Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
C4K Summary Post (covering September comments)
In September, I commented on the blogs of three students. They were very interesting to read. The first blog that I commented on was named "Once Upon A Time." This blog page contained book reviews. The book highlighted when I read the blog was The Hunger Games. I told the author of this blog that her blog page would be a great resource for a Language Arts classroom. I also told her that her blog would be a good asset for my seventh grade daughter, who does not enjoy reading. She could use the information in the blog to find books that interest her. The author of the blog emailed me to thank me for my comment, and to wish my daughter success in using her blog to help her find books that she enjoys.
The second comment for kids was on a post by Allison. She wrote a post about wanting to take a trip to Texas. My family and I travel to Texas every year to visit family and friends. So, in my comment, I suggested some things that she can do in Texas. I told her about the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Aquarium and some of the great city parks. Finally, I wished her good luck with her trip.
For my last comment to kids in September, I commented on a blog written by Byron. He attends St. Elmo School and wrote a letter to Lucy Buffet. He thanked her for her generous donation to his P.A.C.E. class. I told him that I enjoyed reading his letter and hoped that he will have fun creating some great projects using the iPad that was donated to his class.
The second comment for kids was on a post by Allison. She wrote a post about wanting to take a trip to Texas. My family and I travel to Texas every year to visit family and friends. So, in my comment, I suggested some things that she can do in Texas. I told her about the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Aquarium and some of the great city parks. Finally, I wished her good luck with her trip.
For my last comment to kids in September, I commented on a blog written by Byron. He attends St. Elmo School and wrote a letter to Lucy Buffet. He thanked her for her generous donation to his P.A.C.E. class. I told him that I enjoyed reading his letter and hoped that he will have fun creating some great projects using the iPad that was donated to his class.
Blog Post # 6
The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
The Networked Student is a fascinating video pointing out the direction schools will be moving toward. This video supports the movement toward technology-based learning. Schools will not have textbooks, and teachers will rarely lecture. Instead, students will learn through a social network of many diverse connections using a variety of technological tools. Students will make connections with others that will strengthen the learning process. In doing so, teachers will become "Teachers of Connectivism."
The Networked Student will be building their curriculum-learning network by finding valid websites and programs available to support their education. Students can use social bookmarking sites to share URLs available on specific topics. They can also use blogs to comment and offer their opinion on a variety of topics. Audio and video podcasts are available from sites such as iTunes U, which provides students access to some of the best professors in the world. Skype and other video sharing sites allow students to share knowledge. Regardless of the technology used, the networked student will be able to use and share a knowledge base with others all over the world. New sharing tools are constantly being updated to make it easier for students to connect with new contacts and learn effectively from contacts that have been previously established.
Teachers play an important role in the development of a networked student. Teachers model how to build a learning network and take advantage of the many learning sites that are available. They provide guidance when students have problems and show students how to navigate the web. Teachers help students become excited about finding content knowledge. They guide students to communicate respectfully with content experts and help them organize all of the information that they have collected. A teacher's ultimate hope for his or her students is for them to maintain the learning network that they have created, use it to navigate their future, and creatively solve problems.
As a teacher in today's classroom, I am willing to allow students the opportunity to use a variety of technologies to strengthen their learning process. To start, I would plan to implement web quest learning and video sharing within classes. My hope would be to use audio and/or video podcasts that can be shared on the school's website. In know that I will have to start small and that I will have to build the use of networking in my classroom over an extended period of time. As a result of my efforts, though, I believe students will become excited about learning and want to become lifelong learners.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
In this seventh grade science class, students are learning how to find information on the Internet and how to organize their own personal page. This particular student uses Symbaloo EDU to organize her information. She uses the blocks across the top to organize her personal sites and reserves the bottom for school-related sites. This allows her to easily and quickly access websites needed to complete class assignments. For example, this networked student visits Science Agenda at the beginning of class to check the assignments. Some assignments are required for that day, and she has flexibility on others in terms of the time frame required to complete the assignment. She uses her bookmarks on her personal page to assist with her assignments. Some sites that help her include: Project Tanks (teaches her how to write reports and post to her Google Docs account), Blogger (posts personal reflections about what she did in class that day), Evernote (a special note-taking program that collects information found on websites), Globster (digital poster that can contain text, video, graphics, and/or audio all on one page), and Skype (video conferencing with others to learn information). This seventh grader likes the freedom of her personal learning environment. She likes the freedom to choose when and how to complete assignments and the responsibility to know she can search anywhere on the Internet to find the information she needs to become successful.
My personal learning network is somewhat similar to this seventh grader's PLN. Her personal learning network is arranged with tools to help her successfully complete the requirement of her science class. I am also using Symbaloo to organize my information. My PLN is not complete since my journey as an educator is not over. My resources will be continually changing to fit my needs and those of my classroom. Like this student, I have organized my personal resources in one area and my professional resources in another area. I like this website for organizing my resources because it allows a visual table with easy access to information to assist in my career as an educator.
The Networked Student is a fascinating video pointing out the direction schools will be moving toward. This video supports the movement toward technology-based learning. Schools will not have textbooks, and teachers will rarely lecture. Instead, students will learn through a social network of many diverse connections using a variety of technological tools. Students will make connections with others that will strengthen the learning process. In doing so, teachers will become "Teachers of Connectivism."
