I like to blog and have been blogging in my personal life for over a year and enjoy the freedom that it gives me to just write my thoughts. As I have been reading through the Richardson book, I have noticed so many different thoughts of what blogging is really meant to be.
While I know others have been writing about that, I think the item in the book is this quote, "They develop hypertext minds. They leap around. It's as though their cognitive structures were parallel, not seuential" (Prensky, 2001a). I think this is key to me being a teacher in this new generation. I have to realize that they do not think in the linear way that I was thought in and the way that I teach in. I think that this is one of my biggest struggles in the world of technology today. I am so much not like the generation of today.
Even though, I am not that much older than my students, I feel generations older when it comes to the way that teaching was and is becoming.
I look forward to reading more of Richardson's book and learning from this.
Newby
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Post #1: Lesson Accelerators
Since we have had some issues with our own subscriptions to Lesson Accelerators, I thought that I would copy and paste them while at SMU this past weekend and focus on what I could get out of them.
I looked at two lessons: Photo Story 3 and Audacity. These are both programs that we have in our district and that our students have used at least once. They are no way pros at them and neither am I. I think that Atomic Learning is a great site to help teachers with all different types of technology. I found the same to be true with Lesson Accelerators.
The first lesson that I looked at was for Photo Story 3. What I loved the most about this project is that it can be adapted to fit any subject in any type of classroom. My favorite part about this project is that it is simple to follow and would be easy to adapt to the classroom or to a staff development meeting. I like the tasks line item that is given because it allows for an easy checklist.
Task List
The tasks to be completed for this project include:
Import and arrange images in the application timeline.
Edit images, as needed.
Add motion and transitions.
Add titles and other text.
Add voice narration and music.
Export the finished project to the appropriate format.
In my classroom, I am working on World War II to set up my class for the novels that we will be reading. While I was going to use a Glogster to allow my students to present, this would be just as easy and would allow for different projects to emerge based on the student.
The second lesson that I looked at was for Audacity. What I loved about Audacity is that it too can be adapted to any subject. For me and my classroom, I would use Audacity to help make podcasts to help prepare for semester exams. I would have students work in groups and then create a podcast that would help the class study for the semester exam. I think that what I would like to do is then let each class have different topics and then by random assignment, let them decide as a group which one to pick. For me, audacity allows for a lot of extensions and that is a good part to the lesson accelerator.
I am not sure that I have fully grasped lesson accelerators due to lack of time to be able to really negotiate around the site due to our limitations at this time, but I am looking forward to playing around more later.
I looked at two lessons: Photo Story 3 and Audacity. These are both programs that we have in our district and that our students have used at least once. They are no way pros at them and neither am I. I think that Atomic Learning is a great site to help teachers with all different types of technology. I found the same to be true with Lesson Accelerators.
The first lesson that I looked at was for Photo Story 3. What I loved the most about this project is that it can be adapted to fit any subject in any type of classroom. My favorite part about this project is that it is simple to follow and would be easy to adapt to the classroom or to a staff development meeting. I like the tasks line item that is given because it allows for an easy checklist.
Task List
The tasks to be completed for this project include:
Import and arrange images in the application timeline.
Edit images, as needed.
Add motion and transitions.
Add titles and other text.
Add voice narration and music.
Export the finished project to the appropriate format.
In my classroom, I am working on World War II to set up my class for the novels that we will be reading. While I was going to use a Glogster to allow my students to present, this would be just as easy and would allow for different projects to emerge based on the student.
The second lesson that I looked at was for Audacity. What I loved about Audacity is that it too can be adapted to any subject. For me and my classroom, I would use Audacity to help make podcasts to help prepare for semester exams. I would have students work in groups and then create a podcast that would help the class study for the semester exam. I think that what I would like to do is then let each class have different topics and then by random assignment, let them decide as a group which one to pick. For me, audacity allows for a lot of extensions and that is a good part to the lesson accelerator.
I am not sure that I have fully grasped lesson accelerators due to lack of time to be able to really negotiate around the site due to our limitations at this time, but I am looking forward to playing around more later.
EDU 6384: Welcome to Multimedia
First post of the new semester and the next course in the MTT program. I am looking forward to the class and what I will learn about Multimedia and how I can bring that back into my classroom to be an effective technology teacher.
I am looking forward to learning from each of the other students and from Dr. Smolka.
I'll be blogging soon!
I am looking forward to learning from each of the other students and from Dr. Smolka.
I'll be blogging soon!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Topic #20: Reflections
THE COURSE:
I think that what I have benefited most from the course is the fact that I have learned about new resources that I can add to my classroom. These have come both from the book and from the knowledge of the other students in the class. I think the structure of the course allowed for adequate timing to complete the assignments and what to do with the information and how to incorporate it into our classrooms or at the very least into the blog.
