PLJ14.
The OER website at first glance has a ton of information. Not in a bad way, but more to the effect of the faint angel sound "Ahhhhhhhhhh" that compliments the Holy Grail of new materials and resources available to teachers . As technology progresses, the more difficult it is to drag people set in their ways along with it. You can create your own profile and join the community or wiki for even more sharing. This website provides a modifyable search to help be subject specific. It also is grade level specific and provides current events and articles as well as the most recent useful resource discoveries. You can take a survey or even donate your own ideas. It's absolutely free to join, all you need is to create an account. I almost immediately noticed how there were tagged items at the bottom of the page, which to me gives them credibility for being up to date and demonstrating what they're all about. The specified search is also something that really stuck out to me because it brought up specific lessons or ideas for my subject area.
As for the community, it's got it all of the important topics covered, and utilizes those technologies in the process. You're immediately invited to join the wiki and become involved in the community. Blogs? Check. Wiki's? Check. Discussion Forums? Check. Conferences or Workshops? Check. The community has different topics and types that allow the user to choose what they like best.
It seems liket the site really wants to cater to everyone interested in making their classroom better. Regardless of skill or previous knowledge, it is all described or provided with examples. Teachers are always looking for ways to spice up their classroom (Baby, Ginger, Posh anyone?) and this is an excellent FREE resource that is easy to use. The coolest part to me, is that the community was already provided. In all of my experiences, idea generating always turns out better as a team or a group. They provide the means to do that and the best part is that youre not just limited to your own grade level, school, or city. You can reach people nationwide. Now, that's something to be excited about. I could use this to bounce new ideas off people or maybe see if anyone has tried a certain activity before. The opportunities and resources are really endless. You could use this site in so many different ways and have access to new information at any time.
To infinity and Beyond!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
PLJ13.
As a current student, I can say that I definitely have more than one opinion or stance on the topic of online education. There are serious benefits that I agree with that the first article from Highschool.com states like providing additonal resources to students that wouldn't normally have access. And that's just one example. But in my opinion with how online education is operated today, I think that online education might be a bit of a disservice. Throughout the readings benefits include time saving and access to an abundant amount of subjects. This is true. As a Business major, the majority of my classes are based online with the tests being the only physical aspect of the course. I am able to watch the lectures at my leisure; adjust viewing them to my own personal schedule. I have access to play settings so if I don't understand a subject, I can just rewind and watch the explanation agian. I can sit in a comfortable environement intstead of a stuffy classroom. I can even take class in the summer from a completely different state! These all are great benefits for online education. Want the real deal? Here it goes...
I don't watch hardly any lectures. Nope. Nada. How do I pass my class you say? In all honesty, it's easy. It's a little thing called $20 and SmokinNotes.
Play Settings. While I do find it very useful to be able to rewind or fast forward through lectures that I actually do watch, I find the most useful play setting to be double time. I listen to my professor, he just sounds a little Alvin and the Chipmunk-esque.
Summer Financial Accounting from North Carolina? Cake walk. Should a class about financial accounting be offered online with online tests? Hey I loved that A, so I say yes. But if you asked me to describe a basic concept from that class I couldn't. Debit or Credit? Still a mystery to me, I just know I have both types of plastic in my wallet.
To be really really honest, I find all my online classes boring and unengaging. I like to think of myself as an avid proactive learner and even I find it hard to keep up with everything online. I'm not confident in the material and feel allienated from my professors. For a student how already suffers from attention issues, online classes would be difficult to master. How do you adapt the classroom for students with ADD or ADHD?
From a teacher's perspective, it's just another thing to learn and adapt with that will take serious effort to perfect. But those who have put effort into their online classes have come out with great experiences. How do we fund training and technology at schools that can hardly afford textbooks?
Now, a highschooler taking a science course online obviously wouldn't have a resource such as SmokinNotes. But when I think of my science classes, the things that really stick out to me are the lab experiments that were fun and hands on. How does an online high school student really get a good grasp of the science material without that physical aspect? No virtual dissection is the same as one in real life and I think every student should do at least one before they graduate high school.
With online education funded the way it is, I really do think that it is hindering some students education. While convenient and resource abundant these benefits do not outweigh the serious problems that are still occurring and that frustrate a 21 year old college student. Just as any other emerging technology, it will continue to get better, with good guidence that is. With technology moving the way it is, I'm sure it will live up to all of it's supposed benefits. How long till the teacher is a 3-D virtual hologram that can beam in from any location? I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.
As a current student, I can say that I definitely have more than one opinion or stance on the topic of online education. There are serious benefits that I agree with that the first article from Highschool.com states like providing additonal resources to students that wouldn't normally have access. And that's just one example. But in my opinion with how online education is operated today, I think that online education might be a bit of a disservice. Throughout the readings benefits include time saving and access to an abundant amount of subjects. This is true. As a Business major, the majority of my classes are based online with the tests being the only physical aspect of the course. I am able to watch the lectures at my leisure; adjust viewing them to my own personal schedule. I have access to play settings so if I don't understand a subject, I can just rewind and watch the explanation agian. I can sit in a comfortable environement intstead of a stuffy classroom. I can even take class in the summer from a completely different state! These all are great benefits for online education. Want the real deal? Here it goes...
I don't watch hardly any lectures. Nope. Nada. How do I pass my class you say? In all honesty, it's easy. It's a little thing called $20 and SmokinNotes.
Play Settings. While I do find it very useful to be able to rewind or fast forward through lectures that I actually do watch, I find the most useful play setting to be double time. I listen to my professor, he just sounds a little Alvin and the Chipmunk-esque.
Summer Financial Accounting from North Carolina? Cake walk. Should a class about financial accounting be offered online with online tests? Hey I loved that A, so I say yes. But if you asked me to describe a basic concept from that class I couldn't. Debit or Credit? Still a mystery to me, I just know I have both types of plastic in my wallet.
To be really really honest, I find all my online classes boring and unengaging. I like to think of myself as an avid proactive learner and even I find it hard to keep up with everything online. I'm not confident in the material and feel allienated from my professors. For a student how already suffers from attention issues, online classes would be difficult to master. How do you adapt the classroom for students with ADD or ADHD?
From a teacher's perspective, it's just another thing to learn and adapt with that will take serious effort to perfect. But those who have put effort into their online classes have come out with great experiences. How do we fund training and technology at schools that can hardly afford textbooks?
