The three things I would like to try with my students would be:
(1) Wordle-I love the concept. This would be a great beginning of the year ice-making. Students could write 8-10 words that best describe them. This would be shared with the rest of the class, so students would have a better understanding of what their peers were all about.
(2) Glogsters- Students could show their creative sides. I was able to teach it to my own children within a matter of minutes and they were creating their own glogsters. They both loved it. Website is easy to follow. Students could go-green and use glogsters for posters.
(3) Digital storytelling-Students would better enjoy that concept rather than having to do an oral presentation which can be BORING. Another concept to show a student's creativity. Something that all students can learn from each your special learners.
Two things I want to investigate to share with a colleague:
(1)Working in an elementary school library we also teach media. I would like the library to team up with the intermediate teachers (3-5 grades) and exposure them to Glogsters for their reports. Students often have to do reports and Glogsters would be a fun way to present. (2)Also having all teachers expose students to digit storytelling and its benefits.
One thing I want to incorporate for my professional growth:
Once I become an educator, I would love to bring this new technology that I have learned into my classroom. Incorporating Web 2.0 programs such as glogster, wordle and even blogging would make for an excellent learning enviroment.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Journal #4 - Digital Storytelling
(1) What skills could students gain from creating digital stories that would be useful for them beyond the classroom?
One of the skills students would learn would be self-expression. How to express yourself so that others would better understand you and your thoughts. Another skill would be creativity as well as communication.
(2) How much preparation and training is needed for a teacher to properly implement the use of digital storytelling in his/her classroom?
I do not believe it would take that long to prepare and train for digital storytelling. The teacher would first need to make sure the students understand the basic reading and writing skills. Today's students are 'wired' exactly for this type of technology. Students are now into technology using such avenues as Youtube. I believe most students would have little to know difficulties learning and embracing this concept.
(3) How might digital storytelling be beneficial to shy, quiet students? to outspoken students?
As in the article Glenna, like most of her peers, was shy. The use of digital storytelling allowed her to express herself in many ways. The students in Mrs. Nelson's class who had to stand in front of the class to do an oral presentation were not comfortable. Digital storytelling is an excellent tool for students with all types of personalities to be expressive, creative and confident. It will also increase students' reading and writing skills.
One of the skills students would learn would be self-expression. How to express yourself so that others would better understand you and your thoughts. Another skill would be creativity as well as communication.
(2) How much preparation and training is needed for a teacher to properly implement the use of digital storytelling in his/her classroom?
I do not believe it would take that long to prepare and train for digital storytelling. The teacher would first need to make sure the students understand the basic reading and writing skills. Today's students are 'wired' exactly for this type of technology. Students are now into technology using such avenues as Youtube. I believe most students would have little to know difficulties learning and embracing this concept.
(3) How might digital storytelling be beneficial to shy, quiet students? to outspoken students?
As in the article Glenna, like most of her peers, was shy. The use of digital storytelling allowed her to express herself in many ways. The students in Mrs. Nelson's class who had to stand in front of the class to do an oral presentation were not comfortable. Digital storytelling is an excellent tool for students with all types of personalities to be expressive, creative and confident. It will also increase students' reading and writing skills.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Journal #3 - Cell Phones
Cell Phone use is increasing, though it is still repressed more than accepted as an educational tool in US high schools. Think about how the dynamic interaction between you and your students would change if you can say, "Please put away your cell phones, we are not ready to use them yet" instead of, "Put away your cell phones, you know they are not allowed during class time!"? Discuss your viewpoint of cell phones in the classroom.
Cell phones are an awesome tool that if utilized properly could be used in a classroom setting effectively. Most students especially teenagers have cell phones. To come up with innovative ways to utilize the cell phone within a classroom I polled my own children (N-Gen) for ideas. I have a nineth grader and a sixth grader.
Cell phones are an awesome tool that if utilized properly could be used in a classroom setting effectively. Most students especially teenagers have cell phones. To come up with innovative ways to utilize the cell phone within a classroom I polled my own children (N-Gen) for ideas. I have a nineth grader and a sixth grader.
