Tech Task 9- Tapped In

I took part in the professional development session entitled "Social Studies Forum: PBS Teachers." This session dealt with the new features of the PBS teachers website. The leader of this discussion explained some of the interesting things that can be found on this site for different grade levels. Others mentioned blogs that can be accessed from this site. A lot of different subject areas are addressed on this site, but the focus during this session was social studies.

I thought that this was an interesting experience. Many of the participants were from the United States so I ordinarily would not have any interactions with them. They are not teachers who I would usually take part in professional development with. There was also a wide range of experience there, from students like myself to experienced teachers. I think this could be a very useful tool for teachers, especially teachers who are in rural or isolated areas where it is difficult to find such a wide range of professional development opportunities. These sessions really allow teachers to meet with others and learn from them, which may not be so easy without technology.

There were also some things that I found slightly irritating about this experience. For example, every time a useful website was mentioned every participant would type "thank you." It seemed that people kept saying the same thing and reading the word "thanks" twenty times is a little tedious. I also feel that the personal interactions involved with professional development are valuable. However, overall I felt that this could be very useful. It gives teachers who do not have other opportunities the ability to ensure that they are growing. I think if I saw a topic that I was really interested in, I would not hesitate to take part in another session.

As well, the PBS teachers site seems very useful. Feel free to check it out by clicking on the link.
PBS teachers

How Much Is Too Much?

I recently read Sarah G's blog about people who spend all their time on MSN messenger, even when they are visiting other people. I also know people who spend a lot of time using technology to interact even when face to face communication is possible. I enjoy using technology and I use MSN regularly too. However, I don't use it to speak to people who are in the same room as me. I still want to have face to face interactions with people. I have also purchased things online off sites like Amazon. However, I purchase things that I can't find in the store. Other people seem to do all their shopping online and never have to have any face to face interactions to buy the things they need. Is this a good thing? Are people becoming so obsessed with technology that they have to use it all the time or are interactions through technology just as good as face to face interactions? In other words, how much technology is too much? Let me know what you think.

Saskatchewan Science Centre Online

For those of you who don't know, the Saskatchewan Science Centre has lots of great stuff for students and teachers online. There is information about how to plan tours, schedules for the IMAX, scavenger hunt sheets, and more. There are also teacher resources that include science websites and student resources including crafts, family activities and interesting facts. Currently, kids can learn how to make a butterfly garden. Teachers can also go online to order a computer game resource package and science toolkits for the classroom.

You can also sign up for the newsletter and receive regular updates. It's a great way to keep up to date about the kinds of things you can do with your class through the Science Centre.

Check out the site for yourself.
Saskatchewan Science Centre

Mac or PC?

The debate continues to rage when choosing a computer. Should a person get a Mac or a PC? There are several factors to consider, including software availability, ease of use, speed, the look of the computer and more. When working on our major project for this class we tried to use Macs but we found them so different that we got confused and couldn't make anything work the way we wanted it to. He ended up switching back to Windows and everything ran smoothly. This would make me think that Windows was better except that I have heard too many people tell me differently. Everyone who has familiarity with both seems to prefer Macs. My sister used Windows all her life until she got a job where she had to learn how to use a Mac. She found it frustrating at first, but now says she would never buy a PC again. The Macs are so easy to use. I have heard several other people say the same. Therefore, I think when I have the time to learn how to use a Mac I would really like to. I was stressed for time when I tried the Macs for the major project, but if I had more time to practice I think I would really benefit from learning. It seems that Macs really are better.

I also found this website that explains some of the pros and cons of both Macs and PCs. Feel free to check it out and let me know which you prefer.

Macs vs. Windows

Sexism and the Dixie Chicks

I recently watched this video that was created by another education student in my foundations class. In this video she examines the sexism that the Dixie Chicks encountered after making a comment about their disapproval of the president. It is interesting to consider whether or not these women would have had to deal with such an extreme backlash if they had been male. As a society, do we still expect silence from women? Is a man allowed to freely express his opinion while a woman is marginalized for expressing hers? The Dixie Chicks were banned from many stations and had to deal with death threats. Would this have happened to a male?