The format of the course is exactly what it was titled to be through SMU. It is an online learning course that is extended in face to face meetings. I would have liked to have more teaching aspects at times of how to use these ideas in our classrooms and more feedback from the professor. I do know that Dr. Lan, was willing to do this if the student made the innitive to contact her. I loved the one on one conversations both over the phone and in the classroom to see where we were located. I liked that after the second part of the class more grades were given and we were able to see where we stood in the class. I think the final exam reveiw is a benefit that we did not have for the mid term and it would be good to have one for future classes. Examples on the projects before hand will also be beneficial for future classes. I think what inhibited me the most as a learner is that I like constant feedback that wasn't always available. I would say the changing of deadlines was also hard to switch to. I think that for next year, it would be beneficial to have set guidelines and when the week closes, the week closes and assignments will not be allowed after that time. This might mean that the class will start with a week and a half to finish assignments like we ended the class.
I think that overall Dr. Lan was very inviting to our veiwpoints and adapted the class as needed.
AS A LEARNER:
I think that while I haven't learned a lot of new components of teaching technology, I have learned how to find resources that are good to use int eh classroom. I would have liked to see our face to face meetings as more of what we learned and discussions aloud to add to (maybe through jigsawing??) what we were learning on our own. I think that while I learned a lot and posted early in the discussion boards, sometimes I forgot to go back and read what other people put because it all became redundant.
Overall, I believe that I learn better in face to face meetings, but there are ways to incorporate that into this class as well. It just means that our face to face meetings would need to be scheduled more about talking about what we have learned and incorporate that into our classrooms. While group time was needed in class as we are all busy outside of the class, maybe that would have been beneficial to be timed. I would have liked to seen the assitive technology project incorporated earlier into the timeline to give students more time to talk through the project, maybe not work on, but know what was expected (start in 2nd face to face as an intro to AT).
I have enjoyed this class and learning more about technology and how to incorporate that into my classroom. Thanks guys!
I think that what I have benefited most from the course is the fact that I have learned about new resources that I can add to my classroom. These have come both from the book and from the knowledge of the other students in the class. I think the structure of the course allowed for adequate timing to complete the assignments and what to do with the information and how to incorporate it into our classrooms or at the very least into the blog.
The format of the course is exactly what it was titled to be through SMU. It is an online learning course that is extended in face to face meetings. I would have liked to have more teaching aspects at times of how to use these ideas in our classrooms and more feedback from the professor. I do know that Dr. Lan, was willing to do this if the student made the innitive to contact her. I loved the one on one conversations both over the phone and in the classroom to see where we were located. I liked that after the second part of the class more grades were given and we were able to see where we stood in the class. I think the final exam reveiw is a benefit that we did not have for the mid term and it would be good to have one for future classes. Examples on the projects before hand will also be beneficial for future classes. I think what inhibited me the most as a learner is that I like constant feedback that wasn't always available. I would say the changing of deadlines was also hard to switch to. I think that for next year, it would be beneficial to have set guidelines and when the week closes, the week closes and assignments will not be allowed after that time. This might mean that the class will start with a week and a half to finish assignments like we ended the class.
I think that overall Dr. Lan was very inviting to our veiwpoints and adapted the class as needed.
AS A LEARNER:
I think that while I haven't learned a lot of new components of teaching technology, I have learned how to find resources that are good to use int eh classroom. I would have liked to see our face to face meetings as more of what we learned and discussions aloud to add to (maybe through jigsawing??) what we were learning on our own. I think that while I learned a lot and posted early in the discussion boards, sometimes I forgot to go back and read what other people put because it all became redundant.
Overall, I believe that I learn better in face to face meetings, but there are ways to incorporate that into this class as well. It just means that our face to face meetings would need to be scheduled more about talking about what we have learned and incorporate that into our classrooms. While group time was needed in class as we are all busy outside of the class, maybe that would have been beneficial to be timed. I would have liked to seen the assitive technology project incorporated earlier into the timeline to give students more time to talk through the project, maybe not work on, but know what was expected (start in 2nd face to face as an intro to AT).
I have enjoyed this class and learning more about technology and how to incorporate that into my classroom. Thanks guys!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Topic 19: Quick Checks
Our district just bought a new program to go along with our TEKS checks. These are called Quick checks and they are supposed to be used to see if your students have gained the knowledge that they are supposed to have learned in your class. The only problem to this is that they are not available for my subject becuase I am not TAKS tested at my grade level. We have been told that Enlgish questions will be added to the site, but that it won't happen until next year, thus I am still doing paper quick checks, but I can see how this would be very beneficial compared to my post about TEKS Checks.
The really cool thinkg about Quick Checks is that you are able to cutom tailor it to what each student needs. This is exciting becuase once you make them, they are in your database for good. The other good thing, is that you can take Quick Checks from other teachers. We know how much we love to steal, so this is a great tool to use.
