Sunday, August 9, 2009

Britts Wiki Page

The wiki page I created was Roxio Photoshow. I created at slide show of pictures that I had taken and uploaded via Picasa. To view on the blog I used embedit.com to upload my page.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Copyright: NETS IV

Using the interactive website http://www.stfrancis.edu/content/cid/copyrightbay/fairuse.htm I was able to learn about what regulations apply to copyright in the classroom. It was a fun interactive way to learn about what I can and cant do once I am a teacher.

Copyright Background Beach

Powerpoint: NETS I, II & III

The power point that was created to show how the NETS will be implemented in an elementary classroom. There is a hyper link to the ISTE website that has the explanation of the NETS in the classroom.

Corssword Puzzle: NETS I, II & III

The crossword is an interactive way to use Excel. Through creating this crossword I am now able to create puzzles for any kind of lesson.
Crossword Puzzle With Questions

Inspiration: NETS I & III



The graphic displayed is using a program Inspiration. Through different graphics I illustrated how different NETS are used in a real life environment. The graphics depict the different aspects that can be used in the classroom.

Newsletter: NETS I & III

The Newsletter was created using a word document. There are personal pictures as well as clip art inserted into the newsletter.By adding in graphics and picutes I was able to create a personalized welcome letter.
newsletterbb-1

IMovie: NETS II

Below is the movie that I created using Apple IMovie. Using IMovie I was able to create a one minute public service announcement about Cal State San Marcos. I able to condense movie clips, add clip transitions, add my voice and set it all to music. Click the play button to watch.

Journal #9

Mader, J Smith, B (2009, August). Science + Technology = Creativity (and Fun!). Learning and Leading with Technology, Retrieved August 4, 2009 , from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=August_No_1_2&Template=
/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4363&ContentID=23906&DirectListComboInd=D

Synopsis:
Technology is a tool that for the most part has to be taught. Once the instruction is given it is up to the user to decided how to use it. This article talked about teaching kids different ways to apply technology in a scientific setting. The teacher showed the students how to use the technology then gave them free reign to use whatever medium they wanted to showcase their work. By doing so the students were able to crate a project that was of interest to them. By giving a child very little instruction it is up to the child to use their creativity to best explain the work. The projects that kids can come up with are endless.

Question:
Will it be hard for teachers to give vague project requirements?
Most students seem to like a project when it is spelled out in black and white. There is little room for error with this method of assigning work. The flip side of that is there is less creativity and independant thinking on the part of the student. If teachers are able to get away from rigid project requirements then students will come up with some amazing projects on their own. They just need the basic outline and to be given the opportunity to create the kind of project they want.

Question:
How can a teacher best accommodate different level of tech savy?
Not all kids are on the same level when it comes to technology. Some kids are very good at navigating computers and the like but others are not. It is very important if technology is presented in the class it has to be presented in a way that all kids can understand what is being taught. It may take more time but that way every child will learn the technology and be more apt to use it in different setting than just the classroom. Once the kids get the idea they need time to play with the different applications so they can become comfortable with them. By doing so they can use what they have learned and create insightful projects.

Jounal #8

Bouterse, B. Corn, J. Halstead, E. (August, 2009). Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One. Learning and Leading with Technology, Retrieved August 4, 2009 , from Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One

Synopsis:
There is a lot to consider when looking to buy computers for a school. This article went into detail about what school administrators need to consider before going out and purchasing computers. While it might seem like to best option to buy cheaper computers so as to not blow the budget this article talked about why that isn't always the best option. When buying the cheaper computer my seem like the better deal the whole picture needs to be taken into consideration to see if the computer can handle all that will be required by the students. The side by side comparisons were very helpful in getting a visual for what each computer has to offer and the type of work it would be best suited for. There are a lot of parts of the puzzle when considering buying computers for a school.

Question:
With so much to think about will schools move towards one-to-one set-up?
This article came out at a very interesting time for education in California. Since California is suffering from such a huge deficit it might be detrimental to getting the proper technology in the classroom. Hopefully in the next five to ten years there will more one-to-one schools around the country. Computers are such an amazing resource for education that to leave that untapped would be a travesty.

Question:
Should school hire consultants to help them make the most cost effective decision when purchasing computers?
It might be a wise decision to hire someone that can look and the school and evaluate what would be the most appropriate computer. There are so many out there and when deciding purchasing on a large scale it might be wise to enlist the help of someone who really understands technology.

Journal #7

Reynard, R (2009, July, 15). Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities. The Journal, Retrieved August, 2 2009, from
http://thejournal.com/Articles/2009/07/15/Beyond-Social-Networking-Building-Toward-Learning-Communities.aspx?Page=3&p=1

Synopsis:
When utilizing online tools such as blogging it is the teacher’s responsibility to make sure it is being used for educational purposes. It is not just a space for students to go to talk to their friends online. It is a place where ideas can be exchanged and information learned. It is up to the teacher to make sure this is accomplished. Kids need to know a lot can be learned from posting information and asking for feedback from their peers. By doing so a student will be able to learn so much more by having different points of view than just that of the teacher.

Question:
Will students feel comfortable posting their information to get feedback from peers?
Posting on a blog or other social site is still so new that some students may feel more comfortable getting just feedback from the teacher. Students have to be mature enough to post information that is helpful to other students. If this is achieved then a lot can be gained from online collaboration. If this isn’t achieved then some students may develop a fear of sharing their work to the online community.

Question:
Will school in my life time become paperless?
It seems with all of this technology that paper in the classroom might become a thing of the past. In the article Assessment Made Easy it talked about a school in Denver where all of the students had laptops. It would seem that if every child had access to a laptop then paper would be almost obsolete. As more school get more computers then maybe in the next fifty years or so online submission will out weigh paper submission of work.

Journal #6

Richardson, K (2008, May). Don't Feed the Trolls. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved August, 2 2009, from
http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=May_No_7_&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=3972&ContentID=20817&DirectListComboInd=D

Synopsis:
As students begin to use the computer more than a pen and paper they need to learn about conduct on the internet. The article spoke about students posting on blogs as a way of journaling instead of the normal pen and paper. By doing so anyone can read what is posted and therefore these students need to learn what should and shouldn’t be posted on the internet. It is imperative that these student’s know that when hurtful posting are added to a blog then someone is going to get their feelings hurt. Anyone can access the information and read what is being written.

Question:
Will students, at any age, know the consequences of posting hurtful messages?
I think the concern I have with having kids post to the internet is they won’t understand the ramifications of posting hurtful messages on the internet. They also don’t know that what they post will stay with them for a very long time. For older kids especially. Employers are now looking to the internet to see what they can find out about potential employees. If unflattering messages or pictures are posted on the internet then that might deter an employer.

Question:
Will blogging become the norm for the generation that is going through school now?
As kids become more advance on computers I see blogging and other social means of discourse becoming the norm. There is a sense of need to know now in our society and blogging and other social websites seem to fulfill that. Kids will be able to post what they are doing and that will be a means to stay in touch with friends and family. It will be interesting to see what this new generation does with technology.