Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizers can be used in a classroom to better organize concepts being taught. There are many different kinds of ways to use a graphic organizer. I choose to make mine in a web with my subcategories surrounding my main idea of Waste Management. I would use this graphic organizer to help students visualize what we have been discussing and then add their own ideas of how to reduce, reuse, and recycle to. The website webspiration.com allows you to create an account to make your own graphic organizers. You can check out mine at this link:
http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/257858a883b
http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/257858a883b
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Periodic Table Game
This is my favorite resource I found! The classtools website allows you to create all different kinds of games with whatever your class is learning about. This is a great way to reinforce topics with students and help them to prepare for test. This could be used during class or at home to help students get as much practice as they need. You could also create games for different students that need help in specific topics. I made an example quiz that helps students practice recognization of symbols of the periodic table to their approriate element. Different choices float around the scene and you (the little man with the hat on) move around avoiding running into the wrong answers and making your way towards the right answer. You can try out the game here! ENJOY! http://classtools.net/widgets/quiz_2/bmqFp.htm
Everyone is Special!
Using http://www.myavatareditor.com/ younger elementary students can recognize their differences in a fun way! This website allows you to create your own avatar that can be compatable with Nintendo Wii. It allows students to create their own eye color, hair color, face shape, ect. This is another way to help build students esteem as they celebrate who they are! Since the world is becoming so globalized it will be important for sutdents to recognize other cultures and be respectful of others. This activity could be tied in with a lesson about culture and students' parents could be invited to come in and share interesting things about their heritage. On the left you can see an example of an avatar that I made of myself.
Create Your Own Timeline
Bu using http://www.xtimeline.com/ you can create your own timeline to be used for educational purposes. You could use this site to make your own timeline to help teach the key points that you want your class to get out of a history lesson. This could include events through history such as wars, inventions, or medical breakthroughs, or even the highlights in a life of a famous person.Another way in which this online tool could be used is for students to make timelines of their own lives. This would help to build esteem in the classroom and allow the students to practice their writing and computer skills. When I was in elementary school we had to make timelines of our lives that were constructed with different pictures and captions. I remember that mine had to be all rolled up because it went all the way down my door. Making a timeline online would be a neater way to do this project and would also allow students to share their project with friends and relatives.
In my example you can see on the main view of the timeline will look. The site creates a bullet for each event and allows you to view a picture when you click on it. I would encourage students to use pictures of themselves for each bullet rather than pictures of objects, however that is all I had to work with for this example. You can follow this link to check out the rest of my timeline.
http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/All-About-Me-
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Simple Machine Lesson
This lesson will teach you how a little creativity and using your resources can make a job a little easier and can even be a little fun!
Simple machines are used all around us each and every day. The different kinds of simple machines include: the lever, pulley, wedge, inclined plane, and wheel and axle. When multiple simple machines are put together you get a complex machine. Let’s take a look at how a complex machine helped out my cat Kyle.
This is Kyle. He is strictly an indoor cat. He has no claws, so for him to go outside puts him in great danger. My family does a pretty good job of keeping him in the house, but occasionally he slips out. Once he is outside he gets confused and doesn’t know how to come back. He likes to hide out under the deck– which can be very hard to get him out from under. After hours of calling his name, we came up with a different plan to get him back. Take a look!
First of all, we came up with an idea. Then we looked around at our resources. Our only supplies ended up being: kite string, a cage, and cat food. Kyle’s cage isn’t his favorite thing in the world, but within it we put Meow Mix– which is his favorite thing in the world. We decided that he should be getting pretty hungry and that if he tried to go in for a bite we could shut the door behind him with the pull of a string.
The string was really what brought the whole machine together. In the picture on the left, you can see how the string was tied on the upper corner of the door. In the picture on the right, you can see how the string is ran through the inside of the cage and then out a hole in the right side of the cage.
Lastly, we put some cat food into the back end of the cage. You can see here how the final set-up of the cat trap should look. But, where does the string run to anyway? I’m glad you asked.
Here you can see what we chose to do with the string. On the left, you can see the length of the string running up from the lower part of the deck to the upper railing. It worked out for us to run the string over a plant holder and our door allowed us to run the string to the inside. We were still able to pull the string from the inside, which was great so we wouldn’t scare the cat away. If you ever try this you can use the resources you have and improvize. Perhaps you could just sit quietly on the deck and wait there for the moment to pull the string.
