Virtual Learning Environment to Emulate Real-Life Tasks for Learners

U.S. Military Technology Comes  to Schoolchildren

One of Morgan  Teacher Education Dept. professors, Dr. Nira Taru mentioned during our conversation about an outstanding facility available for teachers and students in Maryland, U.S. - Virtual Lab.

listen to ‘What Morgan Teacher Students Learn to Do in the Virtual Lab’ on Audioboo

I seized on an opportunity to touch base with the guys there and managed to make an appointment. Here's what I saw.

Teachers are getting together to figure out how to promote technology for school instruction

Allow me to blabbermouth the history of facility.

To be consistent, Virtual Lab or Virtual Learning Environment was constructed on the premises of Chesapeake High School, Baltimore, MD, U.S.

Based on the information from their brochure, Chesapeake High School became a STEM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) after receiving a state grant in the amount of USD1.3 million which basically gave the steering committee a free hand in overhauling of the programs to better meet the needs of students in the shrinking global economy.

listen to ‘STEM Coordinator Ms. Roche About CHS STEM Academy’ on Audioboo

Laboratory

In following with Chesapeake's 21st century learning focus, instructional technology tools have been introduced to all classroom teachers. Every classroom is equipped with a wireless tablet, document camera and LCD projector. Every teacher receives a laptop computer. Other technology tools added to Chesapeake High School include mobile laptop carts for student use, electronic student response systems, TI-navigators, interactive computer panels, whiteboards, digital cameras, MP-3 players, FLIP video cameras, Vernier accessories, and Carnegie mathematics software for Algebra and Geometry. A brand new state-of-the-art television studio opened in 2011 for students in the Journalism/Communications pathway.

In addition, Web 2.0 initiatives have been integrated into every curriculum area and a "Bring Your Own Device" initiative has been introduced in 2012-2013. This will allow teachers and students to explore instructional applications for smartphones, iPads/tablets, and personal computers, among other electronic devices that students may own. The overall goal has been to introduce students to appropriate uses of  technologies and communication tools which mirror those they will be using within the global society and workforce.

Student's working place in the Laboratory

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) at CHS STEM Academy is a cutting-edge technology facility and was the first of its kind in any public school in the nation. In 2009, in cooperation with Johns Hopkins University, Chesapeake constructed and piloted an initiative that brought sophisticated military technology and customized educational software to the high school environment. Students have been introduced to a collaboration, communication and learning the way it goes in a professional world.

Now Chesapeake cooperates in developing projects with University of Baltimore and Breakaway Games, LLC.

listen to ‘STEM Multimedia and Technology Chairperson Justin Patterson About Game Development at CHS ’ on Audioboo

The VLE is comprised of two unique rooms: the ARENA and the Laboratory, both offering whole group and individualized learning experiences. The ARENA is a replica of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Columbia, MD.

The ARENA

A costly but indispensable console

This room was designed to immerse student groups in a 360 degree view of a virtual environment as they solve the curriculum-based project challenges. The ARENA also provides a video conferencing room and ten work stations, allowing for opportunities for students  to work in small groups as well as video conference with experts in universities, corporations and government. 

listen to ‘Transdisciplinary Learning Scenarios’ on Audioboo

The AREENA

The Laboratory environment gives the opportunity for students to work individully and in collaborative pairs or small groups.

The three-monitor configuration provides a unique feature of this facility, and new ways to integrate the full features of the ARENA and Laboratory to enhance teaching, learning, and college and career readiness, are continually being explored.

listen to ‘Students Learn Best By Simulating’ on Audioboo

A versatile teacher station which features accountability of what students are up with their devices

How Does Technology Answer Teaching Purpose?

How to Apply Technology to Engage Today's Students

 

                          It's millenium, guys, technology is ever-improving. 

We are daily introduced a kaleidoscope of breathtaking technological innovations. Brain does change, for the positive or negative. And any teacher must be aware of the shift. How can we foster this change to our learners' advantage?

 

There are more questions than answers. Personally, I have searched through most of the bookshelves at major bookstores. And I would appreciate if you share online resourses you find working.

Those are the questions that make me puzzed and the sources I have found.

