How is the course going so far? What has been most valuable? What are your concerns or fears? What would you like to see more (or less) of?
This has to be my favorite class because I find it extremely useful for my future. We have learned things I could never figure out on my own such as blogs, podcasts, and other 2.00 tools which I can incorporate into my lesson plans. I feel as if now I truly have the tools and knowledge to teach students, reach out to them, tend to their every needs and disabilities, and have fun at the same time with them.
What has been the most valuable in this class is setting up and tagging all these websites that will help my students with research, homework, and classroom activities. The blog has been extremely helpful and the networking so that everyone can see each other’s ideas and no one is left out. It’s important to me that everyone works together and branches off each other’s idea. The blogs are a way of classroom communication and it’s extremely easy to see what my students are thinking, what their struggling with, and what else their looking for.
Another thing I found extremely useful is the websites where you can find primary source documents. My favorite subject is history so having that information to help me not only with my classes but just for fun is very handy. My high school teachers used several primary source documents and they have influenced my lesson ideas so having these websites will gather information for my students to read and analyze. I also love the documentaries for students. I sometimes find myself watching them because their so interesting and I wish my teacher assigned homework like this instead of always reading and writing.
My concerns for this class is the time we may have to put in for our projects. I’m not sure how lengthy this project will be or other details such as in-class time, topics, finding information, ect. I’m still not as good as I want to be using sites that we have worked on. Another concern is the microphone we may need for podcasting. I have a macbook so I have a built in microphone but I don’t know how well it works or how to plug it in. Another fear is how am I going to be able to incorporate everything I learned into lesson plans for high school students. By the time I’m teaching will everyone have the technology to follow with my projects?
I would like to see more websites with tools to use as research such as videos, primary sources, and other formats to help teach history. I’m not sure what else I should look for cause I would never think of any of these tools to use for teaching. This has been a pleasant shock and I’ve learned so much from this class that I’m sure I will be using in my classroom in the future.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Week Three: Reading Reflection
How might you use the letters in a humanities class? What has your experience with primary sources been? Can students be historians?
By using the letters in humanities class you can teach your students the evolution of culture and people's minds and the way they thought an developed over time. They’re interacting with people from foreign nations. They’re bound to learn something. You can learn all about their society, their government, their way of life, culture, religion, perspectives, language, and the way they socialize. These differences can broaden their views on social and economic issues. Not only that but this generation can bridge peace between nations in the future.
My experience with primary sources is definitely better than most. I took AP European and American History, which deals with Document Based Questions (DBQs). These timed essays must incorporate not only background information but primary source documents that are included in a packet. My history teachers also pulled out background information from excerpts of books, the Internet, or their family history and personal experiences as well. Primary sources got my head out of all the boring factual textbooks and helped me learn a lot more about that time period. I also retained more information using primary source documents during tests because it was like reading a diary or a letter and not just a paragraph of historical knowledge.
Students can indeed be historians. By using these primary source documents, students can get excited. They’re rediscovering history. It’s like reading someone else’s thoughts and getting in the minds of important historical figurines that were living in that time period. They can learn what was acceptable, their customs, and the way they lived, worked, and socialized.
By using the letters in humanities class you can teach your students the evolution of culture and people's minds and the way they thought an developed over time. They’re interacting with people from foreign nations. They’re bound to learn something. You can learn all about their society, their government, their way of life, culture, religion, perspectives, language, and the way they socialize. These differences can broaden their views on social and economic issues. Not only that but this generation can bridge peace between nations in the future.
My experience with primary sources is definitely better than most. I took AP European and American History, which deals with Document Based Questions (DBQs). These timed essays must incorporate not only background information but primary source documents that are included in a packet. My history teachers also pulled out background information from excerpts of books, the Internet, or their family history and personal experiences as well. Primary sources got my head out of all the boring factual textbooks and helped me learn a lot more about that time period. I also retained more information using primary source documents during tests because it was like reading a diary or a letter and not just a paragraph of historical knowledge.
Students can indeed be historians. By using these primary source documents, students can get excited. They’re rediscovering history. It’s like reading someone else’s thoughts and getting in the minds of important historical figurines that were living in that time period. They can learn what was acceptable, their customs, and the way they lived, worked, and socialized.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Week Three: WBQ
How did you spend your time on the WWW last week? Was it productive? What does it mean to be productive?
