“Web 2.0 Today’s Technologies, Tomorrow’s Learning” by Jennifer Groff and Jason Hass
This article focuses on social networking sites, digital games, and simulations, and how they have become so popular among the under 18 crowd. With that said a group of people for MIT’s Education Arcade have come together to figure out how these tools can be incorporated in the classroom. One program called Ning, offers the option to create a social networking space for a classroom. Students can extend their classroom discussions into the space and also provide resources that compliment class lessons. Simulations can offer a close to real life experience without even leaving the classroom. One teacher claims that his students are able to explore the components of a forest fire or the process of evolution, where they cannot normally get a true sense of it in the real world. In a digital game students are able to create lives in which they have to pay for bills, manage their time and money and get a sense of what it feel like to be an adult. There are many recourses available to us it is up to us to manipulate them to fit a lesson in our own classrooms.
Are their disadvantages to these programs and this type of technology?
With many new technologies there is typically a cost that is associated with it. Money is scarce for everyone and especially in schools. New programs cost money and sometimes new faster computers are required to run them. Writing for grants and donations is likely necessary to get the materials needed.
How can we bring these kind of technologies into our classroom?
We first need to take the time as teachers to explore these technologies on our own and get a feel for how we can use them in our classrooms. Another aspect that may be helpful is to look outside for direction. It may be beneficial for another teacher to commit as well, or people may know of ideas and ways to make things go more smoothly.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Journal #7
“All Aboard” by David and Margaret Carpenter
This article describes the process in which teachers, administrators and learning specialists come together to develop new and innovative ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum. Teachers from every grade level were brought in to provide their own input and be as active as possible in this campaign for change. There were many tasks at hand including, figuring out the best way to instruct students of the 21st century in standard based schools, improve curriculum overall, discuss differentiation for gifted and struggling students, integrate technology and information literacy skills, and above all collaborate. They came up with lessons that incorporated games, a class wiki, WebQuest, podcasts, mindmaps and Inspiration. Teachers learned new technology as well, so that they could update their own knowledge within their classrooms.
Will I have access to meetings like this when I become a teacher?
I hope that there will be meetings at least once a year that can address new findings in technology that are classroom friendly. If not I could meet with the other teachers in my grade level and share ides. I could also meet with the computer lab specialist or librarian to get new feedback and see what the school has available that the students can use.
Are any of these above mentioned activities something that I would like to use?
I have mentioned before in my blog, that I like the idea of having a class blog, and after we have used the Inspiration I would like to incorporate that as well, in any of my lessons. I would also be curious to read more about podcasts and how those could be incorporated.
This article describes the process in which teachers, administrators and learning specialists come together to develop new and innovative ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum. Teachers from every grade level were brought in to provide their own input and be as active as possible in this campaign for change. There were many tasks at hand including, figuring out the best way to instruct students of the 21st century in standard based schools, improve curriculum overall, discuss differentiation for gifted and struggling students, integrate technology and information literacy skills, and above all collaborate. They came up with lessons that incorporated games, a class wiki, WebQuest, podcasts, mindmaps and Inspiration. Teachers learned new technology as well, so that they could update their own knowledge within their classrooms.
Will I have access to meetings like this when I become a teacher?
I hope that there will be meetings at least once a year that can address new findings in technology that are classroom friendly. If not I could meet with the other teachers in my grade level and share ides. I could also meet with the computer lab specialist or librarian to get new feedback and see what the school has available that the students can use.
Are any of these above mentioned activities something that I would like to use?
I have mentioned before in my blog, that I like the idea of having a class blog, and after we have used the Inspiration I would like to incorporate that as well, in any of my lessons. I would also be curious to read more about podcasts and how those could be incorporated.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Journal #6
“Mapping Student Minds” by Ariel Owen
The author of this article is a teacher that along with her co-worker successfully integrated technology into her curriculum. She taught her students about the importance of health, safety, aquatic life, and preservation with the use of many technological tools. They used excel to document the flora and fauna in the area and they are using a palm pilot spreadsheet to record other data as well. They have a website to keep track of all of their research and findings. They take weekly trips to test the water and collect data about the health content of the area. In order for the students to better understand cause and effect they have accessed an online tool, casual mapping. They created a map to show the relationship between the measurable factors and the health of the creek. “The students understanding of cause and effect is developed throughout the process as they define relationships, create a casual map, refine the map, and present it to others.” The teacher from this article believes that this concept is particularly helpful to those students who have a difficult time understanding science because the maps main purpose it to simplify and break down the cause and effect of a specific topic.
