Everyone it's been a lot of fun. I hope you all got something out of the class. Dr. Strange thanks for all the help! I'm sure I'll stop by frequently.
My EDM 310 Blog is complete!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Things I Learned
1. How to create a blog. I had never used one before this class.
2. Podcasts- I have never listened to them before either. I'm surprised that there is so much free information out there. It was also really fun to make one.
3. The ACCESS Lab- it was so neat! I would love to use one someday.
4. Electronic Contact- It was interesting to talk to someone in another country. I really want to teach overseas one day so this was great for me.
5. SpreadSheets- I've never really had prolonged experience with them. I know they will be useful when I begin to take trips around the world.
I think it would be really neat if we could have been able to use an ACCESS lab. Maybe South could set up a mock one. I have never used a smartboard and I think I should have knowledge of how they work. I really don't want to be in a school where that's all they use and not be able to work off of one. More hands on technology would be great.
2. Podcasts- I have never listened to them before either. I'm surprised that there is so much free information out there. It was also really fun to make one.
3. The ACCESS Lab- it was so neat! I would love to use one someday.
4. Electronic Contact- It was interesting to talk to someone in another country. I really want to teach overseas one day so this was great for me.
5. SpreadSheets- I've never really had prolonged experience with them. I know they will be useful when I begin to take trips around the world.
I think it would be really neat if we could have been able to use an ACCESS lab. Maybe South could set up a mock one. I have never used a smartboard and I think I should have knowledge of how they work. I really don't want to be in a school where that's all they use and not be able to work off of one. More hands on technology would be great.
Blogs in the Classroom
I chose to read Patricia Robbins Blog because it was very colorful and had a great post about the Last Lecture of Randy Pausch. Her blog made me want to delete mine off the Internet because it was so plain! I think the information is good though! I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about blogs in the classroom. They definitely have their pros and cons. I will start with the pros though.
I think that a class blog that all the students and teacher share can be a great way to get the class connected and talking. Students are spending so much time on the computer when they get home now that a notebook with printouts is essentially useless. They probably won't look at it. A class blog can hold podcasts that the teacher and students have done. Wouldn't that be nice to have at your fingertips the night before an exam? That's pretty much what Dr. Strange has done with his site. Everything we need is online and I think that's great. No more dead trees and lost papers! A class blog can allow a discussion that was begun in class to continue even after the lights have been turned off. Wouldn't it feel great if your students were willingly conversing on something you covered in class when they didn't have to? Individual blogs could be a space for students to write their own opinions on topics that have been assigned to them. That's what we have done in EDM 310 and I think it has a lot of benefits. Instead of making students stress over turning in tons of papers I could have them keep up a blog like the one I'm about to finish (yay!). They could write nightly paragraphs on whatever work of literature we are covering. At the end of the year when it is time for them to write a final paper they have already done most of the work! All that is left is to stick in some outside sources. Also they will be always be able to view their blogs. The hard work they have done will not just rot away in my file folders. I always hated that when I was in school!
Blogs in the class can also cause problems. Not every child I teach will have access to a computer after class. As unbelievable as it sounds there are people who don't have personal computers because they can't afford them. This would make it kind of hard for a student to pass my class if I require nightly posts. Also just because students know how to use blogs doesn't mean they will use the class one or theirs responsibly. Kids are notorious for spreading gossip in class so why not on the Internet as well? Some parents are afraid of the Internet because of all the bad things that can happen to kids online. I would hate to have angry parents knocking on my door. Well that will happen no matter what but still. Not everyone has embraced technology. I could also have a student who just isn't that good with a computer. It can happen although it sounds impossible. Also there is also the problem of the blogs becoming social tools instead of academic ones.
Blogs can be good and bad. I have never used one before so for me this was a learning experience. The topics could be boring at times but the technology itself has a lot of uses. I would like to at least try using blogs in the classroom. If it doesn't work then I will find another way to incorporate technology into my classroom. All in all I feel that I learned a lot from this class.
I think that a class blog that all the students and teacher share can be a great way to get the class connected and talking. Students are spending so much time on the computer when they get home now that a notebook with printouts is essentially useless. They probably won't look at it. A class blog can hold podcasts that the teacher and students have done. Wouldn't that be nice to have at your fingertips the night before an exam? That's pretty much what Dr. Strange has done with his site. Everything we need is online and I think that's great. No more dead trees and lost papers! A class blog can allow a discussion that was begun in class to continue even after the lights have been turned off. Wouldn't it feel great if your students were willingly conversing on something you covered in class when they didn't have to? Individual blogs could be a space for students to write their own opinions on topics that have been assigned to them. That's what we have done in EDM 310 and I think it has a lot of benefits. Instead of making students stress over turning in tons of papers I could have them keep up a blog like the one I'm about to finish (yay!). They could write nightly paragraphs on whatever work of literature we are covering. At the end of the year when it is time for them to write a final paper they have already done most of the work! All that is left is to stick in some outside sources. Also they will be always be able to view their blogs. The hard work they have done will not just rot away in my file folders. I always hated that when I was in school!
Blogs in the class can also cause problems. Not every child I teach will have access to a computer after class. As unbelievable as it sounds there are people who don't have personal computers because they can't afford them. This would make it kind of hard for a student to pass my class if I require nightly posts. Also just because students know how to use blogs doesn't mean they will use the class one or theirs responsibly. Kids are notorious for spreading gossip in class so why not on the Internet as well? Some parents are afraid of the Internet because of all the bad things that can happen to kids online. I would hate to have angry parents knocking on my door. Well that will happen no matter what but still. Not everyone has embraced technology. I could also have a student who just isn't that good with a computer. It can happen although it sounds impossible. Also there is also the problem of the blogs becoming social tools instead of academic ones.
