Thursday, May 6, 2010

Ed Tech Profile ( NETS V)

This assignment we had to take the Education Technology Assessment. This showed us where we would be at with incorporating technology into our classrooms; beginner, intermediate, or proficient. With this assessment you can see the areas where you could incorporate more technology.

Inspiration (NETS III)

This assignment we used Inspiration, a graphic organizer that has many functions. We were instructed to show two different artifacts per NETS and described specifically which aspect of the NETS it satisfied and we showed with a graphic. 




Crossword (NETS II & III)

For this assignment we created an Excel Crossword, we had to view a video tutorial on how to create a themed crossword through the use of Microsoft Excel. After viewing the tutorial online, we then had to create our own crossword puzzle based on a subject or on our-self. I created my crossword on Vocabulary for fifth graders.



Crossword

Wiki Page (Nets I,II,III & V)

In this assignment, our class was required to view technology tools from the classroom wiki site. We each had to chose a tool to focus on and create our own wiki page about this tool. We were instructed to choose a tool that another student had not already done. Our wiki page describes the tool and how we could use it in the classroom.

JCCS Internet Safety (NETS IV & V)

The class broke in to small groups for this assignment. We assignment was to be done on internet safety or on copyright. We had to collaborate using Google Documents to write the report. My group did internet safety which had six parts. My group only had five members so we each did one section and the one student did two.


–Identity Safety

Newsletter (NETS I & III)

For this assignment we had to create a classroom newsletter for our pretend classroom. The newsletter introduces me to my students and their parents. The newsletter share with them some activities we will be doing through out the school year.


Newsletter

Thursday, April 29, 2010

iMovie PSA (NETS III)

Each student created a iMovie to create a Public Service Announcement(PSA) about the Hate Crimes on CSUSM campus. This topic was chosen due to the recent Hate Speech crimes that have happen on several different campus including CSUSM. We used video clips and still shots to make a short (30 seconds- 60 seconds) movie about supporting diversity and stopping hate crimes.

iMove: Stop Hate Crimes on CSUSM

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Journal 10: Let the Kids Do the Work ( NETS I & V)

Lawlor, J. (2010, March/April). Let the kids do the work. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100304#pg32


This article explains that technology can encourage students to participate in the classroom activity through the technology offered to them. These are usually the student who does not regularly participate in normal classroom activities. The technology gets students more engaged and interested in what is being taught. The article talks about how a teacher was able to get his students to be more responsible for their learning and learn how to use the technological tool for their educational advantage. The teacher realized that his students were more involved and would complete the classroom assignments if the assignments were done on the Wiki page. The teacher also realized that the students were using wiki for feedback on essays. The students were really using this new resource to improve their learning experience. I think that this is amazing that a teacher was willing to change around to make sure that what he was doing was best for his students. Once he realized that students were doing better using wiki, and modified his class to have all assignments done on wiki. It is nice to have a teacher proud of his students and be proud at the turn around his students made. It is an inspiration to see a teach make the right changes to benefit the students.

Would you use a Wiki page in your classroom?
I would definitely try it. I think that if it can engage and interest more students to complete the assignments. I would try anything to help my students be successful in their education. Wiki is a great way also for students to get peer feedback and/or help on assignment. I think that this helps with time, because it can be difficult for students to meet at a specific time but online can do it at any time of the day and almost anywhere, not limited.

Do you think that technology will enhance the classroom?
I believe that technology is one of the best ways to enhance the students learning, and the classroom. This article has showed me that student needs the right interest and engaging tools to get them to really try. Though traditional work should still be done technology is a big part of you society and should be incorporated in our classrooms.

Journal 9 : Playing with Skype (NETS II & V)

Weller, T.J. (2010). Playing with skype. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/L.

This article discusses how a teacher can use skype to connect music composers with students who are playing the musical pieces in a concert for their classmates and with their families. Travis J. Weller and his colleagues came up with the idea of using Skype at a live concert. The equipment is minimal; you need a computer with a broadband Internet connection, a data projector, a couple of microphones, a webcam, and some adapters to pump the audio feed through the sound system and a projector screen. It is important to see what hardware is available to you at your school. This process also takes some involvement form the technology coordinator and it is good to have some staff help to ensure that you get a good connection. Skype makes it possible for educators to seek out experts in their subject areas and invite them to share in the classroom. The teacher is no longer the absolute authority of knowledge in the classroom.

