Not a final entry

It may be the end of the summer semester but I know this will not be my final blog entry. This semester has not been easy by any means. Like most Americans, I work full-time, commute into the city, raise 4 children and I made the choice to pursue a Masters degree all at the same time. Within this short 4 week span of the semester we had to put my cat to sleep and I ended up in the ER with my son (luckily he is ok), it has just been a whirlwind. But I have made it through.

And I have made it through with so much knowledge. The biggest thing I have received from this class is AWARENESS. I may have only briefly touched upon the programs and lingo, etc but now I know they exist. More importantly my eyes are WIDE open to the possibilities of incorporating technology into the curriculum. It is not only important but I feel it is a necessity. A necessity to prepare our students for their future and a necessity to be reach our students TODAY!

I could list everything that I have learned in these 4 weeks but it wouldn't do it justice and there isn't enough room. Just take a look at some of my blog entries and projects to get a small taste. I was very skeptical at the beginning of this class on how this whole on-line thing would work but in the end with the help of an amazing teacher and lots of man hours it did work. I find myself bragging to other people about how much I now know. They are amazed that I can do half of the stuff I can on the computer. Blogs, wikis, personal websites, videos, sound, that is just the beginning.

The only thing I would change about this class is adding a part 2. I think I would benefit me greatly if this class had a sequel.

Thank you for a great semester. Now I can breath again!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

"A picture is worth a thousand words is a proverb that refers to the idea that complex stories can be described with just a single still image, or that an image may be more influential than a substantial amount of text. It also aptly characterizes the goals of visualization where large amounts of data must be absorbed quickly."

For my final project I am presenting what is and how to use Flickr.com and Photobucket.com. Both are media-sharing and hosting sites that allows users to upload photos and videos. Among other things the users can create profiles and portfolios, edit photos, remix videos and blog about your creations.

After reviewing both sites I gathered my own list of some examples of how these sites can be incorporated into the curriculum:

• nArt/Photography: :Create a collage using only images no text to illustrate a self-reflection.

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• nSocial Studies: : creating a slideshow on a recent trip. Use the map feature.Using pictures from around the world illustrate the day in-life of a kid your age from 3 other countries.

• nEnglish: : using the photo library or your own images pick a theme (ie- fishing) and create a story about what you see in the pictures individually and collectively.Using pictures illustrate your favorite book.

• nScience:: Using the photo library or your own images illustrate the 4 seasons, planets, 5 senses.

These are just the surface, I am sure there are so many more ways to use programs like these in a classroom. And I look forward to exploring other areas.

I think the biggest thing I have learned is that I have options. Programs and sources like Photobucket and Flickr exist. There are so many cool features to both programs that can be explored, like uploading and sending pictures from your camera phone. Most kids may not have a digital camera but I would bet the majority have a cell phone with a camera!

Next time around I would probably upgrade the service to get the full benefit of the programs.And I may explore what other programs are out there. While these programs were terrific, they were a little cumbersome when it came to downloading all the moving parts (too many). I think it has to be quicker and easier, particularly for an elementary student.

All in all, it was a great experience and in the end I am more aware today than I was yesterday.

"If you can't beat 'em, join em"..Todays learner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF2LSjMlC4I

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"...wow, isn't that the truth! I just watched this video on How do your students learn? While they will they more than likely following one or more of Howard Gardner learning styles: musical, spatial, bodily-kinisthic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, naturalist - chances are if they were born in the past 10-15 years they will be a DIGITAL learner.

The video presents shocking facts like:

today's college students spend

• 10,000+ hours playing video games.
• 10,000+ hours talking on cellphones
• 20,000+ hours watching TV

today's children and teens

• spend 2.75 hours a week on home computers

The video asks the question, how much richness does your curriculum provide? Do your students remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create?

Today's teens were born into a digital world where they expect to be able to create, consume, remix and share material with each other. So why not use technology that our students love to CREATE, ENGAGE, and TEACH more effectively?

The video also points out that digital learners have sent and received over 200,000 emails or IM's by the time they graduate college.

It suggests to consider using the following for teaching:

• wiki's
• blog's
• podcasts
• online collaboration, testing, learning
• web-cams
• GPS
• geocaching games
• GIS
• google earth
• webquests
• e-folios
• virtual manipulatives, pen-pals, tours
• writing
• reading
• reflection

Here was the real question in the simplest terms: Since your students already know how to use this technology why aren't you using it to teach?

The video suggested using cellphones to teach: language, poetry, literature, public speaking, storytelling, math, geography and writing.

Text messaging to be used for pop quizzes, student polls, spelling bees, math experiments, science experiments, book reports, peer tutoring, class presentations.

It gave mind-blowing stats like:

• 28% of high school students believe that school work is meaningful.
• 21% said interesting.
• 39% believe it will help them to succeed.

Why aren't we using ipods to teach. Ipods can be used in conjunction with podcasts. Podcasts are available for every subject imaginable.

Ok, so while I agree with 98% of this video it made me ask a few of my own questions. Like, what do you do in the poorer districts where computers and ipods aren't the main objective for the day. The bare basics like eating and shelter seem to take priority.

I loved all of the examples the video gave on what the various sources, like texting, podcasts, computers can all be used for but it only gave one live example of how to use it. As a new teacher I wouldn't know how to implement using the cellphone in the classroom. I would have loved more "real" examples. Or places to find them, links to sites, other youtube videos, etc.,

One more thought, it is great that the video points out that students are reading or the 3r's - rigor, relevance and relationships. But it neglects to mention that kids are graduating college and writing cover letters to resumes using the same language they use when texting. It is embarrassing and they should be ashamed. I have received these letters and resumes and immediately throw them out. If I person can't take the time to proof read their own resume I will not take the time to interview them. So I agree with the video that students are reading but how deep are they going or is it surface?

