I posted our group's first podcast today over our ideal classroom scenario project! It went really well and I am excited about the outcome. This project was very fun and did not take a whole lot of excess time (or patience) to complete. I believe that this is something that can be integrated into my classroom someday. Students could make podcasts over a creative story they have written, or a speech they have presented. The awesome thing about it is that they have the opprtunity to personalize their podcast with jingles and other sound effects to really create a cool podcast!
Feel free to check it out! It's posted here at PodBean.com - a free site that uploads podcasts for your listening pleasure!
Also, as a group, we would love to hear your thoughts on our podcast or provide us links to other favorite podcasts that you have listened to. But, if you don't feel like commenting here, don't hesitate to comment at PodBean!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Ideal Classroom Scenario
What: Recently in our Classroom Computer Applications class, we had a project that we were to come up with the ideal classroom scenario integrating all of the technology we wanted to! It was a fascinating project in which our group tallied just over $57,000 for our total expenses! We had a SMART white board, an AirLiner Tablet, a study corner, complete with a couch, chairs and a bean bag, and the coolest possible setup conducive to learning!
So What: This was an awesome way to get us involved with technology and just how much these sorts of things could be integrated into the classroom curriculum. After doing much research and completing the final proposal to give to the projected school board, it offered us an insight into the real world of teaching, how to plan for things and ultimately, go about possibly getting it approved!
Now What: After completing this project, I can only hope that I am in a district that is able to have at least some minimal technological advances within it to use in the classroom. Otherwise, it will be an interesting struggle to maneuver through the school day without advanced technology!
- Feel free to comment below of you have any ideas on improving technology within our schools or if you thought this was a worhtwhile project, I would enjoy hearing them!
So What: This was an awesome way to get us involved with technology and just how much these sorts of things could be integrated into the classroom curriculum. After doing much research and completing the final proposal to give to the projected school board, it offered us an insight into the real world of teaching, how to plan for things and ultimately, go about possibly getting it approved!
Now What: After completing this project, I can only hope that I am in a district that is able to have at least some minimal technological advances within it to use in the classroom. Otherwise, it will be an interesting struggle to maneuver through the school day without advanced technology!
- Feel free to comment below of you have any ideas on improving technology within our schools or if you thought this was a worhtwhile project, I would enjoy hearing them!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Integrating Technology with Print
There is an article on my home area's website, the Quad City Times, that the Davenport Public Library held a video contest in which students of the Davenport area were allowed to make videos and then post them on to YouTube.
This contest did not include posting just ANY video, but rather videos altering the ending of a favorite book or composing videos explaining why they love their library. Although there are no videos on the site, it would be interesting to see some of these videos that were created.
This was a fantastic idea and it is awesome seeing the students from Davenport getting involved in their library.
This contest did not include posting just ANY video, but rather videos altering the ending of a favorite book or composing videos explaining why they love their library. Although there are no videos on the site, it would be interesting to see some of these videos that were created.
This was a fantastic idea and it is awesome seeing the students from Davenport getting involved in their library.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
PantherTube?
I was exploring the latest tech news on the Fox News website and discovered this site that the University of California-Berkeley has implemented into their university curriculum. It is a personal site, using the popular video sharing site YouTube, in which they include lectures and other event information throughout the campus. As I continued to think about the possible uses of this site, how awesome would it be if you missed some of the day's notes and wanted to retrieve some more details on what was covered in class, to just log on to this site with your CatID login name and password and watch away? Please leave comments below and let me know what your thoughts are!!!
Check out the article HERE!
Check out the Cal YouTube Website HERE!
Check out the article HERE!
Check out the Cal YouTube Website HERE!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lincoln Elementary School Reflection
In thinking back to our class visit to Lincoln Elementary School, here in Cedar Falls, it is quite amazing to think about the numerous ways that they use technology. First of all, let it be noted, that Lincoln was built around 2003, so each aspect of the building is amazingly new and current.
The major feature that I noticed when I was there was the microphones that some of the teachers wore when presenting a lecture. I found this extremely beneficial in a couple of aspects. First, the teacher could still speak at a reasonable volume, as the microphone was wired to speakers throughout the room, making it a little easier so they did not have to shout. The other reason this would prove beneficial would be that it could be recorded and reproduced at a later date. If a student missed a certain day's lecture on a math or English assignment, the podcast of that lecture could be presented to the student, allowing the student to stay ahead with his or her schoolwork.
