Taking this technology class has been a giant stretch for me. A blended format would not have been my first choice, yet I realize it was done this way to help those of us who are in the cohort and could not attend a Tuesday evening class. I appreciate the willingness of Dr. Wang to answer questions and arrange for extra face to face meeting times when needed. I also really appreciate all of my group members who were so helpful and full of encouragement.
What this class has mostly done for me is create a little confidence and a LOT of curiousity about the things I can do - both personally and for my class - using technology. I have signed up for three days of technology training this summer to learn how to use the new things we will be given to use in our classrooms next year. I am no longer afraid to experiment (really the best way for me to learn) and am looking forward to the time to do just that.
I also appreciate the subjects of some of the assignments - good review for comps I am thinking!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
May 2 Assignment - Assessment
As educators, we are constantly assessing our students. Informal assessments in the form of observation, participation notes, running records, portfolio entries, and discussion go on in every classroom all of the time. I can tell more about how my students truly understand a concept in science by watching then perform an experiment than I can from reading their answers to a multiple choice, true or false, or matching test. While APPLICATION of knowledge is the true hallmark of what a student has learned, we too often rely on an assessment that is sumative - measuring FACTS that a student has memorized. These sumative assessments come at the end of a unit and do not open doors for further learning. A good example of this kind of assessment is the SAT, graduation exams, semester exams, and unit tests. Grades are recorded in a grade book or put on a data base and becomes a piece of information about the student. The information from the test not only fails to give a true understanding of what the student KNOWS, UNDERSTANDS, AND IS ABLE TO APPLY, it fails in a much bigger way. It is not used to drive further instruction.
Formative assessments - usually more informal- allow an instructor to not only measure true student learning, it provides ongoing information about the student that will allow the teacher to plan and implement future lessons that will fill in any gaps, provide future lessons to strengthen skills or to provide enrichment to the students who have mastered skills.
The use of a rubric is an extremely effective way to measure student learning. This rubric should be detailed and shared with students and parents ahead of time. There are many excellent sites on the weve for creating a rubric. I have used http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/ I think it is extremely important for students to be a partner in their learning experience. A good way to begin this partnership is to engage the students in creating a rubric that will be learned to assess their learning. When students are involved in setting the criteria for learning, they are more likely to succeed.
I see little educational value in summative assessments that do nothing more than provide data. The purpose of assessment should be to drive instruction and to measure understanding, not recall. Performance based assessment, which involves the direct evaluation of student effort on real learning tasks provides useful material for teachers, parents, and students.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
laptops
I presently have a HP Pavilion Laptop that is loaded with VISTA. I am finally getting used to the VISTA, but have been considering buying a MAC. Many people tell me that is the way to go, especially for graphics and for managing my pictures.
Since I have finished National Boards and am almost finished with my Masters program, I am thinking that this may be my best choice.
I teach second grade. Most of th documents I prepare for my students call for simple word processing skills and perhaps the insertion of a picture or graphic. I would still like to use spreadsheets (just learned how - thank you Dr. Wang!) to manage grades, create graphs from information, etc. So what do you all think?
Since I have finished National Boards and am almost finished with my Masters program, I am thinking that this may be my best choice.
I teach second grade. Most of th documents I prepare for my students call for simple word processing skills and perhaps the insertion of a picture or graphic. I would still like to use spreadsheets (just learned how - thank you Dr. Wang!) to manage grades, create graphs from information, etc. So what do you all think?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Learning Theories
I enjoyed this assignment - especially looking for a little extra background information other than assigned readings - and what I discovered is that I have become completely at home with doing research on line using search engines and tapping into the library. I'm not sure when that happened - it used to really throw me for a loop!
Our group split the research and I chose the constructivist learning theory. Though I use a constructivist approach with many of my lessons, I do not use it for all. I truly agree that knowledge a student can construct is better understood than knowledge that is merely transmitted to them.
As group leader, it was my job to compile everyone's learning theories after we had all read and edited. This should have been easy - another group member had put together a table for us to use and I thought it would just be a matter of cutting and pasting. It wasn't. I got tangled up in entries that had bullets that were difficult to remove in order to make the document uniform. charts were not all exactly the same and had to be adjusted. Fonts were different. One member added color to subtitles - a great touch, but I had to figure out how to do that to the rest of them too. All of this sounds simple, but to me it was not. The point of this narrative is to say that I actually constructed learning (go me!) by trial and error. I think I learned more than I would have if someone had given me instructions on how to fix things. I will certainly remember now.