Now, a highschooler taking a science course online obviously wouldn't have a resource such as SmokinNotes. But when I think of my science classes, the things that really stick out to me are the lab experiments that were fun and hands on. How does an online high school student really get a good grasp of the science material without that physical aspect? No virtual dissection is the same as one in real life and I think every student should do at least one before they graduate high school.
With online education funded the way it is, I really do think that it is hindering some students education. While convenient and resource abundant these benefits do not outweigh the serious problems that are still occurring and that frustrate a 21 year old college student. Just as any other emerging technology, it will continue to get better, with good guidence that is. With technology moving the way it is, I'm sure it will live up to all of it's supposed benefits. How long till the teacher is a 3-D virtual hologram that can beam in from any location? I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.
PLJ12.
Gamer Vs. Non-Gamer (Me)
When I read the first article... the first thought that came to mind was, "Really? The world has actually given credibility to those nerds who sit all day avoiding reality?" But after really looking into I guess I have to give those nerds a little bit more credit. Ok... Alot more credit. My strong opinion was based on my own (very limited might I add) experience with video games. I can list, very shortly, the video games I have routinely played.
1. SuperMario Brothers/ Duck Hunt.
2. RollerCoaster Tycoon.
3. GuitarHero.
4. Frogger.
5. Dance Dance Revolution.
6. Wii Tennis and Bowling.
Oh and 7. Snake.
After looking at that list, the fact that I came up with that amount even amazes me. I guess I'm just more of an active person and I'll like to be right there in the action without having to worry about any thumb bobbles or tragic finger slips on my controller. But after reassessing, I totally see how these extremely intricate interactive games could create a strong leader and good manager. My ignorance just stemmed from my limited gamer knowledge of only child, mostly rhythem games. World of Warcraft really is like an alternative reality with its own politics and conflicts. Clearly not just anyone can be a master of this game... I for one would'nt have a clue where to even start. The fact that the game requires interaction and unity to provide a strong team instantly transforms the principles of my coach potato theory into one that provides all the means necessary to mold someone into a great employee.
Even the military is having fun with games? Why not! Although sternly dubbed "Serious Games", I think that using games like Halo is a fun way to teach soldiers basic combat technique without taking big risks. It provides tools that allow soldiers to become familiar with equipment and teaches them how to actively survey their surroundings. I feel like this is a great way to teach soldiers how to adapt, be aware, and react quickly.
And how can we forget the infamous Oregon Trail game? Or even Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? I feel like these games were most engaging to me in terms of civic learning opportunities. Carmen Sandiego always had me traveling around the world learning about other countries governments and differences in cultures. The Oregon Trail always made me with that the president at that time couldn't help find a cure for typhoid fever. Darn. Regardless, I don't think that provoking civil activism in teens with video games would be too effective. At least not with any of the games I'm familiar with... so I could be very mistaken. I don't really know enough about alternative video games out there that could inspire civil activism. But with the ultimate success of other video games, I think the potential for civil activism will be reached just a short amount of time.
Gamer Vs. Non-Gamer (Me)
When I read the first article... the first thought that came to mind was, "Really? The world has actually given credibility to those nerds who sit all day avoiding reality?" But after really looking into I guess I have to give those nerds a little bit more credit. Ok... Alot more credit. My strong opinion was based on my own (very limited might I add) experience with video games. I can list, very shortly, the video games I have routinely played.
1. SuperMario Brothers/ Duck Hunt.
2. RollerCoaster Tycoon.
3. GuitarHero.
4. Frogger.
5. Dance Dance Revolution.
6. Wii Tennis and Bowling.
Oh and 7. Snake.
After looking at that list, the fact that I came up with that amount even amazes me. I guess I'm just more of an active person and I'll like to be right there in the action without having to worry about any thumb bobbles or tragic finger slips on my controller. But after reassessing, I totally see how these extremely intricate interactive games could create a strong leader and good manager. My ignorance just stemmed from my limited gamer knowledge of only child, mostly rhythem games. World of Warcraft really is like an alternative reality with its own politics and conflicts. Clearly not just anyone can be a master of this game... I for one would'nt have a clue where to even start. The fact that the game requires interaction and unity to provide a strong team instantly transforms the principles of my coach potato theory into one that provides all the means necessary to mold someone into a great employee.
Even the military is having fun with games? Why not! Although sternly dubbed "Serious Games", I think that using games like Halo is a fun way to teach soldiers basic combat technique without taking big risks. It provides tools that allow soldiers to become familiar with equipment and teaches them how to actively survey their surroundings. I feel like this is a great way to teach soldiers how to adapt, be aware, and react quickly.
And how can we forget the infamous Oregon Trail game? Or even Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? I feel like these games were most engaging to me in terms of civic learning opportunities. Carmen Sandiego always had me traveling around the world learning about other countries governments and differences in cultures. The Oregon Trail always made me with that the president at that time couldn't help find a cure for typhoid fever. Darn. Regardless, I don't think that provoking civil activism in teens with video games would be too effective. At least not with any of the games I'm familiar with... so I could be very mistaken. I don't really know enough about alternative video games out there that could inspire civil activism. But with the ultimate success of other video games, I think the potential for civil activism will be reached just a short amount of time.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
PLJ11.
FISHVILLE. Not at all to be confused with Farmville it's sister game, it is another virtual reality play place. It is an addictive game where you raise cute baby fish, feed them as they grow, and decorate your fish tanks with friends! It was created by a company called Zynga and is meant to be played through a facebook application. It was just recently launched in November 2009 and has already been ranked among the top applications to be added. It currently has 22,915,276 monthly active users. The fish range from a Mini Dart Goby to a Hawaiian Hogfish and each cost different amounts in coins according to growth rate and speed. Coins. You can earn coins by selling your fish when they grew or by exchanging with real money. Level and Experience Bar. This displays the current experience points that you have and how much more you need to level up. You gain experience when buying and selling fishes.
Fish Life Stages:
Eggs – You gain a small amount of xp when you first buy eggs. Eggs are the very first things you buy when raising your fish. You can not sell eggs as they merely take 1 second to hatch a baby fish.
