How are Free Online Courses Changing Education?

Recently, I posted about how my school is using Facebook and Pinterest as part of our professional development.  (See the whole post HERE.) I’ve decided to pass on some of the best videos and articles I come across to you each Sunday evening.  Here is this week’s professional development post:

This week’s video is talking about sharing some of the most popular courses from some of the biggest name universities (Harvard, Yale, Stanford) with the entire world for free.  As someone who earned my Master’s degree online, I am well aware that online classes are just as much work (if not more) as classes taken in brick and mortar universities.  However, the flexibility to work on classes wherever and whenever you are provides amazing benefits to students around the world.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter – please leave me a comment with your thoughts on free online college courses.

 

If you’re interested in more professional development videos – follow my Professional Development Pinterest board or click on the banner below.

A Different Look at Literacy

Recently, I posted about how my school is using Facebook and Pinterest as part of our professional development.  (See the whole post HERE.) I’ve decided to pass on some of the best videos and articles I come across to you each Sunday evening.  Here is this week’s professional development post:

In so many schools, art and music are seen as unnecessary, or extra.  Drama and film making are seen as extra curricular.  Is this the correct way, or can teaching students the grammar of these modes of communication give them an extra way to express themselves?  For my part, I try to integrate the arts into my lessons – by doing things like letting students create videos in science or complete art projects to go along with a reading response.  I’m not sure I’m going far enough, but I was highly intrigued with George Lucas’ talk in this video comparing the different ways we can be literate.  Take 4 1/2 minutes and enjoy this video.  Then, I’d love to here what you think about alternate illiteracies.

 

If you’re interested in more professional development videos – follow my Professional Development Pinterest board.