Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Video (E Posting)
Today during my Diversity in Education class we watched video clips and viewed websites of different religious groups. The videos and websites were effective in teaching our class, because they showed beliefs that no one in our class had. Showing a live real situation that has been recorded is a realistic way of introducing an idea to the class. The experience that my class had through watching these shocking movies and websites is much more influential than we would experience through reading about it in a textbook. Also, the use of websites and videos captured my class’s attention and made the lesson interesting and fun.
Video (E Posting)
Today during my Diversity in Education class we watched video clips and viewed websites of different religious groups. The videos and websites were effective in teaching our class, because they showed beliefs that no one in our class had. Showing a live real situation that has been recorded is a realistic way of introducing an idea to the class. The experience that my class had through watching these shocking movies and websites is much more influential than we would experience through reading about it in a textbook. Also, the use of websites and videos captured my class’s attention and made the lesson interesting and fun.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
“CDs” (B Posting)
Throughout this semester I have been summiting projects on compact discs. Quite a bit of the CD process was new to me. I had to burn files onto the CD first. Then I used a CD labeling kit. I had to put an image, back round, file name, my name, and semester on each of these CDs. Next, I printed the label and attached it to my CD. Lastly, I tried my CD on another computer to make sure it was working correctly.
This activity might seem very easy to many of you, but for me was a new experience. I had never burned a CD, which was the first thing that I learned. I also learned how to make labels. The main challenge for me was buying the right materials. I first bought DVDs and then I bought only CD labels. I overcame this challenge by buying CDs and the Staples labeling kit. I really enjoyed using this kit and even made labels for CDs in other classes. I learned I like to prepare for everything in case something goes wrong in a presentation. I made CDs for my other classes, when I had presentations, instead of just sending my presentation to myself through email. I did this just in case the internet might go down I would still have a back up. This made me feel prepared and I will continue to use CDs.
This activity might seem very easy to many of you, but for me was a new experience. I had never burned a CD, which was the first thing that I learned. I also learned how to make labels. The main challenge for me was buying the right materials. I first bought DVDs and then I bought only CD labels. I overcame this challenge by buying CDs and the Staples labeling kit. I really enjoyed using this kit and even made labels for CDs in other classes. I learned I like to prepare for everything in case something goes wrong in a presentation. I made CDs for my other classes, when I had presentations, instead of just sending my presentation to myself through email. I did this just in case the internet might go down I would still have a back up. This made me feel prepared and I will continue to use CDs.
Movie Maker (E Posting)
In my Introduction to Technology in Education class we watched other students’ or teachers’ movies. I saw one that a girl had made. She had put many different photos of herself and played a song. There were numerous questions and statements to her father such as “You missed a lot.” The movie was very powerful. We have all made presentations throughout our schooling, but I felt these movies can express emotions more clearly.
"iPods In College" (C Posting)
“Professor uses iPod to Teach Heart Basics” by Jennifer Lynch is about how a Professor choose to use iPods to enhance the student’s recognition of heart murmurs. In a traditional learning style classroom students recognized about 30 to 40 percent of heart murmurs and with the use of iPods students were recognizing 40 to 80 percent of heart murmurs. In the past learning the sound of heart murmurs was learned through tapes and this professor starting to use CDs in place of the tapes. He later learned the convenience of iPods and began to use them. Lynch states in this article “After surveying his students at the end of each semester, 95 percent said they preferred this kind of learning, and 90 percent felt they could better recognize heart murmurs because of it.”
Using iPods as part of a college education was interesting to me. I knew iPods are very common amongst college students, but I had never thought of the educational value. This school year I have learned about how people can listen to Podcasts through the iPod which was neat and now I have learned how it can be used to supplement a science course. The value of iPods seems to be endless due to its convenience. I think that iPods are very simple to use which is part of the reason why they are such a valuable tool. I would enjoy using my iPod to help with my education.
Professor uses iPods to teach heart basics
Using iPods as part of a college education was interesting to me. I knew iPods are very common amongst college students, but I had never thought of the educational value. This school year I have learned about how people can listen to Podcasts through the iPod which was neat and now I have learned how it can be used to supplement a science course. The value of iPods seems to be endless due to its convenience. I think that iPods are very simple to use which is part of the reason why they are such a valuable tool. I would enjoy using my iPod to help with my education.