The final problem I had was getting my finished document to look just as good on the discussion board as it did on my computer. Even though I saved it in Rich Text format, the one posted on the discussion board had all kinds of spaces that the saved document did not. Here is where I cried UNCLE and called my neighbor to help. We played around with it, and finally were able to post it like it was intended. I cannot even tell you what we did in the end. The end result was that I owed my neighbor a six pack, and I feel like our entry reflected the careful work of my group members.
Here is my question - Why would a document that is saved in rich text NOT transmit as saved? I am wondering if it has anything to do with my having VISTA and other team members having different operating systems. Could they have saved differently?
Our group split the research and I chose the constructivist learning theory. Though I use a constructivist approach with many of my lessons, I do not use it for all. I truly agree that knowledge a student can construct is better understood than knowledge that is merely transmitted to them.
As group leader, it was my job to compile everyone's learning theories after we had all read and edited. This should have been easy - another group member had put together a table for us to use and I thought it would just be a matter of cutting and pasting. It wasn't. I got tangled up in entries that had bullets that were difficult to remove in order to make the document uniform. charts were not all exactly the same and had to be adjusted. Fonts were different. One member added color to subtitles - a great touch, but I had to figure out how to do that to the rest of them too. All of this sounds simple, but to me it was not. The point of this narrative is to say that I actually constructed learning (go me!) by trial and error. I think I learned more than I would have if someone had given me instructions on how to fix things. I will certainly remember now.
The final problem I had was getting my finished document to look just as good on the discussion board as it did on my computer. Even though I saved it in Rich Text format, the one posted on the discussion board had all kinds of spaces that the saved document did not. Here is where I cried UNCLE and called my neighbor to help. We played around with it, and finally were able to post it like it was intended. I cannot even tell you what we did in the end. The end result was that I owed my neighbor a six pack, and I feel like our entry reflected the careful work of my group members.
Here is my question - Why would a document that is saved in rich text NOT transmit as saved? I am wondering if it has anything to do with my having VISTA and other team members having different operating systems. Could they have saved differently?
Technology in Language Arts Instruction
My second graders have been working very hard to use the computer to word process short stories they have written. We have spent hours on keyboarding skills and practice. Still, this assignment is taking FOREVER. Little hands do not easily reach all of the keys. They constantly need reminders about spacing, forming upper case letters, and punctuation. Still, we are making slow progress.
The children are much more interested in their writing and in editing when they do it on the computer. They LOVE spell check (well, who doesn't?), although they do not often stop to think or have enough base knowledge to choose the correct option that is offered. They click on the first suggestion. I try to remind them that you still have to stop and think!
I have one child who has handwriting that is impossible to read. He loves the idea of using the computer, and I do allow this, although his fine motor skills are so poor that keyboarding is difficult for him. There are two schools of thought: 1. allow him to do all of his work on the computer (this requires constant teacher support) or 2. have him do some assignments on the computer and some by hand. This is the strategy I am using.
The children are much more interested in their writing and in editing when they do it on the computer. They LOVE spell check (well, who doesn't?), although they do not often stop to think or have enough base knowledge to choose the correct option that is offered. They click on the first suggestion. I try to remind them that you still have to stop and think!
I have one child who has handwriting that is impossible to read. He loves the idea of using the computer, and I do allow this, although his fine motor skills are so poor that keyboarding is difficult for him. There are two schools of thought: 1. allow him to do all of his work on the computer (this requires constant teacher support) or 2. have him do some assignments on the computer and some by hand. This is the strategy I am using.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Learning Theories
This week's assignment was to look at different learning theories and also tie in how technology can be used to support those theories. My focus was on the Constructivist learning theory, and even though I thought I knew a lot about it, there was still much to learn. Teaching using this method is definitely more work than merely transmitting knowledge to students, but I think it is WAY more rewarding to see the children construct their own knowledge and drive their own learning. If we believe in assessment as a tool to drive instruction, then the formative assessments a teacher uses with a lesson taught with the constructivist method is valid and useful. I was interested to learn about MUDs and MOOs and even WOOs and would like to do some research to see how I can incorporate these into my classroom learning.