When the string is pulled the door should swing from position (a) to position (b). Here we have our complex machine which is a combination of a lever— the hinged door and a pulley– the string. After you have the trap set up I would suggest a few practice swings to make sure you have it just right for the big moment!
With a little patience you too will be ready for the moment that you capture the cat! So, if you have a runaway pet like mine try making use of simple machines around you to build a complex machine of your own!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Computers, Computers Everywhere!
How ubiquitous could computing be in the classroom? How much could students really use technology in the classroom? How much could it help to reach different learning styles and better prepare them for what the future will demand of them? How much could it really help me as a teacher in preparing for class and integrating it into my lesson plans?
The blog by Will Richardson entitled "If Every Student Had a Computer" got me thinking more about what it would look like to start students, even as young as 5th grade, with their own laptops for learning. He mentions how schools invest money for things that students can't take outside of the classroom and how this would benefit students. He uses the reference of a computer being like the whiteboard for the teacher, a necessity for the teacher. He touches on the topic of attention literacy and how ideas to keep students engaged and paying attention in class are underway. Going to a college with a 1:1 laptop program I have seen the challenge that they can present in class. There is less eye contact between the teacher and students, as well as many efforts at multi-tasking taking place. I think that computers definitely have the power to transform the classroom and better prepare students for the future, but that the teacher will need to know how to control their use for good.
His other blog posting entitled "Don't, Don't, Don't vs. Do, Do, Do" acknowledges that there are many policies against what computers could be used for in class. However, he ends by focusing on the positive of the many things that computers could do for students: exploring their creativity, sharing their passions with others that share them, publishing their best work for a global network, etc.
I think that 1:1 learning can provide students with more opportunities to travel and be part of learning outside of the classroom; for example, a week working with journalists at the Kennedy Space Center http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2008/01/23/3laptop.h01.html. If students are able to keep up with their assignments with the use of laptops and further their knowledge then I think it is a great idea. I think that some high school students get bored with doing the same thing day in and day out and not really having a direction. I think many of them are ready for more. I also think that in America we do not learn about other cultures as much as we should and this could provide students with the ability to take those kind of trips without getting behind.
Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) I believe will be helpful in keeping teachers and students accountable for their use of technology in school. I didn't find the AUPs that I looked at to be hindering. I believe that they are rules of courtesy and respect. If anyone knows of a AUP that you think would be hindering to education please leave a comment! Thanks!
The blog by Will Richardson entitled "If Every Student Had a Computer" got me thinking more about what it would look like to start students, even as young as 5th grade, with their own laptops for learning. He mentions how schools invest money for things that students can't take outside of the classroom and how this would benefit students. He uses the reference of a computer being like the whiteboard for the teacher, a necessity for the teacher. He touches on the topic of attention literacy and how ideas to keep students engaged and paying attention in class are underway. Going to a college with a 1:1 laptop program I have seen the challenge that they can present in class. There is less eye contact between the teacher and students, as well as many efforts at multi-tasking taking place. I think that computers definitely have the power to transform the classroom and better prepare students for the future, but that the teacher will need to know how to control their use for good.
His other blog posting entitled "Don't, Don't, Don't vs. Do, Do, Do" acknowledges that there are many policies against what computers could be used for in class. However, he ends by focusing on the positive of the many things that computers could do for students: exploring their creativity, sharing their passions with others that share them, publishing their best work for a global network, etc.
I think that 1:1 learning can provide students with more opportunities to travel and be part of learning outside of the classroom; for example, a week working with journalists at the Kennedy Space Center http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2008/01/23/3laptop.h01.html. If students are able to keep up with their assignments with the use of laptops and further their knowledge then I think it is a great idea. I think that some high school students get bored with doing the same thing day in and day out and not really having a direction. I think many of them are ready for more. I also think that in America we do not learn about other cultures as much as we should and this could provide students with the ability to take those kind of trips without getting behind.
Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) I believe will be helpful in keeping teachers and students accountable for their use of technology in school. I didn't find the AUPs that I looked at to be hindering. I believe that they are rules of courtesy and respect. If anyone knows of a AUP that you think would be hindering to education please leave a comment! Thanks!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Technology Standards for Teachers
Have you ever thought about what role technology should take in the classroom? In my Computer/Technology class for Teachers we took a look at iste.org and learned about the educational technology standards for teachers. We then proceeded to take the Profiler PRO survey in which we found which areas we are most qualified in thus far. When I took the quiz I felt like a lot of the questions were asking if I could do things yet in a classroom setting, and sense I have not actually had any experience in the classroom I rated a lot of the questions very low. Some of the questions were things that I thought that I could do so I rated them slightly higher, but not by much. I guess this just goes to show that I have a lot to learn about implementing technology in the classroom.
I feel like I have a basic understanding of how to identify technology resources in schools and some ways I could potentially use them to maximize student learning. However, I do not think that I could actually select and use the best hardware in the classroom without further instruction. I also have a basic understanding of appropriate uses of technology for teaching and for trouble-shooting technology. Like I said before I realize that I have a lot to learn though. I do not presently feel equipped to design and teach technology-enriched learning activities connected to content standards.
In the areas of teaching, learning, and the curriculum and assessment and evaluation I have very little to no experience. Some goals for this class will be to know how to identify appropriate technology for the classroom that addresses learner needs, as well as to plan and teach student-centered learning activities and lessons in which students apply technology resources. In the area of assessment and evaluation I would like to learn enough about technology-based assessment and evaluation strategies to be able to discuss them; examine multiple strategies for evaluating technology-based student products; examine tools to communicate student performance; and to integrate technology-based tools in plans for evaluating learning.
As far as productivity and professional practice I feel that I have some understanding on applying online resources to the classroom and participating in online professional collaborations. Goals in this area include developing a portfolio of technology-based products from coursework, identifying opportunities for lifelong learning using distance education, and using technology productive tools to complete required professional tasks. This is something that would really help in organization and grading.
In the last category which includes: social, ethical, legal, and human issues I feel like I have some capability in identifying technology related ethical issues, such as copyright. However, my experience is limited. Goals for this semester in this area are to examine acceptable use policies for the technology in schools, identify issues related to equitable access to technology, identify heath issues related to technology use in schools, and identify assistive technologies to meet the special physical needs of students.
Technology is becoming more and more of a requirement in the classroom. Now that I have learned about the National Educational Standards for Teachers I have a better understanding of how much I have to learn. I hope that through this blog you can enjoy learning with me this semester!
I feel like I have a basic understanding of how to identify technology resources in schools and some ways I could potentially use them to maximize student learning. However, I do not think that I could actually select and use the best hardware in the classroom without further instruction. I also have a basic understanding of appropriate uses of technology for teaching and for trouble-shooting technology. Like I said before I realize that I have a lot to learn though. I do not presently feel equipped to design and teach technology-enriched learning activities connected to content standards.
In the areas of teaching, learning, and the curriculum and assessment and evaluation I have very little to no experience. Some goals for this class will be to know how to identify appropriate technology for the classroom that addresses learner needs, as well as to plan and teach student-centered learning activities and lessons in which students apply technology resources. In the area of assessment and evaluation I would like to learn enough about technology-based assessment and evaluation strategies to be able to discuss them; examine multiple strategies for evaluating technology-based student products; examine tools to communicate student performance; and to integrate technology-based tools in plans for evaluating learning.
As far as productivity and professional practice I feel that I have some understanding on applying online resources to the classroom and participating in online professional collaborations. Goals in this area include developing a portfolio of technology-based products from coursework, identifying opportunities for lifelong learning using distance education, and using technology productive tools to complete required professional tasks. This is something that would really help in organization and grading.
In the last category which includes: social, ethical, legal, and human issues I feel like I have some capability in identifying technology related ethical issues, such as copyright. However, my experience is limited. Goals for this semester in this area are to examine acceptable use policies for the technology in schools, identify issues related to equitable access to technology, identify heath issues related to technology use in schools, and identify assistive technologies to meet the special physical needs of students.
Technology is becoming more and more of a requirement in the classroom. Now that I have learned about the National Educational Standards for Teachers I have a better understanding of how much I have to learn. I hope that through this blog you can enjoy learning with me this semester!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
How do I learn? How will I teach?
According to Howard Gardner ,"An intelligence is the ability to solve problems, or to create products, that are valued with in one or more cultural settings."
