Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Wonderful World of Technology
EDTEC 566 is coming to an end and in a week and a half a big weight will be lifted off my shoulders. During this class we have gone through software, modeling tools, hypermedia, and many many other things. It has been a crazy and eventful seven weeks, but when it is all said and done there is a lot I will be able to take away from this course.
One thing this course taught me was how many free tools are out there that I can utilize in my classes. The tool that I am most excited about is Jing. I found a good You Tube video that walks you through setting up Jing. I also found a good article ‘Screencasting in 7 minutes with Jing’ , which helps you set up and use Jing. Another teacher I work with used a program similar to this called hypercam, which costs $40 dollars for a license. He had the students create step-by-step guides for a CAD program called Pro E. Hypercam is no longer on the computers, so I would like to install Jing because it is free. With Jing we can continue to do the step-by-step guides and also use it for other projects.
I would like to use Jing for my action plan but the one concern I have is trying to get the software onto the computers. As a teacher I am not allowed to install any programs onto the computers. This morning I suggested to one of the Technology coaches in our building installing this program on just one computer so I could use it, but I quickly got a nope you can’t install anything. The technology coach said he was sorry and felt my pain and wished he could help me, but he was not allowed to install anything for me. How frustrating is that?
Teaching can be very frustrating, especially when you are a technology teacher, and you have as much access to the computers as the students. I am constantly standing in my room helpless waiting for a tech person to come fix the problem. Now, it is not their fault there is only two people to fix over 300 teachers computers but something needs to be done. If as teachers we want to push our classes to the next level we need to have support.
So as I finish my rant about no support and start to think about my final project I still don’t know if I will be able to use Jing in my project. Either way life goes on and I will do the best I can with what I have.
One thing this course taught me was how many free tools are out there that I can utilize in my classes. The tool that I am most excited about is Jing. I found a good You Tube video that walks you through setting up Jing. I also found a good article ‘Screencasting in 7 minutes with Jing’ , which helps you set up and use Jing. Another teacher I work with used a program similar to this called hypercam, which costs $40 dollars for a license. He had the students create step-by-step guides for a CAD program called Pro E. Hypercam is no longer on the computers, so I would like to install Jing because it is free. With Jing we can continue to do the step-by-step guides and also use it for other projects.
I would like to use Jing for my action plan but the one concern I have is trying to get the software onto the computers. As a teacher I am not allowed to install any programs onto the computers. This morning I suggested to one of the Technology coaches in our building installing this program on just one computer so I could use it, but I quickly got a nope you can’t install anything. The technology coach said he was sorry and felt my pain and wished he could help me, but he was not allowed to install anything for me. How frustrating is that?
Teaching can be very frustrating, especially when you are a technology teacher, and you have as much access to the computers as the students. I am constantly standing in my room helpless waiting for a tech person to come fix the problem. Now, it is not their fault there is only two people to fix over 300 teachers computers but something needs to be done. If as teachers we want to push our classes to the next level we need to have support.
So as I finish my rant about no support and start to think about my final project I still don’t know if I will be able to use Jing in my project. Either way life goes on and I will do the best I can with what I have.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Flip Camera
When the question was posed “ how can you use a flip camera in your classroom?” the first class that came to my mind was Power and Energy. I want to create an assignment in this class where students have to come up with, research, and explain their own safety rules for the class. These rules will deal with power tools, cleaning up a lab, and emergencies. For this assignment I want the students to create a Wiki where they can explain in-depth safety rules, and give examples of why it is important to follow these rules. Along with this I want my students to use the flip cameras to video tape proper procedures, what not to do, or any other useful material. I think this would really enhance the learning experience. At first I didn’t know if a Wikispace would support video, but after doing a quick Google search I found a site that gave instructions of how to put a video from YouTube to your Wikispace. I also found a how-to-Video on You tube that visually walks you through step by step. It seems if I want my students to put a video on their Wikispace I will need them to post their videos to YouTube first.
One concern I Have is my school blocks You Tube. So I’m not sure if I will be able to embed the video. I can talk to the technical staff and see if they can unblock it, but I have a feeling this will not be a quick easy process.
