What was the most valuable aspect to you of creating a Personal Learning Environment?
The most valuable aspect to me about creating a PLE was first and foremost, learning how to do it (set it up) and then actively use it. Until this class I was oblivious to the world of blogging and PLE’s. Now I feel competent that I could do this all over again, and most importantly, do it in my classroom!
What did you like least about the Personal Learning Environment?
This is probably a silly thing, but I was always forgetting what password I had for which website, etc. So I sometimes had trouble logging in, but that was my own fault, not my PLE’s. I wish I had known how to navigate the PLE a little better, but I think because of the time constraints we had in the class that we learned enough to be semi-successful in using all that PLE’s offer.
Comment on the likelihood of your using a blog or wiki for personal or educational purposes in the future.
I will most definitely use a blog (and maybe experiment with a wiki) in the future. In fact, I have already started another one to document my semester abroad in New Zealand during Winter 2009. I think it would be a wonderful asset to a classroom to have blog. You could help parents stay informed, post pictures of the class (with parental consent of course), and help children learn to use the technology.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Internet Safety Sites
Online I watched videos at
http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm
http://ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
What were the most important things you learned?
I need to teach children about this subject in a way that relates to them and their life experiences thus far.
There are lots of things available for me to use as a teacher on the internet to teach my class about internet safety, far more than I was aware.
The internet is becoming more and more popular, whether some people like it or not. Facebook, myspace, bebo, the list goes on. It also seems that because children are so used to the constant interaction of the media, teachers are having to change their style of teaching in order to accommodate to this.
Child predators are a real thing! Some might think this is too “serious” of a subject to bring up with young children, but it a definite issue that must be dealt with and faced, it’s just a sad reality.
How might you use the resources you discovered in your future classroom or home?
There are websites which offer definitions of internet associated words which some children might not be familiar with (I even learned a few new things!) and you can teach them about what these things really mean so when someone says something about them, they will be aware of what they’re talking about.
There are safety presentations you can request through nets smartz for your classroom or school to show your class and teach them about internet safety.
Teach students not to share their passwords (ONLY with parents), not to trust ANYONE they meet online. Even if they think it’s a friend, it could be someone else talking to them.
I also cannot afford to be naive as a teacher. I think one of the most important things I discovered about these resources is that I as a teacher need to be continually informed about what is happening regarding technology and the children I teach. If I don’t know what children their age are doing, how can I help prevent against it? I need to be informed about how to help children stay protected and enjoy the internet for the good things it offers and know how to protect them from the bad.
http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm
http://ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
What were the most important things you learned?
I need to teach children about this subject in a way that relates to them and their life experiences thus far.
There are lots of things available for me to use as a teacher on the internet to teach my class about internet safety, far more than I was aware.
The internet is becoming more and more popular, whether some people like it or not. Facebook, myspace, bebo, the list goes on. It also seems that because children are so used to the constant interaction of the media, teachers are having to change their style of teaching in order to accommodate to this.
Child predators are a real thing! Some might think this is too “serious” of a subject to bring up with young children, but it a definite issue that must be dealt with and faced, it’s just a sad reality.
How might you use the resources you discovered in your future classroom or home?
There are websites which offer definitions of internet associated words which some children might not be familiar with (I even learned a few new things!) and you can teach them about what these things really mean so when someone says something about them, they will be aware of what they’re talking about.
There are safety presentations you can request through nets smartz for your classroom or school to show your class and teach them about internet safety.
Teach students not to share their passwords (ONLY with parents), not to trust ANYONE they meet online. Even if they think it’s a friend, it could be someone else talking to them.
I also cannot afford to be naive as a teacher. I think one of the most important things I discovered about these resources is that I as a teacher need to be continually informed about what is happening regarding technology and the children I teach. If I don’t know what children their age are doing, how can I help prevent against it? I need to be informed about how to help children stay protected and enjoy the internet for the good things it offers and know how to protect them from the bad.
Intermet Safety and Awareness
The following are things I learned today while watching a video about the internet and some of its dangers:
Nearly 50 million children in the U.S. alone have access to the internet. They like chatting, shopping, “surfing” the net, looking for clothes, playing games, etc. They don’t know life without it. Over half of children like being alone when they surf on the internet, and feel safer and freer online because they think no one know who they.
