Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom

There are several Web 2.0 activities that seem like they would be feasible with my third grade students, but creating a Tabblo with tabblo.com seems like it would be the most feasible.

I would have students write a personal narrative or a biography and liven it up with photos and/or images. This project ties in with the Language Arts Standard of writing a biography or a narrative. Given a biography, it could also be tied into other subject matter, such as art, social studies, science or math, depending on the figure students choose to write about.

The template on Tabblo would serve as a place where they would write up the final draft and illustrate it with images that they take or find on the internet.
I would set guidelines regarding the components, while leaving them creative space to include additional information and/or images:
1) Required information if doing a biography would include: Full name, country and date of birth, brief history, specific contributions to society or special feats.
2) Three images that would support the content: image of person, image of country, image of or representative of their special feat or contribution.

Skype could be useful to have people from the community, or the world at large, provide students in any classroom with contact with a greater part of the world. It could be used to supplement a lesson or provide contact with people of other ethnic backgrounds or countries.

Technology Course

I definitely have a better grasp of the wide array of applications and used technology can have in education. I plan to utilize a greater array of search tools and techniques to gather resources and materials for my class. I also feel that I am more in sync with what my previous middle school-level students were talking about when they referred to MySpace and blogging. If I end up working with middle-school or high school levels, which I sincerely hope, I plan on utilizing these tools with them for projects, along with Shutterfly to create books with images!
The StoryBoard was another awesome resource to make student-produced movies or bring in outside presenters, real-life situations, and more.
I think that StoryBoard was the most valuable application from this class. It is an excellent way for me to present my students with images of people, events and things outside of the classroom that have been difficult to present or share.

Make Your Own Jewelry You Tube Video

This is a super brief overview on earring making. Sorry, we only had 3 minutes of film time, and it really is more interesting live.

Copyright & Fair Use Guidelines I appreciate how this website clearly pointed out that the idea of copyright was made to balance private and public interests of original, creative and fixed or tangible form of expression. The other point that really stood out was the most critical factor in deciding on use of copyrighted materials was if there will be no reduction in sales because of copying on distribution. It also quoted the internet as a better resource which is put into question in Keeping it Legal which really stressed the controversial issue of "free" domain so present in the matter of internet copyright. The sole use of web materials strictly for students' use in the classroom but not for publishing or presenting anywhere outside of the classroom was inherent. The recommendation to have one person at a school site in charge of checking up on copyright issues with websites and legal issues does seem to provide teachers with major support in dealing with these issues.

A Visit to the Copyright Bay The Teach Act of 2002 really puts a strain on classroom teachers who utilize audiovisual media to present or supplement curriculum. This seems to complicate the introduction of videos for instructional purposes. One example is to show a video of a work of literature read in class...although I understand the perspective of the artist or publisher, there needs to be an easier way for teachers to use audiovisual media to support the education of students. Both this website and Stanford University Libraries: Copyright & Fair Use commented on "coursepacks" which I vividly remember from college and from a stint I had at a low-income school without access to textbooks. On the firsthand, I recall the wide-range of sources some college professors used for their courses and had we as students had to purchase all of the original works we would have been unable to do so. On the other hand, a year I taught a self-contained Newcomer class of 6-8th grade students in Oakland where I was given NO textbooks accessible to my students. Had it not been for photocopying texts, I would have had to write up materials for all subjects every day...I attempted that at the beginning and that was not feasible. My overall reflection is that the use of copyrighted materials for educational purposes in not-for-profit schools should be given considerable thought and not be so quick to penalize teachers or schools.

UCB 359.5 Review of 5 Podcasts

I listened and/or viewed the following four Educational podcasts:

1) Big story Time.com - These are stories, mainly bedtime stories, narrated by professional story tellers. I attempt to do a Read-Aloud a few times a week because students enjoy them and learn through them. This podcast has many stories to choose from. I plan on using this one from time to time in my class.

2) Funny Poems Podcast - These are funny poems read be Robert Pottle. The poems are good and he has a good clear voice and uses a lot of expression. The only part I did not like was that his introduction was extremely long.

3) Black History- I tried all of the podcasts listed and not one worked for me. I thought it would be a great idea to use one to present during Black History Month. I hope to find one that works and is useful for an elementary classroom. I don't recommend any of the ones listed up to now.

4) Grade 3/4 Students- This podcast is by British third and fourth graders. They each have a role and present a type of news broadcast-type of program. Each student has a role and a title. They have various sections of their program, comedy, news, etc... It would be useful to use with elementary students to help them practice voice projection, expression when doing oral presentations and the procedure for presenting orally to a group.

