Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Assistive Technology:)
At first I thought assistive technology was just a technology that enhanced student’s learning in the classroom. I imagined it as students typing instead of writing so they could get the job done faster. They would be introduced to the world of computers earlier because they’re such a big part of our future as students and teachers. I thought it was a general thing and not something so complex. Assistive learning techniques are created to enhance learning for students but in a different way then I imagined. After learning about things in the Kalikow Center, I realized what a big impact these things can make on a student’s life. Universal Design is created to help students who may struggle. In one classroom there could be several students with learning disabilities and it would be hard for one teacher to give them attention. Using these tools, teachers can help the kids keeps up with their classmates without having to take too much time away from the rest of the class.
Section 508 is an act Congress passed so those with disabilities are not left behind. This goes for school and in the workplace. The section requires that a minimum amount of electronic technology is available to those with disabilities. Although only a minimum amount is required Section 508 is pushing to have schools and employers have more than just the minimum accessible.
Some tools in the Kalikow Center that caught my eye were the books on tape. Growing up, I have always loved to listen to a book on tape with traveling or at home and if the story is interesting, students will want to listen to it. Not only does it speed up the trips, it may also enhance the plot for the student because they wouldn’t be struggling with the text the whole time. At first I thought the computer was reading the words fast but I found out that you can slow down the reading or speed it up. The cds also come with worksheets so if the student is the only student in the class listening to it, the student doesn’t have to create a whole set of worksheet/activities for them.
I saw this cute set of crayons that were there. They were skin colored, but they weren’t only peach they were all skin colors. That would be a good set of crayons to have in your classroom so your kids could have them available from the beginning. All people have different skin colors so this way each child could have their choice. In Diversity, we were talking about how the ‘peach’ crayon used to be known as ‘skin colored’, when in reality there are many skin colors. I also thought the LOMAC was a really amazing piece of technology. You make have a child who is paralized, or who has bad motor skills and the LOMAC would be really convenient for them to communicate and be able to use a computer. A down side to the LOMAC is that it is probably pretty expensive. The Tango is a very useful tool but we learned in was $7000 and not a lot of classrooms are going to be able to afford that.
I found something similar to the Tango on http://www.assistivetech.com/p-wordpower.htm. It is called Word Power and it is a communication device. It is designed to help students communicate better and to learn to communicate through words and not the computer. There are over 10,000 words so the student would always be able to get something across. It looks like it would be pretty confusing at first but I think as soon as the student got the hang of it, they would have an easy time. That’s the bad thing about some of these technologies: they are complicated. They take some getting used to but children learn so quick. I think that it is important for students to all have equal opportunities. Particular students should not be held back because of a disability or because someone in their class has a disability.
Section 508 is an act Congress passed so those with disabilities are not left behind. This goes for school and in the workplace. The section requires that a minimum amount of electronic technology is available to those with disabilities. Although only a minimum amount is required Section 508 is pushing to have schools and employers have more than just the minimum accessible.
Some tools in the Kalikow Center that caught my eye were the books on tape. Growing up, I have always loved to listen to a book on tape with traveling or at home and if the story is interesting, students will want to listen to it. Not only does it speed up the trips, it may also enhance the plot for the student because they wouldn’t be struggling with the text the whole time. At first I thought the computer was reading the words fast but I found out that you can slow down the reading or speed it up. The cds also come with worksheets so if the student is the only student in the class listening to it, the student doesn’t have to create a whole set of worksheet/activities for them.
I saw this cute set of crayons that were there. They were skin colored, but they weren’t only peach they were all skin colors. That would be a good set of crayons to have in your classroom so your kids could have them available from the beginning. All people have different skin colors so this way each child could have their choice. In Diversity, we were talking about how the ‘peach’ crayon used to be known as ‘skin colored’, when in reality there are many skin colors. I also thought the LOMAC was a really amazing piece of technology. You make have a child who is paralized, or who has bad motor skills and the LOMAC would be really convenient for them to communicate and be able to use a computer. A down side to the LOMAC is that it is probably pretty expensive. The Tango is a very useful tool but we learned in was $7000 and not a lot of classrooms are going to be able to afford that.
