Peer into RVIS Adventures of Infusing Digital Tools - Ideas - and Lessons Learned Featuring Students' BLOGS and Their Products
Welcome to the journey of infusing digital tools tasked with accelerating a mighty vision for New Media Literacies in a Maker-Style Writer's Workshop along with ramping up agency, collaboration and publishing for authentic audiences at RVIS International School. Kids' blogs will be featured as well as some of their media products and of course, my own ponderings. Which tools were introduced – how many - how fast - what benefits were gained - which tools were worthy - or not - as well as the learning curves, processes and pitfalls. I'm expecting many, many lessons learned along the way to create a valuable list of NIK's [Now-I-Know ] implementation wisdom from the experiences in RVIS classrooms. Send me good vibes!
RVIS is a one-to-one school with any students unable to bring a computer given one for the school year. This is my preferred student access model so RVIS devices are staged for ubiquitous access but more importantmanaged by students aka taking ownership of time, tasks and responsibility for digital citizenship.
The Goal is NOT Using Digital Tools
Digital tools should be identified, selected and organized into categories by FUNCTIONS, many tools are able to serve in more than one role. Categories map the knowledge-making [inquiry] process of meaning-making, collaboration, and authentic audiences to provide sense-making structure.
SNIFF - SNIFF . . .
So sad . . . my extensive resource of the best-of-the-best digital tools curated over time was wiped out when wikispaces went defunct. So I will have shortly a new home with an updated list of digital tools to consider. I've spent a great deal of my summer exploring, reviewing, testing and identifying the top digital tools worthy of our class using this next year. Once upon a time, I led Colorado's BEST-of-the-BEST Software Evaluation and still use these same consumer guidelines to continue to curate worthy digital tools.
WHAT I NOW KNOW
• Every tool used has a learning curve. • Strive to select tools that give you the highest return-on- learning [R.O.L.] for the time invested. • It's about being able to articulate added-value. • After exploring what's new in digital tools, begin sorting them into FUNCTIONS and calculating R.O.L. points to assure added-value for learning guides the final decisions for consumer consumption.
R.O.L. CONSUMER POINTS
maximum flexibility for multiple platforms and devices
streamlined, doable learning curves with ease of use;
easy class management [no log-in required etc] and portability of files;
range of grade levels and scope of multiple Intelligences AND learning styles;
pricing value for high use and low cost including FREE
overall durability of product to serve overtime.
B.F.O. aka Blinding-Flash-of-the-Obvious
Use a pair of "magic" glasses to peer past the glitter and hype of digital tools. It is the cognitive tasks and extended roles enabling learners to accelerate owning their learning that ensures a digital tool having the highest -return-on-learning.
STAY TUNED . . .
The new Best-of-the-BEST Digital Tools will be posted before school begins.
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Do you have a best value tool? What does it do that ADDS VALUE that marks it worthy? Any questions - any ideas - any suggestions?