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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wiki Page: Create a Book (Class Tools) - NETS 1, 2, and 3

Creating this Wiki page was an enlightening experience. It is a great tool to go to for an instructor to use to help implement fun and education for students. I am amazed at how ingenuousness the creators of the software are. There are so many choices to pick from to help students and I had fun making a virtual book for student's to use in homework assignments.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Journal #6 NETS 1, 2 ,3 and 5

Journal #6: Interactive Boards;(iboards)

The leader in Interactive boards is the SmartBoard and the Promethean which are used in the classroom as a tool for interaction amongst the teacher and student and have been arounf for 15 years. These brands have interactive software that is only compatible with its own brand. These Interactive Boards are great for opening up discussions via the internet in a classroom setting in the format of a digital notebook. They are a large screen like a white board but have the capacity of a touch screen to accesses the World Wide Web for additional online information to share instantaneously with the classroom. It is basically a public computer for the class which is on a large sized projected computer screen that allows the class to virtually go on field trips. Teacher and students can share their thinking and explorations and increase knowledge in an open group format. There is also a recording device that many teachers use along with it which can be converted to Quicktime for posting research projects.

The Smart notebook has copyright rules where as the Promethean does not. A SmartBoard costs around $1120 for just the board, no mounting, and if you want a Bluetooth that's another $300. If you need your projector ceiling mounted which you will need to purchase, that will be another $650. If you get an Interwrite Wacom Pad, at about $500, all you need to purchase is the projector at about $650 which doesn't need to be ceiling mounted because no one will be stepping in front of the projector. This will only cost $1150. This is only 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of the SmartBoard. Also there is no calibration needed. Teachers need to be trained in how to use the board interactively with the students or it can become a glorified overhead. The interactivity of the board keeps the students involved because they are capable of participating and manipulating the lesson and this interaction shifts the focus from a teacher centered activity to a more student led activity increasing student thinking and participation.

There are also interactive note pads which are smaller than the Interactive Boards and the students can sit at their desks to use them along with an interactive wand. Teachers can equip their class with 4 or 5 wireless tablets for the price of one smart board. With these spread out through the room students can work collaboratively on the same project. Much of the functionality of this technology is driven by the software, not the Board, or the slate. Letting students come up to the SmartBoard seems to be an easier transition for teachers than to hand off the slates and the control to the students at their seats. The teacher has the capacity to roam around the class and interact with the students while staying on target. With the wireless slate, teachers can technically be in two places at one time. They can write in the front of the room but be physically anywhere they want to be. This is very freeing and can be beneficial when certain students need special attention and kept in close proximity.


Journal #6 Comments:

1. Christina Edwards wrote on Gaming.
2. Tana Townsend wrote on Collaborative Documents.
3. Brenda wrote on Microblogging.

Journal #9 NETS 1, 2, 3 and 5

Weller, T. J. (2010). Playing with skype. L&L—Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org

After reading the article about Skype, I realized that the educational possibilities are endless with today’s technological breakthroughs. Skype brings a live event right into the classroom and this can not only expose children to musical concerts while they are happening but theatre, governmental debates, Wall Street stock exchanges, commercial companies in progress, Zoological institutes and entertainment. The only stipulation is getting the approval of the event coordinator to alloy broadcasting.

There has been accessibility for years to many cultural experiences but not usually as easily adapted as how Skype makes it possible. According to the article, you don’t need heavy equipment or expensive gadgets to film a live performance or occasion. Skype makes it possible with only a computer with a broadband internet connection, a data projector, a couple of microphones, a webcam, adaptors, a screen and sound apparatus. This can allow almost any school the ability to expose children to numerous educational experiences right in the classroom that are not found in a book but viewed live. I think the fact that it is live would grasp the attention of the students and help capture their interest, learning more than a video would do as well.

The author, Travis claims that many teachers fear technology and I agree with him. Most teachers have been around for awhile and haven’t been exposed to ways to incorporate it in the classroom or have the knowledge base to attempt it. What needs to happen is for teachers to go to some technology training seminars so they can get up to speed and utilize the vast advantages of combining education along with technology and open the door of knowledge in the world to our youth in ways that will help them have a stronger grasp on what is going on in politics, world events and culture.

I think that Travis, is on the right track with getting excited about exposing his class to composers in concerts to give students the feeling of what is involved in the process. Can you imagine if students saw world wide events going on regularly and came to more clear understandings about life how much better prepared for the real world they would be? I also think they would be smarter and maybe even take life more seriously.

Question #1 What are the costs of these instruments precisely and do all schools have a fund that can be dipped into to buy them such as your school did? Answer: The cost varies depending on how much equipment each school already has. For instance, most schools have a screen, a computer, a microphone or two and sound capabilities so that just leaves the cost of the data projector and Webcam which should be available between one and two-thousand dollars.

