WebQuest in Wonderland: The Eight Grade Comes to the Edge
By Paul Aldridge
Paul Aldridge is the computer instructor at Pine Crest middle school. This school is a premier private college-preparatory school. The school at first was without technology, but after a few years, immense amounts of technology were added to the school and curriculum. Each child is to come to school with a laptop in hand.
Pine Crest now has the third largest wireless network in the country. Students are seen all around campus on their laptops submitting work to their teachers. The school had a gap between the performance of its students. The lower school had precise typists who were quite familiar with computers and the upper school needed students who could research ideas in depth and well and confident users of a laptop who would be able to easily in the world of proficient college students and out in the real world.
The issue this school had was the gap between these two levels. Paul Aldridge went to a conference where he learned of a program which would help the school's problem, this program is called WebQuest. This new program has helped the school and the students now have an easy transition from lower to middle school and then middle to upper school.
Q1. What is the school's reasoning behind their goal of having each child so extremely knowledgeable about computer technology?
A. The school is a private college-preparatory school, so I believe they are trying to make their students the best and most intelligent they can be when they are sent to college.
Q2. How does this school have so much funding for such a complex and involved technology program.
A2. This school must be very wealthy, also because it is a premier private school.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Web 2.0: Today's Technologies, Tomorrow's Learning
Web 2.0: Today's Technologies, Tomorrow's Learning
By Jennifer Groff and Jason Haas
This article discussed how MIT wanted to help implement such things such as video games and social networks into the classroom. At this moment these things are not very popular with teachers and they believe they are a very disruptive influence on the students. Social networks can benefit teachers and students, by creating communities and new ways of learning. Students can learn in a more effective way about real-world experiences through digital simulations.
One specific teacher using a program called Starlogo TNG, which is a program that shows the principles of evolution or another example the effect of a forest fire. This offers a fun way for students to learn about relevant and interesting topics pertaining to education in a creative way. this can be a great way for students to become more familiar with what they already know about technology and computers and it offers them new ways to learn more things.
It is beneficial if a teacher partners with one of their colleagues. This way they can learn from each other's experiences. Also building relationships with other teachers is a great form of networking.
Q1. Do the students get too carried away with the simulations/games they are playing?
A1. If you make them focus on the task they need to complete and what they need to learn, I believe these new programs will still keep the students focused. It is just important that you make sure the students are doing their work and are not playing with the program for too long.
Q2. Will these new programs benefit me as a teacher?
A2. I am not sure yet. I will have to experiment and ask other teachers how they feel about these types of programs. i can always try them out and be optimistic and wait to see if I see beneficial results in the way that my students are learning.
By Jennifer Groff and Jason Haas
This article discussed how MIT wanted to help implement such things such as video games and social networks into the classroom. At this moment these things are not very popular with teachers and they believe they are a very disruptive influence on the students. Social networks can benefit teachers and students, by creating communities and new ways of learning. Students can learn in a more effective way about real-world experiences through digital simulations.
One specific teacher using a program called Starlogo TNG, which is a program that shows the principles of evolution or another example the effect of a forest fire. This offers a fun way for students to learn about relevant and interesting topics pertaining to education in a creative way. this can be a great way for students to become more familiar with what they already know about technology and computers and it offers them new ways to learn more things.
It is beneficial if a teacher partners with one of their colleagues. This way they can learn from each other's experiences. Also building relationships with other teachers is a great form of networking.
Q1. Do the students get too carried away with the simulations/games they are playing?
A1. If you make them focus on the task they need to complete and what they need to learn, I believe these new programs will still keep the students focused. It is just important that you make sure the students are doing their work and are not playing with the program for too long.
Q2. Will these new programs benefit me as a teacher?
A2. I am not sure yet. I will have to experiment and ask other teachers how they feel about these types of programs. i can always try them out and be optimistic and wait to see if I see beneficial results in the way that my students are learning.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Stretching to Inspire
Stretching to Inspire
By Kory Owen
This article was interesting to me because it bought a whole new idea and topic into the picture of integrating technology into the classroom. I had never thought of how the students can help offer advice to their teachers so that the learning process of all of the new technological systems can be learned. A child expresses that his job is the student and he can learn, but he needs to "stretch" in order to learn more and demonstrate all that he has learned.