Would I find it beneficial to use casual mapping in my classroom?
I think that it is a great idea. I especially thought it was smart to use it as a tool to get children thinking about how they can be successful in the classroom. It seems like it played an important role in this specific case because it demonstrated the causes and effects of their experiment. It was a great way to break it down and make it a fun learning experience.
What are some other subjects in which we could use casual mapping?
I think that casual mapping could be used in history to explain the causes and effects of wars or other decisions that we have made in the past or are currently making. We could also use it in literature to predict what a characters action might lead to.
The author of this article is a teacher that along with her co-worker successfully integrated technology into her curriculum. She taught her students about the importance of health, safety, aquatic life, and preservation with the use of many technological tools. They used excel to document the flora and fauna in the area and they are using a palm pilot spreadsheet to record other data as well. They have a website to keep track of all of their research and findings. They take weekly trips to test the water and collect data about the health content of the area. In order for the students to better understand cause and effect they have accessed an online tool, casual mapping. They created a map to show the relationship between the measurable factors and the health of the creek. “The students understanding of cause and effect is developed throughout the process as they define relationships, create a casual map, refine the map, and present it to others.” The teacher from this article believes that this concept is particularly helpful to those students who have a difficult time understanding science because the maps main purpose it to simplify and break down the cause and effect of a specific topic.
Would I find it beneficial to use casual mapping in my classroom?
I think that it is a great idea. I especially thought it was smart to use it as a tool to get children thinking about how they can be successful in the classroom. It seems like it played an important role in this specific case because it demonstrated the causes and effects of their experiment. It was a great way to break it down and make it a fun learning experience.
What are some other subjects in which we could use casual mapping?
I think that casual mapping could be used in history to explain the causes and effects of wars or other decisions that we have made in the past or are currently making. We could also use it in literature to predict what a characters action might lead to.
Journal #5
“Can You Hear Me Now?” by Sherry Turkle
Turkle describes our world with technology as one that is staying connected without actually being so. She explains that people are constantly on their cell phones and computers instead of interacting with others, say at a conference or in a taxi. Many people consider it making the most of their time, but Turkle does not necessarily agree. She speaks of five things in particular that she believes are not beneficial within the web. The first is the second life or online personalities that people have the opportunity to form, in order to escape from the real world if only for a moment. The second is that we have become so consumed with technology that we no longer just take the time to sit and think uninterrupted. The third is that adolescents are given cell phones and do not get the same experiences that they would if they did not have their parents at their fingertips. The fourth one is that we have become accustomed to living our lives publicly through facebook and myspace. Lastly, she speaks of splitting our lives among the world of technology and the real world itself. The lines have become sort of blurred.
Is it possible that technology has the ability to take over the traditional classroom?
I do not necessarily find it to be threatening, but it has definitely made its way into education. With classes run completely online and almost every assignment done on the computer, it is certainly present. I think that it is better to embrace some forms of technology in the classroom, but stick to the things that have been using for years, books, and a pencil and paper!
Is it necessary to have computers in the classroom?
I think that it can definitely be beneficial for students to have access to computers, especially if they do not have one at home. A computer lab on campus, would prove to be just as helpful. There are many programs that can contribute to understanding and compliment the curriculum.
Turkle describes our world with technology as one that is staying connected without actually being so. She explains that people are constantly on their cell phones and computers instead of interacting with others, say at a conference or in a taxi. Many people consider it making the most of their time, but Turkle does not necessarily agree. She speaks of five things in particular that she believes are not beneficial within the web. The first is the second life or online personalities that people have the opportunity to form, in order to escape from the real world if only for a moment. The second is that we have become so consumed with technology that we no longer just take the time to sit and think uninterrupted. The third is that adolescents are given cell phones and do not get the same experiences that they would if they did not have their parents at their fingertips. The fourth one is that we have become accustomed to living our lives publicly through facebook and myspace. Lastly, she speaks of splitting our lives among the world of technology and the real world itself. The lines have become sort of blurred.
Is it possible that technology has the ability to take over the traditional classroom?
