Before this class, I had a basic understanding of what a wiki was just because of wikipedia... people can collaborate on information and change its content.
The book talks about textbooks and how that concept could be transformed by wikis.
Instead of teachers assigning reading to students and having them do questions at the end, it would change to having them read a chapter and then validate it!
That is INCREDIBLE! We did an activity like this in my Biology class. In our lecture manual, he had a fake "wiki" with information about mitosis. It was published as if it were fact, but he modified small details so that we could find the errors and fix them. WE LEARNED SO MUCH!
Using wikis like this will require students to know content from many different perspectives and they'll have to put it all together. Now that I know more about wikis, I will most definitely use them for assignments like these! I might chronicle a particular event or era and change the details of it and allow the students to log in and edit the information until it is correct. Students could even add information if they felt like more information would help make the information more cohesive.
This kind of networking makes possibilities seem endless. I'm glad I see another use for wikis than I thought before.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Blog Assignment
First of all, I love blogging now! I've extended them into my real life, as well as revamped my social networking.
I like that these posts are appropriate for writing more than on Facebook or Twitter, but images can still be attached. Appropriate use of space has been my biggest challenge. I like to write a lot. I like to research a lot. I know that people lose interest fast, so I'm working on that.
But the space issue brought me to another thing: Where will I use this?
I know many teachers who use these for their classrooms and they do get traffic. It is the same few people and even those friends of mine have admitted that it's the parents who are active anyway who are following and posting. Why?
Blogger is not THAT popular. Many (or even most) people know about it, but it's not very convenient to follow on a daily basis. My thinking is that parents might be really into it the first week or so, but then lose interest. The ones who show more interest will probably only follow it if it has a link to a facebook or twitter, and even then they might get bored.
SO many people speak against using Facebook or Twitter in the classroom, but I think after using this and talking to other teachers/friends, I'm going that route for my daily classroom updates. It's just easier. Almost everyone on the planet is on Facebook now. My grandmother is one of my top followers. The world is different. Parents are young and busy. As long as rules are set and privacy settings appropriate, I think it works best. As a matter of fact, everywhere I go, I have been asking people I know who have kids if they'd follow a Classroom Twitter or check Facebook updates, and almost all have been VERY into the idea.
Social networking and blogger are kind of different things, but not really. I just think now that the world has decided to embrace online communication and networking, the purpose of a medium like this can be re-examined.
I think I will use this more for my own reflection so that I become a better teacher. I'd love to have other teachers follow me and respond to my blogs and vice versa. Of course, we'll also be facebook friends. But at least here, we can write out our thoughts in paragraph form.
Face-to-Face communication is great and it's needed for some circumstances, but social networking or blogs work much better. If parents can keep tabs of what's going on in the classroom 24/7, for many students this will mean there's less of a chance of them falling behind because their parents will know what to look for.
I hate to say one thing is better than another, but this IS better than relying on face-to-face communication and it is better than email or take-home notes. It is quicker and parents can check or communicate instantaneously. Convenience is the keyword for us all. I advocate all of this!
I like that these posts are appropriate for writing more than on Facebook or Twitter, but images can still be attached. Appropriate use of space has been my biggest challenge. I like to write a lot. I like to research a lot. I know that people lose interest fast, so I'm working on that.
But the space issue brought me to another thing: Where will I use this?
I know many teachers who use these for their classrooms and they do get traffic. It is the same few people and even those friends of mine have admitted that it's the parents who are active anyway who are following and posting. Why?
Blogger is not THAT popular. Many (or even most) people know about it, but it's not very convenient to follow on a daily basis. My thinking is that parents might be really into it the first week or so, but then lose interest. The ones who show more interest will probably only follow it if it has a link to a facebook or twitter, and even then they might get bored.
