Today I created a teaching newsletter for the first time. I created it in the content area of Social Studies because that is the area which I have the most experience in and will hopefully one day be teaching. This was an interesting and helpful project because it made me not only learn about Education 2.0 but it it challenged me to think of ways I would explain it to parents. In many cases, parents are not as concerned or impressed with technical definitions and are simply looking for a simple explanation on how this is going to help their child.
Explaining Education 2.0 to parents and practicing explaining how certain class assignments will incorporate elements of technology is definitely an aspect of education which will become more and more prevalent as we more into the future.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Engrade Review
After signing up and reviewing this web site, I think it is really confusing. I don't think this is a software that I would choose to use as a teacher in real life. I like the fact that it is easy to manually enter the names of the students and the number of assignments, as well as how much of the final grade percentage each assignment will be worth. It is also a nice feature to be able to drop the lowest grade.
However, all of those nice features do not make the site any less confusing. I have been playing around with the web site for hours and have still not been able to figure out how to enter grades for what each student would have earned on the assignments, so I can not even utilize any of the grade calculation aspects of the web site.
My suggestion would be to make the program more user friendly and maybe have a tutorial for teachers on how to use it. It needs to be more clearly labeled what each section is worth and how to properly use each section of the web site.
If a teacher can actually fight with the program long enough to actually figure out how to use it, I can understand why a program like this one would be useful to students and teachers. The ability for parents to see their child's grades can be helpful in being proactive and contacting the teacher before any severe academic problems arise with their children. I know a lot of students who receive poor grades often either attempt to hide them from their parents, or do not tell their parents right away. The ability for a parent to be able to log on and see their child's grade regardless of if they actually show them their classwork or not.
Below is a picture of a grading matrix I attempted to create. It includes the assignments I created and how much of the final grade each assignment was worth. Unfortunately I was unable to figure out how to enter grades, so I was unable to experiment with what comes next as far as the grading process.
However, all of those nice features do not make the site any less confusing. I have been playing around with the web site for hours and have still not been able to figure out how to enter grades for what each student would have earned on the assignments, so I can not even utilize any of the grade calculation aspects of the web site.
My suggestion would be to make the program more user friendly and maybe have a tutorial for teachers on how to use it. It needs to be more clearly labeled what each section is worth and how to properly use each section of the web site.
If a teacher can actually fight with the program long enough to actually figure out how to use it, I can understand why a program like this one would be useful to students and teachers. The ability for parents to see their child's grades can be helpful in being proactive and contacting the teacher before any severe academic problems arise with their children. I know a lot of students who receive poor grades often either attempt to hide them from their parents, or do not tell their parents right away. The ability for a parent to be able to log on and see their child's grade regardless of if they actually show them their classwork or not.
Below is a picture of a grading matrix I attempted to create. It includes the assignments I created and how much of the final grade each assignment was worth. Unfortunately I was unable to figure out how to enter grades, so I was unable to experiment with what comes next as far as the grading process.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Digital Story
Today I created my first Digital Story. This was the first time I had ever created a presentation like this with any program other than Power Point. It was stressful at first because I consider myself somewhat of an expert on Power Point and have become very comfortable creating presentations with the program to give in front of my classes.
However, once I became accustomed to the Photo Story 3 program and started to get the hang of using it, the project became fun and easier. I chose to do my story on the United States use of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima at the end of World War II because I am studying to become a Social Studies teacher and it is easier for me to teach my own content obviously.
I particularly like being able to narrate the video myself, as it can be a little more exciting for people watching the presentation to hear a real voice, rather than having to read the words themselves.
Click here to view my page about my Digital Story on Hiroshima
However, once I became accustomed to the Photo Story 3 program and started to get the hang of using it, the project became fun and easier. I chose to do my story on the United States use of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima at the end of World War II because I am studying to become a Social Studies teacher and it is easier for me to teach my own content obviously.
I particularly like being able to narrate the video myself, as it can be a little more exciting for people watching the presentation to hear a real voice, rather than having to read the words themselves.
Click here to view my page about my Digital Story on Hiroshima
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Tools for Collaboration
This week we learned about some new tools to help us with collaboration. Collaboration is a key element in education because when multiple individuals work together toward a goal it can be accomplished faster and with more effectiveness.