I found something similar to the Tango on http://www.assistivetech.com/p-wordpower.htm. It is called Word Power and it is a communication device. It is designed to help students communicate better and to learn to communicate through words and not the computer. There are over 10,000 words so the student would always be able to get something across. It looks like it would be pretty confusing at first but I think as soon as the student got the hang of it, they would have an easy time. That’s the bad thing about some of these technologies: they are complicated. They take some getting used to but children learn so quick. I think that it is important for students to all have equal opportunities. Particular students should not be held back because of a disability or because someone in their class has a disability.
Science Unit
1. Students can easily study how plants grow in the fourth grade. I think students should grow their own plants, recording each day the progress of it and what variable they can try to be more successful. Things like placement and how much you water the plant each day can come into play. Each student could place their plant in a different area in the classroom and predict the success of their plant. The kids could take pictures of the plants every day or every couple of days then create a Frames project. One frame in the beginning could be their prediction and the end slide could be the results they found. I remember when I was in fourth grade we did something along these lines but we didn't apply it to any technology. I think we just recorded results.
2. Students in the fourth grade could study the heart and how it works. They could create a wiki book with different picture they drew and found on the internet. In the book they can also explain how the heart flows and give some facts about the heart and abnormalities. When I took anatomy this year we went over the blood flow through the heart. If I simplify it a litte it will be easy for fourth graders to understand. This one is the most interesting to me and it's important too!
3. If you gave fifth graders a battery, two wires, and light bulb they could figure out how the make the light bulb light up. They could then study Thomas Edison and make a video acting as him. As the teacher, I could come up with a list of inventors and the students could pick one and research it. They could each make their own video where they act as the inventor and give a good story line on how he/she came up with the idea. They should show all the materials they need to use and introduce themselves and explain how the experiment works. They would use iMovie and come up with music. I can remember my sister doing a similar project on the inventor of the rocket and his first one was named Nelly. It was pretty silly but still interesting!This is the one I would be most interested in.
4. In a second grade class it would be interesting to study Recycling. We could study the process as a class and have a paper box and a bottle box so the kids can get active. Then take a field trip to a recycling plant and take pictures of kids infront of the different machines. In a Podcast, the kids can record themselves explaining the machine and how it works. They can add the pictures of themselves and find pictures in other places. They can also draw pictures and scan them onto the computer. Classrooms all over have paper bins and the kids know to put their scrap paper in them but they may not know why. I'm sure they would be interested in seeing the process and why it's important for them to recycle.
5. In a first grade class you could have the students study the seasons. Each student could draw a picture of something from the season the Pixie. They then could pick their favorite season and write/type an experience they had during that time and why it is their favorite. This will give the students a chance to draw on the computers as well as practice their typing skills.
2. Students in the fourth grade could study the heart and how it works. They could create a wiki book with different picture they drew and found on the internet. In the book they can also explain how the heart flows and give some facts about the heart and abnormalities. When I took anatomy this year we went over the blood flow through the heart. If I simplify it a litte it will be easy for fourth graders to understand. This one is the most interesting to me and it's important too!
3. If you gave fifth graders a battery, two wires, and light bulb they could figure out how the make the light bulb light up. They could then study Thomas Edison and make a video acting as him. As the teacher, I could come up with a list of inventors and the students could pick one and research it. They could each make their own video where they act as the inventor and give a good story line on how he/she came up with the idea. They should show all the materials they need to use and introduce themselves and explain how the experiment works. They would use iMovie and come up with music. I can remember my sister doing a similar project on the inventor of the rocket and his first one was named Nelly. It was pretty silly but still interesting!This is the one I would be most interested in.
4. In a second grade class it would be interesting to study Recycling. We could study the process as a class and have a paper box and a bottle box so the kids can get active. Then take a field trip to a recycling plant and take pictures of kids infront of the different machines. In a Podcast, the kids can record themselves explaining the machine and how it works. They can add the pictures of themselves and find pictures in other places. They can also draw pictures and scan them onto the computer. Classrooms all over have paper bins and the kids know to put their scrap paper in them but they may not know why. I'm sure they would be interested in seeing the process and why it's important for them to recycle.
