Saturday, March 20, 2010

Journal 6: Collaborative Documents (NETS 5)

Collaborative documents are much like they sound. They are documents where different people come together and put their ideas together, thus collaborating on a particular document. These type of collaborations are more then just to individuals getting together formulating common ideas and putting them down on paper. With new influences in technologies now these collaborations can take place via the World Wide Web. A common tool that is used to achieve such task is known as Google Docs. This tool is the tool that I will discuss pertaining to the Classroom 2.0 assignment. Google Docs is a fairly new program that allows collaborations on documents, power points and much more. All one needs to access this tool is a Gmail account and internet access. An individual goes onto goggle.com and selects the Google Docs application. Then simply start a new document or project and you are one your way. To add people to be able to see and edit your document or project simply just click on the invite people icon and type in the individuals Gmail address. This will allow those that you added to be able to not only see your document but also add and make any changes they see fit. Another good aspect about this tool is that the Google Docs application shows you the last time the document was updated and auto saves it constantly. Tools like Google Docs are good for group PowerPoint projects or collaboration papers because instead of individuals having to make individual slides or documents then cutting and pasting they can simply just all input their information into the online Google Doc.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Classroom Newsletter (NETS 1)

This artifact was created on word and was an individual creative piece given an example of what a future newsletter for my classes might look like.  The newsletter contained original information as well as use of pictures, images and other features.

NETS Guidelines Powerpoint (NETS 2)


This artifact was a powerpoint that I put together to show some of the ways this class assignment I came up with could be used to fit into the NETS standards for students.

NETS Collaborate Powerpoint Rubric( NETS 2)



This is the NETS Powerpoint rubric for the Ed422 class at CSUSM.  This rubric was created collaboratively by the students and the teacher.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Journal # 4: Finding Students who Learn through the Media (NETS 1)

Journal 4: Finding Students Who Learn Through the Media


Bull, G. (2010). Finding students who learn through the media. Publications L&L, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25255&DirectListComboInd=D

This article discussed the assimilation of web based tools into the classroom. The author discussed programs such as Primary Access and Movie Maker which allows students to combine images, film, music and other multimedia in order to make a digital work of art. This Primary Access program is created so that students will have the easiest transitioning using and making their projects on this program. A study was done to see if students preferred using programs like these instead of writing essays or doing written examinations. The study found that most times students were more passionate and spent more time working on the projects using these programs then on essays or exams.

How do programs like these in the classroom help tackle the idea of multiple intelligences? Using programs and activities like the ones mentioned in this article will help those children who are not writers or text takers use their own creative skills to show their knowledge of a particular topic. When we allow students who have different learning style experiment with different types of learning and assessments it will help them find their own strengths and weaknesses in regards to multiple intelligences.

Do you think as future educators that it would be hard to assimilate these programs into our curriculum? Speaking from myself, I believe that programs like these would be extremely beneficial to students. Instead of just giving students a list of facts and dates to memorize they get to fully analyze and creatively examine certain subjects and topics to get a different perspective and understanding. Starting small with one project or activity a year with programs like these might be a good place to start.

Journal # 3: Keeping the Peace (NETS 5)

Journal # 3: Keeping the Peace


Levinson., M,. (2009). Keeping the peace. Publications L&L, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25237&DirectListComboInd=D

This article discussed a situation that came up at a middle school called Nueva. The middle school tried piloting a new program that allowed a one to one ratio of students to lap tops. Students began to widely use I –chat and instant messaging program before, during and after school and these lead to an up roar from parents. Then when they tried to ban this program from the students they responded in a similar matter. There were some parents who found this program and the software on it particularly helpful because it allowed this particular student to be able to spend time socializing with her friends since she was a commuter student. Many students had problem with the school because they didn’t know how to sensor these programs since they took place at school most times. To help combat these problems this program now has a boot camp at the beginning of school to orientate the students how to use their lap tops. In addition there are also boot camp training seminars that teach faculty members, teachers and parents how to use the computers and how to led discussion with them throughout the year.

Why might programs like the one mentioned in this article be useful to students? Programs like these are helpful to students because not only does it give them firsthand experience with different, useful, types of technology. But also helps them to be able to be more creative and reach outside the realm of an average everyday classroom. Computer technology has so many useful programs for students helping them learn about them earlier will only help them more in the end.

What also possible ways could the schools try to work more closely with the parents with this program to help so that both sides are content? The boot camp idea is a push in the right direction but I think that a major idea that has to be hashed out before hand is to show parents how far technology has change and emerged. For most parents they only see the bad of children using computers they never get to see how useful and important these computers can be to and for their child’s education.

Journal # 2: Using Podcast to Develop a Global Perspective (NETS 5)

Journal # 2: Using Podcast to Develop a Global Perspective


Maguth, B., & Elliot, J. (2010). Using Podcasts to develop a global perspective. Publications L&L, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd=D

This article discusses a schools use of podcast to teach students to learn more about other cultures. Each student would develop their own podcast broadcast of a debate on a global issue. The students were asked to write, moderate and record the debate. The students would first get together and discuss global issues then once they found one that interested them or they found important they start the writing and recording process. This activity allowed students to not only learn about the podcasting program but to also develop and showcase their understanding on global issues as well as make them aware of global issue they might not have know existed.

Besides teaching students how to use this particular product and program through this activity what other useful tools can students learn? Through this group activity student get to learn how to work together and collaborate on ideas with other students in the class. They get to learn how to work together and share tasks. In addition this particular project allowed student to research and decide which global discussion was most important to them. So in a sense gives the students a chance to shape their own education.

What could be done to help educate teachers and parents at school so that they could teach students how to use programs like podcast? I think that seminar training sessions would be very beneficial to not only parents and teachers but also sometimes students. It would give them the training to understand how this program works and how useful it can be for an array of different activities.

Journal #1: Computing in the Clouds (NETS 5)

Journal #1: Computing in the Clouds


Johnson., D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. Publications L&L, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/DecemberJanuaryNo4/Computing_in_the_Clouds.htm

This article was about the so called, Cloud, or internet. The author discussed many new programs on the web that can store documents, data, as well as pictures that don’t take up space on a hard drive or flash drive. Some of the programs he discussed were programs such as Google docs and email programs that allow you to save and share and open your documents on different computers and with different people. Net books came into this discussion as a possibility usage in schools. The author believes that by using cheaper “net books” in the classroom students and faculty members could make and share and store data easier. Although the author talks highly of these cloud movement he says there can still be some down falls such as lack of internet connection and with net book inabilities to make cd’s and DVDs over the web. But in the bigger picture programs that the “cloud” offers will only lead to more opportunities and benefits for both you and your computer in the end.

Why would it be better to use programs like these not only for personal use but also in the classroom? Let’s say we have a scenario in which a teacher has all her grades in a document saved on her computer. One day an accident happens are her computer breaks down and she loses all her hard drive. The teacher didn’t back up her document of her grades and doesn’t have them recorded anywhere else. This teacher would be in quite a pickle. If the teacher used programs such as googleDocs or emailing programs the teacher could have had her grade sheet posted someone where she could always access it even if her computer personal computer broke.

How could teachers utilize the “cloud” in regards to students learning? One activity that I thought would be beneficial with programs that the cloud offers is a research type project. You can have the kids go to a museum or exhibit and asked them to blog about what they saw and what they thought. Then have the students use social booking marking and Google Docs to collaborate with another student with a similar topic where they could put together a short research summary about what they saw at that exhibit or museum.