Another observation I had was just how MUCH these teachers integrated technology into their classroom. The use of the overhead projector seems a minor part of the classroom now, due to the shift to the projectors mounted to the ceiling. Commented one teacher, "I feel lost if something is not working." This just proves that the shift is ocurring as far as classroom technology.
As for the students, WOW! Each of them had their own favorite part of using the computers in the classroom, whether it was playing games, working on websites, or creating and showing a PowerPoint presentation. It was fascinating to see just how excited they got when they were allowed to share their favorite sites and activities using technology.
From a broader perspective, to see how the school was networked together was amazing. Getting a sneak peek at the hubs that their network runs on was absolutely awesome! They have whole rooms dedicated to their computer netowrking supplies! It was also interesting in learning just how networked the entire Cedar Falls District is at the present day.
Overall, this experience really opened my eyes in viewing the level and amount of technology that occurs in the classroom. Each element that we observed seemed to be in use in the classroom and the students really seemed to enjoy it. I can just hope that as I graduate and enter into the teaching profession, I will be in a district that can afford or already has been able to afford these certain types of technology that can easily be integrated into the classroom curriculum.
The major feature that I noticed when I was there was the microphones that some of the teachers wore when presenting a lecture. I found this extremely beneficial in a couple of aspects. First, the teacher could still speak at a reasonable volume, as the microphone was wired to speakers throughout the room, making it a little easier so they did not have to shout. The other reason this would prove beneficial would be that it could be recorded and reproduced at a later date. If a student missed a certain day's lecture on a math or English assignment, the podcast of that lecture could be presented to the student, allowing the student to stay ahead with his or her schoolwork.
Another observation I had was just how MUCH these teachers integrated technology into their classroom. The use of the overhead projector seems a minor part of the classroom now, due to the shift to the projectors mounted to the ceiling. Commented one teacher, "I feel lost if something is not working." This just proves that the shift is ocurring as far as classroom technology.
As for the students, WOW! Each of them had their own favorite part of using the computers in the classroom, whether it was playing games, working on websites, or creating and showing a PowerPoint presentation. It was fascinating to see just how excited they got when they were allowed to share their favorite sites and activities using technology.
From a broader perspective, to see how the school was networked together was amazing. Getting a sneak peek at the hubs that their network runs on was absolutely awesome! They have whole rooms dedicated to their computer netowrking supplies! It was also interesting in learning just how networked the entire Cedar Falls District is at the present day.
Overall, this experience really opened my eyes in viewing the level and amount of technology that occurs in the classroom. Each element that we observed seemed to be in use in the classroom and the students really seemed to enjoy it. I can just hope that as I graduate and enter into the teaching profession, I will be in a district that can afford or already has been able to afford these certain types of technology that can easily be integrated into the classroom curriculum.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Shift Happens
When I was enrolled in Educational Media in the Fall 2007 Semester, we watched a video entitled, "Did You Know 2.0?" It outlines the way that the digital world has affected not only the United States but the entire world. It is quite an interesting video with nearly every screen being another fascinating statistic that really demonstrates how the digital shift is occurring. Most of these things are events that we are aware of occurring, but the drastic impact on the nation is something that goes unrecognized. The video can be seen below.
Feel free to comment on your thoughts about this, I would enjoy reading them!
Feel free to comment on your thoughts about this, I would enjoy reading them!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Webinar Reflection
After participating in an interesting event known as a webinar, my only response is wow! It was quite interesting to note that the speaker was at the University of Virginia presenting us with this information and I was in Iowa, in my everyday classroom. What an event! The topic of the webinar was referring to the MySpace generation and the integration of such things into the classroom curriculum.
The implications that I believe this such technology will have on my classroom are quite hopeful. Current educators seem to be confused at just how powerful this stuff really is. After listening to Chris, he brought to the attention of the listeners that wikipedia is blocked in some districts. What?! Granted that this is not the Oxford site of reliable information, allowing students to view this information gives them a place to start when they begin researching. An interesting statistic that came from this was that 44% of young people ages 18-29 use wikipedia. Think about it - blocking wikipedia is taking away a wealth of "foundation information" for the student.
MySpace is another site that has taken off in recent years. Included in the presentation were some quotes regarding the use of MySpace and how since the district had no formal socialnetworking site, many students could not wait to get home and log on to their MySpace accounts. However, it must be noted that Mr. O'neal was not advocating for the unblocking of MySpace in schools, but rather finding a way to incorporate this into the classroom. A great quote to sum up this site is that MySpace is a "technology recess" where no one is on duty! This is why districts need to get students more involved in wikis and blogs so that they are able to ask about projects and such at school with the use of a computer.
