Summary of the Summer--This is Hot!!!

Hello,

Now is the time to tell everyone what I learned in this course. I have spent many hours behind the computer, and learned so many things about teaching in a very short time. The internet is the place to go to keep up to date on education.  Computer based learning definitely requires perseverance. I learned that if there is a possibility that something will go wrong, then it will. Always have a backup plan! If you are going to present anything online, make sure you post it in several places on the Internet. Keep a record of all your passwords and nicknames on the computer, and please--"don't get aggravated." Remember Kenneth Robinson's video "Paradigm Shift;" the insignificance of our planet in relation to the size of the universe dwarfs any problems that we face in our microscopic lives. Besides that, Robinson truly believes that our education system is not fulfilling our society's needs. Our education system seems to be build on the premise of preparing our students to work in factories. But societies needs have changed and we need people that can think more creatively to solve the many problems that we face and will encounter in the future. I mention Robinson's critical assertions because I think that a main theme of our course was devoted to the need of our system to change, and change now.

In taking this course I realized that our school system is changing because our society is changing. We studied educational philosophies, and I realized that our old ways of schooling with a more authoritarian philosophy is not helping our students. We need to lean more towards student-centered learning. Newer philosophies such as humanism, and constructivism are pervading our schools, and for good reason. Kids are losing interest in education, and they need to be given an opportunity to make more decisions about their learning. New learning, in the constructivist perspective requires self-regulation and the building of conceptual structures through reflection and abstraction. Concept development and deep understanding is the foci.
This perspective is consistent with the constructivist tendency to explore multiple truths, representations, perspectives and realities.

As teachers, we need encourage more student initiated questions, independent thought, and interaction between students. In our more cliche methods, the goal of the learner was to regurgitate the accepted explanation. We need to make more of an impact and foster ingenuity and creativity. Technology is increasingly being touted as an optimal medium for the application of constructivist principles. And, the computer-based learning environment allows for student responses to drive lessons, shift instructional strategies, and alter content when needed. Other theories we studied were differentiated intruction, which I think goes hand and hand with constructivist theory. Differentiated instruction is formed around the precepts that
1. No two children are alike.
2. No two children learn in an identical way.
3. An enriched environment for one student is not enriched for another.
4. In the classroom we should teach children to think for themselves (constuct their own knowledge).
The most important thing about differentiation is the need to know the learners. Curricular goals may be similar for all students, however, methodologies employed in a classroom must be varied to suit the individual needs of all children. Consistent with constuctivism, differentiation allows students to take greater responsibility and ownership for their learning, and also provides opportunities for peer teaching and cooperative learning. Here is four ways to differentiate:
1. Content--content can be described as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes we want children to learn. Differentiation in content requires that students are pre-tested so the teacher cna identify the students strengths. Another way to differentiate content is simply to permit students to accelerate this rate of progress.
2. Process and Activities--Differentiating the processes means varying learning activities or strategies to provide appropriate methods for students to explore the concepts. Giving students alternate paths to manipulate the ideas is embedded in this concept. (Graphic organizers, maps, diagrams, or charts to allow them to display their comprehension of concepts is a good way to implement this idea).
3. The Product--Differentiating the product means varying the complexity of the product that students create to demonstrate mastery of concepts. Students working below grade level may have reduced performance expectations, while students above grade level may be asded to produce work that requires more advanced thinking. It is also motivating to offer a choice to students.
4. The Environment/Learning Style-- lighting/ posters / visual distrators/ seating / and mixing learning styles and multiple intelligences are key to differentiation.

A topic I was interested in deeply was the curriculum, and the factors that impact its design.  There are various form of curricula in schools all operating simultaneously.  One should come to the conclusion that learning is all connected.  Here are some ways of interpreting the vast elements of curriculum:

1. Explicit--courses offered, syllabi, tests given, materials used. 

2. Implicit--the "hidden curriculum" emerges incidentally from the interactions between the students and the physical.  For instance the building of social/ communication skills. 

3. Extracurricular or Cocurriculum--student activities, sports, clubs, students government, and the school newspaper. Encourages student self-esteem, and civic participation, improves race relations, and raises children's aspirations. 

Curricula throughout the nation are undergoing scrutiny and a major theme that I studied in depth was multiculturalism, and how to integrate it throughout the school.  "Global Education" investigates world topics that span national borders including conflict reduction and ecology. Global education is a growing curricular phenomenon.  Websites now available to students focus on international issues form child labor and animal migration to confronting intolerance and racism.  

