Sunday, February 27, 2011
Internet Safety
Today I read through several new course readings about internet safety and knowing how to protect yourself and others on the internet. I felt as though these reads were extremely important because it is all too common today to fall victim to identity theft or other criminal activity because of information posted on the internet. Although I am on a social networking site, I am extremely careful as to what is posted. I do not give out any personal information other than my name and interests because it is scary to think of who may be reading or recording this information. I have known a few people who have become victims of identity theft because they possibly gave out too much information. I learned a lot about programs that I did not know before. I never knew that by using websites, the internet uses the cookies to track what sites you go to. I thought that this was just something that came with upgraded service systems. I also never knew that cookies could be something good. They help to show places or sites that you may like to visit based on your previous searching. I always heard that cookies were bad and gave your computer viruses and that you can disable cookies. I wish that I would have known this a long time ago. It would have saved me a lot of time and money. I find it bewildering when I see that people have posted their email addresses, phone numbers and even home addresses on social websites. It scares me to think that these people do not know the danger that they are putting themselves into. As teachers it is very immportant to be aware of dangerous websites because these can damage the computers and hinder our students' learning. Although many schools have blocks on outside websites, they are still not completely safe and students need to know how to safely access the information that they are searching for. I hope that teachers stay up to date as for how to protect themselves and their students in an ever- changing digital world.
My Digital Footprints
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA3SooifUz0&hl=en_GB&fs=1
This is a video that I created depicting my digital footprints. By completing readings from my technology course, I learned that digital footprints are trackings that show what websites we visit and how often. These footprints make it easier to search for things because they allow the internet to provide us with suggestions as to what we may like or may wish to search for. It is important to be aware of what digital footprints you leave behind in space because websites may gain access to some of your information or you may get suggestions from websites that you do not care for. I hope that you enjoy the video. My main digital footprints include blogger, youtube, facebook, and aol as well as any information about music websites because this is a big interest of mine.
This is a video that I created depicting my digital footprints. By completing readings from my technology course, I learned that digital footprints are trackings that show what websites we visit and how often. These footprints make it easier to search for things because they allow the internet to provide us with suggestions as to what we may like or may wish to search for. It is important to be aware of what digital footprints you leave behind in space because websites may gain access to some of your information or you may get suggestions from websites that you do not care for. I hope that you enjoy the video. My main digital footprints include blogger, youtube, facebook, and aol as well as any information about music websites because this is a big interest of mine.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Skype
I attended our college's first skype session with Russia. This is just some news coverage of myself and our professor from Russia- Dr. Olga Lomakina speaking about the experience. It was a great learning opportunity for me because we got to speak directly to Russian students and we found out that their interests and likes are incredibly similar to our own. I think that this would be a very good tool to use in our classrooms because it was give our students a chance to brainstorm questions to ask the students in another country; and would also allow them to learn about a different culture. I can't wait to do this again! Incase the story is no longer up when you click the link, the title is: HV students chat with Russian counterparts.
http://www.news12.com/index.jsp
http://www.screencast.com/users/Pedagogy21/folders/Jing/media/03cdf08e-2d8b-4b54-a056-077a279d46d1
http://www.news12.com/index.jsp
http://www.screencast.com/users/Pedagogy21/folders/Jing/media/03cdf08e-2d8b-4b54-a056-077a279d46d1
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
My Letterpop Newsletter
This is the 'newsletter' I created about a week or two ago about google docs. Again, this was a new website for me. I hope that you like it. It was pretty easy to search the website, choose a templeate and upload a picture to it. I do not know how to enlarge the photo, so I provided the link so that you can easily read the text.
http://letterpop.com/newsletters/?id=182792-a727ba
http://letterpop.com/newsletters/?id=182792-a727ba
Monday, February 21, 2011
Reengergizing the run- down teacher
Most of us are at the very beginning of our teaching careers. Most, if none, of us have ever taught an online course. When you begin teaching and find yor niche, that is wonderful. However, what do you do after you have been teaching for a while and things seem to become monotonous? How do you maintain students' interests when you yourself are not interested? The solutions offered are for both traditional classroom teachers and online course facilitators. I just read an article which offers some solutions to teachers.
One solution is to collaborate with other teachers. Collaboration allows for new, fresh ideas to enter one's mind. People who collaborate often take an idea given to them and mold it to fit their personal needs and the needs of their students. Another solution is to attend free webinars or seminars on the content that you teach.Professional development greatly enhances the teaching tools that one learns to use within the classroom. When using online resources, use a microphone to ask students individual questions or even post videos for them to watch. Have students experiment with and use the web 2.0 tools discussed in the previous blog entry. Ask students to state how they found these tools to be useful and anything that they would change. Then, the teacher can make modifications for next time. Do not become overwhelmed by trying to complete everything at once. This is difficult for me, because as soon as I am given an assignment, I am eager to start it that day. Too much at once will become overwhelming and as a teacher you will tire your brain. Reserve time for yourself. If you teach an onine course, do not access the course information on the weekend because you will need this time to take a break and clear your mind this way it is fresh when you resume on Monday. Lastly, establish when your students and colleagues are able to reach you and where the best place for them to reach you will be. Do you prefer meeting online via webex, gtalk, or email? Do you prefer to meet in person? Do you prefer a phone call? This is very important and is up to you.
Until next time...
One solution is to collaborate with other teachers. Collaboration allows for new, fresh ideas to enter one's mind. People who collaborate often take an idea given to them and mold it to fit their personal needs and the needs of their students. Another solution is to attend free webinars or seminars on the content that you teach.Professional development greatly enhances the teaching tools that one learns to use within the classroom. When using online resources, use a microphone to ask students individual questions or even post videos for them to watch. Have students experiment with and use the web 2.0 tools discussed in the previous blog entry. Ask students to state how they found these tools to be useful and anything that they would change. Then, the teacher can make modifications for next time. Do not become overwhelmed by trying to complete everything at once. This is difficult for me, because as soon as I am given an assignment, I am eager to start it that day. Too much at once will become overwhelming and as a teacher you will tire your brain. Reserve time for yourself. If you teach an onine course, do not access the course information on the weekend because you will need this time to take a break and clear your mind this way it is fresh when you resume on Monday. Lastly, establish when your students and colleagues are able to reach you and where the best place for them to reach you will be. Do you prefer meeting online via webex, gtalk, or email? Do you prefer to meet in person? Do you prefer a phone call? This is very important and is up to you.
