The Video In Teaching And Learning (VITAL) is a project that is being initiated by McGraw Hill and Thirteen/WNET Television in New York to equip every teacher with videos and other tools that will enhance the curriculum of certain subject areas. This is a video based project designed to allow teachers a great tool to improve student achievement. These videos are focused on targeting certain learning styles and there are different video lessons for the different styles. The great thing about these videos is that it can not only be used as a class lesson or group lesson, but it also can be implemented into personal tutoring or small group lessons.
I have chosen this article because it is partially relating to my posed question about technology: "What would be an appropriate and effective way to gather images (for a screen cast) about a certain country if the students can not physically go there themselves." This article is partially an answer to my question because it talks about integrating videos of places or aspects that the students cannot physically can go or see. These videos are aspects that will enhance a curriculum for many subjects and will allow the students experiences to grow and expand while viewing these videos of different aspects and details. There is not many extras that can be added to a social studies classroom, but i am going to try to implement new technologies into my daily curriculum. I would like to use blogs, videos, virtual tours, and many more. I would love to have my students view a video or virtual tour and then discuss and right about the experience on their blog. I plan on using a wide variety of technology in my teaching as well as encourage my students to use many different forms themselves for their learning.
To view this article please click here
Source Citation: "New York educators get access to video clips for instruction." Education Technology News 23.4 (April 2006): 30. Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. Florida Gulf Coast University. 1 Apr. 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Post 23 -D- Comment 2
This is the comment left by K-bull and how i responded to the comment on the post: Blog 6 -B- The Blogging Experience So Far... I wanted to also bring up the point is that on this comment was left an article that discussed social studies and technology. I have used her collaborating attempts and viewed and posted an paragraph about the article i was given. I would like to also say thank you again.
Post 22 -D- Comment 1
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Wow this article sounds so interesting. I love that the college students were so determined to help out. Also, it is great what microsoft is doing in those schools. Are all of the computers donated or does the school board pay for all or part of them? I am just curious about how all the costs are covered. Also, I am glad that they are making the students appy to college. My guess is that many of those students would never think to apply to college because they think they could never get in. I really like this plan. Also, I had heard very breifly about Dell doing something similar, do you know anything about that?
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I was really impressed as well on how students are getting engaged in the local k-12 schools in the area. I am not sure how much is donated or paid for, the article does not go in that far in detail. It basically said that they are providing financially for the school. I have not heard anything about dell doing similar actions, but it would not surprise that they would take the same actions as their competitors have already taken. But they can fight it out for customers, but all we care about as future teachers is that they are providing financially for the local schools. It is great to see, i will look out for updates with dell and will hope that you will do the same.
Post 21 -A- E-Field Trips
I found this article while i was searching on the Florida Gulf Coast University library system and i retrieved this particular article from the Academic OneFile database. The article is about a series of field trips to caves and the title of the series is:Exploring Nature's Plumbing System: Caves of the National Park System. This is very influential to a classroom, because students do not have to leave the classroom in order to be in a off-campus site. They may not get the same touch or same smell as being in the cave, but they can virtually go anywhere that the cave allows you too and students can research different aspects of the caves. The series explores several different caves and conduct research stalactites, stalagmites, and other areas of Caves. Students in the high school level can definitely benefit from using and viewing virtual tours and i plan on implementing them into my future classroom.
I have chosen this article, because it directly relates to one of my questions posed about the use of technology. My question is "What would be an appropriate and effective way to gather images about a certain country if the students can not physically go there themselves?" I know that this article talks about field trips to caves and my question was to a different country, but i consider that the article links directly to my question because it is discussing virtual trips to a place the students cannot physically go to. I think it is a great tool to use especially for a world geography class, because many students will never have the opportunity to go to these places, but if they now have virtual trips to these places then they can learn more from that experience.
To view this article please click here
Source Citation: "Electronic fieldtrip on caves." Education Technology News 23.4 (April 2006): 30. Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. Florida Gulf Coast University. 1 Apr. 2007
I have chosen this article, because it directly relates to one of my questions posed about the use of technology. My question is "What would be an appropriate and effective way to gather images about a certain country if the students can not physically go there themselves?" I know that this article talks about field trips to caves and my question was to a different country, but i consider that the article links directly to my question because it is discussing virtual trips to a place the students cannot physically go to. I think it is a great tool to use especially for a world geography class, because many students will never have the opportunity to go to these places, but if they now have virtual trips to these places then they can learn more from that experience.