The other podcast was "60 Minutes:The Full Broadcast"- I remember 60 Minutes on the TV every Sunday at my house and I remember listening/watching really interesting interviews and programming, and then having the luxury to walk away when I wasn't interested in a particular segment. Well, now that I don't have tv I have found that I can still listen to it by simply checking out their podcast. This and other tv and radio programs are exciting to me. I feel like I have discovered an easier way to get reconnected with world, national and local news and issues.
I have subscribed to this podcast!

UCB x 359.5 Podcasts in Education

It was helpful how the article FAQ: For Podcast Fans clearly described Podcasts. The name comes up so often and although one has a vague idea, the average person is unclear as to exactly what they are. The fact that they are either audio files, video files or documents, or any combination of those three makes it easier to understand. Also, the article clarifies that they are FREE and available automatically anywhere at anytime...talk about staying connected!

What is RSS Feed?
Background information and the explanation of how podcasts function and are used by bloggers was interesting. The article did get a bit confusing given my lack of knowledge and use of this technology. The curious note is that there seems to be no clear name for the RSS acronym nor for its origins.

The article that gave the common and practical uses for podcasts in education was Podcasting in Education. It is a great mechanism for students, educators and administrators, and even parents. The possibillity for students to present a project done at home makes for such possibilities and interesting projects. For educators, being able to do voice recordings, show photos, movies and include sound effects could lead to awesome lessons and incorporation of more real life situations and perspectives to class. I can imagine how many more "visitors" from the surrounding community might be presented to students.
Another plus is the possibility of delivering content, homework assignments book narrations, and more can allow students and parents to access material at home as well as review at their own pace...that it awesome for students facing difficulty with content for various reasons.

While I think podcasts are an awesome tool, I do realize that the population of students I am working with does not have full access to the technology needed to use podcasts at home. Secondly, given my school's limited resources, for example, just one LCD projector for about 30+ teachers makes it difficult to present podcasts in classes

UCB 359.5 Review and Rate 3 Web activities for children

Spanish & English Children’s Digital Library

1) I would use this website even though it has many links and activities that are more infantile the third grade. It gives students access to more literature.
2) The Storytellers is an awesome technique for having kids listen to a story while the teacher can attend other issues at hand.
3) Also, the book reviews offered are great in having students browse and select books and presenting them with examples of what good book reviews look like.

Fun Brain

1) I have actually used Fun Brain with my students before. It has a variety of activities in different subject matter for kids to work with.
2) It is also a great choice because it has activities aligned with grade-specific standards for all subjects. Examples of activities:
Math: money, time, fractions, decimals, algebra, ordering numbers, etc...
Geograph/Social Studies: current world events, flags, information on countries, etc...
Art: colors, color combinations
Grammar: subjects, verbs, and other parts of speech, as well as syllabication

Batters Up Baseball

1) I have used some similar websites with my students. The aim of these sites is to motivate students to practice their math facts. This site is dedicated to addition and multiplication only. Kids want to "win" the game and are more motivated to focus and learn their math facts.
2) The student signs in and is assigned a team. Their opposition, the visiting team already has a score. In the designated time, students need to earn more points than the visitors have in order to win. Each correct answer takes them forward one base..

I don't have per say a favorite website for online learning, because there are so many and each is good for specific issues. I wish I had my list of the children's websites I have researched and collected with my short synopsis here at home. I keep it at work!! Nonetheless, Brain Pop is a good one with information on all subjects.

E-Learning LIbrary

I think that online learning can be effective for all, however, I think that all the illustrations and simulations are not as necessary, especially if an adult simply wants the facts and wants to make a judgement about them. The simulation of the check was helpful in the sense that is was a "manipulative" of the actual document we would have in our hands to verify for negotiability.
The link on finding solutions for problems at work as a manager would have been easier in an inanimate document for me. The little wizard and all the little snippets from the "employees" was a bit much.
As an adult who likes things straightforward, I tend to lean away from all the game-like activities for myself. I want a game to be for my enjoyment and entertainment, not necessarily for learning .

UCB x 359.5 Comments Web Safety

Comments on "A short introduction to the study of Holocaust revisionism" by Arthur R. Butz, an associate professor of electrical engineering:

1) This article is lacking in a bibliography to cite valid sources except for all of Prof. Butz's internal links.
2) The claims made are unsupported by reasons and data.
3) Also, the article is very confusing in its presentation of information in that it offers very an ambiguous explanation.
4) The mere fact that the author is not backed or represented by a recognized institution is also very suspicious.
5) Unlike a published book, no editor or publishing company has verified the contents.
6) The author is not specialized in the topic written.
In presenting this article to students, I would refer to the website "Safe Kids" bu Larry Magid (March 2008) in regards to his advice on using common sense when using the internet for information or educational reasons. Having students reflect on the at the very least those topics, or a checklist which includes them, would be how I would start when instructing students on how to safely use information found on the internet.