FISHVILLE. Not at all to be confused with Farmville it's sister game, it is another virtual reality play place. It is an addictive game where you raise cute baby fish, feed them as they grow, and decorate your fish tanks with friends! It was created by a company called Zynga and is meant to be played through a facebook application. It was just recently launched in November 2009 and has already been ranked among the top applications to be added. It currently has 22,915,276 monthly active users. The fish range from a Mini Dart Goby to a Hawaiian Hogfish and each cost different amounts in coins according to growth rate and speed. Coins. You can earn coins by selling your fish when they grew or by exchanging with real money. Level and Experience Bar. This displays the current experience points that you have and how much more you need to level up. You gain experience when buying and selling fishes.
Fish Life Stages:
Eggs – You gain a small amount of xp when you first buy eggs. Eggs are the very first things you buy when raising your fish. You can not sell eggs as they merely take 1 second to hatch a baby fish.
Baby – When your eggs first hatch, baby fish will spawn and you will need to immediately feed them before they die.
Junior – This stage, fish will become larger and has a couple levels (4) with each taking the same time as it took to get to Junior. Each level in the junior stage increases displayed size, coins earned on selling, experience (xp) earned upon selling, and how long a fish can go without food.
Adult – From last junior level to this stage is same interval as before. Additionally, time that fish can go without food gets increased by a day. Ie. Sardines can go hours without food.
Feeding
Fish need to be fed at least twice while in the baby stage and at least once every level beyond. Once a fish hits level fourth, each level takes a day, regardless of initial growth rate. Time from full to starving is twice the growth rate. As the fish gets hungry, it will get a yellow food icon, red food icon, then the red food icon will blink, and finally the fish will die if not fed. Dead fish can be removed with +1 to your experience. At this time, dead fish cannot be revived.
Educational?
While similar to the responsibility of a tamogatchi, I think that this game can serve as an educational tool in economics and responsibility. While I think that these can be a stretch is is definitely entertaining.
PLJ10.
After watching these videos, I felt so provoked to take a different approach to learning and education. I think that Dave Eggers is a creative genius and has really created something that is going to make a huge impact on many childrens lives. You can so easily see how enthusiastic the children are about writing and going to 826 Valencia (not to be confused with after school tutoring.) The children who attend the school that has a democratic approach to education seem have a firm grasp on their own abilities and goals. As fascinating as all of this is to see, it also brings a feeling of frustration. Why? Because despite what most educators might think, it's not that hard to create an environment that reaches to every kid! Something as simple as creating a lesson plan where students have different options to complete the assignment is enabling an outlet for students to work with their strengths and incorporate them into their school work.
826 Valencia was such a moving story for me and makes me question why schools are forced into this structure that requires standardized testing and only caters to certain intelligences. Besides the obvious government legalities, I think that all schools should take on an approach similar to theirs.
In my mind, the perfect school is not exactly that of the second video but have certain ideas utilized. In middle school and high school I really began to resent everything about sitting in a classroom. To be honest, all my friends and I compared school to a jail. We had no freedom and were treated like we were not capable of any responsibilities. Some students need that structure, but as far as I was concerned, I HATED the fact that I was being treated like some immature child. I think some sort of structure is needed, but one that isn't so focused on mainstream subjects. A school should be somewhere that encourages free thinking and the ability to choose your own educational path. A facility that doesn't resemble a jail cell. With public schools being the size that they are, it would be hard to have this kind of environment. So a smaller school setting would be ideal. Similar to the kids that were interviewed from the second video, students would be able to focus on subjects that they were personally interested in and would focus that semester on those subjects. This would allow for smaller classrooms to ensure the most one on one teacher student contact.
As far as grading goes... out with the GPA. Being a junior in college I can personally rant about my grudges toward the GPA. I am so tired of having some stupid number be a measure of my personal worth! Whose to say that because my GPA is high that I am more intelligent or if my GPA is low that I am not capable of an honors class. I focus more on keeping up that number than I do on the actual material and I don't think that it should be an indication of your overall ability! I think that students with low GPA's are already predisposed to failure because they don't measure up with other students. Let's find another way to measure quality of work. EME for example was a huge relief for me because it wasn't limited to grading scales and points earned. It's focused on the quality and that what school grades should really be about.
An ideal school would also have access to large amounts of technology and be able to provide laptops to each student. As long as it was able to be monitored in some way, I think that now more than ever Internet access is most valuable in education. The Internet has so much knowledge at your finger tips and I think its very useful in everyday life. One disadvantage I thought of for the school from the second video is how I thought that these kids would not be prepared for real life. There are certain aspects of school that just need to be experienced and I think that much freedom could be hindering.
Having a teacher for a mom has always helped me see the other side of school... one of them being the fact that parent and teacher involvement is key. If parents aren't involved in their child's education then why should the child care about his education? Having a good relationship within the school allows the student to be held accountable for his actions and promotes progress.
Essentially, the ideal school would be catered toward the student, instead of test scores and GPA's. Let the students mold their own interests and abilities to help them understand themselves better and have an idea of what path they want to go down in the future.
After watching these videos, I felt so provoked to take a different approach to learning and education. I think that Dave Eggers is a creative genius and has really created something that is going to make a huge impact on many childrens lives. You can so easily see how enthusiastic the children are about writing and going to 826 Valencia (not to be confused with after school tutoring.) The children who attend the school that has a democratic approach to education seem have a firm grasp on their own abilities and goals. As fascinating as all of this is to see, it also brings a feeling of frustration. Why? Because despite what most educators might think, it's not that hard to create an environment that reaches to every kid! Something as simple as creating a lesson plan where students have different options to complete the assignment is enabling an outlet for students to work with their strengths and incorporate them into their school work.
826 Valencia was such a moving story for me and makes me question why schools are forced into this structure that requires standardized testing and only caters to certain intelligences. Besides the obvious government legalities, I think that all schools should take on an approach similar to theirs.
In my mind, the perfect school is not exactly that of the second video but have certain ideas utilized. In middle school and high school I really began to resent everything about sitting in a classroom. To be honest, all my friends and I compared school to a jail. We had no freedom and were treated like we were not capable of any responsibilities. Some students need that structure, but as far as I was concerned, I HATED the fact that I was being treated like some immature child. I think some sort of structure is needed, but one that isn't so focused on mainstream subjects. A school should be somewhere that encourages free thinking and the ability to choose your own educational path. A facility that doesn't resemble a jail cell. With public schools being the size that they are, it would be hard to have this kind of environment. So a smaller school setting would be ideal. Similar to the kids that were interviewed from the second video, students would be able to focus on subjects that they were personally interested in and would focus that semester on those subjects. This would allow for smaller classrooms to ensure the most one on one teacher student contact.
