Blog #13

The World Wide Web
I think that a lot of things rang true in this article. Many schools are moving in the paper-less direction and moving solely online. This is true in the College of Education here at CSUSM. I have things that I turn into my advisor, but she scans them and keeps them in my file online. The two education classes that I am currently enrolled in now are almost paper-less. There have been some things that I have been required to turn in a hard copy of, just because it is easier. Other than that, I submit my research papers, observations and reading logs online. I think it because it is one less thing that I have to remember to bring to school. But like the article stated, there are many teachers that are resistant to this move. Many still hand out worksheets and other handouts, still requiring you to turn in your homework on paper. Those teachers that are trying to move online are becoming extremely frustrated because they don’t understand how to use databases or web pages. We need to support these teachers for trying to move online! It definitely can make life a little easier!

The Database
I really liked the idea of the online database. I think that students get excited about using computers and any chance to be on them will excite most students. One thing that I was slightly bothered by was when the author said that Kindergarten students were capable of using the operators when the information was “presented in a logical manner and in the context of relevant research.” I believe that the younger children are, the more computers savvy they are. Parents could have trouble with something on the computer, and their child would be able to fix it. What troubles me most about this statement is that (to me) the author presumes that the Kindergartner will be able to spell out words to use when searching for the required information, as well as understanding the directions. In kindergarten, many children are still learning how to spell; others don’t know how to spell at all. So to assume that children would be able to type out information that isn’t right in front of them is a little absurd to me. Maybe I’m getting too heated about that!

Bells & Whistles
I really liked all the information presented in this article. I think that the author did a great job of presenting the information in a way that makes the whole database seem relatively easy. I liked the idea of getting your class involved in creating the database. Students feel a certain degree of pride in something when either they create it, or they help create it. I think that students would really like to help create a database of information they have taken the time to collect. I also think they will like it once they realize how easy it will be to access all the information. Students also come up with some great ideas that we as teachers often overlook. Students can bring in a new light on a topic or discussion. I also like how one can include a value list of popup menu. There will be occasions where students will not know how something is categorized, but if we can lead them in the right directions by allowing them to choose from a list, their stress level will decrease. Overall, I think that teachers should allow their students to create a database at least once during the school year!

I believe that using databases in education is a very important thing. Students will realize that everything has is placed into a category. Like one of the articles stated, children have a knack of collecting and categorizing things. Many kids collect shells, baseball cards, marbles, etc. Some of them then separate them out into certain categories when storing them. I don’t think that children know that this can be applied to education as well. If a teacher assigns a report on The Amazon, they can have their students create a database of all the information they collected in their reports. Once their reports have been submitted, students can create the database and one by one enter in their information they included in their report. This allows students to become aware of information that they may not have collected and otherwise may not have known. Teachers can also use databases as a way of entering grades and keeping track of student work. Teachers can create a sort of spread sheet that tracks information about a student, their grades, their homework and their class work. Teachers can then chart this information in to show other teachers, parents, the student themselves, administrators and anyone else who would request to see the information. May teachers may resist the move to technology, but I think it is a great thing. For one, it can make a teacher’s life a lot easier!

Filamentality Website

Hey guys! Here is the link to my webpage:


http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listthesolagi.html


Please review it and help me out with the introduction. I had the hardest time with that! Please let me know if you think I should add something, take something out or just leave it! Thanks guys!!

Bridging the Digital Divide

I think that no truer (is that even a word?) words were spoken when the author of Bridging the Digital Divide says that there are "significant difference in the access to and equity of technology experience based on categories such as income, race, gender, location, or education." Most children only have access to computers when they are at school or maybe even the library. It is still amazing that not everyone has a computer in the home. I think that it is important for schools to have computers in the classroom. But this also seems to be a little unrealistic. In an elementary/middle school classroom there are 3 to 4 computers max. Which is great, but that doesn't guarantee equal access to each student. If teachers give an assignment in which the students must do something online, that assignment would be going on all day due to the fact that only a certain amount of students can be on the computer at any given time.
In the Quantity vs. Quality article I think that while teachers must evaluate the software and determine if it is meeting the needs of students. But we must realize that not all students are going to be at the same level, just like reading, math, etc. So a math program that is easy for some students, it will be harder for others who don't necessarily know how to use the computer and who are not at that level of math.
Overall, I think the article made a lot of good recommendations and suggestions. I think that by bridging the gap of those who are “digitally enhanced” to those who are not, we would not have such an issue. I think that making children feel comfortable with technology will help them tremendously in school!