The Brimingham Grid for Learning showed that I am primarily an interpersonal learner. Falling not far after was a tie between logical and naturalistic, and then intrapersonal fell shortly after them. I was rated the same in visual/spatial and linguistic with music and then kinaesthetic taking in the rear. I would say that the order these fell rings fairly true in my own life. By imaging my future students as individuals who have fully realized and developed their intelligences I will better be able to meet their needs. By nurturing all of the intelligences and offering different learning opportunities students will benefit most in their learning.
Because I am mostly interpersonal I enjoy getting to know people. Group work opportunities, such as skits, are a way to meet this intelligence. To meet the logical intelligence will also be easier for me to find ways to do sense I rated highly in it. I can offer opportunities to work with patterns and numbers. My love for nature was also reflected in my results. This intelligence can be reached through a trip to an aquarium or to a park. Intrapersonal intelligence could be met in oral presentations or debates. My medium multiple intelligences were visual and linguistic. I could use paintings, technology, and field trips that go along with the subject matter to reach the visual intelligence, and have students write stories that help them recall important math facts to reach the linguistic intelligence. Music has always been important to me but just not a way I connect to learning as much. The musical intelligence could help students to connect with a certain era being studied or the rhythm could reinforce the use of fractions. Singing songs about weather or what we are learning about could help reinforce the lesson. Kinaesthetics was last for me so this will be the area I will need to work the most to integrate in my classroom. Hand motions to songs could be a way to reach this group of students more effectively. A game for physical education class in which students are verbs, nouns, and adjectives could be invented to help teach grammatical rules.
Along with having different levels of intelligences we all also fluctuate between learning styles. We all have preferences about how we learn. By reflecting on our preferences we can better understand how we learn best so that we can be more effective with our study time and we can gain understanding on how others learn best so that we can help them learn.
On the Learning Styles Test I found that I am fairly balanced between being an active learner and reflective. I was just slightly more of a reflective learner. Thinking about my usual response in working with a group I would say that I am definitely am more of a reflective learner because I much rather think through things before jumping right in. A downfall of being more reflective is that it can be hard to not over think things, which can lead to procrastination. In teaching this might slow me down in creating lesson plans. Being more reflective I may also not give even class time for discussion. I could counteract this affect by planning on having discussion time, creating group time, and making sure to take questions often to make sure that I am reaching all of my students.
I was also fairly balanced between sensing and intuitive, however, I was slightly more of a sensing learner. A sensing learner is one who is more attuned to details and careful with their work. Sensing learners get in a rhythm of how things equations are suppose to work though and when they don't sometimes they lack the understanding. Sense I am majoring in integrated science I have taken many classes that use formulas and have often found myself just trying to count on the familiar method to solve problems. With teaching I will need to remember to find ways to discuss how theories link to facts and not just focus on facts and memorization. To help reach my intuitive students I will need to remind them to take their time on tests and give them time to double check their work.
On the visual verses verbal scale I received a 7 which means that I moderately prefer the visual dimension. This rings true in my everyday life because when meeting new people I will remember people's faces more than their names and when studying I will remember charts more than my reading. When studying in a group I never learn much by just listening to others because I need to use flash cards or draw pictures to correlate with what I'm learning. Most people are visual learners so I will be able to easily meet many of my students needs by using technology and the whiteboard, but to meet the verbal learners I could include handouts and detailed explanations.
Lastly, I scored fairly balanced on the sequential verses global scale, falling slightly more to the sequential side. Being more of a sequential learner I tend to like to learn things in steps and focus on details. Some times it slows me down because I will get wrapped up with details that do not really matter all that much in the overview of things. To meet the needs of global learners I can make sure to give them an overview of the material we will be covering first and try and find ways to explain what we are learning about connects to things they should already have an understanding of.
Because I rated fairly well balanced in 3 out of 4 of the learning styles I think that it will be easier for me to flex to reach both dimensions of each learning style. I really found both of these quizzes very helpful in learning how I learn and how I will teach.
The Brimingham Grid for Learning showed that I am primarily an interpersonal learner. Falling not far after was a tie between logical and naturalistic, and then intrapersonal fell shortly after them. I was rated the same in visual/spatial and linguistic with music and then kinaesthetic taking in the rear. I would say that the order these fell rings fairly true in my own life. By imaging my future students as individuals who have fully realized and developed their intelligences I will better be able to meet their needs. By nurturing all of the intelligences and offering different learning opportunities students will benefit most in their learning.