I am nervous about being group leader for this project. My group consists of three very competent computer users and me. They have all been very patient and helpful to me as I have grown through this class, but now they are putting their fate in my hands! I appreciate all of them posting entries well ahead of the due date to help me get it all organized to post. I will attend the face to face class offered tomorrow in hopes to learn how to do a spreadsheet - that seems like a good way to organize the information.
I am nervous about being group leader for this project. My group consists of three very competent computer users and me. They have all been very patient and helpful to me as I have grown through this class, but now they are putting their fate in my hands! I appreciate all of them posting entries well ahead of the due date to help me get it all organized to post. I will attend the face to face class offered tomorrow in hopes to learn how to do a spreadsheet - that seems like a good way to organize the information.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Web - based lesson / amazing new technology
After reading Chapter 8 in our textbook, I found a web-based activity for my students. It is an international webpage that links students from different countries together as pen-pals. (see page 254 in text if you are interested). I have found a class in Australia with students that are the same age as my children. We will be partnering with a class from Australia to exchange information about culture, customs, foods, and leisure activities. I am hoping that once this progresses we will be able to have some voice to voice contact through Skype. My students (when they get back from Spring Break) will be very excited!
I just purchased a Garmin navigational device - perfect for me who is perpetually lost. All I have to do is program in an address and it directs me turn by turn to my destination. If I take a detour during part of the trip, it will recalculate my route and tell me. I can even just program in a general destination like Mexican Restaurants in Birmningham and it will give me a variety of places to choose from. My favorite feature is how I can just press favorites and home (already programmed in) and it will direct me back home from any destination. I am so excited and am ready to go ANYWHERE!
I just purchased a Garmin navigational device - perfect for me who is perpetually lost. All I have to do is program in an address and it directs me turn by turn to my destination. If I take a detour during part of the trip, it will recalculate my route and tell me. I can even just program in a general destination like Mexican Restaurants in Birmningham and it will give me a variety of places to choose from. My favorite feature is how I can just press favorites and home (already programmed in) and it will direct me back home from any destination. I am so excited and am ready to go ANYWHERE!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Definition of Learning
Definition of Learning
I started by asking people what they thought learning was. I asked adults in my household and children in my neighborhood. (My next door neighbor is a great source – she has 5 kids ranging in age from seven to seventeen!) Here are their answers
Learning is:
Memorizing a lot of junk you might never use E.J. – age 13
Paying attention and never making the same mistake twice.
When my dad got in trouble for buying my mom a vacuum cleaner
for Valentines Day, he never did it again. This year he got her roses. Thomas – age 9
Reading books and listening to people who know. And using it, but
only if it really applies to you. You have to be smart enough to know
the difference. Sarah – age 15
Going to school and listening to the teacher. Reading and doing
hard math. Getting all S’s on my Report card. Daniel – age 7
Learning is paying attention and using what you know. It is when you
read and talk to people and increase your knowledge. It is when you
know how and when to use what you have learned and apply it in your
everyday life. Trey – age 17
Learning is what people do everyday if they keep their eyes and
Ears open. Learning is assimilating facts and utilizing knowledge. It
Is the never ending acquisition of new material. Jeff – age 57
What – learning? Mom, is this a trick? What did I do? Andrew – age 29
(some people never learn!)
The World Book Dictionary ( Barnhart, C., 2004, World Book, Chicago) defines learning as:
1. The gaining of knowledge or skill
2. The possession of knowledge gained by study; scholarship
3. Knowledge
4. The relatively permanent modification of responses as a result of experience
The Australian government’s definition, as obtained from
www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training/skills/policy/issues/reviews key/issues/nts/glo/ftol/html is as follows:
the process of acquiring knowledge, attitudes, or skills from study, instruction, or experience
It is interesting to me that all of these definitions (except my son’s!) all say about the same thing. I think the key element to remember when defining learning is that learning is not just the acquisition of facts, it is also using that knowledge in our daily lives. If I am able to state that fire will burn you but continue to put my hand into the fire, then I have not really learned the true meaning of that fact. There has been much written about the ways that children learn. The constructivist believes that knowledge is best acquired when a student discovers and constructs it himself. The behaviorist believes that learning occurs when knowledge is given or told to a student. I think that students can learn both ways, depending on the subject and depending on the student. I do feel, though, that only when a student assimilates that knowledge and makes it a part of them, true learning occurs.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Technology Integration in Classroom
My class has been so excited about the research that they have been doing in conjunction with their Heifer International project. We started with printed materials, but quickly decided to delve further, beginning with the use of the Heifer International Website. A few of my children knew to look in other places as well, using ask.com . It was fun to see them collaborate as they gathered information. Later, they took this information and created a powerpoint presentation - some were quite well done, others had minimal information. I loved that two of my children included links to other websites on theirs.
