In the Ed Tech Talk podcast the hosts discussed a site where people can go on and write a 500 word essay concerning the purpose of education. I unfortunately could not find the link to this site. But it is basically an open forum for people to voice their opinions on what they think the purpose of education is. One of the hosts of the show talked a little about what she wrote and said that she believed education is a right for all people. It is something that is needed in order to survive in our world today and is something that should be offered to all so that we can each build a better life for ourselves. This discussion of the purpose of education ties back to the idea of technology and education because technology is being used to express this idea. Through the Internet this issue is made much more available to the public and gives the public the opportunity to have their voices heard. Although this is a small project, the use of the Internet for this discussion could lead to much of the reform that educators are searching for today.
The hosts of Ed Tech Talk talked with a 7th grade English teacher from the United Kingdom and discussed with him the changes technology is having in his classroom. In his school they are gathering data on the success of computer/technology usage and student achievement and interaction. This 7th grade teacher stated that there is a lot of change occurring in the UK with their curriculum and their search for the purpose of education. In his classroom they are putting technology to use in one aspect through the use of the game Cluedo ( the link explains the purpose of the game). They have an online version where the students can solve murder mysteries through listening to old style theatre mysteries. When the hosts asked about the accessibility of technology and the Internet the teacher said that the school receives good wireless coverage and that about 50% of his students have their own devices that they can use. He said that it has been interesting to see the learning curve difference in this blended environment of students with laptops and students without. The only draw back he is seeing with this type of technology in the classroom is that the cost of insuring these devices is so high and technology is moving so quickly that updating becomes difficult. Also the purpose and use of technology is constantly changing.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reflection #5: Tech Chicks (Eps. 81)
This podcast of Tech Chicks was talking about information that they learned while they attended the Texas Computer Education Association conference.
The first couple of things that they talked about were things related to Google. The first is called the Google Art Project. This Google tool allows you to take a virtual field trip through an art museum. It is similar to Google street finder because it takes you to the exact museum and lets walk through the art exhibits. You can view the art work as if you were actually in a museum. There are lots of museums available for you to view and you can even save the images that you see to your own personal gallery. This would be a great way to introduce your students to art, especially if you live in a rural community where art is hard to access.
The next Google tool that the Tech Chicks talked about was the Google Body Browser. This tool allows you to view 3D images of the human body. From these 3D images you can peal back layers of skin and tissue (as gross as that sounds!) and view muscles, organs and bones. The only down side to the Body Browser is that you have to have a certain browser on your computer for it to run correctly. But if you have this it would obviously be a great way for your students to investigate and explore different parts and systems of the human body that you are studying. It would be especially useful if you do not have access to models of the human body for students to view. It would be an expense free way for them to learn more about human anatomy.
Another tool that the Tech Chicks discussed is a program called Print Cut Fold. This program offers templates mostly for powerpoint. These templates allow you to make 3D shapes and booklets. The Tech Chicks mentioned that you could use these templates to help your students make "mini-books" on subjects that you are studying or for writing projects. The templates already come with clipart so it makes these books easier to create. The only downfall to Print Cut Fold is that some of the text that you create requires you to rotate the text in order for it to print correctly. This could be difficult for younger kids and could be a time consuming.
Another topic discussed was an exhibit they saw on the exhibit floor of the conference and that was a website by the name of Q-Topia. This website provides you with free online access to thousands of educational games and activities. With a teacher account you have unlimited access to these games and activities. If your students have a student account however their access is limited to the amount of games and activities they can view. In order for students to play and use the games available they have to complete different subject problems such as math problems. Once they complete the problem correctly they are able to play more time of the game. This site would be a fun way to practice concepts they have already learned or are learning.
The first couple of things that they talked about were things related to Google. The first is called the Google Art Project. This Google tool allows you to take a virtual field trip through an art museum. It is similar to Google street finder because it takes you to the exact museum and lets walk through the art exhibits. You can view the art work as if you were actually in a museum. There are lots of museums available for you to view and you can even save the images that you see to your own personal gallery. This would be a great way to introduce your students to art, especially if you live in a rural community where art is hard to access.
