EDL305 Discussion Post Week 13

Isaiah’s presentation was interesting, especially with the use of pop culture and their relations to real life people. I found the application, the super hero creator, very creative and almost addictive. I found that using pop culture can be helpful to relate to students better.

Brian’s presentation on quadratics was very fun and interesting. I liked that he used multiple forms of stimuli so that the material did not feel repetitive. I learned that songs can effectively be used as a mnemonic device for concepts in class.

Meaghan’s presentation on blood typing was very interesting in that it related students to a very common medical practice. I enjoyed the use of the educational CD program as it provided visual examples and allowed students to actively participate in discovering blood types. I learned how hyperlinked PowerPoints can be used for creative assignments.

I enjoyed Daniel’s presentation on the Spanish-American War. Daniel demonstrated a very strong content knowledge. I liked that he used multimedia applications to inform students. I learned that I can use a Google Docs Form for paragraph response essays.
Chase

I thought Chase’s presentation on the Greek-Persian War was exciting. His use of film to excite students was very effective. He also effective fit a long lesson into a short period of time. I learned that modern film may be useful to enhance particular lessons.
Logan

Logan’s use of video interaction in order to learn about other cultures was very insightful. She showed a practical application of video conferencing without special arrangements to match time zones. I learned that video recording can be used for creative assignments.

Anthony’s presentation on ancient Babylon was quite informative. I liked that he made the lesson relatable to students and applicable. He also effectively used multiple forms of stimuli. I learned that I can use online timelines for assignments.

Joseph’s presentation used a very interesting topic to educate students, propaganda. The only improvement that I believed should have been made was to project his voice a little more. It was hard to hear towards the back of the room. I learned that images can be used to get students thinking about important concepts.

I thought that Cory’s step-by-step lesson on the FOIL method was very useful. I liked that he went through each step. The presentation could use some improvement in that I could be made to be less motion-sickness inducing. I learned that Prezi can effectively be used in calculation problems.

Josh’s presentation was fun and I think would be very stimulating for students. The video was fun and allowed us to move around. The Quia game was also a great way to review but make it into a game. I learned that Quia can be used for Jeopardy style practice games.

EDL 305 Weekly Discussion for Week 12

For the mini-lessons today, I very much enjoyed the variety in the lessons. With Tamara's lesson, I felt that she did a great job in keeping our attention with good volume. I felt that technology was lightly used and would encourage her to try the same lesson with the technology more at the center. I did learn from her presentation that multiple stimuli to discuss colors.

Katie had a great classroom presence during her lesson which kept me engaged. I also enjoyed that she used technology in several different ways. I learned from her presentation about the use of voki.com in the classroom.

Bree had an excellent presentation. I found it very interactive with the audience. I also enjoyed the use of differentiated instruction within the lesson. I learned how you could post spreadsheets through the internet.

Megan's lesson was very educational and I think was very time-efficient. I think that the notes could have been a bit more interactive with the students. I learned how PowerPoints can be used in conjunction with Excel for assessment.

Gloria made excellent use of websites in her instruction. She also did a great job in involving culturally relevant information into the lesson. I learned about Quizlet and how I can use it for assessment and practice.

Elesha's lesson was very interactive. I found that the use of technology was helpful, though I found that I needed to still use pencil and paper to do some of the completing the square exercises.

Jenna maintained attention well during her lesson. By having us hurry to type things we were more likely to pay attention. Jenna also provided us with a useful brainstorming website. I learned that technology can be used for simple note-taking as well.

Ken's lesson provided resources very well. I also enjoyed that he assessed some of the higher levels of thinking by asking the compare and contrast. I discovered how compare and contrast can become a visual process by using internet resources.

I was not able to view Kelly's presentation since I had to leave early to prepare for my Honors Thesis Presentation.

EDL 305 Weekly Discussion Week 11

There are several GOOD ways to design an educational website for your classroom. One element that would be useful would be a "Homework Hotline" where students can access their homework assignments. Another one would be to provide information for parents to contact you. Good websites should have separate tabs for different classes. They should also have accessibility so that screen readers will operate correctly. Good websites should provide students with a way to refresh their memory of what was covered in class or inform students that missed class.

