These first two chapters deal with the idea of an evolving classroom. The pros and cons of it and also the way it's changing people are at the forefront. All the ideal views from the beginning of chapter 1 offer a peek into the way technology has or will change the classroom. Chapter 1 really was a lot of things I've already heard, and while informative, was a bit repetitive. It really focused on the change we are going through and the new direction things are taking.
The second chapter was more intriguing because it focused on HOW and WHY technology in the classroom was a good idea. One of the most interesting ideas was the learned information vs. the right now information. So much of the info kids get is instant and in response to something they are curious about. It's not necessarily something they will remember but it's something they need to know NOW, so they seek it out to help them short term. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just different and it's something we need to adapt too.
Overall this seems like an interesting book, but I hope it keeps offering new ideas and expands upon some of the themes we've been exploring, otherwise it will be incredibly intuitive at this point.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Credibility
The Pacific Tree Octopus is not a legitimate website. Nor is the MLK Jr. site or the Dihydrogen Monoxide one. You can tell these are not legitimate because the issues they deal with are fake and in some cases slanderous. They play off the ignorance of the general viewer and while they are complex, they are still fake. They don't cite many sources, and if they do, the sources are not credible. They also use sketchy testimonials and claim wild and outlandish things.
The Explorers website is the only credible one of the group. It's interface is set up well, and it's easy to navigate. Also, factual information is given and cited properly. It also has a more polished look to it, one that the other three don't have. This alone can give you a good feel for a website. I was able to look through this site and feel as though I learned something too, things that I could use in a paper and refer back too.
PSA Reflection
Creating the PSA was a unique experience. I got to understand the ins and outs of iMovie much better than I had before, and it was fun to clip the pieces together to make a coherent movie. We actually filmed about 3 minutes of footage but had to trim it down to around 60 seconds. This was the most challenging part about the whole thing. We really felt restricted by the time limit and while we understood why it was in place, it was still hard to work with. We actually felt rushed to cram everything we wanted into it.
We did spend a lot of time on the project. We met before hand to plan and brainstorm. Filming was easy because we had a good plan that we reviewed before each take. After that we edited it down in iMovie and piece it together. We then added the opening and closing parts to finish off the video. Like I said earlier, the hardest part was fitting it into the time limit. Once we did that though, we felt confident in what we had down. If I did this again, I would definitely try to have less raw film to start with. Not having to edit out a lot would have made a simpler more cohesive video.
We did spend a lot of time on the project. We met before hand to plan and brainstorm. Filming was easy because we had a good plan that we reviewed before each take. After that we edited it down in iMovie and piece it together. We then added the opening and closing parts to finish off the video. Like I said earlier, the hardest part was fitting it into the time limit. Once we did that though, we felt confident in what we had down. If I did this again, I would definitely try to have less raw film to start with. Not having to edit out a lot would have made a simpler more cohesive video.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Screencast Reflection
I really really enjoyed doing the screencast project. I think I will definitely be utilizing this tool in my future classroom. I thought it was extremely easy to use and I think it will help clarify projects, confusing websites, or every day tasks as the classrooms of today merge with technology. As usual I was hesitant about this tool but after using it I really enjoyed it's simplicity, yet the final product is so powerful. The blending of verbal and visual explanation was a unique one, and I was impressed with the final product.
I spent a good amount of time on making sure I knew what I was doing with my website tool. In fact I took probably close to 10 takes of my screen cast. It was a trial and error process. For example I figured out that it was easier if you had all the pages open in separate tabs to help speed up the process of explaining things. I also found it tough to stay within the boundaries of 4-5 minutes. I got 3-4 good takes but I was over by about 30 seconds. So I had to redo it and skim over things more briefly. I thought this streamlined the process but also limited what I was able to show.
Like I said earlier, I really envision myself using this tool in the future when teaching. The simplicity is what sold me. A series of tutorials could easily be made with this tool and it would take little time to that. Especially with all the new technology emerging, staying up and in the know with all of it is tough, but this tool could really aid in that. Teaching kids how to do something on the computer while they can see exactly what to do is an exciting option and one that I think will have more prevalence as time goes on.