The Networked Student will be building their curriculum-learning network by finding valid websites and programs available to support their education. Students can use social bookmarking sites to share URLs available on specific topics. They can also use blogs to comment and offer their opinion on a variety of topics. Audio and video podcasts are available from sites such as iTunes U, which provides students access to some of the best professors in the world. Skype and other video sharing sites allow students to share knowledge. Regardless of the technology used, the networked student will be able to use and share a knowledge base with others all over the world. New sharing tools are constantly being updated to make it easier for students to connect with new contacts and learn effectively from contacts that have been previously established.
Teachers play an important role in the development of a networked student. Teachers model how to build a learning network and take advantage of the many learning sites that are available. They provide guidance when students have problems and show students how to navigate the web. Teachers help students become excited about finding content knowledge. They guide students to communicate respectfully with content experts and help them organize all of the information that they have collected. A teacher's ultimate hope for his or her students is for them to maintain the learning network that they have created, use it to navigate their future, and creatively solve problems.
As a teacher in today's classroom, I am willing to allow students the opportunity to use a variety of technologies to strengthen their learning process. To start, I would plan to implement web quest learning and video sharing within classes. My hope would be to use audio and/or video podcasts that can be shared on the school's website. In know that I will have to start small and that I will have to build the use of networking in my classroom over an extended period of time. As a result of my efforts, though, I believe students will become excited about learning and want to become lifelong learners.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
In this seventh grade science class, students are learning how to find information on the Internet and how to organize their own personal page. This particular student uses Symbaloo EDU to organize her information. She uses the blocks across the top to organize her personal sites and reserves the bottom for school-related sites. This allows her to easily and quickly access websites needed to complete class assignments. For example, this networked student visits Science Agenda at the beginning of class to check the assignments. Some assignments are required for that day, and she has flexibility on others in terms of the time frame required to complete the assignment. She uses her bookmarks on her personal page to assist with her assignments. Some sites that help her include: Project Tanks (teaches her how to write reports and post to her Google Docs account), Blogger (posts personal reflections about what she did in class that day), Evernote (a special note-taking program that collects information found on websites), Globster (digital poster that can contain text, video, graphics, and/or audio all on one page), and Skype (video conferencing with others to learn information). This seventh grader likes the freedom of her personal learning environment. She likes the freedom to choose when and how to complete assignments and the responsibility to know she can search anywhere on the Internet to find the information she needs to become successful.
My personal learning network is somewhat similar to this seventh grader's PLN. Her personal learning network is arranged with tools to help her successfully complete the requirement of her science class. I am also using Symbaloo to organize my information. My PLN is not complete since my journey as an educator is not over. My resources will be continually changing to fit my needs and those of my classroom. Like this student, I have organized my personal resources in one area and my professional resources in another area. I like this website for organizing my resources because it allows a visual table with easy access to information to assist in my career as an educator.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Blog Post # 5
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod, Ph.D.
In his blog post, Dr. McLeod gives a sarcastic view by pointing out to his readers that technology is an important aspect in schools. He tells us that technology is full of advantages. He believes that educators must show students how to use technology appropriately because it can be abused. We do not want our students to fall victim to unscrupulous websites.
I completely agree with Dr. McLeod's stance on technology. I think that in today's society there are websites and people that develop them that would take advantage of students. That fact represents a disservice to our youth because the Internet is filled with worthwhile knowledge, and we do not want our students to fall behind. When my oldest daughter was in kindergarten, I attended a PTA presentation on Internet safety. The presentation was given by a special agent from the FBI. The presentation itself was very informative. I think that this type of presentation at the beginning of the school year would be beneficial for both parents and students. This material could provide them with best practices to follow to avoid falling prey to deceitful websites, while at the same time giving them methods to follow to take advantage of the educational benefits the Internet has to offer.
Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is the founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He is also a co-creator of a video series entitled, "Did You Know? (Shit Happens)." Dr. McLeod has received multiple awards for his technological leadership work, and he regularly blogs about technological issues. In 2003, he co-created the country's first graduate program designed to prepare school leaders who have demonstrated advanced technological skills. He continues to work with community partners to help prepare schools to thrive in this technological age, and prepare them to successfully move our schools to the 21st century.
The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen
Travis Allen is proposing what he describes as the iSchool Initiative. The mission of this initiative is to "inspire and educate students on how to become lifelong digital learners in the information age." Mr. Allen's proposal calls for the removal of all textbooks, paper, pencils and copy machines from schools. He wants to replace them with iPod Touches for every student. He believes that there are enough apps available for the iPod Touch to cover all areas of curriculum.
Some examples of iPod Touch apps that would be beneficial to student learning include: Star Walk, US Constitution, Scientific Calculator, Recorder and Classics. Mr. Allen believes that schools will be able to customize lesson plans using his iSchool Initiative. Furthermore, as he asserts, the iSchool Initiative would provide both student and teacher accountability. Mr. Allen reports that the iSchool Initiative will provide parents instant access to student performance. He believes this initiative will not only provide a vehicle for savings in school systems, but will also carry a positive environmental impact. Ultimately, his proposal aims to revolutionize education through the use of technology.