To view this article please click here
Source Citation: "Electronic fieldtrip on caves." Education Technology News 23.4 (April 2006): 30. Academic OneFile. Thomson Gale. Florida Gulf Coast University. 1 Apr. 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Post 20 -C- Teacher gets rewarded for Technology
This article is the recognition of Diana Laufenberg instructional method and the technology award given to her by The Arizona Technology in Education Alliance (AZTEA). The AZTEA granted her this award because of Diana ability to integrate technology into her curriculum and how it alters the heart of her classroom as well as affects the whole school community. Diana states "Ever since i have been teaching, i have been incorporating technology consistently." She has a really great philosophy to using technology in the classroom, she uses a variety of types of technology and uses them with a bunch of different projects. Also she takes all the different types of technology and ties them into her lesson and show her students how technology can change their life and their future. The different technologies Diana uses are: Blogs, streaming videos, Movie maker, Digital Mapping, GIS (geographic information system) and many more. Diana has been teaching for the last 10 years and she has been influencing the schools she teaches at and has been affecting the community's she teaches in. Every student who enters her classroom is placed in a technology intensive program and never hesitates for a minute, because Diana explains the technology in such a way that the students now it is worth it.
This article stands out to me because it is similar to the technology i want to implement in my class and she is close to the grade level and content i want to teach. I plan on using blogs in my classroom throughout the whole year and i am glad that it is proven it works and that she gets acknowledged for doing so. She is a great figure that i can look up to as a future social studies teacher and if it is possible in the future to use similar task and similar projects as she implements in her classroom. I would definitely like to research more about Diana and the wonderful technologies programs and activities she uses in her classroom. I am glad that teachers are being recognized for using technology in their classroom (and more should be in the future) instead of getting recognized for test scores. The schools need to realize that these test do not prepare the students for the future, but the work and curriculum the teachers use to teach the students in the everyday classroom.
To view this article please click here
This article stands out to me because it is similar to the technology i want to implement in my class and she is close to the grade level and content i want to teach. I plan on using blogs in my classroom throughout the whole year and i am glad that it is proven it works and that she gets acknowledged for doing so. She is a great figure that i can look up to as a future social studies teacher and if it is possible in the future to use similar task and similar projects as she implements in her classroom. I would definitely like to research more about Diana and the wonderful technologies programs and activities she uses in her classroom. I am glad that teachers are being recognized for using technology in their classroom (and more should be in the future) instead of getting recognized for test scores. The schools need to realize that these test do not prepare the students for the future, but the work and curriculum the teachers use to teach the students in the everyday classroom.
To view this article please click here
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Post 19 -C- Technology Enhances Creativity
This particular article is about Brillion High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has started an particular approach/method to giving technology to the students in their school. They wanted to show them technology, not as a means for lecture and teaching, but by a tool to create an environment for creative thinking. The article talks about the technology class scenario, but this class is different because it allows students to use technology to create things rather than just hammer and nail and bird house together. The philosophy of the school in using technology every area is to create and develop innovative and creative thinkers and problem solvers who can go to further education or enter the world of work. They don't want there students just focusing on using technology to enhance the visual design of their project, but to use technology to make, research, and ultimately surround their project. They want to show their students the how much fun technology can be in the real world scenarios and hopefully encourage these high school students to choose a career path on their experiences with using these particular technologies in the classroom. Brillion high is very progressive in their future thinking and everything they attempt to do is based on design and invention with technology and their ability to adapt to the new ideas and progressive nature is huge.
