Well it is now about 10 class periods done, and I could totally recreate my technology autobiography. I have learned more about technology and teaching with it, than I have in the past ten years. While taking this class, EDTP 504 I was exposed to so much new information. Some I had heard before, while others were totally new to me. I had never used MovieMaker, a wiki, audacity, or even just made my own blog. While looking back on that now I see and feel the importance of using this technology information in my own classroom, and for students to know and understand when given the opportunity. Now I even feel it is more important then I did before to use different types of technology.
Before I was only privileged to use an overhead, or Internet and projection screen, but was not so sure what to do with this material. During my methods placement, while teaching certain lessons, I would incorporate technology in to my lessons, but only because it was asked to do so. I would maybe use the most of using Microsoft Word and writing a document with that, then showing this document to the class. Now I am experienced and understand several new plans and ideas to use in my classroom for next semester, and am so excited about doing so. Not only can I teach lessons with these different tools, the students can create their own also. Both the students and I will have learning opportunities to come, while also having fun while doing so. I now feel more comfortable with the use of technology and prepared to use this tool in my own classroom.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Chapter 9 Response
After reading the book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by, Will Richardson, I feel as if I have already learned so much more about technology and the Web. "We are at the beginning of a radically different relationship with the Internet, one that has long-standing implications for educators and students" (Pg. 133). The Internet is growing and more and more people are using computers and the Web. As the years go by, even more people will be using the web, so it is important for teachers to get this information across to our students at a young age. As a elementary teacher, I will be able to teach my students at a younger age so they will understand how to use and what to expect when using different types of technology. Chapter 9 talks about how readers are no longer just readers, and writing is not only limited to text. After reading this, I was in complete agree ness with Richardson. When you use a blog for example, you are reading peoples work then responding to their ideas, with ones of your own. While doing so, you are killing two birds with one stone; reading and writing all in one. Students would learn to best of their advantage when they can write and do their ideas in the way they feel will help them the most. This could be; audio, video, writing, and so many more. Every student learns at different levels and in different ways. Giving someone the opportunity to choose how they wish to present work is their own prerogative and should be given to everyone.
Chapter 6 Response
The Social Web is something that almost every person in the World has at least heard about, and many are using. When it comes to schools and teaching in the classroom, I feel as a prospective teacher that bringing in the idea of the web and technology in to my classroom is essential and would be quite beneficial to my teaching, and the students learning. Richardson states that, "it is the collaborative construction of knowledge by those willing to contribute is redefining the ways we think about teaching and learning at every level" (pg. 89). This is something new to several people but I agree with Richardson when he says that it is something that if you are willing to use and work with, then you will be happy in the end. I feel as if libraries for example are extremely important, but when it is just as easy, or even easier to have the web library right in your hands, in front of you on the computer, then why not use it. If a teacher is privileged enough to have the internet/computer in their classroom, then take advantage of it, have the children look up info. on the web, research people, learn new information, and take advantage of the time saved, and new information that could be learned from the web rather than a book. As a teacher, especially one whom will be teaching the younger aged students, it will be important to use certain websites and blogs as bookmarks or placed as favorites on your computer so these students will understand how to get to these places and know how to work them. Many students will not have these sources at home, so as much time that can be given to the students, should. They will enjoy doing something different, and also have fun while doing so.
Chapter 8 Response
Before taking this class or ever reading chapter 8 in the book, Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts, I was aware of what podcasting was, but had no idea that it was called a, podcast. When I began to read chapter 8 I read that, "it's video in the form of screencasting as in capturing what happens on a computer screen, adding a bit of audio narrative, and publishing it as mutilmedia Web tours or stories" (pg. 111). After reading this statement I was ready to listen to hear live examples of podcasts, because I was so intrigued with this idea. There have been so many different examples of podcasts I had heard on the radio, probably everyday, but was unaware of the name of them, and also unaware of how useful they could be used in any school setting or classroom. There are several ways any aged students could use this type of technology in the classroom to learn or also for a teacher to teach, during a lesson or even for fun. Students could create podcasts to do book reports, interviews or certain people, or even radio shows just for fun. Another fun example I thought that the students could do was to create an overview of what the new incoming class could expect for the year to come, and allow the new students to listen to it at the beginning of the year. This podcast could be played at open house for the parents also. A teacher could create a podcast for the students or parents themselves to give each of them an idea of what to expect in his/her classroom, and what the plan is for the year to come. There are several ways to create a podcast, but after playing around with several different types of programs, I felt as if Audacity was a simple and free way to go about creating your own at home or school. Any age students should be able to create their own podcast with a little training, which would then be useful for both the students and the faculty.
