Summary of Class
Though this class was only a 8 week course, I do feel I have learned alot from this class. This has been one of my most enjoyable classes I have had. Before this class began, I always considered myself to be technologically literate and I have heard about blogs and wikis though I never worked with them. I was under the impression that blogs were used for journalists purposes and did not know much about them. This class not only taught me what blogs and wikis are, but how to create my own.
The Audacity for podcasts and Photostory 3 programs are ones I am sure I will use many times in the future and apply them to classroom activities when I begin teaching. I also learned a lot from the sites of the night links and other lesson content, such as gasbuddy, and I am sure many of the links are very suitable for a social studies classroom. Though there is so much more to technology than what was covered in this course, it did help prepare me and open my eyes to more technological possibilities in the classroom.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Week 7
1) Describe a grant that you could apply for that would apply to your subject area and grade level. (If not currently in the classroom then imagine you are in your ideal classroom situation for this activity.)
While doing research, I came across a grant that sounds appealing for my future social studies classroom. It is called the "National Council for the Social Studies Award for Global Understanding" and it is given in honor of James M. Becker. This awards goal is given to "social studies teachers who have made significant contributions toward helping students increase their understanding of the world."
As a person who has had experience traveling to different places in the world, it is one of my goals as a teacher to promote global understanding and history to my students. This goal fits my interests on promoting students to gain a wider interests on learning about the world. This award awards $2000 to teachers or teams who gain acceptance in being nominated for this award annually.
2) Imagine your principal has just informed you that a wealthy patron has donated a large sum of money to the school and each classroom teacher will be given $2500 to integrate technology into their curriculum. What would you buy? How would you use it? Please describe your plan on how you would use your $2500
If I was given $2500 for my future classroom, I would spend it to improve the teaching tools I may have in my classroom. I would like to supply my classroom with a few desktop computers for the back of the class with internet access and have social studies themed software installed on them. In my methods of teaching, I want to use the computers and the internet to promote in class research on group activities, such as using the CIA world factbook website and other reliable sites for research.
I would also like a ceiling projector connected to a computer so I can use PowerPoint's, interactive maps, and other software to teach students social studies. I very much support the use of computers and would invest in having more in my classroom. I would also like to invest the money in getting detailed up to date encyclopedias and atlas's for use on in class research as well.
While doing research, I came across a grant that sounds appealing for my future social studies classroom. It is called the "National Council for the Social Studies Award for Global Understanding" and it is given in honor of James M. Becker. This awards goal is given to "social studies teachers who have made significant contributions toward helping students increase their understanding of the world."
As a person who has had experience traveling to different places in the world, it is one of my goals as a teacher to promote global understanding and history to my students. This goal fits my interests on promoting students to gain a wider interests on learning about the world. This award awards $2000 to teachers or teams who gain acceptance in being nominated for this award annually.
2) Imagine your principal has just informed you that a wealthy patron has donated a large sum of money to the school and each classroom teacher will be given $2500 to integrate technology into their curriculum. What would you buy? How would you use it? Please describe your plan on how you would use your $2500
If I was given $2500 for my future classroom, I would spend it to improve the teaching tools I may have in my classroom. I would like to supply my classroom with a few desktop computers for the back of the class with internet access and have social studies themed software installed on them. In my methods of teaching, I want to use the computers and the internet to promote in class research on group activities, such as using the CIA world factbook website and other reliable sites for research.
I would also like a ceiling projector connected to a computer so I can use PowerPoint's, interactive maps, and other software to teach students social studies. I very much support the use of computers and would invest in having more in my classroom. I would also like to invest the money in getting detailed up to date encyclopedias and atlas's for use on in class research as well.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Week 6
During our discussions about the various topics talked about in this week of class, the topic that I feel I can relate to the most is the topic about PowerPoint presentation software. PowerPoint is a great invention and can really benefit a business presentation, student presentation, a teacher's lesson, and various other uses. They allow much more creativity in a presentation, and have given people many more options on how to express what they are presenting or teaching.
I was very interested about the subject of creating games by using a PowerPoint program. I have actually helped create a Jeopardy game with a professor. The professor was demonstrating the various uses of PowerPoint presentations for a meeting last year. The game can be programmed with your own questions and answers, and when played, it works quite well and is very entertaining to play. If programmed to have educational questions, it can work in a classroom and engage learners. Creating games with PowerPoint just shows all the creative uses that can be done with the program.