The next Google tool that the Tech Chicks talked about was the Google Body Browser. This tool allows you to view 3D images of the human body. From these 3D images you can peal back layers of skin and tissue (as gross as that sounds!) and view muscles, organs and bones. The only down side to the Body Browser is that you have to have a certain browser on your computer for it to run correctly. But if you have this it would obviously be a great way for your students to investigate and explore different parts and systems of the human body that you are studying. It would be especially useful if you do not have access to models of the human body for students to view. It would be an expense free way for them to learn more about human anatomy.
Another tool that the Tech Chicks discussed is a program called Print Cut Fold. This program offers templates mostly for powerpoint. These templates allow you to make 3D shapes and booklets. The Tech Chicks mentioned that you could use these templates to help your students make "mini-books" on subjects that you are studying or for writing projects. The templates already come with clipart so it makes these books easier to create. The only downfall to Print Cut Fold is that some of the text that you create requires you to rotate the text in order for it to print correctly. This could be difficult for younger kids and could be a time consuming.
Another topic discussed was an exhibit they saw on the exhibit floor of the conference and that was a website by the name of Q-Topia. This website provides you with free online access to thousands of educational games and activities. With a teacher account you have unlimited access to these games and activities. If your students have a student account however their access is limited to the amount of games and activities they can view. In order for students to play and use the games available they have to complete different subject problems such as math problems. Once they complete the problem correctly they are able to play more time of the game. This site would be a fun way to practice concepts they have already learned or are learning.
Reflection: Animoto in my Classroom
Animoto is a really cool tool that can be used in the classroom and for personal use. It was really simple to use because you simply upload the photos you want to use, select the music you would like, and pick a background, the rest Animoto does for you. The picture transitions and lighting is all done by Animoto. You can of course customize your video by using music from your own collection and organizing the photos into the order you would like them shown. You can also add text to the pictures if you like. I really enjoyed the way that Animoto takes the images that you have and makes it something personal and individualized. It is a good way to display pictures that you have in a different way.
As for using it in my classroom I think that it would be a fun way to display class pictures or student work on a class website. You could create slide shows of all your students, your classroom, class artwork and even pictures from around the school. Animoto is simple enough to use that you could put your students in charge of creating the slide shows and let them show some ownership in the classroom. It would also be a good tool to use for students to demonstrate different concepts they are learning. Instead of a book report they could use image and short text to present their book. They could also use Animoto to explain a math concept that they are learning.
Here is an example of an Animoto that I used to display my area of concentration which is English as a Second Language.
As for using it in my classroom I think that it would be a fun way to display class pictures or student work on a class website. You could create slide shows of all your students, your classroom, class artwork and even pictures from around the school. Animoto is simple enough to use that you could put your students in charge of creating the slide shows and let them show some ownership in the classroom. It would also be a good tool to use for students to demonstrate different concepts they are learning. Instead of a book report they could use image and short text to present their book. They could also use Animoto to explain a math concept that they are learning.
Here is an example of an Animoto that I used to display my area of concentration which is English as a Second Language.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Podcast Reflection#5: Moving at the Speed of Creativity
This podcast by Wesley Fryer was broadcast from the 2011 MECA conference which stands for the Mississippi Educational Computing Association. The speaker that was at the center of the podcast was Dr. Carl Owens who is a professor at Tennessee Tech University. The title of the lecture that he was giving was "Cool Tools for the Classroom." He gave examples of a variety of cool technology tools that he and his students have used and tools that could (and have been ) used in the classroom.
One tool that he talked about to use in the classroom was podcasting. Along with podcasting he mentioned a lot of gadgets that are out there that can help improve the quality of the podcast that you and your class are creating. The first tool that he mentioned was called a "bass jump." This simply helps to give richer sound to your podcast because he mentioned that sometimes the sound on Mac's is not always the best but that this tool can really help to enhance it. He also talked about a couple of different microphones that are really simple to use when making a podcast. The two he mentioned were called Snowflake and Snowball microphones. Dr. Owens really liked these two microphones because they are pretty cheap, all you have to do is plug them into your computer and they are pretty sturdy not a lot of repair is needed for them.
The next tool Dr.Owens talked about was a microscope called "pro-scope." This is a hand-held microscope that is compatible with Mac's and PC's and also the iPhone, iPad and iTouch. On pro-scope's website there a many lesson plans available for teachers to use. The website also includes various ways that you can incorporate the pro-scope into your classroom and how it can be used as a great tool for teaching and learning, especially in content areas such as science.