I believe that the iSchool Initiative is an interesting proposal. I think that as time progresses, more school systems will start to adapt a program similar to Mr. Allen's. In fact, Baldwin County High School in Alabama is beginning a pilot program in which every incoming ninth grader is given a MacBook to use. All curriculum information is preloaded onto the computers. The intent of this program is the same as Mr. Allen's iSchool Initiative in that its goal is to remove textbooks and replace them with technological tools to complete course requirements. It is also worth noting that Baldwin County Intermediate School has begun using iPads in some of their classrooms. These iPads have apps installed that allow students to fulfill course standards. I believe that, as educators, we need to embrace technological advances and the educational opportunities they provide. If we fail to do so, the people most affected will be our students who will be unable to take advantage of these resources to better their education. I think that programmers and curriculum writers need to continue to work together to research the most effective way to deliver computer-based lessons. In addition, teachers (both veterans and newly-hired) need to be provided professional development or continuing education classes to learn how to effectively utilize the technology that will become the backbone of our schools.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - "Lux Aurumque"
Mr. Whitacre's virtual choir performance was absolutely amazing. It is a perfect example of what technology is capable of. He combined 185 voices, 243 tracks and 12 countries into a beautiful work of art. The singers have never met, let alone performed together. The entire performance was organized through the Internet and posted on You Tube for everyone to enjoy. I believe that this performance reaffirms the importance of technology in our lives today. Technology allows us to learn and experience things that we might have never had the opportunity to do, and I believe that we should embrace it.
Teaching in the 21st Century
"Teaching in the 21st Century" was a fascinating video. Kevin Roberts sees education changing. He points out that, not only is the atmosphere of the classroom changing, the role of the teacher is changing as well. As a result of technological advances, students can find information on anything at anytime and anywhere. The options and opportunities are limitless. For example, students can use Google, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones and You Tube not only for networking but also to broaden their educational opportunities. Mr. Roberts sees teachers' roles to be that of a "filter" to guide students in using the resources available. Classroom techniques will be changing. Students will continue to use higher-order thinking skills, but they will be technologically related. As teachers, Mr. Roberts believes that we will have to rethink the tools we use and the types of problems we ask students to solve. Students in the 21st century will have laptops, cell phones and iPods they can use as resources in learning. Teachers will have to learn how to become more relevant, challenging and, most importantly, engaging. Active learning engagement will provide positive long-term results in our students. With the technology and resources that are available, teachers must make a commitment to utilize it.
Mr. Roberts' video presentation pointed out the reality of where education is headed. I know that, as a teacher, I will need to use as much technology as I can. Students enjoy the opportunity to research, collaborate, create and publish information relevant to coursework objectives. It allows them a feeling of ownership and pride in their classwork. I plan to give them as many opportunities as I can. I know that student use of technology in the classroom is ultimately what a teacher makes of it. As a teacher, I am willing to see what technological resources are available and introduce them in the classroom. My students, and their future, are worth it.
In his blog post, Dr. McLeod gives a sarcastic view by pointing out to his readers that technology is an important aspect in schools. He tells us that technology is full of advantages. He believes that educators must show students how to use technology appropriately because it can be abused. We do not want our students to fall victim to unscrupulous websites.
I completely agree with Dr. McLeod's stance on technology. I think that in today's society there are websites and people that develop them that would take advantage of students. That fact represents a disservice to our youth because the Internet is filled with worthwhile knowledge, and we do not want our students to fall behind. When my oldest daughter was in kindergarten, I attended a PTA presentation on Internet safety. The presentation was given by a special agent from the FBI. The presentation itself was very informative. I think that this type of presentation at the beginning of the school year would be beneficial for both parents and students. This material could provide them with best practices to follow to avoid falling prey to deceitful websites, while at the same time giving them methods to follow to take advantage of the educational benefits the Internet has to offer.
Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is the founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He is also a co-creator of a video series entitled, "Did You Know? (Shit Happens)." Dr. McLeod has received multiple awards for his technological leadership work, and he regularly blogs about technological issues. In 2003, he co-created the country's first graduate program designed to prepare school leaders who have demonstrated advanced technological skills. He continues to work with community partners to help prepare schools to thrive in this technological age, and prepare them to successfully move our schools to the 21st century.
The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen
Travis Allen is proposing what he describes as the iSchool Initiative. The mission of this initiative is to "inspire and educate students on how to become lifelong digital learners in the information age." Mr. Allen's proposal calls for the removal of all textbooks, paper, pencils and copy machines from schools. He wants to replace them with iPod Touches for every student. He believes that there are enough apps available for the iPod Touch to cover all areas of curriculum.
Some examples of iPod Touch apps that would be beneficial to student learning include: Star Walk, US Constitution, Scientific Calculator, Recorder and Classics. Mr. Allen believes that schools will be able to customize lesson plans using his iSchool Initiative. Furthermore, as he asserts, the iSchool Initiative would provide both student and teacher accountability. Mr. Allen reports that the iSchool Initiative will provide parents instant access to student performance. He believes this initiative will not only provide a vehicle for savings in school systems, but will also carry a positive environmental impact. Ultimately, his proposal aims to revolutionize education through the use of technology.