SO many people speak against using Facebook or Twitter in the classroom, but I think after using this and talking to other teachers/friends, I'm going that route for my daily classroom updates. It's just easier. Almost everyone on the planet is on Facebook now. My grandmother is one of my top followers. The world is different. Parents are young and busy. As long as rules are set and privacy settings appropriate, I think it works best. As a matter of fact, everywhere I go, I have been asking people I know who have kids if they'd follow a Classroom Twitter or check Facebook updates, and almost all have been VERY into the idea.
Social networking and blogger are kind of different things, but not really. I just think now that the world has decided to embrace online communication and networking, the purpose of a medium like this can be re-examined.
I think I will use this more for my own reflection so that I become a better teacher. I'd love to have other teachers follow me and respond to my blogs and vice versa. Of course, we'll also be facebook friends. But at least here, we can write out our thoughts in paragraph form.
Face-to-Face communication is great and it's needed for some circumstances, but social networking or blogs work much better. If parents can keep tabs of what's going on in the classroom 24/7, for many students this will mean there's less of a chance of them falling behind because their parents will know what to look for.
I hate to say one thing is better than another, but this IS better than relying on face-to-face communication and it is better than email or take-home notes. It is quicker and parents can check or communicate instantaneously. Convenience is the keyword for us all. I advocate all of this!
Info: Online Learning K-12 (3)
Benefits and Most Benefitted by Online Learning:
1. Homebound or Special Needs: Some students have physical disabilities, medical, or psychological reasons which prevent them from attending a traditional classroom space or building. There are many reasons why online and correspondence courses may be the preferred delivery methods for those who are homebound or with special needs.
2. Gifted: These students may have a particular interest that their home school does not provide. They may also not be benefitting from the enrichment that is available at schools. They may have the opportunity to pursue their own interests. Many times, these children are very concerned with social problems and online learning allows them to creatively collaborate with others to solve problems.
3. AP: Students may want to take more AP classes for college credit than their school offers. Online learning offers these classes and they can be finished at the student's own pace.
4. Homeschool: Parents may wish to supplement their children's homeschool curriculum. When these students enter high school, parents may not have the expertise to teach their children.
5. Rural Students: Some people are in communities which are too small to offer advanced and specialized courses such as physics, calculus, Latin derivatives, third year Spanish, or ancient civilizations. Some schools simply do not have physics, humanities, or French teachers.
6. Drop-Outs, At-Risk Youth, and Students Slightly Behind: Catching up with one’s peers is sometimes valuable. The availability of online courses can address those who are just a course or two behind their peers as well as those who have dropped out or who are close to dropping out. Online options provide a way to keep them in school. In fact, often students find online options to be exciting or in tune with their preferred style of learning. In effect, there are multiple ways to achieve success and obtain a high school degree. Life does not end just because a young person did not find success attending a brick and mortar high school.
There are many others, but the idea seems to be the same for each one! There's a benefit for everyone, no matter what the circumstance might be.
1. Homebound or Special Needs: Some students have physical disabilities, medical, or psychological reasons which prevent them from attending a traditional classroom space or building. There are many reasons why online and correspondence courses may be the preferred delivery methods for those who are homebound or with special needs.
2. Gifted: These students may have a particular interest that their home school does not provide. They may also not be benefitting from the enrichment that is available at schools. They may have the opportunity to pursue their own interests. Many times, these children are very concerned with social problems and online learning allows them to creatively collaborate with others to solve problems.
3. AP: Students may want to take more AP classes for college credit than their school offers. Online learning offers these classes and they can be finished at the student's own pace.
4. Homeschool: Parents may wish to supplement their children's homeschool curriculum. When these students enter high school, parents may not have the expertise to teach their children.
5. Rural Students: Some people are in communities which are too small to offer advanced and specialized courses such as physics, calculus, Latin derivatives, third year Spanish, or ancient civilizations. Some schools simply do not have physics, humanities, or French teachers.
