Podcasting
Listening to these different podcasts was very interesting. This is definitely a useful technology tool to use in the classroom. SmartBoard Lessons #149 focused on different ways to use a SmartBoard in the classroom. First of all it helps focus the class’s attention and gets them thinking about the lesson content. Also, the teacher can put notes about the content by using SmartBoard. SmartBoard is also great for group work too because it is a larger area for students to work around. SmartBoard also allows video conferencing outside the class which is a great resource tool. It also allows any file to be uploaded. SmartBoard is a great tool for the classroom.
KidCast #53 is a podcast about field trips. Here it is being discussed how to take field trips to the next level by using podcasting. It is suggested that the teacher asked the students to think about two things – what they know about what they are going to see and what they think they know about what they are going to see. Also the teacher must think about what she wants to teach the students about what they are going to see. These thoughts are recorded. During the field trip students are to record things they experience at different times of the field trip. This is a great way for students to get more out of a field trip than just getting out of the classroom.
Another podcast that was very interesting was Podcast for Teachers (Techpod). This was a discussion about students being tested on their technology ability. This is will apparently go into effect in 2012. Technology has become a huge part of everyday life and it is time to start accessing student’s skills with technology. It is no longer good enough for a student to just be able to read and write but he/she must know basic technology skills. Distance learning is also discussed in this podcast. Distance learning is being used more and more in higher education so K-12 needs to step up using this tool. Students need to be familiar with how this works before going off to college.
Ed Tech Talk is a podcast discussing the creation of virtual worlds. Here students are being encouraged to work with students from other school and create a virtual world of their own. Two students from two different schools decided to work together to create their own virtual school. What a great learning experience for them. Here it is also discussed about how to create a network of people who are interested in discussing different types of technology and ways to use these in the classroom. This would be a much more effect way to develop teams than using professional development days which most teachers hate.
MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography are discussions about how technology has changed photography. Again another example of how technology is changing our everyday world. Podcasting is definitely a use tool in the classroom.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture is filled with great lessons not just for teaching but for living life. He begins by explaining the three different areas, his childhood dreams, the dreams of others and lessons learned, as the topics he will discuss. Pausch had several dreams as a child. Floating in space, playing in the NFL, and being a Disney Imaginer were just a few of these dreams. These are by no means small dreams. But as Pausch explains, dreams are worth pursuing. Pausch states in this lecture, “If a brick wall is in front of you then you must work harder to achieve it because the brick walls only determine how badly you want to achieve this.”
Pausch discusses how important it has become to him to make the dreams of others a reality. This is when he develops the course at MIT for Building Virtual Worlds and the Master’s program for the Dream Fulfillment Factory and ALICE. Pausch’s teaching method is to basically put peers into groups and let their imaginations go wild. He is amazed by what his students come up with for different projects. He strongly believes that students at the Master’s level had all the book learning they needed. Now it was time to make something. Pausch focuses on grouping peers together, left brains with right brains, and watching what ideas would develop from the group. By the end of the project, peers graded each other on cooperation within the group. This is a great life lesson because life is filled with so many different types of people and we must teach students how to work within those many different personalities. However, fun is at the top of this man’s list. He truly believes in the “head fake” which is learning something hard while doing something fun. This was his professional legacy ALICE. Students learning computer programming while playing video games. This is an awesome concept.
Pausch also talks about lessons learned. He discusses how great his parents were while he was growing up. The mentors, students and friends he has had along the way and the important roles each has played in his life. From all these people, he has learned to listen, to work hard, to help others, and to look for the best in everyone. These are incredible life lessons that everyone needs to understand in leading a successful and fulfilling life. Pausch also explains the important of showing gratitude and he is definitely doing this through this lecture.
In the end of the lecture, Pausch explains that this last talk of his is a “head fake.” We believe that he is talking to us about childhood dreams and achieving these. That is not really the case. Pausch is really explaining how to live life. It is not really meant for this audience but for his children. This is an awesome gift he has given by sharing what he feels is so important as an educator of future generations.
Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture is filled with great lessons not just for teaching but for living life. He begins by explaining the three different areas, his childhood dreams, the dreams of others and lessons learned, as the topics he will discuss. Pausch had several dreams as a child. Floating in space, playing in the NFL, and being a Disney Imaginer were just a few of these dreams. These are by no means small dreams. But as Pausch explains, dreams are worth pursuing. Pausch states in this lecture, “If a brick wall is in front of you then you must work harder to achieve it because the brick walls only determine how badly you want to achieve this.”