I spent a good amount of time on making sure I knew what I was doing with my website tool. In fact I took probably close to 10 takes of my screen cast. It was a trial and error process. For example I figured out that it was easier if you had all the pages open in separate tabs to help speed up the process of explaining things. I also found it tough to stay within the boundaries of 4-5 minutes. I got 3-4 good takes but I was over by about 30 seconds. So I had to redo it and skim over things more briefly. I thought this streamlined the process but also limited what I was able to show.
Like I said earlier, I really envision myself using this tool in the future when teaching. The simplicity is what sold me. A series of tutorials could easily be made with this tool and it would take little time to that. Especially with all the new technology emerging, staying up and in the know with all of it is tough, but this tool could really aid in that. Teaching kids how to do something on the computer while they can see exactly what to do is an exciting option and one that I think will have more prevalence as time goes on.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Do All End All-Making Sense of Everything
In this last chapter it's made apparent the shifts and futures of classrooms everywhere. From knowing where to find an answer instead of memorizing it, to mastery as the product instead of the goal, it's clear that future classrooms are going to be very different than they are today. In fact, there seems to be a very drastic shift not only in the student's minds but in the teacher's minds as well. While I understand these shifts, I will stand firm in saying I'm not sure if I buy into them. How can you make the argument that a student should spend their time learning where to find information, rather than just learning the information. Are they always going to have an access point to this information? Perhaps they are, and this is the part that I'm struggling with. Either way, changes are a brewing and I think teachers will have to conform or face being left in the dust.
In the epilogue, an idyllic look into what a teacher seamlessly integrating technology and their job is presented. It seems so easy. So effortless. Yet, something about it seems out of reach. And I can't quite put my finger on it. Oddly enough, whether this story is true or not, it seems to be a work of fiction. Perhaps this is happening in classrooms everywhere and it's working great. I think what I will take away from this is that I'd like to see this with my own eyes. I'd like to talk with someone who uses these tools everyday in their lives and be given the opportunity to ask them about it. Than I think, I may become a believer, but until then I will remain a skeptic. And I feel I'm no worse off because of it.
In the epilogue, an idyllic look into what a teacher seamlessly integrating technology and their job is presented. It seems so easy. So effortless. Yet, something about it seems out of reach. And I can't quite put my finger on it. Oddly enough, whether this story is true or not, it seems to be a work of fiction. Perhaps this is happening in classrooms everywhere and it's working great. I think what I will take away from this is that I'd like to see this with my own eyes. I'd like to talk with someone who uses these tools everyday in their lives and be given the opportunity to ask them about it. Than I think, I may become a believer, but until then I will remain a skeptic. And I feel I'm no worse off because of it.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Multi-Tasking Video - Frontline
This was a rather long video produced by Frontline regarding the idea of multi-tasking among the youth of today's society. While it was a bit long winded, it was a fascinating and provocative look into some of the problems and results of extended technology use. One of the most impactful things I got out of the video was the idea that while teaching, it's important not to completely abandon the "old way" of doing things.
They made it a point that today's youth are using technology all the time. All over the world people are immersing themselves in these alternative worlds. However, they seemed to focus on the many problems this poses to people today. Because of that, the video as a whole had a very negative connotation to it. This left me feeling like technology perhaps wasn't the best thing for us today. This is why I said I will not abandon the "old way" of teaching. Actually using physical books, doing hands on projects, and not converting to everything online. While I believe kids want to be challenged and stimulated in a number of different ways, I find it hard to believe all those ways exist in the form of technology and the use of computers.
Overall I am excited to see where the next advancements are made and what impact they have. While maintaining my stance that technology is good if used correctly this video really emphasizes the dangers of becoming entrapped in it. Needless to say it left me feeling unsettled, it was troubling seeing all these people living in such a different reality, yet they seem happy, so it's hard to decide where to draw the line. While this video was supposed to be about multitasking, there wasn't much about it at all, save for a few segments near the beginning. Either way, it was an interesting watch.