Next focusing on technology was a important part of the learning process in this course.  Many new methods in education include the use of technology to enhance collaboration and communication in a world of gadgetry. Students are constantly ingrained in some sort of social networking, and finding ways to incorporate these tool in the education process should be a priority. Web 2.0 has many features; here are some:

                Web 2.0=

Student centered learning/ multi-sensory stimulation/ multi-path progression/ multi-media/ collaborative work/ information exchange/

Active/ exploratory/ inquiry based, critical thinking/ proactive/ planned/ authentic / real world/ 

Information=created --shared-- remixed-- repurposed-- repurposed--passed along. 

Vocabulary = images, video, multimedia, music, visual. 

Theses concepts were put to work on the "School of the Future" project, which I enjoyed tremendously.  There motto was "Infuse Technology anywhere, anytime." The school of the future project even insisted on integrating technology into the fabric of community life. Adult education programs, training courses, and community involvement to relay the importance a school has on the community. 

Change --The Slogan of the Century

For the last part of my dynamic summary of Nature of schools I will talk about change.  Again using Ken Robinson's video "Changing Paradigms"as a reference our present century will undergo the biggest changes in the history of civilization.  Many schools are not keeping up with public demands.  When change becomes necessary here's a way to implement your plan:

--Identify what it is in your control to change.

--Identify your options

--create a support system

--examine your attitude.

--Remain flexible

--give your self a break (for a little bit!)

--strive to achieve balance & perspective. 

The hardest thing to change is the hardening of attitudes. Take advice and don't take a setback personal. Confidence comes from conquering "fear of change."  Here are some more things to keep in mind.  We must convince ourselves to change from:

Being Closed    to  Being Open

Denying Feelings to Expressing Feelings

Being Defensive to Accepting Feedback

Convention  to Experimentation

Being Suspicious to Trusting others

Being Guarded to Being Spontaneous

Avoiding Conflict to Facing Conflict

Being Rigid to Being Flexible/ Sincere/ self-aware. 

Change is permeating every aspect of our society.  So what kind of challenges are we facing? What kinds of students are we teaching? Ladies and gentlemen, they are not the same today as when we grew up.  We have entered the "Knowledge Age."  

1. Every two -- three years our knowledge base doubles!

2. High-Schoolers have been exposed to more information than their grandparents have been in a lifetime!

3. More change is expected in the next 3 decades than in the last 3 centuries!

So what do our students need to be able to do?  Preparing them for a changing world requires that they are adaptable and able to handle information in an effective manner. 

They need to be able to speak well, write well, analyze. With information they should be able to validate, synthesize, gain leverage, communicate, and collaborate. Having our students familiarize themselves with technology to do these things will be important.  

Community Letter-Reaching Out.

Hello Friends, 

Here is my first attempt at writing a community letter regarding diversity in our towns, and cities.  

REMEMBER, JUST TAP THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT. 

Thank you, Ian. 

School of the Future

Greetings to class,

This is our group creation for our wk. III project.

This is my back-up (in case we can't raise this image on Thursday's online class). One needs "Inspiration" downloaded in order to view this on their home computer. Inspiration is a great program that creates the best graphic organizers in my opinion. Elementary teachers are probably more familiar with "Kidspiration" which is the sister program of "Inspiration." We combined our efforts on this program and this is what we came up with.

The school of the future is something to ponder. We are beginning to get a glimpse of what lies beyond "the painted veil" of future education.  Our country, and our world is changing. Watching the videos from "Innovations" was interesting.  Beginning with the U.S., we are changing from a industrial based economy into an information driven society. Manufacturing is going overseas, especially to powerhouses like China, and Singapore. And, even though many aspects of our educational system are viewed as inadequate, (especially math and science), the United States continues to hold a leading edge over the rest of the world. Can we actually attribute this to our dilapidated educational system? Perhaps we are doing something right after all. Many nations are trying to understand our educational system, and the creativity it fosters. Yong Jo, a speaker from "innovations" explains the concepts of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is more important than math or science scores.

