Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Google Sites
After spending some time trying to work with Weebly.com I've resorted to Google Sites for my classroom webpage. I am pleased with the features offered for free and the ease of use. Of course, like anything, the more you mess with it the more proficient you become and discover more capabilities. I continue to work on my webpage and add new gadgets and pictures periodically. I am currently trying to integrate a calendar that shows all upcoming events for parents to look at glance and see what's happening at school. If I put my google calendar on there, they won't have authority to view it.... so that leaves me pondering another route of attack! Take a look at my website if you get a chance.... I'd love any feedback. I even put a link to an old taskstream website I started a couple years ago.
https://sites.google.com/a/gapps.gjps.org/suseyr/
https://sites.google.com/a/gapps.gjps.org/suseyr/
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Adora_Svitak: What Adults Can Learn From Kids
Adora Svitak is a 12 year old who started writing short stories and blogging at age 7 and is now speaking in front of thousands of educators! Adora brings up the fact that there are two sides to a coin in that not only can children learn from adults but adults can learn from children as well. She says that there is a place for childish thinking in our "adult" world. Us adults tend to make excuses or find reasons why something can not happen, but with children's thinking that's all the more reason to make it happen. Adora had a good point... I agree that most adults give up too quickly on dreams or ideas because of all the reasons not to do something. Instead of doing something because of maybe one reason to do it. I believe that is greatly in part to the fact adults tend to have more responsibilities and therefore think more reasonably in fear of being too careless in their decisions.
Adora Svitak
Adora Svitak
Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms
Oops! I just realized somebody did this one.... I watched the video Dan did and thought it was rather comical and wanted to hear another one by Robinson! That's what I get for being the last one to do the assignment...
Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms
Ken is a very fast talker and has an endless supply of thought provoking statements! In this talk, Ken goes on to tell us the history of how we were taught and basically it's all messed up... More students are labeled ADHD and on some type of medication to help them "focus". Ken argues that what these students really need is an outlet to release their energy, for example in an art form of some type.
Ken suggests that we need to go the opposite direction in which we're going to reach students maximum potential. I don't have an example for this-- he just goes on to share a study that was done on 1500 kindergarteners that concluded 98% of the 5 yr. olds ranked at the genius level for divergent thinking. The same students were tested 5 years later and again 5 years after that and they continued to lose their divergent thinking power.
I watched two talks by Ken Robinson and I noticed he was not very helpful when it came to the solutions to his problems he spouted off. But the reason I watched these video talks was for the connections I made and the questions I asked myself. For example, medicating children to help them focus... I would agree that there is definitely a need to do so in some children, but does that mean I give up and I don't want to try new ways to engage that student. Ken Robinson thinks this is not the way to help our children. I don't want to medicate children, but sometimes that seems to be what is best for most people!
Maybe in Ken's next video he'll start giving some ideas on how to combat all these problems with education he riddled off.
Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms
Ken suggests that we need to go the opposite direction in which we're going to reach students maximum potential. I don't have an example for this-- he just goes on to share a study that was done on 1500 kindergarteners that concluded 98% of the 5 yr. olds ranked at the genius level for divergent thinking. The same students were tested 5 years later and again 5 years after that and they continued to lose their divergent thinking power.
I watched two talks by Ken Robinson and I noticed he was not very helpful when it came to the solutions to his problems he spouted off. But the reason I watched these video talks was for the connections I made and the questions I asked myself. For example, medicating children to help them focus... I would agree that there is definitely a need to do so in some children, but does that mean I give up and I don't want to try new ways to engage that student. Ken Robinson thinks this is not the way to help our children. I don't want to medicate children, but sometimes that seems to be what is best for most people!
Maybe in Ken's next video he'll start giving some ideas on how to combat all these problems with education he riddled off.
Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Collaboration Makes the Ed Tech World Go Round
As I was sifting through the ISTE articles, looking for something to catch my eye, this article Research Windows about collaboration among nations was thought provoking. I am beginning to realize just how massive the push for technology proficiency really is.... This article talks about how over the past 20 years through national and international initiatives, conferences, Fulbright programs, sabbaticals and exchanges various teachers and scholars have gotten to know each other on a global level. There are technology standards being pushed all over the world!