The New WWW was not my favorite article just because I didn’t agree with th author's point of view. His examples were pushing the limits sometimes. However, I understood his theories but I could not relate. My theories were completely different which you can read in my previous blog. Maybe this is because I grew up with technology always at my fingertips. Technology will only help children, not hurt them and force them into insanity.
Throughout the week I have learned several methods to incorporate the new WWW into my teaching and lesson plans. It was BRILLIANT!!! I learned so much. Again, I think the new WWW will only help education. It will give more information, tools, and options for our students. Students can communicate with their libraries, their friends, their peers, and their teachers through blogs, instant messaging, and other networks. Kids will want to do their homework because its accessable. If they have trouble reading or they don't want to read an article you can reach out to them through a movie or documentary on the internet and still keep their attention and focus which will keep them on target. It will even help kids stay organized [such as social bookmarking] which will make them that more productive.
Productive is when you thoroughly take your time and make a complete effort on a project or assignment. I think by using the new WWW you can be productive. You can complete your assignment in a orderly fashion. You can keep your stuents all on the same page through different methods that suit their own individual needs. Productive I feel is going beyond what is being asked. Therefore using the new WWW you can go deeper and express things that maybe you would have never thought of and expand.
pro·duc·tive [pruh-duhk-tiv] –adjective
1.having the power of producing; generative; creative: a productive effort.
2. producing readily or abundantly; fertile: a productive vineyard.
3. causing; bringing about (usually fol. by of): conditions productive of crime and sin
The New WWW was not my favorite article just because I didn’t agree with th author's point of view. His examples were pushing the limits sometimes. However, I understood his theories but I could not relate. My theories were completely different which you can read in my previous blog. Maybe this is because I grew up with technology always at my fingertips. Technology will only help children, not hurt them and force them into insanity.
Throughout the week I have learned several methods to incorporate the new WWW into my teaching and lesson plans. It was BRILLIANT!!! I learned so much. Again, I think the new WWW will only help education. It will give more information, tools, and options for our students. Students can communicate with their libraries, their friends, their peers, and their teachers through blogs, instant messaging, and other networks. Kids will want to do their homework because its accessable. If they have trouble reading or they don't want to read an article you can reach out to them through a movie or documentary on the internet and still keep their attention and focus which will keep them on target. It will even help kids stay organized [such as social bookmarking] which will make them that more productive.
Productive is when you thoroughly take your time and make a complete effort on a project or assignment. I think by using the new WWW you can be productive. You can complete your assignment in a orderly fashion. You can keep your stuents all on the same page through different methods that suit their own individual needs. Productive I feel is going beyond what is being asked. Therefore using the new WWW you can go deeper and express things that maybe you would have never thought of and expand.
pro·duc·tive [pruh-duhk-tiv] –adjective
1.having the power of producing; generative; creative: a productive effort.
2. producing readily or abundantly; fertile: a productive vineyard.
3. causing; bringing about (usually fol. by of): conditions productive of crime and sin
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Week Two: Reading Reflection
The author expresses concern over the unlimited media gratification that our youth have. He is essentially talking about you! Respond to his concerns.
I don’t think the author should be concerned. With the new faster technology we are indeed being spoiled and we are happy over it. So why would this ever be a problem?
Child stars are getting everything they want but they also have the publicity and rumors that may drive them half insane and into rehab. Having technology isn’t having the ability to have everything you want. Technology is just an efficient tool to help ease stresses in life. It provides a link to media, news, entertainment and social networks. Therefore we don’t get upset because of all the stresses in life and its easier for work to be done and communication to vent.
Children may commit suicide because they are depressed in school and may often be bored or distracted. Let’s use that as an excuse to toughen our curriculum and use technology to make assignments fun and perhaps entertaining. With technology you can have that communication between students and professors to know if a child has a psychological problem or dilemmas in classroom. Then they can talk to their parents, incorporate them into his studies and make sure he doesn’t need help and gets the treatment he deserves. No student is neglected.
I think the main thing we should be concerned about is making sure children are educated and not really the techniques we use to educate.