6. Drop-Outs, At-Risk Youth, and Students Slightly Behind: Catching up with one’s peers is sometimes valuable. The availability of online courses can address those who are just a course or two behind their peers as well as those who have dropped out or who are close to dropping out. Online options provide a way to keep them in school. In fact, often students find online options to be exciting or in tune with their preferred style of learning. In effect, there are multiple ways to achieve success and obtain a high school degree. Life does not end just because a young person did not find success attending a brick and mortar high school.
There are many others, but the idea seems to be the same for each one! There's a benefit for everyone, no matter what the circumstance might be.
Info: Online Learning K-12 (2)
Online Public School
When researching, the first thing I came upon was an Online Public School. CHECK THIS SITE OUT!
http://www.k12.com/
The company is called K12 and they offer online schooling to any kid anywhere (pending state laws). They operate in a few different ways:
1. full-time online public schools in many states (simply replaces the brick-and-mortar school)
2. individual product sales to families (supplemental work for families who feel their kids need a little bit more)
3. supplemental services to the existing public school curriculum. Regular public schools are incorporating their online curriculum to boost what they're doing in the building.
The programs are individualized for every student they enroll.
Here are the things that they "believe":
It seems to me that this model is one that we should use in all of our schools. It's kind of like reading recommendations for treating students with exceptionalities (especially ADHD)... They are ALWAYS good recommendations to use for ALL children!
While students will always have to face the physical world, online learning has some kind of model that I think represents where we're going. It's exciting!
When researching, the first thing I came upon was an Online Public School. CHECK THIS SITE OUT!
http://www.k12.com/
The company is called K12 and they offer online schooling to any kid anywhere (pending state laws). They operate in a few different ways:
1. full-time online public schools in many states (simply replaces the brick-and-mortar school)
2. individual product sales to families (supplemental work for families who feel their kids need a little bit more)
3. supplemental services to the existing public school curriculum. Regular public schools are incorporating their online curriculum to boost what they're doing in the building.
The programs are individualized for every student they enroll.
Here are the things that they "believe":
…in individualized learning through mass customization instead of mass production of education.
…in decades of scientific research regarding how brains really work and how learning happens.
…that Big Ideas + Consecutive Down Payments + Practice = Mastery.
…that mastery of concepts and skills should be for all kinds of children—not just the "best and brightest."
…in giving parents meaningful ways to be involved in their children’s education if they choose.
…in being directly accountable and responsive to all of our customers.
…in outstanding teacher engagement.
…in rich, engaging content that gets kids into learning so learning gets into them.
…that profitability yields invention, responsiveness, and responsibility.
…in using 21st-century tools to prepare 21st-century students.
…in books, digital media, and dirt—because a mix of teaching tools maximizes learning.
... that children should be introduced to humankind's legacies which create our common culture as humans.
... that raw, unyielding passion is our most important quality.…in decades of scientific research regarding how brains really work and how learning happens.
…that Big Ideas + Consecutive Down Payments + Practice = Mastery.
…that mastery of concepts and skills should be for all kinds of children—not just the "best and brightest."
…in giving parents meaningful ways to be involved in their children’s education if they choose.
…in being directly accountable and responsive to all of our customers.
…in outstanding teacher engagement.
…in rich, engaging content that gets kids into learning so learning gets into them.
…that profitability yields invention, responsiveness, and responsibility.
…in using 21st-century tools to prepare 21st-century students.
…in books, digital media, and dirt—because a mix of teaching tools maximizes learning.
... that children should be introduced to humankind's legacies which create our common culture as humans.
It seems to me that this model is one that we should use in all of our schools. It's kind of like reading recommendations for treating students with exceptionalities (especially ADHD)... They are ALWAYS good recommendations to use for ALL children!
While students will always have to face the physical world, online learning has some kind of model that I think represents where we're going. It's exciting!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Online Learning K-12
Clearly we are all familiar with online learning; we are all taking an online class now! The difference (if it is relevant) is that we are all in a higher education setting. Does that matter? Is online learning just as useful in K-12 as it is in postsecondary education?
