Shein, Esther (October 2008). Making History. The Journal, Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23394
This article is about a teacher, Jennifer Dorman, who used the Discovery Education’s Streaming and PowerMedia Plus programs to create a podcast assignment for her students. The assignment placed the students in the midst of key moments of WWII, where they would reenact and report on the events as if they were happening live. The students were given raw material to work with as well as the background information so they would understand the event they were doing. Dorman also used podcasts in her classroom for vocabulary reviews and to study for tests. She used the podcasts for the students to be motivated and study for their exams. This approach helps produce new levels of motivation and engagement for the students. This situation in the article is being used to promote the use of technology within collaborative activities in the classroom. It helps the students to understand the bigger picture and also helps the teacher to become a more effective instructor.
1. What do students learn from using the technology in a collaborative setting?
The students will be motivated in doing the research and learning about the project. They are able to be as creative as they would like while learning to analyze what is going on around them. Working with a group helps the students to learn to listen to others, problem solve and ultimately work as a team.
2. In what ways can a teacher use a podcast in a lesson plan?
The idea of placing the students in the past is a good one. The students would be able to give a “news cast” from the time period they are assigned and can be as creative as they would like to be. Also having a podcast as a tool of studying would help the students to stay focused and really review the material when a test came around.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Journal 9
Reynard, Ruth (October 2008). Avoiding the 5 most common mistakes in using bogs with Students. The Journal, Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23434
This article is about the use of blogs within the classroom. Teachers need to tell the students the context in which the tool is being used so that the students will understand the benefit of what they are learning. In this way teachers need to make sure using the blog will flow with what they are doing in the course to make sure the students get the most out of it. Teachers need to be aware of unclear learning outcomes, or the potential of using the blog tool may not be realized. The blog should be used as an individual publication that way the students can post but no one else would be able to contribute to the material. Also the teacher should have very clear grading rubrics for the student’s blogs so they know what their work is being evaluated on. Teachers also need to be aware of giving their students enough time to do their work on the blog. If all of these things are done students should get the maximum learning out of using blogs within their classrooms.
1. What kind of comments should the teacher make about a students blog?
All the comments made should be supportive and constructive. That way the students are able to maintain the interest and keep making their self-publications on the blog. As well as participate in class discussions and feel comfortable enough to keep posting.
2. What kind of rubric should be in place for grading blogs?
The teacher should have a very clearly stated rubric in place so the students know what is expected of their blog before they begin to write it. This will help the students to understand what they are learning and apply it in a practical context. The students will be confident in what they are doing and know what they are supposed to be learning.
This article is about the use of blogs within the classroom. Teachers need to tell the students the context in which the tool is being used so that the students will understand the benefit of what they are learning. In this way teachers need to make sure using the blog will flow with what they are doing in the course to make sure the students get the most out of it. Teachers need to be aware of unclear learning outcomes, or the potential of using the blog tool may not be realized. The blog should be used as an individual publication that way the students can post but no one else would be able to contribute to the material. Also the teacher should have very clear grading rubrics for the student’s blogs so they know what their work is being evaluated on. Teachers also need to be aware of giving their students enough time to do their work on the blog. If all of these things are done students should get the maximum learning out of using blogs within their classrooms.
1. What kind of comments should the teacher make about a students blog?
All the comments made should be supportive and constructive. That way the students are able to maintain the interest and keep making their self-publications on the blog. As well as participate in class discussions and feel comfortable enough to keep posting.
2. What kind of rubric should be in place for grading blogs?
The teacher should have a very clearly stated rubric in place so the students know what is expected of their blog before they begin to write it. This will help the students to understand what they are learning and apply it in a practical context. The students will be confident in what they are doing and know what they are supposed to be learning.
Journal 8
Curtis, Diane (2002, October, 1). A '"fantastic super" use of technology: Closing the digital divide. Edutopia, Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www.edutopia.org/fantastic-super-use-technology
The article is all about the uses of technology in Scroggs Elementary School. They use the internet to help the staff stay connected as well as keeping the parents connected and informed on what is going on. The idea of the school is designed around collaboration, they have teachers sharing offices and meeting spots all around the school so teachers can have a place to meet and share their ideas. The school is meant to lessen the divide between students and bring them together to give them all an education that is based on technology. The school seems to have a less stressful and competitive feel for the teachers and students, with less focus being on testing, which helps the teachers feel more relaxed when they are teaching and the students feel comfortable to learn the material being presented to them.
1. What technology would be best to use in my classroom?
I think having a classroom blog is a great idea. That way the students are always aware of what happened during the day, in case they missed a class for some reason. Also you could post the homework on the blog and have class discussions. Also having a blog or email circuit for the parents would be very helpful. They would always be aware of what their students were doing as well as be able to contact the teacher if they had any questions.
