Riedel's article was based on a speech given by Howie DiBlasi speaking at FETC 2009 in Orlando, FL. DiBlasi is a retired district CIO and he shared his thoughts about the need for educators to infuse 21st century skills into their curriculum in order to motivate and inspire their students. He shared numerous statistics the most astonishing being that according to a study that ranked 55 industry sectors by their level of IT intensiveness, education ranked 55 ... below coal mining.
When presenting his list of the top 16 things educators need to do in order to prepare their students to be effective leaders of the future, DiBlasi used a range of new/current technologies. His list included: Hug a Geek- ask for help, Create a Social Network- web based platform, Develop Problem-Solving Skills- brainteasers/puzzles daily, Start Collaborating- interacting with curriculum and other students, Use Project-Based Learning- real world scenarios, Develop Information Processing Skills- how to assess the validity of the info, Give Kids a Global Voice- use a platform to collaborate with other students around the world, Discover RSS, Improve Critical Thinking Skills, Teach Our Kids to be Self-Directed- invested in the final product, Create, Collaborate, Communicate- create a school blog, Discover Social Bookmarking, Use Interactive Video Conferencing- IVC and virtual field trips, Integrate Web 2.0 Tools into Every Aspect of Curriculum, Promote 1:1 Computing, Staff Development is Fundamental
Question #1: What is an example of a social network? Ning; you can create a social network about your classroom/school/district and/or /join an existing network that incorporates education. I checked out Ning and there was a great social network called Babble for parents.
Question #2: What can I do to improve critical thinking skills? DiBlasi recommended FantasticContraption.com. where students can participate in online physics projects. I checked out the tutorial and it was pretty cool. My students might even be able to do it.
Riedel, Chris (2009, January). Create, Collaborate, Communicate: Empowering Students With 21st Century Skills. T-H-E JOurnal, Retrieved 02/23/2009, from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23872_1
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Journal 3: Keep Them Chatting
This article discussed the growing trend of collaborative online classes for K-12 students. While I have a hard time imagining kindergarten students participating in an online discussion, I think that online discussion boards and collaborative classrooms are a reality in the high school and middle school settings. The article detailed strategies about how to keep the discussions flowing and student interest high in the topics and assignments posted, in order to have maximum student learning and student gains.
The first step that one needs to take to create meaningful discussions online is to outline instructional objectives and outcomes for learners’. Next, one needs to force and pose questions that force the learners to interact and learn course content by doing research and using collaboration. These are the five strategies that were discussed in the article: high level open-ended questions; the inquiry method; the discrepant event inquiry method; personal examples; and using illogical comparisons.
Question #1: What are wikis? I know we are supposed to answer our own questions, but I don’t know what wikis are. I know what Wiki Sticks are. I use them in my classroom with students who have fine motor difficulties. I outline lines and have the students write between them, and I have students make shapes with the Wiki Sticks.
Question #2: What would a discussion board using illogical comparisons look like? The teacher would post a question comparing the life of Richard Henry Dana to ELMO. How are they similar? How are they different? Rewrite Two Years Before the Mast using ELMO as the main character and have it be set in modern times. What would happen?
Cole, Jennie (February 2009). Keep Them Chatting. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36, Retrieved 02/12/09, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902/
The first step that one needs to take to create meaningful discussions online is to outline instructional objectives and outcomes for learners’. Next, one needs to force and pose questions that force the learners to interact and learn course content by doing research and using collaboration. These are the five strategies that were discussed in the article: high level open-ended questions; the inquiry method; the discrepant event inquiry method; personal examples; and using illogical comparisons.
Question #1: What are wikis? I know we are supposed to answer our own questions, but I don’t know what wikis are. I know what Wiki Sticks are. I use them in my classroom with students who have fine motor difficulties. I outline lines and have the students write between them, and I have students make shapes with the Wiki Sticks.
Question #2: What would a discussion board using illogical comparisons look like? The teacher would post a question comparing the life of Richard Henry Dana to ELMO. How are they similar? How are they different? Rewrite Two Years Before the Mast using ELMO as the main character and have it be set in modern times. What would happen?
Cole, Jennie (February 2009). Keep Them Chatting. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36, Retrieved 02/12/09, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902/
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Journal 2: Museums in the Classroom
What a great teaching tool and a way for schools to save money on field trips. In this economy, teachers are going to need to get creative in bringing hands on experiences and extending learning enrichment activities to their students. Don’t get me wrong, I love field trips. It is such a great opportunity for kids to have real life experiences and connect to what they learned in the classroom. With field trips, learning comes alive and is internalized. My students remember all the field trips we have taken together over the last three years.