As far as grading goes... out with the GPA. Being a junior in college I can personally rant about my grudges toward the GPA. I am so tired of having some stupid number be a measure of my personal worth! Whose to say that because my GPA is high that I am more intelligent or if my GPA is low that I am not capable of an honors class. I focus more on keeping up that number than I do on the actual material and I don't think that it should be an indication of your overall ability! I think that students with low GPA's are already predisposed to failure because they don't measure up with other students. Let's find another way to measure quality of work. EME for example was a huge relief for me because it wasn't limited to grading scales and points earned. It's focused on the quality and that what school grades should really be about.
An ideal school would also have access to large amounts of technology and be able to provide laptops to each student. As long as it was able to be monitored in some way, I think that now more than ever Internet access is most valuable in education. The Internet has so much knowledge at your finger tips and I think its very useful in everyday life. One disadvantage I thought of for the school from the second video is how I thought that these kids would not be prepared for real life. There are certain aspects of school that just need to be experienced and I think that much freedom could be hindering.
Having a teacher for a mom has always helped me see the other side of school... one of them being the fact that parent and teacher involvement is key. If parents aren't involved in their child's education then why should the child care about his education? Having a good relationship within the school allows the student to be held accountable for his actions and promotes progress.
Essentially, the ideal school would be catered toward the student, instead of test scores and GPA's. Let the students mold their own interests and abilities to help them understand themselves better and have an idea of what path they want to go down in the future.
Friday, November 27, 2009
PLJ9.
When it comes to the Internet, the possibilities are endless; yet there is still that little voice that says, "Is this really trustworthy?" In my eyes, shopping online is a great characteristic of the Internet, but scares me the most in terms of getting scammed. We've all heard those horror stories of people buying or selling things on eBay and getting jipped out of the deal somehow. But its not just eBay, sometimes I get worried about my personal information just getting lost somewhere in world wide web only for it to fall in the wrong hands. I have in fact vetted with friends online about certain sites just to verify the reliability and security of certain sites. In marketing Word of Mouth is one of the most important attributes that a company can hope to manipulate. Family and friends are usually the most trusted people in one's life, so if my best friend recommends I should try a certain website, I'll be more likely to shop there. I did this for a website that sells designer clothes at really discounted prices. I wasn't sure that the low prices would mean the quality was sacrificed. After checking with my friends and talking about their experiences, I decided to purchase something from the site and it turned out that my friends were right! I had a great experience and will trust my friends online experiences in future transactions.
I also like to use the Internet to check for sales and look at merchandise that isn't available at my local stores. Sometimes I find the most perfect outfit, but of course they don't carry my size. Many times my solution is to go to the brand's website. They usually have all sizes and are able to ship it to you immediately. But shipping is also a downside to online shopping. Paying extra never makes that buyers remorse feel better.
Facebook also has affected my online purchases. I have friends that are brand representatives for company's like Victoria's Secret, Nike, even Johnson & Johnson that promote sales or events that drive my interest to the product. Victoria's Secret's Pink college line was heavily promoted online and by my friends (brand reps), and have gotten me to purchase University of Florida VS apparel. So I think their strategy to get college kids to promote their line was a genius idea because it's hard to say no to your friends, you always want to help them out. So do I really need that VS Gator hoodie? No. But after seeing Facebook messages and little coupons you better believe I need that VS Gator hoodie. Social media is something that is always being used especially by our generation. The company's that know how to utilize that niche are the ones that are going to see that spike in sales no matter how low economy dips. Social media's influence is easily that powerful.
When it comes to the Internet, the possibilities are endless; yet there is still that little voice that says, "Is this really trustworthy?" In my eyes, shopping online is a great characteristic of the Internet, but scares me the most in terms of getting scammed. We've all heard those horror stories of people buying or selling things on eBay and getting jipped out of the deal somehow. But its not just eBay, sometimes I get worried about my personal information just getting lost somewhere in world wide web only for it to fall in the wrong hands. I have in fact vetted with friends online about certain sites just to verify the reliability and security of certain sites. In marketing Word of Mouth is one of the most important attributes that a company can hope to manipulate. Family and friends are usually the most trusted people in one's life, so if my best friend recommends I should try a certain website, I'll be more likely to shop there. I did this for a website that sells designer clothes at really discounted prices. I wasn't sure that the low prices would mean the quality was sacrificed. After checking with my friends and talking about their experiences, I decided to purchase something from the site and it turned out that my friends were right! I had a great experience and will trust my friends online experiences in future transactions.
I also like to use the Internet to check for sales and look at merchandise that isn't available at my local stores. Sometimes I find the most perfect outfit, but of course they don't carry my size. Many times my solution is to go to the brand's website. They usually have all sizes and are able to ship it to you immediately. But shipping is also a downside to online shopping. Paying extra never makes that buyers remorse feel better.
Facebook also has affected my online purchases. I have friends that are brand representatives for company's like Victoria's Secret, Nike, even Johnson & Johnson that promote sales or events that drive my interest to the product. Victoria's Secret's Pink college line was heavily promoted online and by my friends (brand reps), and have gotten me to purchase University of Florida VS apparel. So I think their strategy to get college kids to promote their line was a genius idea because it's hard to say no to your friends, you always want to help them out. So do I really need that VS Gator hoodie? No. But after seeing Facebook messages and little coupons you better believe I need that VS Gator hoodie. Social media is something that is always being used especially by our generation. The company's that know how to utilize that niche are the ones that are going to see that spike in sales no matter how low economy dips. Social media's influence is easily that powerful.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
PL8.
As a teacher, you always see all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds that promote or inhibit that child's education. While many schools are fortunate to have kids that have technological resources, there are just as many that don't. Most teachers just accept this fact and teach within those boundaries. How can you escape them? How could you really make a difference?
I think the most important thing in changing this unfortunate situation is showing that you really care. You care about these kids on an individual level and you care about their future. New technologies are expensive which points to the main reason why this issue is there. Old fashion fundraisers are car washes and gift wrap selling; nothing that requires technology. This can be easily changed by the Internet.