I think it is obvious that our system does not need a complete overhaul. Still innovation and reform will have to be priorities to make sure that our communities remain competitive with the international arena. Companies will move to other countries if there is a chance to make money. America needs to adapt and lead the way in innovation (and education ). We have to find a way to remain indispensable in the global supply chain. I think that Americans have an advantage just growing up in the United States. For instance Chinese architects might have trouble building a new hotel or shopping mall because they've never seen one in real life. Many Chinese firms hire American architects because they have clearer visions of what a shopping mall should look like. Don't forget to give credit to our schools for keeping our people creative and competitive(thank you teachers!). Remember teachers are our "secret weapons" according to Dr. Michael Lomex president of UNCF. Still, don't rest on your laurels, our competitors are making strides everyday.

The Future is Technology.

Hi Cyberfriends,

It's time to pen (or type) a new blog entry.  I've added a picture of the moon to relay the idea that no human being has been beyond the moon (at least physically).  And it was forty years ago that Neil Armstrong first set foot on its barren surface. Technology has come a long way, and since the beginning of time, the moon was considered far out of the reach of man (and woman).  Things that were considered impossible are now general knowledge.  And its said by Nasa that the first people that will walk on Mars have already been born.  This is an interesting idea. Imagine if one of the students in our classes is one of them.  Technology is what will enable use to break our current boundaries, both in the solar system, and in the classroom. 

Technology must be used correctly to enable students to engage our future.  And, the problem with the future is that no one knows what it will look like.  As Kenneth Robinson mentioned in his talk on TED--"Do Schools Kill Creativity", no one know what our world will look like even 5 years from now.  How do we prepare our students for this unknown world?   I guess by making them versatile and adaptable to their environments.  Literacy is still a main component of education and always has been.  Whether its through books, newspapers, or computers people will still need to read in order to thrive in a new world.  As far as what I do with technology, I look at things on the internet and read, read, read.  The constant focus on math and science is irrelevant if a person doesn't have advanced reading skills.  And why should we focus on math and science?  Are they the only jobs that will be available in the future?

Another main argument that I've heard in education is the emphasis on getting computers in the classroom.  I really don't think it's that pressing.  Children have to learn to crawl before they walk.  Putting a child behind a computer screen, and individualizing their learning may not be the right method, especially for elementary.  What about the "implicit curriculum,"and teaching children social skills.  What happen to the days when kids went bowling, or played games together?  People are becoming more encased in their own worlds because of technology.  And I guess the counter-argument to that would be--we have to prepare students for the workplace.  However, I think that people with no computer background can generally catch on in a few weeks, or a few months.  We have to teach our students to learn.  If they become great learners, they can adjust to any environment.  

I think technology is naturally one more tool we can use to engender skill in literacy, math, science, etc.  Giving students different media to learn a topic in history/social studies will be a priority.  Whether it be a book, an overhead, a dvd, or an internet access.  I think that the way the system is with all the high-stakes testing constrains the kind of things we can do with computers.   An inquiry or student-centered lesson is hard to incorporate when teachers must teach a specific body of information in such a short span of time.  Computers are great investigative tools, especially when completing some sort of project.  As teacher, I guess having resources to direct students to should be a priority.  

Week II: The Constructivists Strike Back

Hello Again, 

I guess I'll start week II with a little architectural background.  I've included a picture of our high-school in Newburgh--NFA.  What's interesting about the schools in the city of Newburgh is they all face the Hudson River or East. There are different explanations why this is.  One reason is to "catch the first rays of light" in the morning.  I've heard others say that the Masons(a group whom many of our founding fathers belonged) had a hand in constructing the schools to face the East, and Egypt, where the first masters of architecture began with the building of the pyramids and other colossal projects.  It's interesting how our buildings mimic the past monuments in our history.  It reminds me that knowledge is transmitted through thousands of years of time.  

The knowledge and information that society passes down to us has a strong impact on how we think and act.  We learned about Social Constructivism, and the influence society has on the learner.  In our readings we are asked to question the nature of knowledge itself.  Is knowledge absolute, separate from the knower, and corresponding to a knowable, external reality, or is it constructed by and part of the knower and relative to the individual experience (Constructivism, from Philosophy to Practice)? I think that it is a little of both.  One does not invent their own language, and system of measurement and numerical representation.  Society and family impose or transmit their systems on people.  Still, for an individual, information has to be internalized before it becomes knowledge, and that's where  I see the principles of constructivism regain their validity.  Every person has different origins, and points of view that reappear when connecting to new knowledge.  For instance say I'm a Republican-Conservative-- I'm always going to see things from that point of view.  And when introduced to new issues and topics, I'm always going to try argue in favor of Conservatism.  The same thing would go if I was a liberal, or an anarchist.  We seem to construct our knowledge around different principles, whether they be religious, political, or cultural.  Still, I think that knowledge can be separated from the individual.  Whether that that individual exists or not the number 3 will always be the number 3.  And no individual is going to change that. 

