Tuesday, November 30, 2010

iMovie PSA

NETS-T III
I created a short video using iMovie to inspire future Cal State San Marcos students why this is a great school and family to be a part of.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Journal 4/NETS-T II & III

Johnson, D. (09/10). Computing in the clouds. Learning & Leading with Technology, 16-20.

Summary: Computing in the clouds, a very good and informative article. It was interesting to be able to connect with this article; I just in the past year learned about resources such as Google Docs and have come to love it, even though I do not know all the features it has. In these days where the world does not slow down programs like these are very helpful because then students (K-College) do not have to worry about carrying around any type of USB drives or any other storage devices. Now students do not even have to be in the same room to work on a project (since it is very hard to get together for projects). I believe it could save schools plenty of money (since they are free) and be put to use in other more beneficial ways.
Q1: Are programs like these suitable for all school age children?
A1: Yes and No. If these programs are taught and learned at a young age, then students have a better chance at being able to navigate them; however, if they are barely being introduced in high school or even college it can be a challenge to learn in a timely manner and frustrating.
Q2: Is it realistic that all parents are willing/able to pay for Netbooks?
A2: No, there are going to be many families with multiple children and will not want to buy multiple Netbooks. In addition, there is the simple fact that some families will just not be able to afford even one. To top it off parents may not have trust in their children to carry around an expensive item. Lastly, some parents may think it should be the schools responsibility to provide.

Journal 3/NETS-T II & V

McDermon, L. (2010). Bring the world into your classroom. Learning & Leading with Technology, 34-35.

Summary: I feel videoconferencing could be very beneficial and something I would love to use in my future classroom for the purpose of “taking fields trips” and being able to learn from various museum websites. “This not only benefits the students but the school as well, the schools would be able to save money; however, this does not mean they should completely eliminate all field trips. Students still need the hands on moments and those days where they are not in a classroom all day long. I feel the Read around the Planet is also beneficial but to a certain extent. It would be good because then students can see how different other people are, and the many ways we can do something to accomplish the same goal.
Q1: Will students enjoy this type of education?
A1: I feel students will enjoy it to a certain point, but some may not be exactly comfortable getting in front of a camera and acting. Many issues could be at stake here. For example, language barriers, disabilities, stage freight and so on.
Q2: Does this take value time away from the normal class day?
A2: I think it all depends on how much time is being used for video conferencing and how it is being used for knowledge and learning purposes.

Journal 2/NETS I & II

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning & Leading with Technology, 13-14.
Ferguson, H. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning & Leading with Technology, 14-17.

Summary: I have to admit these articles were hard to read because I dislike the whole Twitter Scene. I do have to say that I did learn a lot more about Twitter. I never knew Twitter had so many features to use. However, I feel that many of these same aspects, Facebook has as well and is easier to use and I guess more of the in thing today. The only features Facebook may not have are the organizers and Bookmarklet, which from the reading can be very useful, however Facebook still has my vote. Another aspect not mentioned too much was security (very important), but on Facebook that is something the individual has complete control of.
Q1: With so many other technology tools, does society see this from a learning perspective?
A1: I do not believe so because there are so many other sites out there that can assist in learning, teaching, or organizing without the hassle of having to “work at” as the article explains.
Q2: Does being involved in something like this take time away from students?
A2: I believe if teachers do not know how to control themselves and divide up their time could affect the students negatively because they are looking at other people’s ideas and not using their own as much, or putting in valuable time into teaching.

Journal 1/NETS-T III

Bass, K., Donovan, L., & Green, T. (2010). Taking laptops schoolwide. Learning & Leading with Technology, 12-15.

Summary: This article really opened my eyes as far as how technology in schools should/could be integrated. I have always had a strong opinion for laptops/computers to be an everyday learning tool; however, I never took the time to think about how or what it would take. Technology is such a huge part of our lives today that it is almost scary if you do not know how to use it. Yes, so many parents have a fear of their children having internet access but there is a way around it. While at school students will only be able to view certain sites because there are ways to block what you do not want students to view. I find it odd how many schools have not implemented technology after hearing or reading how successful schools are becoming. I agree to the fullest about the four factors (school climate, communication, collaboration, and progression of use) that should be taken care of when trying to implement technology in a school. As a parent I would want to feel comfortable that my child is actually learning (and not messing around) but also building onto their skills. An outline of how the student will be working from grade to grade is number one priority. Second would be a classroom webpage (or something similar) so that as a parent I can see what is going on.
Q1: Does laptop/computer use benefit students?
A1: Yes, I believe so. Not only does it provide an easy access to do work (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) but to be able to do research and to explain subjects one may not understand. It also provides great use for those who are visual learners.
Q2: Will parents be able to adapt to this?
A2: I believe once parents nerves are settled they will. Things such as communication, support, and involvement will help the situation. An outline and/or classroom webpage are great things to use to give parents proof as to what their students are learning and accomplishing.

Wiki Page/NETS-T V





On this classroom Wiki Page I created a page on my own. The information I provided was on a tool that I tried out, and created an example to show my peers what Lovely Charts can do, and how it can possibly be implemented into the classroom.

CyberSafety Site/NETS-T IV





While using Google Sites my group and I created a child appropriate/friendly site that gave them important information on what can happen and how to stay safe while using the internet. There are images, videos, and links provided that can be used to search for more information.

Inspiration/NETS-T V




While using a program called Inspiration I created a map of what the NETS for teachers consists of. I also used images, gave examples, and explained why the assignments correlates to the NETS.