Week 7, Fischbowl
I really enjoyed reading this blog and thoroughly agree with him. I think that is beyond important for the teachers of this century to be able to work a computer and know how to well. If I as a teacher am technologically illiterate then I cannot teach anyone else how to use technology. He makes very good points about technology being a necessity instead of an addition these days. And I wouldn’t have thought of it that way until he said it.
The comment is made that teachers who are illiterate to technology today are equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who can’t read or write. While this is a brave post to be made, it is pretty true. If you think about it there are numerous things we use on the computer in the classroom every day. Half of them we probably don’t even realize. Think about all the power points for teaching, grade book, email between parents, etc. If you cant do these things I would imagine it would be a lot harder to keep up with the classroom. I think that if a teacher were technologically illiterate then it would be wise to go learn for the benefit of themselves and their class.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Week 6, International Blog
International School #1
The first international blog I found was by a teacher named Mr. Gary Coyle at The American Embassy School in New Delphi, India. It is used for his eighth grade Humanities class. He has them exploring a theme per quarter that addresses the concept of power. He posts a question each quarter and each student has to respond. He also includes a class hall of fame where he posts some of the best answers. In addition he includes links to his weekly assignments.
I think that Mr. Coyle has done a wonderful job with this blog and I find it very interesting that even children in India are blogging. He has done a great job with getting his students to use the Internet as an additional source to the classroom. He seems to really be getting them to think and I am sure in return his classrooms scores reflect it. I love the idea of having a class hall of fame. This makes the students want to do their best so that they can be included. It also allows students to feel proud of them for the good job they have done.
http://mrcoyle.edublogs.org/
International School #2
The second international blog I found was a website called epals. This sight allows students and teachers from all over the world to communicate. Not only is there blogging but also projects, email, and forums. I think that this is one of the best sights I have found. Using this in the classroom can take education to a whole different level. Teachers and students can exchange ideas with more than just the people around them but with some of the best teachers and students of the world. I find it very fascinating that in my classroom in the U.S. I can connect my students with another classroom in China or anywhere else. This is a great way to get new ideas and different perspectives on all types of subjects.
http://www.epals.com/
The first international blog I found was by a teacher named Mr. Gary Coyle at The American Embassy School in New Delphi, India. It is used for his eighth grade Humanities class. He has them exploring a theme per quarter that addresses the concept of power. He posts a question each quarter and each student has to respond. He also includes a class hall of fame where he posts some of the best answers. In addition he includes links to his weekly assignments.
I think that Mr. Coyle has done a wonderful job with this blog and I find it very interesting that even children in India are blogging. He has done a great job with getting his students to use the Internet as an additional source to the classroom. He seems to really be getting them to think and I am sure in return his classrooms scores reflect it. I love the idea of having a class hall of fame. This makes the students want to do their best so that they can be included. It also allows students to feel proud of them for the good job they have done.
http://mrcoyle.edublogs.org/
International School #2
The second international blog I found was a website called epals. This sight allows students and teachers from all over the world to communicate. Not only is there blogging but also projects, email, and forums. I think that this is one of the best sights I have found. Using this in the classroom can take education to a whole different level. Teachers and students can exchange ideas with more than just the people around them but with some of the best teachers and students of the world. I find it very fascinating that in my classroom in the U.S. I can connect my students with another classroom in China or anywhere else. This is a great way to get new ideas and different perspectives on all types of subjects.
http://www.epals.com/
Friday, November 7, 2008
Week 5, Blogs in the Classroom
Blog in the Classroom #1At South Valley Junior High in Liberty, Missouri a teacher named Mr. Langhorst is using blogs for his 8th grade History class. His blog contains ideas, pictures, videos, news items, and general thoughts about the topics related to his lessons. He updates it regularly to better help his students in his class and to simply get them thinking. Also in his blog he has links to “podcast” and “studycast”. These are both audio programs used to show videos and quiz his students on the material he is teaching. Everything he covers he uploads on the internet for not only his students to access but also their parents. Also he adds some fun into the blog by adding pictures and videos of the class itself.
After looking at this blog I am simply amazed. He has put so much time and effort in it and it really shows. This is a phenomenal way for the students to have further resources besides his lectures and the book. Not only is he going over the required material but also he is posting general news information to help keep them updated in their current events. He seems to make things very interesting and easy to access. I think that this is a great way to get students using technology and to also help them further their knowledge of the subject material.
After looking at this blog I am simply amazed. He has put so much time and effort in it and it really shows. This is a phenomenal way for the students to have further resources besides his lectures and the book. Not only is he going over the required material but also he is posting general news information to help keep them updated in their current events. He seems to make things very interesting and easy to access. I think that this is a great way to get students using technology and to also help them further their knowledge of the subject material.
Blog in the Classroom #3
At Hooper Elementary in West Hooper, Utah every teacher is using a blog to reach out to students, faculty and parents. This allows them to distribute information quickly and accurately. By making a blog, employees of Hooper elementary can dispense information to students and parents online, which allows them to access it during their free time and in the comfort of their own homes. Using text, pictures, and attachments the blog makes for an easy log of daily events, upcoming happenings and even can assist sick students catch up to work they may have missed.