Blogs can be good and bad. I have never used one before so for me this was a learning experience. The topics could be boring at times but the technology itself has a lot of uses. I would like to at least try using blogs in the classroom. If it doesn't work then I will find another way to incorporate technology into my classroom. All in all I feel that I learned a lot from this class.
Documentary Podcasts
I have always loved history so I am surprised I have not been using podcasts for a while. There were so many documentary podcasts! Some were done by professionals and some by students. People have used them to document the lives of past family members while others have done posts on jelly fish. Either way it's a great free source of conversations and movies! I especially liked the one on Shakespeare. Who knew the known facts of his life could be written on a note card. If I were to be a history teacher I would be downloading as many of these as possible and bring them to class with me. I could even have my students make their own documentary podcasts. They could be about their families and friends or personal opinions and preferences. I would personally do one about Italy. That country is a work of art in my opinion. There is just so much you can do with podcasts as far as research goes. Of course you have to take the information there with a grain of salt depending on who it comes from. Anyone can make a podcast after all. But learning how to determine if a source is reliable is a lesson in itself. I would like to use podcasts in my English classroom a lot because I think they are a great source of quick information.
Electronic Contact
I contacted a teacher named Beth Ferrier that teaches over in Singapore. Her school is an international one that Americans as well as others who are living outside their country use. It is a very beautiful and small school that goes from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Technology is used a lot because, as an international school, they get students and applicants from all over the world. Teachers wishing to apply to teach there send in all of their resumes and personal information in electronically. The students have access to various degree programs that offer lots of classes. They have a much larger language selection there than we do here. They offer French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Mandarin! I can't think of a local high school that offers the last two. Mrs. Ferrier sent me a link to the school's site and I pulled this little blurb off about the technology they use that the school. At the end of this post I will put up the link.
"Working in partnership with Apple Computer Inc., the Overseas Family School integrated 1,200 Mac computers- desktop top iMac's and portable iBook laptops- into the school curriculum. All students have Internet access. From interactive music composition lessons with the Encore Music Software to graphing curves with Curvus Pro in mathematics classes, technology is integrated into everyday learning.
The school features nine distinct main computing labs. The Information Technology team at Overseas Family School is currently exploring the use of iBook and AirPort, portable wireless computers, for mobile classroom learning. In the next year, we plan to put in place an advanced server system. This system will offer all students, seamless access to their work from any computer in the school and from their own homes. Additionally, it will allow parents to log-in via password and check student information. We have chosen a Linux-based server platform for flexibility and to meet high security and encryption needs, insuring student privacy."
Sounds Heavenly doesn't it? The school also uses Open Document format where students can access their work from school or home. It's a lot like Google. Most high schools around here are lucky if they get a few computer labs stocked with old computers that don't even match. Since the school only has about 3000 students who come from about 60 different countries that means a computer for at least all of the students past elementary age. I am very interesting in teaching overseas one day and this place has really piqued my interest. Even though the project is over I am going to keep emailing Mrs. Ferrier and other teachers from around the world to find how out they teach and how I might be able to work over there for a while. It seems that paper and pencil will eventually be obsolete in this school!
Here is the Link http://www.ofs.edu.sg/
"Working in partnership with Apple Computer Inc., the Overseas Family School integrated 1,200 Mac computers- desktop top iMac's and portable iBook laptops- into the school curriculum. All students have Internet access. From interactive music composition lessons with the Encore Music Software to graphing curves with Curvus Pro in mathematics classes, technology is integrated into everyday learning.
The school features nine distinct main computing labs. The Information Technology team at Overseas Family School is currently exploring the use of iBook and AirPort, portable wireless computers, for mobile classroom learning. In the next year, we plan to put in place an advanced server system. This system will offer all students, seamless access to their work from any computer in the school and from their own homes. Additionally, it will allow parents to log-in via password and check student information. We have chosen a Linux-based server platform for flexibility and to meet high security and encryption needs, insuring student privacy."
Sounds Heavenly doesn't it? The school also uses Open Document format where students can access their work from school or home. It's a lot like Google. Most high schools around here are lucky if they get a few computer labs stocked with old computers that don't even match. Since the school only has about 3000 students who come from about 60 different countries that means a computer for at least all of the students past elementary age. I am very interesting in teaching overseas one day and this place has really piqued my interest. Even though the project is over I am going to keep emailing Mrs. Ferrier and other teachers from around the world to find how out they teach and how I might be able to work over there for a while. It seems that paper and pencil will eventually be obsolete in this school!
Here is the Link http://www.ofs.edu.sg/
Technology Talk Podcasts
I felt our podcasts came out a lot better than we all thought they would especially since most of us had never done one! The first podcast I listened to was Watchers and Listeners how do we Respond? It was done by the T4 class and I really liked how they showed just how much technology has changed. At one point ten mega bites was considered all the memory your computer would ever need. Cd's are now almost obsolete! The podcasters mentioned that people are reading books less and watching movies and listening to information on podcasts more. That is true but I have to disagree that people will stop reading completely. I know I will always love books and I prefer to read than listen. I found this podcast very informative though maybe it could have had a bit more opinion.
My group did Burp Back Education. After I got over my embarrassment at hearing my own mouse like voice I was really proud of how well we did. Granted I know there is a lot we could have done to make it better though. We have all had experiences with Burp Back Education and none of us enjoyed it. Patricia mentioned the math project her son had to do when he was in 6th grade. He had to plan out a thanksgiving dinner and do all the math for it. I would hug the teacher that came up with a math exercise like that. It was so realistic and useful and so far from the book and memorization techniques I was taught by. I think our podcast could have gone a bit longer and I think we repeated each other a bit to much. Still for a first try it wasn't bad and we really believed in what we were talking about. Down with Burp Back Education!
