Thank goodness for Chapter 10 which summarizes the tools that I have been learning about in class. There are a lot! So this was helpful to wrap it up with explanations. Technologies will always be evolving and educators need to be trained in these technologies. Our students are exposed to so many things and are more aware of more things daily. There are so many ways to acquire knowledge and we need to use it effectively as students and teachers. The Read/Write Web is a great way to collaborate with others, a great way to get feedback, and to bounce ideas off of similar people. As I have been stating, the possibiltiies are endless. For me it is my comfort level. Just as some of my sixth graders are afraid of fractions, I am afraid of technology.
The Big Shifts are very important and I think good news for students and teachers! I can use these to guide the best way to teach today's students. Big Shift 1 is open content, no longer is the textbook the number 1 source! Shift 2 is there is readily available access to other teachers and 24/7 learning! 3 is being social and collaborative to make knowledge meaningful. 4 is teaching is conversation not lecture. That is a relief, how boring to be lectured at all the time! 5 is to know "where" learning is: to be able to locate information. 6 is readers are no longer readers. No more being a passive reader, it is now more of an active undertaking! 7 is to use the Web as a notebook/portfolio. We can collect links, text, audio, video, photos, etc. 8 is writing is no longer limited to text. Thanks to the Web we can write in different genres such as audio, video, music, photos, and code and then publish it easily for many audiences. 9 is mastery is the product not the test. Students can show their mastery in many ways! 10 is contribution not completion is the final goal. Students and teachers contribute their own ideas and work on the Web. You can get instant feedback and the world can check it out!
I am excited to start implementing these tools into my classroom. This week I had a glitch with my Eno Board and I was able to figure out what was wrong and to fix it! An aha moment for me, so slowly I am hoping to be doing more and more with the Web and technologies with my teaching and for my students. This book will be a great resource for that!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Chapter 9: Social Networks
It is amazing to me how many social networks there are today. I am also surprised by how many children are using them to "explore interests and find information that goes beyond what they have access to at school or in their local community." Through these social networks they are able to connect to people far away from their school and their community. They don't know these people but they share a connection or common interest. Using the social networks they are learning things not taught at school which can be positive or negative. I am familiar with Facebook but not Ning which allows you to make your own personal Facebook-like network around a specific interest. There are over 6 million active users on Ning!
This chapter tells how to incorporate social networks in the classroom. Not sure just how I could use Facebook in my class. I would need to speak to students, parents, and administrators about using it. I could create a private site for my class for educational purposes. I think with my current population I would be able to do it. I would have to remind them to be appropriate and that it would be for educational purposes only. It may help the shy students to participate more. Jim Meredith, a Philadelphia Catholic schools social studies teacher stated, "Quiet kids in class spoke up online." Again there is a lot of potential for using these tools in the classroom. With proper training and open communication it may be a great tool for discussions about what is happening in our classrooms.
This chapter tells how to incorporate social networks in the classroom. Not sure just how I could use Facebook in my class. I would need to speak to students, parents, and administrators about using it. I could create a private site for my class for educational purposes. I think with my current population I would be able to do it. I would have to remind them to be appropriate and that it would be for educational purposes only. It may help the shy students to participate more. Jim Meredith, a Philadelphia Catholic schools social studies teacher stated, "Quiet kids in class spoke up online." Again there is a lot of potential for using these tools in the classroom. With proper training and open communication it may be a great tool for discussions about what is happening in our classrooms.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Chapter 8: Podcasting, Video and Screencasting, and Live Streaming
I agree with the first statement in this chapter that the "explosion of multimedia publishing on the Web is going to continue." The growth of YouTube.com, Google Video and other audio and video sites is amazing to me! It is great that teachers and students can broadcast live locally and globally. It is easier to create and view multimedia as welll as text and digital images. I was introduced to Podcasting, Screencasting, and Live Streaming. Again the possibilities are endless for the students and the teacher. I think for me my biggest hurdles are time and my own insecurities with applying some of this technology in my classroom.
I think screencasting may be an easier one for me to implement. I think I can handle audio, right? I checked out the link in the book by John Udell at tinyurl.com/ydp2sfg and it seems pretty straightforward. I think my students would enjoy hearing their voices in their Power Points and other curriculum work. I discovered that screencasting takes more preparation than screencasting. I can see myself in the future checking out Jing to find out just how I can screencast in my classroom. It is another free download! The book says it is "one of the easiest pieces of software to use." We shall see...
I think screencasting may be an easier one for me to implement. I think I can handle audio, right? I checked out the link in the book by John Udell at tinyurl.com/ydp2sfg and it seems pretty straightforward. I think my students would enjoy hearing their voices in their Power Points and other curriculum work. I discovered that screencasting takes more preparation than screencasting. I can see myself in the future checking out Jing to find out just how I can screencast in my classroom. It is another free download! The book says it is "one of the easiest pieces of software to use." We shall see...