Blog #9 - Midterm

Overall, I thought the midterm was pretty bearable. I know I am writing this late, since we have already received our scores. I was pretty confident going into the midterm that I knew most of what Professor McCulloch was going to test us on. In my schooling, I have been exposed to many of the programs we have used. I feel like that put me ahead of the bar already. But don’t get me wrong, I do have a hard time remembering some of the “little things.” I feel like this class is giving me a chance to refresh my memory and skills for these programs. I also feel like I am getting a chance to explore more areas of technology, as well as learning out I can use different programs in my classroom. I guess this is what this class is all about, right?
I know that I missed a few stupid mistakes, but who doesn't? I know that I did a selection shot and not a screen shot for the inspiration portion of the midterm. I realized it when I was looking the midterm over after I had already submitted it. But what can you do? You’ve submitted it and now you just have to wait for the grade. Before I finished my midterm, I sat at my computer for at least 10 minutes, making sure I had completed every portion of the exam. I guess if I would have taken the extra time to understand each question, it would have sunk in that one of the questions asked for a screen shot! A part of me felt like the exam was a little too easy. Once I completed the last question, I said to myself, “this is it?” I was scared that I was missing a portion of the exam.
I feel like what I just said makes me sound like I am too good for this class. But that’s not true! I learn new stuff every week! Doing well on this exam would make me feel so much better because I know that our next assignment, Filamentality, is going to be hard! I know you all did a great job on the exam!

P.S. I don’t have Blog #8 up yet because I haven’t finished the Filamentality assignment. Once I do, I will post that blog!

Spreadsheets and Research Tools

I really liked the article Teaching Students to Use the Internet as a Research Tool. I think it is important to show our students how to find information useful for research projects and other assignments. Most often, teachers give students an assignment but don’t show them how to acquire the information or where to begin. Many of my teachers have told me to be wary of false information and to double check the information I find to make sure that it is true. But once again, there is no direction. I never knew how to read the url to find out if the information is from an accredited site or not.
If we show our students how to check the information they find, we would ensure that students are turning in quality work. Students, especially kids in elementary schools believe everything. If they find something on the internet for a research project, they automatically think it is true and use it in their assignment. But, if we show the students and their parents the proper way to find information on the internet, it would better their fact finding skills and their assignments. When we did the 4NETS assignment, I was amazed at how much I learned. I knew that there were better ways to search for information on the web, I just didn’t know how to do it. I think that an assignment or class like that would benefit every student!
I am still amazed at how much I am learning in this class. I used Excel back in high school, but not anytime after that. I used it for the basics, the sorting of data for my anatomy class. I think that they are most beneficial to teachers. I can remember my teachers from elementary school and their thick grade books that were falling apart by the end of the year. Being able to use a spreadsheet to do grading is even better because you can input equations and don’t have to ‘do the math’ 30 different times. The only downfall I can see is that you can be restricted as far as when you can work on the input of grades and assignments. I also worry about losing information, not necessarily the computer crashing but really losing your disk or flash drive. Overall, I think that Excel is one of the best things invented because it benefits students and teachers!

Evalutech

I was amazed at how much information this website contained. I think that is an important asset to teachers because we don't always have resources for our lessons. I really liked the links to all the technological sights and how some of them reference legal guidelines that people must follow when obtaining this software. I think its a great resources for teachers, but school districts a like.

As someone who is studying to become a teacher, I think this is a site that I should keep in mind. It has on-line lesson plans, learning sites for students for disabilities, providers of instructional resources as well as criteria for evaluating different texts as well as technological equipment. For new teachers, this is something that is very helpful because they don't always know what do to or where to go for things.

I really liked the link that explained why 21st century skills are so important. In my Education 350 class we talked about cell phones and text messaging during class. Someone brought up the fact that we should be teaching our kids "technology skills and etiquette." We have so much technology on our hands these days that it is important to learn why we need it and how we should use it. I think that this link would be great for that exact reason.

It is good to know that there is a resource like this out there for teachers. We can always know that this site will have up-to-date information that is beneficial to teachers and their classrooms.

Bloom's Taxonomy and Powerpoint

When reading Bloom's 2nd article on taxonomy, I was amazed to learn that only "95% of the test questions students encounter require them to think only at the lowest possible level...the recall of information." I was amazed! To me, one of the most important aspects of teaching is getting students to think outside of the box. Most of the tests we give students is only enough for them to recall the information, not for them to apply it externally.

Bloom also says that students never attatch themselves to the book and try to understand the characters and their lives. I think that this is very true. If students are not intereseted in a book or what it has to say, they will read enough for them to pass the test and move on to the next thing. I think that if we fuel their imagination, we will see students apply concepts in other portions of their learning and their life.

As I looked through the various level's of Bloom's taxonomy, I realized that many of the test I took were in the application category. It seemed like these were the all too easy questions which stood out most in the book. Many of the other competency levels below Application were all too easy. I a few of these questions would be appropraite in the elementary schools, but if we asked students questions from the knowledge levels, I think we would be surprised to find out how many students would be able to answer them.

