If you type http://www.alicechristie.org/ into your browser, you will be led to a terrific website designed to help teachers in all areas dealing with technology and the internet. Dr. Christie was a teacher for 25 years. She was Arizona State University President’s Professor Emeritus, and received her Ph.D. in Educational Technology and Language and Literacy from ASU. She has recently retired, but continues to help present and future educators through her knowledge in technology and language. If they were to click on the Educational Technology tab, teachers could find several resources for effectively using technology in the classroom with their K-12 students. There are many internet tools and resources, such as spreadsheets, podcasts, rubrics, and electronic portfolios, just to name a few.
The resource that I found to be particularly interesting, especially for educators with younger students, was the link pertaining to internet safety. I think it's extremely important for teachers to let their students know what the risks are in using the internet, especially with technology increasing at such a dramatic rate. Teachers need to warn students early on about the negative and positive effects of resources available on the internet. Dr. Christie gives teachers the links to several web-based presentations created by herself and other educators regarding cyber crimes. She sites the warnings and positive possibilities of podcasting, wikis, YouTube, blogs, instant messaging, and other social networking as well. Altogether, Dr. Christie's website is very useful to all educators teaching K-12. This site is one resource I'm sure I'll refer to again and again as both a student and a teacher.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Is Wikipedia Reliable?
Can anyone really trust what they find on Wikipedia? Just because it is one of the first reference websites to pop up on the internet when someone types it into a search engine doesn't mean that you will necessarily find accurate information there. Wikipedia, because it is a free reference source, has one huge drawback: anyone can make alterations to the articles, articles that too many people take as fact.
People who own specific companies, such as Walmart, can change things written about their business to make them seem too good to be true. In fact, they are. Changing or editing Wikipedia is not illegal. It was designed to be able to let anyone edit its content. Although some of the information found on Wikipedia is truthful, you can't ever completely trust what you read on this site. When referencing Wikipedia, it is good advice to check several other websites to make sure the information you are receiving is accurate. I would not recommend using Wikipedia when writing research papers, for instance. It is important that your sources for research or any other papers written for school are reliable, accurate, and non-debatable.
People who own specific companies, such as Walmart, can change things written about their business to make them seem too good to be true. In fact, they are. Changing or editing Wikipedia is not illegal. It was designed to be able to let anyone edit its content. Although some of the information found on Wikipedia is truthful, you can't ever completely trust what you read on this site. When referencing Wikipedia, it is good advice to check several other websites to make sure the information you are receiving is accurate. I would not recommend using Wikipedia when writing research papers, for instance. It is important that your sources for research or any other papers written for school are reliable, accurate, and non-debatable.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon graduate school who incorporated phenomenal new teaching methods utilizing technology in his classroom. His perspective students would actually have to form long lines during specific registration, hoping for entry into his course. Randy believed it was extremely important to have fun in everything you do. This belief allowed him to become highly successful in his teaching.
The course that Randy created, with some help from colleague Don Marinelli, was called Building Virtual Worlds. This high-tech course was intended for a double bachelor degree program offered at CMU. The students were so enthusiastic, they almost forgot that the projects they were creating were actually hard work, since they had so much fun doing it. Randy appropriately referred to his course as "edutainment".
What made the Building Virtual Worlds course so unique was that CMU permitted Randy to have total charge and creativity with the students. They had no deans to report to and used only project-based curriculum, as well as a license to "break the mold". The students had intensely fun experiences, including collaborative group projects and field trips. This course helped the students become so knowledgeable and experienced that several companies signed contracts agreeing to hire the students the moment they graduated.
While giving his last lecture, what he called "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", Randy Pausch used several examples of technology in his presentation. He used old family photos, in-class videos, a model of a virtual studio, graphs, charts, and several props, such as a hat, a football, and several large stuffed animals to aid in demonstrating his ideas and principles. Not only was he an amazing professor, he was an amazing man. Randy Pausch passed away from advanced pancreatic cancer
last summer, in 2008. He wasn't even fifty years old, and left a wife and three children, for whom he gave his last lecture. You can see it here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8201478015841155798&vt=lf&hl=en
The course that Randy created, with some help from colleague Don Marinelli, was called Building Virtual Worlds. This high-tech course was intended for a double bachelor degree program offered at CMU. The students were so enthusiastic, they almost forgot that the projects they were creating were actually hard work, since they had so much fun doing it. Randy appropriately referred to his course as "edutainment".
What made the Building Virtual Worlds course so unique was that CMU permitted Randy to have total charge and creativity with the students. They had no deans to report to and used only project-based curriculum, as well as a license to "break the mold". The students had intensely fun experiences, including collaborative group projects and field trips. This course helped the students become so knowledgeable and experienced that several companies signed contracts agreeing to hire the students the moment they graduated.
