CLRN - Web Info Links (WIL's)

After completing my technology-enhanced lesson plan on line symmetry, I decided to take a look up this topic on CLRN's site. I find their site very easy to navigate, and I love that there at NO ads!!! After watching the informative tutorial on how to use WIL's (Web Info Links), I went to "test" out my topic. All I had to do what click "Browse" under the WIL's toolbar, and I was taken to a web-page that listed all subjects. After clicking on Mathematics, I was taken to a web-page that listed 14 "categories" in mathematics. One quick click on "Geometry" brought me to a web-page that listed 35 links, 2 of the links being line symmetry! How exciting!!! Here is a website that I wouldn't have found using Google  - and it is awesome!!!! 

http://www.adrianbruce.com/Symmetry/index.html

I am thankful that sites like CLRN exist, because too often I find myself sticking to Google....and there is so much more out there!!!!!

General Technology in the Classroom

I found myself almost laughing out loud in my Principles of Methodology class. There were several grad students in the class who said they were intimidated by the idea of taking online classes. I don't think it was even the actual technology that bothered them either but rather the absence of a physically present teacher or professor.

It amazes me that people similar in age to me can be intimidated by technology. It's not like my parents who have a severe learning curve to overcome in comparison to the technology they had access to.

These types of fear have to be overcome as a whole in order for the entire learning world to progress. This won't occur unless their is a collective effort to learn as much as possible, and even more importantly, to allow for a higher level of generally accepted priciples provided by technology.

Bottom line from my perspective, technological learning, be it sophisticated software concepts or grasping long-distance learning, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

What's important in a web site?

I was thinking about all the web sites I've actually visited since being introduced to the Internet around 1996. Obviously there are ones that I probably visit more often than others just due to the topic I'm interested in regardless of how detailed or poorly designed the web site is.

However, there are other sites out there that can capture the audience. I've also thought that content on the site is far more important to drawing someone genuinely interested to the site rather than all the bells and whistles.

In designing a web site for school, I think it's important to take into consideration that there are going to be students who are genuinely interested in learning and others who could care less. The question is can you use the web site as an alternative way to engage the student who would otherwise be disinterested in the subject or the material that the class has to cover.

I think there are definitely some interactive ways to approach the student who would otherwise not be interested.

Now these are ideas about grabbing the audience from a business perspective. I thought it might help in terms of capturing the audience.

Impressive Teacher WebSite

I am excited to create my website - and I found some great examples online!

http://kids-learn.org/

Kidspirations and Inspirations

I found several examples of kidspirations and inspirations online. I thought this would be of some help to all of you to get a better understanding of what they are all about.

An additional link: http://www.strategictransitions.com/visuallearning.aspx

The original link is the hidden link in the title of the this blog entry.

The One Computer Reality

It is always ideal to have access to 25 + computers for your students, but what about the everyday REALITY of 1 computer in your classroom? I found this great website that provides ideas on how to best use that 1 computer in your classroom.

WebQuest

I have enjoyed learning more about WebQuests. I found it very interesting (and challenging!) to put the whole WebQuest together. I am adding my final touches now - not sure how many graphics are too many graphics. I try to make a nice mix of pictures with text.

A GREAT WEBQUEST!

This seems like it is a worthwhile webquest. I think the topic of plate tectonics can be challenging, especially for concrete learners. This webquest gives the student a defined "task" and has excellent visuals.

TeenAngels

My wife teaches at GW Middle School in Ridgewood, NJ. The computer teacher at her school runs a chapter of TeenAngles, which is a group of students who have been specially trained in all aspects of online safety, privacy and security. The goal of TeenAngels is to "make the Internet safer." This is obviously a tough job, in this world of online chat rooms and social networking sites. The students were featured on CBS a few months ago, and are going to Washington D.C. in a few weeks. They will present their research to policymakers and law enforcement.

Here is the link to the TeenAngles chapter at GWMS:

http://gw.school.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/index.cfm?sid=5&nav_id=4407

Any thoughts?

Technology in the Classroom blog

I came across this web site that describes in detail different ideas to try and promote different forms of technological learning within the classroom, primarily younger ages.

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/

Back to the Blog

After the holiday hiatus in between semesters, I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things with another online blog. I found last semester's Reading Curriculum class I took online to be very useful and engaging even in the non-tradional classroom format.

Guided Reading Case Study

Janet Seymour seems like she makes a concerted effort to break the guided reading into different segments so different students with different learning abilities can excel in specific type of modules. Now I will say that with the flow of following the progression from Session 1 to Session 2 and so on, a student may not flourish in the later session because of lack of understanding the storyline in the earlier sessions. Because the activities are so tied in to the theme and gist of the story, one could argue that it might be difficult to follow through with the activities later on.

I also like the aspect of allowing the kids to be somewhat imaginative by asking them to possibly predict the outcome of the story prior to actually finishing the book, and why the author chose to have characters do certain things. This creates a sense of imagination among the students rather than just testing and quizzing on their factual knowledge of the story which I think ends up being very short-sighted.