I think one of the most simple things to start out doing would be to make a facebook fan page. Let all your student and your students friends become fans. On the fan page, explain that you are raising money to expand technology into the homes of those without these resources. The population of people on facebook alone is guaranteed to create some funding for these computers and other supplies. Next, make a twitter or a blog and publish to the world what your cause is. When people in your community become aware of your cause the more popular it will be. The best part is, it is not limited to your local community... it can reach the entire world. A little exposure is all that is needed. Because the cause is so current I think the idea would catch on and many people would donate to the funding for these students. It is so easy now a days to reach out internationally and people like to see teachers that are really engaged in their students and their lives.
As a teacher, you always see all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds that promote or inhibit that child's education. While many schools are fortunate to have kids that have technological resources, there are just as many that don't. Most teachers just accept this fact and teach within those boundaries. How can you escape them? How could you really make a difference?
I think the most important thing in changing this unfortunate situation is showing that you really care. You care about these kids on an individual level and you care about their future. New technologies are expensive which points to the main reason why this issue is there. Old fashion fundraisers are car washes and gift wrap selling; nothing that requires technology. This can be easily changed by the Internet.
I think one of the most simple things to start out doing would be to make a facebook fan page. Let all your student and your students friends become fans. On the fan page, explain that you are raising money to expand technology into the homes of those without these resources. The population of people on facebook alone is guaranteed to create some funding for these computers and other supplies. Next, make a twitter or a blog and publish to the world what your cause is. When people in your community become aware of your cause the more popular it will be. The best part is, it is not limited to your local community... it can reach the entire world. A little exposure is all that is needed. Because the cause is so current I think the idea would catch on and many people would donate to the funding for these students. It is so easy now a days to reach out internationally and people like to see teachers that are really engaged in their students and their lives.
PLJ7.
Sir Ken Robinson's TED video was extremely entertaining as well as interesting. He brought valid points to the table that are not normally considered in the present day. When he brought up the fact that everywhere in the world has a hierarchy in the education system with dance being at the bottom it struck a particular chord with me. He says, "Everyone likes to dance," which was especially true for me as a child. One of my furthest memories as a young child was dancing... because I was always doing it. When I was about 2 years old the song "Love Shack" by the B-52's came out and boy did I LOVE that song. When the song comes to the part where it repeats "and it goes around and around and arounddddd" I would run in circles until I would fall over. Also, I thought that the lyrics were "Love Shark" and true to what Sir Robinson's said I was not afraid to be wrong. This love for movement and dance led me to become a ballerina for 13 years. Dance has had a huge impact on my life and is something that I continue to love to do. (Even if it is dancing in the mirror in my room by myself.)
Although I do not have a learning disorder of any kind, Ive come to discover that without sports or dance or music, I would not be able to get through school. The strangest part is that I had never truly realized this until college. I always found elementary and secondary school to be fairly easy with challenges here and there, but college has been extremely different. Because it has brought much more academic challenge I find myself turning more and more to these physical artistic outlets to relieve my stress. One of my best friends lives in Australia and she constantly tells me how while education is important there it is not stressed nearly as much as it is here. College is not expected to be for everyone and experience is often more valued. This approach isnt the solution to our educational problems but I think it sheds light on a way at viewing individual intelligence. Not everyone is meant to be in a classroom. Now, more than ever do I appreciate the fact that I can tap into my creative resources and enjoy them. I really do with they were more appreciated in the education system and not just math, science, and language.
Sir Ken Robinson's TED video was extremely entertaining as well as interesting. He brought valid points to the table that are not normally considered in the present day. When he brought up the fact that everywhere in the world has a hierarchy in the education system with dance being at the bottom it struck a particular chord with me. He says, "Everyone likes to dance," which was especially true for me as a child. One of my furthest memories as a young child was dancing... because I was always doing it. When I was about 2 years old the song "Love Shack" by the B-52's came out and boy did I LOVE that song. When the song comes to the part where it repeats "and it goes around and around and arounddddd" I would run in circles until I would fall over. Also, I thought that the lyrics were "Love Shark" and true to what Sir Robinson's said I was not afraid to be wrong. This love for movement and dance led me to become a ballerina for 13 years. Dance has had a huge impact on my life and is something that I continue to love to do. (Even if it is dancing in the mirror in my room by myself.)
Although I do not have a learning disorder of any kind, Ive come to discover that without sports or dance or music, I would not be able to get through school. The strangest part is that I had never truly realized this until college. I always found elementary and secondary school to be fairly easy with challenges here and there, but college has been extremely different. Because it has brought much more academic challenge I find myself turning more and more to these physical artistic outlets to relieve my stress. One of my best friends lives in Australia and she constantly tells me how while education is important there it is not stressed nearly as much as it is here. College is not expected to be for everyone and experience is often more valued. This approach isnt the solution to our educational problems but I think it sheds light on a way at viewing individual intelligence. Not everyone is meant to be in a classroom. Now, more than ever do I appreciate the fact that I can tap into my creative resources and enjoy them. I really do with they were more appreciated in the education system and not just math, science, and language.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PL6.
Participatory Culture seems like a foreign term but in reality defines my everyday life. Yes, I have a Facebook and check it daily. Yes, I have a Twitter that I update regularly. Yes, I had a Myspace and AIM that were my "gateway drugs" to my online social networking addiction. The thing that blows my mind is that I never thought these sites would become so powerful that they are changing the path of future culture from a local scale all the way to a global one. Although it's hard pinpoint the exact start of it all, it has blown up to become a tool that can connect people everywhere; which has never been done before. I can remember watching futuristic movies as a kid and thinking, "Wow! How cool would it be to live in those times!"... and here I am, on the verge of being a star character in Back to the Future. The video puts the power of these new tools in perspective by breaking down new skills that are needed to participate in these new technologies. I am currently a member of an affiliation culture, a collaborative problem solving culture, and a circulation culture. 3 out of the 4 culture I actively participate in. That number surprised me, especially someone who considered themselves NOT technologically savvy. The video incorporates several of the new skills needed for these technologies including appropriation, multitasking, performance, negotiation, and judgment. The video is in part interactive through being a video its self but does lack certain skills like transmedia navigation, play, and networking. After defining the new set of skills needed, I can agree with their thesis. The generation that uses technology efficiently (which apparently includes me, who knew?) has indeed developed new skills to allow them to manage the Internet in their favor. With 6 tabs open as I write this blog, multi-tasking stands out to me as one of the most important skills. Networking is also another important aspect of using technology. As soon as I meet a new person I want to find them on Facebook or Twitter to find out more about them and network. Participatory Culture can be used in the classroom in many ways and helps to bridge the gap between teacher and student. Online learning games can be utilized so easily and teach kids without them even knowing it. Sporcle.com is one of my favorite game websites that masks the bore of boredom of some educational topics by creating interactive games around the subject. The teacher may propose students to launch a campaign via Facebook and encourage their friends to participate in it. Blogs and wiki's really help to connect students for more than just a class period. Podcasts and videos are fun and interactive. There are many ways to utilize the technological tools that are available on today's Internet.
