Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Final Project
The standards I will be addressing are:
1. Facilitate and Inspire student learning and creativity
a. Promote, support, and model innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
Summary of final project:
In September our school hosts an open house for parents to come in and meet the teacher and see the classroom. I am going to have Emodo on the Smart board for parents to see. I will have the site up and running with a greeting, assignments, images, and links for parents to look at. There will also be a piece of each child's writing for the parents to read.
Short videos will be embedded on the page for parents to watch. In the videos each student will introduce themselves, talk about their family, favorite subject in school, and tell us about something they like to do.
On another computer I will have Wallwisher up for parents to see. I will start the year by having a question of the day on the Wallwisher site. The open house will be a great opportunity to show parents some of the ways technology will be used in my classroom this year.
There are many things I plan to change in my teaching practices this year. Most importantly, I plan to find the time for my second graders to learn about and use some of the latest technology that is geared toward their age group.
1. Facilitate and Inspire student learning and creativity
a. Promote, support, and model innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
Summary of final project:
In September our school hosts an open house for parents to come in and meet the teacher and see the classroom. I am going to have Emodo on the Smart board for parents to see. I will have the site up and running with a greeting, assignments, images, and links for parents to look at. There will also be a piece of each child's writing for the parents to read.
Short videos will be embedded on the page for parents to watch. In the videos each student will introduce themselves, talk about their family, favorite subject in school, and tell us about something they like to do.
On another computer I will have Wallwisher up for parents to see. I will start the year by having a question of the day on the Wallwisher site. The open house will be a great opportunity to show parents some of the ways technology will be used in my classroom this year.
There are many things I plan to change in my teaching practices this year. Most importantly, I plan to find the time for my second graders to learn about and use some of the latest technology that is geared toward their age group.
Four Things Every Student Should Learn...But Not Every School is Teaching
Four Things Every Student Should Learn...But Not Every School is Teaching covers what Alan November feels schools are missing out on when they educate their students.
#1 Global Empathy - He asked an investment bank executive what he feels is the most important skill all students need to be able to succeed. The executive stated that since companies do business with people from all over the world, the workforce needs to respect different cultures and perspectives. He says that finding intelligent people is not hard to do, but finding people sensitive to others is more of a challenge.
#2 Social and Ethical Responsibility on the Web - November addresses the need to teach online responsibility. He doesn't feel that blocking kids from social tools is the solution. Teachers need to talk about topics such as cyber bullying and sexting.
#3 The Permanence of Information posted online - I thought it was surprising to hear that the web is archived every few days, and that students need to be very careful about what they post.
#4 Critical Thinking About the Information Found Online - It was interesting to hear how google ranks its search results. He says that it's a popularity contest and students miss out by not looking at some of the sites that do not appear in the top.
November makes great points in this article. I think it is important for schools to address these topics, but I think parents should also be on board. Schools work hard to monitor what students are doing on the web during the school day. However, at night it can be a free-for-all. It is eye-opening that the web is archived every few days. This conversation about ethics from teachers and reinforced by parents is critical since like November states, we could be saving them from ruining their lives.
#1 Global Empathy - He asked an investment bank executive what he feels is the most important skill all students need to be able to succeed. The executive stated that since companies do business with people from all over the world, the workforce needs to respect different cultures and perspectives. He says that finding intelligent people is not hard to do, but finding people sensitive to others is more of a challenge.
#2 Social and Ethical Responsibility on the Web - November addresses the need to teach online responsibility. He doesn't feel that blocking kids from social tools is the solution. Teachers need to talk about topics such as cyber bullying and sexting.
#3 The Permanence of Information posted online - I thought it was surprising to hear that the web is archived every few days, and that students need to be very careful about what they post.
#4 Critical Thinking About the Information Found Online - It was interesting to hear how google ranks its search results. He says that it's a popularity contest and students miss out by not looking at some of the sites that do not appear in the top.