This article really jumps out to me in that schools are focusing their whole direction and future plans with technology at the back bone. They are turning their school into a student driven focus of using technology to solve problems, instead of using to technology to enhance the design of a project. The school is preparing students for their future and their career's. The program has jumped from 70, just 3 years ago, to about 350 presently and it is growing bigger every year. A local company has donated a huge portion of money to enhance the technology center in the school and that makes a huge difference to the community. It shows them that even their local companies are focusing on technology and how important it is to a students education (they also probably had other motives too). I have never had the opportunity in my high school career to use technology in such a way that is breaking ground today. But i am thankful that my lack of technology experience has come to an end and as a future teacher, i am progressing ever so slowly into the direction that education needs to be heading in.
enhances creativity
To view this article, please click here
This article really jumps out to me in that schools are focusing their whole direction and future plans with technology at the back bone. They are turning their school into a student driven focus of using technology to solve problems, instead of using to technology to enhance the design of a project. The school is preparing students for their future and their career's. The program has jumped from 70, just 3 years ago, to about 350 presently and it is growing bigger every year. A local company has donated a huge portion of money to enhance the technology center in the school and that makes a huge difference to the community. It shows them that even their local companies are focusing on technology and how important it is to a students education (they also probably had other motives too). I have never had the opportunity in my high school career to use technology in such a way that is breaking ground today. But i am thankful that my lack of technology experience has come to an end and as a future teacher, i am progressing ever so slowly into the direction that education needs to be heading in.
enhances creativity
To view this article, please click here
Friday, March 30, 2007
Post 18 -C- School built by Microsoft
This article is about a technology school inspired by college students that got the school board to start teaming up with Microsoft to build a technology based school in a economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Philadelphia and then in Austin. Many college students in the University of Texas have noticed that the k-12 schools in the area are not up to date with the use of technology and one particular school only 6 miles away from the college was in desperate need because many of the students attending came from economically disadvantaged families. So the pushed the school board to review the school of the future in Philadelphia and notice how Microsoft helped changed the entire school around. In the school of the future, Microsoft donated tons of new technology's and also equipped a laptop with each student, but the major factor or stipulation was that each of the 750 students attending the school of the future, they would have to apply for a 4 year college. This plan is what the Austin college students and school board would like to see come to Travis High School. The process are still in motion, but Microsoft and the Texas school board are very optimistic for the upgrading of this school and many more like it around the nation.
While i was reading this article, i was really encouraged to see that other colleges around the nation are out there helping the local schools in the area. I mean i am sure FGCU helps other schools, by providing interns and other stuff like that, but i can bet some good money than many of the students here would not go to the lengths that the students at UT are taking to upgrade a local school. Microsoft is doing a great deed to society (and for their themselves) by donating equipment to base a school around and really focus on the students educational career. It would be real nice to see other major production companies to start doing similar acts of kindness. Maybe we will see in the future Apple providing technology for schools. Wouldn't it be nice to see hundreds of schools around the country equipped with tons of technology, donated by a major company. That would change the way our ability to teach and learn in those schools and those students would have a great advantage right from the start of their high school career. I learned that a little effort by anybody,especially a group of college students can put for a goal and see it completed. I only hope to have the opportunity to be apart of a similar act in the future.
To read this article please click here
While i was reading this article, i was really encouraged to see that other colleges around the nation are out there helping the local schools in the area. I mean i am sure FGCU helps other schools, by providing interns and other stuff like that, but i can bet some good money than many of the students here would not go to the lengths that the students at UT are taking to upgrade a local school. Microsoft is doing a great deed to society (and for their themselves) by donating equipment to base a school around and really focus on the students educational career. It would be real nice to see other major production companies to start doing similar acts of kindness. Maybe we will see in the future Apple providing technology for schools. Wouldn't it be nice to see hundreds of schools around the country equipped with tons of technology, donated by a major company. That would change the way our ability to teach and learn in those schools and those students would have a great advantage right from the start of their high school career. I learned that a little effort by anybody,especially a group of college students can put for a goal and see it completed. I only hope to have the opportunity to be apart of a similar act in the future.