I don’t think the author should be concerned. With the new faster technology we are indeed being spoiled and we are happy over it. So why would this ever be a problem?
Child stars are getting everything they want but they also have the publicity and rumors that may drive them half insane and into rehab. Having technology isn’t having the ability to have everything you want. Technology is just an efficient tool to help ease stresses in life. It provides a link to media, news, entertainment and social networks. Therefore we don’t get upset because of all the stresses in life and its easier for work to be done and communication to vent.
Children may commit suicide because they are depressed in school and may often be bored or distracted. Let’s use that as an excuse to toughen our curriculum and use technology to make assignments fun and perhaps entertaining. With technology you can have that communication between students and professors to know if a child has a psychological problem or dilemmas in classroom. Then they can talk to their parents, incorporate them into his studies and make sure he doesn’t need help and gets the treatment he deserves. No student is neglected.
I think the main thing we should be concerned about is making sure children are educated and not really the techniques we use to educate.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Week Two: WBQ
Imagine how your life would change without access to a computer or cell phone for a month? Describe the process of writing a research paper without the internet.
My life would be impossible without access to a computer or a cell. Just a day without these technological tools makes me want to cry. The computer and cell are my favorite communication devices. It’s how I call my family, text my friends, email my boss, complete my homework assignments, and keep me from going insane from long days of boredom.
I hate leaving the house without a cell phone. If a family emergency came up I want to make sure I can be there as soon as possible. When my car breaks down I make sure I have my cell phone so I can call my parents or AAA. Without access to a computer I cannot play computer games, escape boredom, talk on AIM, and use the internet.
The first thing my mom used to take away from me was my internet connection and even that alone is torture. Without the internet, you have only the library as a research tool. The internet is amazing because you have all the information in the world at your fingertips. Now although some sources are unreliable, you can always check. Without the internet, you would have to use the card catalogue, buy books to lookup proper research paper format and spend several hours in the library researching.
Writing a research paper without the internet is almost as impossible as living a normal life without a cell phone and computer.
My life would be impossible without access to a computer or a cell. Just a day without these technological tools makes me want to cry. The computer and cell are my favorite communication devices. It’s how I call my family, text my friends, email my boss, complete my homework assignments, and keep me from going insane from long days of boredom.
I hate leaving the house without a cell phone. If a family emergency came up I want to make sure I can be there as soon as possible. When my car breaks down I make sure I have my cell phone so I can call my parents or AAA. Without access to a computer I cannot play computer games, escape boredom, talk on AIM, and use the internet.
The first thing my mom used to take away from me was my internet connection and even that alone is torture. Without the internet, you have only the library as a research tool. The internet is amazing because you have all the information in the world at your fingertips. Now although some sources are unreliable, you can always check. Without the internet, you would have to use the card catalogue, buy books to lookup proper research paper format and spend several hours in the library researching.
Writing a research paper without the internet is almost as impossible as living a normal life without a cell phone and computer.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Week One: Reading Reflection
- In your opinion, what technology tools should we be teaching students today?
- What expectations should we have of students and what should be done to help students meet those expectations?
- Were your schools stuck in the 20th century?
- What was most compelling about the article?
I believe the most useful technology tool we could be teaching students today is the power of the Internet. It has so much information, opinions, and research. There are also important tools on the internet such as blogging, analyzing, reporting, buying, selling, socializing, and even learning which could not only be useful for the classroom, but at home and in the future as well. Using the Internet can make kids interested in doing homework by typing it into a blog or participating in classroom discussions by relating it to the web.
We should expect students to participate and socialize in groups more often while using technology. We should make it as easily as possible for them to feel comfortable, socialize, and adapt with technology. By doing this we can prepare students for the outside world where they need to cooperate and work with others. I also expect my students to be more open to me and comfortable to talk to me if they are having difficulty understanding material or other issues. They can also help me out with what they would like to see or learn in the classroom.
My school was partially stuck in the 20th century. When I entered middle school, my teachers were just beginning to use computer labs to help students with research papers. By my junior year of high school, we used a program called Power School, which was a program that created student’s schedules and organized grades. Although it was helpful for parents and students to know where they are at with their grade, a computer does make mistakes. A computer cannot acknowledge that a student has a learning disability such a hearing loss and needs loud teachers. A computer cannot tell that a student can't comprehend math in the morning and English after lunch, therefore computers are not extremely helpful in all scenarios.
