is highlighted earlier in the post was used by going to this link. Sites like Softonic have games that elementary students can play at home as a fun way to reiterate what is being taught in class. There are also apps like Geometry Dash that kids can get on their iPods or tablets. There are also sites like Zondle that allow teachers to create games but also track engagement and other metrics. Thankfully for teachers, technology isn't only for businesses.
Incorporating technology into the curriculum and lesson plan is vital for the growth and education of today's students. The CDC projects that the percentage of students diagnosed with attentive disabilities will rise, and more of those students are seeking medical and behavioral treatment. However, creating a learning environment that is dynamic and engaging is crucial for all students success, and teachers have more tools to help them do just that.

Word Cloud: Technology in the Classroom

The constant evolution of technology isn't limited to businesses and government. Education in the classroom has to keep up with the trends in technology so that students are able to reap the benefits of these advancements. The generation of Millennials are beginning to dominate the numbers of employees in the workforce, and the generation behind them will begin joining soon. These generations grew up in the digital age and will only be familiar with technology in all aspects of life. In elementary classrooms, chalk boards have been replaced by Promethean boards - an interactive tool that helps keeps students engaged in daily lessons. School boards and educators need to embrace technology as teaching aids for the benefit of students.
One of the fastest growing platforms users are consuming technology is by mobile. This can mean a cell phone, smartphone, or tablet. As recently as two years ago, Pew Research Center shared data indicating the growing reliance on mobile devices. In January of 2014, 90% of Americans owned a cell phone (Pew Research Center, Mobile Technology Fact Sheet, 2014). The evolution of cell phones into smartphones enables users to engage with others via text, e-mail, and social media. Businesses have benefitted from the growing adoption of smartphones through e-commerce. Two years ago, seven percent of US adults self-reported as smartphone dependent; a number that has surely risen since then (Pew Research Center, 2014). With the knowledge that mobile technology is the growing trend, a fifth grade teacher is incorporating mobile technology in his students learning.
Matt Cook is a teacher at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School and he is making mobile technology work for his students. In an interview with Education World, Cook discusses the benefits of incorporating cells phones in his classroom. Cook partnered with Verizon, HTC, and Microsoft to enable each student the ability to have a cell phone and the functionality to access classroom material on the go. Initially, skepticism would suggest that cell phones in the classroom would be an easy distraction. However, by initiating the project, Cook has created the standards and expectations for the students to be able to have the cell phones. The teacher manages the apps that can be downloaded onto the phone and is also able to monitor their usage (Bafile, Education World, 2009). Data trends have shown that allowing devices into the classroom is more beneficial than not.
When comparing mobile access among teenagers, Liz Kolb, Ph.D, helps provide a breakdown of the different groups that users fall into.

Using a word cloud to derive Dr. Kolb's output, several items stand out. There is a comparison of cell phone to smartphone. There is also a comparison of how phone usage breaks down across ethnicities. Third, Dr. Kolb discusses how students use their phones. For businesses, mobility is becoming their greatest ability. Education and technology are not mutually exclusive.