Participatory Culture seems like a foreign term but in reality defines my everyday life. Yes, I have a Facebook and check it daily. Yes, I have a Twitter that I update regularly. Yes, I had a Myspace and AIM that were my "gateway drugs" to my online social networking addiction. The thing that blows my mind is that I never thought these sites would become so powerful that they are changing the path of future culture from a local scale all the way to a global one. Although it's hard pinpoint the exact start of it all, it has blown up to become a tool that can connect people everywhere; which has never been done before. I can remember watching futuristic movies as a kid and thinking, "Wow! How cool would it be to live in those times!"... and here I am, on the verge of being a star character in Back to the Future. The video puts the power of these new tools in perspective by breaking down new skills that are needed to participate in these new technologies. I am currently a member of an affiliation culture, a collaborative problem solving culture, and a circulation culture. 3 out of the 4 culture I actively participate in. That number surprised me, especially someone who considered themselves NOT technologically savvy. The video incorporates several of the new skills needed for these technologies including appropriation, multitasking, performance, negotiation, and judgment. The video is in part interactive through being a video its self but does lack certain skills like transmedia navigation, play, and networking. After defining the new set of skills needed, I can agree with their thesis. The generation that uses technology efficiently (which apparently includes me, who knew?) has indeed developed new skills to allow them to manage the Internet in their favor. With 6 tabs open as I write this blog, multi-tasking stands out to me as one of the most important skills. Networking is also another important aspect of using technology. As soon as I meet a new person I want to find them on Facebook or Twitter to find out more about them and network. Participatory Culture can be used in the classroom in many ways and helps to bridge the gap between teacher and student. Online learning games can be utilized so easily and teach kids without them even knowing it. Sporcle.com is one of my favorite game websites that masks the bore of boredom of some educational topics by creating interactive games around the subject. The teacher may propose students to launch a campaign via Facebook and encourage their friends to participate in it. Blogs and wiki's really help to connect students for more than just a class period. Podcasts and videos are fun and interactive. There are many ways to utilize the technological tools that are available on today's Internet.
PL5.
I have always been taught about the dangers online. Yes, when I was in middle school I had AIM and explored the Internet, but I was always wary of the online predator. Whether to give credit to my parents or my school, my online behavior never seemed to lead me in the wrong direction or put me in a bad situation. I heard stories about younger girls who were desperate for attention and easily trusted strangers online. These stories never usually ended well. To me, these were red flags. You're not supposed to talk to strangers in real life, so why would you on the Internet? It was easy for me to understand. But it's not so easy for other kids. I grew up in a very supportive, loving family that cared if I was roaming around bad sites on the Internet. Not all children have that blessing. When I say children, I am really referring to teenagers. Young children really aren't at risk as much as tweens and teens. Children are too naive to get themselves into sexual situations and continue pursuit. Teens on the other hand, are sexually curious and have raging hormones that beg them to rebel and take action in their lives. Without guidance from parents and teachers, an adolescent could easily find themselves in an inappropriate situation. This group of our population is what we need to protect. They are vulnerable and want as much attention as they can get. Finkelhor says directly, "they are criminal seductions that take advantage of teenage, common teenage vulnerabilities. The offenders lure teens after weeks of conversations with them, they play on teens’ desires for romance, adventure, sexual information, understanding..."
It's obvious that action needs to be taken to protect these teens from endangering situations. So the Internet should be what we aim to protect. Perhaps the entire Internet is much too large to control, but websites and chat rooms that can be visited by teens. We can control what channels they can watch on television, why not on the Internet? Parents and teachers have a responsibility to education teens and children on the dangers of the Internet as well as sexual predators that can pose as peers. Without communication between generations, protection is at a loss.
dannah boyd also discusses how teens mirror their real lives on the Internet which brings the good and the bad. When teens are in trouble offline, it reflects their online behavior. I agree with most of what she says about how adults think teens are just going online for sexual intentions and forget that it can also be an outlet to express themselves and find support that is otherwise lacking. She brings an interesting concept of digital street outreach. It's something that makes sense but takes a second to let your mind wrap around it. With technology ever changing, it is obvious that we need something to reach out to kids who might not have supportive family environments and to educate internet safety to everyone. It's an entirely different generation with entirely different resources that need to be addressed to ensure safety online... just like we try to ensure safety in everyday life.
I have always been taught about the dangers online. Yes, when I was in middle school I had AIM and explored the Internet, but I was always wary of the online predator. Whether to give credit to my parents or my school, my online behavior never seemed to lead me in the wrong direction or put me in a bad situation. I heard stories about younger girls who were desperate for attention and easily trusted strangers online. These stories never usually ended well. To me, these were red flags. You're not supposed to talk to strangers in real life, so why would you on the Internet? It was easy for me to understand. But it's not so easy for other kids. I grew up in a very supportive, loving family that cared if I was roaming around bad sites on the Internet. Not all children have that blessing. When I say children, I am really referring to teenagers. Young children really aren't at risk as much as tweens and teens. Children are too naive to get themselves into sexual situations and continue pursuit. Teens on the other hand, are sexually curious and have raging hormones that beg them to rebel and take action in their lives. Without guidance from parents and teachers, an adolescent could easily find themselves in an inappropriate situation. This group of our population is what we need to protect. They are vulnerable and want as much attention as they can get. Finkelhor says directly, "they are criminal seductions that take advantage of teenage, common teenage vulnerabilities. The offenders lure teens after weeks of conversations with them, they play on teens’ desires for romance, adventure, sexual information, understanding..."
