I think the role of technology in education is crucial. In a world were technology changes daily and were students know more about the latest technologies than their teachers, it is essential that technology is used in classrooms. Students need to be engaged in class and without technology, I think we will lose the attention of many. The days of a teacher standing in front of a class and giving a boring lecture, with nothing else to look, at are over. Kids want to learn and technology is a tool in helping them to learn better.
My view of technology has changed in the sense that I am not AS intimidated by it. It is also a lot more accessible than I thought, especially with all the free tools available on line. I have learned how to use a lot of new tools, and it was easier than I thought it would be to figure them out. I am excited to be able to use these tools in my classroom and also maybe to show other teachers what is out there. I think that instead of being afraid of technology, I am now willing to learn because I know it will help me to teach better and it will be funner to use more interesting and engaging tools that will keep my student's interest. I hope that I can remember most of the things I learned, and can't wait to start using them.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
My Interview
I interviewed for the entrance into the Ed. Program this semester. I talked to other students who had their interviews that day, but when I got home from class, I didn't think about it. My interview was scheduled for 8:30 pm, and at 8:36pm i got a call from Pam, which I immediately knew I had dropped the ball. Having had a class with Pam, she knew I was not in the habbit of missing class or being late, so she covered for me. I rushed to put on some nice clothes, sped to the school, and apologized emphatically to my interviewees when I arrived twenty minutes late (not a good start to my professional carreer). Steve and Lisa both had teased me and had fun with the situation and when it was time for the interview to start, they told me to forget about it and focus on the interview. It took me a few minutes to settle down, but Steve, Lisa, and Prof. Garrett were all very nice.
The interview went very well, and at the end I was encouraged, especially by Prof. Garrett, to think about at least student teaching at a private school because she saw the "Pastor side" of me that would be beneficial to students in a Christian school. Originally I had no desire to teach in private schools, but after their encouraging words, I have not ruled out the possibility of doing so.
The interview went very well, and at the end I was encouraged, especially by Prof. Garrett, to think about at least student teaching at a private school because she saw the "Pastor side" of me that would be beneficial to students in a Christian school. Originally I had no desire to teach in private schools, but after their encouraging words, I have not ruled out the possibility of doing so.
Giving Bibles Away at School a No No!
An article from teacher magazine talks about a Louisiana public school that can longer hand out Bibles to students. A federal judge ruled that giving Bibles out violated separation of church and state. The school will appeal the ruling, because they say that the students are not forced to accept a Bible.
It's unfortunate to me that they cannot even hand out Bible's at school, but the country continues to go in that direction. I know I will not be able to force my beliefs on my future students, but I hope in the future that if I am asked, I will still be able to share Christ with them.
It's unfortunate to me that they cannot even hand out Bible's at school, but the country continues to go in that direction. I know I will not be able to force my beliefs on my future students, but I hope in the future that if I am asked, I will still be able to share Christ with them.
Microeconomics Class
I was blessed to be able to take Prof. Bacon's Microeconomics class. I did not know what to expect of the class at the beginning of the semester, but from the very start I loved the class. He is a phenomenal professor, who's desire for teaching is clearly evident. Adding to his great sense of humor mixed with subtle sarcasm, was the unique structure of the class. Instead of a bunch of boring exams that most people (including me) will cram for and not learn a thing, he structured the class in a way that got every student involved and engaged. Also engaging were his assignments. We had to put what we learned into a context of a poem, a short story, and a Pecha-Kucha Presentation. Because of the atmosphere he created in the classroom, I did not want to miss a class, and learning was actually fun. As a result of Prof. Bacon's class, I have picked up a few tricks in helping me to structure my future classes, and hopefully I will be able to make learning fun for my students.
Jacob
In other news about my old High school of Eagle Point, my good friend Jacob just became the new head coach of the football team. Jacob played for the team in our junior year that went to the state championship game and made it deep in the playoffs the next year. They had never been to a championship game prior to that, and have not been back since. But I believe that Jacob will bring the team back as head coach. He has been a defensive coach at the last two schools he taught, and helped take each team to the playoffs with his stout defense. Jacob is a great coach, a great teacher, and an even better person, who is successful in everything he does, and I'm sure his success will continue at Eagle Point.
Eagle Point High School
I was doing some research on the city of Eagle Point (Oregon) were I went to school at EPHS.
I found a great article on the Mail Tribune website that talked about some changes the high school was making to accommodate limited English speaking students. Next year they will be adding more English Language Learner teachers and a new English language development curriculum. Admin. believes that the program will help to improve the English proficiency standards that the school has been struggling with and are encouraged that the rates will increase. When I graduated EPHS eleven years ago, the number of Spanish speaking students was growing every year. The area provides a draw to migrant workers because of the many thousands of acres of fruit orchards. I had heard that the number of Spanish speaking students was catching up to English speaking students for quite some time, so it sounds like the program was long overdue.
I found a great article on the Mail Tribune website that talked about some changes the high school was making to accommodate limited English speaking students. Next year they will be adding more English Language Learner teachers and a new English language development curriculum. Admin. believes that the program will help to improve the English proficiency standards that the school has been struggling with and are encouraged that the rates will increase. When I graduated EPHS eleven years ago, the number of Spanish speaking students was growing every year. The area provides a draw to migrant workers because of the many thousands of acres of fruit orchards. I had heard that the number of Spanish speaking students was catching up to English speaking students for quite some time, so it sounds like the program was long overdue.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Assignment #5
For my presentation I did a SMART Board activity on the Spanish Flu. Actually it is more of a quiz, but at least it is a fun quiz.
For starters, I had to learn more about the Spanish Flu then what I had already known (which was very little). Next I started playing around more with some of the functions of the SMART Board. I downloaded the Lesson Activity Toolkit 1.0 that Prof. Sorenson provided to me on a link. On top of all the "Essentials for Educators" pictures, the Toolkit provided a lot more options to use for this activity. There are games, activities, and what I found most useful were the tools and activities. In the "Tools" icon was a set of pages titled "Notebook Files and Pages." For my first page I used one of the activities called "Balloon pop" It was set up for a vocabulary lesson, so I altered it to relate to my lesson. On the page is a question and underneath it are eight balloons, each with an answer written on them. When the balloon is clicked on it pops, revealing a check mark if correct or an X if incorrect.