To read this article please click here
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Post 17 -C- Schools Cut Technology Budget
While i was researching for an article about technology, i came across this article of a middle school in Stamford that actually cut their budget for computers and technology. This strikes me as very odd because many other schools across America are increasing their technology budget and this particular one is cutting it. Many schools are putting more money into technology because they know how influential certain programs and technology can be to a students ability to learn. The school district is going to use the money they cut from the technology and computer budget and put it towards other areas of math and reading. I agree that both of these are important, but technology and computers can greatly enhance both of these subjects (it can extremely benefit a reading student). Many of the teachers in these districts are protesting against these cuts and saying that technology is too important to the evolution of education and to cut this critical aspect of school can be detrimental. The school board answer to their pleas is for them to turn their shoulder and say they are not cutting technology, but allowing other subjects to create new ways to use the technology they have. That sounds foolishness to me, but they say their district is in need of more reading and math programs in their school, so who am i to judge. I just can be an outsider looking in on the situation and say that technology budgets need to be increased in all schools, because the benefits of doing so is to great to give up.
Technology can be a great addition to every subject at every grade level and i believe that middle school is an important time for students to learn the benefits of learning technology and how to correctly use them. I know that this article discuss one school, but what about the other schools that do the same thing, how are those students learning ability being affected. It seems like the educational system of that district is limiting themselves and restricting the ability for creative teaching and learning in their schools.
To view this article please click here
Another article of the teachers protest against cuts
Technology can be a great addition to every subject at every grade level and i believe that middle school is an important time for students to learn the benefits of learning technology and how to correctly use them. I know that this article discuss one school, but what about the other schools that do the same thing, how are those students learning ability being affected. It seems like the educational system of that district is limiting themselves and restricting the ability for creative teaching and learning in their schools.
To view this article please click here
Another article of the teachers protest against cuts
Post 16 -C- Technology Reports
I was searching news articles for education and technology and i came across a survey about how states use technology and overall what types and how much technology in each of their districts.The report is called Technology Counts 2007 and it is a project of Education Week magazine's Editorial Projects in Education. It surrey's all the states in different areas of how they are using technology. Unfortunately i could not find Florida's report, because i would have to pay for the subscription and there was no article out there, but i did find a couple of other states and i thought sharing this would be an interesting read for some. Out of the articles i found, these are the states and their nation wide ranking in the use and operation of technology: Minnesota C (moved up from a D), New York C-, Wyoming B-, Oklahoma B-, Arkansas B-, Georgia A, and South Dakota A-. The national average for all the states is a C+ and i would have to say that statistic is very low and our nations education system should be ashamed for not implementing more technology into our schools system.
I think it is excellent how they conducted surveys on how each state is using technology compared to the national average. I think each state should in turn conduct a survey on how each district in the state is using and implementing technology. Then each state can see where they need to provide more support for integrating technology into the education of certain districts. I also think it is sad on how many states rank below the national average and i wonder how they use the money that is being allotted to them. I am saying the mid central states are ranking higher then new york, new jersey, Texas and Minnesota. Those states in my mind are some of the biggest most popular areas and this survey is telling us that they are not using technology to a greater extent then say Wyoming. That is pretty sad to me and i think they need to implement either more money to the use of technology or take money away from other areas of school and put it towards technology. Lets just hope for out nations sake that the use of technology throughout the nation will rise so more and more students can be influenced and greatly progress and their ability to learn.
To view the article on each report click on the state name below
Minnesota
Wyoming
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Georgia
South Dakota
New York
Missouri
Colorado
New Jersey
Texas
I think it is excellent how they conducted surveys on how each state is using technology compared to the national average. I think each state should in turn conduct a survey on how each district in the state is using and implementing technology. Then each state can see where they need to provide more support for integrating technology into the education of certain districts. I also think it is sad on how many states rank below the national average and i wonder how they use the money that is being allotted to them. I am saying the mid central states are ranking higher then new york, new jersey, Texas and Minnesota. Those states in my mind are some of the biggest most popular areas and this survey is telling us that they are not using technology to a greater extent then say Wyoming. That is pretty sad to me and i think they need to implement either more money to the use of technology or take money away from other areas of school and put it towards technology. Lets just hope for out nations sake that the use of technology throughout the nation will rise so more and more students can be influenced and greatly progress and their ability to learn.
