What?
Lately in my classes I have used the Smart Board in almost all of my presentations. I have grown accustomed to it because I have the software on my computer. Often times when I create a lesson plan I try to in some way utilize it.
So what?
Why am I talking about this? Well, I feel that the Smart Board is a great tool. I have enjoyed having my entire lesson at my finger tips. The only issue I find in the Smart Board usage is the opportunity a teacher can have to "coast." With the software comes several different full lesson plans. They are great, and very thorough. Unfortunately, I could see someone easily substituting this tool as the main focus of a lesson.
Now what?
With this new technology, I feel that we need to make sure that we implement it in the classroom, but we don't use it as a substitution for teaching.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Reflection 8
What?
One of the newest glizmos Apple had come out with is the IPad. The IPad is a handheld device that is great for taking notes, surfing the internet, and watching movies in HD.
So What?
Why have I mentioned this? Well, last week in class, one of the professors brought in his very own IPad. I was blown away by the quality of the images. I was impressed by how quickly it maneuvered through the Internet without a glitch. After handling the mechanism, I immediately wanted one. I thought of all the things it would be useful for, then I looked at the price tag-yikes! I'm a college student, and not one that is a big fan of $500-$1,000 dollar purchases.
After driving home from class, I read this article which shocked me, read.
Now what?
After reading the article, I realized how dangerous it can be having the latest gizmo. I often wonder if the impulsitivity of our society stems from the fast paced life we have created from all the technology we have at our fingertips? I am in no way stating that technology is not important or valuable. I am simply stating that we need to be careful in what we invest our money in, because others might want it just as badly, and be willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
One of the newest glizmos Apple had come out with is the IPad. The IPad is a handheld device that is great for taking notes, surfing the internet, and watching movies in HD.
So What?
Why have I mentioned this? Well, last week in class, one of the professors brought in his very own IPad. I was blown away by the quality of the images. I was impressed by how quickly it maneuvered through the Internet without a glitch. After handling the mechanism, I immediately wanted one. I thought of all the things it would be useful for, then I looked at the price tag-yikes! I'm a college student, and not one that is a big fan of $500-$1,000 dollar purchases.
After driving home from class, I read this article which shocked me, read.
Now what?
After reading the article, I realized how dangerous it can be having the latest gizmo. I often wonder if the impulsitivity of our society stems from the fast paced life we have created from all the technology we have at our fingertips? I am in no way stating that technology is not important or valuable. I am simply stating that we need to be careful in what we invest our money in, because others might want it just as badly, and be willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
Assignment #4 (technology project)
For my technology project, I decided to use a lesson plan I did for my art class. I completely reworked it, attempting to use at many site and tools as possible. For my art lesson, I had talked about Andy Warhol and his method of screen printing. I talked about how he was the "prince of pop art." I used several features to make my Smart Board feature entertaining.
Features:
DropBox: I used it to store my presentation online
Diigo: I used this to compile the majority of my resources. Its a great bookmarking tool
Google maps: Used this site to show students where our field trip will be, I also showed them all the surrounding screen printing shops
Youtube: I used this site as a visual representation on "how to" do a screen printing on a t-shirt
Smart Board: Used this to show the lesson plan.
Google images: I took several pictures from this site to show the difference between real pictures of different images, and Andy Warhol's interpretation of art (pop art)
Text box: Throughout the lesson, I used text boxes to indicate to students what they were visually experiencing.
I had two central issues when designing this project. The first issue was dealing with was my Diigo account. At the beginning of the set up I had no issues adding (bookmarking) items that I wanted. Recently when attempting to add sites onto my page, I was having difficulties, for some reason it wouldn't allow me the opportunity to add more sites. After working with the site for approx an hour, I finally got it to bookmark correctly. The second issue I dealt with was through the drop box site. I downloaded the program, but it wasn't working properly. Next, I downloaded it a second time and it actually worked. Overall, this project was fairly painless, just time consuming. I think the most difficult part was figuring out which tools I should incorporate within my project.
The Net standards for teachers I fulfilled:
1) Facilitate and Inspire student learning and creativity:
During this lesson, students not only learn about a central figure in the pop world, they will also learn how to create their very own pop art using a photograph as well as go to a screen printing facility and make their own t-shirt. This lesson is very creative in the sense that no two projects will be the same, students will be encouraged to think outside the box.
a) Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness:
I will be modeling my very own piece of art during the lesson, so students get to see a visual of my expectations. It will also be a guide as to how the art will turn out.
3) Model Digital-Age work and learning
By showing the Youtube clip, students will get to see first hand how to make a screen print. This type of teaching is of a more digital nature in the sense that they are learning outside of the traditional teacher-lecture setting.