I do not necessarily find it to be threatening, but it has definitely made its way into education. With classes run completely online and almost every assignment done on the computer, it is certainly present. I think that it is better to embrace some forms of technology in the classroom, but stick to the things that have been using for years, books, and a pencil and paper!
Is it necessary to have computers in the classroom?
I think that it can definitely be beneficial for students to have access to computers, especially if they do not have one at home. A computer lab on campus, would prove to be just as helpful. There are many programs that can contribute to understanding and compliment the curriculum.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Journal #4
“Moderating and Ethics for the Classroom Instructional Blog” by Patricia Deubel, Ph. D
The author of this article supports a lot of what the previous article we read states about blogging. She goes into further detail with the many uses that it presents including, parent communication, student portfolios, management tools, enhancing discussions and assignment postings. The author states that in order to benefit from theses things the students must know the ethics behind blogging and using this type of technology. She believes that every unit should have clear set goals and ideas, as well as minimizing discussions to one or two questions and giving a set deadline for work. A blog is continued because others are able to respond to them and give feedback. This is almost an essential requirement of the class. With that said students need to realize what a respectful response or comment looks like. This also ensures that everyone is viewed as a valued contributor to the class and the material presented.
What are some things that I would be sure to include in my class blog if I were to create one?
I would definitely speak to my students about appropriate communication with one another. I would encourage constructed comments and expanding on someone else’s work. I would set it so that the public would not have access to it, only my class, parents and administration could view its content. I would like to recourse outside sources including videos or audio clips from either myself or others. I think that it would definitely help to reiterate information or offer more clarity. It seems like it would be a lot of work to get going, but worth it in the end.
How can students access the blog if they do not have computers at home?
Make sure that class time can be arranged in the computer lab at school for those students who do not have computer or internet access. A list of places including the school and local libraries could be given to the students with the hours and phone numbers on it.
The author of this article supports a lot of what the previous article we read states about blogging. She goes into further detail with the many uses that it presents including, parent communication, student portfolios, management tools, enhancing discussions and assignment postings. The author states that in order to benefit from theses things the students must know the ethics behind blogging and using this type of technology. She believes that every unit should have clear set goals and ideas, as well as minimizing discussions to one or two questions and giving a set deadline for work. A blog is continued because others are able to respond to them and give feedback. This is almost an essential requirement of the class. With that said students need to realize what a respectful response or comment looks like. This also ensures that everyone is viewed as a valued contributor to the class and the material presented.
What are some things that I would be sure to include in my class blog if I were to create one?
I would definitely speak to my students about appropriate communication with one another. I would encourage constructed comments and expanding on someone else’s work. I would set it so that the public would not have access to it, only my class, parents and administration could view its content. I would like to recourse outside sources including videos or audio clips from either myself or others. I think that it would definitely help to reiterate information or offer more clarity. It seems like it would be a lot of work to get going, but worth it in the end.
How can students access the blog if they do not have computers at home?
Make sure that class time can be arranged in the computer lab at school for those students who do not have computer or internet access. A list of places including the school and local libraries could be given to the students with the hours and phone numbers on it.
Journal #3
“Too Cool for School? No Way!” by Punya Mishra and Matthew Kohler
The authors of this article explain that technologies that children know as technologies in their generation can in fact be taken into the classroom and used as another tool to enhance the classroom’s learning environment. In order to do this the authors say that a certain knowledge must first be obtained about the specific device, they call this knowledge, technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK). Teachers should become familiar with the device and then they must figure out how it can be the most beneficial in the classroom. The authors provide us with three technological tool that can be fixed to work within a classrooms curriculum, these include, microblogging, visual search engines, and music DJ software. Microblogging allows the children and the teacher to communicate about the day’s lessons. The students can reflect and get opinions from others using this tool. Visual search engines work much like google in that students are able to search the web for purposes including research assignments, but it returns the results using visual icons or tag clouds. It gives the student another way to process the information and really speaks to the visual learners out there. The music DJ software can be used in a math setting, breaking up the music into sections and examining the different pieces. The recourses are available to us, it is up to the teacher to put the time in to master them.
What do people’s individual responses to ‘What is technology’ reflect?
