I have learned a lot about google. How to use igoogle, google documents, and creating a web page on google. In google documents i learned how to create a spreadsheet and use it to calculate payments and such, to use it as an address book and to do multiplication tables. I enjoyed learning about how to create a web page-it was interesting. I don't feel like I missed out on anything or wanted to learning anything more. It has been very helpful.
Thanks for a very memorable EDM 310 class=+)!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Wikipedia
According to the assigned articles, people cannot honestly use Wikipedia as a source of complete and valid information. Often times the organizations or groups that are being defined on Wikipedia, will make their own editions to the web page. This often allows room for editing out the harsh truth, and making things appear better than they really are in some cases. Today people are able to track back references to find out who has been editing the site. This allows for people to find out who has been editing the site and can understand how it could be edited to make things seem better. In reality the information on Wikipedia should be taken lightly and with caution because it is hard to verify the validity of the information.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Growth vs Fixed
This video is an interview with Carol Dweck, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford. She talks about students and the way they view tasks and the mentalities they have. With a fixed mindset the students try to figure out if doing certain things will make them look smart or not. However, with the growth mindset students think that intelligence is something they can develop throughout their whole life. As they did a study having an 8 week session with half of the students being taught study skills and a growth mindset, with the other half only being taught study skills. The fixed mindset, with only the study skills, plummited while the growth mindset soared. At the end of the semester the teachers could see which students had been taught the growth mindset without knowing which ones were taught that. Then she goes into talking about how applications of the growth mindset have a positive effect in the business world. In our world today you have to believe in growth of skill and you have to be able to change with the world today and continue to develop your mind with new ideas.
As a teacher this is helpful to know how to encourage the students. To make sure we clarify the idea that your brain is like a muscle and you have to use it and work it out for it to get stronger. That students need more than just study skills to succeed in school. They also need some type of more motivational skills.
As a teacher this is helpful to know how to encourage the students. To make sure we clarify the idea that your brain is like a muscle and you have to use it and work it out for it to get stronger. That students need more than just study skills to succeed in school. They also need some type of more motivational skills.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Teacher's Domain
I found this web site very exciting! There were great resources in the videos and the information they provided. The variety of topics was great! The videos could also be used for many various ages. They were intertaining and they kept your attention. However, I did have a problem getting the video to play straight through, it kept skipping.
These would be great resources to use in the classroom and even as a "treat" for the students to be able to watch a video. It is a fun and different way to help them learn rather than through a lecture. The pictures and graphics were very clear and gave good visuals. The facts were fun and presented in a way that would be easy for the students to remember.
Another reason this are good resources, is for a substitue. If there are ever times when you, being the teacher is out, or if you are stubstituting, these can be used so that the substitue wouldn't have to worry about not having studied or prepared for the lesson. Even for the full time teacher it is a great resource for them to prepare and learn information about various topics. For upper grades it could be an appropriate hoework assignment. I think these videos can be very useful in the classroom and teachers should make much use of them.
These would be great resources to use in the classroom and even as a "treat" for the students to be able to watch a video. It is a fun and different way to help them learn rather than through a lecture. The pictures and graphics were very clear and gave good visuals. The facts were fun and presented in a way that would be easy for the students to remember.
Another reason this are good resources, is for a substitue. If there are ever times when you, being the teacher is out, or if you are stubstituting, these can be used so that the substitue wouldn't have to worry about not having studied or prepared for the lesson. Even for the full time teacher it is a great resource for them to prepare and learn information about various topics. For upper grades it could be an appropriate hoework assignment. I think these videos can be very useful in the classroom and teachers should make much use of them.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
iPods
Duke University has experimented with using iPods in classroom settings as teaching aids. Samantha Earp of Duke University says, “Many instructors tell us that having course materials on the iPod has transformed the way they use media during their classes.” Professors have been able to use iPods to deliver copies of lectures, books on tape and instructional videos. The iPod, which most professors see as a nuisance can be a very valuable tool to teach the students of today's technology based world.
However, on the flip side of this ingenious idea, some schools fear cheating will come from the use of iPods in schools. Some schools have gone to the extent to ban iPods from he campus, to prevent any temptation to cheat. Although one young lady stated her opinion on the topic when she said, “I think you should still be able to use iPods. People who are going to cheat are still going to cheat, with or without them.”