The creator of this video said that she had received several comments about her video. While many people appreciated it, others were angered by what she presented. Some people expressed that they thought she was making an issue out of nothing. After watching the video, I believe that part of what happened to the Dixie Chicks was the result of sexism. I don't feel that a man would be punished in the same way, for an opinionated woman is still seen as less acceptable than an opinionated man.

Please watch this video and let me know what you think about the issue.

Benefits of Blogs

Over the course of this semester I have come to understand some of the benefits of blogging. They can be used for such a wide variety of purposes. Educational blogs offer great tips for teaching. Blogs about current events can certainly expose us to a wide variety of opinions and help us see other sides of different issues. Blogs are also a great way to keep people informed. Rather than making a lot of phone calls, a person can simply post once and get the same message out to all their friends. For example, a woman I know is keeping a blog to update people on her fight with cancer. She doesn't have the energy to communicate with everyone individually, but by posting a blog all her friends can find out how she is doing. Clearly, there are many benefits of blogs. I recently came across a website that listed more some of them. If you would like to read it, click on the link below.

Real benefits of blogs

Good website for kids

I decided to include a link to this website called FunBrain that I used a few times during my internship. It is a great site for early elementary students. It involves math and reading games that are very interactive and engaging for the students. There are also funny books and stories for the kids to practice reading. My grade ones had computer class and sometimes in the last five minutes my cooperating teacher would give the students free time. They often chose this website so I know that it is very popular with young kids.

I also like this site because there is not a lot of advertising on it. I found that my students were often clicking on ads by accident because they could not read the ads to know that they weren't games. This would take the students to sites that they didn't want to be on. Usually they were sites asking for money. This website did not seem to lead to this problem.

If you would like to check out this website, go to the link:
http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html

Podcast tech task

In order to learn more about podcasting in the classroom I took a look at Radio WillowWeb. There was a podcast created by first graders entitled "Awesome and Amazing Ants." The first graders shared interesting facts about ants and told ant jokes. I did my internship in a grade one class so I found this podcast to be very interesting. My students also learned about ants but I never considered that a podcast could be used to support this topic in a classroom made up of such young students. This showed me that podcasts are a great way for students to share their learning. Grade one students who cannot write much yet could certainly demonstrate their knowledge through podcasting. I now feel that this a medium that could be used with young children and I believe many students would find the process very engaging.

To listen to this podcast click on the link below.
Awesome and Amazing Ants

Hot Potatoes

We learned about a new tool in ECMP today. It was called Hot Potatoes. It seems like a very useful tool that allows you to make crosswords, quizzes, match games and more. I have created a fairytale match game. It can be viewed at:
http://education.uregina.ca/web/stephens/fairytales.htm

Stephen Lewis

Stephen Lewis will be speaking at the University on Thursday, March 15 at 7:00. I would encourage everyone who possibly can to attend. I listened to Mr. Lewis in my first year and what he has to say will really open your eyes. Not only is he a wonderful speaker, but he is a true humanitarian. The Stephen Lewis foundation is involved in "easing the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa." They are currently helping women with HIV/AIDS by providing food, bedding, medicine and more. They are also helping orphans by by helping them pay for school, get nutritious food, etc. The foundation also assists grandmothers who in many cases raise up to 15 children in one household. The crisis of HIV/AIDS in Africa is something we need to address. If you are interested in learning more visit this website: http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/index.cfm
or listen to Mr. Lewis speak in the Ed Auditorium on Thursday.

David Suzuki

David Suzuki was recently at the University as part of his "If You Were Prime Minister Tour." He has a suggestion to help make sure that the environment is an issue of priority in the next election. There is place on his website for everyone to send an email to all the party leaders asking them to take action. I would encourage everyone to do this. We need to start doing more than just talking about the environment. We need to take action.

To write a letter, visit this link:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/tour/vote.asp

Telecollaborative Project

As I looked for telecollaborative projects I came across this project called "The Great Backyard Bird Count." This project requires students to count all the birds they see in fifteen minutes. Students also count how many of each individual species they see. Results are recorded online. This gives students a "real-time snapshot" of where birds are at certain times. Students can compare the birds in their community to the birds that are found in other places around the continent.

I think this project could easily be implemented into science class for elementary students. Students could examine migration, the effect of temperature on bird populations, whether birds are more commonly found in rural or urban areas, etc.