As I recall various test I have taken in college, many of the questions were pulled from mutiple cometency categories. I think that is important though because not all people may recognize certain facts or ideas in the book. To have a test based solely on the idea/fact that they missed would be unfair. I can recall many times in a classroom when other students brough up points in a discussion or reading that I didn't even recognize. To test me on this would be unfair because I didn't even see it. So pulling test questions from the various levels would be beneficial!

As far as powerpoint goes, I think it is the best thing that has happened to classrooms since whiteboards. I have found that when teachers use powerpoint in their lectures I tend to pay more attention. I feel like it since they are using this program, the information they are about to present use with must be very important! As a teacher, I think it is a great way to reach out to children of variouos intelligences. The various tools that come with powerpoint are a great assest! When we were learning how to use the diming, I couldn't believe how beneficial it could be in the classroom. There are many instances when children tend to get "stuck" on a topic because it is in front of them. The teacher may have moved on to another topic, but the student is still asking questions about the previous. When diming is used, I believe it show students that they left that topic and now the topic at hand is the most important. Like Mrs. McCulloch said, it is great for students who walk in late. It doesn't allow them to ask another student about a previous topic and interupt the other students learning.

As a student, I think that powerpoint is an amazing tool for the classroom and for projects. I am finding that I don't like it when teachers use the whiteboard to write down notes. I have found that as I get older, the colors don't stand out as much and it is really hard for me to see, especially if I sit in the back fo the classroom. But with powerpoint, it is so large that I can't miss anything that is on it. I also know that those ideas that are on the whiteboard are the most important part of the teacher's lecture, so I should be writing them down. As far as using powerpoint for a project, I think it is great. I always spent too much money and time trying to make sure that my poster looked the prettiest or the coolest. I got lost in the art and neglected the informational aspect. When I use powerpoint, I still like the make it look good, but I find the information to now be the most important aspect. Plus, school computers offer the program, so I can stay at school and work on the assignment.

I think powerpoint has a huge affect on student's learning because it forces them to pay attention to what is going on and what the teacher is saying (well, that is the case for me at least!). As far as improvement of teaching, it forces the teacher to weed out all the extra information and give the students the most important information first. I liked the idea of using powerpoint for Jeopardy! I think that students would be VERY excited by that. If you just do a little bit of research on the internet, you can find almost anything! I think that students would benefit from this because they now aren't just listening to the teacher talk, but also have a visual aide!

Teaching for Understanding

I believe that one of the most important things in a classroom today is access to a computer. There are so many amazing resources that computers can offer to students. Many websites offer help to children whether it be with math, science or any other subject. If you walk into a electronic store today like Frys, CompUSA or BestBuy there are so many educational games that children can play, to further their understanding of a subject.
Students often pretend that they understand something, just so they don't have to ask for help. Many students are embarrassed if they don't understand and they don't want to be ridiculed by their classmates if they ask a question. So instead, they pretend they know, somehow pass their tests and then move on. I think that is part of the reason that we need the High School Exit Exam in California. We need to make sure that students understand the basics of education before we set them out into the real world.
I myself have used educational programs in hopes that it will help me to better understand something. I have played games that require me to use math skills to solve problems in order to advance in the game. Once I reach the end, the game gives me a reading of how well I have done. It showes me where I need to practice and offers me a chance to play again and practice what I need help with. Like the article says, I think that these resources are an important part of learning. If children can work on something without people in their class making fun of them. Then these kids should have access to it. If it means taking time out of class to let them use the computer to work on a math game, then we as teacher, need to allow that to happen!

Mapping Student Minds

I really enjoyed this article because it showed how students benefits from different types of learning. I know that as a student, I am a hands-on kind of person. If someone is giving me directions for something, I have to be doing it at the same time. I need to be have the materials infront of me, so that I can practice things myself. I also need some sort of direction. I am one of those students who needs the items in front of them, but then also for the teacher to go over the assignment. I have found myself lost many times because teachers just let students go off and explore for themselves.

Back to the article! I think that its awesome for the students to be able to go out and collect the data and then go back to a computer and input it. I think that each student should be responsible for collecting their own data and then going back to a computer and inputing it. I realized that the teacher is trying to save time by having a "data master." But, I believe that if children are going to be comfortable with computers and the programs that they have access to, each student should have the chance to input their own data. Maybe the teacher could input the data into a "Master Spreadsheet" that the students can refer to. I also liked the program they used because it reminded me of Inspiration. The benefit of it is amazing because you can see students piece together the puzzle, as they create this web of information. I also liked how in Inspiration it would also give you a outline format, so that if you needed to write a paper or do a different assignment, a outline would already be avaliable.

