Technology Inquiry Wiki Reflection

I think the hardest part of creating my technology inquiry wiki was finding the sources I wanted to use. I probably had about ten other websites I considered using before I finally decided which ones to use. The problem was, all the websites I found seemed to have some relevant information on them. I also spent a long time on each website trying to summarize and explain why that website/article was relevant. I wanted to make sure I did a good job explaining why that particular article was important to my question. I enjoyed doing the best practices section of my wiki because that is where I felt I was bringing together all the information I had found in my sources. Also, I think I found some really helpful websites that I added to the additional sources section. Overall, creating my wiki was a pretty good experience for me. I didn't have too many difficulties as far as the actual production of the wiki went, I used Google Sites and I thought it was pretty easy to use. Also, I was happy with all the things I learned while making my wiki. My inquiry question was: What are some ways we can effectively integrate technology into early childhood classrooms? As an early childhood education major I thought it was really important to become knowledgeable of some of the ways I could use technology in my classroom. In creating my wiki, I feel have done just that. :)

Screencast Reflection

I felt like I put a lot of effort into my screencast. First, I had the expectations confused with a different assignment so I created a screencast that was too short. That was a bummer because I seemed to stumble over my words and pause so much that it took me hours to record one I thought was good enough. So, after writing out a longer and, hopefully, better script I was ready for my screencast recording session #2. I don't know what it is about creating a screencast that is so difficult for me! I had no problem using jing, writing a script, or navigating my cool tool. My only problem was that every time I began recording I would get myself so nervous that I would stumble over words, pause for too long, or forget what I was saying (even with a script!) Finally, I was able to create a screencast I thought met expectations.

The cool-tool I used for this assignment was PREZI. In creating this assignment I feel I have become very comfortable using PREZI and I would definitely recommend it as a presentation tool. Also, I think after spending so much time creating my screencast I will be able to create screencasts with less difficulties in the future. (I hope!)

Link to my screencast: http://www.screencast.com/users/moon24/folders/Default/media/76a734eb-ab0e-4190-91bd-79b532439535

Exit Slip: Week 3

Hm....it's safe to say we are far past week three by now but after reviewing my blog I noticed I didn't post an exit slip for this week. Luckily, we have the helpful what we did in class wiki! There were a few important thinks I took away from this class. First of all, we went over some tips for successful presentations. One thing I will always remember is: AVOID UMS, AHS, AND LIKES! Another helpful thing I took away from this class (which I still remember!) were some helpful SmartBoard tips. One thing I thought was really cool was that you can calibrate text and move text around on the board by clicking on it and dragging. And also, when using online sources use Triangulation! Check your sources with other sources and always make sure what you are using is credible.

Chapter 10: Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology

The last chapter of the book! This chapter basically wrapped up the entire book and went over the different ways we, as future educators, need to rethink education in a technological world. As far as learning goes, it has become easier and easier for children to learn outside of school with the technologies and resources they have. We need to learn what and how they are learning so we can incorporate these things into our classrooms. The chapter then went on to discuss rethinking motivation. The book states that our schools aren’t motivating students as they should be. I do agree with this but I disagree with their idea that students should learn more computer-based learning as opposed to teacher based learning. I am all for integrating technology into the classroom but I don’t think that students should just sit at a computer to learn and get instruction form the teacher “when necessary”. If this happened, when would it stop? Eventually there would be no schools, no teachers, just children learning at their computers. Computers are great tools and with all the resources we have it is great that children can find so many learning opportunities through the computers but I think there needs to be a balance between computers and human interactions. Throughout the book they have pushed the integration of technology but I think this book was pretty biased. The book took little time to discuss the negatives that could come from such heavy integrations of technology.  I do agree that it is undeniable that our schools are behind in this technological world and that schools need to work harder to change but I don’t think computers should become the main source of learning. Another main idea that was pushed throughout the book was life-long learning. Careers are no longer life-long as they used to be so we need to prepare our students for a future in this world. However, throughout the book it pushed the idea of students learning what they are interested in. I think it is important for students to become knowledgeable in things that interest them, but I think they also need to be knowledgeable in a variety of topics.

I think the book kind of contradicts itself because it states that students need to be life-long learners in order to prepare for a society where they might have several careers but it also pushes the idea that students should become knowledgeable in just the topics they want to be. One chapter even proposed the idea that high school students could get certified in certain areas instead of getting the traditional high school diploma. To sum up my thoughts and what I have learned throughout this book I would say that we need to find balance. In today’s society technology needs to be integrated but it is our job to figure out how to do it to best prepare our student’s for the future. Throughout this book I have learned not only about technology but about the American education system as a whole. I do have a new view on technology because before I really didn’t have a view at all. Now I know that technology is an essential aspect of education and it is our job to effectively integrate it into our classrooms.

Exit Slip: 12/9/10

Three Ways to Integrate Technology into Ella's Kindergarten Class:

1.) In my classroom, I plan to have different centers for the Kindergartner's to learn and explore. I believe one section should be an audio section where students can listen to different sounds, stories, etc. The audio could come from a computer or even an ipod or other listening device. In several Early Learning classrooms I have been to teachers are still using tape players for this. I think by now, students should be introduced to computers or even I-pods. Some people may think that I-pods may be too complicated for Kindergartners to use, but I disagree. The "learning" playlist would already be set up by me and ready to go, all the students would have to do is press play and put the head phones on (Kindergartners can do this!) As far as the actual audio files go, one type of file I would use a combination of podcasts and songs.