One concern I Have is my school blocks You Tube. So I’m not sure if I will be able to embed the video. I can talk to the technical staff and see if they can unblock it, but I have a feeling this will not be a quick easy process.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Learning online
Watching the video of the student trying to use his textbook as a web book was very amusing and powerful. I have had similar experiences when I use a regular text book. There have been times when I want to find a key word and my first reaction is to hit ctrl+f, to bring up a find dialog box. Once I realize I can’t search for key words like that I immediately think this would be so much easier if the text was online. Simple things like zooming in, double clicking to make pictures bigger, and searching for key words can create a much better learning environment.
I do agree that a web book can be a more powerful and thought provoking tool, but I also know there are times that it is much easier for me to read text then off a screen. I think there are advantages to both mediums but I think there are more for webbooks, especially with all the technology out there for search through text, High resolution images, Video, and hyperlinks.
What do your students need to know before going online?
Students need to know the boundaries. It is important that they understand that they are using the internet for educational purposes and not so they can play games. They need to know what they can and can’t go to on the internet.
Students need to also understand that just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it is true. They need to be able to distinguish between correct and incorrect information. They need to know what a legitimate website is that contains information they can trust and what a website that shouldn’t be trusted is.
How will you get your students to "dig deeper" for online content?
Students need to be pushed to dig deeper into a subject. As a teacher I need to ask questions in a way that forces them to look harder for information. I need to create critical thinking questions that force my students to dig deeper.
4. How do you teach them to search for information online? Visit here first.
This site talked about being specific and using Google advanced search to help. In Google advanced search there are four ways to search for information. You can search by finding results for all the words you typed in, you can search by finding exact phrases, you can search by finding any of the words you typed in and last you can search by excluding words. Once you teach them about advanced search you can teach them how to trim back a URL that they have found and see if there is more information on other pages around the one they are on. And last you can show them how to search for similar pages once they have found a page they like.
5. How do you teach them to evaluate the information they find online? Visit here first. Then, visit here.
You need to teach the students that there are different types of websites. There are opinion, commercial, news and informational. Students need to know the key characteristics of a legitimate website such as are there spelling and grammar errors, does the author support the
I do agree that a web book can be a more powerful and thought provoking tool, but I also know there are times that it is much easier for me to read text then off a screen. I think there are advantages to both mediums but I think there are more for webbooks, especially with all the technology out there for search through text, High resolution images, Video, and hyperlinks.
What do your students need to know before going online?
Students need to know the boundaries. It is important that they understand that they are using the internet for educational purposes and not so they can play games. They need to know what they can and can’t go to on the internet.
Students need to also understand that just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it is true. They need to be able to distinguish between correct and incorrect information. They need to know what a legitimate website is that contains information they can trust and what a website that shouldn’t be trusted is.
How will you get your students to "dig deeper" for online content?
Students need to be pushed to dig deeper into a subject. As a teacher I need to ask questions in a way that forces them to look harder for information. I need to create critical thinking questions that force my students to dig deeper.
4. How do you teach them to search for information online? Visit here first.
This site talked about being specific and using Google advanced search to help. In Google advanced search there are four ways to search for information. You can search by finding results for all the words you typed in, you can search by finding exact phrases, you can search by finding any of the words you typed in and last you can search by excluding words. Once you teach them about advanced search you can teach them how to trim back a URL that they have found and see if there is more information on other pages around the one they are on. And last you can show them how to search for similar pages once they have found a page they like.
5. How do you teach them to evaluate the information they find online? Visit here first. Then, visit here.
You need to teach the students that there are different types of websites. There are opinion, commercial, news and informational. Students need to know the key characteristics of a legitimate website such as are there spelling and grammar errors, does the author support the
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Concept Map Vs Podcasting: Which Will Win Out
I don't know what it is but I am having a hard time coming up with a final project. The first idea I had was a project for my video Apps class that utilized concept maps.In short this project would last all year long and my students would have to keep a concept map that they would continue to add all concepts, techniques, shot types, camera moves and other information they learn. My thinking with this project is that my students would hopefully gain a better understanding of Video and be able to transferr their knowledge to any situation no matter what software or hardware they had to use.
The problem with this is my students already think they do to much work that is unneccessary like concept proposals and storyboards. As the teacher I know these things are neccessary and it is important that they do them but when your numbers are dropping in an area that is disposable it is important that I make this course a disirable course. Mind tools are suppose to keep the students interested but I really am having a hard time seeing my students enjoying this project.