Because I am mostly interpersonal I enjoy getting to know people. Group work opportunities, such as skits, are a way to meet this intelligence. To meet the logical intelligence will also be easier for me to find ways to do sense I rated highly in it. I can offer opportunities to work with patterns and numbers. My love for nature was also reflected in my results. This intelligence can be reached through a trip to an aquarium or to a park. Intrapersonal intelligence could be met in oral presentations or debates. My medium multiple intelligences were visual and linguistic. I could use paintings, technology, and field trips that go along with the subject matter to reach the visual intelligence, and have students write stories that help them recall important math facts to reach the linguistic intelligence. Music has always been important to me but just not a way I connect to learning as much. The musical intelligence could help students to connect with a certain era being studied or the rhythm could reinforce the use of fractions. Singing songs about weather or what we are learning about could help reinforce the lesson. Kinaesthetics was last for me so this will be the area I will need to work the most to integrate in my classroom. Hand motions to songs could be a way to reach this group of students more effectively. A game for physical education class in which students are verbs, nouns, and adjectives could be invented to help teach grammatical rules.
Along with having different levels of intelligences we all also fluctuate between learning styles. We all have preferences about how we learn. By reflecting on our preferences we can better understand how we learn best so that we can be more effective with our study time and we can gain understanding on how others learn best so that we can help them learn.
On the Learning Styles Test I found that I am fairly balanced between being an active learner and reflective. I was just slightly more of a reflective learner. Thinking about my usual response in working with a group I would say that I am definitely am more of a reflective learner because I much rather think through things before jumping right in. A downfall of being more reflective is that it can be hard to not over think things, which can lead to procrastination. In teaching this might slow me down in creating lesson plans. Being more reflective I may also not give even class time for discussion. I could counteract this affect by planning on having discussion time, creating group time, and making sure to take questions often to make sure that I am reaching all of my students.
I was also fairly balanced between sensing and intuitive, however, I was slightly more of a sensing learner. A sensing learner is one who is more attuned to details and careful with their work. Sensing learners get in a rhythm of how things equations are suppose to work though and when they don't sometimes they lack the understanding. Sense I am majoring in integrated science I have taken many classes that use formulas and have often found myself just trying to count on the familiar method to solve problems. With teaching I will need to remember to find ways to discuss how theories link to facts and not just focus on facts and memorization. To help reach my intuitive students I will need to remind them to take their time on tests and give them time to double check their work.
On the visual verses verbal scale I received a 7 which means that I moderately prefer the visual dimension. This rings true in my everyday life because when meeting new people I will remember people's faces more than their names and when studying I will remember charts more than my reading. When studying in a group I never learn much by just listening to others because I need to use flash cards or draw pictures to correlate with what I'm learning. Most people are visual learners so I will be able to easily meet many of my students needs by using technology and the whiteboard, but to meet the verbal learners I could include handouts and detailed explanations.
Lastly, I scored fairly balanced on the sequential verses global scale, falling slightly more to the sequential side. Being more of a sequential learner I tend to like to learn things in steps and focus on details. Some times it slows me down because I will get wrapped up with details that do not really matter all that much in the overview of things. To meet the needs of global learners I can make sure to give them an overview of the material we will be covering first and try and find ways to explain what we are learning about connects to things they should already have an understanding of.
Because I rated fairly well balanced in 3 out of 4 of the learning styles I think that it will be easier for me to flex to reach both dimensions of each learning style. I really found both of these quizzes very helpful in learning how I learn and how I will teach.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Google Docs for Teachers
Endless emails? Too much time spent looking for a certain message with an important attachment? Maybe you can relate. I know that upon entering college I started to have many group projects in which we communicated our information to one another through email attachments. While this method worked, it could sometimes be a hassle to go through my inbox and collect all of the data without misplacing anything. Not to mention, it was rather time consuming. By watching the Google Docs introduction video I learned about a neater, more efficient, way to handle group projects.
You can check out the video by following this link: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=49008&cbid=-1ictoi5gxjc7d&src=cb&lev=topic
Google Docs is provided FREE of charge after creating a Google Account. It allows the user to upload or email documents into their Google docs system, which can then be accessed by the user and those the user invites. This allows users to compile their information and only have one place to look. Google docs makes it very easy to access a group document. It appears that in addition to editing documents this way groups can also share spreadsheets and presentations! I think that this sounds like a great resource for group projects. Since I have never actually used it, I would definitely like to try it out on my next group project and then let you know about my experience with it. I am wondering if it really is as easy to use as it sounds and if I would like it or not.
