Audacity (D Posting)

I commented on the blog "Humane Education." The posting that interested me was "On the Audacity." Audacity is a program that is used to record and edit voices and sound. The author of "Humane Education" likes audacity for some of the same reasons I like audacity as well. These reasons are that it is free and to buy a microphone it can cost as little as eight dollars.
I have been having a great deal of problems with audacity when I export audio file. These files run into my itunes. This is frustrating because I am unable to play back what I record to see how well or not well my work is. My music starts to play at the same time as my recorded voice. I went to my house to do my digital Mosaic project because of this problem. On that computer which doesn't have itunes, audacity was great and very helpful. Audacity is a good tool for in the classroom. Also, most classroom computers do not have itunes and they would not run into the same problems I have been having.

Interactive Books (E Posting)

In my Introduction to Technology class today, we went over a project that we have all been working on individually. This project is a picture book that we wrote and illustrated. We also added our voices as animation. I was able to see many other students books and it was great seeing how creative my classmates are. The project challenged us to use our imaginations to create a storybook of our own. My storybook is almost completed and I am excited to see my final work.

Staying Connected to Classmates (C posting)

"Technology Helps Sick Students Stay In Marin Classroom" discusses ways that students with cancer or other sicknesses can avoid falling behind their classmates in school-work. A student in this report is named Laub, was diagnosed with Leukemia. He missed one year of school, but still had confidence. He was home-schooled using ichat, which made him feel as if he was with his classmates and teachers. The elementary school is now having three other children using this technology while they are sick and out of class.
I think it is great for children that are sick and out from class for a long period of time can still connect and interact with their classmates via ichat. I had never heard of this, but feel it is a great way for students to feel connected with their classmates. This is a great option that can enhance home-schooling for students. Technology is starting to have more and more of an influence out of the classroom for students. Also, during a time of sickness for a child they can be very lonely and being able to see their friends and feel a sense of comfort with the school day can be a great aspect this technology brings to a child.
Technology Helps Sick Students Stay In Marin Classroom

“Project Spectrum” (C Posting)

The article entitled “Finding a Link between Digital Technology and Autism” was posted on the European Research Headlines. This article talked a new project called “Project Spectrum” which offers digital technology to help engage students with autism spectrum disorders. This project would engage people with autism by helping them overcome three main obstacles which are social communication, social interaction, and imagination. This software has helped children become more relaxed and focused. The article states that “The children have access to the latest multimedia computer technology in multi-sensory environments, which include a computer, tailor-made software, a projector, a video camera and sound speakers.” With this new system educators will more effectively be able to help place children with special needs into mainstream schools. The projects produced positive results including children’s level of engagement increased and strengthened their performances in mixed ability classes, and became better adjusted to their school routine.
I was happy to see that this connection between learning and autism has been made. Also now that it had been made educators are acting on it by incorporating technology into these children’s’ educations. I think that if students are engaged in their learning better results will show. This is because the level of motivation will be higher. It’s great that they have found a way to engage autistic children in their education.
Finding a link between digital technology and autism/

Podcasting (C Posting)

“Technology Advances Education” by Jennifer Jefferson discusses incorporating Podcasts into the curriculum. This article was written at Florida State University. The Center for Teaching is looking at ways to integrate technology into the education by conducting workshops with employees. They looked at the benefits of multimedia and Facebook.com in these workshops. The article stated that some students do not feel there is a need for textbooks.
After reading this article, I also agree with the idea of incorporating Podcasts into our education. Teachers send out PowerPoint slides after or before a lecture, so that students can study the slides or follow along in class with the slides as their notes. Podcasts could be an effective way to ensure learning is reaching the student outside the classroom. The statement that textbooks are not needed anymore I also agree with. I have bought numerous textbooks for classes and never even had to open them. I feel as technology becomes more and more advanced and people learn to use it effectively the use of textbooks with start to diminish.
Technology advances education

Developmental Psychology (B posting)