This project is sponsored by the Audubon society. It can be located at:
http://www.msaudubon.org/GBBC/

Math Education

I recently came across this interesting video entitled "Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth." The woman in this video is arguing that students should be taught the traditional methods of solving multiplication and long division problems. She points out that many textbooks advocate having students develop their own way to think through and solve problems. She argues that this does not lead to skill mastery and students are arriving in university unable to do basic math without a calculator.

I believe that mastery of basic facts is important. I realize that calculators are convenient, but they are not always avaliable. I have seen adults who are unable to solve long division problems without a calculator and I believe this is something we should try to prevent. However, I also believe that part of a math program should focus on critical thinking. There are many different ways to solve math problems. Not every student will necessarily master basic math using traditional methods. Students should be encouraged to use different strategies if they understand the strategy and can get accurate answers. I think in order to ensure that students have mastered basic math we need to encourage them to use strategies that they understand. In order to be successful at math, students need to understand why the strategy works. If they understand why they get the right answer then they will certainly understand how to think through a problem and come to the correct answer. Students should master basic math skills, but there is no one correct way to do this.

Check out the video and let me know your opinion on math education.

Net Neutrality

I recently learned about the concept of net neutrality. It is scary to think that large corporations could take control of the Internet and reduce the public's access. Instead of having an even playing field, some companies want to ensure that they have their content arrives more quickly and is easiest to access. I recently read an article that discussed how this affects the average person. Her are some ways:
1. A company could slow down access to iTunes and steer you to towards buying higher priced music that they offer.
2. If charity groups couldn't pay the same as large corporations their websites could be so slow that people would stop donating.
3. Bloggers- It could become so expensive to post a blog or video that the average person could no longer afford it.
4. Online purchases- companies that pay the most money would be able to process orders faster than those who pay less. This could unfairly influence the mind of the consumer.
To see more about net neutrality, check out this website:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=threat

Traditional animation vs. Computer animation

Technology is clearly influencing the world all around us. An article I recently read was discussing the role of technology in popular culture. It talked about the changes that have occured in animation. Back when Disney made "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," the artist's designed each frame by hand. Each one was hand drawn and painted. Now most animated movies are computer animated. Major studios like Disney are focusing on technology when making movies. Some people still prefer traditional animation, although current trends seem to suggest that the era of hand-drawn animation is ending. The box office success of recent computer animated movies prehaps indicates a growing preference for computer animation. Perhaps these changes should encourage teachers to consider implementing technology into their arts ed. courses. I believe that traditional methods of animation are very valuable but a lot of art can clearly be created with technological assistance.

I'd like to know what kind of animation you prefer? Are you a fan of traditional animation or do you prefer computer animation.

YouTube video

I found this interesting video that shows a great example of the value of technology in the classroom. Students in this school are using podcasts to demonstrate their learning. I was especially interested to see the pride that these students showed in their work. They seemed to really be enthusiastic about sharing their work with others over the Internet because they realized that other people were reading and enjoying it. I also liked that the teacher explained that they do not use technology for technology's sake. There is really educational value in using these tools at school.

Evaluating Online Information

I recently read an article that described some of the uses of technology in the classroom. This includes things like online research, online assessment, and creating web pages. It also discussed some of the problems of using technology in the classroom. One of the problems that I have the most experience with is finding accurate information online. As a teacher, it is easy to tell students to do research for essays and papers on the Internet. However, students can often find information that is biased or even flat out wrong. Anyone can put information on the Internet with very little regulation. No one is ensuring that the information on the Internet is correct.

I believe that we need to teach our students how to evaluate the information they see on the Internet. Students need to be able to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate material. They cannot always use the first source they come across.

It can also be very time consuming to sift through resources trying to find appropriate material. Trying to find an obscure topic online can take a lot of time, especially if you don't know how to evaluate online resources.

Teachers can help students develop their ability to analyze the usefulness of information that they find online. This website has several suggestions for how to review websites, including evaluating accuracy, currency, fairness, adequacy, etc.

http://www.fno.org/jun97/eval.html

Online dangers

Last day in class we had a presentation on media awareness. This really hit home with me. Technology has much to offer us and we have seen so many ways that it can be valuable in the classroom and yet it has the potential to be very harmful at the same time. At very young ages kids can access these things. They can see images and read messages that are inappropriate and sometimes dangerous.