Google Docs can be used not only for group projects, but in numerous ways for teachers! You can check out Google Docs for Teachers by following this link:
http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=158149
While looking around the Google Docs for teachers website I came across a link that takes you to a chart full of keyboard shortcuts. Some of the shortcuts were familiar to me while others, especially ones used for spreadsheets, were not. One of the new shortcuts I learned was: Ctrl A = select all. I think this will be a good one to remember because sometimes I find myself just scrolling down a long document to select all of the text.
Google Docs for teachers allows teachers to share lesson plans. This is beneficial because teachers tend to teach the way that they learn best. If you find a teacher that's primary learning style is different than yours then you can share lessons with them, therefore hopefully reaching more of your students learning styles. There is also a feature which allows you to create a classroom site! I think this would be a fun option to explore for my future classroom. It allows you to post pictures from field trips, post assignments, and keep parents informed. Another feature of Teacher Docs is a service for students that can help them stay organized when working on a research project that takes place over a long time span. There is even a site that can be made for school administrators to access to stay connected on student progress, policies, and upcoming events. I think these sites are all excellent ideas! I love how they are already prepared for you, so you don't really have to know all the codes behind making a website to be part of these. Google Docs can even do your grading for you and help provide feedback on cohesiveness for group projects!
So whether it is a group project or a student evaluation Google Docs has got it all! I am so glad to have learned about Google Docs for teachers because it seems to be a hidden treasure! I am really looking forward to applying its many uses in my teacher education classes! I hope you can find some uses for it too!
You can check out the video by following this link: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=49008&cbid=-1ictoi5gxjc7d&src=cb&lev=topic
Google Docs is provided FREE of charge after creating a Google Account. It allows the user to upload or email documents into their Google docs system, which can then be accessed by the user and those the user invites. This allows users to compile their information and only have one place to look. Google docs makes it very easy to access a group document. It appears that in addition to editing documents this way groups can also share spreadsheets and presentations! I think that this sounds like a great resource for group projects. Since I have never actually used it, I would definitely like to try it out on my next group project and then let you know about my experience with it. I am wondering if it really is as easy to use as it sounds and if I would like it or not.
Google Docs can be used not only for group projects, but in numerous ways for teachers! You can check out Google Docs for Teachers by following this link:
http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=158149
While looking around the Google Docs for teachers website I came across a link that takes you to a chart full of keyboard shortcuts. Some of the shortcuts were familiar to me while others, especially ones used for spreadsheets, were not. One of the new shortcuts I learned was: Ctrl A = select all. I think this will be a good one to remember because sometimes I find myself just scrolling down a long document to select all of the text.
Google Docs for teachers allows teachers to share lesson plans. This is beneficial because teachers tend to teach the way that they learn best. If you find a teacher that's primary learning style is different than yours then you can share lessons with them, therefore hopefully reaching more of your students learning styles. There is also a feature which allows you to create a classroom site! I think this would be a fun option to explore for my future classroom. It allows you to post pictures from field trips, post assignments, and keep parents informed. Another feature of Teacher Docs is a service for students that can help them stay organized when working on a research project that takes place over a long time span. There is even a site that can be made for school administrators to access to stay connected on student progress, policies, and upcoming events. I think these sites are all excellent ideas! I love how they are already prepared for you, so you don't really have to know all the codes behind making a website to be part of these. Google Docs can even do your grading for you and help provide feedback on cohesiveness for group projects!
So whether it is a group project or a student evaluation Google Docs has got it all! I am so glad to have learned about Google Docs for teachers because it seems to be a hidden treasure! I am really looking forward to applying its many uses in my teacher education classes! I hope you can find some uses for it too!
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Learning to Change" Reflection Questions
On the first day of class in computers/tech for education we watched a video about what kids have to say about technology.
http://www.schooltube.com/video/21838/Learning-to-Change-Changing-to-Learn--Kids-Tech
1) Name 5 reasons young people want to use technology.
- record music and make films
- talk to friends and family around the world
- play games/network
- learn/research
- creative outlet/photography/websites
2) Did you identify with any of the young people in the clip? Why?