Pausch discusses how important it has become to him to make the dreams of others a reality. This is when he develops the course at MIT for Building Virtual Worlds and the Master’s program for the Dream Fulfillment Factory and ALICE. Pausch’s teaching method is to basically put peers into groups and let their imaginations go wild. He is amazed by what his students come up with for different projects. He strongly believes that students at the Master’s level had all the book learning they needed. Now it was time to make something. Pausch focuses on grouping peers together, left brains with right brains, and watching what ideas would develop from the group. By the end of the project, peers graded each other on cooperation within the group. This is a great life lesson because life is filled with so many different types of people and we must teach students how to work within those many different personalities. However, fun is at the top of this man’s list. He truly believes in the “head fake” which is learning something hard while doing something fun. This was his professional legacy ALICE. Students learning computer programming while playing video games. This is an awesome concept.
Pausch also talks about lessons learned. He discusses how great his parents were while he was growing up. The mentors, students and friends he has had along the way and the important roles each has played in his life. From all these people, he has learned to listen, to work hard, to help others, and to look for the best in everyone. These are incredible life lessons that everyone needs to understand in leading a successful and fulfilling life. Pausch also explains the important of showing gratitude and he is definitely doing this through this lecture.
In the end of the lecture, Pausch explains that this last talk of his is a “head fake.” We believe that he is talking to us about childhood dreams and achieving these. That is not really the case. Pausch is really explaining how to live life. It is not really meant for this audience but for his children. This is an awesome gift he has given by sharing what he feels is so important as an educator of future generations.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The second school I found using blogs was also in Scotland, Pencaitland Primary School. This blog also includes school events, photos, educational games, and upcoming school projects. It also includes other web links. In this photo are projects created with materials that have been recycled. Students are studying this in their art class. Blogging is such a great way to actually see what is going on in other classrooms. We have the ability to observe classrooms not just in our country but around the world. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/pencaitland/
Blogging in Scottland
Athelstaneford Primary School in East Lothian, Scotland definitely makes great use of blogs in the classroom. This is a rural school of 52 students and the head teacher is Mr. Grieve. This blog is filled with school information, events, photos, assignments and other web links. Both students and teachers are able to contribute to this blog about the activities going on in their school. In this photo students are celebrating National Tree Week. Blogs are such a useful means of communication not only between student and teachers but parents as well. Also, it is a fun way to communicate. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/athelstaneford/
Athelstaneford Primary School in East Lothian, Scotland definitely makes great use of blogs in the classroom. This is a rural school of 52 students and the head teacher is Mr. Grieve. This blog is filled with school information, events, photos, assignments and other web links. Both students and teachers are able to contribute to this blog about the activities going on in their school. In this photo students are celebrating National Tree Week. Blogs are such a useful means of communication not only between student and teachers but parents as well. Also, it is a fun way to communicate. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/athelstaneford/
Monday, February 9, 2009
Blogging about "Grapes"
Mrs. Elliott, a high school English teacher, uses a blog to discuss the novel Grapes of Wrath. Here students post assignments given by her such as comparing and contrasting characters in the book. She also has other categories listed such as reading assignments and the timeline. She also has other books listed such as Catcher in the Rye. She also has a place for students to post different opinions about what they are reading. This kind of blog is very different from blogs of elementary teachers, not nearly as “busy.” However this is still an excellent way for students to use technology in the classroom.
http://grapesofwrath2.learnerblogs.org/category/uncategorized/ben-clark/
Mrs. Elliott, a high school English teacher, uses a blog to discuss the novel Grapes of Wrath. Here students post assignments given by her such as comparing and contrasting characters in the book. She also has other categories listed such as reading assignments and the timeline. She also has other books listed such as Catcher in the Rye. She also has a place for students to post different opinions about what they are reading. This kind of blog is very different from blogs of elementary teachers, not nearly as “busy.” However this is still an excellent way for students to use technology in the classroom.