My second project is with my CAD Class. This project would utilize podcast. For this project my students are required to create a new product or improve an already existing project. My students then draw there new product in CAD and create a prototype. They also need to talk about what material, the history of the product, and justify the reasoning behind why they create there product. I want my students to present their products and all the information they researched in a podcast. This would allow my students to show their ideas in a very visual way. It would also allow them to post their podcasts so other people who were not in the class would be able to see their projects.
I like this project a little more then my first idea, but I am having trouble showing how exactly podcasting is helping my students learn better.
As I research podcasting on the internet I came upon a Blog from a PH.D student. She wrote about how she was using blogging and gave some good links to educatoinal resources. One of the resources was a Power Point on Learn Casting: Taking Educactional Podcasting to the Next Level..
I think with resources like these I am going to go with podcasting as my final project. If I continue to research podcasting I think I will be able to suport how podcasting is helping my students learn. Personally I think podcasting is a more interesting project for me then concept mapping and I think my students will enjoy putting it together.
The problem with this is my students already think they do to much work that is unneccessary like concept proposals and storyboards. As the teacher I know these things are neccessary and it is important that they do them but when your numbers are dropping in an area that is disposable it is important that I make this course a disirable course. Mind tools are suppose to keep the students interested but I really am having a hard time seeing my students enjoying this project.
My second project is with my CAD Class. This project would utilize podcast. For this project my students are required to create a new product or improve an already existing project. My students then draw there new product in CAD and create a prototype. They also need to talk about what material, the history of the product, and justify the reasoning behind why they create there product. I want my students to present their products and all the information they researched in a podcast. This would allow my students to show their ideas in a very visual way. It would also allow them to post their podcasts so other people who were not in the class would be able to see their projects.
I like this project a little more then my first idea, but I am having trouble showing how exactly podcasting is helping my students learn better.
As I research podcasting on the internet I came upon a Blog from a PH.D student. She wrote about how she was using blogging and gave some good links to educatoinal resources. One of the resources was a Power Point on Learn Casting: Taking Educactional Podcasting to the Next Level..
I think with resources like these I am going to go with podcasting as my final project. If I continue to research podcasting I think I will be able to suport how podcasting is helping my students learn. Personally I think podcasting is a more interesting project for me then concept mapping and I think my students will enjoy putting it together.
Friday, September 11, 2009
When did I become so outdated
As we finish the third class I will admit, these new technologies are taking me longer to pick up on then I thought they would. For some reason it took me a long time to see how I could use inspiration in my classes. I never thought I was out of date with technology. I'm a tech teacher, I teach technology. I should know this stuff. It is very humbling seeing how much technology is out there that I have not utilized in my classrooms.
Finally after thinking, and thinking, and thinking I started to come up with some ideas for incorporating new technology into my classroom. The more I thought about it the easier it got. I definitely have some misconceptions toward some of these new technologies that are keeping my classrooms from being the best they can be. My attitude toward blogging and twittering and face book has been negative. I saw them as the newest fad and didn't want to be associated with them. This class has started to open my eyes and let me see that I need to accept these new technologies, but not just accept them I need to use them in ways to engage my students. With this negative attitude it is a wonder I even have a TV in my house, but this class has really helped me open my eyes and let me see I am missing out not utilizing this new technologies.
Finally after thinking, and thinking, and thinking I started to come up with some ideas for incorporating new technology into my classroom. The more I thought about it the easier it got. I definitely have some misconceptions toward some of these new technologies that are keeping my classrooms from being the best they can be. My attitude toward blogging and twittering and face book has been negative. I saw them as the newest fad and didn't want to be associated with them. This class has started to open my eyes and let me see that I need to accept these new technologies, but not just accept them I need to use them in ways to engage my students. With this negative attitude it is a wonder I even have a TV in my house, but this class has really helped me open my eyes and let me see I am missing out not utilizing this new technologies.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Goals
As a teacher it is important that I create a more engaging environment for my students. During this class I would like to learn different ways to teach my students the same content that is usually taught in a traditional way. I want my students to become more interactive in my classes learning the content and not even know it. I don't want there to be dull moments in my class where I start to lose the students.
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