I think that when the teacher incorporates Powerpoint into the assignment the outline/map will be benficial for the students. I believe it will help them to organzie the information they have, without much chaos. It is amazing to me what programs are avaliable for classroom teacher to incorporate into their cirriculum. I think it is a tool that is beneficial to teachers. but students as well.

Oh, the Changes We've Seen!

On page 5 (page 16 of the actual article) , Maureen Brown Yoder talks about one of the irst computerized simulations, The Oregon Trail. As a kid, I absolutley loved playing this game. Whenever my class went to the compute lab, it was the first thing I played. I liked the idea that I was in control of the characters. But what I didn't know was that it was teaching me that I had be monitor several different things at one and that I had to make decisions that would affect the outcome of the game. Would I forge the river, or would I pay for the ferry? How much food would we eat? did I have to ration the food or could we eat a big meal? These are some of the decisions I was faced with when playing the game. I also had to learn to watch when people got sick. I a sickness was unattended for too long, characters would die. So I learned to watchout when characters got sick and when they did, I had to make sure they received the right medicine.

On page 4 (page 9 of the actual article), Yoder talks about the use of word processors. As a student, being able to use the computer to write a report was a gift sent from God. When writing a report by hand, things soemtimes got messy. If I had to erase something, there would be smudges from the pencil. It would make my report look less professional. But once I was allowed to use a computer, there was never any fear of that. The biggest thing I had to worry about was letting the ink dry! The use of powerpoint was also a great tool. I am a very isual learner, so I like to see things typed out on a screen and nopt just hear a teacher say it. It was also a great tool for students to use when doing a project. There was no extra cost for it because they schools provided the program on their computer. Teachers made sure to emphasize that there would be no extra points awarded because of fancy fonts or backgrounds. They made it clear that content was most important.

I even had a technological experience with my Earth Science class I took at Palomar College a year ago. The class was learning about sediments, wind patterns and ocean currents. Our professor gave us a program that sent us on an expedition to Antartica to study sediments and what they revealed about the past. It was a lot of fun because of the interactive program. I actually remember what we leanred about because I was actually having fun!

Reading the article "The Integrated Technology Classroom: An Experiment in Restructuring Elementary School Instruction," I realized how beneficial computers were in a classroom setting, or at least as a part of the educational process. Having students do math problems on the board is not fun for them. More often than not, students are so afraid to make a mistake and be laughed at for it. This stresses the child out and makes learning not so fun. When using a program that helps children to practice the math they are learning, there is more positive feedback. If they get the problem wrong, the computer tells them so and allows the child to try again and again until they get it right. There is no ridicule from other students, so the student can feel comfortable. I believe that allowing students more opportunities like this, with different subjects, students will be more educated and feel more comfortable!

Hi Class!

Technology has made a huge impact on learning and classroom activities. Teachers can now be in direct contact with their students twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week. Teachers can send e-mails to their students to let them know when class is cancelled, as well as to send them homework or a PowerPoint assignment. This is true for my Spanish class both this semester, as well as last semester. My teachers would make a PowerPoint for whatever chapter we were studying and then send us an attachment of that document. This allows students to study the materials that were taught in class earlier that day or week. Assignments can also be sent via e-mail, which allows students to make up work that they missed, or to send out an assignment that should be done over the weekend.

WebCT is also a tool that has changed learning. WebCT makes it almost unnecessary for a class to meet because everything can be done via WebCT. Students can ask questions to other students and their professor, and get an answer within that hour or even half hour. Students can also submit assignments online, which eliminates all the paper that is used at universities. Using WebCT is like having a classroom at home. Students can log on at any time, from anywhere and proceed with assignments, questions and even e-mail. Professors can oversee WebCT and respond to e-mails, as well as discussion questions/postings.

This week I have learned how to really use WebCT. When I was at Palomar College we used something similar, Blackboard. It is essentially the same thing, just set up a bit different and with a different name. This is my first semester where three of my five teachers/professors are on WebCT and use it on a daily/weekly basis. This has forced me to explore WebCT and what it has to offer. Now that I have gotten to know it a little bit more, I think it is an essential tool for classroom use. Students are able to get a hold of one another without have to ask for phone numbers or e-mail addresses. We can log onto WebCT and get another student's e-mail address and send them a question, asking for homework or notes from a class that was missed. Students are also able to contact the teacher/professor (as long as the teacher/professor checks WebCt on a daily basis). In the dicussion section, we can post a general question for an assignment or task. This allows us to get feedback from our classmates, as well as the teacher/professor. I am amazed at how much can be accomplished using WebCT and I would encourage every teacher/professor to make it a part of their classroom.