2.) Also, in one learning center, I believe even as young as kindergarten, the students should have access to computers. On these computers there will be learning devices available in several subjects. One program I might use is Scratch. I could use Scratch for a mathematics lesson or lessons in other areas such as reading and writing (ABC's, etc) as well. Also, there may be educational videos available for the students to watch on the computers.

3.) I also hope to have access to an Interactive White Board. I think an IWB would be a great way to get Kindergartner's attention and also help them build on their skills and knowledge. At this age, Interactive White Boards can help students build their fine motor skills (if they are able to use the IWB's hands-on) as well as effectively teach them the content of the lesson.

Other Ideas (All Grades):

• Video Streaming
• Blogging
• Scratch
• E-Pals
• Simulations
• Online Whiteboarding (Scribble)
• Course website/portal 
• Podcasting
• Wikis
• Online Multimedia

In class today, Dr. Boyer mentioned recording students reading (in early childhood education classrooms) three times a year. This way, I would actually be able to hear the students' progress and share it with parents. I think this is a great idea and I hope to do this in my future classroom. When I came into this semester I didn't really have too many ideas of ways I could integrate technology into my classroom. To be honest, I didn't even know I would use much technology in the early childhood classrooms. However, now I know that in the earlier grades it is just as important, if not more, important to incorporate technology in the classroom. As you can see above, I now have several specific ideas of effective ways to incorporate technology in my classroom. Although, I do struggle with technology, I feel as though it should be an essential part of all students' education. In today's society, technology is becoming more and more of a backbone and in order for student's to succeed we need to give them the opportunities to use it as early as possible.

Exit Slip: 12/2/2010

We began class today by watching a video of a teacher who integrates technology in her classroom. We discussed some of the ways she integrated technology in her classroom. The key ways she shared were:

·        Smart Board for lessons and activities: cooperative learning, engagement, & participation

·         Posts daily blog and assignments online (open classroom/recognition)

·         Students do online collaborative projects: share projects with peers around the world

·         Students post blogs about current events and classroom activities: share opinions, active members of society

·         Students used laptops and desktop computers

We then looked into which things we could do before, couldn't do before, and things we could do but can do better with technology. Some of the things that we can do better now is the open classroom idea, current events, and sharing perspectives. It is important to look into which things we can do better with technology because we don't want to integrate technology into our classroom just for the heck of it. Technology should be used when it can improve lessons and students' learning.

We then looked into some brilliant things and stupid things teachers can do with technology. Jeff used the jigsaw method so we all shared one idea until we had learned seven new ideas. The ones I shared were that teachers should use technology to empower students. Students who are good writers can become better writers, and so on and so forth. The other idea I shared was that teachers need to back-up data. I liked the jigsaw for this activity because I was able to get all the ideas without reading both articles.

Exit Slip: 11/18/10

One new thing we did in class today was a jigsaw discussion! I liked the jigsaw discussion because we were able to share ideas with two groups and in the end come up with a vision for education. This was a great way to get all the different peolpe in our group to bring our ideas together. Next, we did a media search. The idea of this was to find helpful resources for the grade level we hope to teach. We found a video, a podcast, a IWB lesson, a Scratch project, and an online game. This activity allowed us to find resources that might be helpful to us, but also to get helpful resources from our classmates. Through our delicicous accunts we all have access to eachothers resources.

Podcast Reflection

Before this class I didn’t even know what a podcast was, and now I’ve created one. Unfortunately, the process did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. I can honestly say I spent several hours working on my podcast but I still don’t feel all my effort shows through the podcast. Finding a relevant article and wring a script were no problem. However, I had a hard time with the actual production of the podcast. Since I was using a Windows computer I had to use Audacity for my podcast. First, the music clip I wanted to use would not work in Audacity so I ended up finding a new one (this also happened with my sound effect). After I recorded the actual podcast I was having problems getting my musics clip lined up with the end of the podcast. Finally I figured it out. Creating this podcast allowed me to understand how podcasts are made. However, as an early childhood education major, I doubt I will be using podcasts in my future classroom.  Although, if I do decide to change grade levels I could see podcasts being helpful tools for higher levels.               

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html

                                                 

Chatpers 9, 10, & epilogue of Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts

Chapter 9: Social Networks

Finally, a chapter about something that I have heard of before. Of course, I have used social networking websites before such as myspace and facebook, but I had only used the websites for personal connections. Social networking websites in the classroom were never something I'd really considered before. It was interesting to hear a couple examples of teachers who have incorporated social networking websites into their classroom. I do think it is a good idea. I think these websites would be a great way to get students involved via discussions, videos, and photos (all relevant to the course material of course). Another way I think a social networking page could be beneficial would be for the class would be to make the page a place to share with other classrooms and parents about what is going on in the classroom. Students could post what they learned each day. For me, being an early childhood education major, this seems like a more practical approach to using social networking websites in the classroom.  Also, like Jim Meredith stated on page 137, his students had all been exposed to facebook before so they already knew how to use it. From this chapter not only did I learn that social networking sites could be used in the classroom, but I also learned that, in many instances, there may be effective ways to use tools we are already familiar with that I may not have thought of before. However, one thing I think we need to be careful about with having students use these websites, especially facebook, is their personal use of them. Some students might try to use them for personal use during class time. This is why I think using a website like ning, as mentioned in the chapter, would be a great idea.

