Three things that WOWed me.
I like the idea of kids teaching
their teachers how to use technology. It is no wonder that kids with access to
computers have not advanced like they should because the teachers do not understand how to effectively use this tool. I believe computersare a wonderful tool and should be used in the classrooms; however, I
think many good teachers don't know how to use the technology
effectively. I have discovered many great sites to help students learn
and I have also seen many sites kids like to play on which are not very
educational. Wouldn't it be great to make fun games that actually teach
students - something I would like to do. This semester I listened to several podcasts and read several articles about teaching with technology and the importance of challenging the students whild fully engaging the students and at tne same time entertaining the students. Why shouldn't a teacher use this tool to their advantage.
I also liked the idea of giving clues in a podcast to listeners about your location and letting the listeners try to figure out your location. Great idea to use with school kids and involve geography and history.
I really like the digital storybook idea and imovie. I can see students using this for numerous projects. Instead of doing powerpoints, I think digital storybooks and imovies are an awesome idea. Also, like imovies for students to go back and review information. I would have loved to had several imovies of my math class this semester, the second time listening and watching and filling in my notes would have been so beneficial.
6 student's sites
NIki's site is pleasing to the eye and attractive. I like the digitial storybook content, I would change the buttons and keep them all consistently located in the lower right corner of the page. I would separate lessons and projects and place on two separate pages.
Kerri, I really liked the colors and good feeling I got when looking at your website. Your website does a good job at highlighting your teaching.
Danny's website was very professional looking. I really liked the layout on several of the pages. Some of the pages had a lot of text.
Chris, I liked the background of his lessons page; however, I would sort out the lessons and projects. I would add to the first page - looks unfinished and uninviting.
Kiley, I liked the colors of the site and layout. I would add pictures and eliminate some of the text. I liked how some of the pictures in the digital storybook looked like children's artwork.
Kayla, I really liked her site. She did an awesome highlighting herself for the teaching profession. I also liked her kid's page. I liked the colors and everything on the site worked. I didn't see this much.
My site - will always be a work in progress. I really am thankful that I had to do this project, but it was very time consuming. I want to change and add several things. For starters, I will add my resume. I also like having a page for students and a page for parents when I am teaching. A page for a schedule of events. I really liked how Danny set up a couple of his pages - they look professional. I want to have a site that has a look of professionalism but is still educational and fun for my studnets. I would love to add a spinning wheel for my students so they would check the site daily for assignments and schedules. Not sure, what the spinning wheel would be used for? - credits ? I like my orbit project page the best - I like the colors and it looks inviting for middle school students. However, I know, I will change and so will my website.
Thanks for all your help.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tech Learning
I firmly believe for technology to really work, the teacher must be educated in content area along with technology skills. However, if the teacher is computer sauve, I believe technology can be very beneficial. Each studednt having access to a computer and a well thought out lesson plan is awesome. One example given was learning the pythagorean theroem than applying it using the graphics program. Some of these programs are amazing and having them right there at each student's fingertips is beneficial. This semester, I have had the opportunity to use some of these programs and they do help; however, teachers must still use assessment to check student's understanding. I also had the opportunity to intern in a middle school math classroom with an awesome teacher; however, technology was rarely used because the mentor teacher is not comfortable using it.Sound familiar?
Tech kids article
This makes perfect sense. My daughter helps me with different computer applications all the time. I show her things and she shows me different things. She catches on much more quicker than I; however, we both learn. Kids are much more sauvy at computers than many teachers that have not grown up using computers. I think it is only natural that kids help teachers learn technology because, if not, I don't think teachers that are not accostumed to integrating technology will integrate it into their classes - of course, not techs 390 students - we will certainly integrate technology.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Podcasts for week of April 16 - April 20
The TechTeacher Podcast
Episode 14
May 19, 2006
Digital storytelling
How to give the students a new voice. What is digital storytelling - still images combined with a narrated voice and sometimes music. Why should teachers use digital storytelling - Engages students - reaches and motivates students and another way to reach students and gives students a voice, students can reach a larger audience, students get accustomed to using the tools of the future.
