Thursday, December 4, 2008
MY BLOG POST ARE NOW COMPLETE
My blog is now complete! I really enjoyed this class as I think most of us did. I can't wait for this much needed break so that I can do what I love to do most: JUST BE A MOM!! I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! I wish you all the best. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
What I learned in EDM 310
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
ACCESS Daphne High School
I visited the ACCESS lab at Daphne High School. Mr. Roe showed me around the lab and demonstrated how the equipment works. The lab is really cool and highly advanced. Unfortunately it is not being used to its fullest potential. It is mainly used as a web based instructional tool. The only class that it is currently used for is Latin which is only an elective. The classes have to be approved by the county and so far not many have been. They have tried to use the interactive video but had many technical issues along the way. There have been problems with getting through the firewalls at each location. Also, their are two different brands of equipment that the schools can purchase: Tandberg and Polytech. However, the two different brands don't work well together. So if each school does not have the same equipment then they have communication problems. The state has required that all students be using the lab by next year but according to Mr. Roe they can only handle 200 students and they have over 300 students in the Freshman class alone. The state just told him to figure it out.
Electronic Conversation - Technology in Todays Classroom
For this assignment I spoke and corresponded with Hope Jones at Viewpoint College Preparatory School in California. She has been working in education for 18 years and has seen technology change drastically. Below are questions that I asked and her responses:
What is the name of your school?
-Viewpoint College Preparatory School – K-12
Where is the school located (city and state)?
-Calabasas, California (West San Fernando Valley – Los Angeles County )
What grades are taught?
-Kindergarten through Grade Twelve
What is your title?
-Primary and Lower School Curriculum Coordinator (Grades K-6)
How long have you worked in education?
-18 years total
-4 years in Alabama Public Schools
-14 years in Private Schools ( Washington D.C. and Los Angeles County )
How do the teachers at your school use technology? (grade books, blogs, podcats,email, etc..)
-Online grade book, report card system, attendance
-Blogs
-Class WebPages
-Online class assignments
-E-mailing
-Pod casting
-PowerPoint presentations
-Push e-mails about announcements or new flashes
-Communication with parents via e-mail
-Faculty meetings/conference calls
-LCD projectors
-iTunes for audio books (using iPod in class)
-laptop program for teachers (every teacher is given a laptop to use)
How do the students use technology? (online resources, educational games, personal blogs, etc...)
-Online databases
-Word processing
-Computer programming
-E-mailing teachers and other students
-Blogging
-PowerPoint presentations
-Podcasting
-Typed homework
-E-mailing assignments
-Computer games are used to reinforce concepts being taught in class
-Using laptops in class for note taking
Is technology used to enhance what the students are learning? YES!!
-Technology component to many assignments and projects
-PowerPoint presentations
-Interactive media components
-Computer games are used to reinforce concepts being taught in class
-Websites provide additional resources for students beyond the lesson in the classroom
What is your school doing to prepare students for the fast growing world of technology?
-Modeling the use of technology in the classroom and in meetings
-Requiring technology components to projects
-Building state-of-the art secondary library and technology center
-Sending teachers annually to computer conferences
-Making students dependent on the school website for assignments, projects, online databases,and due dates
-Placing importance on e-mailing
-Increase school budget to include more technology funding
What if any concerns do teachers have about students and technology?
-That students will become more technologically advanced than the teachers
-Plagiarism with online websites
-Ethical issues and honor code
What is your opinion of sites such as facebook and myspace?
-DANGEROUS at this unregulated stage
How have you seen technology change during your time as an educator?
-Teachers are now required to use technology in the classroom
-All homes have personal computers now
-Students are required to use technology
-Students are exposed to more technology and in many cases know more than their teachers
-Some teachers are being left behind in the world of technology (Can’t teach an old dog new tricks!!)
-Classrooms have computers not just the computer lab
-Many assignments are turned in typed
-Resources are available online, not just at libraries
-Students are not utilizing libraries as much
-Less out-of-class writing assignments at the secondary level due to plagiarism, more writing assignments completed in class
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
EDM 310 and Blogging in the Classroom
I think that we all agree that blogging in the classroom can be a really effective resource! This goes for all age groups, from elementary to high school. They can be used to keep parents informed about what is going on in the classroom, post students homework, showcase students works, publish student writings, and much more. We have all reviewed classroom blogs that use them for the purposes that I have just mentioned. I think this class has really allowed us to see how many ways we can use this resource in the classroom.