Chapter 10 & Epilogue: What It All Means

The chapter begins by summing up two "unstoppable" trends: one, more and more content will be online. This effects us, as educators, because it is possible that textbooks may be entirely be online before we know it. Perhaps I am sort of a traditionalist because I think this is kind of sad. For me, when I am at a computer or looking at a computer screen I am distracted so much easier than if I have a book in front of me, and only that book. I think books are great things and I am afraid of books disappearing entirely! However, I am aware that the most important aspect of books is the content, and that would still be there. Also, I am sure students would get used to reading their content on the computer. Anyways, the second trend mentioned is that more and more of the creation of content is collaborative. The Internet gives us more opportunities to collaborate than we have ever had before. The chapter also went into detail about some of the big shifts we will most likely have in our classrooms. These shifts. along with the rest of the book, got me thinking about things I may encounter in my classroom. I can honestly say before this class, and reading this book, I hadn't given much thought into technology in the classroom. This book has showed me several specific examples of ways I might integrate technology into my classroom. I believe even in the early childhood grades I will need to integrate technology into my classroom. This book gave me a better knowledge of several specific tools I may be able to use. I think one tool I might use is podcasts. Even for grades such as kindergarten, podcasts can be made for their learning. I hope to use my knowledge of technology to create an effective learning environment for my students.

Exit Slip: 11/11/10

Today, was used primarily as a work day! Whoo hoo, I know I am definitely using the time to wrap some things up. As usual, we started class with discussion of the chapter we read. Today's discussion was on Chapter 9: What Does it all Mean? I was a part of discussion guide this week. To see more about the discussion check out my post on discussion guide.

Also, Dr. Boyer shared a link with us about a first-grade classroom integrating facebook into their classroom. Before reading this link, I thought that as an early childhood education major, using facebook in the classroom was not even an option. In fact, the idea even sounded ridiculous to me. However, I found this article really interesting and I did seem like it was working well for that classroom, and students were benefiting from it. Also, I decided to use this article as an informal article for my technology inquiry wiki since I am researching ways to integrate technology in the early childhood classrooms. 
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2010/11/07/council_bluffs/doc4cd61de0eceb2779388716.txt

Chapters 8 & 9: Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology

Chapter 8: How Schools Can Cope With the New Technologies

This chapter began with an issue between state and federal policies and school officials. Basically, state and federal policies are putting more emphasis on the accountability of the schools. If students do poorly on standardized testing, it is the teachers fault. The chapter then goes on to state some ways in which technology can be used to take some of the pressure off of school officials. The first topic discussed was assessment. The chapter offers a different type of assessment then our traditional ways off assessing. Basically, students find the certifications they need to graduate, on the topics they want, on the computer. Students would end up having several credentials and certificates before they could graduate but they could make a plan that would fit their lives and interests. The chapter also talked about new curriculum designs. Here, students would be able to focus their curriculum and goals on their own interests. Students would get certifications in areas they were interested in.  And, the last section of the chapter discussed equality. We all know that there is a digital divide, but if we somehow found away to bring technology to all regions, there would be an equal chance for everybody.

Personally, I found this chapter pretty unrealistic. I do like the idea of giving students some freedom to study, and become expert, in fields they are interested it in but I don’t agree with some aspects of the idea. I don’t think students should be able to graduate with just knowledge on one field they are interested in. I think it helps students to be exposed to several different areas to become better learners. In the real world, we will need knowledge in more than just one area whether we want to or not. Also, a lot of students in high school have no idea what they want to do, therefore, they need to be exposed to all kinds of fields because they really don’t know where they will end up. Also, I think we all know that when it comes to the digital divide and the issue of equality our problems would be solved if we could get all regions to have access to technology. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that as very realistic. I think it would be great if all regions could gain from technology but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Chapter 9: What Does It All Mean?

As you can see in the title this chapter brought together all the concepts throughout the book.  So we have learned all about technology in today's education system but what does that all mean? One quote that I think sums up this chapter pretty well is this one: "For the first time, cchildren may know more than us which is why we need to learn more so we can integrate it in our classrooms. In order to do this we need to study what they're learning through technology." I think this is a great quote to sum up, not only the chapter, but the book so far. It's true, many children know more than us about technology which is why we need to understand it so that we can help them learn through it. Its obvious that children are learning through technology why is why we need to understand how, and figure out what we can do to help them learn even more . One of the ways the chapter states that children are learning is through video games. Although, video games are often thought of as addictive or corruptive, children are actually learning problem-solving skills as well as communication skills through video games. Another resource children can use to learn is online communities, children can share what they know as well as learn about what others know about things they have a passion for. Adults may think this is a waste of time but in reality this could be building on children's literacy and research skills. These are just a couple examples the chapter shared about ways in which children are learning, on their own, through technology. The last section of the chapter states that although technology innovations are breaking through in administrative offices, schools are still behind. With all this evidence that children can learn through technology, teachers need to switch from traditional practices to more modern (technology integrated) practices. This chapter didn't really change my views on technology since it was kind of a wrap up of the rest of the book but it did reinforce the idea that technology needs to be integrated into classrooms. In the future, I plan to use technology in my classrooms because I truly believe that technology can be a powerful tool and, when used the right way, can help students learn!

Discussion Guide Reflection

Deltas- Share Prezi, forgot student, new tool didn't work

+'s - Plan B, new tool (limit dominant voice, save time, reduce off-task talking), new grouping, walked around

I was a part of this week's discussion guide on Chapter 9: What Does it all Mean? For our discussion we had planned to use four different scrib link pages for students to share their ideas of specific questions: positives and negatives of technology and social communities on learning. Unfortunately scrib link didn't work! Instead we had students get into groups to discuss their ideas. This worked fine, but I was bummed scrib link didn't work because I was excited for the students to use a new and fun tool for discussion. One thing we should have done to help students would be to share the Prezi with everybody. This would reduce confusion. Also, in our groupings, we left a student out! I know in our classroom it wasn't a big deal, but in elementary school, this would have been a bigger deal. This shows how careful we need to be while making groups because we even double checked our lists but still made a mistake! Overall, the discussion didn't go as well as I had hoped but I know in the future lessons will not always go as planned so it is helpful to learn now how to deal with the unexpected.

