As a learning pod, you will select and then research a topic, tool, or issue in the field of educational technology and then prepare a video summary and a short in-class presentation to share the highlights of your learning. Here are more details:

  • As a learning pod, you will select and then research a topic, tool, or issue in the field of educational technology.
  • Your topic can not overlap topics with other groups.
  • Each group will prepare one audio-video presentation, that may include multiple inquiry questions, and group members can certainly take different positions and tackle different aspects of the presentation.
  • Your presentation should be captured as an 5-8 minute audio-video file shared through a blog post on the blogs of all group members.
  • The blog post should include a short introduction to your topic, as well links to all the resources mentioned in your video to that people interested in learning more can easily find them.
  • Please feel free to be creative with this project, and consider the use of screencasts, video presentations, podcasts, dramatization, simulation, animation, etc.
  • You will present a short 3-minute presentation summarizing the highlights of your inquiry in one of the last two classes.
    • Given the short amount of time for the in-class summary, not everyone is required to present during the 3-minutes. I’ll leave it up to each group to decide if they want one or more group members to present.
    • Presentation slides are optional (i.e. not required)
    • Your presentation will be followed by a 2-minute Q&A session.
    • Unless for an accommodation, I would like all group members to be ready to participate in the 2-minute Q&A.

Your project should be structured around the following prompts:

  • What is your technology inquiry question? (For example, What is the impact of screen time on children? How can one use Flipgrid in a classroom? What are some best practices in terms of copyright with regard to learning design?, etc.)
  • What is the relationship of your topic to teaching and learning?
  • What are the pros, cons, and risks?
  • What are some of the strategies, best practices, and tips regarding your inquiry findings?

Other instructions:

  • You will use the same blog as for Assignment 1.
  • When complete, you can post your resource can be copied/posted across all group member blogs.
  • The category “edtech inquiry” on your blog will be used for this assignment.
  • Here is a Group Project Planning Guide for you to review if you would like some guidance or tips on how to plan for a successful group project.

Questions to Help Inspire Your Educational Technology Resource Development:

  • What is the role of cell phones in schools? What are the policies and research around this? What is my policy?
  • How does technology help me in answering an inquiry question?
  • Does Augmented Reality have a place in K-12 education?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of Google apps for education?
  • Can Kahoot be an effective formative and summative assessment tool?
  • What makes a good classroom website/blog?
  • How can video recording and editing be used effectively in teaching and learning?
  • What are some technologies that can help students with learning difficulties?
  • Are there Ed Tech tools to make individualized learning easier to implement? What different types of individualized learning are there?
  • What are the primary internet safety issues for use in the classroom, and how can they be most effectively taught?
  • What role, if any, should Minecraft, coding, or 3D printing have in K-12?
  • How compelling is current virtual reality technology for going on otherwise “impossible” field trips?
  • Can coding tools be a more engaging way to teach?