5. In a first grade class you could have the students study the seasons. Each student could draw a picture of something from the season the Pixie. They then could pick their favorite season and write/type an experience they had during that time and why it is their favorite. This will give the students a chance to draw on the computers as well as practice their typing skills.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Pod Casts in the Classroom!
www.intelligenic.com/blog/
Dan Schmit's Podcast
KidCast #48 A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Dan Schmit
Summary: This Pod Cast was about kids looking for a meaning in photographs. They should be able to pull a story from the image and connect the abstract meaning with visual representation. Using their imagination and creativity coming up with a narrative to go along with the photograph should be fun! The teacher should pull together some photographs for groups or individual students and see if they can describe the picture in a word or a sentence. Then the students should come up with 20 questions about the photo. This way the teacher can learn what the students know about it, and what they want to know. The students describe the photograph which leads to a narrative. They can focus in on one element of the photo and describe it so the audience listening to the pod cast gets a better visual.
Is setting a page requirement necessary for students? Older students who have had more practice writing and editing may be able to get away with writing a short paper that fills the requirements, but teachers have found that if younger student’s work is often under developed. They want the students to cover every angle of their research and they don’t want thin evidence.
KidCast #3 Radio vs. Podcasting
Dan Schmit
Summary: The use of radio is compared to the use of podcasts. They both have their negatives and positives, but just focusing on the classroom, pod casts are you’re best bet. The radio is very limited and can only reach so many people. There are several stations that are national and reach everyone, but a single person can’t create their own radio show from home. A pod cast is not live, which means that people can listen to it over again, and when it is convenient for them. It is simple to use and create, and everyone can contribute. In schools, teachers need to be careful to choose pod cast appropriate and approved by their school district. Schmit thought it would be interesting to play certain pod casts for your class, like a fact about that day (“Today in History”). This fact will make the kids think, and they can look into it out side of the classroom, or the teacher can do a unit on it. Another helpful podcast is “The Supportive Classroom” and this gives tips to teachers. It introduces a concept and gives the teacher important daily information.
I think using Pod Casts in the classroom is a great idea. I listened to a couple made by kids and they sounded like they were having a blast! They are required to research the topic they are reporting on and because it is going public, they need to make sure the information is accurate. The kids can do all sorts of things when they are recording this pod cast and it doesn’t need to be ALL facts. One I listened to, students told jokes about the solar system. They included music and made their introduction dramatic with their voices. I think it’s important for teachers to get their students excited about the pod cast before they create it. If they are excited about the end result I think they will work harder. To include literacy in the classroom, require kids to write their own scripts for the pod cast. Kids need to do their own research; whether it be on the internet, or looking up books, they will need to use their reading skills.
The teacher could start of reading a book about the ocean, getting the kids thinking about what they already know about the subject. Then the kids could pick something in the ocean, like a plant or animal and write a sentence about it. They could create a pod cast about the ocean, describing what it holds. It would be difficult for kindergarteners to create their own pod cast, but I think with help from the teacher, it is very possible. Kids can listen to pod casts to learn what others have to say about George Washington or the ocean. There is so much information out in the internet and pod casts are a great way to learn accurate information. As long as you know what authors are reliable, you can learn how others dealt with a specific student, or learn lots of ideas to get your students interested in their new unit. If you need a fun game to play, or a practice lesson, I’m sure you could find something out there!
Dan Schmit's Podcast
KidCast #48 A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Dan Schmit
Summary: This Pod Cast was about kids looking for a meaning in photographs. They should be able to pull a story from the image and connect the abstract meaning with visual representation. Using their imagination and creativity coming up with a narrative to go along with the photograph should be fun! The teacher should pull together some photographs for groups or individual students and see if they can describe the picture in a word or a sentence. Then the students should come up with 20 questions about the photo. This way the teacher can learn what the students know about it, and what they want to know. The students describe the photograph which leads to a narrative. They can focus in on one element of the photo and describe it so the audience listening to the pod cast gets a better visual.