Until next time...
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is any technology that allows a person to interact with other people. Web 2.0 includes the use of blogs, Google docs, and interactive sites such as webex.
As you know, a blog is basically an online journal. Webex is a website that is interactive. It is a website which schedules meeting times and allows you to see and hear the people that you are meeting with. The video below explains google docs.
All of these technologies can certainly be used in the classroom. Blogs are good ways for students to keep track of what they are learning. Students can keep track of any data or new information that they collect on google docs and use webex to share their information with the class, or maybe even other students in the school who are in a different classroom.
As you know, a blog is basically an online journal. Webex is a website that is interactive. It is a website which schedules meeting times and allows you to see and hear the people that you are meeting with. The video below explains google docs.
All of these technologies can certainly be used in the classroom. Blogs are good ways for students to keep track of what they are learning. Students can keep track of any data or new information that they collect on google docs and use webex to share their information with the class, or maybe even other students in the school who are in a different classroom.
What makes technology good?
According to Stephen Downes, there are nine possibilities which indicate good technology.
1. Technology is always available Good technology will automatically be found in the classroom and the teacher does not have to wait and sign the technology out so that they can use it. In my opinion, smart boards and computers are generally good technology because many classrooms have them readily available.
2. Good technology is always on Much of the technology today uses a lot of energy and takes a long time to start up. This wastes precious classroom time. If technology that takes only a few seconds to start up becomes more common, this will increase the amount of time that teachers can use it with their students.
3. Good technology is always connected This goes along with number 2. If the technology is connected, teachers can spend more time using it with their students rather than wasting time setting it up.
4. Good technology is standardized Technology should be universal, meaning that we should be able to access our information from any computer as well as share information from any computer. Some programs only work on certain computer brands, but if those programs help to improve technology, they should be able to work on all computers.
5. Technology is simple I need technology to be very simple, otherwise I become frustrated very quickly. I need to know right away how to access the main functions of the computer that I use daily. If those functions are not there or are not easily accessible, I will not buy that computer. In order for me to use the technology, it must be very easy to work with.
6. Good technology doesn't require parts Along with being simple, my technology must not require parts, otherwise I do not know how to work it myself. If this is the case, I will bring it to someone who does know how to work the parts and will have it fixed. I, however, do not feel comfortable at all when technology is complicated and has many parts to it.
7. Good technology is personalized The use of emails, blogs, PLE's, and personal web pages has allowed technology to become more personalized. The most common form of personalization today is probably the email address. Nearly everyone who is around technology has a personalized email address or screename which reflects that person's personality in some way.
8. Good technology is modular It can be built in a variety of different ways and constantly improved from one model to the next. For example, one laptop may not have something that the next version of that same laptop will have. The new version will therefore be faster and have higher picture quality, for example.
9. Good technology does what you want it to do I don't know how many times over the course of my college years I have found myself in an argument with my computer because it won't do what I need it to do. Good ttechnology will not have these glitches.
Until next time...
1. Technology is always available Good technology will automatically be found in the classroom and the teacher does not have to wait and sign the technology out so that they can use it. In my opinion, smart boards and computers are generally good technology because many classrooms have them readily available.
2. Good technology is always on Much of the technology today uses a lot of energy and takes a long time to start up. This wastes precious classroom time. If technology that takes only a few seconds to start up becomes more common, this will increase the amount of time that teachers can use it with their students.
3. Good technology is always connected This goes along with number 2. If the technology is connected, teachers can spend more time using it with their students rather than wasting time setting it up.
4. Good technology is standardized Technology should be universal, meaning that we should be able to access our information from any computer as well as share information from any computer. Some programs only work on certain computer brands, but if those programs help to improve technology, they should be able to work on all computers.
5. Technology is simple I need technology to be very simple, otherwise I become frustrated very quickly. I need to know right away how to access the main functions of the computer that I use daily. If those functions are not there or are not easily accessible, I will not buy that computer. In order for me to use the technology, it must be very easy to work with.
6. Good technology doesn't require parts Along with being simple, my technology must not require parts, otherwise I do not know how to work it myself. If this is the case, I will bring it to someone who does know how to work the parts and will have it fixed. I, however, do not feel comfortable at all when technology is complicated and has many parts to it.
7. Good technology is personalized The use of emails, blogs, PLE's, and personal web pages has allowed technology to become more personalized. The most common form of personalization today is probably the email address. Nearly everyone who is around technology has a personalized email address or screename which reflects that person's personality in some way.
8. Good technology is modular It can be built in a variety of different ways and constantly improved from one model to the next. For example, one laptop may not have something that the next version of that same laptop will have. The new version will therefore be faster and have higher picture quality, for example.
9. Good technology does what you want it to do I don't know how many times over the course of my college years I have found myself in an argument with my computer because it won't do what I need it to do. Good ttechnology will not have these glitches.
Until next time...
THE BIG QUESTION
What should we learn? In other words, what are the most important tools needed for a person to learn today via a computer? The suggested tools were: blogs, Jing, a search engine, a video camera, webinars, screencasts, etc. I think that this list is great. I think that it is important to start with just the basics. I would also add word processing, general use of smart boards, and and digital uploading of pictures from a camera.
