Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Digital Stoytelling
http://voicethread.com/share/212415/
http://www.scrapblog.com/06FEB691-EBFD/0FDA4267-A955
http://animoto.com/play/FPYPtP7rqWBbbdcDBfcmzA
This week's homework took me longer than any other because I was not aware of all of the limitations when creating a digital story. I had never heard of any of the rules or regulations for copywrite when making a digital story. Luckily I only used my own photos, so I didn't need to worry about using pictures that were acceptable. The music was more difficult to make sure that it fit into the legal boundaries or copywrite.
I also found it very hard to think of a good story to tell with my pictures. I chose to do my first one on a visual story of La Alhambra, from Granada, Spain. I studied abroad there last semester and got to see La Alhambra everyday, so I have plenty of pictures and memories from this piece of architecture. The next story I did was a little show of me and my siblings accompanied by some sibling quotes. The very last one that I created was of my favorite architecture from traveling through Europe. I recorded several voice descriptions of the pictures that I used.
Overall I think I learned a lot about copywrite laws and how to make legal stories. I don't really see how this is relevant to teaching mathematics, because there is no real relevance of math in digital stories, but I think that this information might be helpful for other things in life.
http://www.scrapblog.com/06FEB691-EBFD/0FDA4267-A955
http://animoto.com/play/FPYPtP7rqWBbbdcDBfcmzA
This week's homework took me longer than any other because I was not aware of all of the limitations when creating a digital story. I had never heard of any of the rules or regulations for copywrite when making a digital story. Luckily I only used my own photos, so I didn't need to worry about using pictures that were acceptable. The music was more difficult to make sure that it fit into the legal boundaries or copywrite.
I also found it very hard to think of a good story to tell with my pictures. I chose to do my first one on a visual story of La Alhambra, from Granada, Spain. I studied abroad there last semester and got to see La Alhambra everyday, so I have plenty of pictures and memories from this piece of architecture. The next story I did was a little show of me and my siblings accompanied by some sibling quotes. The very last one that I created was of my favorite architecture from traveling through Europe. I recorded several voice descriptions of the pictures that I used.
Overall I think I learned a lot about copywrite laws and how to make legal stories. I don't really see how this is relevant to teaching mathematics, because there is no real relevance of math in digital stories, but I think that this information might be helpful for other things in life.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Growing Up Online
The Frontline special on teens growing up online was a good overview of the many ways that kids use the internet and technology today and some of the dangers and complications that can arise from these things. For kids, it is extremely important to have access to the internet and the various features that it offers so that they can be social with their friends and stay up to date. It would be social suicide for a kid today to be without the internet, regardless of all the benefits it has for education. It is almost more important to a student's social life than it is for their education.
I don't think that this social networking on the internet is a bad thing. I think it offers kids a variety of ways to connect with other kids and to express their interests. For kids that may not feel like they fit in with their peers at their school, there are a variety of ways and places that they can connect with and meet other kids on the internet. It allows kids to find their nitch and their interests. Also, kids feel more comfortable saying and doing things online than they would in person, so it allows them to express themselves more freely than they might at school or in front of their peers.
I do not really think it is necessary to worry about the impact of the internet on kids, because there are always going to be new and different ways to impact kids. In the past there was just as much impact, it just came in a different form. When our generation was growing up, parents and teachers had to deal with different issues on how we were being influenced and now we must do the same for the future generation and this cycle will continue forever. There is always going to be a new and different way to impact kids, but the information will be there no matter how it is present, whether that be a newsletter or the internet.
I don't have any specific story to share, but I do remember being at friends' houses and going into chat rooms even though we were told to never do that. We would talk to complete strangers and not think anything of it. Looking back, I can finally understand the worry and stress that this might cause a parent. I never really understood their point of view until I got older and realized all the dangers. I think that it is important to explain the importance and significance of putting certain things on the web to kids, but I also think that it is important for them to explore a bit and understnad what it is all about in order to see the potential dangers. We cannot cut kids off from the internet, nor should we want to, so we must prepare them for the future and show them the right way to present themselves on the internet.
I don't think that this social networking on the internet is a bad thing. I think it offers kids a variety of ways to connect with other kids and to express their interests. For kids that may not feel like they fit in with their peers at their school, there are a variety of ways and places that they can connect with and meet other kids on the internet. It allows kids to find their nitch and their interests. Also, kids feel more comfortable saying and doing things online than they would in person, so it allows them to express themselves more freely than they might at school or in front of their peers.
I do not really think it is necessary to worry about the impact of the internet on kids, because there are always going to be new and different ways to impact kids. In the past there was just as much impact, it just came in a different form. When our generation was growing up, parents and teachers had to deal with different issues on how we were being influenced and now we must do the same for the future generation and this cycle will continue forever. There is always going to be a new and different way to impact kids, but the information will be there no matter how it is present, whether that be a newsletter or the internet.