It's obvious that action needs to be taken to protect these teens from endangering situations. So the Internet should be what we aim to protect. Perhaps the entire Internet is much too large to control, but websites and chat rooms that can be visited by teens. We can control what channels they can watch on television, why not on the Internet? Parents and teachers have a responsibility to education teens and children on the dangers of the Internet as well as sexual predators that can pose as peers. Without communication between generations, protection is at a loss.
dannah boyd also discusses how teens mirror their real lives on the Internet which brings the good and the bad. When teens are in trouble offline, it reflects their online behavior. I agree with most of what she says about how adults think teens are just going online for sexual intentions and forget that it can also be an outlet to express themselves and find support that is otherwise lacking. She brings an interesting concept of digital street outreach. It's something that makes sense but takes a second to let your mind wrap around it. With technology ever changing, it is obvious that we need something to reach out to kids who might not have supportive family environments and to educate internet safety to everyone. It's an entirely different generation with entirely different resources that need to be addressed to ensure safety online... just like we try to ensure safety in everyday life.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
PL4.
The video was interesting because I have never heard new technologies really analyzed as a revolution before. But the more he explained, the more I understood. I can still remember going to Epcot as a kid and riding in the big ball where you travel through the timeline of civilization. The things that were put in as future innovations are already obsolete in the present day. It amazes me how fast technology changes and creates new ideas. I am scared that I won't be able to keep up with all of the new applications and I will be forced to be like my parents who are stuck wondering how exactly to upload a video onto the Internet. My questions that I formed from the video were the following:
What exactly was that map of the Internet?
Why was the Internet initially created?
What is flikr?
When did commercial motivation begin? Before or after blogging and social networks?
How do you measure Internet trends?
What other flash mobs made governments take action?
Did anything come about of the smiling flash mob?
Is Really Easy Group Forming the actual label for these media tools?
What do you think is next for the Internet?
How long before the entire world is required to be identified on the Internet somehow?
Technology is something that fascinates me and scares me at the same time. I am so curious to find out what it will be like in 10, 20 30 50 years. I just hope I can keep up with the Jones's.
The video was interesting because I have never heard new technologies really analyzed as a revolution before. But the more he explained, the more I understood. I can still remember going to Epcot as a kid and riding in the big ball where you travel through the timeline of civilization. The things that were put in as future innovations are already obsolete in the present day. It amazes me how fast technology changes and creates new ideas. I am scared that I won't be able to keep up with all of the new applications and I will be forced to be like my parents who are stuck wondering how exactly to upload a video onto the Internet. My questions that I formed from the video were the following:
What exactly was that map of the Internet?
Why was the Internet initially created?
What is flikr?
When did commercial motivation begin? Before or after blogging and social networks?
How do you measure Internet trends?
What other flash mobs made governments take action?
Did anything come about of the smiling flash mob?
Is Really Easy Group Forming the actual label for these media tools?
What do you think is next for the Internet?
How long before the entire world is required to be identified on the Internet somehow?
Technology is something that fascinates me and scares me at the same time. I am so curious to find out what it will be like in 10, 20 30 50 years. I just hope I can keep up with the Jones's.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
PL3.
The first reading "Active Learning" by Kathleen McKinney and the third reading "Strategies for Engaging Students" by Kathleen McKinney and Farmer-Dougan were very helpful to me in terms of getting ideas for my lesson plans. The approach on how to conduct new ideas through various activities reflected my personal preference on how to get kids involved in learning. The Think-Pair-Share task really appealed to me because it is very simple yet lets students experience individual thinking as well as group collaboration. I included this activity in my own lesson plan. They also discusses multiple intelligences and how to engage all students in a subject. They describe so many different ways to reach out to students to get them involved in what you are teaching. By giving students a choice and finding the best ways to relate to them makes students feel more comfortable with exploring the material. When my high school teachers did these kinds of activities it made me have more respect for them because I knew they really cared about us and not just getting through the material. I also liked the suggestion of redefining an "A" or a "B" all the way to an "F". I think that would help everyone understand what expectations were held for that class.
The second reading "Collaborative Learning" by Tinzmann discusses all aspects of learning through collaboration. Teachers become the mediator and the facilitator instead of just the instructor. The teacher works to involve everyone including the "parents and community members." There are so many aspects from which a teacher can transform a regular classroom to collaborative. Students are responsible for goal setting, designing and monitoring tasks, and assessing their own work as well as their peers. Scaffolding is an important element in the secondary curriculum as students are beginning to conduct themselves instead of being spoon fed information. The main focus of this article is to relate students to what they are learning so that they better understand the subject matter. I think that this article is spot on and should be read by all teachers. I can remember in high school that most of my classes were still very lecture based and while I can learn through this method I was much more interested when I was able to be hands on and master the subject on my own terms. The problem is, not every student knows the best way they learn yet. They should be asked to explore their strengths and weaknesses to discover the best ways that they learn.
The first reading "Active Learning" by Kathleen McKinney and the third reading "Strategies for Engaging Students" by Kathleen McKinney and Farmer-Dougan were very helpful to me in terms of getting ideas for my lesson plans. The approach on how to conduct new ideas through various activities reflected my personal preference on how to get kids involved in learning. The Think-Pair-Share task really appealed to me because it is very simple yet lets students experience individual thinking as well as group collaboration. I included this activity in my own lesson plan. They also discusses multiple intelligences and how to engage all students in a subject. They describe so many different ways to reach out to students to get them involved in what you are teaching. By giving students a choice and finding the best ways to relate to them makes students feel more comfortable with exploring the material. When my high school teachers did these kinds of activities it made me have more respect for them because I knew they really cared about us and not just getting through the material. I also liked the suggestion of redefining an "A" or a "B" all the way to an "F". I think that would help everyone understand what expectations were held for that class.