On other topics talked about during class, I learned a lot from the discussion about copyrights and teachers too. I never knew how much of a thin line that is walked when a teacher brings in outside materials to add to a lesson in a classroom and it kind of scares me a little. Some things with using copyrighted material I would of thought was legal, may not be legal according to the copyright laws and it is very important for me as a future teacher to be aware of these laws in the future. I would hate to slapped with a huge fine or even a day in court for a simple mistake.
I was very interested about the subject of creating games by using a PowerPoint program. I have actually helped create a Jeopardy game with a professor. The professor was demonstrating the various uses of PowerPoint presentations for a meeting last year. The game can be programmed with your own questions and answers, and when played, it works quite well and is very entertaining to play. If programmed to have educational questions, it can work in a classroom and engage learners. Creating games with PowerPoint just shows all the creative uses that can be done with the program.
On other topics talked about during class, I learned a lot from the discussion about copyrights and teachers too. I never knew how much of a thin line that is walked when a teacher brings in outside materials to add to a lesson in a classroom and it kind of scares me a little. Some things with using copyrighted material I would of thought was legal, may not be legal according to the copyright laws and it is very important for me as a future teacher to be aware of these laws in the future. I would hate to slapped with a huge fine or even a day in court for a simple mistake.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Week 5
Is Google Good or Evil?
I feel that there Google is a great invention in terms of being a search engine. For many years since I started my first year in college in 2000 until now, it has been a reliable tool when searching for useful resources for past research projects. I have never used it for anything else until starting my technology and education class this semester and creating my first blog using this website (blogspot.com).
Upon reading the article "Google-Don't Be Evil", I never really knew all the controversial things that Google is doing. I knew about the controversy over the huge internet firewall placed on Tibet searches and any other information deemed harmful by the Chinese Govt in the news not long ago, but I didn't know much about any other controversy that Google had. I was surprised to learn about the "nothing is deleted" policy on emails, copyright infringements with digital books, negotiations to hand over personal information to different countries, Youtubes policies, the street cam feature on Google maps, and various other controversial things.
It really doesn't surprise me that Google, who is becoming a very large company and is a global player in the internet world, would be involved with controversial things. I know their policy is "Don't be evil" and they don't like to be compared with Microsoft, but like any in-for-profit companies, they still operate on the principal that making profit is the biggest priority. No matter they claim or what image they want to project for themselves, they wouldn't be in business if it wasn't for profit. They will do whatever it takes to keep their business operating efficiently even if it means doing controversial things and alienating some customers.
Still, I feel just because of these controversies, it is no reason to stop using Google. As I stated before, they do have a great search engine. Google also has a lot of useful tools too that can be helpful both at home and in a classroom. All I can say is before using a Google program or service, make sure you "carefully" read the online contracts before you click on agree. That is where companies take advantage of people when they are downloading or using some free software or service and it is the responsibility of the user to read a contract thoroughly before using it.
I feel that there Google is a great invention in terms of being a search engine. For many years since I started my first year in college in 2000 until now, it has been a reliable tool when searching for useful resources for past research projects. I have never used it for anything else until starting my technology and education class this semester and creating my first blog using this website (blogspot.com).
Upon reading the article "Google-Don't Be Evil", I never really knew all the controversial things that Google is doing. I knew about the controversy over the huge internet firewall placed on Tibet searches and any other information deemed harmful by the Chinese Govt in the news not long ago, but I didn't know much about any other controversy that Google had. I was surprised to learn about the "nothing is deleted" policy on emails, copyright infringements with digital books, negotiations to hand over personal information to different countries, Youtubes policies, the street cam feature on Google maps, and various other controversial things.
It really doesn't surprise me that Google, who is becoming a very large company and is a global player in the internet world, would be involved with controversial things. I know their policy is "Don't be evil" and they don't like to be compared with Microsoft, but like any in-for-profit companies, they still operate on the principal that making profit is the biggest priority. No matter they claim or what image they want to project for themselves, they wouldn't be in business if it wasn't for profit. They will do whatever it takes to keep their business operating efficiently even if it means doing controversial things and alienating some customers.