From listening to my classmates and reading through their blogs I believe that most of us plan to use this resource. I think that we all agree that this is a wonderful tool. Best of all it is free and provides an intimate connection between the classroom and parents at home as well as many other viewers. Best of all students can also correspond with students here in the U.S. and international students as well!!
I believe that as future educators it is our responsibility to introduce technology to our students and keep them up to date in the fast growing world of technology. Blogging is one way that we can do this. I think that my classmates would agree with me. It seems that we all agree that blogging is a wonderful tool!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Duke University - Documentary Studies
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
EDM 310 Podcasts
The third group that I listened to discussed ACCESS and ALEX, two new programs of the Alabama Department of Education. The ladies in this group were Susan Smith, Bridgette Thompson Hall, and Angela Minish. I think that these ladies definitely provided some wonderful information about these two programs and were very knowledgeable about the topic. Like most of the other groups they could have been more conversational but overall I feel that they did a great job!
The final group that I listened to was Jennifer Harris, Alison Hawes and Amelia Perkins. They discussed how technology is used in their classes at the University of South Alabama. This group seemed to have a good time during their podcast. There were lots of laughs and giggles. I think I even heard Dr. Strange laugh once or twice. I thought these ladies did a great job of connecting with each other. At first it was a little hard to follow and there were a few pauses but as a whole they did pretty good.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mathematics with Technology
Ms. Chandler provides information on several free resources that are available to teachers in addition to some wonderful ways that technology can benefit their students. I believe that technology is an important teaching tool, especially in today's world! It would be a disservice to our students if we do not give them as many tools as possible to aid in their learning experience!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Growth" vs "Fixed" Minds
Ms. Dweck and her colleagues decided do a study in which they held an eight session workshop. Half of the students that attended the workshop learned study skills and the growth mindset and the other half of the students were just taught study skills. According to Ms. Dweck, the students that were taught the growth mindset soared well above the students that were just taught basic study skills. She also said that teachers could pick out the students that had been taught about the growth mindset. Carol Dweck also discussed how the growth mindset can be utilized in race car driving as well as in a professional environment.
I agree that students should be encouraged in a classroom. I believe that confidence is an important tool for students. I feel very strongly that it is up to educators to help empower students at an early age with confidence. All students need to be aware of their potential and not allowed to believe that they are any less than another student. Knowledge is achievable by all students that are willing to open up and accept what is being offered to them. Confidence is key to an exceptional learning environment and opens the door to a growth mindset!!
View this video.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WGBH Podcasts
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Edible School Yard and The Night in the Global Village
The Edible School Yard
The first video podcast that I watched was The Edible School Yard. I was totally blown away and the first thing that came to mind was something that Randy Pausch talked about in his last lecture. He had a term that he used "head fake", which is basically when you gain a skill that you don't even know that you are learning. In this case these children are learning so much but they are having a great time doing it and probably won't even truly grasp the entirety of what they have learned for years to come. The Edible School Yard consists of a 1+ acre garden and kitchen classroom which are basically learning labs where students at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, California learn many subjects. Social Studies, Math, Science, and lessons in life are just a few things that are covered. The garden classes teach the principles of Ecology, the origins of food, and respect for all living systems. The students have to learn to work together. They plant beds, amend soil, turn compost, and harvest what they have grown.
In the kitchen, students prepare and eat dishes from the produce they have grown.Daily educational opportunities are designed to integrate culture, history, language, ecology, biology, and other related subject areas into the preparation of the food. The students really seem to enjoy growing, harvesting, preparing, and eating the produce. They also gain a wonderful sense of pride from taking part in the entire process!
The Night in the Global Village
This project which includes students from the Rocky Mountain Expeditionary School in Denver, Colorado was an amazing first hand experience to raise the students awareness on issues like poverty and hunger that is unfortunately a reality in many other countries. The project is made possible by the Global Gateway Program. Students were taken to the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. This is a 5 acre property owned by Heifer International which is a non-profit organization that donates livestock to impoverished families. On the 5 acre property there are areas that are setup to represent living conditions that would be found in places such as Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, Appalachia, and even a refugee camp. Students are split up into groups and then told where they are going to live for the night and the resources that are readily available to them. No group has everything that would be needed to survive so they are forced to barter with neighboring countries to get everything they need. In addition to the hard conditions one member from each group must also carry around a water balloon in a pouch that represents a baby and another member loses a limb. The refugees had it hardest of all, for they started out with nothing, including not being able to speak at all or build a fire. At times all of the students seemed to experience frustrations about their living conditions. The following day the students got to talk with each other and the adults about the experiences. I think it was an eye opener for all of them to actually experience, even if only for a night, what many experience on a daily basis.
