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.