For my Developmental Psychology class three classmates and I are required to teach the class about one chapter of the book. The chapter we choose is called “The Family.” This chapter takes us through the transitions of life from infancy, toddler, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and lastly to late adulthood. As a group, we planned and organized this project out of class. In order to get a hold of the whole group we used emails. We decided to make a PowerPoint to teach the class. I volunteered to make the PowerPoint and each group member sent me their information to add to it.
By teaching the class we are getting a solid understanding of the chapter. By working out side of class we are learning how to stay informed and become active participants in our project. The main challenge for me, since I am putting together the PowerPoint is to receive everyone’s section of the chapter. People are sending them to me at different times. That makes it difficult to organize the information into a PowerPoint. To overcome these challenges I emailed group members to remind them of the project and to see how much more time they needed. Each member responded to me with their section attached and completed shortly after the email. I learned that I can take on the challenge of putting a group’s information together and making a powerful, clear, and concise PowerPoint. I also learned in a project like this it is helpful to keep all the information organized. I saved all the files to one folder on my desktop, before I tried to convert it into a PowerPoint. This I found helpful and as a result the presentation went great.

"Students Overcoming Obstacles" A posting

The article entitled "DO-IT Program Helps Students Overcome Obstacles" by Laura Amond, opens by introducing a student who is part of the “Who’s Who of American High School Students.” This student’s name is Joel Green and he is a high achiever, which the article goes on listing all of his awards and organizations he belongs to. What makes Green stand out from other students of his status is that he has dyslexia. He has worked through this challenge by the DO-IT, which stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology. Students with dyslexia may have trouble with reading, spelling, speech, math, memory, and concentration. Green stated that he learns differently and used to use audio books to help him learn at first.
The program “DO-IT” helps give the knowledge and skills to high school students, so that they have success in what ever career or educational path they take following high school. Many of the participants use the Internet and other networks as a means of tutoring. Green stated that the “DO-IT” program made him “computer literate” and taught him: “shortcuts, plus they build your computer around your disability. I mostly need help with grammar and spelling, and they have the latest technology for correction of mechanical errors."
I choose this article for a number of reasons. I want to teach students with disabilities, and this article introduced a new organization to help students with disabilities. Even though most of the article talked about Joel Green who is dyslexic, the “DO-IT” program has members with many different disabilities both mental and physical. I also like that this program focuses on technology as a means for student achievement. I was hoping to learn about student software designed to help students with certain learning disabilities and this program assists students individually. By doing this the “DO-IT” program can personalize the participant’s computers with the latest software that will help that student excel.
If you want to read more about this article just click on the following link.
DO-IT Program Helps Students Overcome Obstacles

Video Games at School "A posting"

I read the article called “Teachers Tick the Xbox,” by Micheal Shaw. This article discussed teachers using video games as an educational tool. A study taken in England and Wales reported that a third of teachers use video games as a part of their lesson, even though these teachers are concerned that video games lead to bad behavior. These teachers are using video games as an educational tool, because they feel video games motivate and interest students. Besides the bad behavior as a negative result of video games, teachers are afraid they will lead to anti-social behavior and the teachers feel most games have negative representation of females and foreigners. The website being promoted in this article is called BBC Jam. The website claims to include “a range of games which vary from standard educational activities to those which its creators claim have a more ‘Xbox feel’".
I selected this article to include in my blog, because I hope to teach Elementary Education and video games are popular with students in this age group. I also haven’t seen a video game that has an “Xbox feel” be educational and I am skeptical how they could help educate students. I think some games can be educational that deal with trivia, but I have not witnessed any educational video game. This study took place in England and Wales, and concluded a third of teachers use video games as part of their lesson. I am curious if schools in America are going to move towards including video games in their lessons as well. I was hoping to find out about software that would reach students with mental and physical handicaps. I do not think video games would be good in lesson plans, but at free time or in before and after school programs I think they could be great for these students due to the motivational and hands-on experience.
Teachers Tick The Xbox

12 squares "D posting"

I commented on Yeleni's blog about the 12 square project, because we had some simular problems with the project. We both had difficulties when sizing our images. The project was designed by us to create an interactive story. The student would determine the order of this story as well. This was a fun project, but for both of us to create it seemed very difficult. She says she works better under stress. I don't know if I work well under stress, but I do however get things done in a timely manner when I am stress out.
All and all using this technique in a classroom could be a sucess. If the student is able to complete it, then they truly understand the story. It is a good tool relating to technology and education. I want to teach special needs students and I think this tool would be a success for them. Yeleni would you like to use this tool in your classroom?

