Blog Reflection

At first I have to say I was against blogging. I felt I was being forced into the Myspace/Facebook society against my will. I know some people who do these sorts of personal blogging, I know the advantages of them, but I still have absolutely no desire to participate in those afore mentioned sites. But the web logging for this class and in education can be a very good asset to any class. It offers whole class discussion, a way to connect outside of the class and over all provides information which may not become readily available in the class otherwise. Not to mention it helps students become more computer friendly, I don’t see a serious disadvantage to using web logs in a classroom. I see some, but I will save those for the end of this blog.
The greatest advantage I can see with having this blog is that I can express my thoughts and ideas and receive feedback from others. This not only opens up valuable discussions, it allows me to think on subject matter in an entirely different way. In other words it promotes critical thinking and offers many different views on a subject which is great for education. It also allows an otherwise shy student to express themselves and give their views, which can be a valuable asset to the class they may not have received otherwise.
The only disadvantage I can see is that it can become time consuming and if you are required to post on other’s blogs and no one has done so yet, then this could become a tedious arrangement. Another disadvantage would be security and content. I can see where it would be hard to protect students from everything that is on the web. The best we could do is to warn them and let them become responsible users on their own.

A little late this week

For some strang reason, I couldn't get on this site at home. My link must be broke. Oh well.

Here is the update. Last week was a nightmare as far as presenting lessons went, no need to comment on this, I already know what went wrong. Looking forwards toward this week presentations and everything. I am also glad this semester is coming to an end. I am dreading what is to come as far as next semester is concerned, but that is another story. I hope I get a lot of time to myself this summer because I have a ton of projects to work on.

Thats it for this week,

Mick

Blog update 04.20.09

Good week. What started out as a simple little 3rd grade cold blew into a heavily medicated pneumonia run. I am much better now, (with every sniffle I wonder if it is comming back) but at least I am alive! Prednizone is an aweful med to take. Ever get that stuff stuck on your tongue? Tastes HORRID!!!!!! But all is good.

Well, I am totally psyched for tonights class. I hope I can go first, I am giving a lesson on simple animations using Flash. I hope everyone gets something from it. Well, gotta run.

updating for 04-11-2009

Homework. Is it just me or is this week's set of techbytes amazingly long? I've been at that book all day and just now finishing it. Being sick may have slowed my progress but still, I am burnt out! I'll finish the bytes tomorrow, but I guess I was hoping for a little down time this soon after my practicum. I'm just whining.

Hey Matt, about Real player, nothing is wrong with it, I just feel it uses way more computer resources then it needs to. Thus, if I can get by without installing it, I'll always opt to not instal.

That wiki on what to do or not do is pretty neat. I think it's a great idea for pooling ideas.

Well, I'm off to bed. I stayed up way too late as it is. This damn cold isn't leaving me it would seem. If I don't feel better in the morning, I am going to the hospital. I am never this sick.

Lesson plan utilizing VITAL, Post #1

In this blog, I will summarize what kind of lesson plan I came up with using resources provided by PBS. For my first blog, I chose the VITAL and pbskids as a resource.
In the content area of counting, I will make a lesson plan revolving around positive and negative numbers. I will use a number line and show that everything to the left of the zero is negative, and everything to the right is positive. I found a similar lesson plan on teachersdomain.org. The video offered stays with this content and would be very entertaining to a younger audience. The goofy skinny kid is worth cheering for, even though he doesn’t make the team, but this sort of ending would give me more material to work with at the end of the lesson. All during the video, the displayed a number line which kept his score and showed the location of the positive and negative numbers. This video will be an excellent enhancement to my lesson.
There was also a pre-made lesson plan with this video. It too followed my idea and content. It is designed around the video. It has printable worksheet which have the students guessing if Harry will qualify. This helps tie the content to the media being shown, but I would actually have to sit down and plan my lesson, know my student’s abilities and my time before I could determine if I can use this or not. I like the VITAL resource and may use it in the future. Video, especially goofy video, is a good way to catch a youngster’s attention.
Link: http://www.teachersdomain.org/collection/k12/math.number.cou/lesson_plan/

I also checked for similar material on PBSKIDS.org. I found this video, which after reading the description, I know would be an excellent fit for my lesson plan. I couldn't watch it because I am unwilling to install the REALplayer plugin. But I am sure if I actually had to create the lesson plan, I would use this video. It goes right along with the content and sounds very entertaining as well as educational. Here is the link:
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/parentsteachers/show/episodes/121.html

Well, it is wednesday, and I am alive.

This practicum is amazing. I am thoroughly enjoying the 3rd grade. I have already given a spelling test, another test this friday and I had the chance to correct some papers. (i actually miss-spelled a word...oops!) I am already developing my lesson plans for next week, and it concludes with a bulletin board. Exciting stuff! Lots of other wierd stuff happening, but managable.

Mondays class was a blast! I had alot of fun and I am anticipating next monday's pbs tour to be as much fun.

Well, thats about it for my blog this week, see you all soon.

Mick

UREKA!

What a great day. My teacher I'll be studying with called me today. She discussed what was going to happen on monday and put a lot of my fears to rest. This was one fun event:



The next would be reviewing the smart board lesson plans. It was a blast. If, for some reason, my future class room doesn't have a smart board, I'll get one some how. Just two of the lessons I downloaded were on colors and sequention. I plan to get the whole database and save it! It will be sweet!

Well, gotta run.

Later all!