The next page in the lesson I used the "Multiple Choice" option under the "Activities" icon in Toolkit. It allows you to type in a question and underneath it are four possible choices. When editing, after you put in the possible answers, it asks you to select the box number with the correct answer. I ended up doing four different questions, which are all contained in the same slide. When an answer is correctly chosen, it goes to the next question until all of the answers are correctly chosen. Then it gives a final score of how the person did on the quiz.
The next page I did is a fun game using the "Blue-Vortex Sort" option under the "Activities" icon. This gives the student a number of words and beneath them are two vortex traps. The student then drags a word to the correct vortex. If it is correct it swallows the word, but if it is incorrect it spits the word back out. To edit this activity, each vortex needed to be labeled (it could have allowed more room for letters) then it allows you to create the words to go inside the each vortex (the left labeled Vortex 1 and the right labeled Vortex 2).
On the fourth page I chose a blank map of the United States with the outline of the states in the "Essentials for Educators" icon. I used the "Question Flipper 2" in the "Tools" portion of the Toolkit. On one side I typed the question I wanted to ask, then when clicked, the box flips over revealing the answer to the question, which I obviously had to type into the box. I also added the abbreviation for ten of the U.S. states to narrow down the possible answers to the question. The student puts a smiley face on what they believe is the correct state, and then clicks on the flipper to see if their answer is correct.
The last slide I used the "Click and Reveal" boxes to insert a question and to cover the answer to the question. A blue box covers the question and answer then, when clicked, they are revealed. I also, for the first time, saved an image that I found online to "My Pictures." I was then able to add this picture to my slide (which was the answer to the question) using by clicking "Insert" then "Picture File" on the tool bar. I was also able to save a clip from YouTube for the first time to "My Video" (which I might add took for ever to figure that one out). I then inserted a link to the clip again using "Insert" on the tool bar.
Once I navigated around the Toolkit in SMART Board, I became familiar with most of the different options. I knew what kind of questions I wanted to ask, so then it became a matter of deciding which activity would go best in providing for each question. I was not comfortable at all, really, with the SMART Board stuff, especially the Toolkit that I added for this assignment. But with some practice, it was not very intimidating. I had a little trouble figuring out how to save pictures and video clips, since I had never done this before, but it was worth the time to figure out how to do so.
I love the SMART Board activities, and I think it will provide a better learning experience for students and also a better teaching experience for teachers. I had fun figuring out how to edit my lesson, and I think the finished product turned out pretty well.
For starters, I had to learn more about the Spanish Flu then what I had already known (which was very little). Next I started playing around more with some of the functions of the SMART Board. I downloaded the Lesson Activity Toolkit 1.0 that Prof. Sorenson provided to me on a link. On top of all the "Essentials for Educators" pictures, the Toolkit provided a lot more options to use for this activity. There are games, activities, and what I found most useful were the tools and activities. In the "Tools" icon was a set of pages titled "Notebook Files and Pages." For my first page I used one of the activities called "Balloon pop" It was set up for a vocabulary lesson, so I altered it to relate to my lesson. On the page is a question and underneath it are eight balloons, each with an answer written on them. When the balloon is clicked on it pops, revealing a check mark if correct or an X if incorrect.
The next page in the lesson I used the "Multiple Choice" option under the "Activities" icon in Toolkit. It allows you to type in a question and underneath it are four possible choices. When editing, after you put in the possible answers, it asks you to select the box number with the correct answer. I ended up doing four different questions, which are all contained in the same slide. When an answer is correctly chosen, it goes to the next question until all of the answers are correctly chosen. Then it gives a final score of how the person did on the quiz.
The next page I did is a fun game using the "Blue-Vortex Sort" option under the "Activities" icon. This gives the student a number of words and beneath them are two vortex traps. The student then drags a word to the correct vortex. If it is correct it swallows the word, but if it is incorrect it spits the word back out. To edit this activity, each vortex needed to be labeled (it could have allowed more room for letters) then it allows you to create the words to go inside the each vortex (the left labeled Vortex 1 and the right labeled Vortex 2).
On the fourth page I chose a blank map of the United States with the outline of the states in the "Essentials for Educators" icon. I used the "Question Flipper 2" in the "Tools" portion of the Toolkit. On one side I typed the question I wanted to ask, then when clicked, the box flips over revealing the answer to the question, which I obviously had to type into the box. I also added the abbreviation for ten of the U.S. states to narrow down the possible answers to the question. The student puts a smiley face on what they believe is the correct state, and then clicks on the flipper to see if their answer is correct.
The last slide I used the "Click and Reveal" boxes to insert a question and to cover the answer to the question. A blue box covers the question and answer then, when clicked, they are revealed. I also, for the first time, saved an image that I found online to "My Pictures." I was then able to add this picture to my slide (which was the answer to the question) using by clicking "Insert" then "Picture File" on the tool bar. I was also able to save a clip from YouTube for the first time to "My Video" (which I might add took for ever to figure that one out). I then inserted a link to the clip again using "Insert" on the tool bar.
Once I navigated around the Toolkit in SMART Board, I became familiar with most of the different options. I knew what kind of questions I wanted to ask, so then it became a matter of deciding which activity would go best in providing for each question. I was not comfortable at all, really, with the SMART Board stuff, especially the Toolkit that I added for this assignment. But with some practice, it was not very intimidating. I had a little trouble figuring out how to save pictures and video clips, since I had never done this before, but it was worth the time to figure out how to do so.
I love the SMART Board activities, and I think it will provide a better learning experience for students and also a better teaching experience for teachers. I had fun figuring out how to edit my lesson, and I think the finished product turned out pretty well.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
What will the classroom look like in 5 years?