Constructivism is a fascinating premise.  We must remember that our students are coming to our classes from multiple backgrounds and points of view.  Finding ways to reach 30 different people in one class is very challenging.  I think that's way teaching a recurrent body of knowledge is important.  If students learn on their own then why do we need schools?  Society may blight individuality, but when it comes down to it, society is the invention that has enabled our species to survive.  I think the nature of schools is to teach a pluralistic, multi-ethnic society to function together and in harmony (among other things).  Constructivism has many different outlooks and varieties. I agree with the premise that concept development and deep understanding is the focus.  Students have to take the initiative to develop deep understanding by "the building of conceptual structures" (Von Glaserfeld).  And I think that these "conceptual structures" are influenced by the individual and society.   

Nature of Schools--Group Meeting & Learning outcomes

Hi Class, 

This is my reflection for this weeks learning outcomes.  My group (the Trailblazers) spent time orientating ourselves to "Tappedin" and some of the other ways to communicate on the internet.  I established an office where our group could convene. Sorting through the requirements of the course was a big part of our first week.  Our group was quick to collaborate on our first project--the powerpoint presentation on Thursday July 3.  We evaluated our topic (culture and education) and divided our content in order to make sure we each had a part in the assignment.  I completed the powerpoint because of my prior experience with online learning.  The content we studied introduced our class to some of the main issues in education today.  

The topic we studied, culture, was interesting and pointed to some important issues in education today. Our reading covered issues about learning differences, cultural issues, and bilingual education.  The readings were especially helpful in their predictions about the future of the make-up of our classes. Our reading suggested that by 2020 half of the students in the United States will be of non-European dissent.  We also learned some of the different styles for incorporating topics into the curriculum that add ethnicity. Making the curriculum diverse is especially important so students from different cultures will feel more connected to their learning and their identity. 

We also learned about some other topics in education today.  Understanding who and what influence curriculum design was interesting to me.  It was surprising to see the many factors that establish and change curriculum.  I still want to explore the topic of academic freedom and the extent that a teacher has power to design what they will teach in the classroom.  Principals seem to have more control than teachers, especially when trying to improve standardized testing and state requirements.  

I also learned about the economic issues facing our schools and the ways that schools differ from location to location.  Wealthier communities have more money and usually better schools, while inner-city schools seem to get the least attention from the state and federal government. Other issues that sparked an interest are the impact of television on students learning styles.  They are more visually orientated now, and prefer other forms of learning to reading.  Differentiating instruction will be the most import thing in the future of curricular design.  

The issues we learned about so far represent what we as teachers have to consider before we even start to teach.  Students come to school from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, genders, economic differences, and gender.  Before they begin to learn effectively, we have to find ways to incorporate our students diversity into our teaching. 

Grading--A Necessary Activity

Hi People,

Grading and keeping records are a necessary part of education on all levels. Both students and teachers are accountable for how grades turn out. It is a great way to inform classroom techniques, and help the teacher decide what are the most effective ways to teach. Teachers need to have an extended record to help make instructional decisions as they progress through the curriculum. Engrade is an online tool that could help bring organization to a teacher's hectic day.

Engrades data is recorded online, so it can be accessed by many different participants, including students. The threat of a computer crash is less threatening when data is recorded online. The grades that are posted on Engrade can also be accessed by more people than just the teacher. Students, parents, and principals can all access these grades to keep them informed about how things are going in the classroom. From my limited experience in schools, it seems teachers are still using the black book to record their students outcomes. Others use off-line programs that have the possibility to collapse. Students are always interested in how their doing, even if they don't necessarily show it. Engrade is a great way to share information with the students and parents privately to show them progress. I think this program is especially good to keep parents informed about how their child is doing.

Online records and grading bring more accountability to students, especially if they know that their parents have access to their grades and constant ability to check up on their marks. The possibility of a child forging their report card, or preventing their parents from seeing it is minimized by Engrade. Students probably would not like that feature, but if it pushes them to do better, than I think that it is helpful for teachers. The program also has an attendance feature that can convey to parents any unlawful absence. As with most technology, information is shared with more people, and this program does just that.

