cathyhblog

Revised Technology Autobiography

My original technology autobiography appears as a log of activity related to work and school. Most of the technology used in my career is old and outdated. After exposure to the technology in the Teaching with Technology course, I believe my outlook on using technology in the classroom is altered from where I started. I am, and always have been, a strong believer in using technology. It is necessary in our global society and its necessity is increasing daily. What has altered is my impression of the available tools and applications.

Web based applications were mostly foreign to me prior to this class. Of course, I used search engines and e-mail. Occasionally I even used video conferencing. While still incredibly useful these applications only scratch the surface of what our students can access. Using tools such as Movie Maker and Flickr give visual learners something to grab onto and excel. Tactile learners have the opportunity to produce work in media never open to them before. The Web Inquiry and WebQuest allow students to branch out on their own to reinforce learning or to have guided learning experiences that are of their own interest. These are all constructivist approaches to learning, one of the best for retention and for scaffolding higher learning principles.

Many of the applications we studied will become obsolete or out of date in a few years. What will not is the use of technology. I am better equipped to stay abreast of the tools available and learn new technology as it comes into use. Students deserve a teacher that continues to learn, and with the rate of change in technology, I cannot continue to rely on current software and programs. I must venture to stay in tune with the change as it becomes available.

Cathy H

Dear Administrator,

I am writing to introduce a new tool I think will be very valuable to our teachers and students. There are new advances in technology everyday with many useful applications. Webquest is one that will be useful to teachers and has high potential for engaging students in active learning projects. Webquests use an internet site, written paper instructions or multimedia software such as PowerPoint to deliver a student driven skill drills or even a full lesson plan.

There are skill drills and educational interactive sites on the web that allow students to practice core content in real life applications. This application of a webquest allows students to work independently and set the pace for their learning. One example located at http://questgarden.com/47/70/5/070308180610/index.htm has students using four types of estimation to help Shrek plan a party. Designed on a fourth grade level, the text is fun and intriguing and will peak students attention.

Lesson plans can be set as webquests, detailing creative tasks complete with goals, objectives, instructions, and assessment. This type of webquest is more challenging and designed to test student’s critical thinking skills. To view an example of a lesson plan quest, check out http://krist4.googlepages.com/birdsofanotherfeather. This has varied activities for different skill levels and all the information a student needs to complete the tasks.

Other advantages to Webquests are the ability for students to access them from any computer, the control teachers have on websites students use, and a presentation that intrigues students. There are many webquests published or they can be easily setup by teachers. This is something I would like to promote in my team and would appreciate your support. Please contact me with any concerns or questions you have.

Regards,

Cathy H

The segment on Social Bookmaking Services impressed me in CHapter 6. I like organization but easily find myself scattered, especially on the web. Many times I lose websites and can never locate them again. If I saved everything to my favorites the list would be to long to be useful. Furl seems to have a great setup for organizing what I have found and getting ideas from others. I think this would be a great tool for the classroom since studetns will have similar interests.

Podcastiong is relativly easy and can be useful in several ways in the classroom. Students can be included in making a classroom podcast for a school broadcast. Useually there are one or two studetns that come deliver the classroom information. Using a podcast can include more studetns with the advantage of editing and practice sessions. It can help build a sense of community in the classroom.

Podcasts can be useful in classroom projects by adding audible qualities to visual works giving them more meaning.

In middle or high school settings it can be very advantagous to teachers in updating projects or assignments studetns may have missed. It saves instructional time for the teacher. 

Podcastiong is relativly easy and can be useful in several ways in the classroom. Students can be included in making a classroom podcast for a school broadcast. Useually there are one or two studetns that come deliver the classroom information. Using a podcast can include more studetns with the advantage of editing and practice sessions. It can help build a sense of community in the classroom.

Podcasts can be useful in classroom projects by adding audible qualities to visual works giving them more meaning.

In middle or high school settings it can be very advantagous to teachers in updating projects or assignments studetns may have missed. It saves instructional time for the teacher. 

Chapter 4 

Wiki Easy Collaboration for All

The use of wiki's in a classroom opens lots of opportunities. I like the idea of students collaborating on a shared site they monitor and correct. I think this would work best in upper elementary classes and higher. I am not sure if 4^th and 5^th graders would be able to manage a wiki and the social interactions it takes but middle and high school students should like the challenge. I thought it was interesting that students tended to do best when the teacher stepped back and gave less direction. When people take ownership, they tend to take pride in what they are doing.

I love the opportunity wiki's provide in writing and editing. Being able to write, edit review, and rewrite in an easy format allows students to think through tough issues and develop deeper thoughts. Having other's input may open their minds to new avenues.

Adopt and Adapt Shaping Tech for the Classroom

I agree that teaching changes to slowly at times. The emphasis on basics and test scores takes most of the focus teachers and administrators. I don't think this is going to change, so we are going to have to show how technology will be a payoff in those areas. Easier research, lessons that are more interesting and projects, and interactive learning can help raise the test scores and show that the effort is worthwhile.

One of the best points in this article was the inclusion of students when considering what technology and its use in the classroom. Technology is intertwined throughout their lives. Where most adults are using "old" technology and playing catch-up, our students are searching for the next best thing.

Chapter 5&7

 Chapter 5 talked about the use of RSS. This was all new to me and I see it can be extremely helpful in research and information acquisition. This chapter gave many practical methods for using RSS in the classroom with and without blogs.  The step by step instructions are helpful to novice users like myself.

Chapter 7 Fun with Flickr

Flickr is great tool for classroom use. Not only can students see immediate results they can share and enhance written work. For visual learners it opens the door to many possibilities. Digital cameras are now easily accessible and the thought of pictorial field trips and presentations on just about any subject excites me. Students should have little problems taking this tool and running with it!

Chapter 2

My concentration is in elementary education and the second chapter brought some interesting points on blog usage in an elementary education. I have experience with BlackBoard for discussion groups and submitting works. A blog sight appears to be a better form for discussion than that setup on Bb. Most elementary schools do not have a budget to support programs similar to Bb or Live text. An e-portfolio on a blog page would be beneficial to a class.

Blogging as a means to develop thoughts and writing over time, helps students to review and analyze their thoughts. Scaffolding blogs can help them easily see where there original thoughts started and how they changed over time.

Chapter 3

 Starting new programs is always slow. With blogs there is so much to consider. Do all students have equal access is important. In Louisville , most students have access at some time of the day to computers in their schools. Libraries offer opportunities for students and parents to use computers for an hour at a time. These are options for those students without home computers but it is not really equal to students with one or more fast computers at home.

Student safety is an issue that requires a lot of consideration. I had not thought of unique names being a liability to a child until I saw it in this book. Addressing student safety issues and student responsibility are a challenge.

Some of the blog sites on page 58 was enlightening. Seeing how educators use these tools and their thoughts on students as contributors is great. This function is expanded in wiki’s.