While giving his last lecture, what he called "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", Randy Pausch used several examples of technology in his presentation. He used old family photos, in-class videos, a model of a virtual studio, graphs, charts, and several props, such as a hat, a football, and several large stuffed animals to aid in demonstrating his ideas and principles. Not only was he an amazing professor, he was an amazing man. Randy Pausch passed away from advanced pancreatic cancer
last summer, in 2008. He wasn't even fifty years old, and left a wife and three children, for whom he gave his last lecture. You can see it here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8201478015841155798&vt=lf&hl=en
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Fischbowl: The Best of 2007-November
After scanning several of "The Best of" blogs on The Fischbowl, I decided on the month of November. This particular blog caught my attention mostly because I know how important it is for teachers to keep their students up-to-date and current in all things technological, especially during their high school years. By clicking on http://thefiscbowl.blogspot.com/2008/01/best-of-fischbowl-2007.html , and selecting the best of November, "Why Wireless", you can read the blog in it's entirety.
In reading this blog, I found that Fisch gave several excellent reasons why schools should implement wireless internet. Aside from resources for writing research papers, gaining information on their subjects, sharing information with other students, etc., having any-time access to the web will keep the students who utilize the wireless system "lifetime learners". As Fisch states in his fifth paragraph, "they will need to learn how to learn". This means endless access to the world around them in the form of the internet. Wireless internet is not only beneficial to the students, but to the teachers and professors as well. There, teachers can read online professional journals to stay up-to-date and keep in touch with students, parents, and other teachers. I completely agree with Fisch in that all U.S. schools need to eventually include wireless internet in their computer labs.
In reading this blog, I found that Fisch gave several excellent reasons why schools should implement wireless internet. Aside from resources for writing research papers, gaining information on their subjects, sharing information with other students, etc., having any-time access to the web will keep the students who utilize the wireless system "lifetime learners". As Fisch states in his fifth paragraph, "they will need to learn how to learn". This means endless access to the world around them in the form of the internet. Wireless internet is not only beneficial to the students, but to the teachers and professors as well. There, teachers can read online professional journals to stay up-to-date and keep in touch with students, parents, and other teachers. I completely agree with Fisch in that all U.S. schools need to eventually include wireless internet in their computer labs.
Previous Podcasts: Fall 2008
I recently listened to a couple of the podcasts from Dr. Strange's fall 2008 EDM class. The first podcast was done by two students and was called Lessons from Life: The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch. The second one I chose was created by three students and was called Can YouTube Be Used for Educational Purposes? In listening to these podcasts, I found that, in my opinion, the best were done by three or four students as opposed to two. The more opinions you get, the more engaging the conversation. I have compiled a checklist that might be helpful to go through when creating a new podcast.
1) Be very thorough and complete on your topic; know exactly what you will discuss before you begin your podcast, and give a good introduction.
2) Give lots of explanations and details; also give any examples from personal experience.
3) Although you may have notes as a guide, do not make it seem as if you are reading directly from the paper; converse with your classmates.
4) Don't rustle your papers too much, as it is noisy and distracting.
5) Be enthusiastic about the subject you are covering.
6) Pronounce your words clearly and precisely.
7) Be sure to include what YOU would do as a teacher when discussing your topic. Agree or disagree, but make your case known.
8) Do not take too much time to pause; keep the conversation rolling.
9) Reply or refer to other classmates by their names. Don't say "you" or "he/she".
10) Keep the information interesting and exciting.
11) Practice your podcast with your fellow classmates BEFORE you actually record it.
12) Do your best to avoid "um"s, "uh"s or "you know"s. It makes you sound like you are unprepared.
I hope this helps! Good luck to all in doing your podcasts!
1) Be very thorough and complete on your topic; know exactly what you will discuss before you begin your podcast, and give a good introduction.
2) Give lots of explanations and details; also give any examples from personal experience.
3) Although you may have notes as a guide, do not make it seem as if you are reading directly from the paper; converse with your classmates.
4) Don't rustle your papers too much, as it is noisy and distracting.
5) Be enthusiastic about the subject you are covering.
6) Pronounce your words clearly and precisely.
7) Be sure to include what YOU would do as a teacher when discussing your topic. Agree or disagree, but make your case known.
8) Do not take too much time to pause; keep the conversation rolling.
9) Reply or refer to other classmates by their names. Don't say "you" or "he/she".
10) Keep the information interesting and exciting.
11) Practice your podcast with your fellow classmates BEFORE you actually record it.
12) Do your best to avoid "um"s, "uh"s or "you know"s. It makes you sound like you are unprepared.
I hope this helps! Good luck to all in doing your podcasts!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Response to: "Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
No not really, but I think you can go too far with this. The quote below attests to why I believe so.
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
Now that's a little over the top. Fisch does at least give you a warning, and admits himself that it is an extreme statement. Nonetheless, I have to disagree. This statement suggests that such a teacher, one who is "technologically illiterate", is not an effective teacher and can do nothing to better her students. Plenty of teachers are technologically challenged and impact the lives of their students every day, very effectively.