5) a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
Again, using the Youtube site, as well as my Diigo account students get the opportunity to learn about the world around them. Students get to participate in a community of outside learners and learn something they most likely have never known about.
Nets for Students:
1) Creativity and Innovation:.
This lesson requires students to not only learn about an art technique, an artist, and vocabulary terms, it also teaches students to be creative. They are required to think outside of the box to create their photo-silk screen, and their t-shirt screen print
2)Communication and Collaboration:
During the process of the lesson, students will have to do a fair amount of collaborative learning. They will be asked to work in groups to share the art material. They will also be asked to come up with their own screen print business after they have designed their work of art. The business they create will also be with their peers. Students will be asked to work in groups of four to make their business.
Project:
This project was so fun to create. I know that I will use it in whatever level class I teach in the future. Its great because it's not only interactive, but its also a very visual and hands on for students that learn in that way. I will use the project in its entirety depending on if we have the opportunity to take an actual field trip or not.
Features:
DropBox: I used it to store my presentation online
Diigo: I used this to compile the majority of my resources. Its a great bookmarking tool
Google maps: Used this site to show students where our field trip will be, I also showed them all the surrounding screen printing shops
Youtube: I used this site as a visual representation on "how to" do a screen printing on a t-shirt
Smart Board: Used this to show the lesson plan.
Google images: I took several pictures from this site to show the difference between real pictures of different images, and Andy Warhol's interpretation of art (pop art)
Text box: Throughout the lesson, I used text boxes to indicate to students what they were visually experiencing.
I had two central issues when designing this project. The first issue was dealing with was my Diigo account. At the beginning of the set up I had no issues adding (bookmarking) items that I wanted. Recently when attempting to add sites onto my page, I was having difficulties, for some reason it wouldn't allow me the opportunity to add more sites. After working with the site for approx an hour, I finally got it to bookmark correctly. The second issue I dealt with was through the drop box site. I downloaded the program, but it wasn't working properly. Next, I downloaded it a second time and it actually worked. Overall, this project was fairly painless, just time consuming. I think the most difficult part was figuring out which tools I should incorporate within my project.
The Net standards for teachers I fulfilled:
1) Facilitate and Inspire student learning and creativity:
During this lesson, students not only learn about a central figure in the pop world, they will also learn how to create their very own pop art using a photograph as well as go to a screen printing facility and make their own t-shirt. This lesson is very creative in the sense that no two projects will be the same, students will be encouraged to think outside the box.
a) Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness:
I will be modeling my very own piece of art during the lesson, so students get to see a visual of my expectations. It will also be a guide as to how the art will turn out.
3) Model Digital-Age work and learning
By showing the Youtube clip, students will get to see first hand how to make a screen print. This type of teaching is of a more digital nature in the sense that they are learning outside of the traditional teacher-lecture setting.
5) a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
Again, using the Youtube site, as well as my Diigo account students get the opportunity to learn about the world around them. Students get to participate in a community of outside learners and learn something they most likely have never known about.
Nets for Students:
1) Creativity and Innovation:.
This lesson requires students to not only learn about an art technique, an artist, and vocabulary terms, it also teaches students to be creative. They are required to think outside of the box to create their photo-silk screen, and their t-shirt screen print
2)Communication and Collaboration:
During the process of the lesson, students will have to do a fair amount of collaborative learning. They will be asked to work in groups to share the art material. They will also be asked to come up with their own screen print business after they have designed their work of art. The business they create will also be with their peers. Students will be asked to work in groups of four to make their business.
Project:
This project was so fun to create. I know that I will use it in whatever level class I teach in the future. Its great because it's not only interactive, but its also a very visual and hands on for students that learn in that way. I will use the project in its entirety depending on if we have the opportunity to take an actual field trip or not.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Reflection 7
What?
Its been an interesting experience at Northwest University. I like how each teacher has a different teaching style. Some lend themselves to a more modern style of teaching by implementing technology into the classroom. Many try to use the Smart Board (if it is available to them). I also have had teachers that provide a more traditional approach by teaching straight lecture with the occasional powerpoint.
So What?
Why would I mention this? Well, I find it interesting that each class produces quality education. How can that be? I find that education isn't so much about the tools used, its more about the delivery and how well a teacher comprehends and understands the material they teach.
Now what?
For a time I thought, "what am a going to do if I don't have the technology in the classroom that I teach in?" After thinking about the different classes I have had, I came to the solid conclusion that whatever the envorinment I am given, I will be content. I know that I have been well equipped with the knowledge I need to be able to teach the students. Although technology is great for visual learners, it isn't the essential element that make or break a teacher.