I believe that the iSchool Initiative is an interesting proposal. I think that as time progresses, more school systems will start to adapt a program similar to Mr. Allen's. In fact, Baldwin County High School in Alabama is beginning a pilot program in which every incoming ninth grader is given a MacBook to use. All curriculum information is preloaded onto the computers. The intent of this program is the same as Mr. Allen's iSchool Initiative in that its goal is to remove textbooks and replace them with technological tools to complete course requirements. It is also worth noting that Baldwin County Intermediate School has begun using iPads in some of their classrooms. These iPads have apps installed that allow students to fulfill course standards. I believe that, as educators, we need to embrace technological advances and the educational opportunities they provide. If we fail to do so, the people most affected will be our students who will be unable to take advantage of these resources to better their education. I think that programmers and curriculum writers need to continue to work together to research the most effective way to deliver computer-based lessons. In addition, teachers (both veterans and newly-hired) need to be provided professional development or continuing education classes to learn how to effectively utilize the technology that will become the backbone of our schools.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - "Lux Aurumque"
Mr. Whitacre's virtual choir performance was absolutely amazing. It is a perfect example of what technology is capable of. He combined 185 voices, 243 tracks and 12 countries into a beautiful work of art. The singers have never met, let alone performed together. The entire performance was organized through the Internet and posted on You Tube for everyone to enjoy. I believe that this performance reaffirms the importance of technology in our lives today. Technology allows us to learn and experience things that we might have never had the opportunity to do, and I believe that we should embrace it.
Teaching in the 21st Century
"Teaching in the 21st Century" was a fascinating video. Kevin Roberts sees education changing. He points out that, not only is the atmosphere of the classroom changing, the role of the teacher is changing as well. As a result of technological advances, students can find information on anything at anytime and anywhere. The options and opportunities are limitless. For example, students can use Google, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones and You Tube not only for networking but also to broaden their educational opportunities. Mr. Roberts sees teachers' roles to be that of a "filter" to guide students in using the resources available. Classroom techniques will be changing. Students will continue to use higher-order thinking skills, but they will be technologically related. As teachers, Mr. Roberts believes that we will have to rethink the tools we use and the types of problems we ask students to solve. Students in the 21st century will have laptops, cell phones and iPods they can use as resources in learning. Teachers will have to learn how to become more relevant, challenging and, most importantly, engaging. Active learning engagement will provide positive long-term results in our students. With the technology and resources that are available, teachers must make a commitment to utilize it.
Mr. Roberts' video presentation pointed out the reality of where education is headed. I know that, as a teacher, I will need to use as much technology as I can. Students enjoy the opportunity to research, collaborate, create and publish information relevant to coursework objectives. It allows them a feeling of ownership and pride in their classwork. I plan to give them as many opportunities as I can. I know that student use of technology in the classroom is ultimately what a teacher makes of it. As a teacher, I am willing to see what technological resources are available and introduce them in the classroom. My students, and their future, are worth it.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Blog Post 4
Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog
I was very impressed by this site. I watched the four podcasts that were on the main page. They included, "Totally Terrific Time Travel with Explorers," "Take a BITE Out of Shark Facts," "Roamin' with the Ancient Romans," and "A Shark-Tastic Interview." These third graders did an amazing job. The Skype interview with Mr. Ward was well-conducted. I could tell that the students were excited and attentive. The students asked questions that were well-thought and appropriate to content. The three other podcasts I listened to were also entertaining. The students used music and sound effects to enhance the podcast. Each of these podcasts were divided into segments, with each segment covering information related to the topic. The students sounded positive and enthusiastic. This is a great way to bring an activity into the classroom that leaves a lasting impression.
I explored some other areas on the home page and noticed that this class also blogs. The teacher gives specific rules for her students, and I thought these rules were comprehensive and well written. Some of the rules included: never give out personal information, check for spelling and grammatical errors, use appropriate language, show and encourage thinking, and all comments must be approved.
This site has given me some great ideas in terms of how to use podcasts in my classroom. In particular, I believe podcasts can be a valuable addition to our History lessons. The students are going to be excited, and I cannot wait to get started!
Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
Judy Scharf's web page is a great resource to use when considering podcasting in your classroom. She gives many benefits to podcasting, including: it is a "cool" way to have interactive communication, parents can download student projects and other work, it is always available, students can make up missed classes, it appeals to auditory learners, it is portable learning, and students can use it to enhance communication skills. She goes on to explain exactly what a podcast is. A podcast is a "radio-style" talk show that can include music listened to on a computer or MP3 player. It enables information to be shared with millions of people via the Internet. It can be done on any subject. It is cheap, easy to do and students love it. Ms. Scharf also gives some tips on how to succeed, including: learn the software you will be using, give students a choice of topics and criteria for research, play some examples of podcasts to listen to, let the students pick their groups and allow for plenty of time, and invite the principal or other guests to see and/or listen to their work. She also provides links to use when making a podcast. In addition, she gives links to handouts with instructions and a grading sheet.