I agreed with the girl who doesn't like when people use "u" rather than "you" when talking online or texting. Even though it is shorter, it really isn't as personable. I believe her exact words were: "I am a person. I am not a computer." I've used both forms of you when talking, especially when I couldn't type and text as quickly, but now that I've heard someone else's opinion on this I will stick to using "you".
I could also relate with the girl that said that her phone is like her third hand. Without hands there is a lot we wouldn't be able to do and without phones there is a lot we wouldn't be able to do.
3) Do you agree that having instant access to everything via the internet helps you to know yourself better? Why or why not?
I think that the internet allows me to know myself better by allowing easy access to guitar chords and music lyrics. I probably wouldn't be learning guitar if it wasn't for the internet. I am also a facebook user and found just the beginning steps of creating a profile to cause me to think about my interests and beliefs. I love the opportunity facebook allows to connect with others through pictures. I also like taking pictures that capture God's beauty and using photoshop to put my touch of creativity into them. For example, the internet allows me to find different backgrounds to edit people in to. While the internet has its advantages it also has its disadvantages. I think that it is important to find a balance in how much time we use the internet because there is also value in getting to know ourselves better through experiences and relationships away from the computer.
4) Do you agree that technology helps pave the way to move forward as a civilization? Why or why not?
The guy in the video that said that he believes that technology is moving our civilization forward had a point when he compared the experimentation with technology to the experimentation with medication in the past. Technology has only recently taken off and in the next fifty years it is only going to continue, so in that way there is no denying that it will move our civilization forward. However, it does make me think about the movie The God's Must be Crazy. In the movie, a African tribe finds a coke bottle that was dropped from a plane. The coke bottle was totally new technology to them! They found it to be useful for grinding up food and making music, but the problem was they all wanted it. They soon found that it could also be used for violence and caused tiffs in their tribe. Even today, not every one can afford technology. Some school districts can't even afford textbooks, let alone additional technology. So while technology is useful I still am left pondering where it will take our civilization....
http://www.schooltube.com/video/21838/Learning-to-Change-Changing-to-Learn--Kids-Tech
1) Name 5 reasons young people want to use technology.
- record music and make films
- talk to friends and family around the world
- play games/network
- learn/research
- creative outlet/photography/websites
2) Did you identify with any of the young people in the clip? Why?
I agreed with the girl who doesn't like when people use "u" rather than "you" when talking online or texting. Even though it is shorter, it really isn't as personable. I believe her exact words were: "I am a person. I am not a computer." I've used both forms of you when talking, especially when I couldn't type and text as quickly, but now that I've heard someone else's opinion on this I will stick to using "you".
I could also relate with the girl that said that her phone is like her third hand. Without hands there is a lot we wouldn't be able to do and without phones there is a lot we wouldn't be able to do.
3) Do you agree that having instant access to everything via the internet helps you to know yourself better? Why or why not?
I think that the internet allows me to know myself better by allowing easy access to guitar chords and music lyrics. I probably wouldn't be learning guitar if it wasn't for the internet. I am also a facebook user and found just the beginning steps of creating a profile to cause me to think about my interests and beliefs. I love the opportunity facebook allows to connect with others through pictures. I also like taking pictures that capture God's beauty and using photoshop to put my touch of creativity into them. For example, the internet allows me to find different backgrounds to edit people in to. While the internet has its advantages it also has its disadvantages. I think that it is important to find a balance in how much time we use the internet because there is also value in getting to know ourselves better through experiences and relationships away from the computer.
4) Do you agree that technology helps pave the way to move forward as a civilization? Why or why not?
The guy in the video that said that he believes that technology is moving our civilization forward had a point when he compared the experimentation with technology to the experimentation with medication in the past. Technology has only recently taken off and in the next fifty years it is only going to continue, so in that way there is no denying that it will move our civilization forward. However, it does make me think about the movie The God's Must be Crazy. In the movie, a African tribe finds a coke bottle that was dropped from a plane. The coke bottle was totally new technology to them! They found it to be useful for grinding up food and making music, but the problem was they all wanted it. They soon found that it could also be used for violence and caused tiffs in their tribe. Even today, not every one can afford technology. Some school districts can't even afford textbooks, let alone additional technology. So while technology is useful I still am left pondering where it will take our civilization....
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