Chapter 4 Response
Chapter 4
Until reading Chapter 4 and taking part in a lesson during this class, I had no idea what a wiki was. Now I know that “a wiki is a website where anyone can edit anything anytime they want and each entry is the group’s best effort, not any one person’s” (pg 59 & 61). Wikipedia is a source that seems quite essential and usable in my own classroom. Hearing that is could be one of the most accurate encyclopedias in the world, caught my attention from the moment I read that. If schools have the access to use wikipedia, why not use it then? I feel as if this source would be an advantage to any classroom or students and after playing with it for a little am confident enough to say that I enjoyed it. There are several ways to use a wiki too. “You can create or edit entries to books that have already been started elsewhere” (pg 67) here they could put their input in and give their opinions of the book or what others have said so far about it. Another source I enjoyed and felt that was somewhat easy enough to use was, pbwiki. I did not like the fact that we had to be invited to post on the specific EDTP 504 site, but then I thought about it, and if I wanted to use this in my own classroom, I would appreciate this attribute, knowing that random people could not post comments without being asked to. This comes down to a safety precaution in the end. “The collaborative environment that wikis facilitate can teach students much about how to work with others, how to create community, and how to operate in a world where the creation of knowledge and information is more and more becoming a group effort” (pg. 74).
Until reading Chapter 4 and taking part in a lesson during this class, I had no idea what a wiki was. Now I know that “a wiki is a website where anyone can edit anything anytime they want and each entry is the group’s best effort, not any one person’s” (pg 59 & 61). Wikipedia is a source that seems quite essential and usable in my own classroom. Hearing that is could be one of the most accurate encyclopedias in the world, caught my attention from the moment I read that. If schools have the access to use wikipedia, why not use it then? I feel as if this source would be an advantage to any classroom or students and after playing with it for a little am confident enough to say that I enjoyed it. There are several ways to use a wiki too. “You can create or edit entries to books that have already been started elsewhere” (pg 67) here they could put their input in and give their opinions of the book or what others have said so far about it. Another source I enjoyed and felt that was somewhat easy enough to use was, pbwiki. I did not like the fact that we had to be invited to post on the specific EDTP 504 site, but then I thought about it, and if I wanted to use this in my own classroom, I would appreciate this attribute, knowing that random people could not post comments without being asked to. This comes down to a safety precaution in the end. “The collaborative environment that wikis facilitate can teach students much about how to work with others, how to create community, and how to operate in a world where the creation of knowledge and information is more and more becoming a group effort” (pg. 74).
Chapter 3 and 5 Response
Chapter 3
Most students will be familiarized with the use of computers, like turning them on and off, but not necessarily using programs and material like a blog. This is why Richardson says it is important to start small. With this in mind you could first create a slide show or present an entire lesson on how to use blogs. If a teacher has access to internet and a computer than they should try to teach the students as a whole to understand the blogging concept. Then with the knowledge of using blogs, and each student understanding you could then create your own class blog. You could use these blogs as a whole during computer class time, in you own classroom as centers, or just as an entire class together watching the teacher use it and taking turns. The more students that have access to this out of school the easier it would be to use a blog, but if this is not possible you could just use this as much as possible in the schools.
Another interesting fact I read about and was intrigued with is the idea of how safe a blog can be. You can limit the access of blogs to just certain people, so if it is just those certain people reading and writing responses on this blog, you should not have to worry so much about others and what they may say. This is especially important for the younger students. Blogs may even come easy to some students who may have some experience with certain internet sites and previous blogs they have done themselves. This is more true for older students, they could have experience with setting up facebook or myspace accounts and already know how to somewhat create their own blogs.
Chapter 5
Until now, I would have never have known what RSS is or what it stands for, Real Simple Syndication. With RSS, the content comes to you instead of you going to find it for yourself. Richardson states several reasons why RSS is important and why to use it, but more importantly that it just comes right to you, for example the weather, upcoming events, news, and so much more. This could be used in the classroom as like an opening day event. Every morning you could log on to the internet and your RSS to get the weather for the day, and use during Calendar time in class. Vanity feeds is a great way to use this source too. You and the students could do these vanity feeds together in the class to see who else has similar interests as yourself, or even to find another class who may be reading the same book as you, and your two classes could blog back and forth to one another.
Most students will be familiarized with the use of computers, like turning them on and off, but not necessarily using programs and material like a blog. This is why Richardson says it is important to start small. With this in mind you could first create a slide show or present an entire lesson on how to use blogs. If a teacher has access to internet and a computer than they should try to teach the students as a whole to understand the blogging concept. Then with the knowledge of using blogs, and each student understanding you could then create your own class blog. You could use these blogs as a whole during computer class time, in you own classroom as centers, or just as an entire class together watching the teacher use it and taking turns. The more students that have access to this out of school the easier it would be to use a blog, but if this is not possible you could just use this as much as possible in the schools.