There are a few BAD ways to design a website as well. Flashing lights can cause seizures and would not be good. Often animated GIFs make websites look unprofessional. Websites with frames make it difficult for those who need screen readers. Having links within the text that is not well designated makes reading difficult. Make sure links work properly and take users to the right place.

Often in the classroom, there are students that have disabilities. It is important that the teacher makes accommodations for those students. Section 508 standards can be used to align curriculum technology uses in order to fit those disabilities or needs. I could help my students access the technology by assigning websites that can easily be used with a screen reader. I could also make sure my computers are equipped with accessibility technology like screen magnifier for students with poor vision. Lastly, I could make sure videos I use in class have captions for the hearing impaired.

EDL 305 Week 9 Discussion Post

I found the "Before he cheats" video funny and interesting. The singer of the video was good and I enjoyed how it provided example visuals. I think that the video could be conveniently used for educating students on how plagiarism will be treated in my classroom. I think that this video artistically portrays the opinion of plagiarism in schools. Cheating should not be allowed in any case.

The video on the University of Texas website is very informative. It helps viewers understand the consequences behind plagiarism. It shows that plagiarism is not accepted in the real world either. It also discusses how it makes your previous work look bad if you plagiarize even once. It also affects the credibility of the school that you plagiarize at.

I thought that the Rutgers plagiarism video was very comical. I think it provided an entertaining way of presenting plagiarism in a non-threatening way. It also explains that you can get expelled if you plagiarize. The additional videos provide a list of do's and don'ts for writing papers without plagiarizing. It also shows some of the misconceptions of what is considered plagiarism.

The USA Today article brings to light that impact technology has had on plagiarism. Students are more able to cheat with the arrival of new technology. The article cites examples of using calculators to store answers and use those answers on exams. It also discusses how students may buy papers off the internet. I thought the method of sarcasm made the material humorous as well.

In Chemistry and Biology, students could use calculators to store certain formulas. Students could use smart phones to look up answers. Students could also buy science research papers for online websites. Students could also use a tiny MP3 player to relay definitions of concepts to themselves. Lastly, PocketPCs could be used to look up information if the teacher is not paying enough attention.

I plan on collecting cell phones on test days and any other technological device. I also would use a plagiarism evaluation website like turnitin.com to check papers for integrity.

Plagiarism Quiz:

1. T/F Using a paper you have written before for a new assignment without citing it is plagiarism.

2. T/F Buying papers from an online website is not plagiarism.

3. T/F It is only plagiarism if you do it intentionally.

4. T/F Plagiarism looks bad not only for the student, but for the entire school.

5. T/F There are no consequences for plagiarizing work in my class.

Weekly Discussion for 2/24/12

After seeing the presentation, I was shocked to see how technology has been viewed over the centuries. I think it is eye-opening to see how negatively people looked at innovative technologies. I also thought that it was interesting how important technology is becoming for education. I think that often teachers take the easy way out and use technology only as a crutch for what they already do. I think as newer teachers enter into the field, technology will be pro-actively used for the good of the students.

In order to prepare students for the 21st century, I believe that teachers should integrate the latest techniques of education, which includes use of technology. Students will need to know how to use a computer, use presentation and word processing software, and how to troubleshoot technological issues. Often students will have to deal with technological issues no matter what profession they enter into and it is important that, as educators, we prepare them for that. I found an article that agrees with that point and expands on it, stating that students should understand how to use collaborative online tools as well (http://edtechdigest.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/6-reasons-why-students-need-21st-century-skills/). Another website added that we should be teaching students about critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and self-direction as well (http://www.p21.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=369&Itemid=64)

I plan to bridge the technology gap between "Old School" and "New School" by using "older" style science experiments, but encouraging the use of spreadsheets and word-processing software to record data and write reports. Students would be able to create visual presentations of their data through programs like Prezi or create a blog on the experimental process.

For my educational artifact I created a word cloud using terms from chemistry and biology. This could be used for an anticipatory set for students entering my classroom for the first time.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/4901246/ChemBio

EDL 305 Discussion - Appropriate Use of Technology

Technology is a wonderful tool and can be very illuminating for students if used appropriately. While technology can be useful for retaining old methods of teaching and redisplaying them in a new way, it is important to embrace the full capabilities of technology in the classroom. One way that technology can be embraced is to personalize learning to each student. Technology can make learning more personal by giving students a choice between several different Webquests topics, in science for example, and allow them to choose a topic that interests them. Students will be able to learn classroom material but in a way that interests them.