Is setting a page requirement necessary for students? Older students who have had more practice writing and editing may be able to get away with writing a short paper that fills the requirements, but teachers have found that if younger student’s work is often under developed. They want the students to cover every angle of their research and they don’t want thin evidence.
KidCast #3 Radio vs. Podcasting
Dan Schmit
Summary: The use of radio is compared to the use of podcasts. They both have their negatives and positives, but just focusing on the classroom, pod casts are you’re best bet. The radio is very limited and can only reach so many people. There are several stations that are national and reach everyone, but a single person can’t create their own radio show from home. A pod cast is not live, which means that people can listen to it over again, and when it is convenient for them. It is simple to use and create, and everyone can contribute. In schools, teachers need to be careful to choose pod cast appropriate and approved by their school district. Schmit thought it would be interesting to play certain pod casts for your class, like a fact about that day (“Today in History”). This fact will make the kids think, and they can look into it out side of the classroom, or the teacher can do a unit on it. Another helpful podcast is “The Supportive Classroom” and this gives tips to teachers. It introduces a concept and gives the teacher important daily information.
I think using Pod Casts in the classroom is a great idea. I listened to a couple made by kids and they sounded like they were having a blast! They are required to research the topic they are reporting on and because it is going public, they need to make sure the information is accurate. The kids can do all sorts of things when they are recording this pod cast and it doesn’t need to be ALL facts. One I listened to, students told jokes about the solar system. They included music and made their introduction dramatic with their voices. I think it’s important for teachers to get their students excited about the pod cast before they create it. If they are excited about the end result I think they will work harder. To include literacy in the classroom, require kids to write their own scripts for the pod cast. Kids need to do their own research; whether it be on the internet, or looking up books, they will need to use their reading skills.
The teacher could start of reading a book about the ocean, getting the kids thinking about what they already know about the subject. Then the kids could pick something in the ocean, like a plant or animal and write a sentence about it. They could create a pod cast about the ocean, describing what it holds. It would be difficult for kindergarteners to create their own pod cast, but I think with help from the teacher, it is very possible. Kids can listen to pod casts to learn what others have to say about George Washington or the ocean. There is so much information out in the internet and pod casts are a great way to learn accurate information. As long as you know what authors are reliable, you can learn how others dealt with a specific student, or learn lots of ideas to get your students interested in their new unit. If you need a fun game to play, or a practice lesson, I’m sure you could find something out there!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Blog B
Option 1: I want to design a literacy unit for my kindergarteners. They are learning their colors so I’d like to do a unit on how they can match the words with the colors. They’ve used computers a little in the Paint Application and they can do a ‘color by numbers’. If there are several shapes with numbers in them, and they know what color names match each word, then they can fill the shapes in on their own and have their answered checked. They can also look at a picture that has already been colored and have to write the names of the colors filling the spaces. By giving the children both of the assignments, they will repeat them and will help them remember. I think with kindergarteners may need more than one period to get all this wore done.
Option 2: For a literacy assignment for the third grade, I think that the kids should read a short chapter book about the Native Americans culture. After they have brainstormed accurate parts of the culture, they can create a pod cast explaining some aspects of their culture. The class could be assigned a specific nation, and then in groups of four or five, research aspects different parts of the culture. They could explain their information in a pod cast that will be published. Knowing their information will be published will help them take the project seriously. After they create the pod cast they can show it to their family and they will be proud of what they created.
Option 3: The kindergarteners are doing a unit on the ocean. I think they should write a few words describing the ocean. This will help them learn what others know about the ocean and they will learn about adjectives as describing words. As a class, they could come up with a story using the words they chose. Each student will be responsible for completing an illustration for the book and with help from the teacher; the students will be able to publish it as a wiki. Each student will be assigned to read their story to someone outside the class and get feed back on the story. This way the student will be able to show off their work, what they learned and the art they created.