I don't have any specific story to share, but I do remember being at friends' houses and going into chat rooms even though we were told to never do that. We would talk to complete strangers and not think anything of it. Looking back, I can finally understand the worry and stress that this might cause a parent. I never really understood their point of view until I got older and realized all the dangers. I think that it is important to explain the importance and significance of putting certain things on the web to kids, but I also think that it is important for them to explore a bit and understnad what it is all about in order to see the potential dangers. We cannot cut kids off from the internet, nor should we want to, so we must prepare them for the future and show them the right way to present themselves on the internet.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Here's $50 from the Chicago Tribune
http://rachelsedreflections.blogspot.com/
http://ryebread1414.wordpress.com/
I read several reviews from my classmates on the topic of this program which pays students based on their grades in school. I read a review from Rachel, which seems pretty discouraged in this program, and then I read a review by Ryan who really seems to like the potential of it. I have to admit that I am a bit conflicted myself, because I truly can see both sides of the argument and I guess that really only time will tell if this works out or not.
I think that everyone can agree that money is a great motive for students to do well in school or in anything else for that matter, and this could really help students improve their work ethic and grades, however we are losing a piece of that desire to learn for one's own benefit factor. These students will learn to believe that they should only be doing things if there is a reward involved, whcih is not always the case in life. Rachel brings up some other interesting points that these studnents, especially ones who need the money more and live in more povershed areas, may use this money to finance guns, gangs and drugs and lead to more problems on the streets. Just because students are recieving this money for good behavior does not necessarily mean that it is going to be used in that same manner. Also, she points out that this money that we are paying to the students would be better utilized by giving the money to the schools for better facilities and technology that could be used to further enhance learning.
Ryan seems to think that this plan is a good idea because it essentially allows those students with financial difficulties to earn money for college and as he calls it "even the playing field." I agree that if they work this program right, and don't give all the money to students up front, it could be a great motivator for those students hoping to earn money to further their education. He also brings up the issure of inequality and how more privelaged studetns could be utilizing this system when they really don't have to and that money could be spent serving someone else who is in a greater need.
Overall I think this is a very interesting article and theory and I am interested to see how it works out in the future. My personal belief is that this is not really the best plan to help motivate students and I think it could end up being very unfair to some kids. I think that some preivelaged kids might take advantage of the system and take away from those students who are in greater need for it. I also think that the money will not be well spent because these kids are young and most likely will just go out and blow it on silly stuff when it could be used to finance utilities within the classroom.
http://ryebread1414.wordpress.com/
I read several reviews from my classmates on the topic of this program which pays students based on their grades in school. I read a review from Rachel, which seems pretty discouraged in this program, and then I read a review by Ryan who really seems to like the potential of it. I have to admit that I am a bit conflicted myself, because I truly can see both sides of the argument and I guess that really only time will tell if this works out or not.
I think that everyone can agree that money is a great motive for students to do well in school or in anything else for that matter, and this could really help students improve their work ethic and grades, however we are losing a piece of that desire to learn for one's own benefit factor. These students will learn to believe that they should only be doing things if there is a reward involved, whcih is not always the case in life. Rachel brings up some other interesting points that these studnents, especially ones who need the money more and live in more povershed areas, may use this money to finance guns, gangs and drugs and lead to more problems on the streets. Just because students are recieving this money for good behavior does not necessarily mean that it is going to be used in that same manner. Also, she points out that this money that we are paying to the students would be better utilized by giving the money to the schools for better facilities and technology that could be used to further enhance learning.
Ryan seems to think that this plan is a good idea because it essentially allows those students with financial difficulties to earn money for college and as he calls it "even the playing field." I agree that if they work this program right, and don't give all the money to students up front, it could be a great motivator for those students hoping to earn money to further their education. He also brings up the issure of inequality and how more privelaged studetns could be utilizing this system when they really don't have to and that money could be spent serving someone else who is in a greater need.
Overall I think this is a very interesting article and theory and I am interested to see how it works out in the future. My personal belief is that this is not really the best plan to help motivate students and I think it could end up being very unfair to some kids. I think that some preivelaged kids might take advantage of the system and take away from those students who are in greater need for it. I also think that the money will not be well spent because these kids are young and most likely will just go out and blow it on silly stuff when it could be used to finance utilities within the classroom.
Monday, September 15, 2008
How will you be your own agent of change in the classroom to meet student expectations - is it your responsibility?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8&feature=related
These two videos really help show just how much outside influence and media really part of their normal daily routine. I am a lot like the college students who say how much time they spend on the computer and doing other things not related to class and school and how we learn to multi-task so that we can do everything and so that we are constatnly under the influence of technology and other various activities and media. I know that for me, my main priority in life right now is school, but how many hours a day do I actually spend engaged in school activities and work?
The kids in school today are knowledgable and trained in many different forms of technology. Some of these things are tools that I have never even seen before, let alone used them. I think this is the greatest challenge for training teachers because we need to be engaged and trained in new technology in order to keep up with our students and to incorporate those tools in our lesson plan so that the students will be prepared to use it all in the future. The majority of jobs that exist today are going to be run completely differently when our students go out into the work force due to technology and we need to prepare them for that change, which means that teahers need to incorporate as much new information and technology and be aware of new devices that are out there and will make a difference in their students' futures.