1. What kind of learners do we meet today in the classroom?

Chances are as a teacher you have come across the following challenges:
- their impared motivation,
- troubleshooting mode of studies, lack of continuity,
- their mental withdrawal,
- failing to recognize the relevancy of the taught content to match their lives
- health complications, behaviour disorders, ADD

Sure enough, a lot of money circulates in this controversial market of artificial stimulants and pharmaceutical industry has armoured to "get our kids straightened".

Read here to know why Europe has been slower to adopt drugs to keep children focused.

This is the other pole of the technological era side-effects which, IMHO, we need to address like homeopaths wisely introducing technological baiths to fight common attention deficit, caused by overuse of devices.

2. How a teacher can keep from becoming a fossil? Educator's fitness program.

3. Edutainment. How not to slip into either education solely and gloomy nor to entertainment with no educational gain.

 

4. Make students hoot with laughter! Education can be fun, games in class.

 

 
Implementing the above findings daily can contribute to both parties of the learning-teaching process to grow emotionally, academically and metacognitively through the effective use of common sense and digital resourses.

Teacher Education Unit at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Striving for being unique and heard

I was curious of how future teachers are educated outside of Finland. Having been given a chance to visit Maryland I contacted a few randomly picked universities in Baltimore area, Morgan State University among them. Apparently, it should not have been done on such a short notice, which makes it even more valuable that the Chairperson of  Teacher Education and Administration Dr. Iola Smith warm-heartedly invited me to visit their unit and meet some of their educators and students. 

Morgan State University is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution of higher education. What it means in practice, is that the "qualified individuals have equal access to opportunity and are given a fair chance to contribute their talents and abilities" regardless of their gender, race, age, religious beliefs, colour, national origin, possible disabilities and so on.

Educational institutions in the USA are proud of their compliance with the equal employment opportunity legislative acts and civil rights regulations in all educational programs. They view it as a certain challenge, of course, but they continue to address societal problems, particularly those prevalent in urban communities, taking into consideration the underserved citizens.


Dr. Iola Smith, who has worked at Morgan for 47 years by now shares her view of the major problems the Department and the University are currently experiencing. She mentions the Common Core State Standards Initiative which  is a U.S. education initiative that seeks to bring diverse state curricula into alignment with each other by following the principles of standards-based education reform. 

listen to ‘Morgan State University Professor about challenges in the US system of Education ’ on Audioboo

The University has been one of a few HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in MD with the purpose of providing more studying opportunities for the state's black citizens. It now offers a comprehensive range of academic programs through the doctorate as well as educates future K-12  teachers. They are planning to elevate from Doctoral/Research University to RU/H (research University with a high research activity).

listen to ‘How Research Efforts are Promoted at Morgan’ on Audioboo

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is designed for students who have a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline of the Liberal Arts and who desire professional preparation for teaching. The MAT program will prepare students for teaching certification including the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.
Teachers possess excellent qualifications, some come from Columbia University, like Dr. Thurman Bridges. An associate professor of teacher education in the School of Education and Urban Studies, Dr. Bridges has recently received acceptance for presentations at several national conferences.

listen to ‘Dr. Thurman Bridges about embedding technology into his teaching’ on Audioboo

Read more about Maryland Technology Literacy Standards here.

Program of Study

The MAT Program requires the completion of 43 graduate credits, including a full semester of supervised teaching to qualify for the degree.

The program of study consists of the following course requirements:

Introduction to Teaching (3 Credits)
Cognitive Basic for Instruction (3 Credits)
The Exceptional Child (3 Credits)
Introduction to Educational Research (3 Credits)
Effective Utilization of Computers (3 Credits)
Action Research in the Classroom (3 Credits)
Teaching Reading in Content Areas (3 Credits)
Socio-Cultural Context of Schooling (3 Credits)
Elective (3 Credits)
Electives
Methods of Teaching/Content Areas (3 Credits)
Student Teaching (Internship) (12 Credits)
Pro-Seminar (1 Credit)

Another talented Teacher Educator, Dr. Nira Taru, speaks here on how she challenges her students to make the curriculum more versatile experience.

listen to ‘Curriculum vs. Field Experience of Teacher Students’ on Audioboo