For more information about Duke's academic use of iPods
click here
However, on the flip side of this ingenious idea, some schools fear cheating will come from the use of iPods in schools. Some schools have gone to the extent to ban iPods from he campus, to prevent any temptation to cheat. Although one young lady stated her opinion on the topic when she said, “I think you should still be able to use iPods. People who are going to cheat are still going to cheat, with or without them.”
For more information about Duke's academic use of iPods
click here
Sunday, February 24, 2008
another fischbowl
Karl Fisch's best article from April of 2007 is titled "180 Days". This article talks about how a professor used on of Mr. Fisch's videos to show to his class at a university about curriculum changes. His video of "Did You Know?/Shift Happens" started the class off on a discussion. The primary topic that arose from their discussion was is there really enough time to teach anymore than required, traditonal material.
They brought up the possibility that the entire 180 school days aren't always used for instruction as it is. The video shows different things that should strike up conversation to begin thinking about possible changes. The videos, both from Mr. Fisch and from Barry Bachenheimer, could be great conversation starters. However, they are not tools for classrooms, but rather they are conversation starters and ways to get people to think about possibilities for the future.
They brought up the possibility that the entire 180 school days aren't always used for instruction as it is. The video shows different things that should strike up conversation to begin thinking about possible changes. The videos, both from Mr. Fisch and from Barry Bachenheimer, could be great conversation starters. However, they are not tools for classrooms, but rather they are conversation starters and ways to get people to think about possibilities for the future.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Technology Literacy
Just as Mr. Fisch states, teachers do need to have a basic understanding of technological processes. I agree with his point that if teachers do not know how to do it, it is almost impossible for them to model it or teach it to students. Technology is becoming essential to success in this time period and in order to succeed in life today you do need to have a basic understanding.
I could see how it would be more difficult for older people today, for the simple fact that they did not grow up with all these new technological developments. Things were simpler and they had a more "natural" way of life. So to add a huge new componet to teachers who have had a certain style of teaching for years can be very difficult. And being creatures of habit I understand how it would be very difficult to deal with a new style. However, it still holds true, that just as we teach students that there are always new things to learn, we ourselves must take that to heart and understand the importance of technology to our lives and to our students for the future as well. If we truely want to make them successful we must be able to teach them the basic skills they need for success in our world today. And at this time technological knowledge is a very important aspect.
I could see how it would be more difficult for older people today, for the simple fact that they did not grow up with all these new technological developments. Things were simpler and they had a more "natural" way of life. So to add a huge new componet to teachers who have had a certain style of teaching for years can be very difficult. And being creatures of habit I understand how it would be very difficult to deal with a new style. However, it still holds true, that just as we teach students that there are always new things to learn, we ourselves must take that to heart and understand the importance of technology to our lives and to our students for the future as well. If we truely want to make them successful we must be able to teach them the basic skills they need for success in our world today. And at this time technological knowledge is a very important aspect.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
International Sites
click here
This site is primarily used as a tool to help teachers intrested in teaching internationally to find openings. The site can take you to all different schools and gives facts about the programs and where the school is and about the students and other such information. People who look at this site can comment about what they have read and let people know if they are intrested in a position, or to just keep others up to date on what is going on in other places. This is not exactly an appropraite site for students or classroom education, however, it is a great resource for teachers!
click here
This Blog is from a teacher keeping in touch with friends and prehaps other students about her travles and her adventures in teaching international students in the states. After having trouble finding international school using blogs, I came across Ms. M's blog. She gives updates and posts pictures on the blogger site for people to keep up to date on her progress in teaching other students. She shares her expereinces for all people to benefit from.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Blogs in Classrooms
visit site
This site is used by a fifth grade teacher in Noel, MO to communicate with his class. Mr. C's blog is very fun and entertaining. It has posts of students achievments and is very encouraging and supportive. He also sends out reminders of assingments and other such topics to help the students stay on tasks. He uses a common form of communication for fifth graders today to help them develop their technology skills and keep them on track with their school work. He can send updates about school being canceled for snow days and his students have an easy way to get in touch with him and communicate or ask questions.
Another blog that I found was created by Lori Elliot, a fourth grade teacher in Nixa, Missouri. On her blog she has class projects and photos posted. She has a resource section for her students to go and click on a link to give them more information about certain topics they are studying in all different subject areas. An aspect that I find very helpful is that she has a link for "Parent Help". To give parents understanding about how to help thier children with their work and to keep the parents updated on what the class is doing. The beach theme throughout the entire site make the blog fun and enjoyable for students to explore.
go to site
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Total ACCESS
The ACCESS program is strongly encouraging techonology in the classroom. It "provides high quality courses and teachers via technology." I do think that technology is a very important aspect to be incorporated in classrooms today. It is essential, in our techology consumed world, that children of all ages understand the basic concepts of technology. However, a complete technology based course does take away from the personable communication. It does take away from the everyday interaction with students within a classroom, and therefore taking away valuable social interaction development skills.
