Part 1 - Social bookmarking seems to be a very powerful tool that I can utilize for myself as a professional and for the students in my classroom. I chose diigo for starters to set up an account. I did find it a little challenging because it was the first time I ever creating something like that. I was able to add bookmarks and tags but I don't understand the whole list thing yet. I was comparing the 'list' page to my teachers; what is private and public? As far as its use, I plan on this becoming a powerful communication tool for myself professionally. I can have colleagues visit my diigo account and my students can visit also; which means I can now assign reading assignments on the internet just as we do in class. All this will better prepare my students for learning in the classroom. Here is my link http://www.diigo.com/user/samedu610 - I am not sure which is more important though, the library or the lists. If you go to my list you can click on the 'library' tab and see what I have entered. I will continue to build after I clear some questions up with the teacher.
Part 2 - 5 excel ideas - well I chose to build on what we did in class. I too agree excel is something all students of the 21st century should be comfortable using. I actually worked today with our math coach to create a two part project which is similar to the two we completed in the classroom. See remeber I teach automotive technology at a secondary career and tech school. I have to incorporate academic standards such as math, english, and science into my program; so we have 'coaches.' Anyway, all students take an 'end of program' assesment and the end of their three years and their grades get distinguised as basic, competent, and advanced. The take a written component and a hands-on component. I am going to incorporate the use of excel by taking all their grades and their level of competency and making a two part project. I only have two computers in my theory room so I have a laptop cart signed out for October 3rd. The math coach will help me coordinate this lesson so I am well prepared. It also helps that she is very proficient in Excel. The students will learn the same basic principles of excel as I did and it will also be a chance for them so see where the grades fall into each level of competency so they are more prepared for their senior year. I will provide questions in a worksheet that will get them to sort different data and build different graphs.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Due for week #4
1. Google Apps is definitely a powerful tool, for teachers and for students. As a educator I found many things that would be useful in the classroom and as a student, the resource material is endless. I teach automotive technology at a rural school district's career center. I know for a fact there is a large number of students who do not have Internet access at home. In my classroom we have two student computers with about 25 students at any one given time, rough I know. Watching the videos all I saw were classrooms with monitors and keyboards in front of every student; not going to happen where I am at. But that wont stop me from having technology in the classroom. I joined the technology committee last year, which helped me land a 'smart board' in my classroom this year. I have used it since day one and the students love it. Not to mention all the jealous teachers im my department. Taking this class has my mind spinning with so many different ideas, I can't wait to use them all (already started). What I have to do is break things out in units that I can focus on each quarter. The school does have a traveling laptop cart that can be signed out and I just booked two dates in October. Along with the Math coach here at the career center we just completed an excel assignment that is similar to the one we did in class. But the data I am going to have them input is the cost of owning and operation a vehicle over the course of three months. That relates to cars and I am teaching them how to do things in excel. Now what I want to do is create something using the google apps that the students and I can do together. Maybe create a blog or a wiki, not sure yet. Something that can be shared with other teachers, administration, and parents. Even though I am not a technology teacher, I can still use those tools to help bring my automotive students along in the 21st century.
2. As far as browsing the Google Apps for lesson plans in my area, I was unsuccessful. I did view several of them and noticed they are very well written. I wish it would be like that for automotive technology. All that I can do is borrow that technology and incorporated those ideas into ideas that will work in my program area.
2. As far as browsing the Google Apps for lesson plans in my area, I was unsuccessful. I did view several of them and noticed they are very well written. I wish it would be like that for automotive technology. All that I can do is borrow that technology and incorporated those ideas into ideas that will work in my program area.
Due for week #3
1. What do I think about the "language" that many of my students speak? I speak it, I live in the area that my students live; so I guess I have evolved with today's language. I don't lock myself into a position where I get stuck. I like where I am at and I like where I have been. I am also looking forward to where I might go. I guess I adapted like animals do with the changes in their environment. Because I don't shut the doors and windows when I get home, it has allowed changes in my life and my language to be on a subtle basis. When I don't understand what is being said by a younger person, I do what they do, just ask.
How do I perceive technology? I think think there is a lot of good, but that price also brings some bad things as well. I think I can tie this together my feelings to what I read in the Educause text. The Educause text continues to revolve mainly around post-secondary learning. With that being said, the clientele of student will also be different, but my feelings about technology will carry across secondary into post-secondary. Like I stated before, technology is a great tool; what scares me is the inability of many students/people being able to 'step-out' of their IPOD, or their cell phone, or their PDA. Technology is a great tool but it can never take away the human ability to prioritize the circle of life. I appreciate technology because it blossomed while I was growing up. I still think its OK for kids to play with matchbox cars and tonka trucks. If everyone in the world thought that using computer driven devices would secure there existence in life, they are in for shock. The service industry is the only industry driving America. Plumbers, Electricians, Auto-Technicians are some examples of what fills the workforce - computers are working people right of jobs. Yes computers do make those professions more efficient, but they are not doing work. People are too scared to get there hands dirty. I see it everywhere, kids would rather do nothing and surf the web than burn some calories doing some hard labor. One has to look into the past, what made this country so great 100 years ago wasn't the computer. It was the character of the person. A blend of hard work with some efficiency intertwined (i.e. the computer) - All I see in the future is a lack of secure decision making - kids today have so much data at their fingertips they are having trouble locking on to decisions - they have the numbers but they can't get to the conclusions. Please don't get me wrong, I love technology. I use it in my classroom and I it does make the learning experience so much better. I wish it were around when I was in school. But that switch has to be turned off sometimes. Its OK to pick up twigs and rake leaves. The readings in the Educause are exciting and also distrubing; I don't like reading that NetGen learners "refuse to accept our elders speeches or sermons." I think we can learn from each other. Older people and younger should come together for the betterment of the world, not its my way or else. That is the feeling I am getting from this reading. I did like that Chapter 6 addressed the issue of students lacking critical thinking - it does reinforce my beliefs. I don't know if that is bad or good? - we will see
2. What is considered a R/W program? To be honest I am still not 100% sure but I think I know. My understanding stems out of my research with Google Docs, I believe a R/W program requires no software installed on your computer. Your computer at home will run software programs that are on another server (i.e. from the Internet). Your computer is basically a dummy terminal. I did some research and watched a video, I think the concept is really neat. My head was already spinning on how I can use it in my classroom. I teach automotive technology but I know Google Docs can fit into my curriculum. I always tell my students that this profession is very special and that we have to learn so many different things from different fields and IT technology is one of them. My wheels are spinning....