Technology is also a wonderful tool because it can engage the multiple intelligences postulated by Howard Gardner. Online videos can be used to stimulate visual and musical learners. Logical learners can be given online puzzles that are class material. Giving students an interactive example of classroom topics will allow for a greater retention of knowledge. Unique learners may also have their technological experience tailored to their specific needs. Because technology is easy to modify, instructors can better engage their unique students. Additionally, technology can show students real-world examples of things they learn in school. Once students are able to apply classroom learning to occurrences outside the classroom and deepen their understanding of the topics, there is a stronger retention of the material. Ray Gen discusses the importance of using multiple intelligences in technology on http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/MAY00_Issue/story02.htm. It is also discussed on http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tiol.html the different ways that technology may be included to stimulate multiple intelligences.

As far as the digital divide in K-12 settings is concerned, digital citizenship is an important factor to take into account when allowing students to use technology. Before any instructor employs technology in their classroom, they should educate students on the dangers of the Internet and proper usage. This will create the wall between students and dangers of inappropriate technology usage. Technology can be a powerful tool in the classroom, but one must treat it correctly and seek new ways to reach students rather than the traditional methods.

Photography

It figures. Once I commit to a pattern I can't remember some of the ideas I was brainstorming for my next post. Maybe this secret pattern isn't worth it. I think I give up on it :) 1-2-3-1-6. I wouldn't have been able to make it another week without posting anyway. I suppose it's just as well. Can't finish a pattern like I can't finish a pizza. Woof my stomach is unhappy with me. Yes, I just woofed. I'm one lazy dog right now.

Hm. What to talk about? The picture-perfect sunset I didn't take a picture of? The sunny day I didn't spend walking around with my camera? The beautiful greens and blues of this paradise I live in? While on numerous occasions I have gone out on these ventures, today I just felt especially lazy. I've also been slightly discouraged by realizations that have resurfaced in my mind. As I have been finding with every picture of nature that I take, I can never seem to capture the full essence of a "shot". In no way do you smell the fresh-cut grass and ranged assortment of flowers. When you take a picture of the shore, how can anyone hear the sound of waves crashing that was all but overwhelming at the moment the shot was taken? Even the taste of the air influences how you see a "shot". And with the wonders of technology, I can see my picture as soon as I take it. A part of me always frowns a little knowing that, while this picture will show people what I see, there is no way to convey the other senses that I had experienced. If only there was a scratch-n-sniff feature for digital photos. You still have work to do technology.

Funny enough, I had written about this whole predicament in a past life. Often times over the past year I found myself erupting with ideas. It got so bad in fact that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep until I wrote the ideas out. So these 2 am writings became a regular occurrence. Thinking myself clever, they are saved in a folder labeled "Ramblings of a Mad Man", the predecessor (processor, pretender, descender, whatever) of "Mad Ramblings" here. Here's a little tidbit from my writing about photography:

"Once a moment of time passes, the experience is gone and those precious seconds can never be recovered. (Wow I was a tad dramatic there, it gets better I think) It is interesting how God gave us this unique concept. We are able to remember moments from our life, yet we are never able to perfectly recreate them. Details are left out, feelings are not reproducible, shadows lie where there was inattention. Memories dulled by time, a plagued life that we live where feelings can come and go like the many trains at a station. (Stellar simile, just stellar) Photos hardly grasp how much a moment impacted us, how it revealed to us the little pieces of ourselves we had never seen, how it honored the people who sacrificed themselves for this one moment to occur."

I love looking back at my old writing and seeing how my voice develops. Even in such slight ways. I sounded like a teenager trying to make his voice deep. Ha. :) Anyway, I'm getting distracted by the mass amount of technology surrounding me. I look like I'm preparing for a heist. Just missing a cool headset. *New item added to eBay watch list*

I think the point I was making here was that every moment is something to be savored, not wasted. Remember where you are. Remember to be still. Just experience life for a while. Take it all in.