I explored three specific online tools for collaboration which I felt were especially helpful. The first cool was Google for Educators. It is an online discussion board where the user can browse, ask, or answer questions pertaining to education. This is helpful because chances are any questions one has about education have probably already been asked and answered, so the user can simply browse for their answer. In the event that their question has not been asked and answered, then the user has the ability to create a discussion and ask their question to the online community.
The second and third collaboration tools which I explored where online video web conferencing platforms. FlashMeeting and IT4ALL. This can be more helpful to some users, as message board discussion forums can be an impersonal method of communication. The ability to see, hear and speak to another person can be much more effective and help the user understand.
I was not aware of any of these tools before taking this class and being asked to explore them. Now that I know about them, I am very happy to know that they exist to help me in my career as an educator if I should need the collaborative help of others.
I explored three specific online tools for collaboration which I felt were especially helpful. The first cool was Google for Educators. It is an online discussion board where the user can browse, ask, or answer questions pertaining to education. This is helpful because chances are any questions one has about education have probably already been asked and answered, so the user can simply browse for their answer. In the event that their question has not been asked and answered, then the user has the ability to create a discussion and ask their question to the online community.
The second and third collaboration tools which I explored where online video web conferencing platforms. FlashMeeting and IT4ALL. This can be more helpful to some users, as message board discussion forums can be an impersonal method of communication. The ability to see, hear and speak to another person can be much more effective and help the user understand.
I was not aware of any of these tools before taking this class and being asked to explore them. Now that I know about them, I am very happy to know that they exist to help me in my career as an educator if I should need the collaborative help of others.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Online Meetings
This week has been another bunch of new experiences. For group work this week we had to construct a page called a "Teaching Tool Kit" which contained links to helpful sites we found about integrating aspects of teaching with technology.
I am so used to having classes in person and meeting in the library to collaborate on group projects, and it is a totally new experience to get on the computer and use a program like gtalk to meet as a group. These forms of technology are confusing at first, but once I get a handle on them they can make some aspects of life and school a lot easier. On my days off from school, it is a lot easier to get on the computer from my house to have a group meeting, rather than get in the car and come all the way to school.
It is also helpful to be able to go on moodle and read the discussion forums to see what questions or problems other students are having. A lot of the time, before I E-mail the teacher, I go on the discussion forum to see if somebody has had the same question and maybe my question has already been asked and answered. Not like I want to see other students have problems, but it also feels good to know that when I am confused or when I have a problem with part of an assignment that I am not the only one. Sometimes in class I feel like maybe I'm the only one who is not understanding, but probably a lot of people feel the same way and are just not saying it out loud.
I am so used to having classes in person and meeting in the library to collaborate on group projects, and it is a totally new experience to get on the computer and use a program like gtalk to meet as a group. These forms of technology are confusing at first, but once I get a handle on them they can make some aspects of life and school a lot easier. On my days off from school, it is a lot easier to get on the computer from my house to have a group meeting, rather than get in the car and come all the way to school.
It is also helpful to be able to go on moodle and read the discussion forums to see what questions or problems other students are having. A lot of the time, before I E-mail the teacher, I go on the discussion forum to see if somebody has had the same question and maybe my question has already been asked and answered. Not like I want to see other students have problems, but it also feels good to know that when I am confused or when I have a problem with part of an assignment that I am not the only one. Sometimes in class I feel like maybe I'm the only one who is not understanding, but probably a lot of people feel the same way and are just not saying it out loud.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Picasion
I have never made a Picasion or any type of animated .GIF before. This was a fun assignment because it allowed me to post an image of all of my work so far, and it allowed me to see exactly what I have done so far. This was fun because it actually showed me all of the progress I have made since the beginning of the class so far and it symbolizes all of the new things I have learned that I have done for the first time.
Here is a link to my Picasion:
http://i.picasion.com/pic29/80dac174a8c95b8e58e190faf07d5efc.gif
Here is a link to my Picasion:
http://i.picasion.com/pic29/80dac174a8c95b8e58e190faf07d5efc.gif
Reflections of a technological learner....
Reflections of a technological learner....
This week brought on another group of new experiences and challenges involving technology. On Monday night, we had our first online class. I had never had an online class before and trying to figure out how to work the program and get everything to work correctly was a challenge. However, once I figured out how to use the program, it was a rewarding feeling.
