Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Social bookmarking (Delicious.com)-Nets 5

This social booking project was done in Microsoft Word and was done for the purpose of being able to look at websites and learn where we can gather information that can later on be used in the classroom. Additionally, when you bookmark the websites you have access to your websites in any location that you may be at in comparison to only being able to access your websites at one computer. This meets the Nets 5 because it meets the technology, but also gets you involved in different websites that look at societal issues and just pushes you to look at different websites that can open your mind to different ideas and ways of teaching, and learning.

1. This website is really good for teachers and for students because of the material that they are offering for your own knowledge. I think it's a good idea to have these sort of primary resources in your classroom for the benefit of research projects and they aren't limited to just the books or having to search and search on the website. Also I think it's hard for people these days to really look up information online without getting a bunch of crap that comes up when trying to find an answer and I learned this website is helpful in really linking you to the spot for the right answers to the questions that the students or teachers may have.
2.Student groups that may experience achievement gaps are racial and ethnic minorities, english language learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income families. I think these suggestions really talk about getting into the community and receiving help that way in your teaching and I think that I would be as aspect of life that I would like to pick up when teaching because I learned that everyone in the community can bring different ideas, skills, aspects, and points of view to the table. In the long run it just help out the students and that's what teachers are for!
3.link and discuss three of the areas where you feel fit your teaching style. Explain why you chose the three areas. (Each answer should be at least three sentences long!)In the article “Becoming a Culturally Competent Educator” I really liked three parts of the discussion, which was having participation from the community because I feel like that is so important to grow a community of diverse people together and all the different strengths they can add. Secondly I appreciate the point they make in building a support of diverse groups that can collabrate as a network so that all the children can be reached at the levels at where they are in their lives and have that connection that maybe others might not be able to reach them at, and lastly working with other schools in the area is a great suggestion because in reality some schools have already tried out things with the kids and they might not have worked and they can share that knowledge so that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes. We’re just all trying to teach and grow these children the best we can while they’re in our hands, so why not all come together and learn from each other and collaborate in all ways possible.
I also, well I went onto the cyber bully website and I took the quiz for the ages 7-10. I guess I am considered a cyber saint. I believe it, because I get on the internet usually do what I need to do and don't waste time bothering with other people. My most time spent on the computer would be creating some sort of art or messing with video editing programs. The thing that I learned from the teacher section of this website was something called "Teenangels". This is such a brilliant idea in the fact that these kids are being educated in the ways that they can keep themselves from all the unwanted material or people on the internet. Through these teens, they are teaching other children. I think the most amazing part of this is that kids are basically teaching kids and that makes such a huge difference because lots of kids love to listen to their peers or their friends rather than a parent or teacher figure. I think that this program is a really good way in keeping our kids safe from the unwanted internet junk out there!
4.On this website I was reading under the teachers helpers and I found this area that was called gadgets and podcasting, under that subject it became a topic on how ipod touch can create education tools for children in the classroom. ( inventive for the kids and their wallets, but that's besides the point) Anyway they advertise that you can make flashcards on the ipod touch and maps they can see, and let's them interact with this technology and learn at the same time. I like the idea that they're getting at and it's good but it's also a little bit unneeded since, paper and pencil also make flashcards. But I get the whole tech and Educ thing together. Good idea, and I think I would use it in my classroom because I like gadgets/tech and I think the kids would get a kick out of playing with the ipod touch too.
5. Quiz
Naturalistic
58%
Bodily-Kinesthetic
33%
Musical
0%
Interpersonal
75%
Intrapersonal
81%
Visual-Spatial
33%
Logical-Mathematical
38%
Verbal-Linguistic
67%

The video that I watched was about the theory of multiple intelligences and how they are taking these aspects into mind when teaching in the classroom. They even had a time where all the kids were playing an instrument and basically just doing activities that would stimulate all those different intelligences that children have instead of just focusing on a couple like math and reading. I think it's a good idea to broaden the ways in which students are taught these days and stop limiting them to just the test material and such a rigid teaching schedule.
AND THEN....under the subject access tab I went to an art website http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Arts/Visual_Arts/ARA0026.html and I found out some interactive lessons to have with the students that focuses in the filed of art and education. I was reading and learning about how to do art projects with melted crayons, and I would love to incorporate some of these ideas into my classroom. I think also the use of colored pencils in water is even a better idea because kids are messy an heating crayons does seem a little crazy with small children. color pencils in water become like water coloring and I would bring this technique in my room because it would be fun for them, and a lot cleaner for them and me! :)





6.Grades 3-5, Arts, and topic is "Fighting Prejudice and Discrimination Against People With Learning Disabilities." The lesson that they described here was having children learn and understand what it means to have a learning disability. I think this would be a good idea because I know that students associate learning disability with the level of intelligence that a student may have and that really has nothing to do with it. They could really benefit from trying to be in someone else's position for a day, so that they can learn to accept all their classmates and not judge those with disabilities of any kind.
7. I took this quiz on this website called "Classism and Poverty Awareness Quiz". The two most interesting questions that I saw in my quiz were;
The U.S. military budget is by far the highest of any country in the world. By 2003, the U.S. military budget was roughly equal to that of:

a. the next 5 countries combined b. the next 10 countries combined c. the next 15 countries combined d. the next 20 countries combined**