Interestingly enough in the the introduction The Giver, I believe that it's Carmel French who thinks because of the level of difficulty with the novel that everyone should read along together so there can be a general understanding level amongst the group. I will say that I cannot necessarily agree with that interpretation or assessment. I think you can guide along for a time, but at some point you have to allow for learning by trial and error or the student is going to fall into too much of a comfort zone, especially when it comes to reading.

Plot lines are a very helpful tool in my opinion especially if you are reading a story that may be slightly above the level of the current grade. Any aid that can assist the general understanding of a slightly more sophisticated novel is definitely something that helped me when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.

The greatest part about this guided reading lesson breakdown is The Billy Goats Gruff. That story was one of the first I can remember actually really getting into as a child. It was not presented to me in a classroom setting but rather at home. Now with the advantages the Internet possesses at home, I would think parents to a much larger extent than mine, can get extremely creative in teh ways that they can convey stories to their children, but more importantly, convey the meanings of stories in different fashions.

Should teachers be held to a higher standard

I was wondering what people thought in regards to whether or not a teacher should be held to a higher set of standards. It was sort of a general question thrown out to us in one of my other classes where we had to a write a reaction paper to the question.


In my opinion, teachers should not be held to a higher standard. People in society possess freewill, so in my opinion, teachers shouldn’t be treated any differently. As we know, all members of society are expected to abide by the rules and laws set by judiciary and legislative powers of government. Why should a person, simply because of his or her profession, be expected to live differently than the rest of us? It is unfair and impractical to tell hard working teachers that they can be publicly scrutinized and expected to live differently than everybody else. In addition, my beliefs are not just centered on educators: I truly believe that people should be free to do what they want to, without being under constant public scrutiny. As long as a teacher is not involved in illegal activity, I think they should be able to live their own life.
While I am a firm believer in having freedom to make your own choices, obviously there are many people (teachers included) that make less than stellar decisions in regards to their own personal conduct. I am not condoning behavior that lends itself to being unlawful or on the fringe of criminal behavior. Teachers should always be cognitive of the situations they put themselves in on a daily basis, whether it be in the classroom or in the outside world in general. In a world of instant gratification, bad news is spread faster and faster with the advent of cell phone cameras and the Internet. Celebrities have always been under a constant microscope, but unfortunately, sometimes their slip-ups do not even come close to the negative consequences teachers would face if caught doing something deemed inappropriate in relation to their field of work. Because educators are teaching children, common public perception states that teachers should live like saints without any sin. However, everyone knows everyone else has human elements and they are all inclined to make mistakes at some level throughout their lives, including their professional careers.
The only requirement that I think should be mandatory is passing a drug test. If you have an educator preaching about how it’s destructive to get involved in drugs, and then he or she is going out against their teaching, that’s obviously wasted time in the classroom. More importantly, it’s just poor form as an educator to be doing one thing and practicing another. Teaching can be incredibly consuming and tiring, and a teacher needs to be able to perform day in and day out. This wouldn’t be possible if a teacher is using drugs. I understand that drug testing raises issues that pertain to both the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that citizens be treated as innocent until proven guilty and be accorded due process of law when accused. There is a legal battle going on right now about this topic in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Kanawha County school board members decided to enter a long legal battle over employee drug testing because of several high-profile drug incidents and their own political calculations, according to interviews with board members who support the policy. The board decided last week to go ahead with its plan to randomly drug test teachers and other school employees despite warnings of a nasty, costly series of legal actions that started today. One teachers union, The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, this morning filed a lawsuit in Kanawha Circuit Court calling on the courts to end the board's plan to begin random employee testing in January. The suit seeks a declaratory judgment and injunction to prevent the implementation of the testing plan. (http://www.mapinc.org/newscfdp/v08/n1067/a12.html)

For obvious reasons, teachers feel that this would be an expensive violation of their rights. The money used to perform the drug tests could be better used in the classrooms. In conclusion, I believe that teacher’s should be allowed to live their lives how they choose. This includes social lives, sexual orientation, opinions, beliefs, and decisions. Conduct inside the classroom should always be top-notch, and all teachers should be mature enough to know how to live their lives so this is possible

What type of teacher's personality do you possess?

Here is a link I came across while researching multiple intelligences for another class. I find that this may be helpful as we try to relate experiences and teach to different children. Obviously, we probably won't be perfect teachers for every single student in our careers, but this mini-quiz may allow you to understand your strengths and weaknesses a little better.

http://712educators.about.com/library/quizzes/blteacher_personality.htm

Interesting Article

This is an interesting read- especially after learning about My Access!
What do you think?

http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i04/04b01001.htm

MY Access! software

In Response to MY Access!