Professor uses iPods to teach heart basics
"Three Years Old and Using Technology" (C Posting)
“Never Too Young for Technology” by Mary Hart is an article in The Eagle-Tribune which explains how and why to introduce technology to kids at a very young age. Kids that are three and four years old are capable of logging on to a computer and pulling up an Elmo or Sesame Street game. When kids learn technology at a younger age it will help prepare them for school and even their careers. Shirley Coutu, a computer teacher states that it is important to help young children learn proper terms for technology such as monitor. Computer classes help young children to learn grade level skills using software.
I thought this article was neat, because when I think back to the activities I did when I was three and four, I can realize how things have changed. I remember coloring and playing with Barbie’s and now kids are using websites and technological tools. Since kids are becoming familiarized with these tools at the young age of three that is something that educators need to be aware of. Schools are having computers classes to ensure all the students are progressing with technology at the same speed as their classmates. I think that is important, so that the lesson plans can be used successfully for all students.
Never too young for technology
I thought this article was neat, because when I think back to the activities I did when I was three and four, I can realize how things have changed. I remember coloring and playing with Barbie’s and now kids are using websites and technological tools. Since kids are becoming familiarized with these tools at the young age of three that is something that educators need to be aware of. Schools are having computers classes to ensure all the students are progressing with technology at the same speed as their classmates. I think that is important, so that the lesson plans can be used successfully for all students.
Never too young for technology
Online Learning (C Posting)
“Online Learning Earns a Net Gain” by Niesha Lofing is about an English teacher named Dylan Holcomb who has incorporated technology into his lessons. The success in his classroom has helped to spread technology to other teachers throughout the district. He uses internet tools such as Google Earth to enhance lessons. Holcomb feels the internet works well with the students because it is part of their generation. Some of the tools he uses are instant messages for in-class participation for answering homework and Blogs for their homework assignments. Google has taken notice that educators are using their tools to enhance learning and has set up tutorials to teach the tools and products offered through the Google website. The teachers feel that the students are “more reflective and use better problem-solving skills” when technology is present in their educations.
Holcomb class seems like it would be fun for high school students. Using instant messaging to answer homework problems is great so everyone can respond. In one of my math classes at Florida Gulf Coast University we used a clicker that was only used for that class to answer questions. The results to the class’s answers were displayed on an overhead, which calculated the percentage of students that picked each answer. It was fun and kept a large class participating. Google is also a great website with many helpful tools for educators, and I liked that this article gave credit to Google.
Holcomb class seems like it would be fun for high school students. Using instant messaging to answer homework problems is great so everyone can respond. In one of my math classes at Florida Gulf Coast University we used a clicker that was only used for that class to answer questions. The results to the class’s answers were displayed on an overhead, which calculated the percentage of students that picked each answer. It was fun and kept a large class participating. Google is also a great website with many helpful tools for educators, and I liked that this article gave credit to Google.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Digital Yearbooks (C Posting)
The article entitled “Grant Provides for DVD Yearbook” by David E. Malloy introduces the idea that Dawson-Bryant High School had to make digital yearbooks. The school was given a $2500 grant for technology and then after creating this idea received another $1000 from the Ohio South Tech Prep Consortium. This money was used to purchase video equipment including cameras, videocameras, and software. Some of the benefits the article states for making a video yearbook are that it will represent a greater number of people, shows the school off better, and engages students to make learning fun.
I really liked this article. The idea of making a yearbook a video is great. Often at graduation a video is played and it would be nice to see the yearbook at graduation. I had never thought of this idea, but right away when hearing of it I wished my school had done this. It would capture the student’s personalities and enhance memories of the school much better. I think the students that receive a video yearbook will really enjoy this change.
Grant provides for DVD yearbook
I really liked this article. The idea of making a yearbook a video is great. Often at graduation a video is played and it would be nice to see the yearbook at graduation. I had never thought of this idea, but right away when hearing of it I wished my school had done this. It would capture the student’s personalities and enhance memories of the school much better. I think the students that receive a video yearbook will really enjoy this change.
Grant provides for DVD yearbook
Blogs (B Posting)
For my Introduction to Technology in Education class I have been working on blog postings. Each of my postings will contribute to make my blog. There are five different kinds of posting that I need to incorporate into my blog, which is why after my title each blog says (a, b, c, d, or e posting.) For this assignment all of the students in my class are required to create our own blog that focuses on technology in education. We interact with other classmates through our Blogs by reading and making comments on their Blogs.
This project has taught me a lot about Blogs. I had never had a myspace account or any other blog. I didn’t realize that Blogs could be educational. I’ve learned the vast amount of benefits and uses of Blogs and how they can be helpful in and out of the classroom. Students can access course information and communicate with classmates and teachers through Blogs, which I think is very neat and helpful.