The second reading "Collaborative Learning" by Tinzmann discusses all aspects of learning through collaboration. Teachers become the mediator and the facilitator instead of just the instructor. The teacher works to involve everyone including the "parents and community members." There are so many aspects from which a teacher can transform a regular classroom to collaborative. Students are responsible for goal setting, designing and monitoring tasks, and assessing their own work as well as their peers. Scaffolding is an important element in the secondary curriculum as students are beginning to conduct themselves instead of being spoon fed information. The main focus of this article is to relate students to what they are learning so that they better understand the subject matter. I think that this article is spot on and should be read by all teachers. I can remember in high school that most of my classes were still very lecture based and while I can learn through this method I was much more interested when I was able to be hands on and master the subject on my own terms. The problem is, not every student knows the best way they learn yet. They should be asked to explore their strengths and weaknesses to discover the best ways that they learn.
My RSS experience was easy after I watched the How To videos. It takes some time getting assimilated to the features, but I think that it will definitely be a beneficial tool in the long run. Although to me, I think that the delicious application is very similar and uses the same concept. So while these tools are successful in making online surfing and acquiring information through the Internet more organized, it almost confuses me more because the information can be sorted on so many levels. To be honest, I had no idea that google even had these tools. The whole concept is new to me. This class is showing me a bunch of different ways to utilize information I find, it just takes some getting used to. I am the type of person that likes to write on a paper and organize without technology and these programs are showing me better, easier ways to do that using technology.
When seeking out specific information, RSS is extremely useful in providing the best links that answer what you're specifically looking for. From a teaching standpoint, I think that this would help keep the classroom fresh for the students and the teachers. Perhaps teaching this application could turn into a lesson plan, by showing students how to gather research more thoroughly and efficiently.
When seeking out specific information, RSS is extremely useful in providing the best links that answer what you're specifically looking for. From a teaching standpoint, I think that this would help keep the classroom fresh for the students and the teachers. Perhaps teaching this application could turn into a lesson plan, by showing students how to gather research more thoroughly and efficiently.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Having a parent as a teacher has taught me a few things about education. My mother is a first grade teacher and has been so for over 25 years. Growing up I always heard her complaints and frustrations with her class and the education system in general. What Howard Garner is saying in his description of multiple intelligences supports everything my mom has stated in the past and present. She always talks about how people don't seem to understand that everyone is different and therefore, everyone learns in way that is unique to them. Some children need one on one interaction, while others work best in a group. As a student myself, I have come to know what learning environment and method works best for me. I am a visual, hands-on learner who observes and then completes the task. If I would have been more aware of these qualities, I feel my life in high school could have been a lot easier.
My mom also talks about children who are at a disadvantage in school because of their home environment. Richard Davidson has alot of scientific research to back his statements up but my mom has case by case stories of children who are held back academically because of their unfavorable environment.
My mom also talks about children who are at a disadvantage in school because of their home environment. Richard Davidson has alot of scientific research to back his statements up but my mom has case by case stories of children who are held back academically because of their unfavorable environment.
I can sympathize with danah boyd on twitter on many of her frustrations. Critics most often knock it before they try it; twitter being just another social media that is mostly comprised of "pointless babble". When I first heard about twitter, I admit that I was hesitant to jump into it and didn't really understand the concept because it was different from my beloved facebook. Though after little convincing I made myself a twitter. I was fascinated that I could know what Ashton Kutcher was doing at that exact moment. Almost immediately you feel like you have a relationship with the person and have a better understanding of what they really care about. But besides the celebrity gossip, I found that other applications were great too. I follow CNN's twitter as well as a BreakingNews twitter, both of which keep me updated on current events. My personal favorite though is the ESPN twitter; (I always look extra cool around boys). So, critics can bash twitter all they want but I find that it's useful in multiple areas and I agree with danah that everything doesn't HAVE to be educational and intellectual every minute of the day.
The article on google by Nicholas Carr is one that I still can't decide if I agree or disagree. I see both sides of his argument. My parents always tell me about how lucky we are to have the resources available to us today and how they used to have to spend "days in the library" to finish research for a topic. It reminds me of the infamous walk in the snow for 3 miles to school speech. So with this great appreciation I have learned to have for the Internet and especially google, comes a certain concern as well. While I am still considered to be young, I did not always have access to today's technologies. Despite what my elders think, I can recall a time where I too did research in actual libraries. The research might have been on bubble gum and not peripheral nerve regeneration, but research all the same. I completely understand Carr's diving statement where he "Once was a scuba diver, in a sea of words. Now (he) zips along the surface like a guy with a Jet Ski." Information is so quickly and easily accessed that it never really sinks into the brain and is hardly remembered longer than a couple days. The search for information in a library makes you learn things that might not have been directly relevant to the topic. In this new age, I hope that my generation does not become victim to a Dory (from Finding Nemo) attention span and lack of deep understanding on important current and previous issues.
The article on google by Nicholas Carr is one that I still can't decide if I agree or disagree. I see both sides of his argument. My parents always tell me about how lucky we are to have the resources available to us today and how they used to have to spend "days in the library" to finish research for a topic. It reminds me of the infamous walk in the snow for 3 miles to school speech. So with this great appreciation I have learned to have for the Internet and especially google, comes a certain concern as well. While I am still considered to be young, I did not always have access to today's technologies. Despite what my elders think, I can recall a time where I too did research in actual libraries. The research might have been on bubble gum and not peripheral nerve regeneration, but research all the same. I completely understand Carr's diving statement where he "Once was a scuba diver, in a sea of words. Now (he) zips along the surface like a guy with a Jet Ski." Information is so quickly and easily accessed that it never really sinks into the brain and is hardly remembered longer than a couple days. The search for information in a library makes you learn things that might not have been directly relevant to the topic. In this new age, I hope that my generation does not become victim to a Dory (from Finding Nemo) attention span and lack of deep understanding on important current and previous issues.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
My expectations for the class are too learn about new media and technology and also learn how to apply them so that they are useful tools for me and for others.
I expect my classmates to be helpful, hardworking, and appropriate so that our environment is always comfortable.
I expect the Mr. Sessoms to help me understand the mystery that technology is to me. I hope by the end of the class that I feel comfortable with these new ways to communicate ideas and information. So I expect him to be specific in instructions and patient with the "technology challenged".
I expect my classmates to be helpful, hardworking, and appropriate so that our environment is always comfortable.
I expect the Mr. Sessoms to help me understand the mystery that technology is to me. I hope by the end of the class that I feel comfortable with these new ways to communicate ideas and information. So I expect him to be specific in instructions and patient with the "technology challenged".
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