There were not many things that I disliked about this program. It does so much more than the old methods. Again, I'm not teaching right now, so I don't have anything to compare it to. If I were to suggest something to change about the program, I guess I would want a place to store documents like tests, students papers, and other records. Using a scanner, and storing research papers, or other big projects would be a great way to show off somebody's work to parents, or principals.

"Read All About It!"

Hi Again, 

I just want to start by saying that their was another page to this letter that did not attach when I converted from PDF.  I worked hard on it, so I'm attaching PDF to our discussion forum.  Here's a link that will bring you to both pages I created--letterpop--check it out! 

Designing letters like these to communicate with parents and other people in the academic community is a good way to show you are a caring and superb teacher.  Making something like this shows that you a serious about getting students and parents involved.  I'm not teaching yet, but many of the teachers I've interviewed have suggested that keeping a dialogue with parents is very important factor that determines how a student will do in school, and their class specifically. When a parent has information about what their child is learning, they will have more of a chance to ask that students how their learning is coming along.  

I think that something like this is a good way to communicate with parents because it is not derogatory, and is not trying to convey something negative about the student. Many teachers only call home if something bad has happened, such as a discipline or academic problem. We as teachers have to find avenues that create a positive relationship with parents.  Other ways we could do this is by writing a letter that says something positive about the students.  If they do well on a project or some other assessment. Other ways to communicate by phone, e-mail, or ever teleconference.  Phone or in-person is probably better than e-mail.  E-mail is so impersonal.  New ways to communicate would be skype, teleconference, or even a WiKi.  As a teacher, you can give parents your personal website address and post information about your class on the web.  Of course this newsletter is also a great way to enhance communication with parents, principals, and guardians. 

I chose Letterpop mainly because I liked their background templets. Scrapblog seemed only geared towards family photos and vacation templets. They were not that professional to me.  I also had an account already established with Letterpop from a prior assignment.  Letterpop just seemed more compatible for designing a newsletter.  The next time I do this I want to figure out how to design templets better, especially adding more slots for images and other features.  If I were to do this more frequently, I would gather parents e-mail address, so that I could mail them a letter every time we begin/end a unit.  I would do this on the first day of school, and keep the parents informed more often. Overall, I think that newsletters are a good way to establish a good dialogue with parents and guardians.  

Crossing Words for Fun

Good Evening, 

I am posting these questions to my crossword puzzle because they did not come out so well when I converted from Excel at MSMC library.  I am learning quite bit about computers.  This was actually the first time I used Excel for a class.  I was not aware of things you could do with this program until this assignment.  

Learning how to use computer software by completing tasks is a great learning strategy.  Learning only about software would not be as engaging as completing a finished product. Having a clear objective to complete with the program makes sure that a learner has thoroughly investigated the applications of the program being learned. For example, learning how to create a crossword puzzle in Excel allowed me to became quite familiar with the application, and I probably could do it again without reading the directions now.  I definitely think that if I just read the directions, and was not given the chance to apply my new gained knowledge,I would not have retained the skill in making an Excel crossword puzzle.  

Teaching students themselves to make crossword puzzles is a great way to teach vocabulary and computer skills at the same time.  There are many other uses Excel can offer, and creating a crossword opens up a students capacity to use the application in other capacities.  Maybe they will have to create a spreadsheet one day, and their knowledge about making crosswords will help them better perform other tasks with the program. 

Next time I use this program I want to find out its capabilities.  What else can one do with Excel? I should have investigated it more.  I also want to try some other image converters, because sometimes I get choppy images.  Finding out what is out there is half the battle when using computers, or any medium.  

   

Crosswords 'r Us.

Here's my newly found skill of creating a crossward puzzle. It was definately a trying experience. After, accidently deleting my initial attempts, I finally pulled it together and produced something note worthy. Next, I had trouble converting to jmpg. I went to the curriculum library and they helped me. The only problem was that they had to save my crossword in 4 different slides, and then the cues to my answers were sliced up and became illegible.

I tried my best. I want to post a "whole version" on my discussion forum. I will also continue this assignment tonight. Thankyou. Good Luck!

Web School 2.0--Where is it?

Hi Again,

I probably should have posted this a few days ago, but I wanted to discuss our school -2.0.  When I first heard about our assignment in designing this school I was kind of lost.  I was bewildered when I read the first stipulation of our assignment--a school not grouped by age? I immediately struggled to picture such a situation.  Then I heard the next requisite-a teacher not in charge?  What? I began to think that maybe they won't even need teachers in the future.  Then I heard--children not required to attend?  I felt as if I chose the wrong profession.  No teachers, no schools, no world.  Will we all just sit at home in the future and live and work out of our homes? 

