Not all devices offer the same opportunities when it comes to hosting a Zoom session. This source from Zoom provides tables offering helpful comparisons. Interpret ‘web client’ as chromebook.
Equity in pandemic education
The “Equity in Action” committee has developed a brief guide identifying and explaining equity issues exacerbated by the pandemic identified action steps available to educators and parents. Inequity has increased under the present administration with the pandemic compounding the insensitivity and bias of the administration. For example, existing inequity in the type of work people must do and the dangers related to this work have been magnified by the pandemic. The school-based resources available to children from low income families relative to children from wealthier families have been magnified by factors such as home access to high speed internet and differences in child care. Suggested action items includes efforts to influence political action and steps more directly related to local schools.
Google Jamboard
I just completed a lengthy tutorial and commentary on Google Jamboard
My tutorial explains the use of the service from a tablet. There are some differences in using the service from a desktop (even though the creation and modification of a jam can involve both working together).
Jamboard is part of Google Drive, but this might be obvious unless you know where to look.
The tool used to add content are also a little different. You can’t draw/write on the screen with a finger/stylus, but you can use your mouse. Text can be entered in two ways from a computer – textbox and sticky note.
I think Jamboard has great potential for online collaborations between teacher and student and among students. The integration with Drive allows a convenient method for storage and sharing
Sal Kahn on distance learning
For those who assume tech types are pushing for moving education to online learning, this analysis by Sal Kahn may be reassuring. Yes, Kahn started the popular Kahn Academy which is online and potentially mastery-based. However, he has used his success to also start a face to face setting in which the benefits of individualization and face to face instruction can be explored.
This article does reflect our times and argues what online education might have to look like for the near future, but the article does a nice job of examining the limitations should this approach be required for too long.
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SWIVL
I saw a news piece on teachers engaging students via video that caused me to remember just where I had seen something similar some time ago. The theme of the news story was teachers finding ways to get away from using video to stare at their students for long periods of time while teaching remotely. The story focused a technology that would follow the teacher around her/his classroom during a presentation so that the experience was more natural.
I searched my blog and what I remembered was a product from 2012 that we purchased. The product was called the Swivl and it held a phone or iPad and it would follow a target as the target moved. At this time, we described it as a great way for preservice teachers to record themselves for later analysis. The product and similar products can still be found on Amazon.
Running a Zoom or equivalent feed from a similar device seems like a good idea.
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Keynote too
Big news for edtech types today seemed to be that Zoom users can now share PowerPoint presentations as a Zoom background. I don’t make use of Microsoft products and checked the Zoom Help Center. It turns out that Zoom has created special screen sharing capabilities for both PowerPoint and KEYNOTE. The link above explains both.
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