Carney, K. (2011, August). Think oustide the book.Learning and Leading, 39(1), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-august-2011.aspx
This article is about how text books have not done any favors for the schools. With the ever demanding standards that need to be met, many teachers fall back on their textbooks to drive their lesson plans. This not creative and leads to inability to meet standards that are not addressed in the textbooks. Vail school district in Arizona decided to change this. They started with the standards and used them as guidelines for the curriculum. Empire High School, in Vail's district, opened the first textbook free all laptop school in 2005. Because the schools were not guided by textbooks, the teachers had to rely on internest based information and even more so on collaboration. From this, Beyond Textbooks was born. It was a collaborative effort and included an online wiki site that teachers could use to gather information they need for lessons and to help stockpile and grow information toward continued success in the future. The work Vail district has done has encouraged other districts to follow in their footsteps and to share the information that had been painstakingly gathered by Vail in promotion of their program. One other key point is that the Beyond Textbooks program was thought of by administrational minds but they had allowed teachers to seize control and help define the program. Vail's program has led to increases in performance tracked in 8 out of 10 subject areas and has allowed Vail to seriously reduce their budget per student.
Can this program prove that we are ready to move beyond textbooks in schools?
The program, although called Beyond Textbooks, is really about not allowing textbooks to drive the curriculum rather than removing them altogether. I have wondered many times myself if textbooks are out of date. They cost money to print, they use trees for paper, ink, they cost significant money, they must be shipped and use fuel, they are often limited in scope, and they go out of date quickly. It seems to me that we should embrace technology rather than continuing to use printed books.
Can removal of textbooks from schools help the budget woes?
Well, we know from the above article that Vail had saved money. In fact, they went from a materials budget of $53 per student to $9 per student in cost. That is an amazing savings. If that could be replicated, why aren't the other school districts following suit already? I think that we should embrace technology and use it to better our schools in ways that traditional methods can not.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Journal #9 / MI
AAC stands for alternative augmentative communication. This refers to the use of technology, whether high or low tech to help individuals who cannot communicate due to impairments of speech. There is a wide variety of tools and software available on the market to assist with AAC.
One high tech tool that I researched was the Springboard Lite. The Springboard Lite is a communication tablet that is built for literate as well as non-literate users. It has a series of pictures to depict the language that the user is desiring to portray. The Springboard Lite comes with male and female voices built in. It has bluetooth capability and is compatible with computers for uploading pictures. Springboard Lite uses "Unity language" which helps guide language based on pictures.
Different combinations of these pictures help the computer determine an action and to build a sentence and then the computer will use its voice to verbalize that communication. Springboard lite can also act a as remote for electronic devices and is compatible with MP3, WMA, and WAV files and access methods include, direct selection; single- or dual-switch scanning; USB connectivity allows use of headpointing systems, mouse, USB joystick and mouse emulation access products.
Communication boards are example of low-tech AAC Devices. According to the Bridge School website, "Communication boards make language visible and accessible for individuals who have speech impairments. These low-technology communication displays consist of photographs, symbols, words/phrases or a combination of all three. Typically, multiple communication boards are developed to address both specific and generic vocabulary needs in a variety of contexts." Communication boards have color coded sections that help its user locate the page for the topic that is being communicated. This page will then have several options to point to state what the user wishes to portray.
In addition to a myriad of devices available on the market, there are software and hardware solutions. An example of a hardware solution for user with accessibility issues is the EyePro GS from Words+.
The EyePro GS is similar to the Tobii in that it uses eye gazing to predict words and language patterns from the user. This can be used with any Windows computer of communication device. The EyePro GS helps users that are unable to handle a mouse, buttons, or even a head wand.
The EyePro GS is made by Words+ who are also creators of communication software. E Z Keys is one of the software programs by Words+. According to their website, "EZ Keys allows the literate user to do everything from typing a letter, to engaging in conversation with a friend, to exploring the worldwide web. World-renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking uses the software to deliver lectures around the world, while a nine-year-old boy uses it to talk with friends and to participate in classroom activities at his school in Louisiana." This software is valuable because it is built not only for users who can use a mouse or keyboard but also for those who cannot. It is built to work with eye gazing technology.
Different combinations of these pictures help the computer determine an action and to build a sentence and then the computer will use its voice to verbalize that communication. Springboard lite can also act a as remote for electronic devices and is compatible with MP3, WMA, and WAV files and access methods include, direct selection; single- or dual-switch scanning; USB connectivity allows use of headpointing systems, mouse, USB joystick and mouse emulation access products.