Pornography websites top over 260 million. And there are sites to bet and gamble, and find out how to construct things like bombs. 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography online. Some of this is accidental, they don’t mean to stumble upon it, but it happens.
Domain names are purchased to intentionally deceive children and lead them to their websites. This is called “typo squatting”. People will purchase domain names similar to things popular among kids, like the name of a Disney character, in the hopes children will misspell things and go to their sites.
Kids are more often to look at a pop up and click on it, and be lured into what its offering or selling.
Today internet hate sites are showing up even faster than pornography websites. Children can be lured to them by searching for something for a school report, like Martin Luther Kind, Jr. thinking the things they say on these hate websites are historically accurate when in truth they are not.
46% of 3rd and 4th graders email!!!!
Cyber bullying is also becoming more and more common. Its being called the new “bathroom wall”. This bullying is done by posting hurtful comments, pictures, rumors, or even threatening someone. Sometimes this bullying is even done through text messages. This bullying can lead to depression and can lead to suicide.
Predators look for children who feel they are not listened to, and are more technologically savvy than their friends.
This is what I learned from an article titled “Leave it Alone” by Elder H. Burke Peterson. This article can be found at http://www.lds.org/
• What were the most important things you learned from the readings?
We think we are immune to violence and immorality in the media. This is not true and because we often fall into this belief, we do not recognize when we become trapped by its hurtful influence. No one can be exposed to the filth that is offered in so much of today’s media, without it affecting them. And this effect is not only spiritual; it’s emotional and physical as well. You will not be able to focus on things because the evil that we see can consume us and our thoughts. We need to rid ourselves, our lives, our homes and families of any destructive material. Throw it away! Don’t turn it on. Leave it alone.
• How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?
I think I will be more prone to discourage things that I do not feel good about watching or listening to. Usually I would just shrug something off by saying I didn’t really care for it, but I think I need to be bolder in stating how I really feel and not let those in my circle of influence have any doubt about where I stand.
• How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?
I will encourage those around me to surround themselves with positive things which encourage good thoughts and only the highest regard for God’s sacred creations. Satan wants nothing more than to have us consume our lives with filth instead of wholesome things and I need to support my friends and family in doing good things so they in turn will help me do the same.
Elder Burke also gave three suggestions: daily prayer, reading the scriptures daily, and confessing and repenting. We should not go a day without doing this to add to the protection we receive against evil and should not be afraid to confess and repent of something we have done wrong, or have become addicted to, even if that means going to your bishop.
The best thing to do in order to not have negative impacts from the media is to avoid anything which is contrary to the will of God and teachings and things you believe in and stand for.
Nearly 50 million children in the U.S. alone have access to the internet. They like chatting, shopping, “surfing” the net, looking for clothes, playing games, etc. They don’t know life without it. Over half of children like being alone when they surf on the internet, and feel safer and freer online because they think no one know who they.
Pornography websites top over 260 million. And there are sites to bet and gamble, and find out how to construct things like bombs. 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography online. Some of this is accidental, they don’t mean to stumble upon it, but it happens.
Domain names are purchased to intentionally deceive children and lead them to their websites. This is called “typo squatting”. People will purchase domain names similar to things popular among kids, like the name of a Disney character, in the hopes children will misspell things and go to their sites.
Kids are more often to look at a pop up and click on it, and be lured into what its offering or selling.
Today internet hate sites are showing up even faster than pornography websites. Children can be lured to them by searching for something for a school report, like Martin Luther Kind, Jr. thinking the things they say on these hate websites are historically accurate when in truth they are not.
46% of 3rd and 4th graders email!!!!
Cyber bullying is also becoming more and more common. Its being called the new “bathroom wall”. This bullying is done by posting hurtful comments, pictures, rumors, or even threatening someone. Sometimes this bullying is even done through text messages. This bullying can lead to depression and can lead to suicide.
Predators look for children who feel they are not listened to, and are more technologically savvy than their friends.
This is what I learned from an article titled “Leave it Alone” by Elder H. Burke Peterson. This article can be found at http://www.lds.org/
• What were the most important things you learned from the readings?