Technology is embedded in everything in our worlds. Children in school now will never know a world without computers, the internet, wifi, social networking, etc. Online learning is very beneficial for adults in college because it fits many people's learning styles much better, is much more flexible with time, and may offer more networking possibilities than a traditional classroom might.
Are we learning any more or any less in an online class than the traditional classroom?
What are the benefits of online learning?
What are the cons of online learning?
Are some subjects better for online learning than others?
Should K-12 students be required to have some sort of online learning before graduation?
Are there places where it is already a requirement?
Can it help with dropout rates?
Does it serve as a better alternative school than... the traditional alternative school?
Will schools ever be completely online?
Technology is embedded in everything in our worlds. Children in school now will never know a world without computers, the internet, wifi, social networking, etc. Online learning is very beneficial for adults in college because it fits many people's learning styles much better, is much more flexible with time, and may offer more networking possibilities than a traditional classroom might.
Are we learning any more or any less in an online class than the traditional classroom?
What are the benefits of online learning?
What are the cons of online learning?
Are some subjects better for online learning than others?
Should K-12 students be required to have some sort of online learning before graduation?
Are there places where it is already a requirement?
Can it help with dropout rates?
Does it serve as a better alternative school than... the traditional alternative school?
Will schools ever be completely online?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Classroom Website
The classroom website assignment really woke me up to my proficiency with technology!
I approached this assignment with too much confidence. I am still not sure if there was an easier way that I could have done it or not. I saw templates just for classrooms, but I felt like that went against the assignment (It would be too easy). So, going with my personality type, I chose one that was more difficult... the one that would make me want to cry!
The problem I had was that I was expecting a simple template to follow to begin with. Google does have MANY templates, but I just couldn't figure them all out. Well, I couldn't figure out how to to customize them without messing EVERYTHING up. Once I finally finished and everything worked, I looked up other sites or services to use for websites and saw what a big problem was: Google sites is outdated and generic. I am used to using things that are very simplifed, but customizable at the same time (Ahem, Apple anything). So, using Google sites took it back a bit. Once I saw that in order to customize everything in the way I wanted, I'd have to use old-school HTML, I figured out my problem. I equate it to being able to solve a complex math problem well with a calculator, but if I had to do some of the stuff on paper, I'd be in bad shape. I just like really cool, simple, and modern sites that are kind of artsy. I couldn't do this with Google Sites (without many, many, many hours of writing codes) and I was SO frustrated.
My lesson about my technology proficienty was this: I only know what it happening right now-- what is common at this very moment. I think that is representative of technology anyway-- and, really, how life is no, too.. However, educational programs are one of the least updated types of programs out there. Also, I know I will be working with many different programs, depending on the task... whether it be for my own development, the classroom, school, or whatever. I need to be more proficient at the very basics. In education, I know that's just going to be part of it.
Also, planning. I'm a master organizer in everything in my life, with the exception of anything with technology. Even though it is built on the premise of being instant, things like this require much planning and organization. Next time, I will do that better. Or, I will pay a small fee to a different provider :)
I approached this assignment with too much confidence. I am still not sure if there was an easier way that I could have done it or not. I saw templates just for classrooms, but I felt like that went against the assignment (It would be too easy). So, going with my personality type, I chose one that was more difficult... the one that would make me want to cry!
The problem I had was that I was expecting a simple template to follow to begin with. Google does have MANY templates, but I just couldn't figure them all out. Well, I couldn't figure out how to to customize them without messing EVERYTHING up. Once I finally finished and everything worked, I looked up other sites or services to use for websites and saw what a big problem was: Google sites is outdated and generic. I am used to using things that are very simplifed, but customizable at the same time (Ahem, Apple anything). So, using Google sites took it back a bit. Once I saw that in order to customize everything in the way I wanted, I'd have to use old-school HTML, I figured out my problem. I equate it to being able to solve a complex math problem well with a calculator, but if I had to do some of the stuff on paper, I'd be in bad shape. I just like really cool, simple, and modern sites that are kind of artsy. I couldn't do this with Google Sites (without many, many, many hours of writing codes) and I was SO frustrated.