The Personal Learning Environment
I just finished watching a video on what is called the Personal Learning Environment (PLE). What I took away from the video is that personal learning environments are websites created by a person for a specific purpose. For example, a person may be an expert in one field of study and will set up a personal learning environment for their peers to access information from. The person who sets up the website can manage what is posted on there and who they send information to. People can take information from their facebook, twitter, secondlife, and blog accounts and post it to their PLE. This allows the reader to access a mountain of information which they may find to be useful. The PLE is a network where people can access information and interact with each other. It allows the learning process to go from being a straight line (where all you do is absorb information) to expanding and covering a much more in- depth understanding of the material and how the material can be used.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
My scrapblog
This is a scrapblog that I created last semester. It was a totally new technology to me. My topic was Emotional Literacy. Just click through the gallery or press the play button. I hope you enjoy and can learn from it. Any comments or feedback is welcomed :-)
http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/vw_full.aspx?sbid=2836102
http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/vw_full.aspx?sbid=2836102
My new wiki/ A new age of technology
I just figured out how to create my own wiki! This is pretty cool. I am starting to feel a little bit better now that I am somewhat getting a handle on all of this new technology.http://teameducationinnovation.wikispaces.com/
It's really amazing to think how far technology has come. Tonight, I began reading a book titled Beacons in the Night which is a true story of the adventures that one soldier faced when entering war- torn Yugoslavia during World War II. In the book, this soldier is worried because he is a parachute jumper and has to protect all goods that are dropped to the ground- including the radios. He was worried because the radios were glass and if they were broken after being tossed out of the plane, soldiers would have no form of communication with their other military comrades. It's amazing to thik how far technology has come in what is relatively a short time period. With the internet, communication is almost instant and the technology that can instantly be accessed is fascinating.
From (Then):
To (Now):
To (future):
It's really amazing to think how far technology has come. Tonight, I began reading a book titled Beacons in the Night which is a true story of the adventures that one soldier faced when entering war- torn Yugoslavia during World War II. In the book, this soldier is worried because he is a parachute jumper and has to protect all goods that are dropped to the ground- including the radios. He was worried because the radios were glass and if they were broken after being tossed out of the plane, soldiers would have no form of communication with their other military comrades. It's amazing to thik how far technology has come in what is relatively a short time period. With the internet, communication is almost instant and the technology that can instantly be accessed is fascinating.
From (Then):
To (Now):
To (future):
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I guess I'm No Computer Genius
http://oc.course.com/genius2/genius_flash_nt.cfm?ISBN=978-1-4239-1180-7&project=1
I guess I am not a computer genius. Well, that is of no surprise to me, but I have learned a lot even from just taking this little quiz. I think that is the reason for me taking this course. Technology is necessary to survive in today's world and I want to be able to help my students the best that I can...and that means it's time to brush up on my technology skills. I'm glad that many people in this course feel the same way. Until next time...
I guess I am not a computer genius. Well, that is of no surprise to me, but I have learned a lot even from just taking this little quiz. I think that is the reason for me taking this course. Technology is necessary to survive in today's world and I want to be able to help my students the best that I can...and that means it's time to brush up on my technology skills. I'm glad that many people in this course feel the same way. Until next time...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reching beyond the classroom
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Finally!
I have FINALLY figured out how to add some pictures and videos as well as music to this blog! I'm really excited about that. I hope that you can read, listen, watch, and enjoy this blog site as I try my best to keep up with a technology that is completely new to me :-)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Weeks 3 and 4 of this course
I feel as though weeks 3 and 4 of this course have been going pretty well. I feel as though it is starting to come together, slowly but surely. Last week, I spent most of my time working on the blog. Our group session tonight went very well. We discussed our opinions on the different technologies coming out now and how we would use them in our classrooms. This week's readings focuses on the use of google docs. I found that this tool can be wonderful, but I don't think that it would fit the learning needs of all students. I think that this would be perfect for a student in middle or high school who learns new things easily and does not need constant teacher supervision. What about students who have higher needs than the other students? How would the use of google docs help them? Frankly, I don't think that it would. I'm not saying to not use this tool; I am just saying to be aware of the learners in your classroom and use a tool that would work for them.
Here is my reflection for the last 2 weeks:
Reflection:
Bloom's Remembering: What did I do?
Student Reflection: What was the assignment? When was it due? Did I get it turned in on time?
Bloom's Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?
Student Reflection: Do I understand the parts of the assignment and how they connect? Did my response completely address all parts of the assignment? Do I see where this fits in with what we are studying?
Bloom's Application: When did I do this before? Where could I use this again?
Student Reflection: How was this assignment similar to other assignments? (in this course or others). Do I see connections in either content, product or process? Are there ways to adapt it to other assignments? Where could I use this (content, product or process) my life?
Bloom's Analysis: Do I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?
Student Reflection: Were the strategies, skills and procedures I used effective for this assignment? Yes.
Do I see any patterns in how I approached my work - such as following an outline, keeping to deadlines? Yes- I keep on top of deadlines and try to get started early so that I can tweak my projects as the week progresses.
What were the results of the approach I used - was it efficient, or could I have eliminated or reorganized steps? I find my approach to be affective. It's what works for me. Some people don't like to do things this way, but this is how I learn the best.
Bloom's Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve? I need to improve on sprucing things up. The content is there, just making things more visually appealing would be nice.
Student Reflection: What are we learning and is it important? Yes, learning about technology is important because we need to know about what we teach our students to use.
Did I do an effective job of communicating my learning to others? No. I will use the discussion forum more often from now on.
What have I learned about my strengths and my areas in need of improvement? How am I progressing as a learner? I am progressing well, I think. I have a very good work ethic and get things done early, but I need to have more patience when awaiting replies from others, especially when they answer questions that I may have had.
Bloom's Creation: What should I do next? What's my plan / design? I plan to continue working on the blog and figure out how to add more features.
Student Reflection: How can I best use my strengths to improve? I can use some of the new technologies to help me further understand how technology works and what it can be used for.
What steps should I take or resources should I use to meet my challenges? Use the discussion forum and my peers for help with any encountered problems.
What suggestions do I have for my professor or my peers to improve our learning environment? It's a little bit overwhelming. Make sure what is expected of us is clearly stated and that the links work.