This program would be very beneficial for students to take classes that aren't offered at thier school. However, they would have to take personal resposibilty for their work, and without being in an environment where they see their authority on a daily basis, they may not take the work quite so seriously. If the teacher is supervising them at school during a certain time, why can't they just teach it then and there? Why does having it persented online make it more beneficial? As a teacher, it would be very difficult to help the students feel like part of a class. It would be good for individual development and prehaps easier to focus on one student at a time, but it would be very difficult to create a bond between students and teacher and even students with students.
The blending process of mixing more traditional teaching styles with modern technology is a better alternative then having everything completely done online. To watch clips, but then have a teacher facilitate in class discussions. This is a very unique idea and there could be many positive things that come out of this program. However, I believe it is very important for the students to interact with their teachers and for them to be personable. We don't want to just teach them academics or technology, we want to be able to help develop them as well rounded people.
This program would be very beneficial for students to take classes that aren't offered at thier school. However, they would have to take personal resposibilty for their work, and without being in an environment where they see their authority on a daily basis, they may not take the work quite so seriously. If the teacher is supervising them at school during a certain time, why can't they just teach it then and there? Why does having it persented online make it more beneficial? As a teacher, it would be very difficult to help the students feel like part of a class. It would be good for individual development and prehaps easier to focus on one student at a time, but it would be very difficult to create a bond between students and teacher and even students with students.
The blending process of mixing more traditional teaching styles with modern technology is a better alternative then having everything completely done online. To watch clips, but then have a teacher facilitate in class discussions. This is a very unique idea and there could be many positive things that come out of this program. However, I believe it is very important for the students to interact with their teachers and for them to be personable. We don't want to just teach them academics or technology, we want to be able to help develop them as well rounded people.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Using ALEX in the Classroom
Using ALEX in the classroom would be a very helpful for any teacher from Kindergarten to 12th grade. This is a great tool to be reminded of what concepts need to be taught to students. To go onto this website while planning lesson plans is a great to keep the neccisary concepts at the forefront of the teachers' mind.
I would register to get an account so i could sign into the lesson plans and all other sections of the site to get the most use of the site. It also is a great tool for to give ideas about personal workspace. To change up the style is always good to experiment with different ideas and to see what works best with the children. I will definately want to make use of this tool one I start teaching.
I would register to get an account so i could sign into the lesson plans and all other sections of the site to get the most use of the site. It also is a great tool for to give ideas about personal workspace. To change up the style is always good to experiment with different ideas and to see what works best with the children. I will definately want to make use of this tool one I start teaching.
ALEX
ALEX is a great tool for teachers. It is a resource center for teachers to gather more information about certain topics and get ideas from other teachers. The site is divided into different catagories that allow the teachers to gather more informaiton and even lessons plans on certain topics.
The links include web links, courses of study, lesson plans, search, personal workspace, distance learning, and others. To go on to the site and click on a link you can be directed directly to what you need. The search becomes very specific as it asks you to select the grade you are researching for. It lists all the aspects that need to be addressed and taught to the students of that certain grade level in order for them to get the most out of their lessons. It then goes on to give examples of how to apply their suggestions. I am very excited about this site and I think it would be very helpful to anyone in education.
The links include web links, courses of study, lesson plans, search, personal workspace, distance learning, and others. To go on to the site and click on a link you can be directed directly to what you need. The search becomes very specific as it asks you to select the grade you are researching for. It lists all the aspects that need to be addressed and taught to the students of that certain grade level in order for them to get the most out of their lessons. It then goes on to give examples of how to apply their suggestions. I am very excited about this site and I think it would be very helpful to anyone in education.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Did You Know?
I really did not know all of those facts about the rapid development of technology. I found the clip very fascinating. Their point was very true that we live in a world where technology is the basis of everyday life. Children do need to be taught how to run all the basics of technology. Not to say children should always be on the computer communicating, there are certain amounts of social skills that are learned from interaction with other humans and through vocal conversation. However, in order to survive in the society today every child must be equipped with the basic knowledge of all aspects of technology.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
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