They made it a point that today's youth are using technology all the time. All over the world people are immersing themselves in these alternative worlds. However, they seemed to focus on the many problems this poses to people today. Because of that, the video as a whole had a very negative connotation to it. This left me feeling like technology perhaps wasn't the best thing for us today. This is why I said I will not abandon the "old way" of teaching. Actually using physical books, doing hands on projects, and not converting to everything online. While I believe kids want to be challenged and stimulated in a number of different ways, I find it hard to believe all those ways exist in the form of technology and the use of computers.
Overall I am excited to see where the next advancements are made and what impact they have. While maintaining my stance that technology is good if used correctly this video really emphasizes the dangers of becoming entrapped in it. Needless to say it left me feeling unsettled, it was troubling seeing all these people living in such a different reality, yet they seem happy, so it's hard to decide where to draw the line. While this video was supposed to be about multitasking, there wasn't much about it at all, save for a few segments near the beginning. Either way, it was an interesting watch.
Monday, October 8, 2012
My First Time Podcasting
My first podcast was on a topic important to me, and that was Technology in the Science classroom. I knew I wanted to cover this topic but was unsure what angle I wanted to take. Then I was able to find this great article about the most important technologies every science classroom should have. This really gave me some great ideas while introducing me to new and creative technologies I didn't even know existed. The best part was the author included that her students had helped her make the list and she listed ways in which she utilized them.
This really kickstarted my brain and I began to realize how many great technologies are out there, and better yet, technologies that are not intimidating to use or hard to implement. That was perhaps my favorite part about the list, and I echoed this in my podcast. These technologies are things that fit into curriculum you are already teaching today. It's not going to add more of a headache or make things more difficult, in fact it's going to simplify things.
I spent quite a bit of time on this podcast. I was pretty familiar with GarageBand as I use it to record music but I was a little unfamiliar with the podcast side of it. I recorded no less than 10 times trying to get a good take. I think doing it in one take creates more a flow in your voice, than if you were to edit, cut and paste snippets together. At least for what I was trying to accomplish, I felt I wanted it in one take. Then I spent a little time finding the correct music for the lead in and lead out. I wanted something organic, being a science teacher, so I chose I simple acoustic guitar riff. Finally, I'll admit to not being a fan of sound effects. In this case I thought it detracted from the professionalism of the podcast and added a silliness to it that I wasn't really going for. Nonetheless I found an electric current sound that fit perfectly into the bit about measuring things (including electric current) using Probeware in your classroom. I thought it fit well but am still not sure of it.
I think podcasting could be something I utilize in my classroom, especially after finally making one firsthand. It's not terribly difficult and I think students could benefit from it, even I just made some for review and things like that. Anything that can help my students succeed is something worth investigating so I'm keeping this one in my back pocket.
Here's the link to the source I used!
6 Essential Tools for the Science Classroom
This really kickstarted my brain and I began to realize how many great technologies are out there, and better yet, technologies that are not intimidating to use or hard to implement. That was perhaps my favorite part about the list, and I echoed this in my podcast. These technologies are things that fit into curriculum you are already teaching today. It's not going to add more of a headache or make things more difficult, in fact it's going to simplify things.
I spent quite a bit of time on this podcast. I was pretty familiar with GarageBand as I use it to record music but I was a little unfamiliar with the podcast side of it. I recorded no less than 10 times trying to get a good take. I think doing it in one take creates more a flow in your voice, than if you were to edit, cut and paste snippets together. At least for what I was trying to accomplish, I felt I wanted it in one take. Then I spent a little time finding the correct music for the lead in and lead out. I wanted something organic, being a science teacher, so I chose I simple acoustic guitar riff. Finally, I'll admit to not being a fan of sound effects. In this case I thought it detracted from the professionalism of the podcast and added a silliness to it that I wasn't really going for. Nonetheless I found an electric current sound that fit perfectly into the bit about measuring things (including electric current) using Probeware in your classroom. I thought it fit well but am still not sure of it.