A lot of the change will depend on the budget of the individual schools. I think in some schools it will not change much, especially those with a small budget. Technology costs money, and some do not have enough in the budget to keep up with the latest. Some schools will be able to afford somewhat outdate technology, and some will be able to keep up with the latest. I definitely think that many, and hopefully most, schools will have a SmartBoard in the classrooms. It just seems like a smooth evolution from blackboards to whiteboards to projectors to SmartBoards. I know that with the way new technologies seem to become outdated so quickly, there will probably be new tools, that we have not even heard of, used in classrooms. I really cannot imagine how much the classroom will change in the next five years, but my guess is that there will be many changes, especially in the higher budget schools.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Internet Safety
Some of the Internet safety issues are, even though there are filters, X-Rated sites are still accessible. Students may also come into contact with Internet predators. Students can "bully" other students online (cyberbullying).
To help protect, schools can use filters, have students use safe search engines such as nettrekker. You can create a Database through google of the sites you want them to use. Have students work in pairs and reward them to keep each other accountable. Make sure they're supervised. There are programs where teachers can control the students Desktop and see what they are doing.
To help protect, schools can use filters, have students use safe search engines such as nettrekker. You can create a Database through google of the sites you want them to use. Have students work in pairs and reward them to keep each other accountable. Make sure they're supervised. There are programs where teachers can control the students Desktop and see what they are doing.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Inspiration Activity
I made a Last 5 Years Timeline using Inspiration software. This was perfect timing because, ironically, I have a mind map due in another class in two days and this program will work perfectly. This seems like it would be a great tool for students to learn and have fun while they're doing it. It's exciting, to me, to see all these programs that actually make learning fun.
K-12 Online Conference
I listened to the "Cell Phones as Classroom Learning Tools" presentation. While this assignment is suppossed to be a summary and what I learned, the summary and what I learned will be the same, because literally everything said in this presentation was all new to me. I don't even know how to text on my cell phone. This presentation gave specific examples of, as the title states, how to use cell phones as tools for learning and teaching.
The presenters first talked about four ways to use cell phones as tools and used free Web 2.0 resources to assist in the use of cell phones:
1. Podcasting
You can use a phone to record a podcast and download, as an MP3 file, to a website such as gadcast.com, which also allows you to automatically post the podcast to a blog.
2.Phone Conferencing
There are many free sites that allow for phone conferencing such as freeconferencepro.com, which allows you to talk to as many as two hundred people.
3.Private Voicemail
This is useful especially if you do not want to give out your personal phone number. Websites like privatephone.com allows you to set up free voicemail and gives you a local number. You can check your messages online or by phone.
4. Mobil Notetaking
There are many websites, such as jot.com tha allow you to send audio notes from your cell phone to an e-mail account.
They also gave some examples of podcasts from teachers and students.
They said that students can use phones for other things like interviews, soundclips, radio broadcasts, creating books on tape, and virtual conferencing or debates.
Cell phones can also be used as digital cameras and camcorders. Many websites such as blogger, flicker, and bubbleshare are set up for photoblogging. On bubbleshare you can even create a photo slideshow. There are also websites like ispot that allow for video posting and editing. Some ideas on how photos and video recordings would be useful is for data collection (science class), interviewing purposes, digital story books, enhanced podcasting, and public service announcements.
Teachers can also create fun project for cell phones. You can have the class make creative ring tones through phonezoo.com. They can create educational wallpaper or screensavers through picstophone.com. They can send free text messages through many online sites. They can also conduct surveys and polls with their phones through mobil.com. These options would be useful for texting unit reviews, creating fun ring tones and jingles for studying, mobil artwork, students can text current events back and forth to eachother, and also for texting school events and news.
Cell phones can also be a research tool. Most new phones come with the ability to access the internet. A phone can only access mobile ready pages, which are designated by a .mobi. One website called ready.mobi allows you to see if a website is available for a cell phone. Most search sites are mobile ready. Students can also text their librarian. A website called mobilquery.com offers free software for quick reference. Also homeworknow.com gives parents and students homework alerts.
Finally, new features are continually being updated and many are coming in the future. More software is being created for cell phones like software to turn your phone into a graphing calculator, or better access to navigation (GPS) software. They are working on cell phones having the ability to act as a all-in-one printer (scan, copy, fax). And there are some phones that can be used as a jump drive.
It is amazing how cell phone technology has increased and how useful a cell phone is now. I think some people often forget that it was originally made as a way to audiblly talk to other people, but now that is only a small feature. This presentation was very informative and gave many useful ideas for using cell phones for learning and teaching tools. The only thing I question is how practical is it to expect everyone in the class to have a phone, whether they can afford one, or even the fact that not all parents want their kids to have a phone. I think many of these ideas can apply to certain schools, but I believe that the use of phones in a class setting will increase in the future.
The presenters first talked about four ways to use cell phones as tools and used free Web 2.0 resources to assist in the use of cell phones:
1. Podcasting
You can use a phone to record a podcast and download, as an MP3 file, to a website such as gadcast.com, which also allows you to automatically post the podcast to a blog.
2.Phone Conferencing
There are many free sites that allow for phone conferencing such as freeconferencepro.com, which allows you to talk to as many as two hundred people.
3.Private Voicemail
This is useful especially if you do not want to give out your personal phone number. Websites like privatephone.com allows you to set up free voicemail and gives you a local number. You can check your messages online or by phone.
4. Mobil Notetaking
There are many websites, such as jot.com tha allow you to send audio notes from your cell phone to an e-mail account.
They also gave some examples of podcasts from teachers and students.
They said that students can use phones for other things like interviews, soundclips, radio broadcasts, creating books on tape, and virtual conferencing or debates.
Cell phones can also be used as digital cameras and camcorders. Many websites such as blogger, flicker, and bubbleshare are set up for photoblogging. On bubbleshare you can even create a photo slideshow. There are also websites like ispot that allow for video posting and editing. Some ideas on how photos and video recordings would be useful is for data collection (science class), interviewing purposes, digital story books, enhanced podcasting, and public service announcements.