How can I adapt this content or skill to make a difference in my life and my future/current classroom? I will definitely be using this knowledge in my classroom. I've already begun to tell other teachers about it actually. I will be planning interactive lessons and will most likely have my students create their own blog, even if they use their written journal entries and enter them into the computer as a blog.
As for me with the technology, I am becoming more comfortable. I am having trouble embedding videos and using pictures on my blog, though. I would like to spruce it up a little bit! I hope that you are all doing well with the semester and that things are starting to come together for you.
Until next time...
Here is my reflection for the last 2 weeks:
Reflection:
Bloom's Remembering: What did I do?
Student Reflection: What was the assignment? When was it due? Did I get it turned in on time?
Bloom's Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?
Student Reflection: Do I understand the parts of the assignment and how they connect? Did my response completely address all parts of the assignment? Do I see where this fits in with what we are studying?
Bloom's Application: When did I do this before? Where could I use this again?
Student Reflection: How was this assignment similar to other assignments? (in this course or others). Do I see connections in either content, product or process? Are there ways to adapt it to other assignments? Where could I use this (content, product or process) my life?
Bloom's Analysis: Do I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?
Student Reflection: Were the strategies, skills and procedures I used effective for this assignment? Yes.
Do I see any patterns in how I approached my work - such as following an outline, keeping to deadlines? Yes- I keep on top of deadlines and try to get started early so that I can tweak my projects as the week progresses.
What were the results of the approach I used - was it efficient, or could I have eliminated or reorganized steps? I find my approach to be affective. It's what works for me. Some people don't like to do things this way, but this is how I learn the best.
Bloom's Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve? I need to improve on sprucing things up. The content is there, just making things more visually appealing would be nice.
Student Reflection: What are we learning and is it important? Yes, learning about technology is important because we need to know about what we teach our students to use.
Did I do an effective job of communicating my learning to others? No. I will use the discussion forum more often from now on.
What have I learned about my strengths and my areas in need of improvement? How am I progressing as a learner? I am progressing well, I think. I have a very good work ethic and get things done early, but I need to have more patience when awaiting replies from others, especially when they answer questions that I may have had.
Bloom's Creation: What should I do next? What's my plan / design? I plan to continue working on the blog and figure out how to add more features.
Student Reflection: How can I best use my strengths to improve? I can use some of the new technologies to help me further understand how technology works and what it can be used for.
What steps should I take or resources should I use to meet my challenges? Use the discussion forum and my peers for help with any encountered problems.
What suggestions do I have for my professor or my peers to improve our learning environment? It's a little bit overwhelming. Make sure what is expected of us is clearly stated and that the links work.
How can I adapt this content or skill to make a difference in my life and my future/current classroom? I will definitely be using this knowledge in my classroom. I've already begun to tell other teachers about it actually. I will be planning interactive lessons and will most likely have my students create their own blog, even if they use their written journal entries and enter them into the computer as a blog.
As for me with the technology, I am becoming more comfortable. I am having trouble embedding videos and using pictures on my blog, though. I would like to spruce it up a little bit! I hope that you are all doing well with the semester and that things are starting to come together for you.
Until next time...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
My Picasion Experiment
This is my picasion experiment. I really enjoyed this assignment but I had a very difficult time with it at the same time. I think that it's a fun idea, but there were a lot of glitches that I had both when creating it and when trying to post the assignment. I was trying to take a screenshot this way I could show the team's business card as well as a few other pictures, but did not have success in figuring this task out yet. I thought that the business card would be a great thing to show- representing the unity of the team- but it did not work out that way. I'm still very new to this technology and even had difficulty when posting the assignment for a grade. This is an assignment that I would do with my future students, but only after I have had a lot more practice with it. After all, practice makes perfect. I hope it gets easier as the semester continues on. I wish you all luck.
http://picasion.com/i/18Igf
http://picasion.com/i/18Igf
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
This Week's Reflection on Google Tools
This week was all about familiarizing myself with new technologies that I have never used before...including this blog. I have begun to familiarize myself with webex, wiziq, gtalk, and gmail. So far, they are all a work- in- progress for me. When meeting in our groups last week, my group and I spent over an hour trying to figure out the technology before even getting to discuss the week's assignments. It is a little overwhelming, but I hope that it will come together in the newr future. I am enjoying learning about these new tools, however. I find it fascinating that we can work in groups online and see each other/ talk to each other. The same goes for the online whole group meetings. I am looking forward to the rest of this semester.
Until next time...
Until next time...
Education 1.0 vs. Education 2.0
Education 1.0:
chalkboards
desks
teacher- led lessons
projectors
VCR's
A classroom where students filed into rows each day, lugged heavy textbooks, and watched slides on a projector screen. If students watched a movie, the teacher would sign a tv out, wheel it to their classroom, and play a video tape in the VCR player. Learning was led by the teacher and there was minimal discussion allowed in the classroom. Students were expected to work independently.
Education 2.0:
white boards
smart boards
computers
laptops
collaborative groups
This classroom is an inviting environment where students use the technology around them to learn and interact with their peers. Students often collaborate with their peers and most no longer sit in rows. It is expected that students participate in collaborative projects. When students today go up to the board, they either write on a white board, or use the electronic pens to write on the smart board screen. To watch a video today, the teacher will place a DVD into the computer which is hooked into the smart board. There is no longer the need to find a tv and bring it to the classroom. Rather than watching slides on a projector screen, students can use computers to find pictures on the internet and create their own slide shows and powerpoints. The classroom is interactive and students are expected to be as involved in the lessons as the teachers are. This classroom provides students with many different ways to learn and promotes self- confidence within students. It is a much more interactive classroom where students receive information immediately. It is important for teachers to find new ways to challenge students in this classroom. What may have worked in previous classrooms will most likely no longer challenge students who go to school in an Education 2.0 classroom.
Until next time...
chalkboards
desks
teacher- led lessons
projectors
VCR's
A classroom where students filed into rows each day, lugged heavy textbooks, and watched slides on a projector screen. If students watched a movie, the teacher would sign a tv out, wheel it to their classroom, and play a video tape in the VCR player. Learning was led by the teacher and there was minimal discussion allowed in the classroom. Students were expected to work independently.