I think that people begin to answer this question by looking at their own personal experiences with technology. They often think about the things they commonly use themselves. Their answers can also reflect the generation in which they were born. I think that we saw evidence of this when we posted our response to the weekly question on our class blog. Interesting!
Which one of these three examples given in the reading would I most likely adopt?
I think that I really would like to explore the place that blogs may have in my classroom. It seems like the students would be able to benefit from this by digging deeper and reflecting on the topics we discussed in class. It would encourage a lot of critical thinking and I like that.
The authors of this article explain that technologies that children know as technologies in their generation can in fact be taken into the classroom and used as another tool to enhance the classroom’s learning environment. In order to do this the authors say that a certain knowledge must first be obtained about the specific device, they call this knowledge, technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK). Teachers should become familiar with the device and then they must figure out how it can be the most beneficial in the classroom. The authors provide us with three technological tool that can be fixed to work within a classrooms curriculum, these include, microblogging, visual search engines, and music DJ software. Microblogging allows the children and the teacher to communicate about the day’s lessons. The students can reflect and get opinions from others using this tool. Visual search engines work much like google in that students are able to search the web for purposes including research assignments, but it returns the results using visual icons or tag clouds. It gives the student another way to process the information and really speaks to the visual learners out there. The music DJ software can be used in a math setting, breaking up the music into sections and examining the different pieces. The recourses are available to us, it is up to the teacher to put the time in to master them.
What do people’s individual responses to ‘What is technology’ reflect?
I think that people begin to answer this question by looking at their own personal experiences with technology. They often think about the things they commonly use themselves. Their answers can also reflect the generation in which they were born. I think that we saw evidence of this when we posted our response to the weekly question on our class blog. Interesting!
Which one of these three examples given in the reading would I most likely adopt?
I think that I really would like to explore the place that blogs may have in my classroom. It seems like the students would be able to benefit from this by digging deeper and reflecting on the topics we discussed in class. It would encourage a lot of critical thinking and I like that.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Journal #2
“Social Networking” by Jim Klein
Klein describes the many technological opportunities that schools have, but do not typically take advantage of. It may be that the school does not have the means to make it happen or that it just may not be a top priority. He worked to create a project that was cost efficient, easy, and met the needs of the students and staff. It is a social networking tool that allows only the employees of the school to make changes, and it provides the option of blocking the sites content from certain groups of people including the general public. Just some of the uses include blogging, teacher posted announcements and newsletters, and lesson plans. The students are also getting involved creating blogs, podcasts, and videos for the site as well. Some teachers that have used the program have reported an increase in test scores since they began using some of the techniques in the classroom.
Will cost be a factor in developing and promoting the use of a social networking website in schools?
I do not think that it will be too costly at all. I can imagine that it would be difficult to sell anything to the administration right now with the budget crisis that we are in, but it seems as though Jim Klein and his team came up with their program using little or no money. There are many different companies that can offer free social networking options.
Is security of some concern?
From what I have read in Klein’s article, the program that they used offered an option to block from the students, other faculty, and the general public. If the program offers these options then I do not think that security is an issue. In fact it seems to be very beneficial and it has a lot of positive attributes. It is nice to see that the students are also enjoying the transition.
Klein describes the many technological opportunities that schools have, but do not typically take advantage of. It may be that the school does not have the means to make it happen or that it just may not be a top priority. He worked to create a project that was cost efficient, easy, and met the needs of the students and staff. It is a social networking tool that allows only the employees of the school to make changes, and it provides the option of blocking the sites content from certain groups of people including the general public. Just some of the uses include blogging, teacher posted announcements and newsletters, and lesson plans. The students are also getting involved creating blogs, podcasts, and videos for the site as well. Some teachers that have used the program have reported an increase in test scores since they began using some of the techniques in the classroom.
Will cost be a factor in developing and promoting the use of a social networking website in schools?
I do not think that it will be too costly at all. I can imagine that it would be difficult to sell anything to the administration right now with the budget crisis that we are in, but it seems as though Jim Klein and his team came up with their program using little or no money. There are many different companies that can offer free social networking options.
Is security of some concern?
From what I have read in Klein’s article, the program that they used offered an option to block from the students, other faculty, and the general public. If the program offers these options then I do not think that security is an issue. In fact it seems to be very beneficial and it has a lot of positive attributes. It is nice to see that the students are also enjoying the transition.
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