Teachers can also create fun project for cell phones. You can have the class make creative ring tones through phonezoo.com. They can create educational wallpaper or screensavers through picstophone.com. They can send free text messages through many online sites. They can also conduct surveys and polls with their phones through mobil.com. These options would be useful for texting unit reviews, creating fun ring tones and jingles for studying, mobil artwork, students can text current events back and forth to eachother, and also for texting school events and news.
Cell phones can also be a research tool. Most new phones come with the ability to access the internet. A phone can only access mobile ready pages, which are designated by a .mobi. One website called ready.mobi allows you to see if a website is available for a cell phone. Most search sites are mobile ready. Students can also text their librarian. A website called mobilquery.com offers free software for quick reference. Also homeworknow.com gives parents and students homework alerts.
Finally, new features are continually being updated and many are coming in the future. More software is being created for cell phones like software to turn your phone into a graphing calculator, or better access to navigation (GPS) software. They are working on cell phones having the ability to act as a all-in-one printer (scan, copy, fax). And there are some phones that can be used as a jump drive.
It is amazing how cell phone technology has increased and how useful a cell phone is now. I think some people often forget that it was originally made as a way to audiblly talk to other people, but now that is only a small feature. This presentation was very informative and gave many useful ideas for using cell phones for learning and teaching tools. The only thing I question is how practical is it to expect everyone in the class to have a phone, whether they can afford one, or even the fact that not all parents want their kids to have a phone. I think many of these ideas can apply to certain schools, but I believe that the use of phones in a class setting will increase in the future.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Assignment #4
I found this fun and exciting lesson about the geographic spreading of the flu virus in the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919. I have always been enamored with the movies that focus on the outbreak of a deadly airborne disease, and I'm sure many of my students will be also.
Technology has been integrated into this lesson by using the Internet for research, and using copies of blank maps found on the Internet.
One way I think technology could be strengthened would be to use a SmartBoard to help with the lesson. The lesson calls for the use of a large world map for students to locate areas that were hit by the flu. It would be great if I could put the blank map up on the SmartBoard and have the students plot the points that correspond to the different areas where the flu spread, during what times. This would allow them to watch and see where the disease spread to, while explaining how it spread at the same time. Plus it would be much more exciting then just pointing at a boring old map on the wall.
Another way technology could strengthen the lesson would be to actually incorporate clips from movies like Outbreak into the lesson to get the students a little more interested in the topic. This would help them to see how a disease spreads and also arouse their curiosity of an actual real life situation of a disease that spread very far and took many human lives.
The tools I would need to incorporate this particular lesson are computers with Internet access, books, and blank maps. I would also need to make sure Adobe Acrobat Reader was installed on the computers so that the particular blank map used could be printed out. I would also need a large map of the world. In using a SmartBoard, Obviously I would need access to a SmartBoard and all the software needed use it effectively.
Some challenges to adding this technology is the fact that every student would need a computer with Internet access. I am sure that most schools would at least have a computer lab that the class could use for this particular lesson and for researching the Flu Pandemic. But if there is not access then they would just be limited to using books and articles for research. A large map of the world should be available, but if one is not then I could draw my own map on a large paper. It would not have to be perfect, just something to get the idea across. But I don't think a scenario like that would occur.
The biggest challenge would be the use of a SmartBoard. Most schools probably will not have one, but there would probably be ways of getting one. Obviously, asking the school to supply one would be first, but would probably be rejected. Next I could look into grants in order to obtain a SmartBoard, but then it would probably take too long to actually get it if the school was approved. Another option would be to find out where a SmartBoard is located and ask to borrow it or rent it for a day.
The NETS for Students this lesson covers are:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students would use the Internet to find information regarding the where and the how questions of the Flu Pandemic. They would then use there creativity along with the rest of their individual group's creativity to make their own map of where the Pandemic was located and where it spread. They will be creatively making there own map to illustrate the spread of the disease.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Since this is a small group activity each student will collaborate with the other students in their group in order to figure out where the Pandemic spread. They will need to work together to agree how their map will be constructed and where to plot their points.
3. Research and Information Fluency
Each student will research the Flu Pandemic with the help of the Internet, books, and articles.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision Making
The students in each group will be allowed to divide the workload evenly amongst one another. After each participant has found there research, then the group will decide how to put it all together in order to complete the project (the finished map).
5. Technology Operations and Concepts
Each student will need to understand how to access the Internet to find the research information and to go to the links for the blank maps. If available, they will also need to have a basic understanding of the SmartBoard and how to use all of the functions needed for the activity.
I think this is an exciting possibility for a lesson plan. It has me curious about doing something like this for my final presentation, using the SmartBoard. Not only does the lesson provide historical insight regarding the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919, but it also allows the students the opportunity for a lesson on geography.
Technology has been integrated into this lesson by using the Internet for research, and using copies of blank maps found on the Internet.
One way I think technology could be strengthened would be to use a SmartBoard to help with the lesson. The lesson calls for the use of a large world map for students to locate areas that were hit by the flu. It would be great if I could put the blank map up on the SmartBoard and have the students plot the points that correspond to the different areas where the flu spread, during what times. This would allow them to watch and see where the disease spread to, while explaining how it spread at the same time. Plus it would be much more exciting then just pointing at a boring old map on the wall.
Another way technology could strengthen the lesson would be to actually incorporate clips from movies like Outbreak into the lesson to get the students a little more interested in the topic. This would help them to see how a disease spreads and also arouse their curiosity of an actual real life situation of a disease that spread very far and took many human lives.
The tools I would need to incorporate this particular lesson are computers with Internet access, books, and blank maps. I would also need to make sure Adobe Acrobat Reader was installed on the computers so that the particular blank map used could be printed out. I would also need a large map of the world. In using a SmartBoard, Obviously I would need access to a SmartBoard and all the software needed use it effectively.
Some challenges to adding this technology is the fact that every student would need a computer with Internet access. I am sure that most schools would at least have a computer lab that the class could use for this particular lesson and for researching the Flu Pandemic. But if there is not access then they would just be limited to using books and articles for research. A large map of the world should be available, but if one is not then I could draw my own map on a large paper. It would not have to be perfect, just something to get the idea across. But I don't think a scenario like that would occur.