Bullying on the Internet is also a real concern. As pointed out, a child cannot move away to escape cyber bullying. Websites do not disappear and they can be viewed all over the world.
This form of bullying will follow them wherever they go. This makes cyber bullying a very real concern for students, teachers and parents.

As teachers, I think we need to be aware of what is out there so that we can inform out students about the dangers. We cannot simply ignore the fact that there is inappropriate content on the Internet, because our students will find it. Closing our eyes to the problem will not help anyone. If we are informed we can teach our students to be critical of what they see online and how to take precautions to protect themselves. People who are informed will be equipped to make decisions about what to do and think when they encounter inappropriate material.

Therefore, although the Internet can be dangerous, we as teachers can help our students to avoid the dangers and use the Internet in positive ways. There is too much value in technology to abandon it due to danger. Education is the best way to ensure that the Internet benefits our students and doesn't cause them harm.

Inclusion and Technology

In class today we watched a video about inclusion and how technology can assist teachers who are attempting to create inclusive classrooms. I am a strong believer in the power of inclusion. I feel that school does more than help students with academic learning. A child develops holistically while attending school. Dealing with peers is as a very important part of school. Students who are included in the classroom develop friendships, problem solving skills, cooperative skills and more. However, some students simply cannot attend a classroom with their peers. In this case, how can they benefit from inclusion. As the video showed, technology can help. By using a computer a student who cannot come to class can talk with her peers and see her peers. Even though the little girl in the video was unable to attend school, she could still maintain her friendships and interact with her classmates. Because of technology, this little girl was able to receive a well-rounded education with the help of her teacher and peers.

If you missed the video or would like to watch it again go to this website:
http://learningismessy.com/Inclusion.mov

It is certainly worth watching.

Help for Busy Teachers

Teachers never seem to have enough time. Having access to the Internet can help us when we are pressed for ideas or in a hurry. There are so many great ideas out there that range from lesson plans, craft ideas, interactive games, bulletin board designs, rubric creators, etc. However, during my internship I sometimes found that it was even more time consuming to find things online. Not everything is high quality. Sometimes I had to sift through many things that were not useful to find what I wanted. Therefore, I decided to include some websites here that can be very valuable when you need ideas when teaching. These are mostly aimed st early elementary grades.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
http://www.billybear4kids.com/
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.bulletinboardpro.com/
http://canada.kidsdomain.com/craft/

I hope you can find something useful on these sites. I know I used some of them during my internship and found them really useful.

Powerpoint in the Classroom

Last week in class we took a look at Powerpoint in the classroom. During my internship I had my students create an alphabet book using Powerpoint. Each student took a letter and created one slide around that letter. Then I put them all together to create the Powerpoint alphabet book. The students really enjoyed learning how to use Powerpoint but they were developing their language arts skills at the same time. I felt this was a useful way to incorporate Powerpoint in my classroom.

In class I also learned that Powerpoints do not always have to be linear. The ability to move throughout a presentation in a non-linear fashion could be very useful. I know I have seen unit plans organized on Powerpoint. It is easy to pick a lesson to read by clicking on the table of contents. Then you can simply press a button and return to the main page to read another one. This is a very useful way to navigate through a Powerpoint.

However, I know that simply using Powerpoint does not necessarily improve a lesson or make it more interactive. Seeing notes on a Powerpoint and copying them is not really any more interactive than taking notes off the chalkboard. It seems that sometimes people feel that simply using Powerpoint is enough to make their presentation or lesson special. I personally feel that Powerpoint should be used in ways that make presentations or lessons more interactive and engaging. Technology should be used to enhance lessons rather than just used for the sake of using it.