Wee bit nervous

Monday is day 1 of the practicum. The teacher has yet to respond to my letter, so it looks like I am going in as is. I have classmates in the same boat as me, so I think we'll do fine.

Well, still tinkering with the notebook software. It is pretty straight forwards, all good. I honestly can't wait for monday to be behind me. Not because of tech class, just that first day of the third grade! I'll either get eaten alive, or have the time of my life. Well, that's about it. Hope everyone is having a great break.

Later

Assitive technology reflection

Monday night’s class was very interesting. The field trip on assistive/adaptive technologies in the student support services center was great. I really liked how our guide explained each of the services offered and how they went about accomplishing tasks set forth by there department. Though the speech was good, I really perked up when he began showing off the different assistive technologies that the department used. The one technology I am choosing to discuss is the portable voice amplifier that is used to address a student who is hearing impaired. I am choosing to write about Monday’s field trip as I do not have much experience with assistive technology being in practiced use.
How the amplifier works is that the teacher wears a small, wireless microphone and the student wears an ear piece which picks up the radio signal the teacher is transmitting. This, in effect, amplifies the teacher’s voice so that the student’s hearing impairment is diminished.
If I ever have a student with a hearing impairment, this device would not restrict my teaching strategies all that much. I also can’t see it as being uncomfortable as both microphone and hearing aide are small and barely noticeable. In the first few days of usage, I can see there being a little disruption as both teacher and student become accustomed to the technology, but I am sure both will soon not even notice the added hardware. Thusly, the teacher can go about their daily schedule normally and the rest of the class would only have to put up with seeing a tiny microphone close to the teacher’s face, which they would quickly become accustomed to seeing. Putting on the microphone and the ear piece will be an activity as regular as brushing one’s own hair. There will be instances where class will have to pause for a few moments as an event such as dead batteries may happen, but over all, this would be a minor inconvenience. There may also be times where I would check to see if the device is functioning properly or that if the volume is comfortable. I may also have to repeat myself, but I don’t foresee this being a major disruption.
So, in closing, this technology is helpful and non intrusive. I can not see it as being disruptive to either myself or the student in the flow of teaching and learning as we both become accustomed to the device.

Just updating for the week of 2/24/09

Nothing new going on here. Class last night was fun. I liked talking about the different assessments of educational video games and such. I really liked the discussion about plagiarism. I think a lot of students do not understand the concept of intellectual properties and thus don't see where they are doing harm. They just have to know how it feels to have someone else take credit for one of their creations. That may make them think twice.

Student Teaching and EDU506

Damn, there is a whole lot to keep track of. And the two seem to mesh together quite a bit! I am finding it difficult to keep track as to whether I am coming or going! As far as student teaching goes, it seems like a whole semester away, but it has a knack for invading this semester and adding to this insane work load. Oh well. Just keep on keeping on I guess. I have to buy tie clips and a new sports jacket.
Well, that's it for this blog. Nothing new, have to get back to work, before the workload buries me without mercy!

Article two review

The second article I reviewed is:

Baker, Suzanne C., Wentz, Ryan K. and Woods, Madison M.(2009). Using Virtual Worlds in Education: Second Life as an Educational Tool. Teaching of Psychology. 36:1,59 — 64

All I have to say is wow. Not Wolrd of Warcraft mind you, but wow as in WOW. This article talks about signing students into a MMORPG, Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, and having class in a virtual setting. They review the validity of the idea and cost effectiveness. Though to sign up for "Second Life" is free, if you want private space, you have to pay a monthly fee to rent the virtual land. They found that the students were engaged and eager to begin. Of course, going to school in a video game? Who wouldn't find that exciting!

For my thoughts, I would have to know much more about the project for me to dissagree, but I could imagine it being very effective for keeping students engaged in classroom criteria and very willing to participate in the class itself. Would I ever try something like this? Maybe, but it wouldn't rent out to a 3rd party. I would create the virtual setting with my own programs and go from their. This way, I would have complete control over the content and be able to modify as I see fit.

Article review one

The first article I reviewed is:
Wong, Anna; Marcus, Nadine; Ayres, Paul; Smith, Lee; Cooper, Graham A.; Paas, Fred; Sweller, John. (2009). Computers in Human Behavior. Instructional Animation. Vol 25, 339-347

It basically examines the effectiveness of static vs. animation graphics used in education. I think they are WAY off the mark. They basically based their findings on cognitive learning theory and went from their. They used Origami directions in both static and animation forms and the kids learned more form the static then the animation. Well duh! If I was doing Origami, I would want the stills to follow rather then the moving instructions. They based their findings that because the students couldn't rehearse what they saw in their short term memory long enough, their ability to make the viking hat failed to stick in their long term memory. That's why animation would fail. From what I percieved, they assumed this would apply to ALL animation vs. Static.

My findings, say for example reading with young children, animation would be much more engaging. I animated a Dr. Sues book in power point and from the feedback I recieved, students found the reading much more engaging and memorable.

I would like to add, animation can be very successful if it is used in the right setting and with the right cirriculum.

Fun times

Just thought I would put up another entry. I just finished the readings for EDR514, iteresting. Well, enough about that. The sun is shining and I am looking forwards towards summer and all that it may bring. Drive-in movies, swimming, boating, and anything else one can imagine.

Cheers

Week of 2/2/09

Well, giddi up. Here I am maintaining my blog. Not sure what to write about. I will have to check with Dr. Kim on this one. Is it supposed to be a personal journal? I guess I'll find out eventually.

Well, cheer!

My first blog! Hi.