http://www.wtvi.com/teks/
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/ipod/
I have learned a number of new things this week. Primarily in relation to the article I am writing for my executive summary. Some interesting sites are above. The article focuses on audio technologies in the classroom. The springfield site has quite a few resources for iPods in the classroom. Downloadable materials and activities. This will be short as the rest is going into the paper.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Annenberg Media
Teacher resources and teacher professional development programming across the curriculum
http://www.learner.org/
http://www.learner.org/
Monday, November 16, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8359477.stm
A birth certificate is a fact of life for many. Yet there are millions of babies born each year who are never registered, depriving them of vital education and health care and leaving them vulnerable to abuse. Plan International has gone some way to reverse this situation, as the BBC's Penny Spiller explains.
A birth certificate is a fact of life for many. Yet there are millions of babies born each year who are never registered, depriving them of vital education and health care and leaving them vulnerable to abuse. Plan International has gone some way to reverse this situation, as the BBC's Penny Spiller explains.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Week 7
Given the view of schooling in the readings for this week ("Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology" by Collins & Halverson, ch 2 & 3; "What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy" by Gee, ch 2; "From Content to Contect: Videogames as Designed Experience" by Squire, from Educational Researcher 35(8)), which technologies do you think are most likely to be taken up in schools? Why? Which technologies push your thinking about teaching and learning? Why? Do these two lists necessarily line up?
The articles we read this week were by technology enthusiasts, I would even say apologists, who seem to be incapable of heaping any sort of criticism on technology in the classroom. I'm in favor of computers and new ways of learning, but just tossing a bunch of computers in a classroom does nothing to educate students.
The biggest hurdle, which the authors just gloss over, is money. Thee cost of all of what they're proposing is very prohibitive. I think laptops are probably the most likely technology to be adopted. Uruguay is giving the $100 laptops to every student in the country. Costs could come down for most places by going with open source materials instead of paying licensing fees.
There are several sites that could make classroom learning more interesting for the student (e.g. voicethread.com, zamzar.com). There are great sites to do research that are more interesting than looking through a library (e.g. spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk)
If students have their own laptops, and have access to interesting sites to do research and to learn, then with the proper guidance they may find reasons to want to learn.
The articles we read this week were by technology enthusiasts, I would even say apologists, who seem to be incapable of heaping any sort of criticism on technology in the classroom. I'm in favor of computers and new ways of learning, but just tossing a bunch of computers in a classroom does nothing to educate students.
The biggest hurdle, which the authors just gloss over, is money. Thee cost of all of what they're proposing is very prohibitive. I think laptops are probably the most likely technology to be adopted. Uruguay is giving the $100 laptops to every student in the country. Costs could come down for most places by going with open source materials instead of paying licensing fees.
There are several sites that could make classroom learning more interesting for the student (e.g. voicethread.com, zamzar.com). There are great sites to do research that are more interesting than looking through a library (e.g. spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk)
If students have their own laptops, and have access to interesting sites to do research and to learn, then with the proper guidance they may find reasons to want to learn.
Tech and other resources for classrooms
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/
http://www.barbbumgardner.com/
http://www.4teachers.org/tools/
http://zamzar.com/
http://animoto.com/
http://voicethread.com/
http://schooltube.com/
http://www.barbbumgardner.com/
http://www.4teachers.org/tools/
http://zamzar.com/
http://animoto.com/
http://voicethread.com/
http://schooltube.com/
Monday, November 9, 2009
Digital School Library Leaves Book Stacks Behind
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120097876
Week 6
a. What was the most significant thing you learned in class this week?
I have been learning that there are many fascinating technological tools to use for teaching, however I see very little focus on costs. The game that we were shown in our group last Thursday is a great little game (Diner Town) that introduces some rather complex microeconomic ideas in a fun and easy way. The paper I am writing my executive summary on is on how a computerized pop-up dictionary can help struggling readers. Both of these tools are fabulous. If I were teaching microeconomics, I'd love to have Diner Town. When I teach history and social studies, I want a pop-up dictionary. Most schools don't have computers to go around to all students. A friend of mine is student teaching in a school that has only 4 overhead projectors and only a handful of computers (several are not working). These are great tools but most schools, especially the ones that need them most, could never afford them.
b. What questions do you have and what do you want to learn more about?
I had some questions about the executive summary assignment, but have since figured them out.
c. What applications do you see to classroom practice based on what you learned?
See question a.
I have been learning that there are many fascinating technological tools to use for teaching, however I see very little focus on costs. The game that we were shown in our group last Thursday is a great little game (Diner Town) that introduces some rather complex microeconomic ideas in a fun and easy way. The paper I am writing my executive summary on is on how a computerized pop-up dictionary can help struggling readers. Both of these tools are fabulous. If I were teaching microeconomics, I'd love to have Diner Town. When I teach history and social studies, I want a pop-up dictionary. Most schools don't have computers to go around to all students. A friend of mine is student teaching in a school that has only 4 overhead projectors and only a handful of computers (several are not working). These are great tools but most schools, especially the ones that need them most, could never afford them.
b. What questions do you have and what do you want to learn more about?
I had some questions about the executive summary assignment, but have since figured them out.
c. What applications do you see to classroom practice based on what you learned?
See question a.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Racial Achievement Gap Still Plagues Schools
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114298676
Facing Identity Conflicts, Black Students Fall Behind
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114327591
US School Kids Are Doing Better Than Ever – But You Never Hear It
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/nurtureshock/archive/2009/11/02/why-us-school-kids-are-doing-better-than-ever-but-you-never-hear-it.aspx
Monday, November 2, 2009
Week 5
a. What was the most significant thing you learned in class this week?
There were a lot of interesting websites that we were introduced to this week. The thing that stood out the most was a blog about cell phones in class.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/10/cell-phones-in-my-civics-class-parent.html
I have been very much opposed to cell phones in class. My attitude was that if a student is using one, their parent will have to come and get it back. This particular posting is making my wonder if they could be useful.
b. What questions do you have and what do you want to learn more about?
No questions this week.
c. What applications do you see to classroom practice based on what you learned?
Since I'm beginning to question my views of cell phones in the class room, I'm trying to think of some way their use could be applicable. I'm still thinking this one through, but I did like the blog. In trying to find an opinion, it could be a way to ask many people in a short amount of time.
There were a lot of interesting websites that we were introduced to this week. The thing that stood out the most was a blog about cell phones in class.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/10/cell-phones-in-my-civics-class-parent.html
I have been very much opposed to cell phones in class. My attitude was that if a student is using one, their parent will have to come and get it back. This particular posting is making my wonder if they could be useful.
b. What questions do you have and what do you want to learn more about?
No questions this week.
c. What applications do you see to classroom practice based on what you learned?
Since I'm beginning to question my views of cell phones in the class room, I'm trying to think of some way their use could be applicable. I'm still thinking this one through, but I did like the blog. In trying to find an opinion, it could be a way to ask many people in a short amount of time.
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