Resource Central-Museum Resources http://www.resourcehelp.com/qsermuseum.htm is a comprehensive search engine that offers links to hundreds of museums around the US and the world. I checked out the Exploratorium: The museum of science, art, and human perception. It was a great (online) museum. They had several tabs linking to live video about various topics (i.e. Global Climate Change, Science of Music, Hubble, etc.). What was really cool and a great resource for home fun activities was the link to After School Activities. There are 8 activities on the side of the screen with a short video about each activity. The activity then has 3 separate pages; Intro, Step by Step Demonstration and What’s Going On. I showed this link to my 6 year old nephew and he loves it! He wanted me to run out and get all the materials needed to make the Jitterbug.
No matter what grade you teach, there is a museum with an exhibit that will enrich your unit/lesson.
Question #1: I can’t display the links to the museums? You need to deactivate your pop up blocker.
Question #2: Are the museums featured on this site only in the US? No, there are links to museums around the world; you can search by country. Check out the link to the Vatican Museums. You can view the online collection, zoom in for details on the artwork, paintings, and frescoes, and take a virtual tour of the museum. Having been to the Vatican Museums while in Rome, I wanted to see if this idea of an online museum experience lived up to the real thing. While nothing compares to viewing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in person (seeing it, the smells of the art), showing your students who probably will never see it live it is a good option.
Reissman, Rose (2009). Museums in the Classroom. Learning and Leading in Technology, 38, Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902/
Resource Central-Museum Resources http://www.resourcehelp.com/qsermuseum.htm is a comprehensive search engine that offers links to hundreds of museums around the US and the world. I checked out the Exploratorium: The museum of science, art, and human perception. It was a great (online) museum. They had several tabs linking to live video about various topics (i.e. Global Climate Change, Science of Music, Hubble, etc.). What was really cool and a great resource for home fun activities was the link to After School Activities. There are 8 activities on the side of the screen with a short video about each activity. The activity then has 3 separate pages; Intro, Step by Step Demonstration and What’s Going On. I showed this link to my 6 year old nephew and he loves it! He wanted me to run out and get all the materials needed to make the Jitterbug.
No matter what grade you teach, there is a museum with an exhibit that will enrich your unit/lesson.
Question #1: I can’t display the links to the museums? You need to deactivate your pop up blocker.
Question #2: Are the museums featured on this site only in the US? No, there are links to museums around the world; you can search by country. Check out the link to the Vatican Museums. You can view the online collection, zoom in for details on the artwork, paintings, and frescoes, and take a virtual tour of the museum. Having been to the Vatican Museums while in Rome, I wanted to see if this idea of an online museum experience lived up to the real thing. While nothing compares to viewing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in person (seeing it, the smells of the art), showing your students who probably will never see it live it is a good option.
Reissman, Rose (2009). Museums in the Classroom. Learning and Leading in Technology, 38, Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902/
Journal 1: Passport to Digital Citizenship
Ribbel, Mike (December 2008-January 2009). Passport to Digital Citizenship. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36, Retrieved February 7, 2009, from www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/EducatorResources/YourLearningJourney/DigitalCitizenship/36414r.pdf
This article discussed the importance of teaching our students how to be responsible digital citizens. It reviewed the refreshed NETS standard focusing on social, ethical, legal, and human issues to digital citizenship. What is digital citizenship? Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. There are 9 elements of Digital Citizenship: Digital Access, Digital Commerce, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Etiquette, Digital Law, Digital Rights ands Responsibilities, Digital Health and Wellness, and Digital Security. It is our job as teachers to facilitate this learning of digital citizenship not only in the classroom, but to assist our students in becoming responsible digital citizens at home and in society.
In order to address these nine elements, we need a process of implementation that we can use daily with our students. The four stage cycle of technology integration was created to help users internalize the use of technology. It is a cycle that is continuous because in education we are constantly learning. The first stage is Awareness-engaging students to become technologically literate, understanding what is appropriate and in-appropriate technology behavior; stage two Guided Practice-provide students with an opportunity to practice appropriate behavior under their teacher’s guidance, students should not be afraid to explore; stage three Modeling and Demonstration-teachers need to model appropriate technology behavior for school, home and society, students need to see teachers acting appropriately; stage four Feedback and Analysis-students and teachers discuss their use of technology and offer constructive criticism.
This article was very true. We are moving into a digital era where most people feel naked if they forget their blackberry or iphone for a day. Being that my husband can work from home has been both a blessing and a curse, well annoying at the least. On one hand, when I gave birth to our daughter 6 weeks early and I was in the hospital for over a week, it was nice that he was so digitally connected. He could work from my hospital bed, literally, and be home with me and our daughter during the weeks that followed. On the other hand, when we are having a family day or a relaxing weekend, it is really annoying when he is constantly receiving emails from work and calls from clients. Technology can be a catch-22.
