In this assignment, our class was required to view some tech tools from the classroom wiki site. We were then instructed to choose a tool to create our very own wiki page which described our chosen tool and how it could be implemented into the classroom.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Journal 9: S'cool tools: 5 great tools to perk up your classroom and engage your students
Yoder, M.B. (2009, November). S'cool tools: 5 great tools to perk up your classroom and engage your students. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/NovemberNo3/L_L_November_2009.htm
In this article, Maureen Yoder goes over 5 very helpful tech tools for any type of classroom whether it be elementary, middle or high school. according to Yoder, these 5 tools she presented agree to these three major questions:
1. Does this tool have the potential to enhance teaching in some powerful way?
2. Is this tool easy to learn and well supported?
3. Is this an innovative new tool or a substantial improvement on an earlier version?
Based on this criteria, the following five tools have the potential to transform your lessons.
After reading this article, I was amazed at just how my technology is out there not just to supplement the classroom, but to make lessons fun! I would never have thought of using LEGO Blocks to enhance classroom activities, nor have I ever thought of SMART tables. here is a list of the 5 tools presented.
1. Lego Education's WeDo Robotics Construction Set
2. Smart Table
3. AVer Pen
4. New Multiuser Virtual Environments (MUVEs)
5. Google Apps Education Community
The Lego Wedo kit is a set of legos that come along with robotic pieces such as til and motion sensors all in the aim for kids to work with manipulatives and engineering skills. The kit comes with 12 different models that the kids can build such as a plane that makes sounds as it is flown through the air (tilt sensor), and an alligator that snaps it's mouth every time someone passes by (motion sensor). This would go really great with children developing motor and tinkering skills, and can also help with projects about physics, biology, or any type of science.
The SMART table is just like the SMART board but in this sense is for the students. It goes great with group activities and comes along with many different functions and touch options. Yoder says that even though using regular manipulatives is way easier to handle, learning how to move them through touch screen on a SMART table puts children in awe. In a sense, the SMART table creates enthusiasm in the classroom motivating the students to want to learn. Who said learning can't be fun?
The AVer pen is similar to the SMART table but with this tool, a student can write practically on any surface. It can also work as a polling device for warm-ups or quizzes in the classroom.
Just as I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the MUVEs learning environment is a virtual environtment used as a tool in the classroom for students to get a very close idea on how the concepts they learn in class connect to the "real-world". With virtual worlds, students can learn hands on how to start and run a business, they can learn about wildlife, how to run politics, etc. This is a great tool especially for high school students.
The last tool is mainly a tool that teachers can use personally. According to Yoder, "Google is reaching out to educators to provide tools for Internet searching, collaboration, and classroom activities at its new site designed specifically for teachers." Google Apps includes forums for sharing and discussion, voting polls on on favorite education apps, and tutorials on how to use Google apps.
If there's still a modern age out there for us to discover, I wouldn't even know what to expect anymore. This digital age is seriously enhancing the classroom like never before, and that's a good thing.
Question:
With the budget cuts going on, wouldn't tech integration be a pricey option?
In my opinion, as long as it enhances the life of the student, anything you have to buy is worth it. Education has become so much about the money that it's original purpose, which is to inspire, educate, and teach students to be a better them has been tossed out the window. Tech integration is a great way to bring back original motives and push "BORING" in learning and teaching aside.
In this article, Maureen Yoder goes over 5 very helpful tech tools for any type of classroom whether it be elementary, middle or high school. according to Yoder, these 5 tools she presented agree to these three major questions:
1. Does this tool have the potential to enhance teaching in some powerful way?
2. Is this tool easy to learn and well supported?
3. Is this an innovative new tool or a substantial improvement on an earlier version?
Based on this criteria, the following five tools have the potential to transform your lessons.
After reading this article, I was amazed at just how my technology is out there not just to supplement the classroom, but to make lessons fun! I would never have thought of using LEGO Blocks to enhance classroom activities, nor have I ever thought of SMART tables. here is a list of the 5 tools presented.
1. Lego Education's WeDo Robotics Construction Set
2. Smart Table
3. AVer Pen
4. New Multiuser Virtual Environments (MUVEs)
5. Google Apps Education Community
The Lego Wedo kit is a set of legos that come along with robotic pieces such as til and motion sensors all in the aim for kids to work with manipulatives and engineering skills. The kit comes with 12 different models that the kids can build such as a plane that makes sounds as it is flown through the air (tilt sensor), and an alligator that snaps it's mouth every time someone passes by (motion sensor). This would go really great with children developing motor and tinkering skills, and can also help with projects about physics, biology, or any type of science.
The SMART table is just like the SMART board but in this sense is for the students. It goes great with group activities and comes along with many different functions and touch options. Yoder says that even though using regular manipulatives is way easier to handle, learning how to move them through touch screen on a SMART table puts children in awe. In a sense, the SMART table creates enthusiasm in the classroom motivating the students to want to learn. Who said learning can't be fun?