A way to express your Point of view - goal - experience personal expression, want story to involve a question which is resolved at the end of the story, emotional content - evokes an emotion from the audience, economy - powerful but short - 2-3 minutes, pacing - art of storytelling, voice and images - a way students can be heard - most essential - picture is worth a thousand words with voice, sound track - music enhances storytelling, digital storytelling can cover a variety of curriculum standards. Ideas for digital storytelling - Personal accomplishment story, historical figure, reflection journal, etc..
Digital story telling will engage the students and give students more ways to tell their story. I liked the idea of using digital storytelling and it covers many curriculum standards I included it in my lesson plan for social studies.
Cool Cat Teacher
Episode # 15
March 30, 2007
Stop Cyberbullying Day
Story of pike and elephant - Elephant has been conditioned that if the rope is on the foot than that elephant has no hope of getting free. Pike - glass blocking minnows - scientist conditioning pike not to eat minnows and then when the scientist frees the pike, the pile starved to death because the pike wouldn't eat the minnows.
10% of students affected by cyberbullying - students learning to interact with global environment is extremely important. Students need to build confidence about themselves and should not be torn down on the internet. If people blog, use a social network, blogs should be user friendly. Students need to be taught about cyberbullying and the proper etiquette of social networking. All blogs can be tracked by an IP service.
Stop cyberbullying bit by bit - Teach students how to communicate properly on the internet. Vicki suggests joining Stop cyberbullying.com site., Educate yourself and others about cyberbullying. Wesley Fryer podcast on cyberbullying. There is a video on this site and she suggests showing it to your students. Students need to learn to communicate wisely on the internet because it is a great way to communicate globally with the world and others and no one should be a victim of cyberbullying on the internet.
Episode 14
May 19, 2006
Digital storytelling
How to give the students a new voice. What is digital storytelling - still images combined with a narrated voice and sometimes music. Why should teachers use digital storytelling - Engages students - reaches and motivates students and another way to reach students and gives students a voice, students can reach a larger audience, students get accustomed to using the tools of the future.
A way to express your Point of view - goal - experience personal expression, want story to involve a question which is resolved at the end of the story, emotional content - evokes an emotion from the audience, economy - powerful but short - 2-3 minutes, pacing - art of storytelling, voice and images - a way students can be heard - most essential - picture is worth a thousand words with voice, sound track - music enhances storytelling, digital storytelling can cover a variety of curriculum standards. Ideas for digital storytelling - Personal accomplishment story, historical figure, reflection journal, etc..
Digital story telling will engage the students and give students more ways to tell their story. I liked the idea of using digital storytelling and it covers many curriculum standards I included it in my lesson plan for social studies.
Cool Cat Teacher
Episode # 15
March 30, 2007
Stop Cyberbullying Day
Story of pike and elephant - Elephant has been conditioned that if the rope is on the foot than that elephant has no hope of getting free. Pike - glass blocking minnows - scientist conditioning pike not to eat minnows and then when the scientist frees the pike, the pile starved to death because the pike wouldn't eat the minnows.
10% of students affected by cyberbullying - students learning to interact with global environment is extremely important. Students need to build confidence about themselves and should not be torn down on the internet. If people blog, use a social network, blogs should be user friendly. Students need to be taught about cyberbullying and the proper etiquette of social networking. All blogs can be tracked by an IP service.
Stop cyberbullying bit by bit - Teach students how to communicate properly on the internet. Vicki suggests joining Stop cyberbullying.com site., Educate yourself and others about cyberbullying. Wesley Fryer podcast on cyberbullying. There is a video on this site and she suggests showing it to your students. Students need to learn to communicate wisely on the internet because it is a great way to communicate globally with the world and others and no one should be a victim of cyberbullying on the internet.
Moving At the Speed of Creativity
Episode #144
April 9, 2007
Free online videos for learning from Next Vista
Next Vista.org for learning - new site - video collections divided into three sections - lightbulbs - intro to different topics, global views for teenagers, seeing service - site to remind us that there are good people all around us.
Interview with Rushton Hurley, creator of Next Vista which is an online library for teachers and students and is free to help teachers and students - videos are 5 minutes or less - are readily available at the students fingertips - example - a short clip on fractions, a short clip on a specific subject - soliciting teachers that are passionate about a subject to make a short video to contribute.