Would you use Skype in your future classroom?
I definitely would like to use Skype in my future classroom. It is great ideas to allow students the ability to have other information form experts as well as people they admire participate in the students learning. I think that that it is wonderful experience that students get when the music they perform is seen by the composer. I love when technology can enhance the students learning and life experiences.

Is this a digital that you would recommend for others?
I think that any teacher/school would benefit from the use of the Skype. I believe that it can enhance the ability of students learning. That is something that one should share with any and every teacher one can. What they do with the information is on them.

Journal 8: Navigate the Digital Rapids (NETS IV & V)

Lindsay, J., & Davis, V. (2010). Navigate the digital rapids. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Navigate_the_Digital_Rapids.htm

The focus of this article is on how teachers can help to make our students digital citizens even though we can not control them once they leave the classroom/school. The article states that it is important for teacher to stay up to date on new technologies and how they work. It is important for teachers to realize that they can incorporate technology in to the classroom. That if you involve students in student-centered, globally connected projects, each student’s learning experience becomes markedly different. Each classroom becomes unique like its students and teachers who learn there. A customized classroom and national standards can coexist and lead to rich learning. It is important for teacher to monitor and stay engaged in the “flat classroom” (online). Teacher must plan for punishment for inappropriate behavior in these flat classrooms. Great thing about these classrooms is that they are monitored 24 hours 7 days a week. Getting started on can be scary be it is a fear that need to be faced and embraced. It is necessary for teacher to start teach students what it is to be a good digital citizen as soon as they start using computers. Of course teacher has to realize there are going to be “off-topic” moment. We are in a new generation of education, a generation of technology and it is important to use more media and technology in our lessons/classrooms.

Could these ideas be applied to any type of school?
I believe that it can. I think that it will help any and all students in their future. Our lives have become dominated with technology. This leads me to believe that technology should be in every classroom to get the success form our students.

What about schools on a budget?
Most of the tools that are used to create the “flat classroom” are based free web tools. This makes it more convenient for schools that are on a budge to have access.

Journal 7: The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips (NETS I & V)

Zanetis, J. (2010, March/April). The Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/L_L_March_April_2010.htm

Local field trips have become less common due to the steady rise of travel costs over the past few years. Virtual field trips (VFT) are “the best of both worlds”. Virtual field trips allow students a break from the day to day classroom activities. These trips are memorable and also cover the curriculum in the student’s minds. Another great thing about virtual field trips is that it can take the students to any place in the world. Virtual field trips are conducted virtually, over the Internet and/or video conferencing equipment. This allows students to learn directly from experts in far-flung places without ever leaving their classrooms. What is interesting is that there are different types of virtual field trips. There is the Asynchronous VFTs are websites that include text, audio, or video resources about specific topics. The Interactive VFTs real-time experiences in which student in one location learn from informal educator in another location, such as a museum, historic castle, or organization (like NASA). The Interactive VFT does use the h.323 videoconferencing technology. One should know that ones school district may already have videoconferencing units that they are unaware of. VFTs have many benefits for students of all ages.

Would you consider using VFT in your classroom?
I would with out a doubt use VFTs in my classrooms. I think that VFTs are a great way to get students interested in the topic one is teaching as well as a way to break from the every day classroom activites.

Which VFT do you like ?
I like the interactive VFTs. It has an actual expert talking to the studetns about the topic, place of interest. Also student get to interact with the person leading the tour/trip. If students ask questions they can be answered right away.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Journal 6 "Classroom 2.0" Gaming (NETS III & V)

Gaming- the idea of using games, computer games, to teach multiple subjects; like math, history, science.
I read about useing the game world of warcrafts as a game for the class. The curriculum would be set up as a series of challenges. Students will have to research and explore concepts, then create an artifact that would demonstrate mastery. Students could work in groups for the challenges, but would have to create individual artifacts. Using this game is a good ieda becuase it is one that appeals to many students because it is a popular game.
The gentalmen who propposed this idea does discuss the pros and cons this idea may present for the class. Some of the cons is the characters that the students create, paceing and grading.
Another suggested that the teacher choose the game Allience ( never heard of it). Also suggested to look at eLearning games to help with his idea, what to look for. Other are really intrested in how this will work out.
I have learned a lot about this topic. I have alwaysed thought about useing board games for teaching, but not so much about computer games, or even video games. I realized that many teachers have great ideas about using everyday tools to teach stduents in an engaging way. It also seems that these teaches who are posting their ideas are relatively new to teaching. An being a new teacher they decided to try new things or come up with many new ideas. An older teacher explained that ideas are good but to only take on one thing at a time. It is very easy for one to become overwhelmed.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

