Blog Journal 9

The "Flipped Classroom" is an approach to education in which students learn education material outside of the classroom. Most of this information is taught online, through instructional supplements posted by teachers. Students that can't attend class are able to consume the content they missed. Students that do attend class are able to review and recount certain information, which solidifies concepts in their minds. Many teachers have taken to putting materials and lesson plans online to benefit students. They may also link students to PDFs and required reading before the class, which allows the classroom to be a more collaborative environment than it would be otherwise. In schools, classes can be more discussion-based.

The Digital Divide refers to the gap between those who do not have access to technology and those who are immersed in technology. These circumstances are largely due to economic and social reasons. Students of higher socioeconomic statuses often have wide access to technology and are technologically literate. Students with lower socioeconomic backgrounds are not able to access technology as often. To bridge the Digital Divide, educators should take notice of students who are not as savvy with technology, and take measures to provide them with the same opportunities and resources as students. Teachers need to expand resources in educational spaces and inform parents about low-cost access to computers and tablets.

It has been a while since I created a PowerPoint that required animation and transitions between slides. It was fun to do something whimsical like that! I had never used the "Record" and "Show" options before either, and it was hard to convey my message in a concise and eloquent way. Nevertheless, I liked the challenge. For the more recent PowerPoint that I created, making an interactive game was entirely new to me. I hope to take less time to create PowerPoints in the future, and that they have favorable results.

Check out my comments on Lucy's and Kathryn's blogs!