The biggest challenge would be the use of a SmartBoard. Most schools probably will not have one, but there would probably be ways of getting one. Obviously, asking the school to supply one would be first, but would probably be rejected. Next I could look into grants in order to obtain a SmartBoard, but then it would probably take too long to actually get it if the school was approved. Another option would be to find out where a SmartBoard is located and ask to borrow it or rent it for a day.
The NETS for Students this lesson covers are:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students would use the Internet to find information regarding the where and the how questions of the Flu Pandemic. They would then use there creativity along with the rest of their individual group's creativity to make their own map of where the Pandemic was located and where it spread. They will be creatively making there own map to illustrate the spread of the disease.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Since this is a small group activity each student will collaborate with the other students in their group in order to figure out where the Pandemic spread. They will need to work together to agree how their map will be constructed and where to plot their points.
3. Research and Information Fluency
Each student will research the Flu Pandemic with the help of the Internet, books, and articles.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision Making
The students in each group will be allowed to divide the workload evenly amongst one another. After each participant has found there research, then the group will decide how to put it all together in order to complete the project (the finished map).
5. Technology Operations and Concepts
Each student will need to understand how to access the Internet to find the research information and to go to the links for the blank maps. If available, they will also need to have a basic understanding of the SmartBoard and how to use all of the functions needed for the activity.
I think this is an exciting possibility for a lesson plan. It has me curious about doing something like this for my final presentation, using the SmartBoard. Not only does the lesson provide historical insight regarding the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919, but it also allows the students the opportunity for a lesson on geography.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Assignment 3 preparation and thoughts (Smart Board)
Here is the link to the lesson plan I used.
This lesson will fulfil two of the NETS Standards for Students:
#4 Because it allows students to think about the answers to the questions and problems presented on the activity. They must remember specifici dates and events attatched to those dates.
#6 Because the students participate hands-on with the Smart Board. They must know how to navigate and use the various options on the Smart Board in order to access the answers to the questions.
This activity is a lesson on the League of Nations. It focuses on certain events, times, people, and places that were involved withe the L of N. In preparation I will familiarize myself with the lesson. Then I will right down each year and event linked to the date on the timeline in the lesson. The steps I will take during the presentation are: First I will explain the League of Nations. Then I will ask the students questions and they will pick a date on the timeline that answers the quetion. Next I will ask the students to put certain countries into one of two columns on the Smart Board that corresponds to whether or not the country was or was not a member of the L of N. They will then do the same activity but during a different year. Finally I will have a student place drag a magnifying glass ofer the place where the L of N was formed.
I loved this activity. Using the Smart Board is fun and I think it will be exciting for students. Not only is it a great teaching tool, but it is something that will keep the interest of the students. It provides a way to make learning fun for the students, and allows them to interact more in the classroom.
I did not make changes to the lesson plan because it had enough great information in it already. I tried to change one of the dates on the timeline because it was misprinted, but I could not figure out how to do it.
This lesson will fulfil two of the NETS Standards for Students:
#4 Because it allows students to think about the answers to the questions and problems presented on the activity. They must remember specifici dates and events attatched to those dates.
#6 Because the students participate hands-on with the Smart Board. They must know how to navigate and use the various options on the Smart Board in order to access the answers to the questions.
This activity is a lesson on the League of Nations. It focuses on certain events, times, people, and places that were involved withe the L of N. In preparation I will familiarize myself with the lesson. Then I will right down each year and event linked to the date on the timeline in the lesson. The steps I will take during the presentation are: First I will explain the League of Nations. Then I will ask the students questions and they will pick a date on the timeline that answers the quetion. Next I will ask the students to put certain countries into one of two columns on the Smart Board that corresponds to whether or not the country was or was not a member of the L of N. They will then do the same activity but during a different year. Finally I will have a student place drag a magnifying glass ofer the place where the L of N was formed.
I loved this activity. Using the Smart Board is fun and I think it will be exciting for students. Not only is it a great teaching tool, but it is something that will keep the interest of the students. It provides a way to make learning fun for the students, and allows them to interact more in the classroom.
I did not make changes to the lesson plan because it had enough great information in it already. I tried to change one of the dates on the timeline because it was misprinted, but I could not figure out how to do it.
Thoughts
It was neat to learn the different functions of using the Smart Board. I liked that you could drag the answers to their correct boxes. The timeline of events that I used was great because not only does it provide a way to quiz the students, but it adds a fun little twist of seeing the answer pop up when you touch the screen. The best part about the Smart Board is that you can do everything on it. You can set up a power point, have fun activities, and also wright anything you need to on it.
I hope in the future I will get to use the Smart Board in my classroom. Hopefully it will be a resource that most every school will be able to have, because it is such a great tool.
It was neat to learn the different functions of using the Smart Board. I liked that you could drag the answers to their correct boxes. The timeline of events that I used was great because not only does it provide a way to quiz the students, but it adds a fun little twist of seeing the answer pop up when you touch the screen. The best part about the Smart Board is that you can do everything on it. You can set up a power point, have fun activities, and also wright anything you need to on it.
I hope in the future I will get to use the Smart Board in my classroom. Hopefully it will be a resource that most every school will be able to have, because it is such a great tool.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Dr. Johnson
I can't help but to think about my favorite history prof. Dr. Johnson when I think about Technology in Education. He has the longest tenure of any prof. at NU and he still uses many of his old methods to teach. While I think technology is very important, Dr. Johnson is one example of an educator who can still affectively teach without the latest educational tools. I laugh inside when he rolls the overhead up and places his twenty-year-old clear outlines on the surface. While he does use power point in a coulpe of his classes, which he admitingly was not a fan of at first, his old methods of teaching still work. He loves his job and most students who take his courses learn a lot and enjoy the classes. For us new teachers, the use of technology is very important, but for some; you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Financial Educattion is a great idea
An article In Education Week talks about the importance of teaching financial education to kids. The article says that only ". . . 17 states require students to take an economics course and seven mandate a personal-finance course in order to graduate."