ED422 NETS PowerPoint (NETS I, II, & III)

For this assignment we created a Microsoft PowerPoint showing our proficiency for this program. The PowerPoint we created focused on NETS for Students Standards we created activities and ideas that would meet that standard n our own (future) classroom. We shared this with peers and we graded each others PowerPoint.
NETS Power Point CE

NETS PowerPoint Rubric (NETS III)

As a class we created a rubric for our PowerPoints. We created a point system and gave them new titles, such as "rad" to make the grading more fun for the students.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Journal 4: Finding Students who learn with Media (NETS I, III, & V)

Bull, G., Alexander, C., & Ferster, B. (2010, February). Learning and leading with technology. Finding Students who Learn with Media, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201002#pg1




This article is about how important it is for teacher to provide instruction that meets all the students’ individual needs. Teachers are have to know how each student in their classes is progressing and be able to help them succeed by understanding what the student may need. Every student is different so this process seems difficult if one has many students. Online applications, such as Primary Access, automatically collect information about a student’s performance when they are completing an assignment without the usage of traditional assessments. Of course the projects assigned align to the curriculum, which enhances both the learning and technology skills. Results show that students using these tools performed as well on exams as those who wrote traditional essays, to complete the same task. This will help teachers analyze each student’s learning style and design each lesson based on each students individual learning styles.

Question 1

As a future educator what do you thing about the online application?

I think that this is an amazing tool for all teachers to use. It is important to know how students are progressing through the year and it also get students more experience with using technology in a classroom or educational from. I would have to read and learn more about this but I think I would use this in my classroom.

Question 2

Is this application accessible for any school?

I think that any school would be able to run this application in their school. Most of the online applications fare free of charge, so schools with limited funding would be able to partake. Many schools in this era do have computers in their schools making it accessible. Yet, there is much more that goes in to decide whether a school will allow or want to do this. I think that much more thought must go into deciding whether this is good for the school.

Journal 3: Keeping the Peace (NETS IV & V)

Levinson, Matt. (2010). Keeping the peace . International Society for Technology & Education, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd


The article was about the decision that a middle school made to give students laptops to the students for academic use that was to increase their knowledge. This idea is great to allow students a resource to do their school work but unfortunately for this school the idea backfired. The students began to use instant messaging during class instruction and iChat at home; this made a good portion of parents upset. The parents felt like the school had stepped over the boundary. Those parents believed that they should be the ones to decide if their child will use computers as well as set up the guidelines on the use. It seems that it is difficult to find the balance for technology in a classroom. As I read the article it seemed apparent that the school did not set guidelines or rules that could be enforced for the use of the laptops in the classroom. The students took advantage of the laptops in the classroom, which is something that the school must have considered when making the decision to allow the laptop. The attempt was a learning experience not only for this specific school but also for others. I have noticed that the process seemed to have a lack of communication between the school and parents. This is an issue whether dealing with the technology or not. I think that there might have been less of an uproar with parents if the school had discussed or had a meeting with the parents. It is also important for teacher, parents to understand that adult and children view technology differently, so the ideas the school has for technology is different then what the students will do with the technology.

Question 1

Would I allow my students to bring laptops into my classroom?

I think that I would not allow student to bring in their laptops to class. I think that it would be easy for the students to get distracted, but I do think that having activities using technology is a great idea.

Question 2

Do you think that there is a way to allow students to use laptops in the classroom?

I do think that it would be a great tool and resource to allow students to have laptops that they can use in the classroom and take home. I think that there are many benefits to doing this and that instant messaging can be useful when students are working on group work. Of course there is always a possibility and in this case big chance students will take advantage of the tool. SO I think there has to be a way for schools to block this or manage it, something that we should look in to.