This web page contains valuable information. It is one that I will include in my Professional Learning network. It is a good source to refer to when I do a podcast with my students. The only issue that I have a concern with is the amount of time she suggests to be spent preparing, practicing and completing a podcast. She believes that 17 periods, each lasting 42 minutes, is approximately the amount of time needed to complete a successful podcast. This is a lot of time to devote to one project when teachers are faced with time constraints in trying to cover all of their objectives.
Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom, by Joe Dale
"Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom" is a video that demonstrates the advantages of podcasting. Students today are referred to as millennial, meaning anyone born after 1980. For these students, technology is a part of their everyday life. So, it simply makes sense to incorporate technology in their education. Participating in a podcast is one way to do this. Joe Dale highlights some positive aspects of podcasting that teachers should consider. They include: podcasting allows for differentiation and project-based learning, it is a form of learning that students are familiar with, it is an effective way for students to interact with the world outside of the classroom, it promotes creativity with higher order thinking skills outlined in Bloom's taxonomy, and it allows parents to see and hear what their children are doing at school. Mr. Dale interviewed students and principals about podcasting to support his opinion of its benefits. Both students and principals agree that podcasting has positive effects. Students find it interesting and exciting. Podcasting makes learning fun for them. Principals like it because it can involve parents, is project-based, and promotes higher order learning skills. He gave some suggestions on programs to use to create a podcast. He suggests Garage Band or Audacity to use in creating podcasts.
Mr. Dale shows an example of middle school students working together to make a podcast. They are using geography skills. They appear to be enjoying the lesson, as well as learning. I currently work in a middle school and can see many possibilities for podcasts in the classrooms that I assist with. I believe that it could bring more meaning to the lessons for the students, and it should be something to consider.
I was very impressed by this site. I watched the four podcasts that were on the main page. They included, "Totally Terrific Time Travel with Explorers," "Take a BITE Out of Shark Facts," "Roamin' with the Ancient Romans," and "A Shark-Tastic Interview." These third graders did an amazing job. The Skype interview with Mr. Ward was well-conducted. I could tell that the students were excited and attentive. The students asked questions that were well-thought and appropriate to content. The three other podcasts I listened to were also entertaining. The students used music and sound effects to enhance the podcast. Each of these podcasts were divided into segments, with each segment covering information related to the topic. The students sounded positive and enthusiastic. This is a great way to bring an activity into the classroom that leaves a lasting impression.
I explored some other areas on the home page and noticed that this class also blogs. The teacher gives specific rules for her students, and I thought these rules were comprehensive and well written. Some of the rules included: never give out personal information, check for spelling and grammatical errors, use appropriate language, show and encourage thinking, and all comments must be approved.
This site has given me some great ideas in terms of how to use podcasts in my classroom. In particular, I believe podcasts can be a valuable addition to our History lessons. The students are going to be excited, and I cannot wait to get started!
Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
Judy Scharf's web page is a great resource to use when considering podcasting in your classroom. She gives many benefits to podcasting, including: it is a "cool" way to have interactive communication, parents can download student projects and other work, it is always available, students can make up missed classes, it appeals to auditory learners, it is portable learning, and students can use it to enhance communication skills. She goes on to explain exactly what a podcast is. A podcast is a "radio-style" talk show that can include music listened to on a computer or MP3 player. It enables information to be shared with millions of people via the Internet. It can be done on any subject. It is cheap, easy to do and students love it. Ms. Scharf also gives some tips on how to succeed, including: learn the software you will be using, give students a choice of topics and criteria for research, play some examples of podcasts to listen to, let the students pick their groups and allow for plenty of time, and invite the principal or other guests to see and/or listen to their work. She also provides links to use when making a podcast. In addition, she gives links to handouts with instructions and a grading sheet.
This web page contains valuable information. It is one that I will include in my Professional Learning network. It is a good source to refer to when I do a podcast with my students. The only issue that I have a concern with is the amount of time she suggests to be spent preparing, practicing and completing a podcast. She believes that 17 periods, each lasting 42 minutes, is approximately the amount of time needed to complete a successful podcast. This is a lot of time to devote to one project when teachers are faced with time constraints in trying to cover all of their objectives.
Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom, by Joe Dale
"Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom" is a video that demonstrates the advantages of podcasting. Students today are referred to as millennial, meaning anyone born after 1980. For these students, technology is a part of their everyday life. So, it simply makes sense to incorporate technology in their education. Participating in a podcast is one way to do this. Joe Dale highlights some positive aspects of podcasting that teachers should consider. They include: podcasting allows for differentiation and project-based learning, it is a form of learning that students are familiar with, it is an effective way for students to interact with the world outside of the classroom, it promotes creativity with higher order thinking skills outlined in Bloom's taxonomy, and it allows parents to see and hear what their children are doing at school. Mr. Dale interviewed students and principals about podcasting to support his opinion of its benefits. Both students and principals agree that podcasting has positive effects. Students find it interesting and exciting. Podcasting makes learning fun for them. Principals like it because it can involve parents, is project-based, and promotes higher order learning skills. He gave some suggestions on programs to use to create a podcast. He suggests Garage Band or Audacity to use in creating podcasts.
