It seems like just when we are beginning, we are coming to an end. Sadness, I know. But in the progress of this semester, I have learned about so many different facets of technology. The one aspect I would like to learn more about are the wikis. We briefly flirted with the wikis during this semester, and I have yet to really find out what we as educators have to benefit from them. Seriously do we?
I would like to go back to examining websites that are similar to the ones I talked about in my last blog. These websites are part of a growing number of websites dedicated to creating exercises appealing to different multiple intelligences. I think as we enter the new millennium, these websites are going to become increasingly popular. There's also another website called FunBrain.com, a site dedicated to providing similar games to elementary students.
Fun Brain.com proves that the educational field is continuing to bridge technology with teaching. Could we see assessments becoming purely technologically assessed? A lot of groups today, while presenting their grant cited that technology is an important assest to a student's success. I am a very progressive individual, and I for one would try to use technology as much as possible. I feel that teaching will never be totally replaced by technology, but I feel we will see more of an integration.
As a teacher about to embark on the fundamental classes, the lessons that I have learned here are invaluable. We have learned some of the best time saving techniques that are available to teachers. I think to further my knowledge of technology, I would have to continue to be aware of new developments and learn them. Microsoft Office 2007 was hard to grasp, but some of the things I learned on 2007, I now use on 2003. It just coninutes to show how cumulative technology has become. Oh where will we go next?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Blog 9: Oh the places you go when you travelling via cyberspace
Interestingly enough, teachers you would assume would not have a lot of resources available to them as far as finding information for classroom activities or even material for classroom lectures. I dabble in teaching both English and Social Sciences, and I find it's easier to find resources for the former, and not the latter. But then I happened to stumble upon Ben's Guide (bensguide.gpo.gov) a very interactive site that allows students and teachers to peruse information about topics concerning the nation's foundation as well as each state's individual stats. Also, this is a great tool for any social science teacher. There is a comprehensive vocabulary guide that would be great is you ever wanted to quiz students on the terminology.
Continuing with the social science theme, (thank you Dalton :D) the site http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm provides an excellent source of games involving different continents and areas of interest. But the fun doesn't stop there. If you're an English teacher, you are in luck! They have games and flashcards that involve vocabulary and questions that can be seen on the SAT or GRE. This is an invaluable tool for both the young and old. Seriously, check it out. You might think you know some words, but alas...they aren't the definition you think they are.
We have learned so much about Office 2007 as well as how to apply it to our teaching careers. But one thing I wish we learned more about is something that doesn't involve Office 2007. Windows Movie Maker is an interesting tool because it allows you to create interactive presentations, something that would catch student's attention and just be different. Also, it's something I could envision using to create a special tool celebrating my students' achievements, as well as creating a videography if I ever wanted to apply for National Accrededation. Hopefully I'll pick up on it later in my career, but indeed it would be cool to learn about it :-D
To achieve my future technological related goals, I would probably take outside classes that I could get funded by my school. Also, by attending graduate school, I could also find a way to learn even more about technology. The great thing about learning about technology is that there is several different ways to accomplish this need. Microsoft is generous on how they offer different ways to allow one to train themselves on their variety of products. The only issue I have with using Microsoft is that their trainings don't allow you to actually practice with the technology. Rather, they tell you how to accomplish the tasks through diagrams, not actual practices. If anyone knows anything else that may be out there and worth a gander, let me know :-D
Continuing with the social science theme, (thank you Dalton :D) the site http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm provides an excellent source of games involving different continents and areas of interest. But the fun doesn't stop there. If you're an English teacher, you are in luck! They have games and flashcards that involve vocabulary and questions that can be seen on the SAT or GRE. This is an invaluable tool for both the young and old. Seriously, check it out. You might think you know some words, but alas...they aren't the definition you think they are.
We have learned so much about Office 2007 as well as how to apply it to our teaching careers. But one thing I wish we learned more about is something that doesn't involve Office 2007. Windows Movie Maker is an interesting tool because it allows you to create interactive presentations, something that would catch student's attention and just be different. Also, it's something I could envision using to create a special tool celebrating my students' achievements, as well as creating a videography if I ever wanted to apply for National Accrededation. Hopefully I'll pick up on it later in my career, but indeed it would be cool to learn about it :-D
To achieve my future technological related goals, I would probably take outside classes that I could get funded by my school. Also, by attending graduate school, I could also find a way to learn even more about technology. The great thing about learning about technology is that there is several different ways to accomplish this need. Microsoft is generous on how they offer different ways to allow one to train themselves on their variety of products. The only issue I have with using Microsoft is that their trainings don't allow you to actually practice with the technology. Rather, they tell you how to accomplish the tasks through diagrams, not actual practices. If anyone knows anything else that may be out there and worth a gander, let me know :-D
Monday, March 17, 2008
Blog 8: The ethics of cyberspace
You would think that just cheating on a test could be grounds for punishment in a classroom. But now, with the new technology age, we need a whole new set of rules to govern how we use and execute our privileges on the net and on the computer. According to our book, the ethics are outlined to include 1) unauthorized use of computers, 2) hardware, software, and information theft, 3) information privacy, 4) copyrighted materials, and lastly 5) the existence of objectionable materials on the internet. These rules are of course up to debate as far as how fair they actually are, but if you think about it...truthfully...they are like any other set of rules and regulations provided to individuals to best safeguard their safety and safety of others. More importantly, technology for educators can be detrimental to students if used in the wrong way. For instance, by using others' work, we are not giving credit to those who most certainly deserve it. I mean come on, at the end of the day, it's really basic ethics.