Each of these video podcasts were awesome. What a wonderful way to enforce things that the students are learning. There is no better way for children to learn than to actually experience it for themselves. I would love to be able to give these opportunities to my students. I think that it would be a learning experience that would stay with them for the rest of their lives!!! TRULY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Accessibility For All
Alabama Virtual Library
What a great resource for teachers and students. As an educator you can issue cards to your students so that they can access the AVL. I am sure that as an educator this will be one of many resources that I use in my classroom. Check it out here
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Podcasts
Kidcast is hosted by Dan Schmit and is a companion to the book that he wrote titled, Podcasting in the Classroom. He is the only host and from what I gathered from listening to episode #53- Podcasting and Fieldtrips, he does his show from a script or at least a detailed outline.
ConnectLearning is hosted by David Warlick. These podcasts unlike the previous two that I have mentioned is more of an interview. I listened to episode 90 and 91. During these two episodes Mr. Warlick was at the North Carolina School Media Association Conference. Basically educators came together and talked about the ways that they thought pocasting could be used in the classroom. This was totally unedited and very informal. The topics that he covers as he travels to different conferences are usually education and teaching in the 21st century classroom.
EdTechtalk is hosted by Maria Knee. She is a kindergarten teacher in Deerfield, NH. Ms. Knee has guests join her to talk about different topics of interests and they are able to share with listeners their thoughts on the subject. The interesting thing about this podcast is that listeners can skype in to comment or ask questions. They can also participate from a chat room. I found that very interesting!
MacBreak Weekly is more of a roundtable discussion. Something more like you would experience with Meet the Press. There are several hosts and also have guests that join them. The topic of this podcast is the latest Mac news, such as new products, software, stock information,and much more.
The last podcast, This Week in Photography, is hosted by Alex Lindsay and Scott Bourne. They also feature guests that come on and talk about (you guessed it) everything photography.Topics cover technology, new products, techniques, and the latest photography news.
There are many podcasts that cover an array of topics. You can find one on just about any subject. I think that this would be a great tool to use in the classroom, especially middle school and high school. There are endless possibilities with technology. There are so many resources that are available to teachers, parents, and students!!!!!What an exciting time to be an educator!!!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
International Class Blogs
Well, as I said in last weeks post I found a great blog from a first grade class in Canada. The teacher, Kathy Cassidy, posts videos of the class applying different concepts that they are learning in the classroom. Also they have a chat pack where you can chat with the class live if they are near the computer. In addition to all of these great features there is also a class roster. When you click on a child's name it navigates you to their own blogs. Each child makes posts to there own blogs!! I really enjoyed reading the children's posts. What a wonderful way to keep parents involved with what's going on in the classroom as well as teaching the children a wide variety of skills that will be useful from now well into adulthood. I found this blog particularly interesting because of its wonderful features and because this is the age group that I think I want to teach. I have included a picture of a few of the children coloring on the first day of school(below). Also seen here the class is watching a pheasant being released into the wild(above)!! You can check out Ms. Cassidy's 1st grade blog here! Another international class blog that I found was a class of 8 and 9 year olds in Rotorua, New Zealand. This class is the first to go digital in their school and they look like they are having a great time on their digital journey. Some of the students work is displayed on the site as well as their own posts about different topics. They also correspond with other classes all over the world via their blog and also use live feeds to see and talk to each other. All of the blogs I visited had really great features and what a great way to correspond with other children around the world. Some children will never have the opportunity to travel to other places and meet people from other cultures. These blogs provide these great experiences right in the classroom! I could not get any pictures from this blog but check it out!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
BLOGS USED IN THE CLASSROOM
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
ACCESS
Not only will the students benefit from this new distance learning program but the teachers will also gain extended resources and will have the opportunity to provide feedback for course improvement. I think that this opens the door to many new and wonderful opportunities for students and teachers here in Alabama. I do not think that this is a resource that I will utilize as a teacher since it is geared toward the high school age group and I will be teaching at an elementary level.