Exit Slip: 11/4/10

In today's class, we took awhile to go over some helpful tools for Scratch. I think this helped me a bit since I'm still overwhelmed by Scratch. One thing that got me thinking was, is the iRLO really reusable? I hadn't really thought about how some lessons (specifically math) could end up being memorized by students, therefore, they wouldn't really be learning. Next, we talked about our technology inquiry's. One thing I learned was that I need to make sure I have enough white space in my inquiry wiki so it is readable and organized. Also, I didn't know that for APA format, only the first letter of the Article is to be capitalized. These are some changes I'm going to have to make to my technology inquiry wiki to make sure it is professional and represents me.

Chapter 8: Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts

Podcasting, Video and Screencasting, and Live Streaming

This chapter gave me a better idea of what podcasting is and how we can use it in the classroom. Basically, podcasting is radio broadcasting. The great thing about podcasting is that anybody can create a podcast
(with a few tools). Also, like websites, podcasts can be available for everybody to view or for certain audiences such as students. I think using a podcast in the classroom is a great idea. One way podcasts can be used in the classroom is by the students. Students can create podcasts and share them with the rest of their classroom. Podcasts could be created for nearly any subject and students could be used as an assignment or project to help students gain understsanding of the subject. Another way podcasts could be used in the classroom is podcasts by teachers. Teachers could record daily lessons so that students could view them from home or outside of the classroom. This would also be helpful for students who are home sick or gone for the day. Podcasting could be a great educational tool in the classroom.

I also gained a better understanding of Screencasting and Live Streaming. To me, these are both extremely helpful tools. Screencasting can be used to show an audience how to do something on a website or where to find something.  There are so many ways screencasting could be used; they can be a useful way to educate an audiece. For example, the screencast we watched in class showed us how a wiki can be edited and changes over time. As an educator, I think podcasts, screencasting, and live streaming, could be used as great educational tools. All three of them allow for educating an audience without actually being there. Plus, these tools allow for re-watching where as a teacher can't rewind themselves and re-do a lesson.

Exit Slip: 10/28/10

One of the first things I learned in class today was something that wasn't even planned. During discussion we ended up getting off track. However,  I learned was how easy it is for discussion to get off track, and how important it is to get it back on track. Next during discussion debrief, Dr. Boyer got us thinking about how important it is for us, as educators, to have initiative. We also went over the steps to making our own podcast. The podcast can be on any contemporary issue related to technology and PK-12 learners. We will need to provide overview, summarize, and give a reflection of the issue. I don't think I will enjoy listening to my own podcast but other than that I look forward to making my own podcast.

Exit Slip: 10/21/10

One of the most important things I got out of class was the tips for the SMARTboard. I think these tips will really help me in the future when using th SMARTboard. One of the tools I think will be the most helpful is the infinite cloner tool. When I was designing my IWB I ended up copying and pasting a lot...the cloner would have helped a lot! Another thing I learned in class was a new way to split up discussion groups called jigsawing. Hopefully before the semester is over I will be able to see this discussion strategy in action so I can really see how it woks.

Chapter 7: Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology

Chapter 7 can be summarized pretty well by the title: What May Be Lost and What May Be Gained. The chapter focused on what may be lost with the increase of technology and what may be gained. The first part of the chapter focused on what may be lost. One of the main concerns of the pessimists is societal cohesion. Technology, and more specifically, the Internet makes it easy for people with common interests and goals to collaborate. Interests groups are easily formed. Therefore, people are only communicated with people who have similar views which could cause a decline in societal cohesion. Also, with such easy access to diverse groups the idea that public schools must help diverse people has lost some of its force. Personally, I disagree with this statement. I still think public schools are one of the most important places children can be introduced to diversity. Another issue with technology is the "digital divide", society may be, or perhaps already is, divided by those who rely heavily on technology and those who don't. Therefore, people who can't afford such technologies aren't getting an equal opportunity in society. Last, but not least the increase of technology poses the fear that people will become isolated. Almost everything we do can be done on the computer such as shopping, school, games, and even watching tv or reading. This causes the threat that social skills will decline, which will also have an effect on societal cohesion. As a future educator, I dont think technology will ever get to the point where we don't have public schools. I also think it is important to keep some of these fears in mind, such as loss of social skills, so we can ensure that students are gaining these skills at school.

So what can be gained by the increase in technology? The main argument is that learning can become more engaging. After using some technologies, such as scratch and the smart board, I agree with this statement. Technology can also allow for education to be more personalized. This was used in a negative sense above, but it can also be a great thing. If people are learning what they want to learn in a way they want to learn it they are going to be more engaged. Technologies can offer opportunities we've never had before. In the future I hope to use technology to keep students engaged which will allow them to be more motivated to learn. I think the most important thing I thought of while reading this chapter is that education is essential for success. And, in today's society technology has to be incorporated into education. As with any new changes, there are always fears but along with these fears are the opportunities for  great successes.