Mr. Dale shows an example of middle school students working together to make a podcast. They are using geography skills. They appear to be enjoying the lesson, as well as learning. I currently work in a middle school and can see many possibilities for podcasts in the classrooms that I assist with. I believe that it could bring more meaning to the lessons for the students, and it should be something to consider.
Friday, September 9, 2011
C4T Project # 1
I read and commented on two of Tom Schimmer's posts. The first post was titled, "Kickin' It Old School," and was posted on July 13, 2011. The second post was posted on September 5, 2011, and was titled, "Function Over Format."
"Kickin' It Old School" talked about attending conferences and their benefits. Mr. Schimmer had just finished the Peterson ATI Summer Conference and was reflecting on the positive energy within the conference. He enjoyed meeting people from all over the United States and Canada. He felt that people left excited, motivated and ready to create a new or improved plan for their classroom. He realized that, although technology is important in education, he saw the value in face-to-face conferences and hoped that they continued. In my comments to him regarding his post, I agreed with him in that I hope face-to-face conferences do not end. I have recently attended several conferences as part of my certificate renewal requirements and have enjoyed the educational and networking benefits they have provided.
"Function Over Format" was posted on September 5, 2011. It is a discussion of the value of the two types of assessments: formative and summative. Mr. Schimmer described each of these types of evaluations, and he also took the time to caution teachers that the function, or purpose, of the evaluation had to be concentrated on, rather than the format. In formative evaluations, the students set their own learning goals and monitor their progress. There is no grade recorded in the grade book. The results are used as feedback to note areas of need. In summative assessments, the results count and grades are recorded. In my comments to Mr. Schimmer, I appreciated the details he gave to explain the differences between summative and formative evaluations. I agreed that the purpose of the evaluation is important. Students need to be able to perform a self-assessment to determine for themselves what academic areas need improvement. However, students also need to know that they will be held accountable for their work, and that a grade will be given for their efforts. I believe that both of these evaluations have worth and can be utilized in the classroom to help students become the best student they possibly can.
"Kickin' It Old School" talked about attending conferences and their benefits. Mr. Schimmer had just finished the Peterson ATI Summer Conference and was reflecting on the positive energy within the conference. He enjoyed meeting people from all over the United States and Canada. He felt that people left excited, motivated and ready to create a new or improved plan for their classroom. He realized that, although technology is important in education, he saw the value in face-to-face conferences and hoped that they continued. In my comments to him regarding his post, I agreed with him in that I hope face-to-face conferences do not end. I have recently attended several conferences as part of my certificate renewal requirements and have enjoyed the educational and networking benefits they have provided.
"Function Over Format" was posted on September 5, 2011. It is a discussion of the value of the two types of assessments: formative and summative. Mr. Schimmer described each of these types of evaluations, and he also took the time to caution teachers that the function, or purpose, of the evaluation had to be concentrated on, rather than the format. In formative evaluations, the students set their own learning goals and monitor their progress. There is no grade recorded in the grade book. The results are used as feedback to note areas of need. In summative assessments, the results count and grades are recorded. In my comments to Mr. Schimmer, I appreciated the details he gave to explain the differences between summative and formative evaluations. I agreed that the purpose of the evaluation is important. Students need to be able to perform a self-assessment to determine for themselves what academic areas need improvement. However, students also need to know that they will be held accountable for their work, and that a grade will be given for their efforts. I believe that both of these evaluations have worth and can be utilized in the classroom to help students become the best student they possibly can.
Blog Post # 3
Paige Ellis' Blog Assignment # 12
I thought the short video on Peer Editing was useful. The video identified what a peer is and what editing means. Peer editing is working with someone your own age to help them improve, revise or edit their writing. There are three steps that you should follow when you are editing a writing assignment. The steps are: compliments, suggestions and corrections. The slideshow, "Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial," further explains these three steps to use when editing. You need to begin the editing process with positive compliments and tell the writer what needs to be improved. Suggestions need to be specific and positive. They need to tell the writer different ways to improve the writing product; for example: word choice, details, organization, sentence structure, and staying on topic. Corrections should focus on punctuation and grammar mistakes, as well as spelling and sentence structure.
The short video, "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes," held in the fourth and fifth grade classrooms was perfect. It gave peer editing situations to avoid. I liked the creative use of names, such as Pushy Paula, Off-Task Oliver and Mean Margaret to get the point across.
I think these would be useful tools to introduce a lesson on peer editing to students before the writing process begins. Hopefully, students would be able to use the information and the helpful hints to become successful editors.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines believes that technology is important, although she does not feel that technology is the first thing to change to lead our schools into the 21st century. Ms. Hines believes that the first change that needs to be made is for the education community to alter the overall approach to teaching and learning. She outlines four things that, in her opinion, every teacher must recognize in order to effectively and positively impact students in the new generation of learning. These factors are: (1) teachers must be learners, (2) learning and teaching are not the same, (3) technology is useless without good teaching, and (4) be a 21st century teacher without the technology.
