Okay, so today I am supposed to write about my response to video conferencing in the classroom. We had this awesome video conference with the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller. One of the things he had to say was not to be afraid of technology because you’re scared it won’t work, he said to assume the technology will work. I assume my laptop will work.
Last night, at around 10pm, I remembered that I had this assignment due today. I thought, “oh well, I guess I’ll do it right now” and started watching a cool video with George Lucas that talked about using video and images in the classroom instead of just relying on the written word, because students are bombarded with video, images and video games outside of school and they need to learn how to view it critically, everything from video games, to the evening news, to newspapers need to be viewed critically and students need to be taught how to do this.
Anyway, about 5 minutes into the video, my laptop overheated and shut down, and I couldn’t get it to turn back on. So I folded laundry for awhile, then came back to it at 11pm and still couldn’t get it to work, so now I am up, trying to do my assignment and get my kids ready for the day at the same time, yay.
So it’s all good to assume the technology will work and it is important to make use of video conferencing and other technologies in the classroom, but you need to make sure you have a backup plan, on the off chance the technology doesn’t work. I would have just gone to the University to work on my stuff if my husband wasn’t working nights and started work at 9pm. Thankfully he should be home soon to help get the boys ready, but still annoying overall that my laptop decided not to work when I needed it to.
This time I decided to be smart and post my blog every couple of minutes as I write it so that I know there will at least be something to mark should the technology decide to hate me again this morning :)
Awesome, looks like I’m not the only one with a technology problem, I tried to go to the VC Alberta site, but when I clicked on the link, it was a Host Gator page that says, “ERROR 404 - PAGE NOT FOUND”. The same thing happens with all four links under Video Conferencing Resources that have to do with VC Alberta. So thanks to my previous education on web pages and URL’s, I went to the domain, and found it is still there, they must have just moved things around on their site so the URL’s in the link’s from last year don’t work.
Our Video Conference with The Tyrell Museum introduced us to the CILC website, but VC Alberta introduces us to two more sites with content providers (those you can do a video conference with) however, the link to the Canadian one doesn't work, and the other site is under construction. Again, yay for technology.
I was super excited to be able to try out a video conference with my grade 5 class in the next few weeks, but then I checked out the prices, and at around $150-$250, I don’t think they will be something I can incorporate as a student teacher, at least not with a content provider.
I might be able to find another school to do video conferencing with, which I think would be especially cool for the Weather Watch unit I will be teaching. I think it would be cool to video conference with a class in a different part of the world and we can exchange weather information once a week or something (I have to talk to my T.A. about it first though...)
Okay, I need to be done now, because my boys aren't ready yet, my husband isn't home yet, and we have to leave in about 20 min. I didn't get through all the links, but I am definitely excited about all the possibilities there are to learn with video conferencing, and all the multimedia that can be involved with that. Yay for Video Conferencing! :D
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Web Awareness with Inspiration
Here is a diagram created with Inspiration software about Web Awareness and safety.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Effective Online Searches
This time we had to do an effective online search for resources for a lesson plan of our choosing. I chose the Grade One Science topic Creating Colour because that is what my micro teach is on and I thought it would make my life easier ;) Here is what I came up with:
Learning About Colour
Grade One Science, Topic A: Creating Colour
General learner outcome (GLO):
Students will:
1-5 Identify and evaluate methods for creating colour and for applying colours to different materials.
Specific learner outcomes (SLOs):
Students will:
1. Identify colours in a variety of natural and manufactured objects.
2. Predict and describe changes in colour that result from the mixing of primary colours and from mixing a primary colour with white or with black.
3.
ICT outcomes:
C.1 - Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
Specific Outcomes 1.1 access and retrieve appropriate information from electronic sources for a specific inquiry
C.6 - Students will use technology to investigate and/or solve problems.
Specific Outcomes 1.3 use technology to support and present conclusions
F.6 - Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the operating skills required in a variety of technologies.
Specific Outcomes 1.1 perform basic computer operations, which may vary by environment, including powering up, inserting disks, moving the cursor, clicking on an icon, using pull-down menus, executing programs, saving files, retrieving files, printing, ejecting disks and powering down
Learning About Colour
Students will first view the video of the book Planting a Rainbow at http://bkflix.grolier.com/sw/node-32748/bk0051pr while sitting on the carpet, which will reiterate colours and also help them read along.
Students will then individually do the activity at http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/coloractivity.asp which asks them to identify colours, again reviewing their knowledge of colours.