U-tube is everything - Next Vista is not!! They follow 4 rules - 5 minutes or less, factually accurate, no copyright, appropriate for kids - these are submitted - They check resources before putting them on site. Do this so schools will permit this site into their schools. Free access - no log in required. He suggests making videos to help others and anyone can make a video but he checks the piece before putting it on the site. Non for profit organization.
Curriki.org free log in registration - site put together by teachers for other teachers and students. Similar site?
I really like sites put together by teachers for students and other teachers - these sites I have found very useful for school projects and lesson plans.I can't wait to check this one out!
Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
Tips for protecting you Credit.
Episode #14, 1-16-07
How to improve your credit score?
How do you find out if you have good credit?
Information found on credit report - Amount of money you owe, how much is on your credit cards, if you pay on time, outstanding balances.
3 major credit reporting agencies - all three reports are complied into one and get a Fico scores 300 -850 , 700 and above is very good. Check with all agencies if something is not right because different companies use different agencies. - I learned something new - I didn't know there were three different agencies and that they compile all three reports for one score. I have only seen a Dun and Bradstreet report and they are interesting to look at the different information they compile about you.
Boost score by lowering credit card balances, keeping number of credit cards - 4 or less, mix of debt loans - better to have home, car, and credit card balances verses only four credit card balances.
Was advised to Check credit report before applying for a loan because sometimes information is not accurate.
Should check credit report one time a year.
The TechTeacher Podcast
April 15, 2007
Episode #160
Protect your Investment
Districts that are moving to one to one laptop to student should consider a durable case for students to carry and protect the investment.
Cases purchased to protect investment - student cases to protect the district laptops. Cases must be functional and fashionable - something the students will want to use - want students to protect the laptops - change in dimensions - something made to fit students hands and their needs. Wesley suggests The Higher Ground Shuttle - a laptop case that is rugged enough to protect the laptop, weather proof, multiple handles, can carry like backpack and can keep in case, extra padding, 5 colors, 4 sizes, and affordable. He suggests that districts should invest in good cases to protect their investment. I don't know - does District 489 buy cases for the laptops? This podcast made sense - I immediately went and checked out the case - they are cool, I would own one and I know my daughter would own one.
Episode #144
April 9, 2007
Free online videos for learning from Next Vista
Next Vista.org for learning - new site - video collections divided into three sections - lightbulbs - intro to different topics, global views for teenagers, seeing service - site to remind us that there are good people all around us.
Interview with Rushton Hurley, creator of Next Vista which is an online library for teachers and students and is free to help teachers and students - videos are 5 minutes or less - are readily available at the students fingertips - example - a short clip on fractions, a short clip on a specific subject - soliciting teachers that are passionate about a subject to make a short video to contribute.
U-tube is everything - Next Vista is not!! They follow 4 rules - 5 minutes or less, factually accurate, no copyright, appropriate for kids - these are submitted - They check resources before putting them on site. Do this so schools will permit this site into their schools. Free access - no log in required. He suggests making videos to help others and anyone can make a video but he checks the piece before putting it on the site. Non for profit organization.
Curriki.org free log in registration - site put together by teachers for other teachers and students. Similar site?
I really like sites put together by teachers for students and other teachers - these sites I have found very useful for school projects and lesson plans.I can't wait to check this one out!
Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
Tips for protecting you Credit.
Episode #14, 1-16-07
How to improve your credit score?
How do you find out if you have good credit?
Information found on credit report - Amount of money you owe, how much is on your credit cards, if you pay on time, outstanding balances.
3 major credit reporting agencies - all three reports are complied into one and get a Fico scores 300 -850 , 700 and above is very good. Check with all agencies if something is not right because different companies use different agencies. - I learned something new - I didn't know there were three different agencies and that they compile all three reports for one score. I have only seen a Dun and Bradstreet report and they are interesting to look at the different information they compile about you.
Boost score by lowering credit card balances, keeping number of credit cards - 4 or less, mix of debt loans - better to have home, car, and credit card balances verses only four credit card balances.
