Saturday, May 8, 2010
Education 422 Class Participation and Attendance
Friday, May 7, 2010
Journal #7 Collaborative Idea Maps NETS-T #1,3,4
The technology tool that I chose was collaborative idea maps, which is a digital tool that allows creation of flowcharts and “Brain Storming”. This organizational tool provides a resource for teachers, and students to express and personalize information. A collaborative map can illustrate main ideas and other sub sections that support the overall theme. The following are two threads that I followed;
Collaborative Idea Maps: Success with bubbl @ http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:7014
This idea map encouraged students to participate and reflect on events or research topics in a creative way. The post was introduced by a teacher who had his students complete assignment in a virtual world. An example of his tool was called, “via virtual word web”, which was a collaborative tool for students to continue working on at home. This digital resource uses a series of bubbles that carry information, and when deleted, the bubbles explode. The students are engaged in this type of discussion when the tools are interactive. This collaborative idea map also allows participants to add friends and leading to an interactive community.
Collaborative Idea Maps: Web 2.0 for Storyboarding @ http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:7014
This thread was introducing how to use a digital storyboard that included collaboration between students. The site illustrated the benefits of meeting the needs of all learners by introduction to a variety of resources. Some examples of different storyboarding sites other teachers are using include: inspiration and a free program available on line is webspiration, http://www.mywebspiration.com/ . Another reference was to Directors board, which is another idea map that was established to insert pictures, and other data/information. Most of us are familiar with PowerPoint, a tool to visually represent information, and was introduced to another tool Prezi. This program is designed to have main ideas and move from point to point along the path of data. Lastly one tool that I was not familiar with was a comic generator called Pixton.com, which actually incorporated the storyline into small clips.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
California State University San Marcos NETS-T #1-5
The ability to demonstrate and implement diverse learning can be contributed to the effectiveness of using a variety of tools and resources. This digital-rich media promotes; thinking, planning and other creative processes that infuse communication with an authentic learning experience.
Journal #9 “Web 2.0 Today’s technology, tomorrows learning” NETS-T#2,3,5
Groff, J, & Haas, J. (2008). Web 2.0: today's technology, tomorrow's learning. Leading and Learning, 36(2), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/SeptemberOctoberNo2/L_L_September_October_2008.htm
This article expresses the importance of today's technologies to better tomorrows learning. A social bookmarking sites such as facebook offers the opportunity for people to meet new people and join various groups that pertains to their interests. Second life is a simulation that enables people to explore new ideas and try new things that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to in real world. Other simulations are digital games and social networking allows teachers to welcome new challenges and reshape the classroom for the digital age. Educators shouldn't look at technology as a distraction, but as a potential benefit to help students make sense of their "digital" world. It is important to acknowledge the world wide movement attempting to bridge the gap between traditional scholastic culture and the new culture of the 21st century.
This is a new frontier that educators, researchers and designers are beginning to explore the world of social networking. This tool will create strong and collaborative communication. Networking tools like Ming can create a private and safe communication forum for your class. They can use it for class assignments, discussions and communication with peers and parents. This digital world can be a real hands on learning experience relating classroom content to real life experience in a safe environment. Games can be played that are curriculum based and crafted in ways to engage students in critical thinking and problem solving. Learning in this way may not even seem like learning to the students. By using these new tools the teacher and the students become partners in learning. It enables the students to learn life skills, and communicate with other students worldwide.
What other tools can be incorporated in virtual communication?
There are a number of sites that allow colloborative communication such as twitter, blog as well as interactive games. These tools allow students to facilitate and think criticaly, in a virtual world.
What are some strategies for success?
With a greater use of technology incorporated in classrooms, there are some pointers to ensure a smooth transition from textbook to a computer based learning. The important thing to remember when encouraging your students to participate in any online simulations to engage with them. The interaction and exploration together will ensure that learning and experienceing in a modern era.
Journal #8 “Tapping wealth of Social Networks for professional development” NETS-T# 2,3,4,5
Social Networks would be a major time waster, unless you know how to use then correctly. In order to really get the most out of social networks, you must fully understand how to use them and be proficient in "technology lingo". By doing this, you will open the doors to new opportunities in your professional development. I agree with the article when it says that through online social networks we can publicize our opinions, and become more critical, self-reflective and collectively intelligent. By keeping up with your peers, loved ones and co-workers, you learn from them and keep in touch with them. It also enlarges your support system. They are also available 24/7, which is much better then trying to email or call someone for help. By posting something on a social network, not only one person can see it, but all who view the site... so they may know the answer before the person who you asked it to does. It is much more efficient way of communication., and it gets done in half the time. It also makes research a lot faster and easier with social bookmarking sites like delicious. Others can see sites you viewed the most, so they know that many of the research they need could be found on those sites too. All of the tools I talked about above are not only great for businesses and professional development, but also for education. For instance social book marking could help students doing research, social networks could help a student if they forgot an assignment or had a question about one. There potential of uses for these online tools is unimaginable.
What is a social networking tool?
A social networking tool such as facebook, or classroom 2.0 allow readers the ability to communicate and share information on a variety of topics. This conversation is in a "virtual world" which means that post and comments can be uploaded to collaberate with other individuals with similar interest. The collection of thoughts and ideas are teaching benifits because a simulation between lesson plans can be shared. Social networking is a resource for both teachers and students to effectivly communicate about assignments and thoughts on activities completed.
What grade level is social networking appropriate for?
The ability to communicate with peers and bounce ideas off of is an important aspect in learning, and should be incorporated with every grade level. The modern era has introduced tools to do so, so why not take advantage of it. Thought the students need to be able to develop ideas and write/ answer questions accordingly. I personally would recommend using this as a digital in a grade level that understood the importance of internt safety as well as confirming the students can compose their own thoughts through the use of a keyboard.
Journal #6 “A new concept of digital citizenship for the digital age” NETS-T #2,4,5
The article introduces the term "digital citizenship", which simply means that an indivdual can function in a vitual world. This means being able to illistrate a basic understanding of technology. One aspect of this is to be familiar with iternet policies, safety and copyright laws. Completion of this makes you a valuable citizen because you are considered a "dual" citizen, functioning in both a virtual and digital world. As a teacher it is extremely important to teach safe, legal and ethical use of digital information. The facilitation of the copyright laws would also be enforced. Internet access will allow us to bridge these two worlds. There is a large amount of information to cover when conducting a technology class, so a presentation of these laws is valuable. Now that we have these tools lets use these resources to set the foundation of incorporating technology in the classroom.
Q What are some other reasons people use digital citizenships?
People use technology for many reasons, but it seems everyone uses it for either buisnes reasons or for personal expression. Communication is an important part of our socal interaction as human beings, and now that this virtual world is in the palm of our hands, the possibilities are endless. The ability to incorporate these two simaltaniously is a new frontier.
Q What other online tools can we benifit from?
In addition to this technology there is a variety of on online tools. The magazine, stated that studies found that different adolescent groups had a basic understanding of preventative precautions for their online safety. Today teenagers use sites such as myspace and facebook; and these seem to allow cyberbulling and open forums like this often invite these types of problems. Lastly, the article said that aproximetly 50% of employers use different sites like facebook to actually looking for employees. The trend seems to show that employers look to promote and recruit from here because they are certain that these participants found online are digital citizens.