I learn from and with my kids all the time. As I was trying to help them locate some clip art for their slides, one showed me how easy it was to obtain by going to google images. I never knew! We were able to find just the right images to illustrate their slides, and were not limited by cute little graphics that sometimes don't fit.
I am trying to figure out how download (upload? I'm still not sure of the difference) a movie clip into a power point presentation.
Reading chapter s 7 and 8 in the textbook supplied me with many "ah ha moments." When I read the section (ch. 7) on distance learning, I still could not help but feel that, while distance learning may be appropriate for some subjects, it is NOT the best way for me to do a technology class. Because I am such a novice, it would be so helpful to have an opportunity to have face to face learning, rather than struggling through each task.
I learn from and with my kids all the time. As I was trying to help them locate some clip art for their slides, one showed me how easy it was to obtain by going to google images. I never knew! We were able to find just the right images to illustrate their slides, and were not limited by cute little graphics that sometimes don't fit.
I am trying to figure out how download (upload? I'm still not sure of the difference) a movie clip into a power point presentation.
Reading chapter s 7 and 8 in the textbook supplied me with many "ah ha moments." When I read the section (ch. 7) on distance learning, I still could not help but feel that, while distance learning may be appropriate for some subjects, it is NOT the best way for me to do a technology class. Because I am such a novice, it would be so helpful to have an opportunity to have face to face learning, rather than struggling through each task.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
electronic gradebooks / student resonse systems
The upper grade teachers at my school use electronic grade books. They all marvel at the accuracy and at how easy it is to enter grades, get a quick average, make print outs for parents and to use as a report for BBST or other needs. All of this seems really good, but so much of my grading happens at home late at night. I am not always energetic enough to then trudge upstairs to enter grades, and it is next to impossible to find time at school to do it. (What ever happened to having a planning period?) Sometimes the ease of entering grades into my grade book is appealing - I can do it at home, at school, outside on the porch on a nice day.
All that said, it is my goal to begin to use an electronic gradebook. STI provides one that other teachers use and like. I asked them if they worried about having a back up or what they would do if the system crashed and they did not seem to think that was anymore of an issue than losing the traditonal grade book (how true!). I had already entered the data I needed to begin to use this system with the beginning of the new marking period in March when my principal suggested to me that I begin next year so that I would have a consistent record for the current school year! I wonder if she knew that I had felt like I was really blazing a technology trail - I am always hesitant to begin something new, but after reading Chapter 5, I decided now was the time to take a step. So, tabled for now, but definitely something I will do in the future.
I LOVE the idea of the H-ITT student response system and have written it into my lesson plans to try in the computer lab with my students. This will give me a clear understanding of their comprehension.
All that said, it is my goal to begin to use an electronic gradebook. STI provides one that other teachers use and like. I asked them if they worried about having a back up or what they would do if the system crashed and they did not seem to think that was anymore of an issue than losing the traditonal grade book (how true!). I had already entered the data I needed to begin to use this system with the beginning of the new marking period in March when my principal suggested to me that I begin next year so that I would have a consistent record for the current school year! I wonder if she knew that I had felt like I was really blazing a technology trail - I am always hesitant to begin something new, but after reading Chapter 5, I decided now was the time to take a step. So, tabled for now, but definitely something I will do in the future.
I LOVE the idea of the H-ITT student response system and have written it into my lesson plans to try in the computer lab with my students. This will give me a clear understanding of their comprehension.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Things are getting better
Although I still have so much to learn, I feel like I am beginning to get a handle on this class. My group members are so patient with me - they must hate to see my name come up in caller ID! Thank you ladies. I am also looking forward to the face to face instruction with Dr. Wang.
My goal this week is to get a usable video for my National Boards and to solve the dilemma I am having getting good audio. This will also be a challenge because my voice is not back 100% yet. I still have to video because I need to use our day on Monday to work on writing it up. I am off to buy new batteries for the microphone, and to see if I can download some information about it so I will be able to use it more effectively. I am using a lightsmith in the video and also showing my children creating their power point presentations. Hopefully this will all run smoothly. The viewers will think I am pretty technical - if they only knew!