Online books

This blog relates to an article that appeared several years ago. However, I think the debate is still relevant. It deals with whether or not books published entirely online would replace traditional paper and ink books. So far, some online books have not sold as well as hoped. I believe this is because there are still many benefits to traditional books. I read a lot of things online but not pages and pages at a time. I read shorts article and some brief emails. I understand that online books save money by saving costs for paper and ink. However, when I want to read something in depth for a long period of time I still want a traditional book. This is for several reasons. First, the bright light of the computer screen can be hard on the eyes if I read for long periods. Also , I like to take books different places. I can easily take a book all over the place. I can throw a small paperback into my purse and take it with me if I know I will be sitting in a waiting room for a long period of time. I can easily take a paperback to read in bed. Although laptops are relatively light and easy to move, I don't find them as convenient as traditional books. While I enjoy using a computer and reading things online I still want a traditional book when I want to read a novel. The original article can be found here: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,35920-1.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1

Spell checking in the classroom

In my pre-internship my students were constantly typing the final drafts of their writing in Microsoft word. This was a great way for students to create neat work that could be combined in class books. It also helped the students with editing. Spell check was a quick way to help the students fix up their own work and it also saved the teacher time. We did not have to help the students spell every word. However, I also believe that teachers need to be sure to teach students how to use spell check and to still take part in the editing process. Students need to know that spell check is not always right. Sometimes a word can be marked as incorrect simply because it is not in the system. Students also need to be able to decide which word they should pick to replace the misspelled one. Therefore, while I believe that spell check helps students to edit their work, teachers need to be sure that they don't let it replace one-on-one editing instruction.

Free Technology from Tuesday's Class

I really liked learning about free software like Open Office in class. As a student I know that everyone needs to have access to a wordprocessing program. In most cases we are not allowed to handwrite our reports and essays. As well we are often expected to use PowerPoint, Excel and other programs to make presentations. However as a teacher I know that all students do not have the money to buy Microsoft Office. OpenOffice seems to be just as useful as Microsoft Office. This is a great way to introduce all our students to technology and to give them the tools they need to successfully complete their school work.

Online PD

I recently came across a blog that deals with online professional development. It raised the questions of whether teachers get more out of online PD or standard PD meetings. I personally believe that a mix of both is probably best. Online work saves time and money. Teachers are busy people and just being able to turn on the computer can be easier than driving to another school in another town for professional development. As well, it is easier to connect with more people online. For example, when I interned I would never have a chance to meet with some of the teachers in my division because they were too far away. If I was working through PD online I would be able to connect with teachers from all over the division. Teachers all have great ideas so I feel that the more people I can connect with the better.

However, I also believe that teachers need face to face communication. These teachers probably live near by and are therefore dealing with similar issues. By meeting with each other I believe teachers interact and create lasting connections that may not occur online. Therefore it seems to me that both online and face-to-face PD opportunities will benefit teachers. By taking part in both, teachers will get the widest range of information.

To read the blog entitled "Mind Over Medium" go to this link: http://www.teachermagazine.org/tm/articles/2007/01/01/04research.h18.html

2nd Blog

I thought I'd take this time to enter my second blog. I've never used a blog before but I'm starting to see how it could be of value in the classroom. Teachers and students could effectively use this as a line of communication. I also think that one of the real benefits would be that students' peers would be able to read and respond to their classmates. I believe that students need to have a purpose when writing. Writing for an audience can encourage a student to do their best work. Because students would realize that their peers could read their blogs, I believe they work to the best of their ability.

I believe that technology can be very useful in the classroom. During my internship I used the internet to find interactive websites that related to my units. Somtimes it was difficult to find websites that I felt were appropriate for grade one because so many sites required that the students be readers. However, I did find some that the students really enjoyed. I discovered that students really enjoy using computers. They found the games to be a lot of fun but they were learning important concepts at the same time. Because they were so enthusiastic to use the computer they were also enthusiatic to learn the concepts I was teaching. One of the units I taught was on nutrition. I found this website had several games that helped the students distinguish between "sometimes" and "everyday" foods. Have a look at it at this website: http://www.dole5aday.com/.

In class we looked at the TuxMath and Tuxtype games. I found Tuxtype to be a lot more entertaining than the typing programs I used during school. I remember that I couldn't wait for typing time to be over so that we could do something fun in computers. I feel that using programs like this would be fun for the students so they would be developing important computer skills and having fun at the same time. What could be a better way to teach these things?

I also noticed that Tristan posted a great website on her blog. The interactive dinosaur website that she mentions is exactly the kind of interactive website that I am talking about. Kids seem to really enjoy exploring these sights and therefore really enjoy learning the content that is addressed. This is one way that I believe technology can benefit teachers and students.

My first blog

This is my first blog for ECMP 355. Blogger seems like it should be easy to use. I'm looking forward to learning more about technology in the classroom throughout this semester.