Of all the skills I have learned thus far in this course, the ones that I have acquired for the internet have been the most useful. I use to constantly load webpages within my current window, and that was becoming extremely tiresome. Now, knowing I can right click and select open in new tab, problem solved! This may seem to many as miniscule and well...kind of pathetic, but to me this is like hitting a gold mine of time saving! It really makes you think, what would we do without the tab feature in our web browsers? I'm glad that Internet Explorer caught up with the world and instituted the whole tab thing.
I know Facebook gets a lot of flack for...well...being Facebook, but seriously have you ever thought what the world might be without Facebook? Facebook, as problematic as it currently is, at the true basics is a great resource. it allows you to share pictures and videos with your friends now in lightspeed timing and it eliminates the task of sending (as well remembering your friends' e-mail addresses) everyone an e-mail. I hate Facebook now, but oh how great it was back in the good ole days. Isn't life funny like that?
Of all the skills I have learned thus far in this course, the ones that I have acquired for the internet have been the most useful. I use to constantly load webpages within my current window, and that was becoming extremely tiresome. Now, knowing I can right click and select open in new tab, problem solved! This may seem to many as miniscule and well...kind of pathetic, but to me this is like hitting a gold mine of time saving! It really makes you think, what would we do without the tab feature in our web browsers? I'm glad that Internet Explorer caught up with the world and instituted the whole tab thing.
I know Facebook gets a lot of flack for...well...being Facebook, but seriously have you ever thought what the world might be without Facebook? Facebook, as problematic as it currently is, at the true basics is a great resource. it allows you to share pictures and videos with your friends now in lightspeed timing and it eliminates the task of sending (as well remembering your friends' e-mail addresses) everyone an e-mail. I hate Facebook now, but oh how great it was back in the good ole days. Isn't life funny like that?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Blog 7: ASSURE, ASSURE, ASSURE
Have any of you heard of the ASSURE model? Developed by Heinich, Molenda, Russel, and Smaldino in the late 90s, the ASSURE model is consdiered a provedural guide for planning as well as delivering instruction that integrates technologies and media into the teaching process. The ASSURE model breaks down into the following categories: Analyze the Learner, State Objectives, Select methods, media, and materials, Utilize said media, methods, and materials, Require Learner Participation, and Evaluate and Revise. I think one of the most important elements of ASSURE is the Evaluation step. Many times, we as educators rely on traditional methods and proven methods as the backbone of our teaching styles. As time goes on, these methods are proving to be useless when trying to deal with a new crop of students. We need to evaluate our methods and even though we may find particular fondness with a method that has worked in the past, it can always use a fine tuning every now and then.
Wikispaces are becoming a very interesting phenomenon. You would think that their purpose would only be to create phony information. But actually, there is some (gasp!) legitimacy behind wikispaces. It's a fully commercial site, yes, but it is also heavily monitored by censors. This allows information to be accurate and not be filled with innacuracy. Kudos to technology for finding its way to the "wikis" and revitalizing their accuracy.
Did you go to theultimatesteal.com??? Well, hate to tell you, but come April 29th, you may have to pay 300 dollars again to get Office Suite 2007. It's a great package which includes Word 2007, Powerpoint 2007, and even Excel 2007. If you need to practice for EME 2040, this is your tool. I absolutely love it, and I can't think of any other great deal out on the current market.
Wikispaces are becoming a very interesting phenomenon. You would think that their purpose would only be to create phony information. But actually, there is some (gasp!) legitimacy behind wikispaces. It's a fully commercial site, yes, but it is also heavily monitored by censors. This allows information to be accurate and not be filled with innacuracy. Kudos to technology for finding its way to the "wikis" and revitalizing their accuracy.
