What specific plans do you have for implementing technology in an educational setting as a result of what you have learned in 5720?
This class has taught me a lot about how to implement various forms of technology into the classroom. For technology project 5, I created a glog on two-digit addition. I have already been using this with my students and the kids love it! Our second grade team has a blog and I figured out how to embed the glog so the kids can access it at home. Before taking this class, I was unfamiliar with Glogster EDU, but now I am already thinking of new ways to use this with my class. I plan to create a new glog every couple of weeks to put on our blog. I will find activities and games that go with the topics we are studying in class. When I become a librarian, I play to use Glogster EDU to create posters about new books in the library.
I also learned a lot about how to create a quality slideshow presentation that will capture the attention of students. I will be sure all the presentations I create in the future are visually appealing. I enjoyed looking at presentations created in formats other than Powerpoint. Programs such as Prezio and Animoto have great features that are not available in a Powerpoint presentation. Before taking this class, I was unaware that there were other options out there for creating presentations.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Job of Organizing
Organizing books and materials used to be in the domain of professionally trained catalogers and indexers. Now, through Web 2.0, it is in the hands of everyday "folk." What are the implications of this trend for librarians? Also, for additional food for thought, go to your Delicious site and examine your list of tags. In your opinion, are these tags more or less helpful than traditional subject headings?
Before the creation of the internet, library catalogs existed to help users locate published resources in the library. With advances in technology, we are no longer limited to searching for information in books. We now have access to a seemingly unlimited number of electronic resources. This has changed they way we look for information. Instead of going to a library catalog to locate a resource, we can now go to a search engine such as Google to aid in our search. Google has many advantages over a traditional library catalog, including relevancy ranking and spell checking. When searching for a book, we can now go to websites such as Amazon,com to find more information and read reviews about the book. I think these changes have made it easier for people to search for and find information. While it is important for librarians to have a system for cataloging and organizing information, they have a responsibility to adapt the current system and make it more relevant and usable.
I think that tags on a Delicious site are almost more helpful than traditional subject headings. Delicious tags allow materials to be labeled in more than one category. Traditional subject headings force materials into one specific label. The ability to assign more than one label to resources will make them easier to find in the future. While some of the tags will only make sense to the individual who assigned them, many will also be helpful for others who are looking for resources on a topic. I think it is a beneficial thing for everyone to be able to take part in organizing. When everyday people are able to participate in organizing, it allows them to organize materials in a way that makes sense to them. Some of the libraries methods for cataloging can be confusing for people who do not have a background in cataloging. The methods other people come up with for tagging and organizing might make more sense to people without a library background and allow them to find materials more easily. The downside to this is that each person will have their own way of tagging and organizing. With traditional cataloging methods, there is a standard system for organizing materials that is universal. There is also the possibility that things can be mislabeled.
Before the creation of the internet, library catalogs existed to help users locate published resources in the library. With advances in technology, we are no longer limited to searching for information in books. We now have access to a seemingly unlimited number of electronic resources. This has changed they way we look for information. Instead of going to a library catalog to locate a resource, we can now go to a search engine such as Google to aid in our search. Google has many advantages over a traditional library catalog, including relevancy ranking and spell checking. When searching for a book, we can now go to websites such as Amazon,com to find more information and read reviews about the book. I think these changes have made it easier for people to search for and find information. While it is important for librarians to have a system for cataloging and organizing information, they have a responsibility to adapt the current system and make it more relevant and usable.
I think that tags on a Delicious site are almost more helpful than traditional subject headings. Delicious tags allow materials to be labeled in more than one category. Traditional subject headings force materials into one specific label. The ability to assign more than one label to resources will make them easier to find in the future. While some of the tags will only make sense to the individual who assigned them, many will also be helpful for others who are looking for resources on a topic. I think it is a beneficial thing for everyone to be able to take part in organizing. When everyday people are able to participate in organizing, it allows them to organize materials in a way that makes sense to them. Some of the libraries methods for cataloging can be confusing for people who do not have a background in cataloging. The methods other people come up with for tagging and organizing might make more sense to people without a library background and allow them to find materials more easily. The downside to this is that each person will have their own way of tagging and organizing. With traditional cataloging methods, there is a standard system for organizing materials that is universal. There is also the possibility that things can be mislabeled.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/Using Us
The title of the video that you were asked to view this week is "Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/Using Us." Referencing what you have learned about Web 2.0 through the readings in the Courtney text and through watching the video, why do you think that Professor Wesch gave this title to the video?