"Observation" E posting

This semester I observed classes at the preschool, elementary, and high school level. One thing all these age groups have in common is the use of technology. The preschoolers I observed are autistic, and they were using tapes to help them with their speech. They also used a microphone to make the lesson fun. At the elementary school level, computers were used fairly often. Students practiced for the FCAT, took quizzes, and played games. At the high school level technology was used by the teacher. The lecture was on an overhead. A student asked a question the teacher didn't know and he went on to Google to find the answer. I think this shows how common technology is becoming in classrooms. Soon teachers will be becoming knowledgeable in other computer applications which will alsoenhance learning.

"A close encounter with a fifth grader" "D" posting

I commented on Blpainte's blog that discusses the same project I had done in my Introduction to Technology in Education class. This is also the same project I talked about in my previous blog. She worked with a fifth grader and had a very different experience. She said the child felt bored during the first story. I can understand how that can happen to a child working with ebooks in the fifth grade.
Blpainte blog's says she is hoping to teach upper elementary school level. For this reason, I think it is great that she learned this approach to learning may not be as interesting and captivating for a child in the upper elementary age group. She has focused her teaching toward the social science subject area. Hopefully she will discover a type of technological tool that will engage students in her study. If she is aware of any such tools I would enjoy learning about them.

Ebooks: The new Picture Books "B posting"

I was given a project in my Introduction to Technology in Education class that involved ebooks. Ebooks are picture books that have been placed online with animation, graphics, sound, and many more special features. Ebooks have a great deal of educational value. Anyone who is unaware of eBooks, I suggest doing some research at your local library to find out some capabilities. I observed a five year old boy watching ebooks and reported on my findings.
Watching eBooks reminded me of the fundamentals of storytelling. It’s been years since I was read a picture book and I had forgotten what elements make being read to fun. I learned I need to read slowly, so the child has time to use their imagination. I also learned I need to act out character voices to make the story fun for the child. The challenges I see with using eBooks is that they cannot be used in place of teaching. These a supplemental tools for children and that needs to be remembered when incorporating them into the curriculum. I think these challenges will not be a problem, because teachers and parents embrace children’s’ education and want to take part in helping them learn. When I viewed the eBook with the five year I reported on, I talked with him about different themes and elements seen in the eBook. This needs to be done with the child in order to make eBooks a success. Previous to working with eBooks I was apprehensive and didn’t feel they would be a success with children. I thought they would seem like a movie, but more boring. After this project I learned I was wrong. This project taught me that as a learner I like to see first hand the outcomes of an experience. I now believe in the use of eBooks as a supplemental tool for reading, because the child was having fun and I could see him learning.

Technology in Special Ed. Classrooms "C" Posting

Technology is starting to be used in classrooms of special education students in grade k-12. This works well, because the students are more motivated and excited about their work. Changes needed to occur in teaching in order to achieve common goals in education. The way students are learning has changed and therefore the teaching needs to change as well. I am happy that teachers and schools are turning technology and tools to enhance learning. I think it is crucial to make learning fun for students and that is what technology does.
The article entitled “Technology helps transform special ed. teaching at Mt. Hermon” discuses the integration of technology into a special education classrooms and why that is beneficial. The technologies the school is integrating include smart boards, handheld student keypads, colorful graphics, laptop computers and the latest in electronic technology. The school states that the students feel excited and successful about attending school since the technology has been incorporated. The article states that the teachers were at first hesitant but now feel the technology has surpassed their expectations. The article concludes by saying that the teachers are becoming more excited about education and that excitement rubs off on the students.
to read about this story click on this link
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