My lesson about my technology proficienty was this: I only know what it happening right now-- what is common at this very moment. I think that is representative of technology anyway-- and, really, how life is no, too.. However, educational programs are one of the least updated types of programs out there. Also, I know I will be working with many different programs, depending on the task... whether it be for my own development, the classroom, school, or whatever. I need to be more proficient at the very basics. In education, I know that's just going to be part of it.
Also, planning. I'm a master organizer in everything in my life, with the exception of anything with technology. Even though it is built on the premise of being instant, things like this require much planning and organization. Next time, I will do that better. Or, I will pay a small fee to a different provider :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Refreshing reality check!
Finding resources for the portaportal website REALLY opened my eyes to what's available for online learning. I'm young and my generation is supposed be tech-savvy, but I could not believe what all is out there. I worked with sixth graders a couple years ago on a Geocaching project and they made movies (by themselves--only guided by a teacher-given rubric) on their laptops using basic Mac programs. The movie was an explanation of Geocaching for someone who was new to it. They actually dramatized it and made scripts. I was impressed. I also knew about those programs and could just play around and figure them out. However, the feeling I had today was different. I didn't even know about the tools available. If I don't even know the tools available, I'm not going to have anything to "play around with." For example, something called "Animoto" allows a user to put together pictures, videos, sound clips, etc., and the websites puts it all together to make an organized, elegant, and honestly, beautiful video clip combining it all. Each video clip is unique and the user can put the same files on there many times and get a different product each time.
Amazing.
And, there are many sites like it. They incorporate ALL types of media into one cohesive piece. Some can even tap into your Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. and automatically take your information.
There are so many uses for this! I thought an obvious project would be a biography project. The students could put in all the random pieces of information about themselves to form a piece of media that describes them. It could be added to a larger writing project or really any sort of project. This could also be used for creative writing... maybe using images representing different parts of a story and then rearranging it to form a new one... or combining parts of different stories to make a whole new one!
I don't know everything about technology. All the hype about technology and its implications isn't B.S. that an older generation talks about. There's so much to learn and it is never-ending. It's refreshing.
The sky is the limit and I realized today that it is no joke when people talk about how fast technology moves. Being able to do so much with information in such an easy way means that as soon as we think we have it all figured out, it's time to update. Every day or even every moment might be a refreshing reality check.
By the way, the geocaching project led the students to check up on different sites around the world so that they could then communicate with that particular place and learn about the culture. Very cool. Here's a basic site about geocaching if you are not familiar:
http://www.geocaching.com/
And, here is Animoto:
http://animoto.com/
Amazing.
And, there are many sites like it. They incorporate ALL types of media into one cohesive piece. Some can even tap into your Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. and automatically take your information.
There are so many uses for this! I thought an obvious project would be a biography project. The students could put in all the random pieces of information about themselves to form a piece of media that describes them. It could be added to a larger writing project or really any sort of project. This could also be used for creative writing... maybe using images representing different parts of a story and then rearranging it to form a new one... or combining parts of different stories to make a whole new one!
I don't know everything about technology. All the hype about technology and its implications isn't B.S. that an older generation talks about. There's so much to learn and it is never-ending. It's refreshing.
The sky is the limit and I realized today that it is no joke when people talk about how fast technology moves. Being able to do so much with information in such an easy way means that as soon as we think we have it all figured out, it's time to update. Every day or even every moment might be a refreshing reality check.
By the way, the geocaching project led the students to check up on different sites around the world so that they could then communicate with that particular place and learn about the culture. Very cool. Here's a basic site about geocaching if you are not familiar:
http://www.geocaching.com/
And, here is Animoto:
http://animoto.com/
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