Communication boards are example of low-tech AAC Devices. According to the Bridge School website, "Communication boards make language visible and accessible for individuals who have speech impairments. These low-technology communication displays consist of photographs, symbols, words/phrases or a combination of all three. Typically, multiple communication boards are developed to address both specific and generic vocabulary needs in a variety of contexts." Communication boards have color coded sections that help its user locate the page for the topic that is being communicated. This page will then have several options to point to state what the user wishes to portray.
In addition to a myriad of devices available on the market, there are software and hardware solutions. An example of a hardware solution for user with accessibility issues is the EyePro GS from Words+.
The EyePro GS is similar to the Tobii in that it uses eye gazing to predict words and language patterns from the user. This can be used with any Windows computer of communication device. The EyePro GS helps users that are unable to handle a mouse, buttons, or even a head wand.
The EyePro GS is made by Words+ who are also creators of communication software. E Z Keys is one of the software programs by Words+. According to their website, "EZ Keys allows the literate user to do everything from typing a letter, to engaging in conversation with a friend, to exploring the worldwide web. World-renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking uses the software to deliver lectures around the world, while a nine-year-old boy uses it to talk with friends and to participate in classroom activities at his school in Louisiana." This software is valuable because it is built not only for users who can use a mouse or keyboard but also for those who cannot. It is built to work with eye gazing technology.
Journal #8 / MI
Ferrell, K. (2011, August). Find the truth about the pacific tree octopus. Learning and Leading WITH TECHNOLOGY, 39(1), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-august-2011.aspx
With the explosion of information on the internet, it is important that children learn that not all information they find on the web is accurate. There are truths, jokes, slight of hand, accurate, and misinformed sites. My goddaughter and I were talking about Wikipedia today. Hannah is entering high school this month and she told me how her teacher had told her never to use Wikipedia for information in research because anyone can edit it. She is right to a certain extent. We were discussing the actual timeframe of Billie Holliday's career which I argued could actually be accurately discovered on Wikipedia. I explained that she was correct about some information that could be found on Wikipedia. Anything she could find that seems opinionated or theoretical could be quite inaccurate and she probably should never use anything from Wikipedia for a cited reference in research. However, some straight facts such as dates and numbers are probably okay.
In Find the Truth About the Pacific Tree Octopus, the teacher had built a lesson for his students to realize that not all information on the web is accurate. They learned how to interpret information by looking at who, what, where, when, and why. They also learned to double check the URL suffixes. This is critical thinking skills that need to be understood when attempting to research on the web by search engines. The lesson learned was quite valuable. The students need to know that they believe all that they read!
What other ways not specified can help ensure accuracy from internet resources?
It seems that one important way to double check information from the web is to cross reference. If you find one site with certain information on sea monkeys, don't consider it accurate until you find at least one other site with the same information on sea monkeys. As the internet expands, and if possible, it is better to have even more than two references to the facts you research.
Even if the students ask who, what, where, when and why, how will they know that the source is accurate?
I supposed asking the who is not enough in itself but if the student can identify the who, then they can research the who. If the author of the research information is identified as a credible author, or otherwise some kind of authority on the subject then it can by deemed credible.
As a note to end on this subject, I can remember a chain email I got a few years back that claimed that a link could take a picture of you even without a webcam. The email told you to sit back and smile before you click the link. Once you click the link, you get a picture of a monkey. I guess you have to be a monkey to believe everything you get on the internet.
With the explosion of information on the internet, it is important that children learn that not all information they find on the web is accurate. There are truths, jokes, slight of hand, accurate, and misinformed sites. My goddaughter and I were talking about Wikipedia today. Hannah is entering high school this month and she told me how her teacher had told her never to use Wikipedia for information in research because anyone can edit it. She is right to a certain extent. We were discussing the actual timeframe of Billie Holliday's career which I argued could actually be accurately discovered on Wikipedia. I explained that she was correct about some information that could be found on Wikipedia. Anything she could find that seems opinionated or theoretical could be quite inaccurate and she probably should never use anything from Wikipedia for a cited reference in research. However, some straight facts such as dates and numbers are probably okay.In Find the Truth About the Pacific Tree Octopus, the teacher had built a lesson for his students to realize that not all information on the web is accurate. They learned how to interpret information by looking at who, what, where, when, and why. They also learned to double check the URL suffixes. This is critical thinking skills that need to be understood when attempting to research on the web by search engines. The lesson learned was quite valuable. The students need to know that they believe all that they read!
What other ways not specified can help ensure accuracy from internet resources?