Some of their cell phone ideas were:
- use as an agenda to note class assignments (or text info to classmate that was absent from school)
- calculator for math problems
- calendar to keep track of assignment due dates
- reminder (alarm) so you won't forget when an assignment is due
- photo taking for classroom projects
Classroom teacher would assign a time in which cell phones could be utilized. Phones used either at the start of class or at the end of class to log in class assignments and deadline dates. Cell phones used for calculator only doing math time. Photo taken on cell phones used doing class while individual or group is working on such project. As a parent that pays monthly cell phone charges, I would not mind my children utilizing some of the other tools on their cell phone instead of just texting or making phone calls. Those students who do not have cell phones could write in their agenda books for assignments or calendar dates; use school supplied calculator for math work; use digital camera whether their own or school supplied. Utilizing the cell phone would help the world to 'go a little greener'.
I would prefer the classroom cell phone usage be limited to middle school and high school students. Elementary students still need to understand the basics of the 3 R's as well as to continue their writing skills. Even with the older students, the teacher would need to control cell phone usage. Students would be asked to put their cell phones away when not needed for classroom use. I'm believe students would love to hear "Please put away your cell phones, we are not ready to use them YET".
Journal #2 - "Digital Native, Digital Immigrants"
What are the primary challenges facing instructors of digital natives?
One of the primary challenges facing instructors of digital natives is that today students are being exposed to information/technology that the instructor is not aware of or has not yet been taught. Today most teachers are the 'immigrants' realizing that they do not understand the 'language' of today's students. We are still at a point in time where teachers are trying to teach students traditional curriculum in a traditional way. Today's students are bored with that type of mindset. The article was right on point regarding the technology gap. Students of today are so far advanced. Even with school districts bringing in technology expects to train teachers on new software/technology most of the more experienced teachers will go back to their respective classrooms and continue teaching the same traditional way. We will lose more students if this process continues. We must go to their level of thinking, challenging the students will make us (educators) challenge ourselves. We have to move forward because there is no turning back. I agree that today's students' minds are wired differently. Even with speaking with my own children regarding technology they are much more advanced than I am.
I've been thinking...today they are alot of students diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. I wonder if the problem is that their minds are so 'highly wired' that 'we' can't keep up with them. That the 'immigrants' are the ones with the true disorder. hmm??
One of the primary challenges facing instructors of digital natives is that today students are being exposed to information/technology that the instructor is not aware of or has not yet been taught. Today most teachers are the 'immigrants' realizing that they do not understand the 'language' of today's students. We are still at a point in time where teachers are trying to teach students traditional curriculum in a traditional way. Today's students are bored with that type of mindset. The article was right on point regarding the technology gap. Students of today are so far advanced. Even with school districts bringing in technology expects to train teachers on new software/technology most of the more experienced teachers will go back to their respective classrooms and continue teaching the same traditional way. We will lose more students if this process continues. We must go to their level of thinking, challenging the students will make us (educators) challenge ourselves. We have to move forward because there is no turning back. I agree that today's students' minds are wired differently. Even with speaking with my own children regarding technology they are much more advanced than I am.
I've been thinking...today they are alot of students diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. I wonder if the problem is that their minds are so 'highly wired' that 'we' can't keep up with them. That the 'immigrants' are the ones with the true disorder. hmm??
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Journal #1 - Teaching Zack to Think
At what age/grade level do you think students should be encouraged to "search independently" by using search engines such as Google or Yahoo and not using links that have been bookmarked by a teacher ?
Please make 3 statements to support this decision.
I presently work in a elementary school library in which students use computers to do research. I see first hand the way in which students use the internet. A majority of the students from k-4 did not have the maturity level to search independently unless they are supervised 'very' closely. I believe that the process of teaching students about how to use search engines should start in 5th grade. The maturity level would be greater. The process should be reinforced in 6th grade. In middle school, students have technology/computer classes. The technology teacher would teach the students how to navigate search engines and how to tell whether information is accurate or not.
Also, what strategies or techniques should a teacher use to make sure what happened to Zack won't happen with other students ?
A strategy would be to monitor each step of the student's learning process regarding technology. Technology classes in middle school should be given at the very beginning of the school year. In 7th & 8th grades the technology info/techniques should be reinforced and any new data/technology should be presented as well. Since the internet is in every students' future, all teachers giving a research project to students should make sure students can tell what is fact or fiction regarding information.
Respond to 2 of your classmates’ postings
Please make 3 statements to support this decision.
I presently work in a elementary school library in which students use computers to do research. I see first hand the way in which students use the internet. A majority of the students from k-4 did not have the maturity level to search independently unless they are supervised 'very' closely. I believe that the process of teaching students about how to use search engines should start in 5th grade. The maturity level would be greater. The process should be reinforced in 6th grade. In middle school, students have technology/computer classes. The technology teacher would teach the students how to navigate search engines and how to tell whether information is accurate or not.