The points that Ms. Hines outlined in her post are definitely noteworthy. I agree that educators need to be self-motivated. Teachers need to be innovative, and bring that element to classroom instruction. Sometimes, educators will have to work with a lack of curriculum-related and sufficient professional development, but that is simply not an excuse for inadequate teaching. Teachers need to strive to customize learning experiences and actively involve students in critical thinking and problem solving. I believe that as long as teachers are motivated and willing to put forth effort, learning will happen regardless of the amount of technological tools utilized. At the end of each school day, a successful day is one where all students learned new information. I believe that, as a teacher, it is my responsibility and obligation to stay motivated to provide the best classroom instruction no matter what technology is available.
Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl Fisch's post was the 2007 Edublog Award winner for the most influential post that year. Mr. Fisch discussed the need for an establishment of a technological skill standard for educators. He believes that all educators must achieve a basic level of technological capability, and principals should be held accountable if the staff is technologically illiterate. Mr. Fisch goes on to say that universities and teacher training courses that do not produce technologically literate students should have their funding or license questioned. He believes that technologically illiterate teachers are potentially jeopardizing student chances at long-term success in their chosen career path. He is of the opinion that society should stop making excuses for not becoming more technologically advanced. After all, in Mr. Fisch's line of thinking, technology is and indispensable tool that we can use to teach, learn and grow. He feels that it is getting more difficult to be successful without some degree of technological knowledge. He thinks that teachers need to explore and experience the advances in technology along their students.
I agree somewhat with Mr. Fisch's post. Computers and other forms of technology have become a large component of the educational climate. I work in a school that has SMART boards in every classroom, rolling laptop labs, ELMOs, test-taking remote control programs (e.g., Quizno), and much more. If a teacher does not know how to effectively operate these tools, it would put their students at a disadvantage. Fortunately, the school system in which I am employed does offer various professional development classes on educating teachers on how to use these tools to enhance classroom instruction. Ultimately, I do believe these tools are useful in contributing to the educational success of the schools and students because the knowledge and skills that the students acquire will serve them in their continuing education and eventually in their career path.
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
I was truly amazed when I clicked onto the Gary Hayes Social Media Count. The startling rate that social networking tools were changing was unbelievable. Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Skype, blog posts and other mediums were constantly adding hits. I clicked on the 2012 tab and the results were even more astounding. I really never thought about the number of people that use these tools. The sheer numbers were quite interesting.
As a teacher, this information can be quite useful. It is a positive reinforcement for the use of technological tools in our schools. These statistics clearly demonstrate the growing importance of social media and we, as teachers, need to put our students in position to utilize them effectively. As educators, we must provide our students with the opportunity to use as many technological resources as possible and the instruction to incorporate these tools in their educational and vocational endeavors. After all, we are preparing our students for jobs that do not even exist yet!
Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
Mr. Wesch's video begins in a classroom similar to what I remember as a traditional college classroom. In fact, it looks much like my college psychology class that I took many years ago. The classroom had stadium-style seating with rows and rows of seats all facing the chalkboard at the center of the room. As I remember, it was quite boring. There was a large number of students, many of whom did not even pay attention to the professor as he lectured in front of the class and made notes on his chalkboard. Mr. Wesch's video points out that some college classrooms are still the same today - they are neither motivating nor stimulating. The average class size is over 100 students, and most teachers do not even know the names of their students. Students spend a large amount of money on textbooks they never use. On average, students read only eight books, 26% of which are relevant to their classwork, and they write a mere average of 42 pages worth of assignments. Some students choose not to even attend class.
Mr. Wesch painted a picture of today's modern student. That student, on average, reads approximately 2,300 web pages and 1,281 Facebook profiles. That student also reads over 500 pages of emails, and spends an average 3.5 hours online every day.
Mr. Wesch is sending a strong message to the educational establishment that today's student has changed. The student that a teacher will see in the classroom today is a multi-tasker that believes technology is a tool for future success. Students are preparing for jobs and vocational opportunities that do not currently exist. Mr. Wesch wants us to know that Scan Trons are not going to help today's students, but that proper use and instruction of technological tools can provide students with critical knowledge that will pay long-term dividends.
I am fortunate to have taught in the past, and now that I am in the process of entering the teaching profession again, I clearly see how important the instruction and usage of technological tools has become. When I began my teaching career in 1994, I did not have a single computer in my classroom. Today, as a paraprofessional working in a middle school, we have multiple computers and other technological tools in each classroom. I believe that we need to allow students time to learn and explore all aspects of the technological fields because that element of their educational experience has become such an important part of their continued development.
I thought the short video on Peer Editing was useful. The video identified what a peer is and what editing means. Peer editing is working with someone your own age to help them improve, revise or edit their writing. There are three steps that you should follow when you are editing a writing assignment. The steps are: compliments, suggestions and corrections. The slideshow, "Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial," further explains these three steps to use when editing. You need to begin the editing process with positive compliments and tell the writer what needs to be improved. Suggestions need to be specific and positive. They need to tell the writer different ways to improve the writing product; for example: word choice, details, organization, sentence structure, and staying on topic. Corrections should focus on punctuation and grammar mistakes, as well as spelling and sentence structure.
The short video, "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes," held in the fourth and fifth grade classrooms was perfect. It gave peer editing situations to avoid. I liked the creative use of names, such as Pushy Paula, Off-Task Oliver and Mean Margaret to get the point across.