Students will then do the mixing colours activity at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/tlfmc/index.html which allows them to see what colours can be created by mixing primary colours and white in different amounts and allowing them to paint a picture with their newly created colours.
Rationale for computer integration:
In this case computer integration allows students to interact with a book in a way that a hardcopy is unable to do, while learning colours at the same time, which also integrates Science with English Language Arts.
It also allows them to recall colours independently allowing for self-assessment which builds self-esteem.
And finally, it allows for experimenting with mixing of colours without mess and without the tears that follow said mess.
References
Ehlert, Lois. (1988). Planting a Rainbow. Retrieved October 3, 2010, from http://bkflix.grolier.com/sw/node-32748/bk0051pr (accessed through LearnAlberta.ca)
Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. (2010). StoryPlace Pre-school Library: What Color Is It?. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/coloractivity.asp
The Le@rning Federation. (2004). Mixing Colours. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/tlfmc/index.html (accessed through LearnAlberta.ca)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What is Effective Technology Integration for 21st Century Learners?
What is Effective Technology Integration for 21st Century Learners
How difficult is it to integrate technology into a classroom of 21st Century learners? Not that difficult. In fact, a whole classroom of PS1 students, the majority over the age of 22, successfully created a blog last week. Did the instructor hold each of our hands and take us step by step through the entire process to ensure we would all succeed? No, she didn't have to. She pointed us to blogger.com and said, "create a blog." Students figuring out how a technology works is actually a more effective learning strategy than teaching them step by step how to use said technology.
The way to integrate a certain technology into a lesson plan is to write your lesson plan, then figure which technology (if any) would be most suited to that lesson plan. You can not just use the latest technology in the lesson because it is the latest technology, it's cool and you want to use it (Dr. Lorraine Beaudin, Ed 3508, Sept 16, 2010). Work the technology around the lesson, not the lesson around the technology.
Technology needs to be incorporated right in to the core subjects, so that technology becomes a part of every day life for students. A teacher could incorporate email in to a class by having their students email 'penpals' in another part of the city, country or world. This would incorporate technology into a Language Arts class on writing letters, it would also give the students Global Awareness if they were emailing students in another part of the world. This could also be used in Social Studies. Check out epals.com.
The internet makes it easier to collaborate. Students need to collaborate in all subjects and one way they can do that is through Google Docs. Even when they are in the same room, students can work on a document or presentation together using Google Docs, it updates when a student saves it, and it also automatically updates a few seconds after a change has been made. This is also effective for work that needs to be completed outside of class time, because then the students can still work on their group projenct, even if they are all at home (provided they each have a computer or some other device with internet access).
Blogging in the classroom can be another way to incorporate technology into teaching. A student's blog can be where they post assignments, and articulate their thoughts and feelings about the assignments. They can then be used by the teacher to view the assignments and also to judge how well the assignment worked. It can also be used for the student as a way to assess their own growth throughout the year as they look back at past assignments. It can also be used by the student as a way to vent about the assignment. Also, if students are posting their work online where other student's and potentially other people online will view their work, they may work harder on it and have more pride in their work.
When students are doing research for an assignment, the teacher can point them in the direction of journals that are online, and also ebooks, and even blogs. The school will have access to certain online material for free and if pointed in that direction, the student's will learn how to use those tools. Teachers just need to teach students how to be sure the information they are finding online is accurate.
There are also many online interactive games for every grade level and every subject. A teacher could even create one (if he or she knows how!) Interactive games are a great way to get student's involved and is a different way of getting the materials across that may be more effective for some students.
How difficult is it to integrate technology into a classroom of 21st Century learners? Not that difficult. In fact, a whole classroom of PS1 students, the majority over the age of 22, successfully created a blog last week. Did the instructor hold each of our hands and take us step by step through the entire process to ensure we would all succeed? No, she didn't have to. She pointed us to blogger.com and said, "create a blog." Students figuring out how a technology works is actually a more effective learning strategy than teaching them step by step how to use said technology.
The way to integrate a certain technology into a lesson plan is to write your lesson plan, then figure which technology (if any) would be most suited to that lesson plan. You can not just use the latest technology in the lesson because it is the latest technology, it's cool and you want to use it (Dr. Lorraine Beaudin, Ed 3508, Sept 16, 2010). Work the technology around the lesson, not the lesson around the technology.
Technology needs to be incorporated right in to the core subjects, so that technology becomes a part of every day life for students. A teacher could incorporate email in to a class by having their students email 'penpals' in another part of the city, country or world. This would incorporate technology into a Language Arts class on writing letters, it would also give the students Global Awareness if they were emailing students in another part of the world. This could also be used in Social Studies. Check out epals.com.