The challenges that this activity has had for me are my “A Postings” I had thought of two questions prior to my knowledge of this assignment. The questions are: “What are the most commonly used technologies that help students who are mentally handicapped for example autistic students?” and “What sources are there for teachers to gain funding for technology in their classrooms?” For my “A Posting” I need to answer these questions by using an online database from the university library. I really enjoy using these databases, because I can trust the information. The challenge is that technology in classrooms is a relatively new concept and there is not very much information for me to use to answer my questions. I think I have overcome these issues by discussing the issues behind these questions. I tried not to focus directly and solely on these questions, but instead cover the concept or partially answer the question. This project has taught me that although something can be very unfamiliar to me such as Blogs, I can still learn a new tool. I like feeling that I am discovering something on my own and that is how this project makes me feel.
This project has taught me a lot about Blogs. I had never had a myspace account or any other blog. I didn’t realize that Blogs could be educational. I’ve learned the vast amount of benefits and uses of Blogs and how they can be helpful in and out of the classroom. Students can access course information and communicate with classmates and teachers through Blogs, which I think is very neat and helpful.
The challenges that this activity has had for me are my “A Postings” I had thought of two questions prior to my knowledge of this assignment. The questions are: “What are the most commonly used technologies that help students who are mentally handicapped for example autistic students?” and “What sources are there for teachers to gain funding for technology in their classrooms?” For my “A Posting” I need to answer these questions by using an online database from the university library. I really enjoy using these databases, because I can trust the information. The challenge is that technology in classrooms is a relatively new concept and there is not very much information for me to use to answer my questions. I think I have overcome these issues by discussing the issues behind these questions. I tried not to focus directly and solely on these questions, but instead cover the concept or partially answer the question. This project has taught me that although something can be very unfamiliar to me such as Blogs, I can still learn a new tool. I like feeling that I am discovering something on my own and that is how this project makes me feel.
Funding (A posting)
The article entitled “Florida teachers, students, face new school year” by author Hansen Sinclair discusses the financial obstacles in Florida schools. One of the biggest issues covered in this article refers to Florida being the fourth largest state, but yet not enough money is spent in the schools. Also, that the responsibility falls on the property owners and tax payers. The article goes on to say that Governor Bush tries not to allow extra spending in our schools. As a result, teacher salaries in Florida fall below the nation’s average, which is low enough.
The obstacles that teachers face are increasing every year. Some of these obstacles include low salaries, class size, lack of funding, failing schools, and the FCAT. These obstacles aren’t just present in teachers. The older students have worries including where they will go to college and if they will be able to afford college. The younger students have stress about getting along with their classmates. The article goes on to give a list of tips for parents to help their children on their first day of school. Some of these tips are to prepare early, encourage your child, and to show interest.
I was hoping to find articles on how teachers in Florida can apply for federal funding to support technology in their classrooms. I came across this article which seemed to sum up the reasons that there are not many ways for teachers to receive this funding. The only answer to this problem I can come up with is that Florida needs more money to be spent in their school systems. Florida students are falling behind other students around the country academically and Governor Bush is also trying not to spend excess money in our schools. I think that these two factors most likely connect to each other. In order for Florida students to achieve they need to have the materials necessary and those materials are often technological tools which can cost a lot of money. I feel that money would be money well spent and I hope with time our children will receive the necessary amount of funding for their educations.
Florida teachers, students, face new school year
The obstacles that teachers face are increasing every year. Some of these obstacles include low salaries, class size, lack of funding, failing schools, and the FCAT. These obstacles aren’t just present in teachers. The older students have worries including where they will go to college and if they will be able to afford college. The younger students have stress about getting along with their classmates. The article goes on to give a list of tips for parents to help their children on their first day of school. Some of these tips are to prepare early, encourage your child, and to show interest.
I was hoping to find articles on how teachers in Florida can apply for federal funding to support technology in their classrooms. I came across this article which seemed to sum up the reasons that there are not many ways for teachers to receive this funding. The only answer to this problem I can come up with is that Florida needs more money to be spent in their school systems. Florida students are falling behind other students around the country academically and Governor Bush is also trying not to spend excess money in our schools. I think that these two factors most likely connect to each other. In order for Florida students to achieve they need to have the materials necessary and those materials are often technological tools which can cost a lot of money. I feel that money would be money well spent and I hope with time our children will receive the necessary amount of funding for their educations.
Florida teachers, students, face new school year
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