Option 4: Students in the third grade should all read informational books on a certain subject, like the planets. After gathering information they should make pamphlets on the computer with information on each planet. They can each make their own web page with the information on it with links leading to different parts. They can make their web pages have different colors and fonts to make it the most attractive. By having in published off the class web site, the students can share their information with parents and friends.
Option 5: Students in the third grade should split into groups of three or four and study the legends behind constellations. They should write a summary of what they learned by telling the legend and explaining what specific stars make up the constellation they studied. Then they can draw their constellation out on the computer. They can publish a website and have labels and explanations for each star and constellation.
Option 2: For a literacy assignment for the third grade, I think that the kids should read a short chapter book about the Native Americans culture. After they have brainstormed accurate parts of the culture, they can create a pod cast explaining some aspects of their culture. The class could be assigned a specific nation, and then in groups of four or five, research aspects different parts of the culture. They could explain their information in a pod cast that will be published. Knowing their information will be published will help them take the project seriously. After they create the pod cast they can show it to their family and they will be proud of what they created.
Option 3: The kindergarteners are doing a unit on the ocean. I think they should write a few words describing the ocean. This will help them learn what others know about the ocean and they will learn about adjectives as describing words. As a class, they could come up with a story using the words they chose. Each student will be responsible for completing an illustration for the book and with help from the teacher; the students will be able to publish it as a wiki. Each student will be assigned to read their story to someone outside the class and get feed back on the story. This way the student will be able to show off their work, what they learned and the art they created.
Option 4: Students in the third grade should all read informational books on a certain subject, like the planets. After gathering information they should make pamphlets on the computer with information on each planet. They can each make their own web page with the information on it with links leading to different parts. They can make their web pages have different colors and fonts to make it the most attractive. By having in published off the class web site, the students can share their information with parents and friends.
Option 5: Students in the third grade should split into groups of three or four and study the legends behind constellations. They should write a summary of what they learned by telling the legend and explaining what specific stars make up the constellation they studied. Then they can draw their constellation out on the computer. They can publish a website and have labels and explanations for each star and constellation.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
RE: Belief About Technology
I am like any other student; I use my cell phone and computer daily. I wouldn’t call myself a technology buff because most of the time I need help figuring out new applications on the computer. I do use them though, and I would say I use them a lot. I talk on the phone several times a day and usually send a few text messages. I don’t necessarily e-mail everyday but I do get on the internet. It surprised me to think that students spend so much money on book and sometimes don’t even use them. For some classes that’s true for me to, sometimes finding the information on the internet is more convenient and easier to understand. To type something take much less time then to write it out. I’ve been in big lecture classes where people take their lap tops to class to take notes and instead spend the whole class on Facebook or playing games. I know if I took my computer to class I would do the same thing.
Like I said before, typing something is much faster than writing it out. Sometimes even text messaging or IMing someone is faster than calling. I find it easier to email a teacher my question instead of ask it in class sometimes. It’s so convenient because usually when I’m tackling the assignment later, I need some things clarified. I can just send an email out and in no time, I can complete the assignment no problem. Computers make learning faster because they offer many choices for every kind of student. Using things that kids are already interested in, like Myspace or text messaging, to get kids enthusiastic about learning make sense. These programs help students get involved with other students easily and they can have online discussions about what they’ve learned.
The assignment about kids sending text message to kid in other countries seems a little ahead of it’s time. Yes, the majority of students love text messaging, I know I do, but not everyone does. Not everyone has text messaging included in their plan and to have it as an assignment where it counts as credit does not seem fair. Also I don’t agree with kids sending messages in “text format”. Spelling things with numbers or abbreviating is not proper grammar and isn’t that another lesson we’re teaching our students. When I was in high school I think I would’ve answered the same way is someone asked me if I thought my classes were important. I feel like at that age, you don’t generally know what you want to do. It isn’t until college that you really start taking classes specifically for your major, and that’s when you see how important they are. In high school missing classes wasn’t a big deal and you could easily makeup the work, but there is so much information given in a college course that missing a class can take a while to make up.
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