This is a short film showing the achievement gap of students with disabilities. In this case, we researched the blind and the lack of quality education they receive.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Journal # 10- "Making History"
Shein, E., "Making History," T.H.E. Journal, 10/1/2008, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23394
This was a very interesting article to read. Ester reported on just how effective technology is with a classroom and its students. It is great that more and more teachers are using technology in their classrooms! Technology is present in almost everyone's everyday. It is important for these students to learn this at their young, ripe ago, so they are not 50 and computer-illiterate. Ester told about a history lesson about World War II that was taught over a podcast. Such a great idea! These students are being submerged in technology, and at this rate, soon they will know just as much, if not more than the teachers! Also, it lets the students become self-sufficient using the guess and check and trial methods to get to know computers, and other technology that is readily available to them!
How is technology more beneficial to a student than a piece of paper and a pen?
It is proven that students learn more and more effectively when interacting, and not just learning and taking notes, etc. Getting the students engaged and active in lessons will improve the learning rate significantly.
What is an example of an interactive lesson that could be taught in a classroom using technology?
Blogs! These are great and they are interactive and they help students get familiar with technology. Also, they bring the class together, because you can comment on everyone's work. Collaboration!
This was a very interesting article to read. Ester reported on just how effective technology is with a classroom and its students. It is great that more and more teachers are using technology in their classrooms! Technology is present in almost everyone's everyday. It is important for these students to learn this at their young, ripe ago, so they are not 50 and computer-illiterate. Ester told about a history lesson about World War II that was taught over a podcast. Such a great idea! These students are being submerged in technology, and at this rate, soon they will know just as much, if not more than the teachers! Also, it lets the students become self-sufficient using the guess and check and trial methods to get to know computers, and other technology that is readily available to them!
How is technology more beneficial to a student than a piece of paper and a pen?
It is proven that students learn more and more effectively when interacting, and not just learning and taking notes, etc. Getting the students engaged and active in lessons will improve the learning rate significantly.
What is an example of an interactive lesson that could be taught in a classroom using technology?
Blogs! These are great and they are interactive and they help students get familiar with technology. Also, they bring the class together, because you can comment on everyone's work. Collaboration!
Journal # 9- "Avoiding the 5 Most Common Mistakes in Using Blogs with Students"
Reynard, R. , "Avoiding the 5 Most Common Mistakes in Using Blogs with Students," T.H.E. Journal, 10/15/2008, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23434
This was a very informative article for teachers on how to properly use blogs. It tells teachers that you have to be careful when you use them because if they are not used correctly, they can make the student frustrated and uninterested in communicating through them and participating. Having guidelines will really help the student know just exactly what the teacher wants and expects from the students, therefore avoiding the unknown, which is what causes frustration. Teachers should tell the students that blogs are a way of expressing thoughts and feelings, just as in this blog! It is a great critical thinking and self reflection exercise, and this is what the student should know. This way, the students can compare thoughts and feelings and comment on each other. Plus, it will get the students to become familiar with computers and get them practicing typing.
What kind of things could students and teachers blog about?
Classroom activities, pets, what they like to do in their free time, anything! There are so many things one could blog about and it would be great for students to be creative and let their imagination go wild!
How could you get the parents involved with blogs?
The teacher could make part of the homework assignment to show their parents what they have written in their blog. Also, they could have an assignment of making a blog with a parent, which could be good also because some parents need to become familiar with computers, too. Everyone wins!
This was a very informative article for teachers on how to properly use blogs. It tells teachers that you have to be careful when you use them because if they are not used correctly, they can make the student frustrated and uninterested in communicating through them and participating. Having guidelines will really help the student know just exactly what the teacher wants and expects from the students, therefore avoiding the unknown, which is what causes frustration. Teachers should tell the students that blogs are a way of expressing thoughts and feelings, just as in this blog! It is a great critical thinking and self reflection exercise, and this is what the student should know. This way, the students can compare thoughts and feelings and comment on each other. Plus, it will get the students to become familiar with computers and get them practicing typing.
What kind of things could students and teachers blog about?
Classroom activities, pets, what they like to do in their free time, anything! There are so many things one could blog about and it would be great for students to be creative and let their imagination go wild!
How could you get the parents involved with blogs?