To view the article on each report click on the state name below
Minnesota
Wyoming
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Georgia
South Dakota
New York
Missouri
Colorado
New Jersey
Texas
Post 15 -B- Making CD labels
Throughout this school semester we had some particular assignments that had to be submitted by a CD. Either the files were to big or it contained music or pictures, but we had to turn them in on a CD instead of via Angel website. The tricky aspect about turning them in by CD is that the professor asked for the CD to come with a label and on that label our name, our affiliation, course number, and in the background a picture of some sort. At first i thought of, "oh great i have to buy a CD label maker and paper", but the professor showed us we can use our regular printers, we just have to change the format. He walked us through that process and we were on our way to printing CD labels. The only problem i have seen with printing CD labels is it sometimes hard to remember what side to print on and how much ink the printer is using to put that picture inside of the CD circle. I think after this semester i am going to have to change the color and black ink cartridges for my printer. This has helped my learning experiences, because i now know how to make and use CD labels (and this is a tool i can pass on to my students and this will help organization in my future classes).
Monday, March 26, 2007
Blog 14 -C- Computers in the Class
I was doing some searching for articles that tell how technology has impacted education and i have come across one that discusses computers. A company, Apple, is making a strong push to make their computers more accessible and practical for education and educational purposes. Apple computers have advanced so far past the PC and has more available programs and new technology additions that buying a PC is a foolish investment where you will have to upgrade a year or sometimes after you buy one. This article discusses how a school is changing from the PC to the apple because of the Intel processor and other high quality programs that already come equipped in the machine. The beauty of the processor is that it allows users to access the mac OS application as well as the windows applications. So basically they receive the best of both worlds on one machine. One major advantage of the apple in education is virus free program and no pop ups. They have so much protection against that garbage and when it comes to students safety from that stuff is vital.
I personally do not own a apple computer, currently, but i use a apple computer at the church i attended (where it holds the lights program, sound board, and other applications on one machine), my good friend mike seeberger who uses one in his school as well as one in his house, and been exposed to how business people use apple in a company called First strike productions. They all have shown me the wonders a mac can do and i am planning on purchases a apple computer soon, once i get the money. I think education can benefit tremendously from using an apple computer and all the wonderful programs it has on the machine. Any advanced technology class, such as audio/video production and website production, etc., should be switching to this machine, so why not education give it a try. I am excited on how apple is making efforts to produce computers that will benefit schools and i can wait for the research to come out positive on the affect it has on learning and curriculum's. But only time will be able to show those details.
To view this article please click here.
I personally do not own a apple computer, currently, but i use a apple computer at the church i attended (where it holds the lights program, sound board, and other applications on one machine), my good friend mike seeberger who uses one in his school as well as one in his house, and been exposed to how business people use apple in a company called First strike productions. They all have shown me the wonders a mac can do and i am planning on purchases a apple computer soon, once i get the money. I think education can benefit tremendously from using an apple computer and all the wonderful programs it has on the machine. Any advanced technology class, such as audio/video production and website production, etc., should be switching to this machine, so why not education give it a try. I am excited on how apple is making efforts to produce computers that will benefit schools and i can wait for the research to come out positive on the affect it has on learning and curriculum's. But only time will be able to show those details.
To view this article please click here.
Blog 13 -C- Technology with Special Ed.
Teri Lawrence said, "Until we change the way we teach, outcomes will not improve." This is attitude she has when she entered the special ed classroom at Mt. Hermon school. Lawrence, PH.D. in instructional design, was brought in by DCS to create an instructional program for special education teachers that used the latest in computer technology. This instructional program is needed because the school is lacking in motivation and stimulation for special needs students. They are feeding them text books and regular main stream class, but instead Lawrence stresses that technology and visual stimulation will greatly enhance the learning ability of these students. Now Lawrence has implemented technology like smart boards, handhold student keypads, colorful graphic designs, laptop computers and some other of latest in electronic technology and has transformed this special ed program at Mt. Hermon into one of the best schools in the nation for special education. These programs create a fun interactive environment for these students to learn and grow in and the teachers at Mt. Hermon are seeing great results from the special needs students and give all the credit to the technology that has been provided to them.
This is a great step forward in thinking for special education programs. Every time i walked by or visited a special needs class in high school, the teacher was playing more of a role of babysitter and teaching moral lessons, but never really engaging the students into a program they can relate too. With technology it is become a lot easier to engage all students interest and make school exciting and fun for not only the students but the teachers as well. Mainstream classes are already using multiple forms of technology in their classrooms, but research and more instructional programs are coming out for those teaches who will be teaching special ed classes and want to use new technology. The main goal is to reach the students and if technology will greatly enhance the learning ability for special needs students, then it should be mandatory for schools to implement them into the classrooms. It may not have to be every bit of new technology, but just enough to start changing the environment of the classroom.