Question#2 Why do you think most schools are not up to par with technology? Answer:I think it is because they weren’t exposed to it at a young age so they don’t have the background knowledge that most of our kids today have. Also the rigorous Standardized testing has taken priority over the benefit of a full well rounded education.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

CSUSM Hate Crime PSA NETS 1 and 2

Creating the iMovie on hate crime was an exciting experience as I took photos on the CSUSM campus of posters made because of the hate crime incident. The program was a blast to use and I hope to be able to teach a class on it as an educator.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

ISTE's Standards for Teachers NETS 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

I chose all five NETS standards for this project because all of them are in this diagram explain the what the NETS standards are and what each on e represents. I found that I became more clear on what the standards are as I did this assignment and thought that the program was fun and easy to use.

Journal #8 NETS 1, 2, 3 and 5

Lindsay, J., & Davis, V. ( 2010). Navigate the digital rapids. L&L—Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org

This article is about the importance of utilizing technology in the classroom and how important it is for educators to step up to the plate with learning the use of technology so that they can teach it properly to their students. There are also many good sources to help teachers monitor its use in the classroom. Teaching online social interactions and social ethics outside of the classroom is why it is vital for young learners to have instruction of proper internet ethics. 
Teachers can keep up with the times with Digiteachers. This program incorporates art and learning and helps make internet teaching more creative and fun for the students. With the use of Web 2.0 tools like Wikis, Nings, and Blogging platforms, teachers also can get connected to their students through a mutually pleasing and enjoyable outlet. By sharing in an enjoyable interaction with students involving education, it allows a new freshness to the classroom environment for both teacher and student. This enjoyment allows the teacher student dynamics to go beyond the learning specifics and expand in to a friendship and trusting relationship. By gaining the trust of the students, teachers are opening the door to more advanced communication and greater learning.
Flat Classroom projects is an educational network made up of a professional group that aides in maintaining an assisted monitoring environment. Teachers need to monitor all online networking to make sure it is safe and appropriate for their students and they also need a way of finding out what students are doing online. Flat Classroom was started by Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis for the purpose of educating students in high school and exposing them to a global world of education. The term, flat classroom is representative of a computer screen in which education can be shared in the classroom. RSS feeds also specializes in monitoring questionable photos and keeps track of students visiting inappropriate sites
It is important to teach students how to use the internet as a safety precaution and not take for granted that they know the proper way to use it with out getting into trouble. Children as young as five are now being taught how to use digital software and educating them even in kindergarten is a great time to begin lessons on internet safely.
Question #1 Are there educational classes for the teachers to help them learn the software and teach their students? Answer: Yes, we offer online courses that can be learned in the privacy of your home and we offer interactive communication with questions and answers in an open forum.

Question #2  Has there ever been a problem with students or teachers refusing to learn technology? Answer: there are a few schools that still do not tap into the world of technology to further the education of the students but very few and they are in small towns in the country. Once a school decides to adhere to the standards of technology all the staff and student body must also agree to the policies.

Journal #7 NETS 1, 2, 3 and 5

Zanetis, J. (2010). The Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. L&L—Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org


Virtual Field trips (VFTs) are a great addition to learning and experiencing on your own and bring an even greater element to the school curriculum. Another great aspect is the ability to visit far away places you wouldn’t normally go such as deep below the earth’s surface into the world of underwater life. Most likely not may field trips venture into the realm of scuba diving but with interactive virtual field trips students can experience life within the sea by way of cameras, internet experience and videoconferencing equipment. This is different than a video cam which is just hooked on to your computer. VFTs can take you anywhere and use h.323 videoconferencing technology.

Students now have the capability to also visit historical landmarks such as George Washington’s Mount Vermont Estate in Virginia. It is beautiful and so well designed that as you sit before the screen you can feel as if you are right there in Washington’s home. It gave a real sense of the era back then and the virtual tour of the restored original environment made you feel as if you were standing in the foyer doing a 360 degree turn slowly. I could almost picture soldiers marching outside and with the imaginations of students I think these tours would really stimulate excitement as they run through the pages of history and make it seem more realistic.

Virtual Field trips are different because the video is broadcast over the Internet and uses two technologies, either asynchronous or interactive synchronous formats. Asynchronous formats are websites with text, audio, and video material specifically covering a topic. They are great for covering educational material in a realistic way and expand to as many outlets as observations of over 300 museums, science centers and historical sites. Most of the sites have interactive capabilities where you can ask questions and receive answers from experts. This is a great way to inform students of any age or grade level and opend new worlds for many students with disabilities.
Question #1 Are there additional features in Virtual Field trips for the deaf, blind or English Language Learners? Answer: Yea, Virtual Field trips have add on equipment for the hearing impaired and offer brail pamphlets for some of the virtual tours. There are also translations available in many different languages available as an add on feature and can be ordered when purchasing the site tours.
Question #2 Has there ever been any violation of privacy rights when touring some virtual sites or attachments that load viruses onto ones computer? Answer: No, our Virtual Field trip sites are guaranteed safe and free of internet scavengers. We protect our sites from any pirating with the latest protection.