The teacher could make part of the homework assignment to show their parents what they have written in their blog. Also, they could have an assignment of making a blog with a parent, which could be good also because some parents need to become familiar with computers, too. Everyone wins!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Journal # 8- A '"Fantastic Super" Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide
Curtis, D (2002).A '"Fantastic Super" Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide.
http://www.edutopia.org/fantastic-super-use-technology
I really liked this article because it opened my eyes to just how much schools, and this school in particular, integrate technology into the curriculum. With how much technology is used in people's everyday lives, it is important for the future generations to get an early start. It's so great that this school gives out computers to the families that don't have them. I wish this was the case with more schools and districts, but with all of the budget cuts, it is not realistic. I like hoe e-mail is a huge part of the school, and it doesn't surprise me that it has improved the communication of everyone at the school, including parents. Everyone at this school takes full advantage of what is given to them, and it is extremely beneficial to everyone. More and more schools should strive to have the things this school does, and I feel there will be a higher learning rate and more parent involvement.
How could schools benefit from this article?
Asking for help such as volunteers or old computers that families could donate to the school would be helpful. This way, they could be used at the school, or be sent home to those families that are not as fortunate as others, and that don't have means of e-mail.
If all families could not afford to have computers, how could they still keep the communication strong?
Weekly newsletters and daily communications forms that are hand written by both the students and teachers still work and are effective. Basically what this school posts online could be written and sent home. This way the parents are still in the loop of what their child or children did at school all day.
http://www.edutopia.org/fantastic-super-use-technology
I really liked this article because it opened my eyes to just how much schools, and this school in particular, integrate technology into the curriculum. With how much technology is used in people's everyday lives, it is important for the future generations to get an early start. It's so great that this school gives out computers to the families that don't have them. I wish this was the case with more schools and districts, but with all of the budget cuts, it is not realistic. I like hoe e-mail is a huge part of the school, and it doesn't surprise me that it has improved the communication of everyone at the school, including parents. Everyone at this school takes full advantage of what is given to them, and it is extremely beneficial to everyone. More and more schools should strive to have the things this school does, and I feel there will be a higher learning rate and more parent involvement.
How could schools benefit from this article?
Asking for help such as volunteers or old computers that families could donate to the school would be helpful. This way, they could be used at the school, or be sent home to those families that are not as fortunate as others, and that don't have means of e-mail.
If all families could not afford to have computers, how could they still keep the communication strong?
Weekly newsletters and daily communications forms that are hand written by both the students and teachers still work and are effective. Basically what this school posts online could be written and sent home. This way the parents are still in the loop of what their child or children did at school all day.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Journal # 7: Google Earth
Google Earth is basically a virtual globe that lets you view images, maps, and 3D buildings from satellites. You can even find and explore some galaxies in the sky! From the discussions I read on Classroom 2.0, it seems that it is great for students and can definitely be used in the classroom. One lady even said it is good for math lessons by creating paths and measuring them with a ruler. They were using math skills and didn't even realize it! This could also be used for problem solving strategies. That same lady said students could pretend they were in the Coast Guards and had to conduct a rescue mission...how fun! The news has even mentioned that Google Earth is used in people's lives! In one case, someone was missing and they used it to find the missing person! In addition, Google Earth uses longitude and latitude, which is a great concept for kids to learn and play with and this is the perfect tool for that! Although, like most programs, there are glitches and some problems with it, but nothing that can't be resolved or worked around. An example one teacher used the program for was rates and wildfires, which could be hard for students to wrap their heads around, so a program like this would definitely help them!
Journal # 6A- Inspiration
Inspiration
I really like Inspiration and think it is a great program. I thought it was pretty easy to use and user friendly. And as for students, I think visual learners will benefit the most from this very visual program since it is very easy to see words and concepts shown as pictures. This software even looks really cool and fun! I found it easy to navigate through, although the fact that you have to pay for it is a downside, and in my opinion, it is not inexpensive. Students could definitely use this program in the classroom to actually show the message they are trying to get across, whatever that is. Such as comparing two versions of the same story, using pictures, etc. I did not use Atomic Learning for this program, only because I like to explore a new program with my own trial and error method. I like playing with the program and finding out how to do new things on my own, as I think it's more rewarding.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Journal 6b-iMovie
iMovie
I also really like this program, just not as much as Inspiration. I do not think it is as user friendly as Inspiration is. Although I do think students will like it more because they can take pictures and videos of themselves and their peers/friends, and then edit it themselves. This way they can learn how to edit and add music, etc. to frames while having fun! The software is very appealing to the eye and the fact that it comes when a mac computer means it's free which is awesome! This could definitely be used in the classroom, as stated before of students taking pictures/videos of their class and a similar project like we did in class with already uploaded pictures, videos, and music and they can play with the program and teach themselves to how to edit. I did not use Atomic Learning for this program either and for the same reason which is that I learn a program better when I just play with it, trial and error.
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