Still, I feel just because of these controversies, it is no reason to stop using Google. As I stated before, they do have a great search engine. Google also has a lot of useful tools too that can be helpful both at home and in a classroom. All I can say is before using a Google program or service, make sure you "carefully" read the online contracts before you click on agree. That is where companies take advantage of people when they are downloading or using some free software or service and it is the responsibility of the user to read a contract thoroughly before using it.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Week 4
This Weeks Class Question - "What are your thoughts and feelings about both using video from You Tube in the classroom and the ability for students to post their own content on You Tube?"
I feel digital video, such as videos being placed on YouTube are questionable if used for educational purposes. YouTube itself does contain video that can be educational and useful for classroom use, but also contains various other content that has little or no connection to education. Since anyone can create and post material on YouTube, the validity can also come into question. Other websites such as TeacherTube as mentioned in the previous posting are far more appropriate to use in a classroom lesson or other educational uses. Thought YouTube is monitored for inappropriate content, such as sexual content or extreme violence, there is still potentially harmful material on YouTube.
Students also have the power to to record on devices such as cell phones and post the videos on YouTube and other websites. This ability to create video with the flip of a phone gives a lot of power to a child with this technology, and like any power, it can be used for good and bad reasons. A student in a classroom can use a cell phone to record a teacher yelling at his/her students at the top of his lungs or a kid being hassled by a violent yelling cop. Both of these cases have happened more than once. In some cases if things like these get involved with court cases, the video can be used for valid evidence.
The biggest problem with this power to create video as a angrily yelling teacher or another individual is sometimes determined when the student turned on the camera or if he/she edited or removed pieces of the video. A video may show an angry teacher, but not show the cause of the outburst that may justify the teacher's actions. The video, nonetheless, could still be used by a student to defame a teacher and can even causes a teacher his/her job.
I feel digital video, such as videos being placed on YouTube are questionable if used for educational purposes. YouTube itself does contain video that can be educational and useful for classroom use, but also contains various other content that has little or no connection to education. Since anyone can create and post material on YouTube, the validity can also come into question. Other websites such as TeacherTube as mentioned in the previous posting are far more appropriate to use in a classroom lesson or other educational uses. Thought YouTube is monitored for inappropriate content, such as sexual content or extreme violence, there is still potentially harmful material on YouTube.
Students also have the power to to record on devices such as cell phones and post the videos on YouTube and other websites. This ability to create video with the flip of a phone gives a lot of power to a child with this technology, and like any power, it can be used for good and bad reasons. A student in a classroom can use a cell phone to record a teacher yelling at his/her students at the top of his lungs or a kid being hassled by a violent yelling cop. Both of these cases have happened more than once. In some cases if things like these get involved with court cases, the video can be used for valid evidence.
The biggest problem with this power to create video as a angrily yelling teacher or another individual is sometimes determined when the student turned on the camera or if he/she edited or removed pieces of the video. A video may show an angry teacher, but not show the cause of the outburst that may justify the teacher's actions. The video, nonetheless, could still be used by a student to defame a teacher and can even causes a teacher his/her job.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Week 3
Article 1 Review- Outside Interests
This article does remind me of various different past talks on the issue of technology and schools. When it comes to the topic of technology in the classroom, I do feel it is a good thing as long as it is used for the right reasons. Young adults today are immersed in technology everyday of their lives now with cellphones, ipods, laptops, internet, video games, and so on. This trend is going to grow more and more with each passing year as current technologies get cheaper and newer technologies are introduced.
I do find that interesting that students feel that their schools are similar to prisons and that the high tech world is basically anywhere but schools. From my observations of various different schools, I do agree that most schools would rather stick with basic technologies such as marker or chalk boards, movies shown on VHS tapes, pull down maps, and plain old textbooks. I know sometimes this is a cost factor on behalf of the schools to adopt newer technologies, but some technologies like podcasts to make study notes do not require much spending and drives interests and positive reactions from students.
Technology such as ipods, podcasts, and other technologies have a lot of potential, because if taps into students' various different learning styles and interests. Teachers and schools should use technology to their advantage to educate and build connections with their students. Technology can be a great research, learning, and studying tool if it is used appropriately. If school can become high tech and innovative environments that teach and inspire creativity with everyday technologies as learning tools, it is very possible students may gain better attitudes toward school in general.