Its been an interesting experience at Northwest University. I like how each teacher has a different teaching style. Some lend themselves to a more modern style of teaching by implementing technology into the classroom. Many try to use the Smart Board (if it is available to them). I also have had teachers that provide a more traditional approach by teaching straight lecture with the occasional powerpoint.
So What?
Why would I mention this? Well, I find it interesting that each class produces quality education. How can that be? I find that education isn't so much about the tools used, its more about the delivery and how well a teacher comprehends and understands the material they teach.
Now what?
For a time I thought, "what am a going to do if I don't have the technology in the classroom that I teach in?" After thinking about the different classes I have had, I came to the solid conclusion that whatever the envorinment I am given, I will be content. I know that I have been well equipped with the knowledge I need to be able to teach the students. Although technology is great for visual learners, it isn't the essential element that make or break a teacher.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Assignment 14
I read the article entitled, "Open Mind" by Kate Hafner. The article talked about how technology and education have changed the type of students teachers have. The article focused more on Yale University and how classes are now available to the public. Many independent learners have excelled and gained insight into an ivy league school that they would have never had the means to be given the opportunity to go . Bill Gates has even listened to a class or two and gained insight into subject matter, which he felt was a helpful tool. So helpful in fact, he donated 8 million towards the cause. The article also borrows itself to the argument whether those barriers should be broken. Some feel that because they have put forth the effort in the classes, they deserve the credit (grade), while others strongly disagree. I feel that the information that is taught within the classroom are valuable tools that can benefit many people for years to come and it's pointless to waste taped lectures on students that are unwilling to go to class, I think that by sharing the information it helps expand peoples minds that might have the ability and the drive to do the course work but lack the means to do so.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Assignment 13
For class we are required to make an entry that includes the features of excel, powerpoint, and word.
Word- is a great resource that has several features on it to not only allow students to write papers, but it also has features that allows someone to edit the paper using word ballons, hightlighters, and sticky notes that allow the editor to offer feedback
Excel-I don't use office excel as much as word or powerpoint. When I took accounting class however, I became very familuar with it. It offers conditional formatting, has different cell sizes, and allows the opportunity to create one's own table
Powerpoint-Is a pretty handy program to have. I used it a considerable amount this year when I gave math presentations. It's a program that essentially allows one the opportunity to create "slides" that move based on the operators choice. The program has an option where you can have each slide the same formatting/ same background. It also has the option of putting links to websites, sound (from one's Itunes library), and many other awesome easy to use features.
Three different projects:
Word: As a class assignment, you could have students review a paper by using the editing tools. That way not only will they be getting familiar with the system, they will also learn how to edit more proficiently.
Excel: As a class assignment, you could have students graph information that they receive through a math problem. They could create their own table, or use the pre made table that is available
PowerPoint-As a class assignment you could have students create their own PowerPoint, with their own background and music. You could give them a theme such as "underwater creatures" or "different habitats."
Word- is a great resource that has several features on it to not only allow students to write papers, but it also has features that allows someone to edit the paper using word ballons, hightlighters, and sticky notes that allow the editor to offer feedback
Excel-I don't use office excel as much as word or powerpoint. When I took accounting class however, I became very familuar with it. It offers conditional formatting, has different cell sizes, and allows the opportunity to create one's own table
Powerpoint-Is a pretty handy program to have. I used it a considerable amount this year when I gave math presentations. It's a program that essentially allows one the opportunity to create "slides" that move based on the operators choice. The program has an option where you can have each slide the same formatting/ same background. It also has the option of putting links to websites, sound (from one's Itunes library), and many other awesome easy to use features.
Three different projects:
Word: As a class assignment, you could have students review a paper by using the editing tools. That way not only will they be getting familiar with the system, they will also learn how to edit more proficiently.
Excel: As a class assignment, you could have students graph information that they receive through a math problem. They could create their own table, or use the pre made table that is available
PowerPoint-As a class assignment you could have students create their own PowerPoint, with their own background and music. You could give them a theme such as "underwater creatures" or "different habitats."
Assignment 12
For the online learning I decided to check out K12 online conference more specially Professor Stephen Heppell's message, "It simply isn't the 20th century any more is it? So why would we teach as though it was?" The speaker talked about how technology has changed society in a big way. He talked about the idea "me, we, and see." He talked about how with the us of technology we were able to create a sense of "us" which connects us to a global community. He talked about different programs that helped students learn about the world around them. He talked about how a community of students were given the task to interview people (in England) about their childhood. Many students in his program ( in the eighties) were able to interview famous people ei: Elizabeth Hurley, and then they made a webpage that talked about what they learned from the experience. The presentation was a 40 min session that was informative.
To watch the presentation click here
To watch the presentation click here
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