Education 2.0:
white boards
smart boards
computers
laptops
collaborative groups
This classroom is an inviting environment where students use the technology around them to learn and interact with their peers. Students often collaborate with their peers and most no longer sit in rows. It is expected that students participate in collaborative projects. When students today go up to the board, they either write on a white board, or use the electronic pens to write on the smart board screen. To watch a video today, the teacher will place a DVD into the computer which is hooked into the smart board. There is no longer the need to find a tv and bring it to the classroom. Rather than watching slides on a projector screen, students can use computers to find pictures on the internet and create their own slide shows and powerpoints. The classroom is interactive and students are expected to be as involved in the lessons as the teachers are. This classroom provides students with many different ways to learn and promotes self- confidence within students. It is a much more interactive classroom where students receive information immediately. It is important for teachers to find new ways to challenge students in this classroom. What may have worked in previous classrooms will most likely no longer challenge students who go to school in an Education 2.0 classroom.
Until next time...
3 Technological Literacies
When learning about technology for the classroom, there are three main literacies that are in effect: Computer Literacy, Information Literacy, and Integration Literacy.
Computer Literacy is a person's ability to use the computer, understand how it operates. Most students today come to school knowing how to operate a computer. In fact, many of them know how to do this better than you or I can.
Information Literacy gives us the tools to use and locate information on the internet and clearly organize this information. With this literacy, students can create their own webquests. The video Information Literacy uses the acronym DISCOVER to describe the process of information literacy:
D-define
I-inquire
S-search
C-collect
O-organize
V-verify
E-express
R-reflect
This acronym can be helpful to students when using the internet to find information and create their own projects. The teacher would first explain each step and what is expected of the students. Each step will have more than one component. For example: For Define, students must write who, what, why, where, or when. It may be easiest if the students were provided a chart with the acronym where they could write down their findings next to each word. Information Literacy is helpful to both the teacher and students because it allows them to look at what websites are of use to them. After the DISCOVER process has been completed, the students can create a webquest which would provide visuals, some text, and links to the useful websites about their given topic.
Integration Literacy is using technology to further enhance the learning of students. This literacy uses every form of technology possible where text can be created- including cell phones. Integration literacy is a student- based approach, meaning that the classroom teacher is not the only person leading the lessons. Students can help other students and serve as peer facilitators, or the computer can even provide students with much of their learning. Integration Literacy is geared to involve all learning styles- from visual to auditory to textile. It allows students to explore on their own or work collaboratively in groups, then discuss with the rest of the class what they have learned. Sometimes, students even surpass what the instructor already knew how to do and therefore can teach their teacher something new about technology.
I have heard people say that technological literacy is the literacy of tomorrow. Guess what...It's not. It's the literacy of now and today's teachers must know how to work with the literacies that are all around us. If the students know more about this topic than you do, that's okay. Give that student the opportunity to collaborate with and teach you. You learn just as much from you students as they do from you.
Until next time...
Computer Literacy is a person's ability to use the computer, understand how it operates. Most students today come to school knowing how to operate a computer. In fact, many of them know how to do this better than you or I can.
Information Literacy gives us the tools to use and locate information on the internet and clearly organize this information. With this literacy, students can create their own webquests. The video Information Literacy uses the acronym DISCOVER to describe the process of information literacy:
D-define
I-inquire
S-search
C-collect
O-organize
V-verify
E-express
R-reflect
This acronym can be helpful to students when using the internet to find information and create their own projects. The teacher would first explain each step and what is expected of the students. Each step will have more than one component. For example: For Define, students must write who, what, why, where, or when. It may be easiest if the students were provided a chart with the acronym where they could write down their findings next to each word. Information Literacy is helpful to both the teacher and students because it allows them to look at what websites are of use to them. After the DISCOVER process has been completed, the students can create a webquest which would provide visuals, some text, and links to the useful websites about their given topic.
Integration Literacy is using technology to further enhance the learning of students. This literacy uses every form of technology possible where text can be created- including cell phones. Integration literacy is a student- based approach, meaning that the classroom teacher is not the only person leading the lessons. Students can help other students and serve as peer facilitators, or the computer can even provide students with much of their learning. Integration Literacy is geared to involve all learning styles- from visual to auditory to textile. It allows students to explore on their own or work collaboratively in groups, then discuss with the rest of the class what they have learned. Sometimes, students even surpass what the instructor already knew how to do and therefore can teach their teacher something new about technology.
I have heard people say that technological literacy is the literacy of tomorrow. Guess what...It's not. It's the literacy of now and today's teachers must know how to work with the literacies that are all around us. If the students know more about this topic than you do, that's okay. Give that student the opportunity to collaborate with and teach you. You learn just as much from you students as they do from you.
Until next time...
Monday, February 7, 2011
Overwhelming!
You have to forgive me, this is the first time that I have ever tried to maintain a blog. The course that I am enrolled in is an online Literacy and Technology course and we met for the firs time online tonight. We each have a headset and do actually get to speak with each otherwhile the class is going on, which I think is pretty cool We have had all week to visit and set up websites with wiziq, a wiki, wdydwyd, and now a blog- to name just a few. It is a bit overwhelming to take in all of this information at once. I hope that I am not the only one who feels this way, but it is all brand new to me. Just by going through the course material this week, I have realized that I am a person who needs to write things down in order for me to fully understand and remember material. Some people are auditory learners,and I always say that they are lucky because all that they have to do is listen. For me, I must write things down. I think that this revelation is great, because I've realized how often I carry that over to other tasks throughout my day. Learning about all of these new technologies is very cool and I am intrigued to see what will be coming next and how I can use this technology in my classroom. Although overwhelming at first, I think that this course will serve as a wonderful benefit in the future because I will understand how to apply the technology around me and make it relevant to what my students are learning.