The AVer pen is similar to the SMART table but with this tool, a student can write practically on any surface. It can also work as a polling device for warm-ups or quizzes in the classroom.
Just as I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the MUVEs learning environment is a virtual environtment used as a tool in the classroom for students to get a very close idea on how the concepts they learn in class connect to the "real-world". With virtual worlds, students can learn hands on how to start and run a business, they can learn about wildlife, how to run politics, etc. This is a great tool especially for high school students.
The last tool is mainly a tool that teachers can use personally. According to Yoder, "Google is reaching out to educators to provide tools for Internet searching, collaboration, and classroom activities at its new site designed specifically for teachers." Google Apps includes forums for sharing and discussion, voting polls on on favorite education apps, and tutorials on how to use Google apps.
If there's still a modern age out there for us to discover, I wouldn't even know what to expect anymore. This digital age is seriously enhancing the classroom like never before, and that's a good thing.
Question:
With the budget cuts going on, wouldn't tech integration be a pricey option?
In my opinion, as long as it enhances the life of the student, anything you have to buy is worth it. Education has become so much about the money that it's original purpose, which is to inspire, educate, and teach students to be a better them has been tossed out the window. Tech integration is a great way to bring back original motives and push "BORING" in learning and teaching aside.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Journal 8: "Have You Tweeted Today?"
Fingal, D. (2009). Have you tweeted today? Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(2). Retrieved on October 20, 2009 from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=September_October_No_2_3&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4381&ContentID=24192&DirectListComboInd=D
Diana Fingal poses a great argument towards John Ridley's article about the twitter fad. Although twitter has been quite mainstreamed and played out, if used the correct ways, it can be very beneficial to many, especially teachers. Diana mostly spoke about the bad rep that twitter has been given due to the fact that it has given "discretion" a new meaning in everyday life. Because of the prompt "What are you doing?" many twitter subscribers posts useless nonsense about their daily life and in a way, surrender personal discretion to the public. Twitter being used this way has caused some skepticism amongst current and future subscribers. a main concern is the broadband space being used up to post useless tweets for the public to view.
Fingal's point was that twitter has been scrutinized only because of the useless half of it's subscribers, which in turn has the majority thinking of it as useless rather than helpful. If used in a better light, such as following others with similar professions as yourself, or follow subscribers which posts tweets helpful to your profession, Twitter can actually be a great supplement to life. Not only would if be a great tech tool to use but it would be better for teachers to get in with their students and keep up with them technologically speaking. Her point across, twitter should be given a chance.
Ridley, J. NPR Morning Edition, "Keep Your Tweets to Yourself": www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104033836
According to John Ridely, Twitter is just another one of those tech fads such as myspace, or facebook. Just as I mentioned earlier, many people on twitter waste broadband spacce to post useless artifacts which are not at all helpful to the public. Ridley's perspective of twitter has solely been influenced by the many useless everyday tweets and has given him the idea that twitter is just a "waste of broadband space."
I'd have to agree with Fingal on this matter. Twitter can be used in great ways if used with constructive intentions. Not all of the world uses twitter for pointless chatter and I think that's something Ridley should understand.
Question:
In what ways can twitter be helpful to Teachers?
Twitter can be used to monitor student activities outside the classroom that may need to be brought to parents attentions. Twitter can also be used as a classroom discussion board in which students can comment about each others' ideas on certain classroom concepts or lessons. It can also be used as a resource tool for students to post helpful supplemental links to a class.
Diana Fingal poses a great argument towards John Ridley's article about the twitter fad. Although twitter has been quite mainstreamed and played out, if used the correct ways, it can be very beneficial to many, especially teachers. Diana mostly spoke about the bad rep that twitter has been given due to the fact that it has given "discretion" a new meaning in everyday life. Because of the prompt "What are you doing?" many twitter subscribers posts useless nonsense about their daily life and in a way, surrender personal discretion to the public. Twitter being used this way has caused some skepticism amongst current and future subscribers. a main concern is the broadband space being used up to post useless tweets for the public to view.
Fingal's point was that twitter has been scrutinized only because of the useless half of it's subscribers, which in turn has the majority thinking of it as useless rather than helpful. If used in a better light, such as following others with similar professions as yourself, or follow subscribers which posts tweets helpful to your profession, Twitter can actually be a great supplement to life. Not only would if be a great tech tool to use but it would be better for teachers to get in with their students and keep up with them technologically speaking. Her point across, twitter should be given a chance.