Our Math teacher on our team has used Quick Checks and has stated to what a great degree she is able to do them with hwen she does stations in her classroom. This would also be a great addition to balance literacy or small group instuction so that you know what to target with each student.
Does your district have anything like this? Do you think it woul dbe beneficial for you if it did?
The really cool thinkg about Quick Checks is that you are able to cutom tailor it to what each student needs. This is exciting becuase once you make them, they are in your database for good. The other good thing, is that you can take Quick Checks from other teachers. We know how much we love to steal, so this is a great tool to use.
Our Math teacher on our team has used Quick Checks and has stated to what a great degree she is able to do them with hwen she does stations in her classroom. This would also be a great addition to balance literacy or small group instuction so that you know what to target with each student.
Does your district have anything like this? Do you think it woul dbe beneficial for you if it did?
Topic 18: Wordle
Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.
The one downfall to Wordle is that you cannot save them onto your computer (which I hate). I think that Wordle is a great site for review subjects with your students and to let them get on and play.
I used a Wordle at the beginning of the year as a get to know you project. I can't find mine from the beginning of the year as I just had my students print them and not create an account, but here is a link to one that I love for an English Notebook Cover. The link won't pull up for some reason, so just go to Wordle and look for Enlgish Notebook Cover! If you go on the website and just play around you will find a lot of different uses for Wordle.
I have a feeling that I will be using Wordle for my WWII project with my studetns because it will allow them to start from there and they can be a great word wall for different aspects that would be needed for aroudn the classroom.
One of my students did a Wordle for me because they know how much that I love the book of Romans from the Bible. This is just a different way of how students might use Worlde.
I highly suggest Wordle for all grade levels because it is easy to adapt to the students' needs.
The one downfall to Wordle is that you cannot save them onto your computer (which I hate). I think that Wordle is a great site for review subjects with your students and to let them get on and play.
I used a Wordle at the beginning of the year as a get to know you project. I can't find mine from the beginning of the year as I just had my students print them and not create an account, but here is a link to one that I love for an English Notebook Cover. The link won't pull up for some reason, so just go to Wordle and look for Enlgish Notebook Cover! If you go on the website and just play around you will find a lot of different uses for Wordle.
I have a feeling that I will be using Wordle for my WWII project with my studetns because it will allow them to start from there and they can be a great word wall for different aspects that would be needed for aroudn the classroom.
One of my students did a Wordle for me because they know how much that I love the book of Romans from the Bible. This is just a different way of how students might use Worlde.
I highly suggest Wordle for all grade levels because it is easy to adapt to the students' needs.
Topic 17: Digital Cameras/Flip Cameras
Last year, my MTT and I wrote a grant through Best Buy (which is not available in the format we did last year) and recieved $2,000 to buy technology for our school. The best part about this is since I helped, these have been handed over to our English department in our school. This was a great grant to write and at the perfect timing, because our school's digital cameras are normally used solely for our yearbook staff.
These cameras have done some great things in my classroom by adding to our curriculum. This has allowed my students to take pictures and add them to photostory 3 or to add to movie maker. While my students are doing this, we are not only using images that can be found on the computer, but allowing them to get their own images.
Flip cameras, allow for the student to create movies that are then easy to download into the computer to then upload into movie maker. While I love digital cameras, the FLIP cameras are somuch easier to use for my students.
Some of the downfalls to allowing studetns to take the technology home is the chance that they may lose it or break it. Last year, while doing a project, one of my students lost his FLIP camera and had to pay the money back. Being at a Title I school, this was a decision that came about as part of many conversations with the parents and student. The student paid back his money both financially and working it off in my classroom. Be prepared that before you send students home with technology that there is a system in place of what to do if they lose or break the camera.
As for grant writing, this is not something that I do on a regular basis, but instead, would love to learn strategies. If you have any ideas, please share them.
These cameras have done some great things in my classroom by adding to our curriculum. This has allowed my students to take pictures and add them to photostory 3 or to add to movie maker. While my students are doing this, we are not only using images that can be found on the computer, but allowing them to get their own images.
Flip cameras, allow for the student to create movies that are then easy to download into the computer to then upload into movie maker. While I love digital cameras, the FLIP cameras are somuch easier to use for my students.
Some of the downfalls to allowing studetns to take the technology home is the chance that they may lose it or break it. Last year, while doing a project, one of my students lost his FLIP camera and had to pay the money back. Being at a Title I school, this was a decision that came about as part of many conversations with the parents and student. The student paid back his money both financially and working it off in my classroom. Be prepared that before you send students home with technology that there is a system in place of what to do if they lose or break the camera.
As for grant writing, this is not something that I do on a regular basis, but instead, would love to learn strategies. If you have any ideas, please share them.
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