I also listened to Hannah, Catherine and Carrie and their podcast on how technology is used at South. I like their description of foliotek. They managed to describe its faults without completely condemning it like I would. It was a little repetitive but we have to admit that South doesn't have a whole lot of technology used in the classroom. Foliotek received a lot of attention but I was surprised to learn about the ebooks that are used in some of the education classes. I have never had to use one before so I'm curious about what that would be like. I'm used to paper! The last podcast I listened to was Reflection on Randy Paush's Last Lecture with Brett, Taylor, Jenny and Brie. The podcast was less of a conversation and more of a summary at points but it still touched on some interesting points he made. Taylor mentioned that the book was a good source of information and that actually made me go out and buy it. I really enjoyed it. You should teach the way you live your life. Hopefully that is with joy. I know I took a lot away from the Last Lecture and it is clear that they did also. I like how they mentioned that you should live every day as if it were your last. As scary as it was I'm glad we did these podcasts. I think they all came out very well and I hope people learned something from them.
My group did Burp Back Education. After I got over my embarrassment at hearing my own mouse like voice I was really proud of how well we did. Granted I know there is a lot we could have done to make it better though. We have all had experiences with Burp Back Education and none of us enjoyed it. Patricia mentioned the math project her son had to do when he was in 6th grade. He had to plan out a thanksgiving dinner and do all the math for it. I would hug the teacher that came up with a math exercise like that. It was so realistic and useful and so far from the book and memorization techniques I was taught by. I think our podcast could have gone a bit longer and I think we repeated each other a bit to much. Still for a first try it wasn't bad and we really believed in what we were talking about. Down with Burp Back Education!
I also listened to Hannah, Catherine and Carrie and their podcast on how technology is used at South. I like their description of foliotek. They managed to describe its faults without completely condemning it like I would. It was a little repetitive but we have to admit that South doesn't have a whole lot of technology used in the classroom. Foliotek received a lot of attention but I was surprised to learn about the ebooks that are used in some of the education classes. I have never had to use one before so I'm curious about what that would be like. I'm used to paper! The last podcast I listened to was Reflection on Randy Paush's Last Lecture with Brett, Taylor, Jenny and Brie. The podcast was less of a conversation and more of a summary at points but it still touched on some interesting points he made. Taylor mentioned that the book was a good source of information and that actually made me go out and buy it. I really enjoyed it. You should teach the way you live your life. Hopefully that is with joy. I know I took a lot away from the Last Lecture and it is clear that they did also. I like how they mentioned that you should live every day as if it were your last. As scary as it was I'm glad we did these podcasts. I think they all came out very well and I hope people learned something from them.
Itunes
The various podcasts all covered different material but each was rather interesting. I mentioned in my ACCESS post that I really wanted to use the smartboard that was in the lab. The smartboard podcast gave me more information on how the boards are used and different things that can be done with them. I really like how you can go from one site to another. The boards are so interactive and they are great tools for students to learn how to use. The smartboard podcast made the board less intimidating to. I know I probably won't get a chance to use one before I graduate. This way if I end up in a school with them I won't feel so lost on how they operate. This Week in Photography was focused on cameras and different tools for photographers. While it didn't have anything to do with education it shows how podcasts can be focused to one group and filled with information for them. It made me think of a radio show when I heard it. As an English teacher I could make a podcast on Shakespeare for my students to listen to. Mac Break Weekly was focused on the Apple computers and tools and how they are better than PC and Windows. They focused on virus protection. Like the Photography podcast it was focused on a specific form of technology. Also like the photography podcast it shows how focused a podcast can be. KidCast and Edtech Talk were much more useful to me. KidCast focused on podcasts and their use in the classroom. Podcasts by students are becoming more popular but they still aren't being used to their full potential. Instead of having students just make a podcast to make a podcast they should have a greater purpose. They should be done with some message or goal in mind. Teachers are using them more to make their lessons available twenty-four seven for their students. More and more they are becoming necessary. EdTech Talk focused on teaching with the involvement of parents using technology. They suggested a class blog where students and parents could interact with the teacher. I really like that idea because I believe parents make all the difference in the classroom. I want to use podcasts because I see how useful they are to keeping discussions going and gathering information and ideas for the classroom. I want my students and myself to be able to learn as much as possible each semester even though I will also have to teach things for the standardized tests as well. I like podcasts because they are free sources of information too. Free is always nice!