The graph is not that visually endowed, but either will our new school be.  In fact there won't be no school--just kids and their computers. There won't be anyone there because kids don't have to attend.  Who knows what our world will look like 20 years from now.  Hopefully, we'll still be here.  I'm just kidding.  It is interesting to think about the future.  Still, nothing compares to having a real human being answer your question, and instructing.  Please computers, don't take my career away from me.  

Eureka I Did it!

Hi Again,

I'm writing this blog to say I've been triumphant in installing my image to this blog. I finally mastered the intricacies of my Apple.  I'm beginning to unlock secrets.  I learned how to convert my files. I have to say that this course has truly pushed me to learn about the functionality of my computer.  Inspiration is such a nice program too.  I might have to shop for some software one day and this program is nice for adding an eye-grabber to lessons.   Now I just have to figure out how to enlarge this photograph. 

Mind Mapping for Brain Tapping

Hi Everyone,

The topic of my mind-map was about the formation of the two-party system in the United States. The content on the map shows the angle each party took in regards to the important issues facing the newly established United States. I chose to use the content of this lesson to make a mind-map because the graphic organizers from "Inspiration" laid out the debate so well in one crystal-clear page. The imagery that this program provides is also a wonderful feature to highlight. I even pasted images of Hamilton and Jefferson on the g.o., who were the leaders of the two-parties (Federalist/Antifederalist). In addition, this mind-map is a good assessment tool. Each side of the mind-map represents the view of one of the two parties. If I covered one side or left one side blank, then the students can be assessed by filling in the other side. The mind-maps are also great study tools that deliver quick and visually endowed information.

The most important thing I learned about this lesson was the types of programs out there. Inspiration and Kidspiration are both wonderful programs that I want to use when I start teaching. As a teacher we can tailor each of our lesson to match with wonderful graphic organizers that include visuals, concept maps, and double as assessment tools. I would like to view some other programs in this area, but downloading everything for a free trial is tedious. The program I used--inspiration-- has everything I need anyway. I also learned that even the simplest of things can go wrong when working with computers. For example, I spend more time trying to post the image to this blog than making it. I downloaded 3 converters, but my computer wouldn't open them. I learned that when working with computer, be prepared for difficulties and problem-solving.

One thing I did not like about the program was after transferring the file to pdf, many applications such as this blog would not accept the pdf image. It seems that this blog only accepts home photos. I tried to download a program to convert the pdf image but my computer was reluctant to open the programs. The image I posted to the discussion forum (which came out the best) was the only thing I could do for know along with posting the image to my Apple website.

Next time I use this mind-map, I will try to find a converter that changes images to jmpg. That way the graphic organizer/ mind-map will be accepted by different programs including this blog. I think the best solution is figuring out how to post the image to the Internet. That way, as long as one has the Internet address, they can access the file.

 Overall, I'm looking forward to using this program in practice to give students an extra medium to learn with. Expecially for test review. The mind-map is a fantastic way to connect concepts together in order to see how thing fit. Goodbye, Ian.

Lesson--Ratification and Debate

This graphic organizer is the content of a lesson that teaches about the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the debate between the Federalists and Antifederalists.  The goal of the lesson is to get students to understand the significance of opposing viewpoints.  I had a good amount of trouble trying to post this graphic organizer to this blog. They don't accept pdf. and I'm having trouble downloading converters.  I published the image to my web site at http://web.mac.com/imor4060/Site_2/Podcast/Archive.html.  If you are already tapped into our moodle website shoot this link, and you will get a better veiw: Federalists/Antifeds.

Dude, I'm getting a "del" icio.us

After signing up for "del.icio.us," I realize that it is a very useful place.  One can store their important sites and then travel half way across the world, forget their computer at home, and then be able to access their favorite sites anywhere.  It is also a place to use as extra storage due to the problem of clutter.  I'm always reluctant to bookmark sites because you start to accumulate so many after a while.  Using this site to organize sites into one category is also wonderful. I love organization!  You can't do that on your regular "bookmarks." I'm hooked. 

Sharing sites is a great feature too.  As teachers consolidating sources and then transferring them to another teacher has never been so easy.  Of course this can also be used to help direct students to where information can be found.  Again everything is so neatly organized with the labels we can assign to each group of similar websites.  