We think we are immune to violence and immorality in the media. This is not true and because we often fall into this belief, we do not recognize when we become trapped by its hurtful influence. No one can be exposed to the filth that is offered in so much of today’s media, without it affecting them. And this effect is not only spiritual; it’s emotional and physical as well. You will not be able to focus on things because the evil that we see can consume us and our thoughts. We need to rid ourselves, our lives, our homes and families of any destructive material. Throw it away! Don’t turn it on. Leave it alone.
• How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?
I think I will be more prone to discourage things that I do not feel good about watching or listening to. Usually I would just shrug something off by saying I didn’t really care for it, but I think I need to be bolder in stating how I really feel and not let those in my circle of influence have any doubt about where I stand.
• How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?
I will encourage those around me to surround themselves with positive things which encourage good thoughts and only the highest regard for God’s sacred creations. Satan wants nothing more than to have us consume our lives with filth instead of wholesome things and I need to support my friends and family in doing good things so they in turn will help me do the same.
Elder Burke also gave three suggestions: daily prayer, reading the scriptures daily, and confessing and repenting. We should not go a day without doing this to add to the protection we receive against evil and should not be afraid to confess and repent of something we have done wrong, or have become addicted to, even if that means going to your bishop.
The best thing to do in order to not have negative impacts from the media is to avoid anything which is contrary to the will of God and teachings and things you believe in and stand for.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Last week of the practicum
Unfortunately I did not see a lot of technology used in the classroom this week, at least not anymore than usual. The students in our class have computer time once per week, but there were not a lot of other elements really incorporated this week into our class.
I finished my “moon” lesson this week, and used the document viewer again for my Venn diagram. It really helped the students to see my partner teacher writing on a replica of their diagram to help them know what they should be doing.
We’ve been teaching a lot about the moon in our class this week, and I think it would really be beneficial to use stellarium in the class to show students the different patterns and phases of the moon. There are a lot of great programs out there to supplement curriculum in the classroom, I think some teachers are just a little hesitant to embrace technology for fear of using it and not knowing how.
I finished my “moon” lesson this week, and used the document viewer again for my Venn diagram. It really helped the students to see my partner teacher writing on a replica of their diagram to help them know what they should be doing.
We’ve been teaching a lot about the moon in our class this week, and I think it would really be beneficial to use stellarium in the class to show students the different patterns and phases of the moon. There are a lot of great programs out there to supplement curriculum in the classroom, I think some teachers are just a little hesitant to embrace technology for fear of using it and not knowing how.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
I will survive!
The countdown to when I can get a good night’s rest again has begun. I am learning so much about management, assessment, and juggling different children and their needs, but it can all be a bit overwhelming.
This week in the classroom, I did not see a lot of “new” technology that I hadn’t seen before. Our teacher loves, loves, lover her projector, but she doesn’t incorporate a lot more than that.
For Veteran’s day I did a read aloud with a book called The Wall by Eve Bunting. I put the book on the document viewer while reading it. This really helped so all of the class was able to see the illustrations as I was reading the text. I also taught a science lesson this week comparing the differences and the similarities of the earth and the moon. Using kidspiration I made a venn diagram to use for this lesson. Kidspiration is a great program with lots of good formats you can use in your science or social studies lessons, or even for writing.
This week in the classroom, I did not see a lot of “new” technology that I hadn’t seen before. Our teacher loves, loves, lover her projector, but she doesn’t incorporate a lot more than that.
For Veteran’s day I did a read aloud with a book called The Wall by Eve Bunting. I put the book on the document viewer while reading it. This really helped so all of the class was able to see the illustrations as I was reading the text. I also taught a science lesson this week comparing the differences and the similarities of the earth and the moon. Using kidspiration I made a venn diagram to use for this lesson. Kidspiration is a great program with lots of good formats you can use in your science or social studies lessons, or even for writing.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Second week of Practicum
What a whirlwind this whole experience in the schools is. Whew! Throughout this week I've kept my eyes open for different ways our teacher uses technology. The fact that she has a projector and document viewer in her room definitely helps. Technology definitely plays a part in our classroom. She uses those two things for almost everything. It helps out so much. Like this week she was showing them how to draw a turkey for a little Thanksgiving activity and she was able to just put it up there on the document viewer to show the kids instead of trying to use the chalkboard.The document viewer is great for modeling things to students, you can also use it when teaching cursive. Miss Utah came to our school this week and presented a presentation on internet safety. She used a projector and a power point type presentation. There was a little bit of technical difficulty, but overall it turned out well. I've noticed some teacher shy away from using technology, why I'm not sure. Maybe they're afraid it will be too complicated? I don't know.