It seems that one important way to double check information from the web is to cross reference. If you find one site with certain information on sea monkeys, don't consider it accurate until you find at least one other site with the same information on sea monkeys. As the internet expands, and if possible, it is better to have even more than two references to the facts you research.
Even if the students ask who, what, where, when and why, how will they know that the source is accurate?
I supposed asking the who is not enough in itself but if the student can identify the who, then they can research the who. If the author of the research information is identified as a credible author, or otherwise some kind of authority on the subject then it can by deemed credible.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Journal 6 / MI
Miller, S. (2011, June/July). Student voices for change. Learning and Leading WITH TECHNOLOGY, 38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx
The initiative of Van Meter Community School in Iowa is to be commended. The school has set its sights on the use of cutting edge technology and created "an atmosphere of respect, creativity, collaboration, and connection as well as independent thinking and learning (Miller, 2011)." The leaders of Van Meter school understood how much more effective it could be to have their students present their philosophy to the Iowa legislature. The students demonstrated a variety of skills and abilities that they had accumulated by attending a school that emphasizes use of technology.
Technology is so important. I think that education as a whole does not do enough to encourage and facilitate the use of new technology. Our world is changing at a very rapid pace due to the influx of new technological innovations. If our school are not up to par with technology, we can all wonder how students can even learn anything beneficial in such schools. Truly credible schools must be able to teach what the modern age requires. It is ignorant to assume all things in education should always remain the same. We know from experience that the world does not work this way. The students from Van Meter not only showed their skills but demonstrated the excitement they had for learning. They showed how they were able to benefit from social networking. They were able to hone in on their own individual interests and perpetuate their own education. They probably also showed 100 times more technology savvy than the legislators they were speaking to.
How can we even begin to fund the technology that is necessary to stay on the cutting edge?
I think funding technology should be a priority. I believe that up to date computers are more important than textbooks! We cannot continue to act as if educational facilities should remain the same throughout the ages. If we want our American schools to help students make great achievements and to help make them future productive members of society that contribute to development and innovation then we must keep up with the times. Raising funds for technology should be a priority and can be started at a grass roots level. There should also be negotiations between the government and computer manufacturers to arrange for special deals. Perhaps the government can offer fiscal incentives to computer companies in exchange for cheap computers for schools. One thing is for sure, we have to think outside the box!
Are today's teachers up for the challenge to keeping up with their students technologically?
I am willing to bet that some of today's teachers are miles behind their very students when it comes to technology savvy. Great efforts will need to be taken to get teachers up to snuff. I am very pleased that CSUSM has taken steps to work technology into its teaching program. It is very important to me and I hope to incorporate it in my teaching and with my students as much as possible.
The initiative of Van Meter Community School in Iowa is to be commended. The school has set its sights on the use of cutting edge technology and created "an atmosphere of respect, creativity, collaboration, and connection as well as independent thinking and learning (Miller, 2011)." The leaders of Van Meter school understood how much more effective it could be to have their students present their philosophy to the Iowa legislature. The students demonstrated a variety of skills and abilities that they had accumulated by attending a school that emphasizes use of technology.
Technology is so important. I think that education as a whole does not do enough to encourage and facilitate the use of new technology. Our world is changing at a very rapid pace due to the influx of new technological innovations. If our school are not up to par with technology, we can all wonder how students can even learn anything beneficial in such schools. Truly credible schools must be able to teach what the modern age requires. It is ignorant to assume all things in education should always remain the same. We know from experience that the world does not work this way. The students from Van Meter not only showed their skills but demonstrated the excitement they had for learning. They showed how they were able to benefit from social networking. They were able to hone in on their own individual interests and perpetuate their own education. They probably also showed 100 times more technology savvy than the legislators they were speaking to.
How can we even begin to fund the technology that is necessary to stay on the cutting edge?
I think funding technology should be a priority. I believe that up to date computers are more important than textbooks! We cannot continue to act as if educational facilities should remain the same throughout the ages. If we want our American schools to help students make great achievements and to help make them future productive members of society that contribute to development and innovation then we must keep up with the times. Raising funds for technology should be a priority and can be started at a grass roots level. There should also be negotiations between the government and computer manufacturers to arrange for special deals. Perhaps the government can offer fiscal incentives to computer companies in exchange for cheap computers for schools. One thing is for sure, we have to think outside the box!
Are today's teachers up for the challenge to keeping up with their students technologically?
I am willing to bet that some of today's teachers are miles behind their very students when it comes to technology savvy. Great efforts will need to be taken to get teachers up to snuff. I am very pleased that CSUSM has taken steps to work technology into its teaching program. It is very important to me and I hope to incorporate it in my teaching and with my students as much as possible.