Another interesting fact I read about and was intrigued with is the idea of how safe a blog can be. You can limit the access of blogs to just certain people, so if it is just those certain people reading and writing responses on this blog, you should not have to worry so much about others and what they may say. This is especially important for the younger students. Blogs may even come easy to some students who may have some experience with certain internet sites and previous blogs they have done themselves. This is more true for older students, they could have experience with setting up facebook or myspace accounts and already know how to somewhat create their own blogs.
Chapter 5
Until now, I would have never have known what RSS is or what it stands for, Real Simple Syndication. With RSS, the content comes to you instead of you going to find it for yourself. Richardson states several reasons why RSS is important and why to use it, but more importantly that it just comes right to you, for example the weather, upcoming events, news, and so much more. This could be used in the classroom as like an opening day event. Every morning you could log on to the internet and your RSS to get the weather for the day, and use during Calendar time in class. Vanity feeds is a great way to use this source too. You and the students could do these vanity feeds together in the class to see who else has similar interests as yourself, or even to find another class who may be reading the same book as you, and your two classes could blog back and forth to one another.
Chapter 1 and 2 Response
Chapter 1
After reading Chapter 1, I really understood the important purpose of the Web. I agree with Richardson when he says that “the web is a place to share not just data but personal talents and experiences in new and powerful ways” (Pg. 1). Noticing how much a computer can do, it is even more amazing to see how large the capacity of their storage availability has grown. Instead of using file cabinets like we used to, we can not just store our collections on to your computer and files/folders.
As a teacher I also now see the importance of using the web in my classroom and during lessons. Each generation is being adapted to technology more and more everyday, but in different ways. I feel as if my mother’s generation can type so much quicker than a class of third grade students. While on the other hand, these third grade students know so much more about the use of computers and how to use them, when my mother hardly knows how to turn a computer on. “The people who’ll understand this best are probably just being born” (Gillmor, 2005). It is our job as teachers to bring this source in to our classrooms and get students adapted to this.
Chapter 2
Blogs are a way that everyone can communicate together at one time. Chapter 2 familiarized me with the idea of blogs, and sold my view on them. I feel as if blogs would be a great tool to use in any classroom with many different types of assignments and uses. As a teacher, I would love the idea of having a blog set up for parents and guardians of the students in my class to view and read every so often. My blog could consist of assignments that the students should complete each week, upcoming events, and even reports cards. This would be an extra optional source for these parents or guardians, knowing that not everyone has access to computers/internet. “For the most part, parents love the transparency and the ability to access class materials” (Pg. 21). A blog could also be optional for the students to use too. Students could post their homework on the class blog, apposed to carrying it back and forth from the classroom to home. Or just keep up with class thoughts and opinions by reading and writing responses to others thoughts. A blog would be a great way for students to work and practice with their reading and writing skills, also. Having to read and write responses to others opinions would keep these skills up to par and used more often.
After reading Chapter 1, I really understood the important purpose of the Web. I agree with Richardson when he says that “the web is a place to share not just data but personal talents and experiences in new and powerful ways” (Pg. 1). Noticing how much a computer can do, it is even more amazing to see how large the capacity of their storage availability has grown. Instead of using file cabinets like we used to, we can not just store our collections on to your computer and files/folders.
As a teacher I also now see the importance of using the web in my classroom and during lessons. Each generation is being adapted to technology more and more everyday, but in different ways. I feel as if my mother’s generation can type so much quicker than a class of third grade students. While on the other hand, these third grade students know so much more about the use of computers and how to use them, when my mother hardly knows how to turn a computer on. “The people who’ll understand this best are probably just being born” (Gillmor, 2005). It is our job as teachers to bring this source in to our classrooms and get students adapted to this.
Chapter 2
Blogs are a way that everyone can communicate together at one time. Chapter 2 familiarized me with the idea of blogs, and sold my view on them. I feel as if blogs would be a great tool to use in any classroom with many different types of assignments and uses. As a teacher, I would love the idea of having a blog set up for parents and guardians of the students in my class to view and read every so often. My blog could consist of assignments that the students should complete each week, upcoming events, and even reports cards. This would be an extra optional source for these parents or guardians, knowing that not everyone has access to computers/internet. “For the most part, parents love the transparency and the ability to access class materials” (Pg. 21). A blog could also be optional for the students to use too. Students could post their homework on the class blog, apposed to carrying it back and forth from the classroom to home. Or just keep up with class thoughts and opinions by reading and writing responses to others thoughts. A blog would be a great way for students to work and practice with their reading and writing skills, also. Having to read and write responses to others opinions would keep these skills up to par and used more often.
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