What was most compelling about this article is that teachers are starting to realize ways to draw technology into their lesson plans and realizing students are changing as well as technology therefore learning methods need to be revised. It's extremely important to learn and talk to your students and not just teach them material. Technology incorporated into lesson plans will only expand possibilities to educate students.
- What expectations should we have of students and what should be done to help students meet those expectations?
- Were your schools stuck in the 20th century?
- What was most compelling about the article?
I believe the most useful technology tool we could be teaching students today is the power of the Internet. It has so much information, opinions, and research. There are also important tools on the internet such as blogging, analyzing, reporting, buying, selling, socializing, and even learning which could not only be useful for the classroom, but at home and in the future as well. Using the Internet can make kids interested in doing homework by typing it into a blog or participating in classroom discussions by relating it to the web.
We should expect students to participate and socialize in groups more often while using technology. We should make it as easily as possible for them to feel comfortable, socialize, and adapt with technology. By doing this we can prepare students for the outside world where they need to cooperate and work with others. I also expect my students to be more open to me and comfortable to talk to me if they are having difficulty understanding material or other issues. They can also help me out with what they would like to see or learn in the classroom.
My school was partially stuck in the 20th century. When I entered middle school, my teachers were just beginning to use computer labs to help students with research papers. By my junior year of high school, we used a program called Power School, which was a program that created student’s schedules and organized grades. Although it was helpful for parents and students to know where they are at with their grade, a computer does make mistakes. A computer cannot acknowledge that a student has a learning disability such a hearing loss and needs loud teachers. A computer cannot tell that a student can't comprehend math in the morning and English after lunch, therefore computers are not extremely helpful in all scenarios.
What was most compelling about this article is that teachers are starting to realize ways to draw technology into their lesson plans and realizing students are changing as well as technology therefore learning methods need to be revised. It's extremely important to learn and talk to your students and not just teach them material. Technology incorporated into lesson plans will only expand possibilities to educate students.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Week One: WBQ
Is it possible to learn without engaging in some activity: that is, is it possible to simply learn by thinking about something? Can you think of an example?
It is possible to learn without engaging in some activity but not preferred by students. In my experience, people learn with different techniques whether it is through sound, sight, or by physically doing. It is possible to learn by thinking about something. However, what will always stick in students' minds are classes with some activity incorporated into the lesson. Not only are students feeling included in the lesson but they are having fun as well as comprehending material easily. During lectures, students’ minds may drift away from the lesson. Physically including them would help them less likely to drift away and keep their attention throughout the class.
Technology therefore is a useful tool to engage students. Games on computers keeps students on a more personal level and helps the teacher understand their learning abilities. Teachers are on a more personal level with students using technology. They are able to understand allowing students to feel comfortable, ask questions, and be willing to learn.
From personal experience, I remember my sophomore history class in which we were studying a time period from western civilization. The video would stop randomly and a popular comedy skit or song would play signaling to my classmates to pass objects. The person left with an object after the song stopped playing had to deduct points from their paper. The person with the most questions answered correctly, and the least points deducted won extra credit points awarded to their projects or quizzes.
It is possible to learn without engaging in some activity but not preferred by students. In my experience, people learn with different techniques whether it is through sound, sight, or by physically doing. It is possible to learn by thinking about something. However, what will always stick in students' minds are classes with some activity incorporated into the lesson. Not only are students feeling included in the lesson but they are having fun as well as comprehending material easily. During lectures, students’ minds may drift away from the lesson. Physically including them would help them less likely to drift away and keep their attention throughout the class.
Technology therefore is a useful tool to engage students. Games on computers keeps students on a more personal level and helps the teacher understand their learning abilities. Teachers are on a more personal level with students using technology. They are able to understand allowing students to feel comfortable, ask questions, and be willing to learn.
From personal experience, I remember my sophomore history class in which we were studying a time period from western civilization. The video would stop randomly and a popular comedy skit or song would play signaling to my classmates to pass objects. The person left with an object after the song stopped playing had to deduct points from their paper. The person with the most questions answered correctly, and the least points deducted won extra credit points awarded to their projects or quizzes.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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