Digital Students
The previous blog details how the NETS standards are being used in schools today. In this blog, my goal is to discuss how students today are different than previous generations: They are digital; and how teachers today can attain these NETS standards.
There is no doubt that the world of education has drastically changed from even that of seven or eight years ago. Today, most school districts- even poorer, urban schools that I have sent significant time in have at least three or four computers in every classroom. I have been in classrooms where students under the age of ten years old have cell phones, PSP's, and ipods, among other electronic gadgets. Technology has certainly changed the way that learning occurs in today's classrooms. With the excetion of only a few school districts, most have the use of smart board technology. Introducing smart board to the classroom has been a major change in the way that teachers teach and students learn. I can remember being either a freshman or sophomore in high school and being introduced to a smart board. We thought it was amazing! But, that was the first and last day I had ever seen a smart board until a little over one year ago. It is now about eight years since my first introduction to the device. Today, it is almost unheard of for students to not know what a smart board is. Students are being introduced to this technology in Kindergarten and use it all the way through high school. Advances in technology mean that students are consistently exposed to information that is colorful, fast- paced, and interactive. So how do we as teachers come up with this?
Just as there are NETS standards for students, there are also NETS standards for teachers which help us to incorporate this wonderul new technology into our lessons.Teachers create lessons often by using the technology for themselves first. (The internet is a great source to find new ideas.) After searching for ideas, teachers then use videos, powerpoints, graphs, charts, pictures, etc. to show students visual representations. After completing the lessons, the teacher may have students work collaboratively in groups to look up more information. Or, if the teacher knows that students have access to computers at home, they may have student submit assignments online. If this is the case, the technology can also be used as a tool to communicate with students' family members and provide feedback for each individual student.
As stated in my previous blog entry, I believe that the most important thing that a teacher can do when working with technology (or in general) is remain informed. Attend training and informational meetings. The more that we know, the more we can help to guide our students.
Until next time...
There is no doubt that the world of education has drastically changed from even that of seven or eight years ago. Today, most school districts- even poorer, urban schools that I have sent significant time in have at least three or four computers in every classroom. I have been in classrooms where students under the age of ten years old have cell phones, PSP's, and ipods, among other electronic gadgets. Technology has certainly changed the way that learning occurs in today's classrooms. With the excetion of only a few school districts, most have the use of smart board technology. Introducing smart board to the classroom has been a major change in the way that teachers teach and students learn. I can remember being either a freshman or sophomore in high school and being introduced to a smart board. We thought it was amazing! But, that was the first and last day I had ever seen a smart board until a little over one year ago. It is now about eight years since my first introduction to the device. Today, it is almost unheard of for students to not know what a smart board is. Students are being introduced to this technology in Kindergarten and use it all the way through high school. Advances in technology mean that students are consistently exposed to information that is colorful, fast- paced, and interactive. So how do we as teachers come up with this?
Just as there are NETS standards for students, there are also NETS standards for teachers which help us to incorporate this wonderul new technology into our lessons.Teachers create lessons often by using the technology for themselves first. (The internet is a great source to find new ideas.) After searching for ideas, teachers then use videos, powerpoints, graphs, charts, pictures, etc. to show students visual representations. After completing the lessons, the teacher may have students work collaboratively in groups to look up more information. Or, if the teacher knows that students have access to computers at home, they may have student submit assignments online. If this is the case, the technology can also be used as a tool to communicate with students' family members and provide feedback for each individual student.
As stated in my previous blog entry, I believe that the most important thing that a teacher can do when working with technology (or in general) is remain informed. Attend training and informational meetings. The more that we know, the more we can help to guide our students.
Until next time...
The 6 NETS Standards for students
As a teacher, it is extremely important to know your states' standards and what studrnts are expected to learn throughout the year. It is our job to make sure that the standards are being met and the annual goals achieved for each student. I will list the NETS standards for you and discuss which ones I have effectively seen implemented in the classrooms that I have been in.
1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Collaboration andCommunication
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Creativity and Innovation: I have seen this standard practiced in many classrooms. It asks students to take something that they already know and develop new ways to display the information. Two of the best examples come from my own experience a a child in school. In the 5th grade, we were learning about the Industrial Revolution. We learned that this was a time period in American History in which many new inventions came to be. After learning about these new inventions, our teacher asked us to create our own invention and present it to the class. Back then, we used chalk boards in school and since I have pined to be a teacher for as long as I can remember, I developed a board that would use paper rather than chalk and would scroll up and down. This way, teachers would not have to rewrite their notes every year. My second example was for Science. We learned about Recycling and deforestation. We were told to write a book report on the importance of Recycling and to come up with a creative way to present the information to the class. Being that I was always shy, it was obvious that the best way for me to present the information was by changing the words to the song Achy Breaky Heart to fit the topic of pollution and singing the new lyrics in front of the class via a karaoke machine. Much of the information to do these two projects was found by using the internet.
2. Communication and Collaboration: I have not yet witnessed this being done in elementary schools, but I am just becoming familiar with what this standard expects students to do. It expects students to be able to communicate and collaborate with each other via technology. In my college course, we are just learning how to use webcams and other sites to interact with our peers and collaborate on group projects. I do believe, however, that teachers need more training before this can effectively be done in the elementary classrooms.
3. Research and Information Fluency: I believe that this standard is one of the most widely used standards in classrooms today. This standard expects students to inquire, gather information, organize information, and evaluate information by using technology. Students today are often given projects or topics that the teacher knows a computer will be needed for. Students may be given a research topic about a person or a country and may be provided a list of educational websites where the information can be found. Students will then go to these websites, find the informaion that they are looking for, organize the information and evaluate whether or not the website was helpful in attaining their goal. Often, this information gathered will then be typed into a report to be handed in to the teacher.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Standards 3 and 4 go together. For standard 4, however, students will be the ones determining which websites to use. Students will need to figure out which websites have the most accurate information and how they know this to be true. Again, this standard is widely used, because within this standard, students can conduct research and experiments. Technology can be used to keep track of data that students gather from their experiments over a given period of time. Here, students also use graphs, charts, or maps to display their problems and data.