Monday, December 1, 2008
ACCESS Visit
At the MGM LabThe Smartboard
Out of all the things I have done in this course the one I most enjoyed was the ACCESS lab visit. I went with a group to Mary G. Montgomery High School and met with Mr. Rose the lab director. I did not expect to be as impressed or as enthusiastic as I was by the end of the trip. After all we did go at 9 in the morning and it was rather cold outside! Mr. Rose was very kind and truly loves his job. The lab was also very well equipped. There was a large plasma TV along with a Smartboard (I REALLY wanted to play with it) about twenty laptop computers (one for EACH STUDENT) and a funny little microscope looking thing called/named ELMO. Mr. Rose explained that the point of ACCESS is to allow students from all over the state to take the classes they need and want. There is team work involved in doing the IVC courses. Mr. Rose will be teaching both his physical class and then one over a web cam in another part of the state. On the other end is a facilitator or a proctor who makes sure the students are on task. Mr. Rose told us that the success of a class really depends on how good of a facilitator you have. I asked him how a school went about getting an ACCESS lab and he said that MGM got theirs mostly through grants. All the equipment in the lab adds up to about $85,000! That made me step away from the ELMO and intimidated by the smartboard. My whole college education will, believe it or not, cost less than that lab! The equipment though is first rate. There is a microphone so sensitive that it can pick up a whisper. Mr. Rose also said that the students eventually settle in to "video conferencing" and are soon playing educational games like everyone was in one room. Apparently they even go so far as to accuse one another of cheating! One of Mr. Rose's students who stopped by to answer a question told us that some parts of the distance learning process were enjoyable and that others were kind of lonely. He said it is harder to develop a bond and stay motivated when all you are doing is emailing a teacher. Apparently some of the educational modules are also pretty boring but the ACCESS people are working on improving them. We also got to meet some other teachers who have worked with ACCESS labs. There number one complaint was that there were not enough teachers who knew enough about technology to do the classes properly. Apparently the people responsible for ACCESS have not made the training process easy and the few that do come out qualified are quickly and repeatedly asked to teach. Despite the extra money that goes along with a class like this it is still exhausting. If you get a bad proctor your whole class can be a battle instead of a good experience. All in all I REALLY enjoyed my trip and found everyone to be very welcoming and passionate about technology in the classroom. When I become certified I want to do the ACCESS training so that I can teach these courses as well...and play with the smartboard and ELMO!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Mathematics and Technology
I have never been a big fan of math. I always had a difficult time with it and forgot everything as soon as the test was over. It is for this reason that I like the idea of teachers bringing technology into a mathematics classroom. Chandler mentions that many teachers are reluctant to do this and I have to say I agree. I was always taught by a book and a blackboard. The only technology we ever used were calculators! I found solving equations boring and painful to do as did a lot of my peers. Chandler stated that students come in with a lot of experience with technology and that they would be willing to learn more. This is true because so many of us have already been taught basic skills with computer programs.
While I found Chandler to be rather boring I have to admit she made some good points. A visual aid can go a long way in helping a student to understand what he or she is learning. I know I would have benefited if I had been given something besides a book and a ruler. She also states that teachers feel pressured enough as it is to make sure they teach everything that will be on standardized tests and to finish the book. I have always hated this about the educational system. Tests are important but I don't believe students are learning as much as they should.
While I am going to be an English teacher I could use these types of podcasts to better myself. It is easy to get caught up in doing things in one set way. It is good to mix things up and to be constantly changing the way I relate material. I want to get better and better. These podcasts allow me to hear what thousands of teachers are doing in their classrooms. I can sift through their ideas and create my own. Technology is increasingly being used in the classroom and it is important that I do not fall behind.
While I found Chandler to be rather boring I have to admit she made some good points. A visual aid can go a long way in helping a student to understand what he or she is learning. I know I would have benefited if I had been given something besides a book and a ruler. She also states that teachers feel pressured enough as it is to make sure they teach everything that will be on standardized tests and to finish the book. I have always hated this about the educational system. Tests are important but I don't believe students are learning as much as they should.
While I am going to be an English teacher I could use these types of podcasts to better myself. It is easy to get caught up in doing things in one set way. It is good to mix things up and to be constantly changing the way I relate material. I want to get better and better. These podcasts allow me to hear what thousands of teachers are doing in their classrooms. I can sift through their ideas and create my own. Technology is increasingly being used in the classroom and it is important that I do not fall behind.
Fixed Vs. Growth Mindset
I really liked this podcast because I can relate to it. It's always nice to appear smart because then you aren't judged and considered stupid. However appearing smart and being smart are two different things. This podcast focused on how students can improve their grades and become lifelong learners by changing their mindset. Instead of believing that everyone is given a certain level of intelligence and that there is no way to improve upon it, they should try to keep learning over time and not giving up when something does not click right away. In order to get out of the fixed mindset a student also has to be motivated. The narrator mentioned that some students attended a workshop about study skills while some others went to learn about the growth mindset. The study skills were great but the students showed little improvement because their thought process had not changed. I particularly liked how the students were told that babies are not laughed at when they mess something up while trying to learn. Instead they are encouraged to try again. The same courtesy should be extended to students.
The narrator talked about how the growth mindset can be advantageous to people besides students. Anyone who wants to be a truly good mentor should believe in continuous learning and that it is ok to mess something up now and again. That is merely part of the learning process. Also business people need the growth mindset because they have to believe that they can adapt to the changing world. Race car drivers are inevitably going to make mistakes during a race. If they are able to use them instead of dwelling on them they can often end up winning a race than seemed a lost cause.
I really believe in the growth mindset and I do my best to use it and to help others try to switch over to it. The idea that a person has a set threshold seems silly to me. Kids are able to pull their grades up all the time and to keep doing better. I would like my students to have a growth mindset and to not worry about looking stupid. They should use their mistakes to an advantage instead of getting hung up on them. I have trouble with math but I know that I can learn what I need to if I try hard enough and not focus on all the mistakes. They do not have to be viewed as a negative thing. If you can learn to be adaptable you can learn the growth mindset. Most kids are extremely adaptable and that is why I feel they can make the switch from a fixed mindset to a growth one. There are many teachers who could also benefit from the switch!
The narrator talked about how the growth mindset can be advantageous to people besides students. Anyone who wants to be a truly good mentor should believe in continuous learning and that it is ok to mess something up now and again. That is merely part of the learning process. Also business people need the growth mindset because they have to believe that they can adapt to the changing world. Race car drivers are inevitably going to make mistakes during a race. If they are able to use them instead of dwelling on them they can often end up winning a race than seemed a lost cause.