Chapter 7: Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts

 Before I read Chapter 7: Fun With Flickr, all I really knew about Flickr was that it is a photo-sharing website. I was even a little confused as to how a photo-sharing website, such as Flickr, could be incorporated into the classroom. I soon learned there are several ways Flickr could be used in the classroom. One of the things that I found would be helpful in Flickr was the annotation feature. I learned that you can add notes to any part of the picture using this feature. This could be a helpful tool in the classroom because notes can be attached right to the picture on the object of the notes. One example used in the book was for dissections. Teachers could post a picture of the animal and attach notes right on the picture. Another part of Flickr discussed in the chapter was the ability to share online discussions. I didn't know photo-sharing websites had this aspect. I think online discussions on pictures could be a great tool to use in the classroom since pictures could be made private. This way, the picture and discussion could be limited to your classroom. On the other hand, another great aspect of Flickr is it's ability to connect people around the world. This could be helpful in the classroom because students could find pictures from all parts of the world. For example, if a student was doing a project on a different country, they could simply type that country in and find several pictures from that country. I think using Flickr in the classroom would be an effective way to organize lessons (such as the dissection picture) as well as use as resource for students. I learned that Flickr has a lot more to it than just sharing photos. I think Flickr would be a great resource for upper elementary school grades through high school, but not so much for the earlier grades. Although, as a future early childhood educator I could use Flicker to post pictures of whats going on my classroom for students and parents see.

Chapter 6: Rethinking Education in the Age of Techonlogy

This chapter, The Three Eras of Education, began by summarizing the eras of education, first there was apprenticeship then universal-schooling, and now we are entering the lifelong-learning era of education. The chapter then goes on to describe different aspects of education that have changed throughout these three eras. To me, the biggest difference between the apprenticeship era and the universal-schooling era was the involvement of the state. I thought it was really interesting to learn about apprenticeships because it was something I had never really thought about before. I learned that before universal schooling children usually learned through their family, so if they grew up on a farm they would learn how to farm. Then, in the universal schooling era the state took control and students went to school to learn about a variety of topics.Now, as we enter the lifelong learning era the author argues that we are kind of shifting back because parents and families are becoming more involved and the state less involved. I'm not sure if I agree with this. I do agree that students and parents are beginning to have more choices but I think the state still is, and should be involved. I still think it is important for children to learn about a variety of topics because it will only expand their knowledge base and in the long-run their opportunities.

However, as a teacher I hope to give my students options. I hope to have students learn about several topics but I also hope to allow students some freedom to expand on the topics in which they are most interested. I don't agree with having students becoming extremely knowledgeable about just one topic and during middle school and high school because I think they are missing out on other things that will help them succeed in the future. I think it is great for students to become knowledgeable in topics they are interested in but I still think they should learn about other topics as well. For example, if a student loves writing and wants to expand on it, that's great, but in order to become educated and to succeed that student should still spend sometime studying social studies or math. All in all, after reading this chapter I do believe that the life-long learning era is an improvement of the apprenticeship era and the universal-schooling era.

Chapter 5: Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology

This Chapter, The Seeds of a New Education System, looks at the ways the American Education system has changed over the years. Although I always knew our education system had gone through many changes I had never really taken much thought to this before I read this chapter. In fact, there were some aspects of schooling brought up in this chapter I had never really thought about before. The chapter focused on homes schooling, workplace learning, distance education, learning centers, educational television and videos, computer based learning software, technical certifications, internet cafes, and lifelong learning. Before this chapter I had heard of learning centers but never really knew what they were. Another thing if found interesting is this chapter was the section on technical certifications. This another aspect of education I had never given much thought to. I had heard of GED’s about it. I didn’t know that companies like Microsoft and Crisco were giving out certifications. I have to say I disagree with the conclusion that these certifications are a threat to the current education system. I think in our society, the education we have in schools and colleges are still honored way too much for these types of certifications to be a threat. Perhaps, these certifications will be seen as a pro for some employers but I think a formal education, such as a high school diploma, will be valued more by employers than the certifications.

One of the things I plan to take out of this chapter and into my classroom is the idea of life-long learning. I believe that the goal of all teachers should be for their students to be life-long learners. I hope to teach my students things that will help them, not only in school, but in the rest of their lives as well.

Exit Slip: 10/14/10

Today's class discussion focused on Chapter 5, The Seeds of a New Education System. The discussion allowed us to think of pros and cons of the different aspects listed in the Chapter. Some of the things we talked about were learning systems, home schooling, video games for learning, and distance education. Another student in class offered a personalized pro of video games for learning which made me change my perspective a little. At first, I agreed with the group that video games such as SIMS are more fore fun than learning. The student in class shared that her son's reading level went up two grades after switching his video games to SIMS games. This made me think about how important it is to keep in mind that all students learn differently. The rest of class we spent talking about our iRLOs and using scratch. Now that I have a little more experience with scratch I think it'll be fun to design an iRLO.

Chapter 6: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts

Chapter 6: The Social Web

As we know, the web is a social place. Over 1 billion people are online, and amongst these 1 billion, people are connecting, collaborating, and creating together. This chapter focused on learning together using the world wide web. The chapter talked about Twitter and how it can be used both personally and professionally. I have never used Twitter and I always used to think of it as personal website, I basically thought of it as a place where people can share thoughts, statuses, plans, etc., with their friends or other people on the web. In Chapter 6, however, I learned that Twitter can be used professionally as well. It makes sense. For example, as a future educator, I could follow other educators on Twitter and ask questions, learn about their lessons, projects, and ideas. Twitter could also be used in other professions for people to collaborate and connect their ideas. Another aspect of the Social Web which the chapter focused on is Social Bookmarking Services. Through, EDU331 I have gotten personal experience with social bookmarking. I think social bookmarking is great way to keep places I've found on the web organized. I can save any website that could ever be helpful to me and be able to find it within seconds. And, just as importantly, I can share these resources with anyone else who may be interested. In turn, I can use other people's bookmarks to find recourse which might help me.