The Dynamic 2-0

It is quite amazing what teachers are doing with our new digital technology.  After viewing the website we were assigned to observe about the 1st graders use of technology I was left with quite a nice impression about the tools that 2.0 offers.  Students, even 1st graders were taking part in class discussion.  Our students are starting early (if their districts have the resources).  They had their own "online community" that their teacher (a wiz) coordinated.  And that is one of the traits of 2.o.  It requires "guided mentoring" that the educator teaches, and then allows the students to facilitate their own learning.  

The way students have access to interactive media has changed.  They participate in blogs, wiki, and other online communities that emphasize learning.  Interactive video games are also what our students like.  If fact interactive is a big part of 2.0.  Our net generation is more social than prior generations; they like sharing information through the various forms of media available to us now.  Finding ways to make learning "authentic" or transforming methods in the class with the way kids learn at home should be priority of new teachers. 

The Big Six

As teachers, we need to be focused and on the same page.  Having standards and a similar operating procedure helps our students decipher want it is they need to know across the curriculum.  Our new found NET-S standards are a helpful way of knowing what we need to get our students and teachers to do. Here they are:

1. Creativity and Innovation:  Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products.

2. Communication and collaboration: Students use digital media and environment to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance. 

3. Research and information fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. 

4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making: Student use critical thinking to plan and construct research, manage products, and solve problems. 

5. Digital Citizenship:Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.  

6. Technology operations and concepts: Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technological concepts. 

In my limited experience in the classroom I have seen only a snapshot of the use of technology. I substituted  for a science class and we spent the three days I taught in the library using computers to finish their collaborative group projects.  They were mostly doing what standard 3 promulgates--collecting data, and apply tools to collaborate.  Some were at work stations with regular desktops, others had laptops.  Creativity and innovation was present, but the higher analytical skills associated with standard number 4 was not there.  There is a good reason, because it takes time to design assignments that enhance analyzation, especially on computers.  Finding the right websites for each topic one might cover is time-consuming, and it is up to the teacher to create these tasks (instead of relying on a textbook). There is so much information to sort through that it will take time. 

As far as digital citizenship and technology operation and concepts I think the students I came into contact with have a good understanding of what's on the net, and what is appropriate and what is not.  They like to collaborate, and they do have to be monitored in relation to how they interact.  Kids will be kids.  Using appropriate language, behavior, and attitude is important for a teacher to advocate.  In reference to their knowledge about computers I think it depends on each person, but for the most part many of our youth are well-acquainted with the computer.  

The Digital Natives are Restless

Discussing the students we are teaching today is an interesting and necessary activity.  In order to teach effectively we need to know who our students are, and their preferences for learning. Our students today have been immersed in technology since their appearance in the world.  Many theorists believe that our children today are different thinkers because of their reliance on high-speed, visual, and quickly accessed information. If this is true, keeping their attention will be a challenging and pivotal task. They need visual stimulation infused with graphic images, pictures, and the chance to share information with others.  They enjoy playing video games and watching T.V. more than reading.  Finding ways to accommodate their preferred mode of media will be a task for every teacher to strive for.  

Our net generation students are not getting what they should.  Marc Prensky writes "today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach" (Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants).  Our new students are more immersed in technology at home than in school. Many teachers do not incorporate technology into their lessons, which affects our student negatively, and leaves them unprepared for the future.  Whatever the reasons for not using technology, the more we use the happier everyone is.  Still, students need to learn how to focus on one issue instead of multi-tasking many things at once.  They have to acquire skills that help them focus and think deeply about things.  Using technology to teach Bloom's higher order thinking areas--analyzation, evaluation, and synthesis--to induce the type of abilities students may be losing in their quick-paced multi-tasked world.  

Another important aspect that I want to address is the net generation's need to collaborate and share information.  We have to allow them to work in groups but at the same time make sure the work is shared and they are on task instead or chatting (we know how people love to talk).  They should be able to talk, but only about issues pertinent to their assignments.  Using instant messaging, and games to teach better is a good way to capture the attention of students of this generation.  The business world is big on instant messaging.  I don't know why teachers are not.  They probably do not want to be interacting with kids after their assigned classroom hours.  E-mail is probably a better way to communicate.  

Another impediment that I think affects students from using technology is that not everyone has the same access to computers.  For instance, if two students in your class do not have computers at home it makes it hard to assign homework using technology.  It will not be fair if certain people do not have the same access to technologies.  Still, we have to try to understand what the net generation needs and will need in the future.  Teachers have to design and advocate programs that enhance technological skills.  If not, we will be failing our students. 