Also, what strategies or techniques should a teacher use to make sure what happened to Zack won't happen with other students ?
A strategy would be to monitor each step of the student's learning process regarding technology. Technology classes in middle school should be given at the very beginning of the school year. In 7th & 8th grades the technology info/techniques should be reinforced and any new data/technology should be presented as well. Since the internet is in every students' future, all teachers giving a research project to students should make sure students can tell what is fact or fiction regarding information.
Respond to 2 of your classmates’ postings
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Web 2.0 Evaluation
1. The name and URL of the Web 2.0 tool you are evaluating. Chatterous, http://www.chatterous.com/
2. What can the Web 2.0 tool can do ? It is a communications service that aims to allow groups of people to communicate with each other synchronously through email, IM accounts, web, or telephone. It could allow conversations among students inside or outside the classroom regarding class studies, especially for group projects or topics.
3. What do you think it could be used for in the classroom ? If could be used if students are broken into groups and have to discuss a particular topic or work on a group project. In classrooms, students learn at different levels, I would suggest your higher level learners to utilize this tool. The teacher could be giving instruction to your lower level learners and the others could be utilizing this tool.
4. What you like about the tool? It can be used inside or outside the classroom. It's instantaneous. Students can comment on their peers entries. It's free. No need to sign up if you want to comment. No need to download software. Just one lead person would sign up to form the chatroom group and others would follow. Chatrooms can be designed with colored backgrounds and themes. We entries are made in the chatroom, group members are notified via email, phone, im, and web. Group password is needed in order to enter chatroom.
5. What could be improved about the tool? I signed up and stumbled into a chatroom called imob. Each time an entry was made, I was notified via email to see what was written. Apparently it was a chatroom that anyone could enter and someone did and left inappropriate text. Needless to say I unsubscribed. Website noted that inappropriate language was not acceptable but there were no filters in place to stop such behavior.
6. Would you recommend it ? I would recommend it to be used at high school level which close supervisor by teacher. Teacher would have to become member of each chatroom to monitor what was being said.
7. How many stars would you give it out of 5 ? I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. It's a free program which allows instant conversation utilitizing emails, IM, and telephones. Good tool for group or individual projects.
2. What can the Web 2.0 tool can do ? It is a communications service that aims to allow groups of people to communicate with each other synchronously through email, IM accounts, web, or telephone. It could allow conversations among students inside or outside the classroom regarding class studies, especially for group projects or topics.
3. What do you think it could be used for in the classroom ? If could be used if students are broken into groups and have to discuss a particular topic or work on a group project. In classrooms, students learn at different levels, I would suggest your higher level learners to utilize this tool. The teacher could be giving instruction to your lower level learners and the others could be utilizing this tool.
4. What you like about the tool? It can be used inside or outside the classroom. It's instantaneous. Students can comment on their peers entries. It's free. No need to sign up if you want to comment. No need to download software. Just one lead person would sign up to form the chatroom group and others would follow. Chatrooms can be designed with colored backgrounds and themes. We entries are made in the chatroom, group members are notified via email, phone, im, and web. Group password is needed in order to enter chatroom.
5. What could be improved about the tool? I signed up and stumbled into a chatroom called imob. Each time an entry was made, I was notified via email to see what was written. Apparently it was a chatroom that anyone could enter and someone did and left inappropriate text. Needless to say I unsubscribed. Website noted that inappropriate language was not acceptable but there were no filters in place to stop such behavior.
6. Would you recommend it ? I would recommend it to be used at high school level which close supervisor by teacher. Teacher would have to become member of each chatroom to monitor what was being said.
7. How many stars would you give it out of 5 ? I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. It's a free program which allows instant conversation utilitizing emails, IM, and telephones. Good tool for group or individual projects.
Monday, July 6, 2009
My first blog...
Hello Classmates,
This technology course is awesome! I'm learning alot already. Watch out world, here I come!!!!!! Presently I am a elementary library secretary and have been for the past 2 years. I am blessed to be married to a wonderful husband and I have 2 awesome children. Keep bloggin!!!
This technology course is awesome! I'm learning alot already. Watch out world, here I come!!!!!! Presently I am a elementary library secretary and have been for the past 2 years. I am blessed to be married to a wonderful husband and I have 2 awesome children. Keep bloggin!!!
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