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Chapter 7: Fun with Flickr
Again this is unfamiliar to me and outside my comfort zone. Flickr is the easiest way to create and publish content other than text. It is using digital photography and is easily accessible. It is simple software used to edit and resize, and it is free! One neat thing is you can connect your pictures to other peoples' pictures when you tag them. The more tags you use, the better chance your photos will link to others with the same subject. I was nervous about privacy but you can create private groups to work in your own space and you have the ability to turn off the discussion.
For me I would need to get permission to publish student photos on the Web. Flickr.com is free as long as you don't publish more than 100 MB of images and more than 500 MB videos. There are many ways to publish photos to the Web easily and cheaply. Again I need practice and time to implement Flickr in my classroom. It is great to learn about all the options, especially the inexpensive, easy ones!
For me I would need to get permission to publish student photos on the Web. Flickr.com is free as long as you don't publish more than 100 MB of images and more than 500 MB videos. There are many ways to publish photos to the Web easily and cheaply. Again I need practice and time to implement Flickr in my classroom. It is great to learn about all the options, especially the inexpensive, easy ones!
Chapter 6:The Social Web
As I have been reading the chapters, I am learning more and more. This book is a useful tool not only for this course but also for my classroom. Today the Web is all about collaborative and being social. Most people want to share, connect and create with others. Globally over 1 billion people are connected online. These social connections according to author David Weinberger, " are where the real power and potential of the Read/Write Web lies for educators and students."
Again there are endless possibilities in the classroom thanks to the Web. We have the ability to instantly connect with others. Through tools such as Twitter, a microblogging tool, which started in 2006, educators can use these as powerful professional development sources and for communications with many people. Although Twitter may be difficult to condense our thoughts as teachers to only 140 characters. Teachers tend to have a lot to say! I also learned about social bookmarking sites that I was unfamiliar with, Diigo and Delicious. These are free services that used for social networking. They can help with supporting our own learning, it is collective and it is changing the way we work and learn!
Again there are endless possibilities in the classroom thanks to the Web. We have the ability to instantly connect with others. Through tools such as Twitter, a microblogging tool, which started in 2006, educators can use these as powerful professional development sources and for communications with many people. Although Twitter may be difficult to condense our thoughts as teachers to only 140 characters. Teachers tend to have a lot to say! I also learned about social bookmarking sites that I was unfamiliar with, Diigo and Delicious. These are free services that used for social networking. They can help with supporting our own learning, it is collective and it is changing the way we work and learn!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Chapter 5 RSS
Again I am feeling clueless. I had no idea what RSS meant. It stands for Really Simple Syndication which sounds so simple, right? It makes it easy for educators when you are teaching and you have multiple sites to use, you can go to one place to read all of the content on those websites. Again endless possibilities. As it states in chapter 5, "RSS is a technology that will change your life, if you let it." This is the recurrent theme for me, technology will change my life if I would allow it.
This chapter is useful because it walks you through the steps to set up your RSS. It takes time and organization. It recommends to set up folders to organize the information for the RSS. Google Reader which was shown in this course is a great way to scan and read your RSS sites. Again endless possibilities to use RSS in my classroom. WOW! So many options in the classroom...
This chapter is useful because it walks you through the steps to set up your RSS. It takes time and organization. It recommends to set up folders to organize the information for the RSS. Google Reader which was shown in this course is a great way to scan and read your RSS sites. Again endless possibilities to use RSS in my classroom. WOW! So many options in the classroom...
Chapter 4 Wikis
My partner uses Wikis and showed me a bit last year for social studies. Again it is not my comfort level but I am hoping to use it. The more I practice it I know my comfort level will get better. This chapter talked about Wikipedia, I discourage my students from using it. I think it is unreliable and is constantly changing. I do not want my students to use Wikipedia for research and/or references. I try to provide other resources for my students when they are working on research projects.
I agree that Wikis in school would be great. The possibilities are endless in the classroom. Again when my partner used it last year I was impressed. He used it for social studies class and the students really talked it up and were excited. The energy level was great and the students were doing better than expected and completing all the requirements. It is a great collaborative tool for teachers and students. I am slowly getting into Wikis. I am excited to try it!
I agree that Wikis in school would be great. The possibilities are endless in the classroom. Again when my partner used it last year I was impressed. He used it for social studies class and the students really talked it up and were excited. The energy level was great and the students were doing better than expected and completing all the requirements. It is a great collaborative tool for teachers and students. I am slowly getting into Wikis. I am excited to try it!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Chapter 3 Weblogs: Getting Started!