2. What kinds of technology can be used in the Elementary setting?
I liked the idea of creating a class wiki for the students. That way their parents would be able to be involved as well with the project. Also using digital photography in presentations and possibly blogging would be a good way to get the students interested in the use of technology and help them learn.
The article is all about the uses of technology in Scroggs Elementary School. They use the internet to help the staff stay connected as well as keeping the parents connected and informed on what is going on. The idea of the school is designed around collaboration, they have teachers sharing offices and meeting spots all around the school so teachers can have a place to meet and share their ideas. The school is meant to lessen the divide between students and bring them together to give them all an education that is based on technology. The school seems to have a less stressful and competitive feel for the teachers and students, with less focus being on testing, which helps the teachers feel more relaxed when they are teaching and the students feel comfortable to learn the material being presented to them.
1. What technology would be best to use in my classroom?
I think having a classroom blog is a great idea. That way the students are always aware of what happened during the day, in case they missed a class for some reason. Also you could post the homework on the blog and have class discussions. Also having a blog or email circuit for the parents would be very helpful. They would always be aware of what their students were doing as well as be able to contact the teacher if they had any questions.
2. What kinds of technology can be used in the Elementary setting?
I liked the idea of creating a class wiki for the students. That way their parents would be able to be involved as well with the project. Also using digital photography in presentations and possibly blogging would be a good way to get the students interested in the use of technology and help them learn.
Journal 7: "Google Earth"
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographic information program that maps the earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery and aerial photography. You can find and see images of most any place around the world as well as measure in miles, kilometers, and more. From the main discussion thread I learned that students can use the program in their classroom as a fun tool and not even realize they are doing school work. It makes a fun learning environment for the students to do something new. There was an open ended problem solving activity where students were the “coast guards” they were given wind, currents and other parameters and then had to devise a search plan and map it using the Google earth function. The main thread was asking how to use Google earth in the math or science fields. She got many responses but some of the ideas were to use Google earth for plotting and tracking a typhoon or using population figures in a project somehow. It was a very interesting discussion on Google earth and makes me want to go check out that program more to see what other lesson plans I could create to use in my own classroom.
iMovie
1. I really enjoyed using the iMovie program. It was a very fun and entertaining way to make a video. I had never created a movie before but the program was easy to understand once you got the hang of it. I did need some assistance figuring out how to maneuver around the site at first but I think after practice it is a simple program that would really help students have fun while they were learning. I think students would be very receptive to the program and think it was a lot of fun.
2. There would be an endless amount of ways to incorporate this program into my classroom. I could have the students do a video documentary on a project of their choosing, or of a book report. It could be used to create any sort of project to be posted and even shared with parents so they can see their own child’s creativity.
3. I did not use the Atomic Learning resource for the iMovie. I learned through trail and error as well as from other students in the class around me. After using it with the Inspiration project it seems like it would have been a very useful resource to better understand how to use the iMovie program.
2. There would be an endless amount of ways to incorporate this program into my classroom. I could have the students do a video documentary on a project of their choosing, or of a book report. It could be used to create any sort of project to be posted and even shared with parents so they can see their own child’s creativity.
3. I did not use the Atomic Learning resource for the iMovie. I learned through trail and error as well as from other students in the class around me. After using it with the Inspiration project it seems like it would have been a very useful resource to better understand how to use the iMovie program.
Inpiration
Inspiration
1. I thought the Inspiration program was a really cool concept. It was very easy to maneuver around and understand how to use. I think the students would really like how easy to use the program is as well as the wide variety of animation and clip art it has to offer. It would make an assignment fun to do for them and help them learn more in the process.
2. I think the program would be very helpful when it came to writing papers. It would help the students become organized in their thinking and help them really understand and better articulate what they were thinking and trying to say.
3. Atomic Learning helped me a lot while figuring out how to use the Inspiration program. The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow along and I was able to learn everything I wanted to do with the program. I think making this application available to the students would help them feel more control over the program and better understand what they need to be doing.
1. I thought the Inspiration program was a really cool concept. It was very easy to maneuver around and understand how to use. I think the students would really like how easy to use the program is as well as the wide variety of animation and clip art it has to offer. It would make an assignment fun to do for them and help them learn more in the process.
2. I think the program would be very helpful when it came to writing papers. It would help the students become organized in their thinking and help them really understand and better articulate what they were thinking and trying to say.
3. Atomic Learning helped me a lot while figuring out how to use the Inspiration program. The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow along and I was able to learn everything I wanted to do with the program. I think making this application available to the students would help them feel more control over the program and better understand what they need to be doing.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
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