Article 2 Review - Teachers Tap Video- Sharing in the Classroom
In reading this article, I have never heard of Teachertube, but I like the idea of it. TeacherTube can offer help for students needing help in studying such as math by showing math demonstrations on an online video. It can also assist teachers by having educational videos to show to a classroom and assist classroom lessons. In my opinion, TeacherTube is a very useful tool in the classroom environment.
I know as any new technology, it faces scrutiny. From what I read, I think that parents have nothing to fear about this TeacherTube since it is restricted from anyone from uploading video who is not involved with education and it's content is monitored for indecency. I wish something like this existed when I was in high school since I often struggled with subjects like math and needed a visual demonstration to help me. A visual demonstration of all the steps of a algebra problem on a internet video would not only had been very useful to me, but also basically a free service that would not of required me to spend a lot of time and money searching for VHS math videos, math help textbooks, or even hiring a tutor.
Article 3 Review - Low-Cost Handheld Targets Elementary Students
This article is about a new affordable portable computer known as Teachersmate that helps K-2 grade elementary student with subjects as math and reading. I agree with the article that the $50 Teachermate computer is a promising tool to be used in elementary schools. It is not only affordable, educational, and innovative, but also fun to use and grabs the interests of the children.
Learning should be made fun and, and in turn, this reinforces the child to be interested to learn. Reading and Math are subjects that if they are not learned and mastered at an early age, the child may suffer from math and reading problems for years to come. This is especially true with reading skills. The article says that the the Teachersmate does help enhance reading skills of the students. I feel more time is needed until a significant result is concluded on its effectiveness on students.
Article Review 4 - Online Speech Pits Studends vs. Teachers
This article has to do with students expressing free speech using online websites and blog about their schools, teachers, and other school officials. I found this article to be a little scary that kids can try to cause you harm by using the internet if they have a grudge against you or just wants to play a sick prank on you. Kids as young as 13 have the power to put up a fake website with your picture on it and make you out as a pedophile to defame you just because a student is angry at you about something.
The incident of the principal in the article who went through the experience of a student who put up a fake website to defame him with falsified information does sound like a justified case when he reacted by pushing criminal charges on the kid who created the fake website. Though the internet is open for everyone to say anything, it doesn't mean that someone can go out and cause harm to someone else using it and get away with it no matter what age they are. The internet may be a place to express free speech, but the internet also must abide to laws that protect individuals from such attacks.
I am for free speech and for students to say their minds, even if they have a negative attitude about things. Students should speak their minds if they don't agree with a school policy, future plans of the school, a cancellation or creation of a school program, a choice of a teacher, and so forth. Students are aware what free speech and the first amendment, but I feel that they are not educated on being responsible with free speech, and like any right and power, it has to be used wisely. Students need to be taught that they cannot use free speech to defame, ridicule, say stupid things for attention, insult other people's religious or cultural beliefs, discriminate, or falsify information.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Week 2
Learning about podcasts in week 2's class was very interesting and it opened my eyes to other ways technology can be used to teach and help students in the classroom. I can make use of it in my future social studies classroom by recording my lectures, posting it on a classroom website. Students who may of missed important details during a lecture or missed a day of class can visit the website to hear the recorded lecture on their home computers.
Podcasts can also be useful in giving audio instruction on classroom assignments. I also feel I can use podcasts to record other facts and information on a topic that may of not fit into a classroom lesson due to limited time and students can listen to the podcast if they are curious about a topic and with to learn more. I am sure when I start to use podcast regularly in the future, I can also discover more ways to help in the classroom environment and my students' learning.
There is one concern I would take into account when using podcasts. I don't want students to feel that they don't need to pay attention in class and become disconnected with class since they can go online later and listen again. I want to avoid creating a one way environment and I still want to encourage student interaction in the classroom.
Podcasts can also be useful in giving audio instruction on classroom assignments. I also feel I can use podcasts to record other facts and information on a topic that may of not fit into a classroom lesson due to limited time and students can listen to the podcast if they are curious about a topic and with to learn more. I am sure when I start to use podcast regularly in the future, I can also discover more ways to help in the classroom environment and my students' learning.
There is one concern I would take into account when using podcasts. I don't want students to feel that they don't need to pay attention in class and become disconnected with class since they can go online later and listen again. I want to avoid creating a one way environment and I still want to encourage student interaction in the classroom.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Week 1
Blog Review 1
The first blog that I read is entitled "Education, Science, and Technology" and it is written by Jonathan Orr. This article mentioned several things that interested me since it deals with the topic of technology and the classroom. The author believes that teachers should prepare students for the 21st century by teaching them skills on how to use technology to find information they need and make real world decisions and to make less emphasis on pure memorization of material.