Journal 7: My Personal Learning Network / NETS-T 5a. / MI
A PLN is a Personal Learning Network. A personal learning network is a collection of information and contacts that can be used to gain knowledge that I use to contribute to my career as a teacher. The PLN I have started to assemble includes IGoogle, Twitter, Diigo, The Educator's PLN (Ning), and blogsites. The PLN is most useful in helping with data collection and collaboration with peers. When I am needing new ideas for lessons or fresh plans for my classroom, I can use information found from my PLN. I cam also use chats to share ideas or ask help from my peers. The possibilities are endless as the World Wide Web is exactly that, world wide. There are people across the globe all sharing news and ideas. My PLN is how I can begin to gather all of the information together.
Twitter is a "real-time information network." There are people from all over the world sharing information about everything under the sun and beyond. Twitter can be extremely useful when used correctly. I have begun to build a network of other students, teachers, and people interested in education. It is fairly easy to build your network by using hash tags. There are themes like education or new teachers that can be found under the corresponding hash tags. When following the hash tags you are able to get information from peers that may be relevant to your own interests. When you see tweets, or entries by others that interest you, you can choose to follow the person who made the tweet. There are also planned chats on Twitter where people will discuss a subject in real time without geographical barriers. I attended a chat called "#mathchat" at 5pm 7/28/11. The topic was, "How do I stimulate students seeing connections in math?" It was very interesting to participate in this chat. I am not a "math person" but I was interested in ways that a teacher can teach math and make it interesting as well. I didn't know that I would be contributing but after watching the chat briefly, I felt that I should share some of my opinions. It was very exciting to be a part of this real time network of teaching professionals.
Another tool in my PLN that I am extremely excited about is Diigo. Diigo is a social bookmarking application. A Diigo toolbar can be downloaded from Diigo.com and can be used to organize websites that are useful in your PLN. The difference between Diigo and regular bookmarks is that Diigo allows you to tag your bookmarks in a way that makes them easier to use. You can select any keywords (i.e. School, Teaching, Lessons, etc.) to tag each website that you bookmark. When you need to find something specific you can search your tags on Diigo.com. In addition, you can also follow other people in Diigo and then search their bookmarks, or even search the whole Diigo network. In Diigo, I am following my professor, other classmates, and other educators as well. This contributes to my PLN by compiling relevant information that is available to me with a simple search. Some of the websites I have bookmarked within Diigo and actually tagged with the keyword PLN include a website by Cybraryman which contains a comprehensive list of educational chats on Twitter, 100 Blogs Every Teacher Should Read, which lists several useful blogs by other educators, and the Thinking Stick which explains steps to building an excellent PLN.
I have also joined The Educator's PLN, which is an Ning site that once again contains collaborative information. You have to sign up and be approved to become a member of The Educator's PLN. The reason for this is that you can add content to this Ning. By pre-approving all members, they can avoid spammers from posting junk information or links. This Ning has blogs, videos, and information pertinent to education. I recently watched a video from Educator's PLN which was about how to use Prezi, a web based presentation application, in the classroom. Prezi is a wonderful non-linear application which can truly help get attention of an audience. It is a much more cutting edge style than Power Point or other traditional presentation methods. Information on cutting edge technology such as Prezi and how it can be used educationally can be discovered on the Ning as a part of a PLN.
Twitter is a "real-time information network." There are people from all over the world sharing information about everything under the sun and beyond. Twitter can be extremely useful when used correctly. I have begun to build a network of other students, teachers, and people interested in education. It is fairly easy to build your network by using hash tags. There are themes like education or new teachers that can be found under the corresponding hash tags. When following the hash tags you are able to get information from peers that may be relevant to your own interests. When you see tweets, or entries by others that interest you, you can choose to follow the person who made the tweet. There are also planned chats on Twitter where people will discuss a subject in real time without geographical barriers. I attended a chat called "#mathchat" at 5pm 7/28/11. The topic was, "How do I stimulate students seeing connections in math?" It was very interesting to participate in this chat. I am not a "math person" but I was interested in ways that a teacher can teach math and make it interesting as well. I didn't know that I would be contributing but after watching the chat briefly, I felt that I should share some of my opinions. It was very exciting to be a part of this real time network of teaching professionals.