Did you go to theultimatesteal.com??? Well, hate to tell you, but come April 29th, you may have to pay 300 dollars again to get Office Suite 2007. It's a great package which includes Word 2007, Powerpoint 2007, and even Excel 2007. If you need to practice for EME 2040, this is your tool. I absolutely love it, and I can't think of any other great deal out on the current market.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Blog 6: It's a whole new encyclopedia
It's sort of an apocalyptic nightmare. The punishment for misbehaving is copying an article, verbatim, from the encyclopedia. It was every student's nightmare, and every teacher's harshest punishment in their arsenal. But now, the encyclopedia has become digital. So the nightmare becomes less horrific...but only slightly. The Encyclopedia certainly has been in the spotlight of education for many years, but since the age of the technology boom beginning in the 1990s, the Encyclopedia has been catching up with technology. Now with the Encyclopedia, you can jump to topics with a click and the search engine within the Encyclopedia allows a thorough search for your intended topic. In recent years, 360 views have been added along with advancements in digital viewing technology. News topics as far as the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and even speeches (on record) from such word leaders as Mahatma Ghandi are now available to access on the Encyclopedia.
I have been falling in love with Microsoft Office 2007, especially Microsoft Word 2007. I know I have been raving about it in my other blog posts, but the more I tinker and play around with it, the more I am enjoying it. With Microsoft word 2007, my publicity posters for my programs have been coming out professionally made (or at least look it). I look forward to getting trained in all other aspects of Microsoft Office 2007. The world awaits to see what else it has to offer.
A great deal is now being offered by Microsoft to college students. Microsoft Office 2007 is readily expensive, with latest estimates rounding it out to about 300 dollars. But now, listen to this, it's being offered for 60 dollars! 60 dollars! You get the entire Microsoft Office 2007 suite along with all the capabilities. It's absolutely wonderful! All you need to qualify for the deal is a valid student e-mail address or proof that you have more than a .5 credit hour load. It's an ultimate steal! Check it out at www.theultimatesteal.com
I have been falling in love with Microsoft Office 2007, especially Microsoft Word 2007. I know I have been raving about it in my other blog posts, but the more I tinker and play around with it, the more I am enjoying it. With Microsoft word 2007, my publicity posters for my programs have been coming out professionally made (or at least look it). I look forward to getting trained in all other aspects of Microsoft Office 2007. The world awaits to see what else it has to offer.
A great deal is now being offered by Microsoft to college students. Microsoft Office 2007 is readily expensive, with latest estimates rounding it out to about 300 dollars. But now, listen to this, it's being offered for 60 dollars! 60 dollars! You get the entire Microsoft Office 2007 suite along with all the capabilities. It's absolutely wonderful! All you need to qualify for the deal is a valid student e-mail address or proof that you have more than a .5 credit hour load. It's an ultimate steal! Check it out at www.theultimatesteal.com
Monday, February 18, 2008
Blog 5: KWL has expanded!
We all had to deal with it when we were in elementary and middle school. It was focused on helping us learn how to take effective notes. And now it has expanded! With the advancement of technology, traditional educational elements have also evolved as well. With KWL, we knew, Wanted to Learn, and what we learned. But now, with the addition of questioning as well as sharing, the need for technology has become important in using KWLQS to its full effect. The chapter also showed how for KWLQS to work effectively, it needs adequate and proficient web site to back it up.
Since last class, I used Google for the first time. I had always been a fan of Yahoo! and had recently been frustrated with all the corporate websites that would magically appear in my searches. With Google, there is no sign of corporate presence nor are the searches altered in anyway. With Google, we as educators can search effectively for topics that pertain to us as well as gathered resources for lesson plans, and what not. Thus, Yahoo! has outlived its purpose. Google has arrived.
Did anyone enjoy learning more about Word? I absolutely loved it. It never really dawned on me how useful Word 2007 could be. It's unfortunate though that SAM doesn't show us how to navigate Word 2003. I, along with probably most of the world, operate mostly on Word 2003. Some of the tips and tricks we learned with 2007 would be great...if we only knew how to use them for 2003. Is there anyway we could learn this? I wish there was indeed a way.
Since last class, I used Google for the first time. I had always been a fan of Yahoo! and had recently been frustrated with all the corporate websites that would magically appear in my searches. With Google, there is no sign of corporate presence nor are the searches altered in anyway. With Google, we as educators can search effectively for topics that pertain to us as well as gathered resources for lesson plans, and what not. Thus, Yahoo! has outlived its purpose. Google has arrived.
Did anyone enjoy learning more about Word? I absolutely loved it. It never really dawned on me how useful Word 2007 could be. It's unfortunate though that SAM doesn't show us how to navigate Word 2003. I, along with probably most of the world, operate mostly on Word 2003. Some of the tips and tricks we learned with 2007 would be great...if we only knew how to use them for 2003. Is there anyway we could learn this? I wish there was indeed a way.
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