This week Marcie and I taught a music lesson where we taught about the treble clef and staff, etc. We used the document viewer to show how to draw the notes on the lines and spaces and to label them. It really helped out because all of the kids were able to see on the projector screen instead of trying to see through us while using the chalkboard. So far my assessment on technology in the classroom is two thumbs up!
This week Marcie and I taught a music lesson where we taught about the treble clef and staff, etc. We used the document viewer to show how to draw the notes on the lines and spaces and to label them. It really helped out because all of the kids were able to see on the projector screen instead of trying to see through us while using the chalkboard. So far my assessment on technology in the classroom is two thumbs up!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Ideas for using technology in the classroom
First week in the practicum....ahhh! Ok, not, it has been great, and I was shocked that our teacher has a document viewer in her classroom (and a projector) but she had to pay for a lot of these things out of pocket as well. But the classroom is definitely not in the "dark ages". I'm looking forward to working in this class, and I've already seen the teacher put technology to use with things like teaching cursive writing on the document viewer, etc.
Here are some ideas we discussed in IP&T class this week for teaching with technology:
Shared writing
Teacher and student share ideas, collaborate and negotiate writing, the teacher writes. Depending on the purpose this is a small or whole class depending on the lesson.
Ideas for using technology: Document viewer, projector, Microsoft word, smart board (to write what they tell you to), search the internet for details about topic or shared writing idea, watch a video clip as a class, have them write about it.
Shared reading
Text needs to be shared (be able to see the words), teacher reads first, students follow along.
Ideas for using technology: Elmo, digital storytelling could introduce the book and you can replay it again and again, PowerPoint’s, promethium board,
Reading Aloud
Book that is on a higher level than kids would read on their own, teaches fluency and motivates them to enjoy literature and aid in comprehension.
Ideas for using technology: Google earth tour of where the author is from, websites that talk about books, storyboard for the author or concept you’re teaching, digital recording of them reading (let students guess which emotions are being evoked)
Interactive Writing
Student and teacher write together.
Ideas for using technology: Smart board
Guided reading
Everyone has a copy of text, do a picture walk, make predictions, mumble read
Ideas for using technology: Power point with highlighted phonemes etc. or what the focus for that day is,
Reader’s workshop
To increase fluency and prosily, increase understanding of a text, improves self-efficacy in reading.
Make a video of their final performance, use video clip to shows examples of actors performing, or displaying different emotions.
Writer’s workshop
Use a blog for journal entries by different students.
Here are some ideas we discussed in IP&T class this week for teaching with technology:
Shared writing
Teacher and student share ideas, collaborate and negotiate writing, the teacher writes. Depending on the purpose this is a small or whole class depending on the lesson.
Ideas for using technology: Document viewer, projector, Microsoft word, smart board (to write what they tell you to), search the internet for details about topic or shared writing idea, watch a video clip as a class, have them write about it.
Shared reading
Text needs to be shared (be able to see the words), teacher reads first, students follow along.
Ideas for using technology: Elmo, digital storytelling could introduce the book and you can replay it again and again, PowerPoint’s, promethium board,
Reading Aloud
Book that is on a higher level than kids would read on their own, teaches fluency and motivates them to enjoy literature and aid in comprehension.
Ideas for using technology: Google earth tour of where the author is from, websites that talk about books, storyboard for the author or concept you’re teaching, digital recording of them reading (let students guess which emotions are being evoked)
Interactive Writing
Student and teacher write together.
Ideas for using technology: Smart board
Guided reading
Everyone has a copy of text, do a picture walk, make predictions, mumble read
Ideas for using technology: Power point with highlighted phonemes etc. or what the focus for that day is,
Reader’s workshop
To increase fluency and prosily, increase understanding of a text, improves self-efficacy in reading.
Make a video of their final performance, use video clip to shows examples of actors performing, or displaying different emotions.
Writer’s workshop
Use a blog for journal entries by different students.
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