Was advised to Check credit report before applying for a loan because sometimes information is not accurate.
Should check credit report one time a year.
The TechTeacher Podcast
April 15, 2007
Episode #160
Protect your Investment
Districts that are moving to one to one laptop to student should consider a durable case for students to carry and protect the investment.
Cases purchased to protect investment - student cases to protect the district laptops. Cases must be functional and fashionable - something the students will want to use - want students to protect the laptops - change in dimensions - something made to fit students hands and their needs. Wesley suggests The Higher Ground Shuttle - a laptop case that is rugged enough to protect the laptop, weather proof, multiple handles, can carry like backpack and can keep in case, extra padding, 5 colors, 4 sizes, and affordable. He suggests that districts should invest in good cases to protect their investment. I don't know - does District 489 buy cases for the laptops? This podcast made sense - I immediately went and checked out the case - they are cool, I would own one and I know my daughter would own one.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Readings for week April 16-April 20
These articles brought several good points and one several I might have to argue about. Yes, good technology and good teachers - What an awesome combination. I wish I would have been a student in school with this combination. I agree that software programs are much better and more beneficial today than even a year ago. I also really appreciate teacher sites - collaborative work of many teachers finding the best software to use for certain subjects - I have run across several of this sites lately - they are awesome. However, since when did we all become visual learners - what happened to multiple intelligence' ?????
I also think parents need to take an active role in controlling what sites kids go on and what they write on the web. I told my daughter the other day, it is O.K. to chat for a while but I get access to what you write and don't write anything you wouldn't want to be said about you. However, I still have a tough time, with the My Space thing and chat rooms. I am happy to hear someone is out there helping the young people. There is so much out there, how do you keep kids safe?????
I also think parents need to take an active role in controlling what sites kids go on and what they write on the web. I told my daughter the other day, it is O.K. to chat for a while but I get access to what you write and don't write anything you wouldn't want to be said about you. However, I still have a tough time, with the My Space thing and chat rooms. I am happy to hear someone is out there helping the young people. There is so much out there, how do you keep kids safe?????
Readings from Week April 9-13
Wow! I have mixed feelings. I think computers are a great tool and very beneficial especially with all the interactive educational sites. Example - a student can see how sin and cosine work together on a math site or how one variable will affect another variable or how one variable is dependent on another. A student can find answers and information so much quicker than the way research was done twenty years ago. A student can get help with homework instead of waiting until the next day. This is all great; however, students need to be taught how to find accurate information and how to weed through unworthy sites. Students need to use the computer for school work instead of chatting with friends and playing games. This is O.K. to a point, students will need self discipline, I guess just like anything else.
It is worrisome that teachers are not using more technology in the classrooms. This means, teachers need to change old teaching habits. However, I am struggling with dropping all textbooks for laptops. It is hard to keep all students on task and I sometimes think even harder when they have a laptop in front of them. I have seen college professors having to tell college students to close the computers. I have had teachers take points away from my teachings because not all students were on task when I have used laptops in my teachings, even if 19 out of 20 were on task. Not a good argument for not using computers, I think the kids greatly benefit from doing different activities on the computer. I don't have the answer, we are living in the 21st century. What if , people years ago said we don't need books, people can tell you the information? I personally think books should not be totally eliminated like at some schools but some could be eliminated. I also think students need to communicate verbally as well as written. I personally enjoy using a book occasionally for a change instead of staring at a computer screen.
It is worrisome that teachers are not using more technology in the classrooms. This means, teachers need to change old teaching habits. However, I am struggling with dropping all textbooks for laptops. It is hard to keep all students on task and I sometimes think even harder when they have a laptop in front of them. I have seen college professors having to tell college students to close the computers. I have had teachers take points away from my teachings because not all students were on task when I have used laptops in my teachings, even if 19 out of 20 were on task. Not a good argument for not using computers, I think the kids greatly benefit from doing different activities on the computer. I don't have the answer, we are living in the 21st century. What if , people years ago said we don't need books, people can tell you the information? I personally think books should not be totally eliminated like at some schools but some could be eliminated. I also think students need to communicate verbally as well as written. I personally enjoy using a book occasionally for a change instead of staring at a computer screen.
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