Another tool in my PLN that I am extremely excited about is Diigo. Diigo is a social bookmarking application. A Diigo toolbar can be downloaded from Diigo.com and can be used to organize websites that are useful in your PLN. The difference between Diigo and regular bookmarks is that Diigo allows you to tag your bookmarks in a way that makes them easier to use. You can select any keywords (i.e. School, Teaching, Lessons, etc.) to tag each website that you bookmark. When you need to find something specific you can search your tags on Diigo.com. In addition, you can also follow other people in Diigo and then search their bookmarks, or even search the whole Diigo network. In Diigo, I am following my professor, other classmates, and other educators as well. This contributes to my PLN by compiling relevant information that is available to me with a simple search. Some of the websites I have bookmarked within Diigo and actually tagged with the keyword PLN include a website by Cybraryman which contains a comprehensive list of educational chats on Twitter, 100 Blogs Every Teacher Should Read, which lists several useful blogs by other educators, and the Thinking Stick which explains steps to building an excellent PLN.
I have also joined The Educator's PLN, which is an Ning site that once again contains collaborative information. You have to sign up and be approved to become a member of The Educator's PLN. The reason for this is that you can add content to this Ning. By pre-approving all members, they can avoid spammers from posting junk information or links. This Ning has blogs, videos, and information pertinent to education. I recently watched a video from Educator's PLN which was about how to use Prezi, a web based presentation application, in the classroom. Prezi is a wonderful non-linear application which can truly help get attention of an audience. It is a much more cutting edge style than Power Point or other traditional presentation methods. Information on cutting edge technology such as Prezi and how it can be used educationally can be discovered on the Ning as a part of a PLN.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Journal 5/MI
DUNCAN, A. (2011, JUNE/JULY). Harnessing the power of technology. LEARNING AND LEADING WITH TECHNOLOGY, 38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx
Teachers are on the frontline of the technology transformation. It is so important that we start to understand technology as something that should be woven throughout our curriculum rather than as a separate entity. Long gone are the days of Commodore 64's and Oregon Trail. Technology is not just meant for the weekly computer lab session. We have the ability to wield technology in our everyday classes to help reinforce traditional lessons, to educate our students in something that has and will continue to have real life value, and also to engage our students. Technology has the power to individualize lessons based on students needs or development. Teachers just have to be able to identify the needs and use the technology appropriately for these needs. The US department of Education is helping shape the technology transformation with three main goals: 1. New standards for technology in the classrooms and changing the way we do assessments. 2. Connecting teachers with social media and other technology. 3. Making technology accessible in all classrooms.
Will the Department of Education continue to put money into technology and the expansion of broadband capability in the classrooms of America?
I certainly hope that development of technology continues to be prioritized. Things are very unsettled in these current economic times. I still believe that an argument could be made for the improvement of technology in classrooms. The cost will ultimately be worthwhile. Students and teachers will be able to keep up with the times and costs could even by cut down by reducing use of textbooks and paper products.
What would I do, as a teacher, if I took a job in a school with virtually no computers or technology at my disposal?
If I found myself in this position, I would try to organize assistance from the community. People always are purchasing new computer and need to get rid of their old ones. I would try to have a computer donation drive and make possible repairs and upgrades to these older units. In addition, other fund raisers could be organized to help purchase other needed goods. Hopefully I do not find myself in that situation but I would do my best to make sure I can include technology in my classroom at any cost.
Teachers are on the frontline of the technology transformation. It is so important that we start to understand technology as something that should be woven throughout our curriculum rather than as a separate entity. Long gone are the days of Commodore 64's and Oregon Trail. Technology is not just meant for the weekly computer lab session. We have the ability to wield technology in our everyday classes to help reinforce traditional lessons, to educate our students in something that has and will continue to have real life value, and also to engage our students. Technology has the power to individualize lessons based on students needs or development. Teachers just have to be able to identify the needs and use the technology appropriately for these needs. The US department of Education is helping shape the technology transformation with three main goals: 1. New standards for technology in the classrooms and changing the way we do assessments. 2. Connecting teachers with social media and other technology. 3. Making technology accessible in all classrooms.
Will the Department of Education continue to put money into technology and the expansion of broadband capability in the classrooms of America?
I certainly hope that development of technology continues to be prioritized. Things are very unsettled in these current economic times. I still believe that an argument could be made for the improvement of technology in classrooms. The cost will ultimately be worthwhile. Students and teachers will be able to keep up with the times and costs could even by cut down by reducing use of textbooks and paper products.
What would I do, as a teacher, if I took a job in a school with virtually no computers or technology at my disposal?
If I found myself in this position, I would try to organize assistance from the community. People always are purchasing new computer and need to get rid of their old ones. I would try to have a computer donation drive and make possible repairs and upgrades to these older units. In addition, other fund raisers could be organized to help purchase other needed goods. Hopefully I do not find myself in that situation but I would do my best to make sure I can include technology in my classroom at any cost.
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