The answer to this question was actually the next 20 countries! I had no idea the budget was so high and this interests me because my husband has been in the Marine Corps now for 8 years and all I ever hear is how the military has no money and how so much of the equiptment they need they can't get because of little money and then I wonder, where the heck is all that money going? The second question that stood out to me was;
What percentage of people around the world lives on less than $750 per year?

a. 10% b. 33% c. 50%** d. 75%

I guess we just don't realize how lucky we are and how much money, resources, and opportunities we have here in America. The sad part is that we as Americans have the money, resources and everything we need to change the world. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but we could do so much MORE for those counties with nothing, but we choose to pay millions to people for entertainment and we do so little for our fellow HUMAN beings that need so much.
8.The core rules for Netiquette were all reasonable rules that most people should know and when I was reading them, it reminded me of rules that should be followed so that cyber bullying doesn't take place. I think people need to just carry over common sense and respect when they go on the internet. The people you're talking to on the internet are still people and your still not super cool because your behind a computer screen. I guess I would just keep these things in mind when teaching kids or teens how to use the internet properly. Follow the rules, play fair, play nice, and you won' find yourself in trouble. The quiz was just basically so that they could go over their rules again in a different format. I got 100%! :->














Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Journal #3 "Keeping the Peace" Nets-2 & 5

Levinson, Matt. (2010). Keeping the peace . International Society for Technology & Education, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd=D

This article was basically about a test run of laptops given to kids for the uses of academics/technology that could increase their knowledge and give them something that could use at school and at home. Quickly the situation became that the students were using the technology way more for social interacting than anything related to actual academic work. Ichat was the popular choice that students were using and this caused a controversy between teachers, parents, and became a crazy situation pretty quickly. Basically parents all have different views on what their child should or shouldn't have access to and the internet etc. So there was argument between the parents on the usage of the computers. Additionally it was causing issues among teachers as well, because some didn't mind and some flat out refused to even allow them in their classroom, due to the interruption or lack of focus that it caused. Trying to make the problem better they created a blanket rule that no ichat was to be used, etc and then people had a fit over that too. So, as we all know you can't make everyone happy and with something such asa technology that might be an touchy subject with the parent shouldn't be placed in their homes without consent and permission from the parent. I understand that, because it really does make sense. Either way it was a cool experiment, and now they have a bunch of precautions they take to ensure a better process, but basically they just had a huge learning curve on the do's and don'ts of sending kids home with laptops.

QUESTION #1 Would I allow kids to even bring the laptops into my room?
In my opinion as good as the experiment was, I would have been more reluctant to let the students have that sort of technology as a distraction. I think it's hard enough to keep kids from being distracted with a million other things and then you basically place a toy in front of a child and then tell them to pay attention to math on the board. Good luck. Anyways my answer would probably be, not so much.

QUESTION #2 Do I think that social interaction through technology is something we need to be exposing to children in the first place? Well I think that social interaction is a huge skill to have to be a well rounded person and so yes I think they should know that they can interact through such programs such as Ichat, but I also think that kids these days are so stuck behind a computer and I don't think they can get away from social interaction through technology and that maybe school's shouldn't even really put an emphasis on teaching that. But I guess I would have to see how I feel when I step in the classroom. I have no idea. This is just my best guess at my answers with no experience to back it up.









Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Journal #2 "Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective" Nets-2 & 5

Maguth, Brad.M., & Elliot, Jeff. (2010). Using Podcasts to develop a global perspective . International Society for Technology & Education, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd

I think this article was actually really interesting and insightful in the way the teacher taught and approached podcasts to his students. I bet before this project they knew about podcasts but they didn't know how to create one and the fact that it could reach so many people. Additionally, it shows the kids that what they have to say in this world is important and if they want people to hear them, this is a great way to get their voices, opinions, and thoughts heard by many. I'm also super impressed that these kids were not only writing out their own arguments and point of view on the topic, but that they were re-arranging and editing their own sound clips as well. I mean these kids are 10th graders and to show them the ability of technology and what it can do at that age is so powerful for their future. I think the main point they will learn from this project is that you don't have to stay within your perimeters of your own town, city, or country these days. People can get their opinions and ideas to all parts of the globe.... and in seconds! Back in the day that wasn't available like it is now, and for the most part it's creating opportunities that never existed before and is keeping us in tune much quicker with the rest of the world.

QUESTION #1

What other ways can these students express their opinions or ideas using technology that will reach people around the world?

I would introduce my students to blogs because I think blogs are such a useful in getting your ideas, pictures, and much more to many people. I also think that another really popular sight that gets tons of attention, but can be used for good is youtube. I would have them be familiar with the different ways in which you can record, and edit your projects and then download them to the internet. I think both these ideas can reach many people around the world.

QUESTION#2

Do you think this project is a good way in getting your students active and educated in current global issues?

My answer would be absolutely! From my own experience, I have had professors at this University try to come down to the "reality TV" level so that she could try to connect and teach us through our current culture and our society. As proactive as she was, it didn't seem to reach many people because our reality TV society is such a joke and a waste of time. I think that fact that this teacher came at this students with the intention of getting them involved in their world with REAL WORLD issues and didn't lower his standards to teach is more of what we need. I guess I think this is a great way in getting your students involved in the world, in a positive way.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Newsletter- Nets 1


This is my newsletter that I created in Illustrator. It really just gives me an idea on a creative but also important layout that you can use when creating a newsletter for your classroom. I think this meets the Nets 1 because it gave me an opportunity to create an original piece of work that incorporates technology and would be extremely useful for welcoming students and parents to my classroom.