Can You Hear Me Know - Blog #6

I think the implications for using the tools available online are growing more each day. I hate to say this, but before this class I had never had heard of a wiki or jing. They were not difficult to use and now I can’t wait to find more ways to work them into my lessons. I was amazed to find out how long some Web 2.0 applications had been around. They can be applied to projects such as compiling a textbook for a class to a student building his own portfolio. I think what is preventing us from making more changes is a lack of knowledge of these tools and how these tools can be used in our classroom. We need a way to add variety in our lessons is presented and keep the students motivated to learn. I know this particularly true in my own case.
If I could wave a magic wand I would put a set of laptops in each classroom, offer more training on how they could be used, and instantly take the fear out of educators who want to know more about technology but are afraid to change. I know I asked for three things, I guess I got carried away. Technology in the world and in the classroom is just the way of the future and the kids are already in tuned to this technology. Our job as educators is to keep up with the changes in technology and at the same time combine them with lessons to interest and keep our students at the center of learning instead of ourselves.

Working with Wikis #5

When I first opened the syllabus and saw we would be learning about wikis, I had no idea what they were, but I think this has been one of my favorite forms of technology so far. I have learned they are so simple to set up and each day I can think of ways in which they would be useful. My first thought was a recipe exchange but a few others in the class had the same idea. I then thought of Science Fairs, and how we try each year to coordinate all the teachers, students, parents and the science projects. I set up my wiki with just basic information for now on what a Science Fair is and where to find information on projects. Then I added a page where students could sign up, make comments or even tell about the project they might enter. There is also a page for parents to make comments on or even volunteer to judge. I feel it still needs some work but for right now it is a good start.

I also thought a wiki might be the perfect way we could all stay in touch when my daughter gets married next year. Since we all live so far from each other our families could keep up with each other making notes when certain details were finished or even finding addresses and updating them. We could also share pictures.

I can see so many advantages for using them in my class. We could use them to build vocabulary and even give reports on labs, since we may not get the same result in each class. The students could then try and explain the reason for the different outcomes. The only disadvantage I see is not reporting reliable information. You may have to set the wiki for certain users to participate.

A wiki would be great way to engage digital natives since they are already so in tuned to technology. A group project would be a fun way to use a wiki, especially when you may not all be able to meet at the same time.
I would probably like to explore animation a little further and adding audio to blogs. Truthfully though, I want to go back and work with RSS feeds and the Delicious bookmarks more.

E-Portfolios and Assessment

I choose Assessment for Learning should take into account of (and foster) the motivation for learning. I found this most relevant in my life due to the fact I teach junior high science. I love science but motivating my students to enjoy what I enjoy is not always easy. With the help of computers, I learned one way to show how the subject is relevant to their lives and then instruct them in a way they enjoy learning. This also helps me reach a wide range of learners at one time. Students that understand are able to move at their own pace and I can assist the others that may need a little more help. And even if the students are having difficulty I can still see many working toward trying to understand by ‘rewinding’ or reviewing material, as my article stated.

I think a portfolio assessment would be an excellent tool for students to use. It would be so much more organized and neater than keeping a folder. With the traditional way of keeping your best work in a folder, sometimes work is lost. At the moment, we do not have a lot of time to spend with computers, but with proper instruction on how each student could set up a portfolio this would be great for parent conferences, teacher team/student conferences, open house, etc. What a confidence builder for the student.

Developing a portfolio for my own learning will help me show my best work and remind me of what I have accomplished from the lessons I have completed. It will help me also help me build confidence in myself and show me what I am capable of doing.

Critical Analysis of Information #3

I had always been confident of the sources I have used in the past, but after completing the mapping activity I will look certainly look at websites differently. When I first opened the page “All about Explorers” everything looked in order. I picked Christopher Columbus to research and was greatly surprised to find out he was born in Sidney Australia in 1951. The rest of the article was the same, dates and facts which were not true. There was a reliable reference as to where the information came from, but the information presented was false. Then I checked the links associated with the website and about the fourth or fifth link began to state that you cannot always trust your websites. Actually this website has been set up as a lesson to teach elementary children the very thing I was checking out that not all websites are credible. I hope to soon become a librarian and I can use this website in a lesson to explain to students how to find reliable information. Now as I search on the internet I will look closely at the url to check for credibility and then go from there to see who is behind the information presented, who is linked to the website and what they have to say also about the information. I may have made unknowingly made mistakes in the past, but now I know a better and more reliable way to search for information.
As teachers it is our job to help our students develop good research techniques, inform them of what is available and how to critically evaluate the information they find to make good decisions. This is a tool they can use all their life and well as their job as the internet will always play an important role in our lives.
I had never used Delicious before so I am still in the beginning stages of getting everything sorted out. I liked the way people networked together and you could see others bookmarks. There were some websites others had there that I really liked. I need to go through my bookmarks and decide which ones I really use often and tag them. Right now I teach science and I could see grouping or “tagging” them all together so it would be easier to find the sites I need. I need to work with this system of bookmarking a little more before I introduce this to students, but overall I can see things being so much more organized and useable. Before delicious my bookmarks had no rhyme or reason.
Google reader is another new tool which I learned about this week. I am still working with this daily, but the thing I liked best is the information is current and not a year old.