As for integrating these things into the classroom, wikis and blogs are fantastic tools that should be used in classrooms. An example of how these would work would be that teachers would be able to communicate with others on certain meeting times or to just make sure they are all on the same page. This would be useful for students by way of putting thoughts down and collaborating about projects and research assignments.
Since it is quite obvious that students are very interested in their MySpace accounts and being able to be socailly networked, we can just hope that in the future, ways of integrating these such things into the classroom environment will enhance learning immensely!
The implications that I believe this such technology will have on my classroom are quite hopeful. Current educators seem to be confused at just how powerful this stuff really is. After listening to Chris, he brought to the attention of the listeners that wikipedia is blocked in some districts. What?! Granted that this is not the Oxford site of reliable information, allowing students to view this information gives them a place to start when they begin researching. An interesting statistic that came from this was that 44% of young people ages 18-29 use wikipedia. Think about it - blocking wikipedia is taking away a wealth of "foundation information" for the student.
MySpace is another site that has taken off in recent years. Included in the presentation were some quotes regarding the use of MySpace and how since the district had no formal socialnetworking site, many students could not wait to get home and log on to their MySpace accounts. However, it must be noted that Mr. O'neal was not advocating for the unblocking of MySpace in schools, but rather finding a way to incorporate this into the classroom. A great quote to sum up this site is that MySpace is a "technology recess" where no one is on duty! This is why districts need to get students more involved in wikis and blogs so that they are able to ask about projects and such at school with the use of a computer.
As for integrating these things into the classroom, wikis and blogs are fantastic tools that should be used in classrooms. An example of how these would work would be that teachers would be able to communicate with others on certain meeting times or to just make sure they are all on the same page. This would be useful for students by way of putting thoughts down and collaborating about projects and research assignments.
Since it is quite obvious that students are very interested in their MySpace accounts and being able to be socailly networked, we can just hope that in the future, ways of integrating these such things into the classroom environment will enhance learning immensely!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Theory of Online Blogging
After viewing numerous blogs through Blogger and after pondering over what my take on blogging is...here is what comes to mind. It's great IF you are sharing ideas with the rest of the world, IF you are blogging about a new website to express with your peers or the world, and IF you are sharing information to make the life of a teacher a little easier! Otherwise, I feel that blogging may become useless because if I am constantly reading about how sick your dog is or that you only have a half tank full of gas left - I'd much rather you kept those to yourself. However, if you are going to blog to share ideas, it is a fantastic way to reach audiences far and wide. Finally, I would love to hear your ideas on new websites for teachers or anything that is education oriented. By all means...comment below!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
One Laptop Per Child
Recently in the news, there has been an increase in the discussion of the One Laptop per Child Project that is currently being implemented. So, what exactly is this phenomenal project? Nicholas Negroponte is the founder and chairman of the project, in which there are specially designed computers for children to enhance learning. The goal is to have residents purchase a laptop to send to a child in a third world country so that they can experience the online world and be connected with everyone worldwide. I first saw the video below as it aired live on CNN and had to share it. This is truly a fascinating project and hopefully will enhance learning for those certain children.
One Laptop Per Child
One Laptop Per Child
Friday, November 9, 2007
Textbook 2.0
An article recently reported on by CNN outlines a new way of learning and using the classic textbook by putting the course materials online. This Connexions website offers students a place to view electronic versions of textbooks and teachers a place to add to the information by way of the Creative Commons licensing. Each lesson is known as a "module" and those are divided up into the educational categories that they represent. Another point that should be noted, this site is not only offered in English, but has stretched to other languages, including but not limited to Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. This website can be very useful to educators and students alike by way of the convenience it provides. If you would like to read the article, check it out here!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Educational Technology In Action
Visiting the website for our area newspaper, the Quad City Times, I came across an article that was about the application of technology in the classroom. Usually, due to the lack of funding available, some schools in the Davenport area cannot afford such interactive technologies for the classroom. This particular classroom at Neil Armstong Elementary School in Bettendorf uses an interactive whiteboard to aid student learning. In the linked video, it shows students studying a map of the northeast portion of the United States and students are to drag state names from the list to the appropriate state. Of course, this isn't the only thing that this whiteboard is capable of doing, but, it is a great asset to any classroom to enhance student learning. Read about this fascinating technology here!
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