Converging Literacy in the "Age of Convergence."

Reading the material associated with this course,  I'm realizing the multiple literacy skills students will need as they assimilate into the "The Age of Convergence,"and onward into the second decade of the new millenium.  Literacy now signifies much more than just books, newspapers, and magazines.  It seems the term has come to represent almost any kind of information available to our sights and senses.  Media literacy, data literacy, computer literacy are terms used nowadays to represent the different information sources people are acquainted with.  The "Age of Convergence" is an appropriate label for the first decade of our new century. People are communicating at an astonishing level.  By the end of this year, the number of e-mails sent daily will exceed 100 billion world-wide and half will be person to person.  Our world is becoming significantly globalized and information driven.  Such leaps in information availability stimulate democratic values, and award people power where they have not had it before.  

Understanding what the different modes of informational delivery will help teachers like us focus our energies on teaching certain skill needed in the future.  Distinguishing among computer literacy, information literacy, and integration literacy will help teachers determine what is important to focus on.  Beginning with computer literacy, I understand it as knowledge and ability to use computers and technology efficiently.  Having knowledge how to use and operate computers is a main component of computer literacy.  Recognizing computer terms and abilities, limitations, and dangers is also part of it.  The ability to solve technological problems at the lower level is a requisite in gaining computer literacy.  Information literacy and integration literacy can be considered part of computer literacy.  Why? They are both domains that increase our knowledge about computer technology. 

Information literacy is the ability to find, analyze, and use information.  It does not necessarily have to refer to the specific use of computers and internet, but the internet is a main gateway to finding information today.  Some other sources of information are videos, radio, television, and compact disks.  Media literacy is a term associated with the garnering of information in this way.  Knowing how to gather information is also a part of information literacy.  One example of this is being aware of the tools that are out there.  For instance our class just learned about del.icio.us as a tool that functions as a gathering point for web addresses.  Now a person can access their preferred information sources from anywhere they can access the internet. Organizing information in this way is a characteristic of information literacy.  

In regards to integration literacy, my impression is that it is educationally focused.  This literacy seems geared towards teachers, and their ability to use computer/technological resources including the internet as tool to enhance thinking in students.  And, by thinking I mean higher-order thinking such as analyzation, evaluation, and synthesis (Bloom's taxonomy).  Working with computers to me is problem solving, and goes beyond collection of data.  Matching appropriate technology to objectives, goals, and outcomes is a characteristic of integration literacy.  Having knowledge about the tools that are useful in technological arena builds integration literacy and helps us to understand why they have named our present era as "The Age of Convergence." Our world is becoming more connected by technology.

Looking towards the future, it is clear that the aforementioned regions of literacy are what students will need to be proficient in as they zoom into the next decade.  Future jobs will require a working understanding of computers and technology.  Currently we are engaging the literacy of the future and becoming proficient in it.  Becoming aware of the new technologies that are out there and their uses is part of our contemporary literacy.  We must be adaptive and versatile because change happens overnight with the new innovations in our world.  Keeping up to date with new technologies will be the wave of the future.  What's next? We will have to stay engaged to find out.   

Educational Theories

Hi everyone,

Well, it was a long weekend but I finally finished my classwork.  I studied about some educational theories, and connected those to philosophical world views.  It is interesting how most theories are connected all the way back to Aristotle and Plato.  Knowledge is something that doesn't become outdated.  It is something that can be applied to different contexts and situations.  And, in my opinion learning should focus on ideas that can be applied in every situation in life.  What good is knowledge if it can't be used?  

My preference on an educational personal assessment leaned towards humanism and constuctivism.  I think this turned out the way it did because I have a preference to emphasize the individual in learning.  Learning should lead to self-realization as Aristotle promulgated thousands of years ago.  As students learn where they stand on issues, whether political or social, they begin to understand themselves better.  An identity is formed.  I also believe that each philosophical idea and educational theory has valid points that should not be discounted.  I believe a good teacher combines different ideas to facilitate learning.  For instance behaviorism may be considered "authoritarian," but it can be a great methodology for teaching.  Students need a somewhat controlled environment in order to learn.  Nothing beats tangible learning targets, and behavioral objectives as a necessary starting point.   

Genesis

This is my first entry for my blog. Hi all teaching with tech students!