In the last decade the web and the use of the web has expanded tremendously. It has now become a part of almost everybody's lives. I think this is an important thing to keep in mind when teaching. Students probably be will be using the Internet no matter what, and most of them will probably be using it to connect socially. I think it is important to teach students that the social web can actually be a place where they can learn.

Exit Slip: 10/7/10

All I learned today was that Professor Boyer is older than Professor Buchanan...hahaha!

Okay, just kidding....we started off class with the student led discussion on Chapter 4: The Developments of the American School System. We did an activity which I thought was helpful because it took different aspects of schooling and we thought of negatives and changes that could be made. I liked the negatives and changes that could be made activity because it encouraged deeper thinking. For instance, tests are sometimes negative because some students are just bad at taking them because they get nervous or feel pressured. A change that could be made is alternative assessments. Students' knowledge can be tested by journals, projects, or essays, not just tests. The most important thing I took out of the discussion debrief, was to remember that sometimes we have to redirect our peers. Next, we talked about iRLOs. We learned about what an iRLO is and how to design one using Scratch. Like the IWB, I think it'll take me a bit to get used to the software but I once I get the hang of it I will have fun creating my iRLO. Somethings I'm already thinking about is what the content of my iRLO will be, and how I will introduce the content to to students.

Ch. 4: Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology

Reflection of Chapter 4: The Development of American Schooling

Before reading this chapter I hadn't given too much thought into the development of American schooling. All I really knew was that it has come a long way. I learned that American schooling began with apprenticeships. Basically, children were taught what they needed to know (or what their parents thought they needed to know) by family or friends. For example, if the family owned a business, children would learn things to keep the business running. If the family owned a farm, children would learn things to keep the farm successful.  Until finally the Universal Schooling movement when education shifted from family and friends to the state. Children could now go to school and learn specific subjects such as reading and writing. It was no longer the task of parents to educate their children, but tasks of teachers. The section universal schooling movement in the chapter reinforced my thoughts that school is something we should be grateful for. As a future educator, I think schools should be positive places. Too often students forget how important school is, and that it is something to be grateful for.

 Also, America has gone through a cycle of revolutions which shaped the American education system into what it is today. Currently, we are undergoing a technology revolution. Therefore, our society is changing and we need to prepare students for their future in a world in which technology is everywhere. I hope to incorporate technology into my future classrooms, even in early grades, so that students are better prepared for their future in our society.

Chapter 5: Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts

Reflection of Chapter 5:

Before reading Chapter 5: RSS: The new Killer App for Educators I didn't have the slightest clue what an "RSS" was. I soon learned that RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. Here's my definition of an RSS: A place you can go on the web to get information from a bunch of different websites all in one place. Basically, instead of clicking through dozens of sites to get the information I'm looking for I can create my own RSS and have the all the content I need in once place. To quote the book RSS's allow you to "read more content from more sources in less time." Also, the websites on my RSS are all websites I will subscribe to so they should all be sites I'm interested in; NO SPAM! As always on the web though, I would have to evaluate the websites I choose to put on my RSS before I put them there. And, as we know, evaluating websites can be tricky. Still, I thought the RSS seemed pretty convenient. At first, I thought setting up an RSS sounded pretty complicated with the "aggregator" and what not but I think once I'd actually do it, it wouldn't be very difficult and would be worth my time. Another feature of an RSS is that it can let you know when someone publishes something with a certain keyword in it. This could be beneficial because someone could post a new story on the web about a topic I'm interested in and I'd be able to easily find it. I did think that this could kind of contradict the whole no spam aspect of the RSS though because a website that has keyword with a topic im interested in might also have a lot of spam. As a future educator, I learned that I could use an RSS to keep track of my students' blogs. I thought this was a great idea because, like the wiki, I could keep all my students' blogs in one place where I can quickly access them.

So now that I know how to use an RSS, how can my students benefit from an RSS? Students could use an RSS for research. For instance, if a student is researching kangaroos the student could create an RSS that would bring any information about kangaroos to their RSS right when its published. This way, they're getting more sources for their research without actually doing any work. I found this both good and bad. The good thing is that students can get more information faster. The bad thing is, I think students need to learn how to do research themselves, both on the web and off the web. All in all, the RSS has advantages and disadvantages, like any technology. I think an RSS is a can be great tool for middle school or high school students but as an early childhood education major, my students won't be using one!

Chapter 4: Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts

Reflection of Chapter 4:

Chapter 4, Wikis: Easy Collaboration for All, was all about wikis and different ways they can be used in the classroom. One interesting fact I took out of the beginning of the chapter was what the word "wiki" actually means. I always knew that wikipedia is basically an online encyclopedia but I never really thought about what the wiki part of wikipedia actually means. As it turns out, the word wiki comes from the Hawaiian phrase "wiki-wiki" which means quick. Well, this makes sense since wikis can be a quick and easy tool to use. The chapter goes on about several different ways wikis can be used in the classroom. One way wikis can be used by students is for research. Just like using any website for research, this can be both good and bad. With wikis, anybody can post so students have to keep in mind that not all information is reliable. Just like evaluating websites, wikis need to be evaluated when being used for research. For this reason I think students should use wikis with caution when researching. Perhaps, using a wiki might be a good place to start research and get some ideas, but the research needs to go farther. On the other hand, I found some other great ways to use wikis in the classroom throughout chapter 4. One example in the book I liked was a classroom that used a wiki for science class to share results of experiments. I think this is a good idea because this way students are just one click away from the results all the others students got. I think another effective way to use a wiki is for classroom organization (like in EDU 331). As far as organization goes, Wikis can be used to share links to other websites or classroom blogs.

