MassCue Highlights

The MassCue Conference held at Gillette Stadium, October 24th and 25th was filled with fantastic vendors, workshops and information about the latest trends in technology integration. I attended several sessions that proved to offer important information to carry out the mission of all educators using technology to enhance learning. Too many items to mention here, but wanted to focus in on the idea of "differentiated learning." 

To introduce this concept and take a closer look at how we need to address the needs of all students, this year's keynote speaker, Travis Allen proved to be an effective contribution. Travis set the scene as to why we need to move ahead in the technology integration effort throughout our education system. He reminds us that in the end, it is not about teachers, administrators, parents or organizations. It is about each student and the importance of  personalized learning. Kudos to Travis!

Travis Allen background (taken from MassCue)
Travis Allen's iSchool site
"Travis Allen is a young visionary for Digital Learning in the classroom. Before graduating high school, Travis created a viral YouTube video on revolutionizing education in America through mobile learning. Today, Travis is a junior at Kennesaw State University (KSU), where he operates his growing non-profit organization, the iSchool Initiative. Working closely with the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization at KSU he has been able to turn his vision into a full blown movement with schools all over the world adopting the iSchool Initiative's concept. Travis manages a team of thirty people who are touring the country providing seminars, workshops, publications, and a network for students and educators, to motivate them to embrace becoming life-long digital learners in the Information Age. Travis is quickly becoming one of the top leaders in the emerging digital learning revolution movement."  

Leveraging Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Interesting session and notes from combined presentation with Natick Public Schools Tech Specialist and EdTech Teacher Representative that discussed apps and practices to differentiate learning.

Resources mentioned at the conference and worth sharing.......

EasyBib App
EasyBib has been around for awhile, but the app is offering some new features to make citing references that much easier!

Starwalk
A stargazing app that really puts things in perspective!

CatchupMath
Middle/High School Math helper that personalizes student's help with different areas of Math

Sound Recorders/Sharing
AudioBoo
SoundCloud
Audacity

Video Apps / Tutorial Creators
Showme 
Screenchomp 
Explain Everything

MassCue: Learning in the 21st Century
Mobile Devices+Social Media = 
Personalized Learning

Project Tomorrow - Speak up Reports

Interesting data from research conducted by Project Tomorrow regarding students with mobile devices:

Students With Mobile Devices	K-2nd Grade	3rd-5th Grade	6-8th Grade	9-12th Grade
Cell Phone (without Internet access)	18%	29%	59%	67%
Smartphone (with Internet access)	14%	17%	24%	31%
Laptop/Tablet PC	27%	32%	53%	60%
Netbook or mini-notebook computer	n/a	n/a	11%	10%
MP3 player	36%	55%	80%	85%
Hand-held game player	47%	60%	64%	48%