Journal 2: Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective (NETS I, III, & V)

Maguth, Brad.M., & Elliot, Jeff. (2010). Using Podcasts to develop a global perspective . International Society for Technology & Education, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd




This article is about using podcast to engage students in learning about other cultures. Educators are responsible for making students aware of global challenges but to also teach them about the cultural diversity of our world. The article states that it is essential that students learn to understand, respect, and even to collaborate with culturally diverse global populations if they are to find solutions to these challenges. A high school in Columbus, Ohio is using the podcast to engage students in learning about other cultures. Podcasting allows students the opportunity to interact with digital technologies. Also allows students to apply what they know and reach a wider, even global audience. I think this is a great project to have high school students to work on. There are so many learning aspects that come with this project because podcasting involves a lot of planning, research, writing and editing. The students work in groups on this project. The students must learn how to manage their time, as well as working together with their group. The students also get experience with different software. This project is great because it authentic. The students will really reach people. Having an authentic audience via the Internet is a motivator for the students and encourages them to appreciate culturally diverse perspectives.

Question 1:

Do you believe that this project is a good way your student can understand global issues?

I think that this project is a great way to allow students to understand global issues and how important they are to know what is going on in the world. This project also makes learning these issues.

Question 2:

What is another way for students to express their opinion/ideas using technology that will have the same impact as podcasting?

I think that blogging is another way for students to connect with the diverse cultures. It is a perfect way to allow the students to spread their opinions/ideas. Another grate technology that I think is similar to podcasting is youtube. Students could create a news cast and post it on youtube to get the word out.

Journal 1: Cloud Computing (NETS III & V)

Johnson, D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. International society for technology and education, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200912#pg18




This article discusses the advantage cloud computing and the opportunities it offers to access different tools online. The main advantage of cloud computing is that one does not need a lot of computer power. Cloud computing allows people to use many different computer form different areas without having to drag around a flash drive or external hard drives. Cloud computing relies on applications and file storage that resides on a network. This means that one does not have to hold all of their information on the hard drive. This offers one a chance to purchase a computer with a smaller hard drive, like a netbook that is also very inexpensive. The use of cloud computing in schools K through 12 will help the schools save money. Of course there are several concerns about cloud computing. One question I agree that a person should be asked before jumping in to the cloud computing is whether or not your files are secure. It has been stated that once something is on the web it is available for everyone to see. So if I am going to put my information on a network will it be safe. Google Apps Education Edition claims that they do not own your data and will not share your data and you are able to remove your data when you want. There are also things that schools need to consider also before jumping into the cloud. Overall cloud computing seems to be a step to step to the future.
Question 1
How will students and schools benefit from cloud computing?

I believe that cloud computing will give students access to many more tools through the Internet that are free. The best part that it cloud computing works for any grade level. For schools it is a huge financial savings for the school as well as a time saver. Each student will not need to have or create a different e-mail. Also is a financial saver for parents.

Question 2
Do you think cloud computing is something for everyone?

I think that cloud computing is very useful for any business men, students and teachers. I think that it is important for anyone thinking about starting the cloud computing is to make sure to do research on it. The idea is amazing.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Intro Letter (NETS I)

          I am Christina Edwards. I was born in Palo Alto, California. My father was a Marine so we moved around a lot, allowing me to attend many different schools. I attended kindergarten through half of my third grade in Honolulu, Hawaii. From Hawaii I attended half of third and half of forth grade in Oceanside, California. I spent the rest of my elementary years, middle school (6-8) and my freshmen year in San Diego (Mission Bay). I finished my High School years in Temecula. After High School, I attended Mt. San Jacinto Community College, for about two and half years, then I was able to transfer to Cal State San Marcos. My goal is to become an elementary/middle school teacher.
I am not great with technology.  I am a PC. I do not depend on technology on a daily basis. I check my emails maybe once or twice a week, but more during the school year. I do have a cell phone but I rarely use it, sad.  I do wish to become more technology freindly.  I use technology only when need and usually only for school purposes. I just recently purchased an Hp mini. It has the new windows 7, so windows office 07.
I applied to Cal State San Marcos because I was told by many people that it had an amazing teaching program.  The one thing that grabbed me from the mission statement is that the school is committed to diverstiy and educational equity. The idea is something that all teachers/schools should have this commitment.