I really believe in the growth mindset and I do my best to use it and to help others try to switch over to it. The idea that a person has a set threshold seems silly to me. Kids are able to pull their grades up all the time and to keep doing better. I would like my students to have a growth mindset and to not worry about looking stupid. They should use their mistakes to an advantage instead of getting hung up on them. I have trouble with math but I know that I can learn what I need to if I try hard enough and not focus on all the mistakes. They do not have to be viewed as a negative thing. If you can learn to be adaptable you can learn the growth mindset. Most kids are extremely adaptable and that is why I feel they can make the switch from a fixed mindset to a growth one. There are many teachers who could also benefit from the switch!
Video Podcasts
The WGBH podcasts impressed me more than I thought they would. I looked at several of them and they ranged from grades 3-8. One was about life on a coral reef. The quality was surprisingly good. When I think of free educational material I remember the grainy videos my history teacher had taped at home and brought in! The image was clear and the fish were absolutely beautiful. The information was presented in a clear manner so that students would be able to take notes if needed. At the same time the voice was not monotonous which can make anyone want to pay attention to something else. Though the clip was only two minutes long I thought it would be very useful to show a 6th grade science class. Notes on paper are useful but having an image to go with what you are learning helps to. There was another clip on precipitation that was targeted at 3rd graders. It was extremely short, only about thirty seconds long, and it was more of a slide show that a real video. There was a scene with rain falling and it had the word rain at the bottom; this was also done for snow, hail and sleet.
Students are spending more and more time on the Internet than ever before. I believe the average is around four hours a day! They are also using it to get information fast and easy instead of looking at flash cards or reading a book. By having podcasts like these online and by using them in the classroom I would be able to have the classroom available twenty-four hours a day to my students. It is easy for them to click over to itunes and watch a minute long segment on Wuthering Heights while waiting for their music to load. Also a podcast will not go anywhere whereas a book or a sheet of notes can be lost.
Another reason to use these podcasts is that they are free. Free is the true name of God to a teacher. Funding is very limited and books and videos can range from slightly to very out of date. A podcast can be updated with the latest information quickly for free. The podcast itself is also, usually, free. Videos and class discussions can be made available for no charge which is also good for students. They too can also have financial problems at home so anything that is free benefits them as well.
Students are spending more and more time on the Internet than ever before. I believe the average is around four hours a day! They are also using it to get information fast and easy instead of looking at flash cards or reading a book. By having podcasts like these online and by using them in the classroom I would be able to have the classroom available twenty-four hours a day to my students. It is easy for them to click over to itunes and watch a minute long segment on Wuthering Heights while waiting for their music to load. Also a podcast will not go anywhere whereas a book or a sheet of notes can be lost.
Another reason to use these podcasts is that they are free. Free is the true name of God to a teacher. Funding is very limited and books and videos can range from slightly to very out of date. A podcast can be updated with the latest information quickly for free. The podcast itself is also, usually, free. Videos and class discussions can be made available for no charge which is also good for students. They too can also have financial problems at home so anything that is free benefits them as well.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Edible Schoolyard and Global Village
I found the Global Village to be very interesting. The students aren't in a classroom studying about poverty. Instead they have to live it. The Heifer Farm set up some very neat little "homes" based on places like Guatemala and Tiland. The students are placed into groups and, with the exception of the refugee group, are given limited supplies. Each group has some of what they need but not all. The students must work together to see to it that everyone from each village is taken care of for the night. The students have adult chaperons but these adults can choose to either be an elder or a two- year -old. When the adults decide to step back this allows the students to step up and take responsibility for themselves and those around them. It is very important that students are able to empathize with those less fortunate than they. When they grow up and begin to run the world they will remember their experience at the Global Village and try to help others instead of take from them. This is the best kind of learning because it can be applied for a lifetime. In the classroom I want to be a guide and let the students help one another to learn and enjoy learning. School should not be a place of torment. It should be an adventure. The edible schoolyard was fascinating because it involved all kinds of lessons, math, reading, and science as well as social skills. The students were all able to feel useful. Also the environment was peaceful and not filled with pent up stress like most classrooms are. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the garden.
Collaborative lessons like the Global Village and the Edible Schoolyard teach more than a book ever could. Experience will always trump desk work and I feel that these two projects are very innovative and very useful. A student may not remember the economic chart he read about a third world country but he will remember having to bargain with his fellow classmates to get food and water! As a teacher I want my students to enjoy and remember what I teach them. I hope I can come up with projects such as these so that they will. It also never hurts to help others while you're learning.
I found these two podcasts to be more interesting than some of the other ones I have listened to. As a teacher they make me think about how I can make my classroom and my students' experiences more interactive and enjoyable. It is important that I foster not only mental growth but also emotional growth. Books just aren't enough to go by anymore. The podcasts are a way to see what others are doing and a means for me to gauge if I am doing enough. I want my students to enjoy my classroom as much as the ones in the Edible Schoolyard enjoyed theirs'. There should be a since of peace. That I am there to help them not belittle them. More than likely I will end up teaching Middle School and that is such a hard time for kids. I want class to be an escape instead of a prison. I like the podcasts because they keep me thinking about new ways to make myself better.
Collaborative lessons like the Global Village and the Edible Schoolyard teach more than a book ever could. Experience will always trump desk work and I feel that these two projects are very innovative and very useful. A student may not remember the economic chart he read about a third world country but he will remember having to bargain with his fellow classmates to get food and water! As a teacher I want my students to enjoy and remember what I teach them. I hope I can come up with projects such as these so that they will. It also never hurts to help others while you're learning.