I think podcasting could be something I utilize in my classroom, especially after finally making one firsthand. It's not terribly difficult and I think students could benefit from it, even I just made some for review and things like that. Anything that can help my students succeed is something worth investigating so I'm keeping this one in my back pocket.
Here's the link to the source I used!
6 Essential Tools for the Science Classroom
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Flickr & Facebook:Social Networking in the Classroom
These chapters of the book touch on probably one of the most controversial issues regarding technology in the classroom. Facebook. The very word strikes fear into administrators everywhere, but before we get to that, I'm going to talk about another example of social networking in the classroom, Flickr.
Flickr is a social networking site that revolves specifically around sharing photos and videos with the world. The best part is you can add captions, tag parts of the pictures, and add annotations. This makes the picture much more interactive than ever before. I think this could be utilized for projects in which you want the students to describe photos or events happening within a picture. Maybe tell a story with a picture using annotations, or describe biological events happening in a picture of a nature scene. These seem like fun, feasible projects to do with your students that can add a new dimension to picture taking, something every kid seems to be doing these days. Plus you can have anyone comment on these pictures or add their own annotations, something that could get your whole class involved in.
Now, onto Facebook. It seems to be such a controversial topic because of it's apparent invasiveness to our private lives. People seem to think that a separation between private and school life is impossible. They think as soon as we open the doors to using Facebook in the classroom, it puts the teacher at risk. While I think there is definitely some truth to that, I think some measures can be taken to ensure it's a safe environment for everyone. Still though, personally I wouldn't use Facebook in the school setting. I would however use the suggested site listed in this chapter. Ning.com. I had never heard of this site before I read this book, but it sounds like a great alternative to Facebook, that could offer the same results and serve the same goal. It is a site similar to Facebook except everything is privatized and contained to only those you allow in to view and use your page. This seems to remove all the dangers and worries associated with Facebook. This could be used as a class page where students could offer homework help, ask questions about projects/assignments, and create a community, that could hopefully carry over to the classroom. For every popular site, there seems to be a quality, academic based alternative that would be great to use in the classroom. I think this should really end Facebook discussion, especially once sites like Ning.com become more popular and widely used.
Flickr is a social networking site that revolves specifically around sharing photos and videos with the world. The best part is you can add captions, tag parts of the pictures, and add annotations. This makes the picture much more interactive than ever before. I think this could be utilized for projects in which you want the students to describe photos or events happening within a picture. Maybe tell a story with a picture using annotations, or describe biological events happening in a picture of a nature scene. These seem like fun, feasible projects to do with your students that can add a new dimension to picture taking, something every kid seems to be doing these days. Plus you can have anyone comment on these pictures or add their own annotations, something that could get your whole class involved in.
Now, onto Facebook. It seems to be such a controversial topic because of it's apparent invasiveness to our private lives. People seem to think that a separation between private and school life is impossible. They think as soon as we open the doors to using Facebook in the classroom, it puts the teacher at risk. While I think there is definitely some truth to that, I think some measures can be taken to ensure it's a safe environment for everyone. Still though, personally I wouldn't use Facebook in the school setting. I would however use the suggested site listed in this chapter. Ning.com. I had never heard of this site before I read this book, but it sounds like a great alternative to Facebook, that could offer the same results and serve the same goal. It is a site similar to Facebook except everything is privatized and contained to only those you allow in to view and use your page. This seems to remove all the dangers and worries associated with Facebook. This could be used as a class page where students could offer homework help, ask questions about projects/assignments, and create a community, that could hopefully carry over to the classroom. For every popular site, there seems to be a quality, academic based alternative that would be great to use in the classroom. I think this should really end Facebook discussion, especially once sites like Ning.com become more popular and widely used.
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