I think this article struck a chord with me because I know how many teachers just in my school do not use or rarely attempts to use technology with their students. I can understand why to some extent, because there hasn't been any training provided by our district to implement any of it! I feel very strongly that technology needs to be placed in front of our students on a daily basis, but even with my motivation to do so, I falter at times too!
After reading this I feel motivated to do something about exposing my school to some Web 2.0 Tools! Just like our EDUC 675 class creates interest and excitement to try new "tools" for teaching, I think I can introduce a new tool at every staff meeting.... I think I'll start with presenting the importance of having a website that students and parents can visit to connect with what's going on at the school.
There is a stronger emphasis on student test scores these days, and teachers will be resistant to try new teaching strategies... But hopefully they will realize the significance of technology and take baby steps in implementing it into their curriculum.
I think this article struck a chord with me because I know how many teachers just in my school do not use or rarely attempts to use technology with their students. I can understand why to some extent, because there hasn't been any training provided by our district to implement any of it! I feel very strongly that technology needs to be placed in front of our students on a daily basis, but even with my motivation to do so, I falter at times too!
After reading this I feel motivated to do something about exposing my school to some Web 2.0 Tools! Just like our EDUC 675 class creates interest and excitement to try new "tools" for teaching, I think I can introduce a new tool at every staff meeting.... I think I'll start with presenting the importance of having a website that students and parents can visit to connect with what's going on at the school.
There is a stronger emphasis on student test scores these days, and teachers will be resistant to try new teaching strategies... But hopefully they will realize the significance of technology and take baby steps in implementing it into their curriculum.
Friday, April 15, 2011
EschoolNews.com
It's official... I really like this site! I went ahead and subscribed and have been reading about Mobile Learning and internet devices in the hands of all students. There are stats all over the articles about the benefits of 1-to-1(one computer to each student) teaching and learning.
Definitely a website to keep you up to speed with technology.
EschoolNews.com
Definitely a website to keep you up to speed with technology.
EschoolNews.com
EschoolNews.com
I've been trying to listen to more and more NPR in the mornings to become more aware of what's going on in the world... I'm still considered a new listener but have really become interested in their topics and discussions. And even more interested in anything that has to do with education. I saw on another students blog that EschoolNews.com was fulfilling my desire to read as much about education as I could stand. I haven't logged in yet and created an account, but I spent some time leafing through the various articles and was definitely intrigued.
This also made me think about the importance of sharing current events with our students.... I want to find a good site that is (5th grade) student friendly that allows my class to delve into topics of interest to them.
This also made me think about the importance of sharing current events with our students.... I want to find a good site that is (5th grade) student friendly that allows my class to delve into topics of interest to them.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Glogster
I messed around a little with Symbaloo tonight and found a link to Glogster. This would be a great way to motivate kids to read books and create an online poster that represents that book. For instance, they will have to keep a consistent "theme" throughout, describe "characters", the "plot", and write a summary. I think this is really a good find. I created a quick poster to share, this is a book I shared with my class:
Let me know if you think of any other uses!
Monday, April 4, 2011
EduTecher
Another teacher website that gets you to information quickly, but lacks quality. I am doing geometry right now with my 5th graders and I wanted to see what I could come up with in terms of circles, circumference, radius, chord, etc... I think wikepedia would've done just as good.
I am a little partial, because I use Smart Exchange for finding interactive lessons for the Smartboard... I like that the lessons are created by teachers. I think that makes it more user friendly!
I did like Rubistar, games and puzzles on eduTecher... These are always nice to use as a reinforcement activity of a previously learned concept. But realistically, I will not be visiting this website much. I tried clicking on several different links and ended up waiting for a minute to no avail. Just like anything, the more you use it, the easier it gets.... It's just I've already found some websites I'm comfortable with and don't want to reinvent the wheel.
I am a little partial, because I use Smart Exchange for finding interactive lessons for the Smartboard... I like that the lessons are created by teachers. I think that makes it more user friendly!
I did like Rubistar, games and puzzles on eduTecher... These are always nice to use as a reinforcement activity of a previously learned concept. But realistically, I will not be visiting this website much. I tried clicking on several different links and ended up waiting for a minute to no avail. Just like anything, the more you use it, the easier it gets.... It's just I've already found some websites I'm comfortable with and don't want to reinvent the wheel.
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