I also like the second video a lot because it points out the fact that some of our traditional teaching strategies are not as important as new things. A good example was when the boy held up a camera and asked how this might help him in his future, and although the traditional textbook and ruler type of lesson is still necessasry, it is also important to consider alternative tools in the classroom and how they might be applied to real life and jobs in the future. They demonstrated a lot about how the internet and computers are so important in each of the students' lives and how it gives them plenty of opportunity to explore the world in a different way. I think that teachers really need to start incorporating these new methods of technology and exploration into the classroom so that students can expand their mind and discover new strengths and opportunities for the future which might not be known to them yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8&feature=related
These two videos really help show just how much outside influence and media really part of their normal daily routine. I am a lot like the college students who say how much time they spend on the computer and doing other things not related to class and school and how we learn to multi-task so that we can do everything and so that we are constatnly under the influence of technology and other various activities and media. I know that for me, my main priority in life right now is school, but how many hours a day do I actually spend engaged in school activities and work?
The kids in school today are knowledgable and trained in many different forms of technology. Some of these things are tools that I have never even seen before, let alone used them. I think this is the greatest challenge for training teachers because we need to be engaged and trained in new technology in order to keep up with our students and to incorporate those tools in our lesson plan so that the students will be prepared to use it all in the future. The majority of jobs that exist today are going to be run completely differently when our students go out into the work force due to technology and we need to prepare them for that change, which means that teahers need to incorporate as much new information and technology and be aware of new devices that are out there and will make a difference in their students' futures.
I also like the second video a lot because it points out the fact that some of our traditional teaching strategies are not as important as new things. A good example was when the boy held up a camera and asked how this might help him in his future, and although the traditional textbook and ruler type of lesson is still necessasry, it is also important to consider alternative tools in the classroom and how they might be applied to real life and jobs in the future. They demonstrated a lot about how the internet and computers are so important in each of the students' lives and how it gives them plenty of opportunity to explore the world in a different way. I think that teachers really need to start incorporating these new methods of technology and exploration into the classroom so that students can expand their mind and discover new strengths and opportunities for the future which might not be known to them yet.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Response to Ken Robinson
Blog posts that I've read:
http://meganlivingston.wordpress.com/
http://ci335edtech.blogspot.com/
I agree whole heartedly with both Megan and Melissa. I think that this clip had great insight into some of the problems with the focus of teaching and learning in the schools today. There are so many kids going through the public school system and coming out with very specific knowledge to only a few given subject fields that the school deems more appropriate or useful for the real world, while many subjects and creative fields are greatly lacking or non-existant in the curriculum. I believe that creativity and arts only help benefit students to expand their minds and their thinking process. They learn to use their brain in a whole new way. The classroom has become so focused on simply throwing information at the students that educators believe will be useful later in life, but so many students are losing their capacity to explore other areas and fields that could potentially be just as or even more helpful in the long run. Not every student who graduates will grow up to do something related to math or science or one of the other typical high school subjects and they should be able to find these other strengths and passions within the school just as they do with the other subjects. I think that both of these girls did a great job of explaining the importance of creativity and stressing how difficult it is to predict the skills that these students will need for the future, which is exactly the challenge that Ken presents in his speech.
http://meganlivingston.wordpress.com/
http://ci335edtech.blogspot.com/
I agree whole heartedly with both Megan and Melissa. I think that this clip had great insight into some of the problems with the focus of teaching and learning in the schools today. There are so many kids going through the public school system and coming out with very specific knowledge to only a few given subject fields that the school deems more appropriate or useful for the real world, while many subjects and creative fields are greatly lacking or non-existant in the curriculum. I believe that creativity and arts only help benefit students to expand their minds and their thinking process. They learn to use their brain in a whole new way. The classroom has become so focused on simply throwing information at the students that educators believe will be useful later in life, but so many students are losing their capacity to explore other areas and fields that could potentially be just as or even more helpful in the long run. Not every student who graduates will grow up to do something related to math or science or one of the other typical high school subjects and they should be able to find these other strengths and passions within the school just as they do with the other subjects. I think that both of these girls did a great job of explaining the importance of creativity and stressing how difficult it is to predict the skills that these students will need for the future, which is exactly the challenge that Ken presents in his speech.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
"Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children's future, is it really ok to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incor
It is known that our world is growing and changing at a rapid pace and new technology and resources are becoming available every day. I believe that as an educator who is trying to help prepare children for the future it is necessary to incorporate as much technology and modern resources as possible. It would set the students at a great disadvantage to be without training in these tools, especially if other students have some knowledge about it. It should not be the decision of the teacher whether or not to incorporate various tools and technologies, but it should be nationwide mandated that all students learn these new techniquest together and that all teachers be specially trained to use this new technology as it appears.
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