Question #1: Should students and teachers be the only ones exposed to digital citizenship? No, parents and community members should all have access to resources about digital citizenship. There needs to be a home school connection with technology. To often there is a disconnect between what is happening in schools vs. what can be done at home.
Question #2: How can we talk about digital citizenship to the parents? There needs to be a common language in order to discuss digital citizenship. There needs to be clear expectations drawn out for both parents and students stating what students are to learn, know and follow.
This article discussed the importance of teaching our students how to be responsible digital citizens. It reviewed the refreshed NETS standard focusing on social, ethical, legal, and human issues to digital citizenship. What is digital citizenship? Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. There are 9 elements of Digital Citizenship: Digital Access, Digital Commerce, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Etiquette, Digital Law, Digital Rights ands Responsibilities, Digital Health and Wellness, and Digital Security. It is our job as teachers to facilitate this learning of digital citizenship not only in the classroom, but to assist our students in becoming responsible digital citizens at home and in society.
In order to address these nine elements, we need a process of implementation that we can use daily with our students. The four stage cycle of technology integration was created to help users internalize the use of technology. It is a cycle that is continuous because in education we are constantly learning. The first stage is Awareness-engaging students to become technologically literate, understanding what is appropriate and in-appropriate technology behavior; stage two Guided Practice-provide students with an opportunity to practice appropriate behavior under their teacher’s guidance, students should not be afraid to explore; stage three Modeling and Demonstration-teachers need to model appropriate technology behavior for school, home and society, students need to see teachers acting appropriately; stage four Feedback and Analysis-students and teachers discuss their use of technology and offer constructive criticism.
This article was very true. We are moving into a digital era where most people feel naked if they forget their blackberry or iphone for a day. Being that my husband can work from home has been both a blessing and a curse, well annoying at the least. On one hand, when I gave birth to our daughter 6 weeks early and I was in the hospital for over a week, it was nice that he was so digitally connected. He could work from my hospital bed, literally, and be home with me and our daughter during the weeks that followed. On the other hand, when we are having a family day or a relaxing weekend, it is really annoying when he is constantly receiving emails from work and calls from clients. Technology can be a catch-22.
Question #1: Should students and teachers be the only ones exposed to digital citizenship? No, parents and community members should all have access to resources about digital citizenship. There needs to be a home school connection with technology. To often there is a disconnect between what is happening in schools vs. what can be done at home.
Question #2: How can we talk about digital citizenship to the parents? There needs to be a common language in order to discuss digital citizenship. There needs to be clear expectations drawn out for both parents and students stating what students are to learn, know and follow.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Intro Letter About Me...Eryn Connors
Hi, my name is Eryn Connors. I enjoy doing yoga, walking my dog in the harbor or on the beach at North Beach, snorkeling/scuba diving and travelling. My husband and I have been married for 3 ½ years and my baby girl just turned 1. I can’t believe she is 1 already; the time really flies! I was born and raised in Orange County. I grew up in Dana Point and now live in San Juan Capistrano. I am a product of the Capistrano Unified School District; I went to Del Obispo Elementary, Marco Foster Middle School and graduated from Dana Hills High School where I received a soccer scholarship to Cal Poly SLO (Go Mustangs)! I graduated from Cal Poly with my BA in Speech Communication. After taking some time off to travel (I went to Europe and did the whole back-packing/Eurorail thing for 2 months) I decided to become a teacher. I took an aide position in a Structured Autism class and loved it! I enrolled in the CSUSM intern/concurrent program and have been teaching for 7 years in Capistrano Unified. I teach SDC 1-3. I have great kids who teach me something new everyday, and I feel very fortunate to have a supportive principal and wonderful colleagues who welcome me and my kids with open arms into their classrooms.
I feel pretty comfortable with technology, as long as I have someone walking me through new applications and/or programs. I’m not a totally techie, but I do use technology on a daily basis. For instance, at school, we have ABI attendance (online attendance), I use GENESEA for IEPs (online IEPS), I have work and home email accounts where I like to send pictures of my daughter to friends/family, and I know how to download songs from itunes to my iphone and ipod (maybe some would say I'm technologically challenged if this is all I can do. You be the judge). I’ve done Power Point presentations, as well as made a slide show on iphoto for Open House. I have not graduated to making an imovie, yet. I own and use both Macs and PC. At school, I primarily use a Mac, but when doing IEPs GENESEA runs better on a PC. I use the old Microsoft Office, 2003.
Preparing thoughtful educators and advancing professional practices is an important piece of the CSUSM Mission Statement. Having been a special educator for several years now and I see the importance of these words. I am the youngest teacher on my staff. I work with very experienced and amazing teachers, but it is difficult (at times) to get my students in the mainstream, into the general education classrooms. CSUSM teaches, as a best practice, the importance of inclusive education at all levels. Special Education is growing and changing and all teachers need to know how to reach all learners.
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