November makes great points in this article. I think it is important for schools to address these topics, but I think parents should also be on board. Schools work hard to monitor what students are doing on the web during the school day. However, at night it can be a free-for-all. It is eye-opening that the web is archived every few days. This conversation about ethics from teachers and reinforced by parents is critical since like November states, we could be saving them from ruining their lives.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Schools Must Validate Artistic Expression
Sir Ken Robinson values creativity. He uses humor, sarcasm, and story telling, to make the point that this is an important part of education. Robinson states that Picasso once said that all children are born artists, but the trick is to remain an artist as we grow up. He feels we are educated out of it over time.
Another difference Robinson brings up between children and adults is the fear factor. Children aren't afraid of taking chances, while adults are afraid to be wrong. This fear limits our originality.
It was interesting to read Robinson's description of academic inflation. We need more and more education to get a good job these days. He feels the whole structure of of education is shifting and this demands for us to rethink our view of intelligence. He states that intelligence is diverse, dynamic, and distinct.
My favorite part of Robinson's article was the story about Gillian Lynne. He interviewed her for the book he was writing about how people discovered their talents. Gillian's mother took her to the doctor because the school thought there was something wrong with her. The doctor asked the mother to watch her child when they left the room. He put the radio on and she began to dance. The doctor's advice to the mother was to take her to dancing school.
The challenge as an educator is to meet the needs of all students at all levels. I think the best we can do is be mindful of all the different learning styles and make our lessons as interactive and stimulating as possible. And to also do our best to accept and celebrate the creativity of our students.
Another difference Robinson brings up between children and adults is the fear factor. Children aren't afraid of taking chances, while adults are afraid to be wrong. This fear limits our originality.
It was interesting to read Robinson's description of academic inflation. We need more and more education to get a good job these days. He feels the whole structure of of education is shifting and this demands for us to rethink our view of intelligence. He states that intelligence is diverse, dynamic, and distinct.
My favorite part of Robinson's article was the story about Gillian Lynne. He interviewed her for the book he was writing about how people discovered their talents. Gillian's mother took her to the doctor because the school thought there was something wrong with her. The doctor asked the mother to watch her child when they left the room. He put the radio on and she began to dance. The doctor's advice to the mother was to take her to dancing school.
The challenge as an educator is to meet the needs of all students at all levels. I think the best we can do is be mindful of all the different learning styles and make our lessons as interactive and stimulating as possible. And to also do our best to accept and celebrate the creativity of our students.
Turning on the Lights
Marc Prensky fires up the reader with his enthusiasm for embracing technology in the classroom. When I finished the article I felt like I've had enough summer vacation, I need to get back into the classroom and turn on the lights!
He challenges us to move away from boring practices of lectures and busy work and connect students with children all over the world. Get rid of the the old basal readers, the cursive handwriting books, and the old text books. Encourage the kids to learn using the technology they use throughout the rest of the day to learn. Teach them in a way that is going to prepare them for life in the 21st century.
I like the four important practices Prensky provides at the end of the article on how to accomplish these daunting tasks. He starts off with making sure students have the opportunity in school to learn and practice using technology. Make sure there is an acceptable use policy in place students know about and then the teacher becomes the facilitator.
Next, ask kids how they want to be taught and then connect them to their world. Finally, Prensky says that preparing students for the test is not preparing them for the future. 21st century skills, critical thinking, and problem solving are the lights that need to stay on to prepare students for the future!
He challenges us to move away from boring practices of lectures and busy work and connect students with children all over the world. Get rid of the the old basal readers, the cursive handwriting books, and the old text books. Encourage the kids to learn using the technology they use throughout the rest of the day to learn. Teach them in a way that is going to prepare them for life in the 21st century.
I like the four important practices Prensky provides at the end of the article on how to accomplish these daunting tasks. He starts off with making sure students have the opportunity in school to learn and practice using technology. Make sure there is an acceptable use policy in place students know about and then the teacher becomes the facilitator.
Next, ask kids how they want to be taught and then connect them to their world. Finally, Prensky says that preparing students for the test is not preparing them for the future. 21st century skills, critical thinking, and problem solving are the lights that need to stay on to prepare students for the future!