I think these would be useful tools to introduce a lesson on peer editing to students before the writing process begins. Hopefully, students would be able to use the information and the helpful hints to become successful editors.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines believes that technology is important, although she does not feel that technology is the first thing to change to lead our schools into the 21st century. Ms. Hines believes that the first change that needs to be made is for the education community to alter the overall approach to teaching and learning. She outlines four things that, in her opinion, every teacher must recognize in order to effectively and positively impact students in the new generation of learning. These factors are: (1) teachers must be learners, (2) learning and teaching are not the same, (3) technology is useless without good teaching, and (4) be a 21st century teacher without the technology.
The points that Ms. Hines outlined in her post are definitely noteworthy. I agree that educators need to be self-motivated. Teachers need to be innovative, and bring that element to classroom instruction. Sometimes, educators will have to work with a lack of curriculum-related and sufficient professional development, but that is simply not an excuse for inadequate teaching. Teachers need to strive to customize learning experiences and actively involve students in critical thinking and problem solving. I believe that as long as teachers are motivated and willing to put forth effort, learning will happen regardless of the amount of technological tools utilized. At the end of each school day, a successful day is one where all students learned new information. I believe that, as a teacher, it is my responsibility and obligation to stay motivated to provide the best classroom instruction no matter what technology is available.
Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl Fisch's post was the 2007 Edublog Award winner for the most influential post that year. Mr. Fisch discussed the need for an establishment of a technological skill standard for educators. He believes that all educators must achieve a basic level of technological capability, and principals should be held accountable if the staff is technologically illiterate. Mr. Fisch goes on to say that universities and teacher training courses that do not produce technologically literate students should have their funding or license questioned. He believes that technologically illiterate teachers are potentially jeopardizing student chances at long-term success in their chosen career path. He is of the opinion that society should stop making excuses for not becoming more technologically advanced. After all, in Mr. Fisch's line of thinking, technology is and indispensable tool that we can use to teach, learn and grow. He feels that it is getting more difficult to be successful without some degree of technological knowledge. He thinks that teachers need to explore and experience the advances in technology along their students.
I agree somewhat with Mr. Fisch's post. Computers and other forms of technology have become a large component of the educational climate. I work in a school that has SMART boards in every classroom, rolling laptop labs, ELMOs, test-taking remote control programs (e.g., Quizno), and much more. If a teacher does not know how to effectively operate these tools, it would put their students at a disadvantage. Fortunately, the school system in which I am employed does offer various professional development classes on educating teachers on how to use these tools to enhance classroom instruction. Ultimately, I do believe these tools are useful in contributing to the educational success of the schools and students because the knowledge and skills that the students acquire will serve them in their continuing education and eventually in their career path.
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
I was truly amazed when I clicked onto the Gary Hayes Social Media Count. The startling rate that social networking tools were changing was unbelievable. Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Skype, blog posts and other mediums were constantly adding hits. I clicked on the 2012 tab and the results were even more astounding. I really never thought about the number of people that use these tools. The sheer numbers were quite interesting.
As a teacher, this information can be quite useful. It is a positive reinforcement for the use of technological tools in our schools. These statistics clearly demonstrate the growing importance of social media and we, as teachers, need to put our students in position to utilize them effectively. As educators, we must provide our students with the opportunity to use as many technological resources as possible and the instruction to incorporate these tools in their educational and vocational endeavors. After all, we are preparing our students for jobs that do not even exist yet!
Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
Mr. Wesch's video begins in a classroom similar to what I remember as a traditional college classroom. In fact, it looks much like my college psychology class that I took many years ago. The classroom had stadium-style seating with rows and rows of seats all facing the chalkboard at the center of the room. As I remember, it was quite boring. There was a large number of students, many of whom did not even pay attention to the professor as he lectured in front of the class and made notes on his chalkboard. Mr. Wesch's video points out that some college classrooms are still the same today - they are neither motivating nor stimulating. The average class size is over 100 students, and most teachers do not even know the names of their students. Students spend a large amount of money on textbooks they never use. On average, students read only eight books, 26% of which are relevant to their classwork, and they write a mere average of 42 pages worth of assignments. Some students choose not to even attend class.
Mr. Wesch painted a picture of today's modern student. That student, on average, reads approximately 2,300 web pages and 1,281 Facebook profiles. That student also reads over 500 pages of emails, and spends an average 3.5 hours online every day.
Mr. Wesch is sending a strong message to the educational establishment that today's student has changed. The student that a teacher will see in the classroom today is a multi-tasker that believes technology is a tool for future success. Students are preparing for jobs and vocational opportunities that do not currently exist. Mr. Wesch wants us to know that Scan Trons are not going to help today's students, but that proper use and instruction of technological tools can provide students with critical knowledge that will pay long-term dividends.
I am fortunate to have taught in the past, and now that I am in the process of entering the teaching profession again, I clearly see how important the instruction and usage of technological tools has become. When I began my teaching career in 1994, I did not have a single computer in my classroom. Today, as a paraprofessional working in a middle school, we have multiple computers and other technological tools in each classroom. I believe that we need to allow students time to learn and explore all aspects of the technological fields because that element of their educational experience has become such an important part of their continued development.
Monday, September 5, 2011
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