It was also brought up how the students of "Generation Y" are helping teachers incorporate technology into their classroom, because on average, the children know more about technology than the average teacher. Students can now partner up with their teachers and learn together about technology. an 18-week course was created for this specific purpose. Students are partnered up with teachers and work on projects together. I think this is such a great idea, because know teachers can truly see how they can learn so many things from their students. I also believe that this must make the students feel special, because they are able to teach an adult new things. I never thought how beneficial integrating technology into the classroom could be for both the student and the teacher.
Q1. Will what what this article discussed benefit me?
A1. I personally do not believe what was discussed in this article will benefit me. I am quite computer savvy and do not think that other students know more about technology than me. I do think this could benefit older teachers who are not as familiar with technology as I am.
Q2. How will I benefit from integrating technology into the classroom?
A2. I will benefit from integrating technology into the classroom, because hopefully I will see that students are more interested to learn if things are mixed up a bit and made to be more fun and interesting. Possibly they will become more engaged and not become as bored as easily.
By Kory Owen
This article was interesting to me because it bought a whole new idea and topic into the picture of integrating technology into the classroom. I had never thought of how the students can help offer advice to their teachers so that the learning process of all of the new technological systems can be learned. A child expresses that his job is the student and he can learn, but he needs to "stretch" in order to learn more and demonstrate all that he has learned.
It was also brought up how the students of "Generation Y" are helping teachers incorporate technology into their classroom, because on average, the children know more about technology than the average teacher. Students can now partner up with their teachers and learn together about technology. an 18-week course was created for this specific purpose. Students are partnered up with teachers and work on projects together. I think this is such a great idea, because know teachers can truly see how they can learn so many things from their students. I also believe that this must make the students feel special, because they are able to teach an adult new things. I never thought how beneficial integrating technology into the classroom could be for both the student and the teacher.
Q1. Will what what this article discussed benefit me?
A1. I personally do not believe what was discussed in this article will benefit me. I am quite computer savvy and do not think that other students know more about technology than me. I do think this could benefit older teachers who are not as familiar with technology as I am.
Q2. How will I benefit from integrating technology into the classroom?
A2. I will benefit from integrating technology into the classroom, because hopefully I will see that students are more interested to learn if things are mixed up a bit and made to be more fun and interesting. Possibly they will become more engaged and not become as bored as easily.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Software Review: Learning.com
The four lessons that were completed were Browsing Basics, URLs, Web Searches and Validity and Sourcing.
Each lesson addressed National Educational Technology Standards for Students.
Browsing Basics covered:
K-12 [5] Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
[5.a] advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
K-12 [6] Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.
[6.a] understand and use technology systems.
[6.b] select and use applications effectively and productively.
Grades 6-8:
7. Select and use the appropriate tools and digital resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and to solve problems.
URLs covered:
K-12 [1] Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
[1.a] apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
K-12 [2] Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
[2.a] interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
K-12 [6] Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.
[6.a] understand and use technology systems.
[6.b] select and use applications effectively and productively.
Web Searches covered:
K-12 [3] Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
[3.b] locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
[3.c] evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
K-12 [4] Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
[4.c] collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
K-12 [5] Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
[5.a] advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
Validity and Sourcing covered:
K-12 [1] Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
[1.a] apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
K-12 [2] Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
[2.a] interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
[2.b] communicate information and ideas effectively to multiples audiences using a variety of media and formats.
K-12 [5] Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
[5.a] advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
[5.b] exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
These series of tutorials were very informative, although I already knew most of the information presented. It was beneficial to relearn some of the terms regarding the internet and web browsing.
The only problem I faced with this product and could be a problem in the classroom, was that I needed to stop using the video about half way through a lesson and I was not able to save where I had ended. When I returned to use the program again, I had to begin that particular lesson at the very beginning, not where I had left off.(2007)
Citations
(2007) Learning.com. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://www.learning.com
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