I found these two podcasts to be more interesting than some of the other ones I have listened to. As a teacher they make me think about how I can make my classroom and my students' experiences more interactive and enjoyable. It is important that I foster not only mental growth but also emotional growth. Books just aren't enough to go by anymore. The podcasts are a way to see what others are doing and a means for me to gauge if I am doing enough. I want my students to enjoy my classroom as much as the ones in the Edible Schoolyard enjoyed theirs'. There should be a since of peace. That I am there to help them not belittle them. More than likely I will end up teaching Middle School and that is such a hard time for kids. I want class to be an escape instead of a prison. I like the podcasts because they keep me thinking about new ways to make myself better.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pausch's Last Lecture
I really enjoyed Pausch’s last lecture because it had a lot of good advice to use in the classroom. He believed in an interactive classroom where students can be themselves and explore. I believe that, like he said, it is important to empower students’ dreams and to never set the bar. If you do they will limit themselves. It is also important to remind students that obstacles or “brick walls” are only tests to see if you truly want something.
I like the idea of an interactive classroom because of the word “active” in interactive. It means students are constantly involved and applying what they have been taught. Knowledge is worth very little to kids if they cannot apply it in some way. I would like to be able to have a good reason besides, “You will need this skill to get into college” for teaching my students specific lessons. For example I could have them use stamps to create an old looking newspaper and have the class check the work for correct spelling and grammar. If an apostrophe or a letter is missing the information will no longer make sense. This will show my students why it is important that they learn proper spelling and grammar.
While setting the bar sounds like a good means of quality control it seems to set kids back more than help them. The bar is seen as a the best a project could possibly be and that nothing need be done to go above it in order to get an A. The moment a teacher sets the bar students begin to limit themselves. They begin to decide what kind of grade they want and what they have to do to get it. A teacher should continually encourage his or her students to keep doing better than they have done before. While praise is certainly necessary it should never be said that things could not be done even better the next time around. Students need to learn to build on the skills they have already learned and become innovators. They should keep developing and moving upward not backwards or remain static.
Life throws obstacles at everyone and it is important that we all learn how to deal with them. In the end it seems that the people who really want to overcome them do. If a student has the proper support, encouragement and will power to bring his or her failing grade up to a passing one he or she will. The old saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger really is true because those who fight their way to whatever it is they want are usually the better for it. When students begin to realize that a challenge in class is not an invitation for failure but a means to prove just how bad they want to get that A school will begin to look less like a torture chamber and more like a gym rock wall for the brain.
The ability to empower the next generation is something I look forward to because it will mean that I have made my students’ lives and the lives of people I may never meet a little better. I have a lot of my own dreams but I would like to help others achieve their own as well. If everyone would do this the world would be a much better place and people would live with fewer regrets. Dreams are an important part of school because they are often times the driving force behind a student’s success. I know my dreams were what kept me going whenever class and life got rough. I made it through and I would like to help others do the same.
I like the idea of an interactive classroom because of the word “active” in interactive. It means students are constantly involved and applying what they have been taught. Knowledge is worth very little to kids if they cannot apply it in some way. I would like to be able to have a good reason besides, “You will need this skill to get into college” for teaching my students specific lessons. For example I could have them use stamps to create an old looking newspaper and have the class check the work for correct spelling and grammar. If an apostrophe or a letter is missing the information will no longer make sense. This will show my students why it is important that they learn proper spelling and grammar.
While setting the bar sounds like a good means of quality control it seems to set kids back more than help them. The bar is seen as a the best a project could possibly be and that nothing need be done to go above it in order to get an A. The moment a teacher sets the bar students begin to limit themselves. They begin to decide what kind of grade they want and what they have to do to get it. A teacher should continually encourage his or her students to keep doing better than they have done before. While praise is certainly necessary it should never be said that things could not be done even better the next time around. Students need to learn to build on the skills they have already learned and become innovators. They should keep developing and moving upward not backwards or remain static.
Life throws obstacles at everyone and it is important that we all learn how to deal with them. In the end it seems that the people who really want to overcome them do. If a student has the proper support, encouragement and will power to bring his or her failing grade up to a passing one he or she will. The old saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger really is true because those who fight their way to whatever it is they want are usually the better for it. When students begin to realize that a challenge in class is not an invitation for failure but a means to prove just how bad they want to get that A school will begin to look less like a torture chamber and more like a gym rock wall for the brain.
The ability to empower the next generation is something I look forward to because it will mean that I have made my students’ lives and the lives of people I may never meet a little better. I have a lot of my own dreams but I would like to help others achieve their own as well. If everyone would do this the world would be a much better place and people would live with fewer regrets. Dreams are an important part of school because they are often times the driving force behind a student’s success. I know my dreams were what kept me going whenever class and life got rough. I made it through and I would like to help others do the same.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Itunes University
I think using Itunes University in the classroom will save money and allow students to remember things better. Itunes University has a database of tons of podcasts for free from top museums and research facilities. If a science teacher wanted to do a unit about sea turtles she could use Itunes and download their “turtlecast” for free instead of having to go and purchase a likely very expensive and old VHS. This generation of students has also been exposed to Itunes previously so they will not have to learn very much new technology in order to start doing podcast reports of their own as well as listening to others. I think teachers enjoy using Itunes University because it gives the students a chance to be the teachers themselves. Also when the whole world can look up and see exactly what you said you’re more likely to take your work seriously so the quality of student podcasts may be higher than what they would have done on an essay or paper.
Itunes University could be especially useful in foreign language classes. It is very difficult to learn a second language once you get into middle school and up. Unfortunately that is generally when American students start their French or Spanish 101. The podcasts would allow students to have conversations among each other that they could post. The teacher could then listen to them all and critique each group equally instead of having to quickly move from group to group. If the students are able to hear the language they are learning each day and use it frequently they will be more likely to retain it. Also foreign language instructional book and tapes can cost hundreds of dollars but Itunes University is free. That’s always a plus for teachers and students!