I am interested in this article, because I also support the use of technology in the classroom, both as a teaching tool and to prepare students with skills to survive in this increasingly growing computerized world. When I become a teacher in the future and my students are working on history or geography assignments for example, I want my students to enjoy these subjects and know what technological tools they can use in order find the information they need. I also want to teach my students that what they are learn about can apply in their lives with the aid of using technology and that their learning isn't worthless or unimportant. A good example would be teaching how GPS can be used with the subject of Geography as also mentioned about by Mr. Orr in his blog.
Blog Review 2
The second blog that I read was entitled "Educating the Dragon" and was written by Simon Evans. This author listed interesting facts using math problem examples, interesting quotes, a stories and other experiences of the author. The first posting of the sample math problems demonstrating how approaches to teaching math have changes over the past 30 years was particular interesting.
The way this blog is structured in a way that is easy to read for a visitor like myself, the important details are clearly stated, and the interesting facts do grab your attention. If I was using a blog in my classroom, I would prefer to structure it like this blog and maybe post interesting facts that I may find on my blog. If I post an interesting fact that was lesson related, than maybe my students could gain a better interest or a deeper understanding on something relating to history or education for example.
Blog Review 3
The third blog I read is entitled "21st Century Skills" and it is written by Mark Collinson. Mr. Collinson supports in teaching students 21st century technological skills just as Jonathan Orr from the first blog supports. I felt Mr. Collinson's website was much more specific on listing what these skills were and the reasons why teachers and adults should teach children about using technology and the Internet.
In reading this blog, I liked how the author listed everything out. This blog would be great to be used in a classroom for students as well as helping teachers understand more about using technology in education themselves. The website also lists other interesting things used by the author, such as having a voting poll over an opinionated question that you can choose to answer if you wish. In the future when I begin teaching, I would really like to use this blog and it's ideas in my own classroom and lessons.
The first blog that I read is entitled "Education, Science, and Technology" and it is written by Jonathan Orr. This article mentioned several things that interested me since it deals with the topic of technology and the classroom. The author believes that teachers should prepare students for the 21st century by teaching them skills on how to use technology to find information they need and make real world decisions and to make less emphasis on pure memorization of material.
I am interested in this article, because I also support the use of technology in the classroom, both as a teaching tool and to prepare students with skills to survive in this increasingly growing computerized world. When I become a teacher in the future and my students are working on history or geography assignments for example, I want my students to enjoy these subjects and know what technological tools they can use in order find the information they need. I also want to teach my students that what they are learn about can apply in their lives with the aid of using technology and that their learning isn't worthless or unimportant. A good example would be teaching how GPS can be used with the subject of Geography as also mentioned about by Mr. Orr in his blog.
Blog Review 2
The second blog that I read was entitled "Educating the Dragon" and was written by Simon Evans. This author listed interesting facts using math problem examples, interesting quotes, a stories and other experiences of the author. The first posting of the sample math problems demonstrating how approaches to teaching math have changes over the past 30 years was particular interesting.
The way this blog is structured in a way that is easy to read for a visitor like myself, the important details are clearly stated, and the interesting facts do grab your attention. If I was using a blog in my classroom, I would prefer to structure it like this blog and maybe post interesting facts that I may find on my blog. If I post an interesting fact that was lesson related, than maybe my students could gain a better interest or a deeper understanding on something relating to history or education for example.
Blog Review 3
The third blog I read is entitled "21st Century Skills" and it is written by Mark Collinson. Mr. Collinson supports in teaching students 21st century technological skills just as Jonathan Orr from the first blog supports. I felt Mr. Collinson's website was much more specific on listing what these skills were and the reasons why teachers and adults should teach children about using technology and the Internet.
In reading this blog, I liked how the author listed everything out. This blog would be great to be used in a classroom for students as well as helping teachers understand more about using technology in education themselves. The website also lists other interesting things used by the author, such as having a voting poll over an opinionated question that you can choose to answer if you wish. In the future when I begin teaching, I would really like to use this blog and it's ideas in my own classroom and lessons.
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