It was a totally new experience to have an online class meeting. To be sitting at my computer and listening to the teacher and talking through a microphone to the class are things that I have never done or thought about doing in the past. I think technology is a good thing, and the more we learn to use it can make our lives easier. However, I am always scared that relying on too much technology can be a bad thing because I live in fear of technology failing on me.
The difference between computer literacy, information literacy, and integration literacy are that simply having knowledge of computers and their uses is not the same as having the actual ability to put those uses into action. Knowing that you can look information up on the computer is not the same as being able to actually get on the computer and know how to look information up. Integration literacy is being able to combine knowledge and ability of technology and add them to other teaching and learning strategies to enhance student learning. This is 21st Century Learning, and as we progress into the future and new technology continues to be developed, the way we teach and learn in schools will continue to be enhances by new technology.
Digital Students today are different from students of the past. In the past, when a student needed information they would go to the library and look in books. Now, when students are in need of information the internet is the first place they look. People today in general believe that "Google knows everything". Also, with the new development of what cell phones and blackberry's are capable of, most students walk around with the internet and information accessible to them at all times.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making is probably the bets implemented of the six National Educational Technology Standards for Students. Those are aspects of school and life that are important for all students to utilize, regardless of the use of technology. However, using technology that they are familiar with can potentially make learning those problem solving skills easier to absorb. As a teacher, I think this is an attribute that I am prepared to teach, but they are also traits which I am learning to adapt to new technology myself. In order to make all of these standards available to implemented, there needs to be more training for teachers so that they can be aware and capable of utilizing technology.
We are living in a world which is shifting from Education 1.0 to a new world of Education 2.0. In the past, it was strict lecture and the traditional tools such as worksheets and pen and paper assessments. We are now shifting to more of a technological and interactive classroom. Students use so many stimulating forms of technology int heir spare time that it is difficult for a teacher to maintain their attention and motivate the students with traditional education tools. Because of this, it is more of a crucial need for teachers to incorporate technology into their lessons, such as web quests, interactive web lessons, and incorporating other forms of technology into the lessons to stimulate the student while providing them with a quality education.
This week brought on another group of new experiences and challenges involving technology. On Monday night, we had our first online class. I had never had an online class before and trying to figure out how to work the program and get everything to work correctly was a challenge. However, once I figured out how to use the program, it was a rewarding feeling.
It was a totally new experience to have an online class meeting. To be sitting at my computer and listening to the teacher and talking through a microphone to the class are things that I have never done or thought about doing in the past. I think technology is a good thing, and the more we learn to use it can make our lives easier. However, I am always scared that relying on too much technology can be a bad thing because I live in fear of technology failing on me.
The difference between computer literacy, information literacy, and integration literacy are that simply having knowledge of computers and their uses is not the same as having the actual ability to put those uses into action. Knowing that you can look information up on the computer is not the same as being able to actually get on the computer and know how to look information up. Integration literacy is being able to combine knowledge and ability of technology and add them to other teaching and learning strategies to enhance student learning. This is 21st Century Learning, and as we progress into the future and new technology continues to be developed, the way we teach and learn in schools will continue to be enhances by new technology.
Digital Students today are different from students of the past. In the past, when a student needed information they would go to the library and look in books. Now, when students are in need of information the internet is the first place they look. People today in general believe that "Google knows everything". Also, with the new development of what cell phones and blackberry's are capable of, most students walk around with the internet and information accessible to them at all times.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making is probably the bets implemented of the six National Educational Technology Standards for Students. Those are aspects of school and life that are important for all students to utilize, regardless of the use of technology. However, using technology that they are familiar with can potentially make learning those problem solving skills easier to absorb. As a teacher, I think this is an attribute that I am prepared to teach, but they are also traits which I am learning to adapt to new technology myself. In order to make all of these standards available to implemented, there needs to be more training for teachers so that they can be aware and capable of utilizing technology.
We are living in a world which is shifting from Education 1.0 to a new world of Education 2.0. In the past, it was strict lecture and the traditional tools such as worksheets and pen and paper assessments. We are now shifting to more of a technological and interactive classroom. Students use so many stimulating forms of technology int heir spare time that it is difficult for a teacher to maintain their attention and motivate the students with traditional education tools. Because of this, it is more of a crucial need for teachers to incorporate technology into their lessons, such as web quests, interactive web lessons, and incorporating other forms of technology into the lessons to stimulate the student while providing them with a quality education.
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