As an early childhood education major I probably won't be using wikis with my students. I could, however, set up a wiki to share links to homework, activities, and blogs, with parents. On the other hand, if I ever decide to teach higher levels I think using wikis in the classroom is an effective way to keep information organized and easy to reach for all the students in the class.

Exit Slip 9/30/10

We began class with the student led discussion which was on Chapter 3 this week, the technology skeptic's argument. The discussion began with a quote from 1815 about how students will no longer be able use a slate and get chalk dust on themselves. This quote, along with the others from the beginning of Chapter 3, really shocked me to see how long our schools have been struggling with the integration with technology. After discussion we talked about what went well and what could go better. Jeff talked about student to student discussion instead of student to teacher discussion. This was something I hadn't thought of much before now and will try to integrate into my discussion. Next, we talked about our Interactive Whiteboard Lessons. The ideas for my lesson are already rolling in my head and I'm kind of excited to design a lesson using the SmartBoard because I think its something that is going to get students excited and motivated to learn.

Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology (Ch. 3)

The Technology Skeptic's Arguement:

Chapter 3 began with a list of struggles educators have had with technology since as early as 1815! I thought this was a very interesting introduction to the chapter because it opened my eyes to just how long schools have been struggling with adapting to technology. Some of the examples listed were things that today we might not even think of as technology. One of the examples I thought was particularly ironic was the one which dealt with ball point pens. The person stated that ball point pens would not go on and were a waste. I thought this was funny because we use ball point pens nearly everyday now. The chapter went on to explain some of the other arguements technology skeptic's have. One of the quotes from the chapter stated that we've already learned everything we needed to know in kindergarten, so why learn more. I think this relates to technology because some people use the arguement that we already know everything we need to know to teach, so why try to complicate things with technology. For example, teachers taught in schools for 100's of years without using the kinds of technology such as computers, blogs, smartboards, etc, so some think we should continue teaching the way we always have. Even after reading this chapter I would have to disagree with the technology skeptic's arguement. Although, I do think some things should stay the same (learning how to write with a pen or pencil and reading out of actual books) I also think it's essential to student's learning to incorporate technology. In today's society, techonlogy is everywhere so even if it may take some time and hard work to incorporate techonlogy into lessons it's important for students' future to learn how to use it.

Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology (Ch 2)

Chapter 2 Reflection:

Chapter 2 of Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology focused on the technology enthusiast's point of view regarding the Knowledge Revolution. While reading this chapter I couldn't help but think of the phrase Jeff used in class, "we need to prepare our students for their future, not our past." I think that phrase is a good way to sum up the argument of the technology enthusiast's argument. One of the specific points brought up in the chapter is that schools have been slow to adapt to the Knowledge Revolution. The schools have been "lost in time". I do agree with this because although some schools are finally working to incorporate technology into learning some schools still haven't and even the ones that have are probably using more basic forms of technology than they need to. Even in technology savy schools there are always one are two teachers who refuse to incorporate technology into their lessons. Although I'm not the most technology savy person myself I will teach myself effective ways to use technology in the classroom because I think its a great way to expand student's learning base while keeping them interested.

Exit Slip 9/23/10

We began class by the student led discussion on Chapter 2. The discussion allowed me to think about deeper about the Chapter than I had before. When I read the chapter I, for the most part, I agreed with the technology enthusiast's point of view. In class, I had to take the point of someone who didn't agree with the technology enthusiasts. I actually liked this because it allowed me to think from a different viewpoint. After discussion we went over what went well and what could be changed. This helped me a lot because I now have a better idea of what to do and what not to do when I lead the discussion. Another thing I got out of class today was a better idea of how to use the smart board. I think the Smart Exchange website Jeff shared with us will be an extremely helpful tool to use if I get the opportunity to teach in a classroom with a smart board. I am bummed because I already did my presentation for Ed Psych and I didn't even do anything fun with the smart board! In the future I hope I get to use a smart board.

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts (1-3)

It seems every time I read something for this class it becomes even clearer to me how important the role of technology is in our classrooms today. This idea was certainly made even clearer to me after reading the first three chapters of Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts. One of the main points I took from the first chapter, “The Read/Write Web”, was that we, as educators, are faced with a difficult dilemma. Schools, as a system, have been slow to react to the changing world around us. Technology has become an essential part of the way students communicate and learn. At any given point of the day a student might be texting, facebooking, and IM-ing all at once. What this means is that, as educators, we need to find ways to use technology in the classroom to benefit and help them learn. In turn, the use of technology should keep the students focused and ready for the read-world. The world is now a technological world and we need to keep that in mind while preparing students for the future.

In the following chapters about weblogs I was intrigued by all the different ways I could incorporate weblogs into my classroom. I thought it was a great idea to use blogging for discussions or reflections in classrooms. One example used in the book was in a 5^th grade classroom. To me, this was a specific example of how our world is changing because when I was in 5^th grade I didn’t even know how to use the Internet and I most definitely did not know what a blog was. Another way I learned I could use the web in my classroom is to post assignments. I think posting assignments online is a great idea for several reasons. One reason is because if it’s online a student can’t lose it. Also, it could be easily accessible to students’ parents.  One of the main things I took out of the first three chapters of this book is that technology is always changing and as an educator I have to continue to educate myself to ensure I’m preparing my students for the future, not the past.