The internet makes it easier to collaborate. Students need to collaborate in all subjects and one way they can do that is through Google Docs. Even when they are in the same room, students can work on a document or presentation together using Google Docs, it updates when a student saves it, and it also automatically updates a few seconds after a change has been made. This is also effective for work that needs to be completed outside of class time, because then the students can still work on their group projenct, even if they are all at home (provided they each have a computer or some other device with internet access).
Blogging in the classroom can be another way to incorporate technology into teaching. A student's blog can be where they post assignments, and articulate their thoughts and feelings about the assignments. They can then be used by the teacher to view the assignments and also to judge how well the assignment worked. It can also be used for the student as a way to assess their own growth throughout the year as they look back at past assignments. It can also be used by the student as a way to vent about the assignment. Also, if students are posting their work online where other student's and potentially other people online will view their work, they may work harder on it and have more pride in their work.
When students are doing research for an assignment, the teacher can point them in the direction of journals that are online, and also ebooks, and even blogs. The school will have access to certain online material for free and if pointed in that direction, the student's will learn how to use those tools. Teachers just need to teach students how to be sure the information they are finding online is accurate.
There are also many online interactive games for every grade level and every subject. A teacher could even create one (if he or she knows how!) Interactive games are a great way to get student's involved and is a different way of getting the materials across that may be more effective for some students.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Assignment 1 Blog
So I know it's a super lame title, but that was kind of all I could think of. :S
My name is Jenna, I am in PS1 at the U of L. This is a picture of me all dressed up to sing with my chorus Southern Accord, when we did a show in Red Deer; and that is my youngest son (I have three).
Today was our first day in Communications and Technology Education (a.k.a. Ed 3508, hence my blog title). It was awesome, seriously. The coolest thing I learned today (so far) was about Google Docs. Did you know you can work on a document with someone across the world (or across the classroom) simultaneously while it is hosted on Google Docs? How cool is that? Your grade tens could work in groups to rewrite Shakespeare into modern, even trendy terms, even when they can't meet up as a group. Or you could have your dad who lives in B.C. edit your paper for you and see the changes he makes as he saves it.
I had no idea technology was so important to use in classrooms today. I graduated from high school eleven years ago and we still used overhead projectors all the time. Now they have Smart boards (and I can't wait to figure those things out!) and create Power Point presentations.
Here are some differences between teaching in the 20th century and the 21st century that I learned today, but probably wouldn't have thought about otherwise:
Did you know that in Alberta, technology in the classroom is a REQUIREMENT? Yep, technology should just be a 'way of doing things' (ITC info). For example, you could use a blog (web log) to keep track of assignments, even have students post their assignments so they work harder because they know anyone can see it after they post it. The blog can also be used like a "filing cabinet", keeping track of their assignments and giving their teachers the ability to assess how far they have come.
Student's need to be able to use technology effectively, because they will need it in their life beyond school. According to my Prof, Dr. Lorraine Beaudin, 35% of the jobs ten years from now, do not even exist yet. The technology students will be using in school, could help them create new jobs after they graduate, or even before!
My name is Jenna, I am in PS1 at the U of L. This is a picture of me all dressed up to sing with my chorus Southern Accord, when we did a show in Red Deer; and that is my youngest son (I have three).
I Today was our first day in Communications and Technology Education (a.k.a. Ed 3508, hence my blog title). It was awesome, seriously. The coolest thing I learned today (so far) was about Google Docs. Did you know you can work on a document with someone across the world (or across the classroom) simultaneously while it is hosted on Google Docs? How cool is that? Your grade tens could work in groups to rewrite Shakespeare into modern, even trendy terms, even when they can't meet up as a group. Or you could have your dad who lives in B.C. edit your paper for you and see the changes he makes as he saves it.
I had no idea technology was so important to use in classrooms today. I graduated from high school eleven years ago and we still used overhead projectors all the time. Now they have Smart boards (and I can't wait to figure those things out!) and create Power Point presentations.
Here are some differences between teaching in the 20th century and the 21st century that I learned today, but probably wouldn't have thought about otherwise:
Student's need to be able to use technology effectively, because they will need it in their life beyond school. According to my Prof, Dr. Lorraine Beaudin, 35% of the jobs ten years from now, do not even exist yet. The technology students will be using in school, could help them create new jobs after they graduate, or even before!
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