5. Digital Citizenship: I believe that this is the most widely used standard today. In every single classroom that I have been in, students look forward to going on the computer. Often, it is an extrinsic reward that students receive for doing well in school. Students also enjoy using newer tchnologies such as smart boards. I have observed classroom teachers who use smart boards with their classes. If the teacher asks for a volunteer, nearly all hands race up into the air. Students like being able to move what they see on a screen. Students also enjoy sharing computers and working together to find information on the internet and then sharing what they learned with the class.
6. Technology Operations and Concepts: In classrooms today, students know many of the terms and concepts about computers. However, students do not always know how to effectively use these things. I think that this may be difficult for some of the teachers to explain to their students, which is why it is only starting to take off in the classrooms. Although, it is definitely there, many more teachers need to be trained on how to use this standard within their classrooms.
I feel as though I am prepared to meet most of these standards. I do need more training with some of the newer technology, such as the smart boards. Once I have been trained on how to use these tools, my lessons for students will be even more intriguing and innovative. They will not only engage students in listening to me. They will allow students to use the technology to explore on their own and share with the rest of us what they learn. In order for students to receive the most out of using the technology, teachers must be very knowledeable about how the technology works and what their puropse is for using it at any given time.
Below is the link for the NETS standards:
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx
1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Collaboration andCommunication
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Creativity and Innovation: I have seen this standard practiced in many classrooms. It asks students to take something that they already know and develop new ways to display the information. Two of the best examples come from my own experience a a child in school. In the 5th grade, we were learning about the Industrial Revolution. We learned that this was a time period in American History in which many new inventions came to be. After learning about these new inventions, our teacher asked us to create our own invention and present it to the class. Back then, we used chalk boards in school and since I have pined to be a teacher for as long as I can remember, I developed a board that would use paper rather than chalk and would scroll up and down. This way, teachers would not have to rewrite their notes every year. My second example was for Science. We learned about Recycling and deforestation. We were told to write a book report on the importance of Recycling and to come up with a creative way to present the information to the class. Being that I was always shy, it was obvious that the best way for me to present the information was by changing the words to the song Achy Breaky Heart to fit the topic of pollution and singing the new lyrics in front of the class via a karaoke machine. Much of the information to do these two projects was found by using the internet.
2. Communication and Collaboration: I have not yet witnessed this being done in elementary schools, but I am just becoming familiar with what this standard expects students to do. It expects students to be able to communicate and collaborate with each other via technology. In my college course, we are just learning how to use webcams and other sites to interact with our peers and collaborate on group projects. I do believe, however, that teachers need more training before this can effectively be done in the elementary classrooms.
3. Research and Information Fluency: I believe that this standard is one of the most widely used standards in classrooms today. This standard expects students to inquire, gather information, organize information, and evaluate information by using technology. Students today are often given projects or topics that the teacher knows a computer will be needed for. Students may be given a research topic about a person or a country and may be provided a list of educational websites where the information can be found. Students will then go to these websites, find the informaion that they are looking for, organize the information and evaluate whether or not the website was helpful in attaining their goal. Often, this information gathered will then be typed into a report to be handed in to the teacher.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Standards 3 and 4 go together. For standard 4, however, students will be the ones determining which websites to use. Students will need to figure out which websites have the most accurate information and how they know this to be true. Again, this standard is widely used, because within this standard, students can conduct research and experiments. Technology can be used to keep track of data that students gather from their experiments over a given period of time. Here, students also use graphs, charts, or maps to display their problems and data.
5. Digital Citizenship: I believe that this is the most widely used standard today. In every single classroom that I have been in, students look forward to going on the computer. Often, it is an extrinsic reward that students receive for doing well in school. Students also enjoy using newer tchnologies such as smart boards. I have observed classroom teachers who use smart boards with their classes. If the teacher asks for a volunteer, nearly all hands race up into the air. Students like being able to move what they see on a screen. Students also enjoy sharing computers and working together to find information on the internet and then sharing what they learned with the class.
6. Technology Operations and Concepts: In classrooms today, students know many of the terms and concepts about computers. However, students do not always know how to effectively use these things. I think that this may be difficult for some of the teachers to explain to their students, which is why it is only starting to take off in the classrooms. Although, it is definitely there, many more teachers need to be trained on how to use this standard within their classrooms.
I feel as though I am prepared to meet most of these standards. I do need more training with some of the newer technology, such as the smart boards. Once I have been trained on how to use these tools, my lessons for students will be even more intriguing and innovative. They will not only engage students in listening to me. They will allow students to use the technology to explore on their own and share with the rest of us what they learn. In order for students to receive the most out of using the technology, teachers must be very knowledeable about how the technology works and what their puropse is for using it at any given time.
Below is the link for the NETS standards:
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Literacy in the 21st Century
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn0_H-kvxkU&feature=player_embedded
Literacy to me is the ability to decode words, find meaning of words, and relate words to the rest of the world. Literacy can come from the people around you, your environment, and the text that you read.
Do I believe that Literacy in the 21st Century is changing? Yes.- Well, to an extent. After viewing this video, I believe that literacy in the 21st century means being able to know how to use the tools/words that we are given and apply those tools to the world around us. Technology has significantly increased the amount of literacy that students are exposed to. The video speaks about students today. Today's students are provided so much exposure to technology throughout the day- from using computers to smart boards to cell phones. Each of these expose students to different forms of print. Some of the print is now abbreviated or uses symbols, meaning that the Literacy that students read is represented differently than the literacy that everyone 20 years or older used when attending school. It is almost as if this literacy is a new written/ visual language.
The difficult part for teachers is finding a balance on using technology in their classrooms. I believe that students should practice conventional forms of literacy, but use technology as to further enhance what they learn. Some teachers feel as though students are overexposed to technology and that this may not be healthy for their long-term well being. To some extent, I do agree with this. I feel as though students should partake in hands- on, physical, and technological activities throughout the day. Students are constantly being exposed to new technology and information, but they do not always know what to do with the information that they receive. I agree that teachers must attend training sessions about the technology so that they know how it works and how the technology can be readily available for students to learn and explore. I also believe that teachers should be willing to learn from the students about these new technologies. If a student presents the teacher with an idea that may make learning more engaging, the teacher should consider what the student says and decide how it would be incorporated into their lessons.