http://grapesofwrath2.learnerblogs.org/category/uncategorized/ben-clark/
Mr. C gets an A+
Mr. C’s class blog is the official class blog of the fifth grade at Noel Elementary School in Missouri. This is an interesting blog because it is for the entire fifth grade instead of just one class. These fifth graders have many interesting things on this blog. For today’s posting is a field trip to Pea Ridge National Military Park. Listed are many interesting facts about this particular battle that students will benefit knowing before going on field trip. Also listed are honor roll students with their pictures, various activities past and present such as cheerleaders and basketball players performing. There are postings for different discussions of environmental issues that concern students. Also educational games and upcoming projects are a part of this fifth grade blog. This is a great teaching tool and a way for students to understand technology by using events and activities student centered. http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/
Mr. C’s class blog is the official class blog of the fifth grade at Noel Elementary School in Missouri. This is an interesting blog because it is for the entire fifth grade instead of just one class. These fifth graders have many interesting things on this blog. For today’s posting is a field trip to Pea Ridge National Military Park. Listed are many interesting facts about this particular battle that students will benefit knowing before going on field trip. Also listed are honor roll students with their pictures, various activities past and present such as cheerleaders and basketball players performing. There are postings for different discussions of environmental issues that concern students. Also educational games and upcoming projects are a part of this fifth grade blog. This is a great teaching tool and a way for students to understand technology by using events and activities student centered. http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 2, 2009
ACCESS for Teachers
ACCESS, Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide, is a great resource not only for students but for teachers. Teachers have so many options with today’s technology to motivate their students. With ACCESS teachers can share ideas and expand their own teaching skills by using this resource. This is also a great way for students to be taught how distance learning works. This is an important skill necessary for college bound students since many courses in college are taught this way. This website not only gives learning strategies but also ways to evaluate online learning.
Through this resource, teachers can grow professional by gaining new knowledge and experiencing another school’s culture. This is of great value to a teacher. By experiencing new ideas helps keep a teacher from “burn out.” This resource allows teachers to be a part of team teaching, but with teachers from other schools. ACCESS is a great tool not only for the students we teach, but for us as teachers. Education has come a long way from the one room school house.
ACCESS, Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide, is a great resource not only for students but for teachers. Teachers have so many options with today’s technology to motivate their students. With ACCESS teachers can share ideas and expand their own teaching skills by using this resource. This is also a great way for students to be taught how distance learning works. This is an important skill necessary for college bound students since many courses in college are taught this way. This website not only gives learning strategies but also ways to evaluate online learning.
Through this resource, teachers can grow professional by gaining new knowledge and experiencing another school’s culture. This is of great value to a teacher. By experiencing new ideas helps keep a teacher from “burn out.” This resource allows teachers to be a part of team teaching, but with teachers from other schools. ACCESS is a great tool not only for the students we teach, but for us as teachers. Education has come a long way from the one room school house.
ACCESS
ACCESS, Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide, is a technology resource that makes possible the opportunity for all students to receive advanced high school diplomas. This is done by students using the internet to take classes that are offered throughout the state. Some school districts are just not able to offer advanced courses that are required for this type of diploma because of funding. ACCESS allows students to “access” courses not offered at their school through this distance learning program. Through this program, students can have the opportunity to receive an excellent high school education and be better prepared for college.
This is a great step forward for Alabama in improving the education our students receive. I feel it is important for today’s student to understand how distance learning classes work because many college courses are taught this way. Students need to be familiar and comfortable with a computer being the classroom before entering college. In today’s quickly changing world, students must understand as much technology as possible. ACCESS is not yet available in all schools. However, the state’s goal is to have this program implemented by 2010
ACCESS, Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide, is a technology resource that makes possible the opportunity for all students to receive advanced high school diplomas. This is done by students using the internet to take classes that are offered throughout the state. Some school districts are just not able to offer advanced courses that are required for this type of diploma because of funding. ACCESS allows students to “access” courses not offered at their school through this distance learning program. Through this program, students can have the opportunity to receive an excellent high school education and be better prepared for college.
This is a great step forward for Alabama in improving the education our students receive. I feel it is important for today’s student to understand how distance learning classes work because many college courses are taught this way. Students need to be familiar and comfortable with a computer being the classroom before entering college. In today’s quickly changing world, students must understand as much technology as possible. ACCESS is not yet available in all schools. However, the state’s goal is to have this program implemented by 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Mr. C's fifth grade class