I am impressed with MY Access!, and I think it is proof that technology has transformed (and will continue to transform) how we teach. I believe that Web-based programs can be very effective, when used to correct way.

As I watched the video and demonstration, I thought to myself, “Wow, I wish they had stuff like this when I was growing up!” I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed "learning how to write."The program looks organized, interesting, and easy to use. I think that students of all ages and abilities would benefit from this program.

My Access would definitely decrease the amount of student and teacher paperwork. As a teacher, I would enjoy the freedom that this program allows. I think it’s important to continue to create your own assignments, not just stick to the MY Access! assignments. This program can be used for different subjects, types of assignments, and genres.

This program would also really help ESL students, as he/she can work on the English language at their own pace and in their native language (when needed). It would also be a great way to communicate with their parents. Oftentimes parents struggle with the English language, and communication can be difficult. A parent letter sent home in their native language would be tremendous.

I can imagine how the word bank and graphic organizers would help resource students. The “My Editor” feature is also a great way for students to see their "weak spots." MY Access is a nice way to track student progress and skills. The feedback is in a timely manner, which is always a challenge for teachers!

As a teacher, I would love to use a program like this in my classroom. Although it wouldn’t be my only way of teaching, I think it would be a valuable resource. I believe that variety is the key to a successful and engaging classroom.


I found this article very interesting – looks like MY Access “walks the walk!”

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Online+writing+program+walks+the+walk:+MY+Access!+boosts+scores...-a0120254108

Teaneck Public Schools Think About Incentives

http://www.northjersey.com/education/brightideas/Teaneck_tries_rewards_cards.html

I came across this article in the Bergen Record.

I think this type of idea sends kids the wrong message about learning in general. Striving for greatness, be it for grades or outstanding behavior for the ultimate reason being coupons or virtual cash at local businesses is a poor way to dictate the terms of learning. While I believe it's a teacher's duty to energize the classroom and make topics more interesting, putting a bounty out there for good grades basically states that kids should only be doing things for monetary gain rather than intellectual world.

Granted we live in a capitalist society, but this is taking things way too far too fast just like I think it would be too much too soon with the approach of distance learning at the high school level.

Any thoughts?

Ipod Article Reaction (History to go: Why I Teach With Ipods)

In my class on Principles of Curriculum I had to do a presentation on multiple intelligences and how different styles of learning relate to curriculum. Reading this article on the Ipod and teachers and professors incorporating it into their course load could not have been a better example of the message I was trying to convey during my presentation.



While the Ipod probably incorporates the visual/spatial and auditory mulitiple intelligences, I think there may be new research coming out that implements technology usage as another multiple intelligence. In today's world, where kids can multi-task with the best of them, and certainly more so than when I was in school, technology allows another window of learning capacity.



When Howard Gardner first published his multiple intelligence theory in 1983, Sony Walkmans were just coming into being and they weren't nearly as interactive as today's Ipods and other handheld devices. I think as far as people who learn best visually speaking, they are able to think in picture displays including diagrams, illustrated textbooks, overhead transparencies, videos, handouts, and Power Points. Ipods just add to that capacity to llearn while also adding in auditory components. Interactive schemes like online quizzes can be used on an Ipod, you basically have a small hard drive at your fingertips, and it's something that you always see the younger generation with. Other handheld devices like Blackberry and now Iphone and Gphone will come into play, and it's at the teacher's discretion to see what avenue best assimilates their teaching principles into a young sudent's mind.

The Ipod is the perfect solution. And now they can have detailed notes to take with them while they are listening to music on their Ipod. All that has to be done is to open that condensed Word doc. and take it all in at their leisure. I think that may be the biggest advantage. It provides a much more casual atmosphere to learning rather than the traditional regimented studying in the libary attitude (that wasn't wrong, but I think we as teachers have to adapt in a new age).

Social Networking Site for Teachers

This is a social networking site for teachers. There are articles posted here, but more importantly, there are many ideas posted by a variety of different types of teachers.

http://www.classroom20.com/

The crux of what teaching is really all about

http://www.newsweek.com/id/163455

Due to being knew to the world of education, I am always trying to find different perspectives on what it truly means to be a teacher. More importantly, I see so many people in general that just "go through the motions" in their daily lives, in and out of their careers. As a teacher, you just don't have that luxury because I think it's extremely visible for all to see how well you teach. The results are fairly black and white. My wife teaches in public school and she is constantly telling me of stories about teachers who either do the bare minimum or get involved in the first place because they think it's not a whole lot of work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I think people should strive for efficiency in anything they do in life. Saying that you should spend x amount of hours somewhere as a guideline serves no purpose in my view. If you can get something done in a more efficient fashion than someone else, you shouldn't be penalized for someone's inability to perform. My point is you should strive ultimately tho be the best you can be at anything you do, but just because you are logging hours, doesn't necessarily mean that you are a better teacher than someone else who spends less time.

Far too often, people lump time commitment with competency, and it's just not that simple.