World Without Walls: Learning Well with Others
A World without Walls: Learning Well with Others by Will Richardson is a powerful article about what we as teachers can do to lead our students to meaningful activities that involve collaboration with others. I was moved by eleven-year old Laura Stockman's story. She asked her blogging friends from all over the world to respond to her topic Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference. From this, she came up with service projects she was able to carry out in her hometown outside of Buffalo, New York.
Students are looking to their educators for guidance and we must be able to as Richardson puts it...locate and discern good information and good partners...and reflect with students on our successes and failures. There certainly are no easy answers, but we need to move in the right direction.
At the end of the article, Richardson reminds us that we must ourselves engage in these new technologies and expand our knowledge so that we can model for our students. We need to be able to show them how to grow and collaborate, and how be effective and safe in the world of technology.
Students are looking to their educators for guidance and we must be able to as Richardson puts it...locate and discern good information and good partners...and reflect with students on our successes and failures. There certainly are no easy answers, but we need to move in the right direction.
At the end of the article, Richardson reminds us that we must ourselves engage in these new technologies and expand our knowledge so that we can model for our students. We need to be able to show them how to grow and collaborate, and how be effective and safe in the world of technology.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Taking the Digital Plunge
Bill Ferriter makes many good points in his article "Taking the Digital Plunge." He is contagious in his enthusiasm for incorporating digital tools in the classroom. He would be a good educator to follow because he has built a network of people he calls colearners who he collaborates with. I like how he states that he feels it is his job as an educator to experiment fearlessly with these digital connections. He feels strongly that this has changed the way he learns.
He also has great suggestions for those of us who are not digitally connected with others. I look forward to checking out twitter for teachers and voicethread. Bill makes a good point when he says that to become an effective 21st century instructor, we must first become good 21st century students.
He also has great suggestions for those of us who are not digitally connected with others. I look forward to checking out twitter for teachers and voicethread. Bill makes a good point when he says that to become an effective 21st century instructor, we must first become good 21st century students.
Orchestrating the Media Collage
Jason Ohler states that "Being able to read and write multiple forms of media and integrate them into a meaningful whole is the new hallmark of literacy." This is a far more powerful statement when read after one day in EPC512.
The realization of all that is out there, and the forms of social networking needed for both personal and professional growth, and for my students' sake is eye opening. Jason Ohler tells us that being literate is no longer enough, and that it is important to be digitally literate. I agree, it certainly is the new hallmark of literacy. I like Ohler's description of the teacher as advanced managers of their students' talents, time, and productivity. This is important because there is so much out there that the role of the teacher and the role of the student may continuously change.
I see the value in giving students the opportunity to have learning experiences where they are motivated by purpose and by the audience. Using social media supports this and Ohler feels encourages high-quality work.
Ohler encourages blending the traditional with the emerging. I think this is important for both teachers and students. Although at moments overwhelming, I shall try to be as Ohler describes it...a fearless adopter of technology like my students. One step in the right direction, was signing up for this class.
The realization of all that is out there, and the forms of social networking needed for both personal and professional growth, and for my students' sake is eye opening. Jason Ohler tells us that being literate is no longer enough, and that it is important to be digitally literate. I agree, it certainly is the new hallmark of literacy. I like Ohler's description of the teacher as advanced managers of their students' talents, time, and productivity. This is important because there is so much out there that the role of the teacher and the role of the student may continuously change.
I see the value in giving students the opportunity to have learning experiences where they are motivated by purpose and by the audience. Using social media supports this and Ohler feels encourages high-quality work.
Ohler encourages blending the traditional with the emerging. I think this is important for both teachers and students. Although at moments overwhelming, I shall try to be as Ohler describes it...a fearless adopter of technology like my students. One step in the right direction, was signing up for this class.
Hooray!!!
I'm on my second post.... and so far so good. I'm learning. I would like to link to google.
I'm on my second post.... and so far so good. I'm learning. I would like to link to google.
Test Post
This is my first post in the world of blogging. I'm excited about learning how to blog. I look forward to many more posts.
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