I expected those numbers to be much higher, but it just goes to show how little financial education is valued in America. I wish I would have had more financial education earlier in life to help prepare me for some of the decisions I have made financially. There are a lot of huge financial decisions to be made in a person's lifetime, and a knowledge of even the basics of economics and personal-finance would be beneficial for kids when they graduate high school and prepare to make their own decisions and learn how to spend money wisely. Also, consumer debt is huge in America today, and I believe that educating young people about the dangers of consumer debt, befor they engage in it, would help to make them more responsible financially.
I expected those numbers to be much higher, but it just goes to show how little financial education is valued in America. I wish I would have had more financial education earlier in life to help prepare me for some of the decisions I have made financially. There are a lot of huge financial decisions to be made in a person's lifetime, and a knowledge of even the basics of economics and personal-finance would be beneficial for kids when they graduate high school and prepare to make their own decisions and learn how to spend money wisely. Also, consumer debt is huge in America today, and I believe that educating young people about the dangers of consumer debt, befor they engage in it, would help to make them more responsible financially.
Evolution is a theory
A Fox News article reports that the Florida Board of Ed. is going to vote on whether or not to put the phrase "scientific theory of" in front of the word "evolution" when teaching the theory in schools. This has been a debate between Evolutionists and Creationists for years, and has stayed on the side of the Evolutionists for a long time.
Since Evolution is, in fact, only a theory that explains the existence of humans it should be clearly made known to students that it is just one theory. I also believe that since so many people are accepting of the Creation theory, it should also be taught in schools as an alternative. I plan on sending my kids to public schools, and I would rather my kids, at least, have the opportunity to learn about the other popular theory.
Hopefully the Board will vote to allow the phrase to be mandated so that the students will know that it is just a theory, and not scientific law.
Since Evolution is, in fact, only a theory that explains the existence of humans it should be clearly made known to students that it is just one theory. I also believe that since so many people are accepting of the Creation theory, it should also be taught in schools as an alternative. I plan on sending my kids to public schools, and I would rather my kids, at least, have the opportunity to learn about the other popular theory.
Hopefully the Board will vote to allow the phrase to be mandated so that the students will know that it is just a theory, and not scientific law.
Too much focus on test results
A Dallas Morning News article goes into an issue that frustrates many friends of mine who are teachers, and apparently is frustrating more than the teachers I know. The article basically says that testing standards are not allowing teachers to focus on teaching their students properly, because so much focus goes into worrying about achieving high test results for their students.
According to the article, a committe in Texas voted to make changes in the current system to modify or even get rid of parts of the accountability system.
I will not be surprised if this becomes a trend for other states as well. The idea of the testing standards is great, but it seems to do more harm than good (at least according to most of the teachers I know). Hopefully there will be a way that teachers can focus more on teaching and less on the added stress of meeting standards, but still graduate competant students.
According to the article, a committe in Texas voted to make changes in the current system to modify or even get rid of parts of the accountability system.
I will not be surprised if this becomes a trend for other states as well. The idea of the testing standards is great, but it seems to do more harm than good (at least according to most of the teachers I know). Hopefully there will be a way that teachers can focus more on teaching and less on the added stress of meeting standards, but still graduate competant students.
Great Teacher
This will answer Prof. Sorenson's question about why I switched from math endorsement to S.S. endorsement, but also hopefully it will inspire others as it did for me.
Dr. Strickland is an Eastern Orthodox minister and also a Western Civ. professor at Seattle U. At first I thought I would hate his class because he taught by lecture only, and because I thought he was an "interesting" man who came to class wearing the same outfit (I picture his closet consisting of four or five black dress shirts and two or three pair of black slacks). Needless to say this class was amazing. Most students in the class were taking it to fulfil gen. ed. requirements but, nevertheless, most of the students in the class really enjoyed it.
I am convinced that this class was so enjoyable because Dr. Strickland had a passion for what he was teaching. One time he played some Beethoven to show how the music of that time reflected the culture that it was created in. As we listened to the music, I could make out a faint smile on his face as he was soaking in the various symphonies. He had such a strong knowledge and understanding of the culture of Europe during that time, and it showed in his lectures. When he talked, it almost made me feel like I was watching a movie or a fascinating documentary on the History channel.
I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to take a class from Dr. Strickland as he taught at NU as an adjunct prof. for one year. I hope to have the ability to teach as passionately as Dr. Strickland, and to be able to keep the interest of my students as well as he did.
Dr. Strickland is an Eastern Orthodox minister and also a Western Civ. professor at Seattle U. At first I thought I would hate his class because he taught by lecture only, and because I thought he was an "interesting" man who came to class wearing the same outfit (I picture his closet consisting of four or five black dress shirts and two or three pair of black slacks). Needless to say this class was amazing. Most students in the class were taking it to fulfil gen. ed. requirements but, nevertheless, most of the students in the class really enjoyed it.
I am convinced that this class was so enjoyable because Dr. Strickland had a passion for what he was teaching. One time he played some Beethoven to show how the music of that time reflected the culture that it was created in. As we listened to the music, I could make out a faint smile on his face as he was soaking in the various symphonies. He had such a strong knowledge and understanding of the culture of Europe during that time, and it showed in his lectures. When he talked, it almost made me feel like I was watching a movie or a fascinating documentary on the History channel.
I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to take a class from Dr. Strickland as he taught at NU as an adjunct prof. for one year. I hope to have the ability to teach as passionately as Dr. Strickland, and to be able to keep the interest of my students as well as he did.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Assignment #2
Within the Social Studies endorsement are many different topics for high school classes; I will focus on five.
1. Geography
Geography is important because it teaches students were in the world places are. Students also learn about different cultures, climates, and other distinguishing factors which make up other places in the world. I did not pay enough attention in high school geography, and as a result I felt ignorant of where places are in the world. If/when I teach geography, hopefully I can make it fun for the students and create an atmosphere where they will learn and remember where places are and learn about other cultures throughout the world. Maps are very important for teaching geography. Geo Teacher is a good resource for links to different Websites for creating maps, which would obviously be helpful for use in a geography class. A good site for blank maps is Google Images, which would help for quizes and tests. National Geographic is a helpful resource that would have a lot of information and pictures of people and places throughout the world. Another fun way for students to learn about geography is through the National Geography Challenge where students would also engage in competition with other students from all over the United States.