Ok so chapter 2 gave me the background information that I needed to better understand Weblogs. Now to get started! YIKES! Chapter 3 helps you to get started. Starting small would be best for me. I would like to possibly start a weblog but I have some concerns. Will my school allow it? What about security and privacy concerns? Will it work with my grade 6 students? What about parents' reactions? How will I be able to manage it? One way to overcome and deal with my concerns is to maybe start a classroom blog. I might have to try it...We'll see.
This chapter had a great resource to get started with blogging support. It was very helpful to me. It is a great blog spot. I used this site to find out more about blogging. This can be useful to help me to set up my own Weblog. I just need to overcome my fears. Stay tuned!!
This chapter had a great resource to get started with blogging support. It was very helpful to me. It is a great blog spot. I used this site to find out more about blogging. This can be useful to help me to set up my own Weblog. I just need to overcome my fears. Stay tuned!!
Chapter 2: Weblogs
I had a general idea about weblogs but the definition made it more clear for myself. It is easily created and updateable website that allows an author(s) to publish instantly to Internet. There is lots of text and not much bells and whistles. You can post your opinion and people can respond to it. It is an easy way to share resources and ideas locally and globally, you have an instant audience and it is easy to do.
Dean Shareski's blog shows how you can view his latest post at the top and then you can see what he has posted previously. Readers can post comments, it is a great way to get feedback from other teachers. I think it is a great way to collaborate! You can adapt the Weblog and make it look professsional. There are many variations on blogging, some of them include using Facebook, MySpace and Beebo.
The good news about blogging, is that it can have a positive impact on students. Learning specialists Fernette and Brock Eide's research found that blogs can:
1.) promote critical and analytical thinking,
2.) be a powerful promoter of creative, intuitive and associational thinking,
3.) promote analogical thinking,
4.) be a powerful medium for increasing access and exposure to quality information,
5.) combining the best of solitary reflection and social interaction.
Weblogs in school can be a flexible teaching tool. It is easily accessible and a great way to access class materials. There is no need to make extra copies, it is a great way to communication with peers who are teaching the same course. The students don't lose their work, for the most part! It is organized in one place. Parents and teachers can track student's progress: online portfolio and collaborate with others. It is a great way to record learning for students. I could see using a Weblog in my classroom.
Dean Shareski's blog shows how you can view his latest post at the top and then you can see what he has posted previously. Readers can post comments, it is a great way to get feedback from other teachers. I think it is a great way to collaborate! You can adapt the Weblog and make it look professsional. There are many variations on blogging, some of them include using Facebook, MySpace and Beebo.
The good news about blogging, is that it can have a positive impact on students. Learning specialists Fernette and Brock Eide's research found that blogs can:
1.) promote critical and analytical thinking,
2.) be a powerful promoter of creative, intuitive and associational thinking,
3.) promote analogical thinking,
4.) be a powerful medium for increasing access and exposure to quality information,
5.) combining the best of solitary reflection and social interaction.
Weblogs in school can be a flexible teaching tool. It is easily accessible and a great way to access class materials. There is no need to make extra copies, it is a great way to communication with peers who are teaching the same course. The students don't lose their work, for the most part! It is organized in one place. Parents and teachers can track student's progress: online portfolio and collaborate with others. It is a great way to record learning for students. I could see using a Weblog in my classroom.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Chapter 1 Read/Write Web
I was amazed at how quickly technology via the web has progressed since 1989 when the Internet started. Tim Berners-Lee saw the potential to create a vast "web" of linked information, built from people around the world. This allowed people to not only share data but to share personal talents and experiences in new and powerful ways. In 1993, many people were "surfing" the web. It was limited in its capabilities but quickly became an essential communications and research network connecting people locally and globally.
Fast-forward to 2009 and we have many capabilities and possibilities. The one major problem I see as an educator is that we are challenged with keeping up with technologies. The world is constantly changing and "educators are very, very slow to react." I think more time and training would help me to overcome my personal struggles with technology. Many of our students are exposed and adept at the evolving technologies. Their abilities far surpass their teachers' abilities. Our students use more complex and flexible digital information with minimal or hardly any instruction. Today's schools are faced with the difficult dilemma that pits a student body immersed in technology against a teaching faculty that is less skilled in these tools. Students are by and large "fearless" in the use of technology. Personally I am trying to catch up with my students abilities with technology.
Fast-forward to 2009 and we have many capabilities and possibilities. The one major problem I see as an educator is that we are challenged with keeping up with technologies. The world is constantly changing and "educators are very, very slow to react." I think more time and training would help me to overcome my personal struggles with technology. Many of our students are exposed and adept at the evolving technologies. Their abilities far surpass their teachers' abilities. Our students use more complex and flexible digital information with minimal or hardly any instruction. Today's schools are faced with the difficult dilemma that pits a student body immersed in technology against a teaching faculty that is less skilled in these tools. Students are by and large "fearless" in the use of technology. Personally I am trying to catch up with my students abilities with technology.
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