Itunes University could be especially useful in foreign language classes. It is very difficult to learn a second language once you get into middle school and up. Unfortunately that is generally when American students start their French or Spanish 101. The podcasts would allow students to have conversations among each other that they could post. The teacher could then listen to them all and critique each group equally instead of having to quickly move from group to group. If the students are able to hear the language they are learning each day and use it frequently they will be more likely to retain it. Also foreign language instructional book and tapes can cost hundreds of dollars but Itunes University is free. That’s always a plus for teachers and students!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Dr. Christie's Site
I am always amazed at just how little I knew about technology and how it can be used in the classroom to enhance learning. To me there were power point presentations and internet searches with an occasional class blog. Dr. Christie’s site really got me excited about how I could improve the quality of my instruction and my students’ enjoyment of it. I’m going to teach English and eventually History as well. I thought about the web quests and geocache projects Dr. Christie spoke wrote about. There is so much I could do with those!
For my English classes I could have them do a web quest. They could look for Shakespeare references on websites and blogs to see just how influential his writing is. For my history classes I could set up a treasure hunt around the school. The students could learn about Schindler’s Gold and then search for plastic Easter eggs filled with various things like chocolate coins and bonus questions they could answer for extra credit. By using the GPS tools they would also be learning about the systems real archeologists today use. I look forward to using technology in my classroom because I feel my students will truly enjoy AND retain what they have learned with me.
For my English classes I could have them do a web quest. They could look for Shakespeare references on websites and blogs to see just how influential his writing is. For my history classes I could set up a treasure hunt around the school. The students could learn about Schindler’s Gold and then search for plastic Easter eggs filled with various things like chocolate coins and bonus questions they could answer for extra credit. By using the GPS tools they would also be learning about the systems real archeologists today use. I look forward to using technology in my classroom because I feel my students will truly enjoy AND retain what they have learned with me.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wikipedia Edits
When I first started college my English 101 teacher told us two things. Always check your grammar and NEVER trust Wikipedia. Obviously there was a reason behind her distrust of the source. Wikipedia was an interesting idea. People are able to come together and compile bits of useful and useless information. The problem with this is that anyone can alter Wikipedia. This new tracker that Griffith invented shows just how much companies and politicians have used Wikipedia to make themselves look better. It always disturbs me when I see someone using Wikipedia as a source on a research paper. For example an entry on George Washington could have been done by a ten year old and not the professor the student assumed would have done it. Anyone can play with Wikipedia. This is what makes it fun and useless at the same time. One of my professors said if she saw Wikipedia as a source she would throw the paper in the trash and that student would receive a zero! Companies are posting things that may not necessarily be true and Wikipedia and people are buying it without even questioning who the author was! It’s very important that people take the time to think about who wrote what they are reading and what their motivations could be. I for one will never trust Wikipedia again!
Monday, September 15, 2008
180 Days Response
My second Fischbowl post came from a blog entitled 180 Days. It describes how teachers have a hard time teaching everything they want and need to in such a short period of time. In high school I remember how we would spend 30 minutes on real learning and the rest would be spent doing busy work or chattering amongst ourselves. Teachers would also have to spend a large chunk of class trying to prepare us for standardized testing. Instead of teaching a subject in detail she would only be able to cover the basic material that we would be expected to know. If there is no depth to a subject do the students really learn anything at all or do they just memorize and regurgitate what they are told to? It's great that schools are being held responsible for the quality of their instruction but standardized tests are not able to show the strengths and skills of each individual. I don't think we need to lengthen the school year. Instead a single test should be administered to all the seniors in order for them to graduate. There can be a class devoted just to reviewing what would be necessary for it. That way the teachers would be able to teach their subjects just as well but without having to sacrifice quality for a standardized test.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Teachers and Technology
I found the Fischbowl discussion to be very interesting because it addresses how people are willing and almost proud to admit that they have very little knowledge of computers and technology in general. My friends and I often discuss how we are the last generation of children who can remember a time before a computer was in the house and in the classroom. I’ve seen how computers went from being boxy and using huge floppy drives to being 2 inches thick with memory sticks. I feel like I was not taught enough about and with technology while I was in school and now it is time for me to play catch up. I’m as embarrassed to admit I have trouble with basic blogging sometimes as I am to admit I barely have any knowledge of a second language. I think it’s time to correct that as well in the school systems.
I agree with Fisch that it is time for teachers on a large scale to become technologically literate. That’s not to say that every single one of them should know how to hack and build websites of massive proportions from scratch! What’s needed is the ability to use technology to enrich students’ education. The internet provides teachers with the opportunity to work along side their counterparts in other countries! Instead of reading about the ethnic dress of Japan an American teacher and a Japanese one could arrange to do a podcast with the Japanese students in traditional costume! It would make the lesson so much more memorable and fun. There are wonderful teachers now who are not very good with computers but it’s time we all willingly sat down and improved out skills for our students’ sake.
I agree with Fisch that it is time for teachers on a large scale to become technologically literate. That’s not to say that every single one of them should know how to hack and build websites of massive proportions from scratch! What’s needed is the ability to use technology to enrich students’ education. The internet provides teachers with the opportunity to work along side their counterparts in other countries! Instead of reading about the ethnic dress of Japan an American teacher and a Japanese one could arrange to do a podcast with the Japanese students in traditional costume! It would make the lesson so much more memorable and fun. There are wonderful teachers now who are not very good with computers but it’s time we all willingly sat down and improved out skills for our students’ sake.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Children having fun at Sandaig Primary.