This is a great video that illustrates that while computers are very powerful, we are ultimately the ones who give them that power. Technology is constantly changing and we are the ones driving that change. People are always thinking of new ideas, as well as improvements that can be made to existing technology. Digital media is now a form of communication. It is not only a way to access information, but also a way to share and trade information around the world. Computers and technology have become one of our main communication tools by using not only our voice through digital text, but also our images through photos, videos, and streaming media. We have gone from a complicated computer language through HTML to a more evolved and user-friendly system. You don't have to use the language of the computer to communicate your language through a computer. The machines now keep track of each user's history and we are able to use the information to adapt technology to better meet the needs of the world.
This is a great video that illustrates that while computers are very powerful, we are ultimately the ones who give them that power. Technology is constantly changing and we are the ones driving that change. People are always thinking of new ideas, as well as improvements that can be made to existing technology. Digital media is now a form of communication. It is not only a way to access information, but also a way to share and trade information around the world. Computers and technology have become one of our main communication tools by using not only our voice through digital text, but also our images through photos, videos, and streaming media. We have gone from a complicated computer language through HTML to a more evolved and user-friendly system. You don't have to use the language of the computer to communicate your language through a computer. The machines now keep track of each user's history and we are able to use the information to adapt technology to better meet the needs of the world.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Handheld Devices
Recent advances in handheld devices have created exciting new ways to use technology in the library and the classroom. Many factors must be considered when choosing how to spend a technology budget of $10,000 such as price, versatility, and ease of use.
After researching and considering many different handheld devices, the Apple iPod Touch seems to be the most versatile of all the handheld devices. The iPod Touch is more cost effective than the iPad and can do almost everything the iPad can do. The lower cost will allow a greater number of devices to be purchased so that more students will be able to use the new technology. The 32 GB iPod Touch costs $299, and an entire class set of 30 could be purchased with $10,000.
The possibilities of how to use the iPod Touch in the classroom are endless. It can be used to access the internet, as an ebook reader, and there are numerous educational applications available. The iTouch can also be used to play audio books. This is a great tool for struggling readers and can help with reading fluency.
Teachers can create a Google Doc, and the students could use the iTouch to respond to surveys or discussion questions. Students could post their responses to questions and respond to what other students post as well. Many students will be more open in this type of discussion than they would in a traditional discussion. This also allows each student a chance to respond while there would not be time for each student to respond during an oral discussion.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Individual Technology Assessment
As an educator, what are your present strengths and weaknesses in technology? How do you plan to use your strengths? How do you plan to address the weaknesses?
As a teacher, I understand the importance of incorporating technology into my teaching in order to capture the attention of my students. Whenever I use technology in my lessons, I usually feel that the students come away with a better understanding of the material. I am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology in my classroom. I feel like my background in technology is fairly strong, and I have a good working knowledge of various forms of technology and how to use them, but I also admit there are still many things I need to learn.
My biggest weakness is that I often get scared off by the amount of time it can take to prepare a lesson that uses technology. Sometimes it seems easier to continue teaching a topic the same way I have in years past than it is to try something new with technology. Another weakness is that I sometimes get frustrated trying to teach my students to use technology. I teach second grade, and many of the students don't come into my class with a very strong background in technology. With twenty students in my class to one teacher, it can be difficult to get all the students to use technology successfully.
I plan to do a better job of using my knowledge of technology with my students this year. I am going to spend more time planning lessons that include technology and try not to be more positive and not think of all the things that can go wrong when trying to teach seven year olds how to use various forms of technology. Our school is a little behind in getting the latest technology, but this year I have a Promethean Board to share with another second grade teacher. I know there are so many exciting things that can be done using the Promethean Board, so I am going to attend a staff development offered through my district to learn about some of the ways I can use the board with my class. I am excited about this course because I know I will learn about new ways of using technology with my kids.
As a teacher, I understand the importance of incorporating technology into my teaching in order to capture the attention of my students. Whenever I use technology in my lessons, I usually feel that the students come away with a better understanding of the material. I am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology in my classroom. I feel like my background in technology is fairly strong, and I have a good working knowledge of various forms of technology and how to use them, but I also admit there are still many things I need to learn.
My biggest weakness is that I often get scared off by the amount of time it can take to prepare a lesson that uses technology. Sometimes it seems easier to continue teaching a topic the same way I have in years past than it is to try something new with technology. Another weakness is that I sometimes get frustrated trying to teach my students to use technology. I teach second grade, and many of the students don't come into my class with a very strong background in technology. With twenty students in my class to one teacher, it can be difficult to get all the students to use technology successfully.
I plan to do a better job of using my knowledge of technology with my students this year. I am going to spend more time planning lessons that include technology and try not to be more positive and not think of all the things that can go wrong when trying to teach seven year olds how to use various forms of technology. Our school is a little behind in getting the latest technology, but this year I have a Promethean Board to share with another second grade teacher. I know there are so many exciting things that can be done using the Promethean Board, so I am going to attend a staff development offered through my district to learn about some of the ways I can use the board with my class. I am excited about this course because I know I will learn about new ways of using technology with my kids.
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