Crossword

Crossword Remix

Newsletter: NETS-T I & III

EDU422newsletter

This is a newsletter I made using Microsoft Word. In the newsletter I utilized multiple editing tools to create a unique newsletter layout that effectively and creatively communicated relevant educational information.

Inspiration: NETS-T III

This is a diagram for NETS-T that I made using the program Inspiration. I described each of the five standards and provided two artifacts I felt fit the standard.

iMovie: NETS-T I & III

This is a short film I created on CSU San Marcos using iMovie.

Journal 4: Course Management

Course management systems are web-based applications, centering on the provision of courses on-line to individuals, tracking skills and competencies, HR and resource management, content creation and/or delivery of courses, along with administrative features.  They look to enhance the capabilities of the teacher not just in assessment, but allow for interactive learning assignments through the computer.  In a thread I read about was by Mark Frydenberg I learned how to use "wiki's" in course management along traditional programs like WebCT.  A wiki is a website that uses wiki software, allowing the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked Web pages, using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor, within the browser. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, and for note taking.   Wikis have made their way into the classroom as tools for teams to perform group authoring and collaborative analysis, develop literature reviews for research projects; participate on  signup sheets; summarize readings, post project summaries, communicate with students and create knowledge bases.  I also learned how important submitting assignments electronically through Blackboard Learning Systems has become, not just for easier assessment, but also as a paper saver also.  I also learned about the virtual classroom now available on Moodle, which allows students to do online interactive sessions.  

Journal 3: Assessment Made Easy

Zucker, A (2009).Assessment Made Easy. Learning and Leading with Technology, (June/July2009). 18-21.

The idea of having a one-to-one student-o-computer ration seems like a wonderful idea for fostering a students academic success and making assessment for teacher more effective. The Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) does this with great results. In all subjects having a computer for each and every student drastically expands the capabilities a teacher has at assessing their students. Teachers can set-up so that some questions are instantly graded providing instant feedback and leave more time to grade essay question. Its not just the computers that are most important its also the programs installed on those computers, training for ninth graders, professional development for teachers, an active e-mail system, and a plethora of related technologies, such as computer probes for sciences classes.

Is this feasible on a larger basis in public education?

In my opinion no it is not feasible to bring this type of program to a larger portion of the public. Our economy is in such a poor state that giving every child in our country a personal computer to use while at school is just unreasonable. Our schools can barely fund art and music programs let alone provided the resources to integrate computers into every classroom for every student. It would be a utopian ideal that allows any person to think this type of education is reasonable on a large widespread basis, but I don't think this type of education will be easily available for a long, long time.

Could integrating technology to this level diminish our capabilities to interact more comfortably in person to person activities?

I think there is a danger in having children spend most of their time in front of a computer instead of interacting with each other. The more children on computers for everything from doing homework and testing, the less they have to interact with one another creating a dangerous situation where kids relate less to each and have a harder time when asked to talk about an issue or project. I do think integrating technology in the classroom can better facilitate learning and assessment, yet at the same time I draw the line with the idea of having every kid tuned into computer during the length of their learning experience.

Journal 2: How Teenagers Consume Media: the report that shook the city.

Robson, M. (2009, July 13). How Teenagers Consume Media: the Study that Shook the City. Retrieved 7/27/09, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/13/teenage-media-habits-morgan-stanley

Not much in this report surprised me. A few things did though. The fact that a 15 year old had an internship Morgan Stanley and wrote a report at this level surprised me. When I was 15 I was sitting in a shopping cart being pushed into bushes imitating the guys from Jackass, not working at a serious fortune 500 hundred company writing reports that shook a city. Wow. Also I found it interesting that the most popular video game system in the U.K. was the Nintendo Wii, I figured it would have either been the Xbox 360 or PS3. Growing up in the technology age and still being heavily involved with technology use (I'm tuned into some sort of technology for just about every minute of my day, from video games, to even when I'm working out I have my i-pod on me) this article backed up a lot of my assumptions, such as most teenagers illegally download their music, they use pay as you go phones because its less expensive, they don't use things like Jamster because they lock you into lame contracts costing you a bunch of money, etc. I give a hand to Matthew Robson for his hard work and outstanding achievement for a person of such a young age.

Where are all the statistics comming from?

Though impressed by the information provided by Mr. Robson, there were no citations in his report which leaves me a little skeptical of the results (even though I personally believe much of what he reported from my own assumptions). Morgan Stanley is a serious company so I'm guessing that all of his sources were legit, but it would have been insightful to know what institutions and studies the statistics were taken from to compose this report.

How does this information effect teachers?

I feel that being aware of your students technological knowledge level is very important for a teacher. Understanding that a wealthy student who owns his own computer, video game system, and i-pod is most likely going to be much more technologically capable than a poorer student who doesn't own a video game system or i-pod and only is able to use a computer at school or a library is going to be a key component in providing educational equity in the classroom, especially with the ever growing integration of technology into our daily lives.