2. U.S. History
U.S History is my favorite subject and is, hopefully the subject I will be teaching the most. I think it is important to know about the history of our country since we live here. There are many good Websites that will prove helpful for use in my classes. The "History Matters" site will be very useful. It has a link to a large number of primary sources and images that would help to make sense of the time frame I will be teaching about. The Website also has a link for great test and quiz questions. Quiz Hub is another resource that provides fun quiz games that will make taking quizes much more exciting, or for creating stimulating games for students to remember dates, people, and places. The Smithsonian Website has many helpful links. The poster section allows for a teacher to download a poster like this one. The teacher could then use that one picture to explain a new role of women during WWII as they joined the work force.
3. Current Events
Current Events helps to keep students informed about tomorrow's history. There are obviously many Websites that report important news and events for teaching a current events class. Websites like C-Span, CNN, and PBS, have teacher friendly websites for all the latest.
4. American Government
American Government is also another important subject that I will probably be teaching. Students should know about the past Presidents, the branches of government, the Constitution, and all of the other important points that make up American government. Teachervision is an excellent resource for anything having to do with American Government. It provides lesson plans, quizzes, and a vast supply of information and links to help with American Government class. The Library of Congress website also has a lot of info. especially on the Constitution.
5. Economics
Economics can be a fun class if the teacher uses the right resources. Many students will want to pursue business, and hopefully a course in economics will excite many. One great source for helping teachers in economics is Econclass. There are some really fun games that illustrate economic priciples and engage students. The site also gives scenarios that get the students to think in terms of economics. EcEdWeb is another website that gives links for resources that would make economics fun for students to learn.
1. Geography
Geography is important because it teaches students were in the world places are. Students also learn about different cultures, climates, and other distinguishing factors which make up other places in the world. I did not pay enough attention in high school geography, and as a result I felt ignorant of where places are in the world. If/when I teach geography, hopefully I can make it fun for the students and create an atmosphere where they will learn and remember where places are and learn about other cultures throughout the world. Maps are very important for teaching geography. Geo Teacher is a good resource for links to different Websites for creating maps, which would obviously be helpful for use in a geography class. A good site for blank maps is Google Images, which would help for quizes and tests. National Geographic is a helpful resource that would have a lot of information and pictures of people and places throughout the world. Another fun way for students to learn about geography is through the National Geography Challenge where students would also engage in competition with other students from all over the United States.
2. U.S. History
U.S History is my favorite subject and is, hopefully the subject I will be teaching the most. I think it is important to know about the history of our country since we live here. There are many good Websites that will prove helpful for use in my classes. The "History Matters" site will be very useful. It has a link to a large number of primary sources and images that would help to make sense of the time frame I will be teaching about. The Website also has a link for great test and quiz questions. Quiz Hub is another resource that provides fun quiz games that will make taking quizes much more exciting, or for creating stimulating games for students to remember dates, people, and places. The Smithsonian Website has many helpful links. The poster section allows for a teacher to download a poster like this one. The teacher could then use that one picture to explain a new role of women during WWII as they joined the work force.
3. Current Events
Current Events helps to keep students informed about tomorrow's history. There are obviously many Websites that report important news and events for teaching a current events class. Websites like C-Span, CNN, and PBS, have teacher friendly websites for all the latest.
4. American Government
American Government is also another important subject that I will probably be teaching. Students should know about the past Presidents, the branches of government, the Constitution, and all of the other important points that make up American government. Teachervision is an excellent resource for anything having to do with American Government. It provides lesson plans, quizzes, and a vast supply of information and links to help with American Government class. The Library of Congress website also has a lot of info. especially on the Constitution.
5. Economics
Economics can be a fun class if the teacher uses the right resources. Many students will want to pursue business, and hopefully a course in economics will excite many. One great source for helping teachers in economics is Econclass. There are some really fun games that illustrate economic priciples and engage students. The site also gives scenarios that get the students to think in terms of economics. EcEdWeb is another website that gives links for resources that would make economics fun for students to learn.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
How I Can Use the SmartBoard
Well since I am a Social Studies endorsement, my first thought when I saw the maps was to use the SmartBoard for a Geography class. It would be great to put up a blank map of the US and have the students mark the states and possibly the capitals of each state. I also thought of using the Jeopardy game to have a trivia day to review what we had been discussing in class up to that point. I know there are much more things about the SmartBoard that will be useful, and after I practice on it and learn more about it, the more ideas I will come up with.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
SMART Board Article
http://downloads.smarttech.com/media/education/pdf/ieWinter06.pdf
I learned that there are only 250,00 SMART Boards used in classes throughout the world. I would think that because of its effectiveness to engage students there would be more, but I also learned how expensive they are. SMART Technologies is now introducing a pricing program for non-profit organizations (like schools) to get a board easier.
I learned that kids learn through video games (which is not surprising). Research shows that playing video games increases a child's "analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and
problem solving under stress." (7)
I also learned that a problem that some children have in a classroom when trying to learn is acoustics. Some schools have installed audio systems in the classroom which helped students hear better and increased behavior.
I received some good tip when applying for school grants. Some tips are: to establish good relationships with the organizations, networking (because some organizations do not accept unsolicited grant applications), knowing your school's goals, direction, and needs, and keep trying even if you have failed.
I learned that there are only 250,00 SMART Boards used in classes throughout the world. I would think that because of its effectiveness to engage students there would be more, but I also learned how expensive they are. SMART Technologies is now introducing a pricing program for non-profit organizations (like schools) to get a board easier.
I learned that kids learn through video games (which is not surprising). Research shows that playing video games increases a child's "analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and
problem solving under stress." (7)
I also learned that a problem that some children have in a classroom when trying to learn is acoustics. Some schools have installed audio systems in the classroom which helped students hear better and increased behavior.