Every teacher at this school is required to use a blog and I think that is fantastic. This makes things so much easier for everyone. The students have somewhere to go if they need help and the parents as well. I believe that this helps everyone to communicate smother and it also gets the students using technology. This is a great asset to a classroom and also a great way further the education of the students.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Week 4, Video
I found this video very interesting. After watching it I was truly amazed. I did not realize how far society had come technologically. The statistics were insane and it left me wondering how much further along our society is after that video was made, from 2007 till today. It also made me question whether I was using all these resources to my advantage. While I use the internet a good bit I could be using it so much more to further my education as a whole.
This video also made me think about how I as a teacher can help to advance my students to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. This is a really great topic to bring up because it is very important to think about. There are so many different jobs and majors being created every day and as an educator I need to do anything and everything in my power to make sure I can help students be more knowledgeable to the technological world. This video alone sparked over 5 million conversations. This proves that just one person can make millions be more knowledgeable and begin to think. Just think how far we could come if each teacher made this same effort.
I strongly believe that if Alabama’s schools could make sure that every school has complete access to things such as computers than Alabama will be even more successful at educating the future of our country. In these days, technological knowledge and skills are necessary for future jobs. I know that funding plays a huge role in this but I feel that this is one of the most important places each school should use their money.
I am very glad that I had a chance to watch this video. Not only was it very interesting it opened up my eyes to really think about how I can use technology to my advantage and to my students advantage.
This video also made me think about how I as a teacher can help to advance my students to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. This is a really great topic to bring up because it is very important to think about. There are so many different jobs and majors being created every day and as an educator I need to do anything and everything in my power to make sure I can help students be more knowledgeable to the technological world. This video alone sparked over 5 million conversations. This proves that just one person can make millions be more knowledgeable and begin to think. Just think how far we could come if each teacher made this same effort.
I strongly believe that if Alabama’s schools could make sure that every school has complete access to things such as computers than Alabama will be even more successful at educating the future of our country. In these days, technological knowledge and skills are necessary for future jobs. I know that funding plays a huge role in this but I feel that this is one of the most important places each school should use their money.
I am very glad that I had a chance to watch this video. Not only was it very interesting it opened up my eyes to really think about how I can use technology to my advantage and to my students advantage.
Week 3, ACCESS
Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, also known as ACCESS is a network based resource that provides opportunities for Alabama public high schools. According to the ACCESS site, “ACCESS— provides high-quality classroom courses & teachers, via technology.” In other words it allows students to be able to have access to things such as advanced placement and electives. This resource is used for those who might not have any other access to these types of programs. I think this is a great program that really helps our education system.
ACCESS is used because of many low income schools that are not able to offer the courses that are required by state. For example, numerous rural schools do not have enough money to allow courses such as physics and trigonometry to be taught in their curriculum. Therefore ACCESS is an alternative so that every student has the equal opportunity.
I believe that this new program will be phenomenal for the high schools of Alabama. This is a very powerful resource that was much needed throughout the state. I believe that this alone will help improve our education system and bring us further than ever before in education. There are many underprivileged students who have abilities that are simply wasted because their schools can not afford to offer the programs needed. This will no longer be a problem. Again, I feel that this is a great program for the state of Alabama.
ACCESS is used because of many low income schools that are not able to offer the courses that are required by state. For example, numerous rural schools do not have enough money to allow courses such as physics and trigonometry to be taught in their curriculum. Therefore ACCESS is an alternative so that every student has the equal opportunity.
I believe that this new program will be phenomenal for the high schools of Alabama. This is a very powerful resource that was much needed throughout the state. I believe that this alone will help improve our education system and bring us further than ever before in education. There are many underprivileged students who have abilities that are simply wasted because their schools can not afford to offer the programs needed. This will no longer be a problem. Again, I feel that this is a great program for the state of Alabama.
Week 2, ALEX
The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is a web site designed for teachers. Its purpose is to help improve the education system all throughout Alabama. This is such a great help to teachers because it allows them to refer to one location to find information that will help improve their effectiveness as an educator. It provides all types of resources including lesson plans, web sites, courses of study, and standards.
This network is an amazing tool to effective teaching. I would definitely use this in my career as an elementary teacher. Not only does this site give you specific activities for each grade and subject but it also gives you lesson plans and web links to further your research. I think this is a great way to keep teachers up to date on curriculum and certain things that need to be covered in each subject. I also think this is great for my creativity as a teacher. With the access to this site I will never run out of ideas. I am glad that I have been introduced to this site because I think that it will help me tremendously when I begin teaching.
I feel that this is a great resource for all teachers to use because there are so many standards that have to be met. With the help of this site it would be much more unlikely to skip over certain things that need to be taught. I also like the fact that other teachers all over Alabama can make posts to this site. As a new teacher I know I will rely on the help and advice of more experienced teachers to guide me through my many years of educating.
This network is an amazing tool to effective teaching. I would definitely use this in my career as an elementary teacher. Not only does this site give you specific activities for each grade and subject but it also gives you lesson plans and web links to further your research. I think this is a great way to keep teachers up to date on curriculum and certain things that need to be covered in each subject. I also think this is great for my creativity as a teacher. With the access to this site I will never run out of ideas. I am glad that I have been introduced to this site because I think that it will help me tremendously when I begin teaching.
I feel that this is a great resource for all teachers to use because there are so many standards that have to be met. With the help of this site it would be much more unlikely to skip over certain things that need to be taught. I also like the fact that other teachers all over Alabama can make posts to this site. As a new teacher I know I will rely on the help and advice of more experienced teachers to guide me through my many years of educating.
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