My goal this week is to get a usable video for my National Boards and to solve the dilemma I am having getting good audio. This will also be a challenge because my voice is not back 100% yet. I still have to video because I need to use our day on Monday to work on writing it up. I am off to buy new batteries for the microphone, and to see if I can download some information about it so I will be able to use it more effectively. I am using a lightsmith in the video and also showing my children creating their power point presentations. Hopefully this will all run smoothly. The viewers will think I am pretty technical - if they only knew!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Any suggestions?
I used a broadcast microphone when I filmed for National Boards. I had been asssured that this microphone would ONLY pick up the discussion in close proximity and would mute all the other discussions. When I played back the DVD I was horrified that there was so much talk that you could not understand anything. It did not mute out anything that was said in a 5 mile radius!!
Much as I hate it, I will have to refilm and try the whole thing again. I really want to do it right this time. Does anyone have a suggestion for me?
Much as I hate it, I will have to refilm and try the whole thing again. I really want to do it right this time. Does anyone have a suggestion for me?
I need serious help....
Thanks for all of your kind words, but all of the clicking around in the world is not getting me closer to understanding what I am supposed to be doing. I am in a school where our every minute is taken up with children or meetings, and by the time I get 10 minutes of silence to work on this, anyone who could possibly help has gone home. I have attempted to ask our technology coach, but she is no help. I feel like I am letting my group down, and I hate that I do not know what I am doing.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
YOU!
You are going to do wonderful! Just like you do with EVERYTHING! Baby steps are the key! And remember we are only phone calls and emails away. See you tomorrow!
Hang In There
Hi
Just hang in there. Just like anything new, it is scary at first, but once you start using and learn some of the lingo, it will get better. I still have A LOT to learn, but I know that if I keep playing around and make some mistakes along the way I will learn how to do things. Technology can be a lot of fun, but yes it can be soooo frustrating!
Good Luck!
Just hang in there. Just like anything new, it is scary at first, but once you start using and learn some of the lingo, it will get better. I still have A LOT to learn, but I know that if I keep playing around and make some mistakes along the way I will learn how to do things. Technology can be a lot of fun, but yes it can be soooo frustrating!
Good Luck!
online learning is difficult
I was so excited about taking this technology class, and I still am, if I could just get past the frustration! I have never been really good at any of this, and look at this class as my way to develop some useful skills. So far, nothing has gone smoothly. I am surprised I was even able to access my blog - for three days I haven't been able to!
Our school has a wealth of technology, and I am learning (slowly) to use it. The difficult part is that there is never anyone around who actually has the time to show me how to use it - I get hopelessly lost in manuals. I am required to teach computers one day a week to my second graders. This is extremely difficult it a lab where not all the computers work or have the same software loaded on to it. NCLB expect for teachers to be highly qualified in all subjects they teach. I am hardly highly qualified in technology.
What I lack in expertise, I think I might make up for in determination. I WILL DO THIS!
I began to read the book this evening and was happy to see the explanation of so many terms. This will help build my knowledge and hopefully I will be able to understand the messages my computer sends to me.
Our school has a wealth of technology, and I am learning (slowly) to use it. The difficult part is that there is never anyone around who actually has the time to show me how to use it - I get hopelessly lost in manuals. I am required to teach computers one day a week to my second graders. This is extremely difficult it a lab where not all the computers work or have the same software loaded on to it. NCLB expect for teachers to be highly qualified in all subjects they teach. I am hardly highly qualified in technology.
What I lack in expertise, I think I might make up for in determination. I WILL DO THIS!
I began to read the book this evening and was happy to see the explanation of so many terms. This will help build my knowledge and hopefully I will be able to understand the messages my computer sends to me.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
baby steps
I am realizing how amazingly incompetent in technology I am! After two hours, I finally was able to access this blog (resetting my password, which I had forgotten, etc.) Hopefully this class will help me become more comfortable and capable as I try to use technology.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I'm glad I sit by Emily!
This was my first time to try to create a blog, and here I am - largely because I sit next to people who are patient and have helped me. I hope that I will be able to find my blog and to add to it. It was really pretty fun to do, but still a bit of a challenge.
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