I received some good tip when applying for school grants. Some tips are: to establish good relationships with the organizations, networking (because some organizations do not accept unsolicited grant applications), knowing your school's goals, direction, and needs, and keep trying even if you have failed.
Assignment #1 Technology Literacy
Questions
1. Provide a summary of your current technology knowledge and use. Include both educational and non-educational technology. What are some areas that you would like to work on this semester? See the Professional Preparation Performance Profile http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/teachers/t_profile-pro.html which is a guide to the competencies you need to work on as you take classes in the School of Education. (13 pts)2. What role should technology have in education and learning? Does using technology aid learning? Why or why not? (5 pts)
3. Using the Profile for Technology Literate Students
http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS-S_Student_Profiles.pdf
as a guide discuss at least 3 ways you could help students in your classroom meet the NETS standards for their age level. Include the standard that you are referring to and details of class project or homework assignments. (15 pts)
Answers
1a. Honestly, I am embarrassed by my lack of technology. I don't even know what is considered technology or not. When it comes to educational technology, I have no knowledge or use; I've never even created a Power Point. Obviously I just learned how to create a blog and an Internet website, so that's a good start. And for non-educational technology--again, I don't know what qualifies as technology--but I guess I could say: I just got my first HDTV a few months ago, I sent my first text message by phone a few weeks ago, I got my first MP3 player about six months ago (which I still have not used).1b. Obviously I would like to work on every area of technology, as it applies to education, this semester. In the list of competencies, I literally need help on all twenty-four of the recommended competencies. The three on the list that I would consider the most helpful are: #7. "design and teach technology-enriched learning activities that connect content standards with student technology standards and meet the diverse needs of students," #8. "design and peer teach a lesson that meets content area standards and reflects the current best practices in teaching and learning with technology," and #15. "develop a portfolio of technology-based products from coursework, including the related assessment tools."
2. I believe technology plays a very large role in education, especially in the ever-changing technological world we live in today. Technology helps to get things done faster and better, and the same should go for learning. If a tool is invented that will allow for a better learning environment in a classroom, than obviously the role of that technology is very important both for the teacher and the student. Technology aids in learning by connecting better with the student. It helps to keep the student engaged, and creates a better atmosphere for the student to thrive. Obviously kids keep up on the latest technology, so if it is used in the classroom, then it will better help to keep the student focused on the information he or she is to learn. In the past, (at least in high school) a teacher was supposed to keep the student engaged by giving boring lectures and writing on a screechy chalk board with their backs turned toward the students. Now there are so many things available for the teacher to use that will stimulate learning better and keep the teacher facing the students.
3. I really liked example number 1. "Design, develop, and test a digital learning game to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to curriculum content." I will be teaching social studies, so I thought this would work great for teaching in my endorsement. I immediately thought of an old computer game called "The Oregon Trail," where the object was to have the player navigate through the trail and also learn a few things about the history of the Oregon Trail in the process. This same thing could be applied to many historical events. Also, A game could be made in which the object was to pick a historical figure and navigate that person through the significant events in his or her historical context. I also thought of the game where the player is supposed to build their own theme park. In the case of a history, the player could reconstruct the event.
Example number 2. "Create and publish an online art gallery with examples and commentary that demonstrate an understanding of different historical periods, cultures, and countries," similarly obviously applies to my endorsement. This would be similar to number 1, but instead it would be just pictures. I could have pictures of events or people, and then have the student match those pictures with quotes or descriptions of the event.
Also, Example number 7. "Design a Web site that meets accessibility requirements," would be fun. I could have each student pick a historical figure or event and then have them design a website that is focused only on that person or event. Each student would then be allowed the freedom to construct the website however they would like, and be as creative as they would like as long as certain guidelines are met.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
My Other Eagle School
I liked the link to the teacher's websites. The site gives some personal info. as well as their teaching experience at the school, and what classes they are teaching. Also there are many other informative links about the school.
What I disliked: While there are many links, not all are updated. I was especially frustrated with the sports link. The stats are not updated, or are non-existent, and there are no pictures in the photo gallery.
All-in-all, I was pretty disappointed with the website. It did not have as much info. as I expected, and basically did not appeal to me.
The link:http://www.eaglepnt.k12.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=119
What I disliked: While there are many links, not all are updated. I was especially frustrated with the sports link. The stats are not updated, or are non-existent, and there are no pictures in the photo gallery.
All-in-all, I was pretty disappointed with the website. It did not have as much info. as I expected, and basically did not appeal to me.
The link:http://www.eaglepnt.k12.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=119
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
How to Teach with Technology: Keeping Both Teachers and Students Comfortable in an Era of Exponential Change
I learned that I am probably even more behind on technology than I thought, especially when compared to the amount of technology wisdom kids have today. The latest technology is shortly outdated, but kids know how to use the latest, or can be taught in just minutes; whereas it would take me days, weeks, or even months to learn how to use stuff that's probably been extremely outdated. The author also made a good point about embracing technology, and being able to use it in the classroom while, at the same time, learning from the students on how to use it myself. As I learn from my students how to use new technology, I can also affectively use it to teach them. He also makes a good point, that I will proably look stupid to my students if I cannot use the latest technology.
One question I have is: Can learning new technology during class be distracting and take too much time away from my objectives as a teacher?
Hawker
One question I have is: Can learning new technology during class be distracting and take too much time away from my objectives as a teacher?
Hawker
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I Wanna be a Teacher when I Grow Up
I first decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was about twenty-five. I had been working with junior high/high school age students in the youth ministry at my church, with my friend Sam (who was the youth Pastor). I realized that I really enjoyed working with these students, and it was an experience that proved to be very rewarding for me. After many of my friends were graduating college and becoming teachers, I thought that would be a great profession for me.
I originally thought I would be a math teacher, but after a Western Civ. class during my Freshman year in college, I decided to change my endorsement to social studies. I would rather teach high school age, rather than junior high.
I originally thought I would be a math teacher, but after a Western Civ. class during my Freshman year in college, I decided to change my endorsement to social studies. I would rather teach high school age, rather than junior high.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)