How do I perceive technology? I think think there is a lot of good, but that price also brings some bad things as well. I think I can tie this together my feelings to what I read in the Educause text. The Educause text continues to revolve mainly around post-secondary learning. With that being said, the clientele of student will also be different, but my feelings about technology will carry across secondary into post-secondary. Like I stated before, technology is a great tool; what scares me is the inability of many students/people being able to 'step-out' of their IPOD, or their cell phone, or their PDA. Technology is a great tool but it can never take away the human ability to prioritize the circle of life. I appreciate technology because it blossomed while I was growing up. I still think its OK for kids to play with matchbox cars and tonka trucks. If everyone in the world thought that using computer driven devices would secure there existence in life, they are in for shock. The service industry is the only industry driving America. Plumbers, Electricians, Auto-Technicians are some examples of what fills the workforce - computers are working people right of jobs. Yes computers do make those professions more efficient, but they are not doing work. People are too scared to get there hands dirty. I see it everywhere, kids would rather do nothing and surf the web than burn some calories doing some hard labor. One has to look into the past, what made this country so great 100 years ago wasn't the computer. It was the character of the person. A blend of hard work with some efficiency intertwined (i.e. the computer) - All I see in the future is a lack of secure decision making - kids today have so much data at their fingertips they are having trouble locking on to decisions - they have the numbers but they can't get to the conclusions. Please don't get me wrong, I love technology. I use it in my classroom and I it does make the learning experience so much better. I wish it were around when I was in school. But that switch has to be turned off sometimes. Its OK to pick up twigs and rake leaves. The readings in the Educause are exciting and also distrubing; I don't like reading that NetGen learners "refuse to accept our elders speeches or sermons." I think we can learn from each other. Older people and younger should come together for the betterment of the world, not its my way or else. That is the feeling I am getting from this reading. I did like that Chapter 6 addressed the issue of students lacking critical thinking - it does reinforce my beliefs. I don't know if that is bad or good? - we will see
2. What is considered a R/W program? To be honest I am still not 100% sure but I think I know. My understanding stems out of my research with Google Docs, I believe a R/W program requires no software installed on your computer. Your computer at home will run software programs that are on another server (i.e. from the Internet). Your computer is basically a dummy terminal. I did some research and watched a video, I think the concept is really neat. My head was already spinning on how I can use it in my classroom. I teach automotive technology but I know Google Docs can fit into my curriculum. I always tell my students that this profession is very special and that we have to learn so many different things from different fields and IT technology is one of them. My wheels are spinning....
Due for week #2
I have to get things rolling here. I have been reading the on-line text for a couple days now. It has been a while since I read something that has my interest so deep. I like the way the book starts by looking back into history, my history I guess. See I was born in the seventy's which makes me from Generation 'X' and I was raised by a very strict old school Italian family. I fit the mold of so many descriptors in the beginning chapters; I was the one who programmed the VCR and I reset all the digital clocks when the electric went out. That went on until my mother passed two years ago. I still laugh inside just thinking about it. My parents wanted nothing to do with it. I on the other hand was intrigued by the technology. See, I was raised with a black and white TV and I remember how long it took to warm up - ha ha
I think my only gripe about this book is takes a look only into the education at the post-secondary level. Because I teach and for my whole live I have been a very socially outgoing person, I think I have put together a good sense of reality. I use the Internet as a valuable tool and yet there is something very real about not living in a bubble. What I mean is this, not every family has a computer and the Internet at home in our city of Reading. I work in the Reading School District (secondary level), so I experience this everyday. I cannot give assignments that involve blogging and typing essays for homework. These kids that come through my door have more troubles than 'not be able to connect to the Internet.' One of my jobs is to expose these kids to technology not in an overwhelming way but in a way that it sparks the fuel that hopefully somewhere in their successful lives they will able to expose technology to their children; so that someday they will meet up with today's technology.
I think my only gripe about this book is takes a look only into the education at the post-secondary level. Because I teach and for my whole live I have been a very socially outgoing person, I think I have put together a good sense of reality. I use the Internet as a valuable tool and yet there is something very real about not living in a bubble. What I mean is this, not every family has a computer and the Internet at home in our city of Reading. I work in the Reading School District (secondary level), so I experience this everyday. I cannot give assignments that involve blogging and typing essays for homework. These kids that come through my door have more troubles than 'not be able to connect to the Internet.' One of my jobs is to expose these kids to technology not in an overwhelming way but in a way that it sparks the fuel that hopefully somewhere in their successful lives they will able to expose technology to their children; so that someday they will meet up with today's technology.
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