To view this article please click here
This is a great step forward in thinking for special education programs. Every time i walked by or visited a special needs class in high school, the teacher was playing more of a role of babysitter and teaching moral lessons, but never really engaging the students into a program they can relate too. With technology it is become a lot easier to engage all students interest and make school exciting and fun for not only the students but the teachers as well. Mainstream classes are already using multiple forms of technology in their classrooms, but research and more instructional programs are coming out for those teaches who will be teaching special ed classes and want to use new technology. The main goal is to reach the students and if technology will greatly enhance the learning ability for special needs students, then it should be mandatory for schools to implement them into the classrooms. It may not have to be every bit of new technology, but just enough to start changing the environment of the classroom.
To view this article please click here
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Blog 12 -C- Making Blogs Safe in school
This is an article written by Erin Richards in New Berlin and it is about implementing a safe environment for school teachers to access, use, and monitor a blog for their classroom. In the article it talks about how school districts are starting to use programs that will protect students work and identity while operating in assignments via the Internet. The programs that they bring to our attention are Virtual Office or Moodle and they are programs designed to make a blog a secured connection between the teacher and his/her students. It denies access to outsiders, but also allows room for adding teacher and students from other schools to join in on their blog. The article uses an example of a elementary school using a blog to discuss their favorite book and they teacher shows the students the importance and significance of using tools such as a blog to enhance their learning ability. A second part of the article discusses the plan to train teacher on how to utilize the blogs and the ability to use them. Some teachers say it is not really a blog, but more of a continued discussion/chat room. But no matter what the label may be when using the safety programs, the students will still be working together and learning new aspects about topics as well as share their ideas and thoughts in those areas.
It is really important for teachers to use technology in their classroom to enhance their curriculum, but they need to be aware of the potential danger and how to face it. It is refreshing to see that companies are making an effort to provide a safe environment for teachers to use programs for their students where they are out of harms way. I enjoy reading about other schools who are starting to implement blogs into their curriculum, because i intend on using them in my future classroom and they are providing prime examples on the effectiveness of them on a classroom. Blogs can allow student who don't normally talk up in class to have their voice be heard, as well as all the students to communicate and collaborate ideas and thoughts on certain subject areas/topics. It is really a amazing tool to use in a classroom and i hope the research and studies turn out positive on the effectiveness of a blog so that it will not hinder my future school from allowing me to utilize them.
To view this article pleas click here
It is really important for teachers to use technology in their classroom to enhance their curriculum, but they need to be aware of the potential danger and how to face it. It is refreshing to see that companies are making an effort to provide a safe environment for teachers to use programs for their students where they are out of harms way. I enjoy reading about other schools who are starting to implement blogs into their curriculum, because i intend on using them in my future classroom and they are providing prime examples on the effectiveness of them on a classroom. Blogs can allow student who don't normally talk up in class to have their voice be heard, as well as all the students to communicate and collaborate ideas and thoughts on certain subject areas/topics. It is really a amazing tool to use in a classroom and i hope the research and studies turn out positive on the effectiveness of a blog so that it will not hinder my future school from allowing me to utilize them.
To view this article pleas click here
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Thank you for commenting on my blog. The gesture was very nice and it's also nice to know that the work we are doing on these blogs is not overlooked. I like the posting you have made here as well. I also enjoyed reading about The Mac computers at J.Colin English. I found an interesting website having to do with history and technology and thought that you might be interested.
click here:
http://www.citejournal.org/vol1/iss1/currentissues/socialstudies/article1.htm
Thank you for reading my postings and sharing the experiences with me, also thank you for your comment as well, while i was updating my blog, i noticed that not many people were getting comments, and i think it is important and essential to our blogging experience to have comments and collabarate with each other. That is why your comment and posting the article is awesome and inspiring me to comment on other students pages and help them out. The article is great and i think i might use it for my blog. Thank you again.
Robert White