Yes, it is vital, especially in the 21st century, that teachers keep their students updated and knowledgable in current events and technologies as well as they know how. And they, as educators themselves, should be open and willing to learn. But it does not make them bad at their jobs if they are not quite up-to-date as they ought to be in dealing with technology. After all, it advances every day. They cannot be expected to keep up with everyone and everything.
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
Now that's a little over the top. Fisch does at least give you a warning, and admits himself that it is an extreme statement. Nonetheless, I have to disagree. This statement suggests that such a teacher, one who is "technologically illiterate", is not an effective teacher and can do nothing to better her students. Plenty of teachers are technologically challenged and impact the lives of their students every day, very effectively.
Yes, it is vital, especially in the 21st century, that teachers keep their students updated and knowledgable in current events and technologies as well as they know how. And they, as educators themselves, should be open and willing to learn. But it does not make them bad at their jobs if they are not quite up-to-date as they ought to be in dealing with technology. After all, it advances every day. They cannot be expected to keep up with everyone and everything.
Podcasts on iTunes
Starting out being forced to listen to these podcasts on iTunes, I got a little irritated. I mean, what is the point? Well, Dr. Strange stated clearly that the point was to familiarize ourselves with the podcasts and to see how they are executed. That wasn't good enough for me, but this is what I discovered. The podcasts are SO useful! You can find out so much information on these things, information that is spoken rather than something you have to read, which can get tedious at times. After all, reading is a big part of education, but so is the spoken word and the ways we use language.
The first podcast I listened to was called Smartboard Lessons. In this particular podcast, two teachers, Joan Badger and Ben Hazzard, talk about cross-classroom collaberations and how to use podcasts to create a sense of community. Basically, they keep teachers connected, which is very important. One of the first podcasts they had posted related to their website, . They spoke briefly about what this website had to offer and how to use the information given and apply it to your own classroom. One example would be essay writing and how to correctly write a successful essay. They also give other helpful links related to the particular podcats they are doing that day.
Another podcast I listened to was Kidcast, created by Dan Schmit. In podcast #58 he discussed podcasting in the classroom and how we can better help our students to utilize podcasts to their full advantage. In this podcast, titled "The Medium is NOT the Message", he emphasized that it is not always about HOW we organize the material, but what is contained in our message that matters. Dan suggested that instead of just helping students create and use the software, teachers should have the students focus on the content of what is in their presentation. Once they create their presentation, they should deliver it in person to a live audience, such as we did in class with our own presentations created in Google.
MacBreak Weekly, another podcast not directly related to education but still quite useful, was created by five journalists. As the name of this podcast would suggest, they discussed all the latest in Apple and Macintosh, including Adobe, the IPhone, Flash, and other programs. A lot of it was comparing and contrasting, which would be very useful to those who had Macs and other products. This content could be utilized by teachers and students for better communication.
One podcast in iTunes that I really enjoyed was TWiP, otherwise known as This Week in Photography. Now, I don't know all that much about photography, but I am learning a lot from my boyfriend and becoming more and more interested in it. This podcast revealed the latest camera techniques, technology and news. In Episode #17, the professional photographers and journalists talked specifically about imaging and the best and most affordable in ink jet printers. Some of the other topics included wedding photography, portrait lighting, and selling your photos. All in all, this podcast was very helpful and informative, as were the others.
The first podcast I listened to was called Smartboard Lessons. In this particular podcast, two teachers, Joan Badger and Ben Hazzard, talk about cross-classroom collaberations and how to use podcasts to create a sense of community. Basically, they keep teachers connected, which is very important. One of the first podcasts they had posted related to their website, . They spoke briefly about what this website had to offer and how to use the information given and apply it to your own classroom. One example would be essay writing and how to correctly write a successful essay. They also give other helpful links related to the particular podcats they are doing that day.
Another podcast I listened to was Kidcast, created by Dan Schmit. In podcast #58 he discussed podcasting in the classroom and how we can better help our students to utilize podcasts to their full advantage. In this podcast, titled "The Medium is NOT the Message", he emphasized that it is not always about HOW we organize the material, but what is contained in our message that matters. Dan suggested that instead of just helping students create and use the software, teachers should have the students focus on the content of what is in their presentation. Once they create their presentation, they should deliver it in person to a live audience, such as we did in class with our own presentations created in Google.
MacBreak Weekly, another podcast not directly related to education but still quite useful, was created by five journalists. As the name of this podcast would suggest, they discussed all the latest in Apple and Macintosh, including Adobe, the IPhone, Flash, and other programs. A lot of it was comparing and contrasting, which would be very useful to those who had Macs and other products. This content could be utilized by teachers and students for better communication.
One podcast in iTunes that I really enjoyed was TWiP, otherwise known as This Week in Photography. Now, I don't know all that much about photography, but I am learning a lot from my boyfriend and becoming more and more interested in it. This podcast revealed the latest camera techniques, technology and news. In Episode #17, the professional photographers and journalists talked specifically about imaging and the best and most affordable in ink jet printers. Some of the other topics included wedding photography, portrait lighting, and selling your photos. All in all, this podcast was very helpful and informative, as were the others.
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