In order to reach today's student we have to speak to them in their language - the DIGITAL language - I get that. But I also think there has to be a balance. If there is a power outage or if the ipod/cellphone die, they have know how to do some of the basics without the use of technology. They have to instinctively ask the question "why" or "how" and know how to figure out the answer on their own. Just my two cents.

Grade with Engrade.com

We learned about a new product called Engrade.com - which I love!
http://www.engrade.com

Engrade among other things allows for a much higher level of parent/teacher involvement and also parent/teacher/student involvement. Engrade is a online program that allows the teacher to post student grades from all assignments (tests, quizzes, homework, portfolios, etc) and to assign weighting to whatever assignments are entered. Meaning the teacher can make the tests worth 25% of the overall grade - quizzes 25%, portfolios 25% and homework 25% (this is how I allocated my grades).

By assigning each student a unique ID number the student/parent can create an account on Engrade to access their grades from this class plus any other classes that the teacher uses this product for.

The teacher can also use an attendance feature to keep track of daily attendance, tardiness and excused absences.

The overview feature allows for the teacher to posts comments/notes on how the student is doing in the class.

Oh, yeah and there is also a calendar feature that allows the teacher to post upcoming assignments, test, etc., So there are no surprises. The parent and the student at all times will know exactly what is upcoming.

The program automatically calculates the grade percentage from the maximum number of points the teacher enters per assignment. It also gives a class average for that assignment.

There are so many features for this very friendly to use program. I think this is brilliance at its best! Kudos to those who designed this program. Did I mention it is FREE!!! Major kudos for allowing access to everyone for free. Ultimately, I think this type of program would help the teacher not only organize their grade-books but also their time. The program is so easy to use it only takes a few minutes to figure it out. And the 10 minute video prior to even signing up allows that much more hands on help.

I also think this product would encourage kids to do better, hold them accountable and be organized. I know for myself that when I see my grades listed out in front of me I know what areas I have to concentrate on to improve. When the student knows the parent can keep track of the assignments (via the calendar) all through the semester they are now held accountable. The excuse "the dog ate my homework" would no longer be valid. This approach will encourage the parents to become more involved with the students assignments as well.

I used all the features on this program and really find it to be a helpful tool. The only downside that I can see is all students (and parents) in the class would have to have access to not only a computer but also the internet. In poorer districts this might not be the case for everyone. I think if a teacher is going to implement this type of program for one student he/she would have to make sure it was available to all. However, the program does allow the teacher to print everything out for an individual student. So I guess that would allow fairness if it was mailed home.

Another downside that maybe engrade could think about is that this does allow for Parent involvement. Not all parents speak English. I wonder if they would also have this product available so the teacher could enter everything in English but then have it automatically translated to other languages. Just a thought.

Class - July 23rd..Web 2.0, Digital Media, and more.

Tonights class was amazing. We started off watching a very inspiring video with an inventor, Johnny Lee, see my previous blog for more info inventions using the Nintendo Wii. The world needs more people like Johnny Lee.

Then we moved onto 3 groups presenting presentations from what we have leaned via an online book - Teachers Discovering Technology 5th Ed. The first presentation was from my group on chapter 5 - Digital Media and Multimedia and the differences between the two. Then we moved onto Communication Devices - chapter 3. We learned about Netiquette, IM, Email, the differences between web 2.0 and 1.0, Plurk.com, Ajax, RSS (real simple sindication), search engines, and much more. I really learned so much through this presentation. I have decided that I often take this for granted and going back to basics is a good thing. I never knew what have this stuff was until last night. In fact, just learning the difference between the internet and the world wide web (WWW) was HUGE.

We ended the night with our last group presenting chapter 6. The chapter covered foreign language and technology, sites for special ed and inexpensive or free tools online. I was impressed by the entire presentation but I will be honest I am itching to get my hands on the links to the special ed sites. I was absolutely amazed and excited at the same time.

Nice job to all the groups who presented. I truly learned so much in one night!

Ted Talks -,Nintendo WII

I had already watched a very inspiring video from TedTalks. A researcher named Johnny Lee, in a matter of six months developed very INEXPENSIVE ways the Nintendo WII can be used for education. Absolutely Amazing. Not only amazing that he developed this for educational purposes but he developed it without thinking of dollar signs for himself. In fact, he has his inventions on his website and they can be downloaded for FREE! He mentioned the short time they have been available half a million people have already downloaded them - students and teachers.

For an additional $50 in hardware the Nintendo Wii can be turned into a multi-touch screen, a headtracking device and 3D images can all be applied.

Johnny Lee also gave major props to YouTube. He pointed out the huge impact YouTube has had on teachers and students as a way to spread and share information.

I am giving major props to Johnny Lee for being sucn an inspiration to all.

Video using Animoto

I tried to create a similar video for the sense of Taste using an online program called Animoto. Check out my link to my video:

http://animoto.com/play/SBE0i0mxHnGs0qKfFIa8BA

I have to be honest. I had a harder time creating this than I did with Windows Movie Maker. Movie Maker to me was so much easier to use - user friendly. Using Animoto, I couldn't figure out how to add in text boards, or even upload my own song. So the theme of my project is left out A poem of the sense of Taste to the tune of "I'm a little teapot." If I couldn't figure this out I am not sure how an elementary student would be able to.

Another draw back to me was that I couldn't create the video it was created by Animoto. I would have preferred to be able to play around with it and manipulate it.

I am ok with the final product. I wish I had more time to play around with this more.