The first international blog I found comes from a primary school called Sandaig Primary in Scotland. This school has many different blogs that pertain to different events such as what the kids are learning in class and the various class trips they go on. One in particular links the school to another in Minnesota where the children can blog to one another. Like elementary schools in America these blogs are being used to promote communication and computer skills. The blog I chose in particular involved children posting poems they had to write about a particular color.
The second blog I found also comes from Scotland and is called Inchinnan Primary school. These students use their class blog primarily as a way to improve their French skills. The blog has both entries from the students summarizing what they have done for the week and also includes paragraphs in French about family events and things the children can easily and simply describe in the language. I like the idea of using the blog to improve French skills because it is very difficult to retain a second language if you are not constantly using it. This allows the students to practice what they learn every day with one another from home and school.
A picture from the Inchinnan Primary blog showing a chart from French class.
Links: Sandaig Primary http://www.sandaigprimary.co.uk/pivot/index.php
Inchinnan Primary http://inchinnanprimaryschool.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 4, 2008
John Paulding Elementary
The first blog site I came across happens to be from Birmingham Alabama. Mrs. Caldwell set up her blog in order to integrate what she taught in the classroom with technology. The students in her Senior English class at Mount Brooks High School were required 
to post twice a week to help them gather their thoughts on what they had read. That way the in class discussions would be much more meaningful. Mrs. Caldwell would also put notes up on her site and would discuss things such as how to become a better reader of plays and how to analyze characters
to post twice a week to help them gather their thoughts on what they had read. That way the in class discussions would be much more meaningful. Mrs. Caldwell would also put notes up on her site and would discuss things such as how to become a better reader of plays and how to analyze charactersin literature. One of her posts involved her students looking at several cartoons she had posted and choosing the one that best represented satire. The correct answer is the picture on the left! I felt that the class blog provided a more informal way for students to voice their opinions on what they had read. It also helped prepare them for bogging in college which is becoming so very common.
The second blog I chose comes out of New York State. The school is called John Paulding and the teacher is named Mrs. Chulla. Mrs. Chulla is not working with high school seniors but with first graders. One of the blog projects she had them do was to write a short little poem which was then placed on the class blog. While the students had a lot of guidance posting their poems they were still being exposed to the internet and computers. The longer these children practice with the blogs the more independent they will become. The site also serves as a message board so that parents can know what has been going on in class and what their children have been doing. This allows the parents to be involved in their child’s classroom even if they can’t always be there physically.
Links
Mrs. Chulla's Blog: http://tufsdblogs.org/chulla/
Mrs. Caldwell's Blog: http://mrscaldwell0.edublogs.org/
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
post 3
I thought the Shift Happens presentation pointed out some very interesting facts about how the world is changing. The planet is so much smaller than it used to be because of computers, cell phones, and the internet. People who have and may never meet in person are able to communicate and share ideas in real time even though they may be an ocean apart. As the workforce becomes more global the educational system will need to be revamped to be as well.
Students should be encouraged to “talk” to other students from around the globe about what school and life in general is like in their countries. Foreign languages should be taught from kindergarten so that American children will be able to compete in an increasingly international job market when they grow up. Students should be exposed to new technologies frequently and be allowed to experiment with them. They should be able to experience satellite classes with other children from around the world. The world is changing and we would be doing a great disservice to the children of it if we did not give them the best education possible that will allow them to thrive in the near and distant future.
Students should be encouraged to “talk” to other students from around the globe about what school and life in general is like in their countries. Foreign languages should be taught from kindergarten so that American children will be able to compete in an increasingly international job market when they grow up. Students should be exposed to new technologies frequently and be allowed to experiment with them. They should be able to experience satellite classes with other children from around the world. The world is changing and we would be doing a great disservice to the children of it if we did not give them the best education possible that will allow them to thrive in the near and distant future.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Post 2
I think I will be using ALEX a lot when I begin teaching. It’s such a huge database and it has a lot of information that would be useful for a first time teacher. The site has sample lesson plans and objectives for almost every class imaginable. Teachers can create an account for themselves and then build lesson plans online instead of writing everything down on paper. These lesson plans are easily altered and can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection. There is also a section devoted to professional development which has information on various learning initiatives going on in the state such as Technology in Motion. Technology in Motion was designed to help teachers use technology more effectively in the classroom and can be accessed through the ALEX site.
What I like most about ALEX is that it allows teachers to communicate and share opinions and strategies for teaching. For example there is an area where they can review books used in the classroom. When educators from all around the state are able to share their experiences and ideas as well as have access to an immense database of information students can only benefit. Through their teachers they will be exposed to new ideas and methods of communication thus keeping the classroom a dynamic space instead of a static one. I like the idea of having such a wealth of information at my fingertips which is why I believe I will end up with ALEX booked as one of my favorites for at least my first year of teaching.
What I like most about ALEX is that it allows teachers to communicate and share opinions and strategies for teaching. For example there is an area where they can review books used in the classroom. When educators from all around the state are able to share their experiences and ideas as well as have access to an immense database of information students can only benefit. Through their teachers they will be exposed to new ideas and methods of communication thus keeping the classroom a dynamic space instead of a static one. I like the idea of having such a wealth of information at my fingertips which is why I believe I will end up with ALEX booked as one of my favorites for at least my first year of teaching.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Post1
Hi! My name is Maegan St. Amant and I'm here at South because I want to be a secondary English/literature teacher. I have always loved books and the last time I counted I had over 200! There is hardly room in my little apartment for me and my two cats with all of them! I also love history and art, although I can't even draw a stick figure to save my life, and my dream vacation would be to travel to all the great museums of the world. I'm going to be at South Alabama for a few years because I want to get my masters degree right after I finish this one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)