Although literacy and technology is progressing, students must understand the basic fundamentals of literacy before being able to understand. comprehend technologically literate world around them.
Literacy to me is the ability to decode words, find meaning of words, and relate words to the rest of the world. Literacy can come from the people around you, your environment, and the text that you read.
Do I believe that Literacy in the 21st Century is changing? Yes.- Well, to an extent. After viewing this video, I believe that literacy in the 21st century means being able to know how to use the tools/words that we are given and apply those tools to the world around us. Technology has significantly increased the amount of literacy that students are exposed to. The video speaks about students today. Today's students are provided so much exposure to technology throughout the day- from using computers to smart boards to cell phones. Each of these expose students to different forms of print. Some of the print is now abbreviated or uses symbols, meaning that the Literacy that students read is represented differently than the literacy that everyone 20 years or older used when attending school. It is almost as if this literacy is a new written/ visual language.
The difficult part for teachers is finding a balance on using technology in their classrooms. I believe that students should practice conventional forms of literacy, but use technology as to further enhance what they learn. Some teachers feel as though students are overexposed to technology and that this may not be healthy for their long-term well being. To some extent, I do agree with this. I feel as though students should partake in hands- on, physical, and technological activities throughout the day. Students are constantly being exposed to new technology and information, but they do not always know what to do with the information that they receive. I agree that teachers must attend training sessions about the technology so that they know how it works and how the technology can be readily available for students to learn and explore. I also believe that teachers should be willing to learn from the students about these new technologies. If a student presents the teacher with an idea that may make learning more engaging, the teacher should consider what the student says and decide how it would be incorporated into their lessons.
Although literacy and technology is progressing, students must understand the basic fundamentals of literacy before being able to understand. comprehend technologically literate world around them.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
My technology in the classroom slideshow
In the Literacy and Technology course that I am currently taking, we were given an assignment to create our own slideshows. Being that this course is about the use of technology in the classroom, I decided to show how the classroom environment has changed since technology has become a major part of students' everyday lives. I feel as though it is very important for teachers to recognize how to use technology in their classrooms. Most schools that I have been in have at least one computer room and most of the classrooms have at least one working computer. However, in many of the classrooms that I have been in, the students know more about computers than the teachers do. Teachers need to understand how to utilize the technology to enhance the learning of their students. Students today need lessons that are thought- provoking, hand- on, and technologically appropriate for the age group of the students. Teachers also need to be aware of how to use the technologies when planning their lessons and looking for resources that may be helpful to both themselves and the students. Here is the link to my slideshow:
http://www.slide.com/mscd?bnc=bnc&pxcid=NM3t2tgdZQRNB_gpw3AN3aaIAOpNK9utqYAvAgaWgxoSi6JeuzZkzEulEbms1IwB&cy=&nc=1
http://www.slide.com/mscd?bnc=bnc&pxcid=NM3t2tgdZQRNB_gpw3AN3aaIAOpNK9utqYAvAgaWgxoSi6JeuzZkzEulEbms1IwB&cy=&nc=1
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Welcome
Welcome, everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to read my first ever blog post. I have a bachelor's degree in education and am currently working toward a Master's degree. I am enrolled in a course that allows people to see how educators can use Literacy and Technology in their classroom.
How has technology in the classroom impacted Literacy?
I am finding that more and more classrooms today are being equipped with technology, which means that our students have access to technology at a very young age. I have experienced classrooms where technology has dramatically increased students' attention and has been used as wonderful supplement to what students are learning. For instance, in Kindergarten, most students are learning their letters. As the teacher teaches new letters to students, they can use technology such as smart boards. Smart boards allow students to interact with the lesson that they are learning. Students can physically touch the board and move the letters and objects displayed on there with their hands. The teacher can also seet students up to use websites such as starfall.com and compass learning, which help students sort with letters, read words, and form their own paragraphs. I have seen sites such as these used in several classrooms. The sites are engaging and help students to learn at the same time.
I am currently being introduced to newer technologies that allow people to interact, even if they are not in the same room. I think these technologies would greatly benefit students because they can interact with students who do not live in the same area as they do; who possibly live in a different country even. Students will be able to practice reading to, writing to, and speaking with these other peers. All of these things are important aspects of literacy and the ability to communicate and comprehend what is going on within the world around you.
Until next time ...Let's keep working with these new technologies!!!!
Thank you for taking the time to read my first ever blog post. I have a bachelor's degree in education and am currently working toward a Master's degree. I am enrolled in a course that allows people to see how educators can use Literacy and Technology in their classroom.
How has technology in the classroom impacted Literacy?
I am finding that more and more classrooms today are being equipped with technology, which means that our students have access to technology at a very young age. I have experienced classrooms where technology has dramatically increased students' attention and has been used as wonderful supplement to what students are learning. For instance, in Kindergarten, most students are learning their letters. As the teacher teaches new letters to students, they can use technology such as smart boards. Smart boards allow students to interact with the lesson that they are learning. Students can physically touch the board and move the letters and objects displayed on there with their hands. The teacher can also seet students up to use websites such as starfall.com and compass learning, which help students sort with letters, read words, and form their own paragraphs. I have seen sites such as these used in several classrooms. The sites are engaging and help students to learn at the same time.
I am currently being introduced to newer technologies that allow people to interact, even if they are not in the same room. I think these technologies would greatly benefit students because they can interact with students who do not live in the same area as they do; who possibly live in a different country even. Students will be able to practice reading to, writing to, and speaking with these other peers. All of these things are important aspects of literacy and the ability to communicate and comprehend what is going on within the world around you.
Until next time ...Let's keep working with these new technologies!!!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)