Growing Up Online

Even though I live inside an online world the Frontline video, Growing Up Online, shocked me. In fact, it even scared me a little bit. Even in the introduction several teenagers admitted that they could do whatever they wanted online because it was a "different world". Their parents don't have to see their online identity and online they can be whoever they want to be. One girl admitted that when she was 14 she posted pictures of herself looking like she was 18. Isn't this an invitation for predators? The video also showed other ways the web can be dangerous. There was an example of a girl who used the Internet to give her "tips on anorexia". This portion of the video really stuck with me because it was such an extreme example of the dangerous things that can be found on the Internet. There was also a portion of the video that focused on a boy who committed suicide due to online bullying. I have heard of other stories like this and I find it terrifying that the web can be such a powerful place that it could cause someone to commit suicide.

On the other end of the spectrum, the video focused on using technology and Internet in the classroom. Since students are growing up in front of computer screens it is extremely important that we, as educators, make sure we can give students the same focus they get when sitting in front of their computer. Do I think that means we should have computers,computer activities, and online discussions in every classroom? No. To me, the video focused on the two very different classrooms. The male teacher had all students replying to questions on computers and was then posting them on a large board at the front of the class. The woman teacher who had been teaching for 30 years, didn't use technology much at all in her classroom. I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both of these classrooms. One disadvantage to the extremely tech savy classroom is that the students may not get the social interaction and classroom discussion that is essential. On the other hand, the disadvantage to the classroom without technology is that students will be bored! After all, they grew up with computers and technology.

In my future classroom, I hope to find a happy medium. I think using technology in the classroom is essential to today's generation of students. In order to keep students focused, technology is necessary. On the other hand, I think it is important to keep in mind that not all activities need to be computer or technology related. I hope to use activities both with and without technology that will keep my students interested, focused, and learning.

Evaluating Websites

The web can be a scary place. Luckily, most adults know that not everything out there is credible, valuable, or even true. Unfortunately, children may have a much more naive view and believe what they see on the web must be from an expert and must be true. This is why it is important for teachers to tell their students that not all websites are credible. Here are some of the things I would tell my students to do when deciding if a website is credible. One thing students should always do is to look for an author. Credible websites should have an author and it should not be that hard to find. If there is no author, the website might not be credible. Another thing students should look for is sources. A website full of facts should list sources that support these facts. Speaking of facts, does the website have facts? If it feels like the website is giving more of an opinion, then it probably is. In fact, many websites are biased. I think it is important to tell students that there may be information on the website they know is wrong. If they see something that feels wrong, it very well could be. For example, have you ever heard of an octopus that lives in a tree? The website, Save the Northwest Tree Octopus claims so, but I highly doubt it. Something else students can look for when evaluating a website is links. Does the website link you to other credible websites? For example, the Martin Luther King website had a link to a rap lyrics website. That doesn't sound too helpful. A credible website should also have dates on it. When was it last updated? If it hasn't been updated in several years it may be wise to find a new website.

As you can see, there are several different things to look for when determining if a website is credible or not. I learned during this assignment that it may take some time to explore the website before reaching a verdict. Students should know that its always okay to ask a teacher, parent, or even a peer, what they think of the website. After all, it can be confusing!

Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology

Reflection On Chapter 1:

While reading the Preface and Chapter One of Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology I was able to get a better understanding of just how important technology is becoming. More specifically, technology in schools and in the learning process. More and more people are going outside of schools to use technology for both learning, entertainment, and preparation for life. The book has called this spread of technology the Knowledge Revolution. And just like the Industrial Revolution, the effects are showing up in our schools. In order to give students the opportunities they need and deserve in this world we, as educators, have to incorporate technology. At the beginning of Chapter One the book used several real life examples of the heavy role technology is playing in people's lives. One of the examples that really struck me was of a teenage boy who dropped out of high school because of boredom but then took classes outside of high school and became a computer programmer. This specific example was powerful to me because it shows how important technology is. This student should not have had to go outside his school to benefit from it. Now that I am getting a stronger idea of how important technology is in education I know I will need to incorporate it into my classroom.

It is no longer a question of whether or not a teacher should incorporate technology in the classroom but it is the question of how they are going to do it, and how well they will do it. I hope to continue learning about technology and the different ways I can use it in my classroom so I can be a teacher who effectively incorporates technology in my classroom.

Exit Slip: 9/9/10

One of the main things I got out of class today was information about social bookmarking. Before class, I didn't know what social bookmarking was; now I already have my own account! I learned that social bookmarking is a great way to save and share resourceful websites. I will be able to use social bookmarking  to save websites that may be beneficial for my future career. I can also use the website to save personal websites or to browse websites others found resourceful.

Casey's Digital Autobiography

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/RV6Kv8ne

When we first received the project in class I thought it would be a pretty simple project. As I began though, I wasn't sure where to start. Finally, I decided my digital autobiography would be a compilation of things that are important to my life. I chose to do this instead of a timeline of my life because I thought this would give viewers a good idea of who I am today. Also, I didn't think I could fit my timeline into 10 slides! I put a lot of effort into finding pictures that would give viewers a look into my life. I also spent quite a bit of time on the PhotoShow website putting my show together. I ended up spending more time than I thought I would because I was having fun with the features. I think the value in completing this task is that it made me think about what is important in my life and how I would like others to view that. It also gave me hands on experience using an online slide show tool. This task impacted my future teaching because when teaching it is a good idea to give students an idea of who you are. A digital autobiography is one way I could do this in the future.

Technology

1.) Technology is something electronic that can have several uses, both for entertainment and education, and several others. One of the first things I think of when I think of technology computers. Technology and computers have become an essential part of our society.

2.) Technology integration is the incorporation of technology. Technology integration in a classroom could be the use of computers, smart boards, stereos, or other devices that may help the lesson.