Ridley, J. NPR Morning Edition, "Keep Your Tweets to Yourself": www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104033836
According to John Ridely, Twitter is just another one of those tech fads such as myspace, or facebook. Just as I mentioned earlier, many people on twitter waste broadband spacce to post useless artifacts which are not at all helpful to the public. Ridley's perspective of twitter has solely been influenced by the many useless everyday tweets and has given him the idea that twitter is just a "waste of broadband space."
I'd have to agree with Fingal on this matter. Twitter can be used in great ways if used with constructive intentions. Not all of the world uses twitter for pointless chatter and I think that's something Ridley should understand.
Question:
In what ways can twitter be helpful to Teachers?
Twitter can be used to monitor student activities outside the classroom that may need to be brought to parents attentions. Twitter can also be used as a classroom discussion board in which students can comment about each others' ideas on certain classroom concepts or lessons. It can also be used as a resource tool for students to post helpful supplemental links to a class.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Journal 6: The Trouble With Rubrics
Kohn, Alfie. (2006). The trouble with rubrics. English Journal, 95(4). Retrieved on December 2, 2009 from http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/rubrics.htm
In this article, Alfie Khon discussed the multiple advantages and disadvantages of the "rubric" system and it's widespread use among teacher's to create a uniformed assessment of all students in a classroom. Khon used the advantages of the rubric to counteract his skepticism about it's relation to students' actual ideas and thoughts.
Apparently, using the rubric method of assessment does not in any way let a student challenge his own thinking about said subject matter, but instead challenges his efforts in attaining a satisfying grade. When using the rubric method, students tended to say what was right, in accordance with the guide, rather than discuss what they were truly feeling. It gave an actual counter effect to easier and standardize assessment; it took the life out of individual thinking.
Khon suggested that the rubric CAN, however, provide a positive effect if given as a supplement to an assigned project to keep students on track rather than to base an entire assignment on it. Having a rubric-based assignment gave teachers' an opportunity to show that you knew what you were supposed to do when you get something wrong, or a "gotcha" justification, says Khon.
I, however, never realized the big deal on rubrics until I read this article. The arguments khon presented were, in fact, pretty true. Looking back, I realized that the majority of my papers never reflected my own thoughts, but instead the "thoughts" of the rubric. I currently find my self with the disposition that rubrics really aren't effective as a basis of assessment, but only as a supplement.
Why Would teachers' use this type of assessment when it strays from the original reason why they became teachers?
I think teachers are tempted to use rubrics because it does take a load off of the grading and still provides a unified means of grading. But as a teacher, isn't the fulfillment of knowing your student's understand a concept rewarding enough to make you hand grade? I don't think rubrics can provide students with effective feedback.
In this article, Alfie Khon discussed the multiple advantages and disadvantages of the "rubric" system and it's widespread use among teacher's to create a uniformed assessment of all students in a classroom. Khon used the advantages of the rubric to counteract his skepticism about it's relation to students' actual ideas and thoughts.
Apparently, using the rubric method of assessment does not in any way let a student challenge his own thinking about said subject matter, but instead challenges his efforts in attaining a satisfying grade. When using the rubric method, students tended to say what was right, in accordance with the guide, rather than discuss what they were truly feeling. It gave an actual counter effect to easier and standardize assessment; it took the life out of individual thinking.
Khon suggested that the rubric CAN, however, provide a positive effect if given as a supplement to an assigned project to keep students on track rather than to base an entire assignment on it. Having a rubric-based assignment gave teachers' an opportunity to show that you knew what you were supposed to do when you get something wrong, or a "gotcha" justification, says Khon.
I, however, never realized the big deal on rubrics until I read this article. The arguments khon presented were, in fact, pretty true. Looking back, I realized that the majority of my papers never reflected my own thoughts, but instead the "thoughts" of the rubric. I currently find my self with the disposition that rubrics really aren't effective as a basis of assessment, but only as a supplement.
Why Would teachers' use this type of assessment when it strays from the original reason why they became teachers?
I think teachers are tempted to use rubrics because it does take a load off of the grading and still provides a unified means of grading. But as a teacher, isn't the fulfillment of knowing your student's understand a concept rewarding enough to make you hand grade? I don't think rubrics can provide students with effective feedback.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
CSUSM PSA iMovie Project (NETS III)
In this assignment, we were instructed to create a 1 minute video introducing the CSU San Marcos campus which included information and fun facts about our university with transitions and special effects.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NETS-T Inspiration Assignment (NETS III)
This assignment was given in order to showcase certain ed tech assignments that fall under the different NETS for teachers. We were instructed to assign two different assignments per NET and describe specifically which aspect of the NET it satisfied.
NETS-S PowerPoint Presentation (NETS I, III)
This assignment helped us demonstrate our proficiency in creating and designing PowerPoint presentations to show our understanding of the NETS-S for students. We came up with suggestions for classroom activities to familiarize the students with the NETS-S and peer graded each others PowerPoint presentations.
NETS ppt
View more presentations from Gennaligeron.
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