Another tool that Dr.Owen's really liked was call the iTV Hybrid. This program can be installed on Mac computers and allows you to do TV capturing, which basically means that teachers can record educational programs via their computer and then show them to their students. Programs can be recorded in advance and can be saved on the computer for a few days or even for years. It is a much simpler way of recording shows without having to use a video recorder that you often would have to check out from the school librarian. A tool that is similar to this but not quite as new and advanced that Dr. Owen's talked about is Radio Shark. It is basically the same idea as the iTV Hybrid. This program allows you to record local radio stations so that you can play them back for your students later.
One tool that he talked about to use in the classroom was podcasting. Along with podcasting he mentioned a lot of gadgets that are out there that can help improve the quality of the podcast that you and your class are creating. The first tool that he mentioned was called a "bass jump." This simply helps to give richer sound to your podcast because he mentioned that sometimes the sound on Mac's is not always the best but that this tool can really help to enhance it. He also talked about a couple of different microphones that are really simple to use when making a podcast. The two he mentioned were called Snowflake and Snowball microphones. Dr. Owens really liked these two microphones because they are pretty cheap, all you have to do is plug them into your computer and they are pretty sturdy not a lot of repair is needed for them.
The next tool Dr.Owens talked about was a microscope called "pro-scope." This is a hand-held microscope that is compatible with Mac's and PC's and also the iPhone, iPad and iTouch. On pro-scope's website there a many lesson plans available for teachers to use. The website also includes various ways that you can incorporate the pro-scope into your classroom and how it can be used as a great tool for teaching and learning, especially in content areas such as science.
Another tool that Dr.Owen's really liked was call the iTV Hybrid. This program can be installed on Mac computers and allows you to do TV capturing, which basically means that teachers can record educational programs via their computer and then show them to their students. Programs can be recorded in advance and can be saved on the computer for a few days or even for years. It is a much simpler way of recording shows without having to use a video recorder that you often would have to check out from the school librarian. A tool that is similar to this but not quite as new and advanced that Dr. Owen's talked about is Radio Shark. It is basically the same idea as the iTV Hybrid. This program allows you to record local radio stations so that you can play them back for your students later.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Reflection #4: Driving Questions 2011
During this podcast the topic of conversation between the host and his quests-who were two math teachers- was titled "Educational Malpractice & Math." They started off the conversation with a questionnaire that had been given to people concerning their feelings about math as an elementary school child and feelings about math as an adult. The numbers were even on those you disliked math as a child but ended up loving it as an adult and those who loved it as a child and hated it as an adult. After talking about the results of this questionnaire they began discussing why math can be such a tough subject for children. One of the math teachers (Cassandra) gave an example from her childhood about a teacher calling her stupid because she did not do a math problem the exact same way she had. Cassandra said she had a mental block about math for a majority of her school years until a math teacher in college gave her the confidence she needed. This example tied into the idea that the teacher's actions play a large role in determining the students future confidence and success in math. They also discussed how it is important that they have more time with students because it is difficult to teach a subject like math to 25 odd students. It is also hard to assess what these students really know. This discussion led into the idea of having students show their work. Is this really a necessary practice? Does it really show what students know? They never really came to an exact conclusion, but it is definitely a topic of debate in the education world.
Podcast Reflection #3: Tech Chick Tips
The podcast that I listened to gave a lot of great website tips that could be incorporated into the classroom. The first website that the "tech chicks" talked about was called make use of. On this site you can make and print your own calendars. There are tons of templates and colors and designs that you can use to make these calendars. You can make the traditional sized calendar, or even bookmark calendars. The great idea they had for using this site was to make a classroom calendar with different pictures of the classroom and of the students. Another site that the tech chicks talked about that would be used in the classroom was vimeo. This website provides you with free lesson on shooting and editing video. It is also similar to youtube in the fact that you can share and watch videos on the site. The tech chicks mentioned that this could be a good tool for students to use to learn more about videography. The next site that they mentioned tied back to our class, they talked about tagxedo. Tagxedo is like wordle but on steroids. Besides the large variety of fonts and colors that you can customize, tagxedo also allows you to give your word clouds shapes. You can also make a wordle fit into the actual spelling of a word. The other site they discussed that I thought would be really good to use in your classroom was know word. On this site you are given the definition of a word and the first letter in that word, you type in the word you think it is and have one minute to get as many words right as you can. This site would be a great way to help students with vocabulary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)