Comments on "Teaching Kids To Be Web Literate" By Alan November:

1) Instructing students to refer to ProFusion (www.profusion.com), would give them some insight in be suspicious of Prof Butz credibility.
2) Learning from links to discover more about a website is closely associated with the saying" Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are". This is another example to how adults must converse with children about the safety and validity of websites and the information they offer.
3) "How to Map Links" is an excellent way to assess an internet source with students. It can be modified for different age groups.

Comments on "Teacher Guide #1: Evaluating Web Pages":

1) http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html
This is a great checklist to use with students both for whole and small group purposes and when students do independent internet research activities.

Views on NETS for Students

Again, I must admit that I feel an extra pressure to perform magic tricks and super-duper technologically advanced lessons when my students can hardly write a handful of words correctly.
Having gone over the NETS for Students, I agree that it helps atleast in the following ways:
1) It allows students to present and develop innovative products and processes.
2) It also facilitates access to more resources in order to creat original works.
3) The ability to interact and collaborate with peers is definitely a plus, such as editing of written works.
4) The various methods of transmitting a message to students provides more possibilities fo students to access information.
5) The intennet does provide engagement with learners of other cultures.

It is important that we emphathize the use of technology to support collaboration, learning and productivity and that students don't regard technology simply as another form of game and entertainment.

Thoughts on NETS for Teachers

Ahhh, technology, it is both helpful and stressful. While I think that in general it is helpful as it facilitates communication with colleagues, administration, parents and students, sometimes it becomes an added stress as people assume we have time to be checking email or doing other things online during our teaching hours. I find that at the elementary level, it is far more difficult and taxing to incorporate the Tech Standards than at the middle and high school levels, with an added benefit whe nworking with communities that are financially better-off and academically more prepared which have regular access to the internet .
1) It is useful in presenting real-world issues to students.
2) It does support increased collaboration if all parties have access.
3) It makes for awesome lessons and presentations when doing Power Point or the like.
4) The variety of formats in which information can be accessed on the web is also helpful in reacing different learning styles.
5) It is definitely critical to carefully monitor sites before sending students to them, as when skimmed over, some that sites appear legitimate and free of innapropriate have pop up surprises.
6) Also, as educators, I am glad that more is being done on our part to instruct students on using technology safely and legally and how to adequately verify a sites' legitimacy.
7) Finally, I do think that technology offers a greater link between local and global communities that can help to expand our point of view.

Comments on Forum: McKinsey Report on Ed-Archive 12/2007

1. Solutions to problem with education:

On-the job-training touted on the forum, as carried out by school systems such as Japan, Finland, and the likes is definitely a good place to start. One of the difficulties with our educational system is that teacher-preparation programs don't adequately prepare people for the real deal, the classroom. Many education professors are so detached from the realities of the classroom that they don't offer relevant and insightful information to teachers-in-training. There should be a lot more hands-on activities in teacher-prep programs. Increased time for on-the-job-training and effective collaboration time is critical in improving our educational system.

Also, creating a hierarchy of teachers based on experience and skill, that recognizes and rewards veteran and/or very dynamic teachers, with prospective teachers as shadows, would provide a mechanism for "sharing" the craft.

On that note, I would like to point out two factors regarding BTSA. First, many master teachers feel that they are pulled from their own classes too often in order to attend required trainings and that discourages many from participating as BTSA Advisors. Secondly. BTSA is often just more paperwork and time-obligation for new teachers who are already struggling to fit everything in. Some re-thinking of BTSA and re-structuring would be beneficial to convert it into a beneficial tool for supporting new teachers and providing a link between good experienced teachers and newbies.

2. How to reorder the focus of the priorities in the educational system:

I agree that less money, time, and effort on testing is an excellent place to begin so as to free up time for effective teaching that creates critical and expressive thinkers. It has become a cliche to say that "testing has become a subject matter of it's own", but unfortunately, I believe it has.

Also, I agree with Catherine Lewis' comment on focusing on less standards and working with them to greater depth. The amount of standards that need to be "touched" upon is extensive, and because of time constraints, one must move on to the next standard even if students haven't learned the preceding one...the hope is that they'll "get" it the next time around.

Teachers need more support, inside and out of the classroom. They need more time for professional growth and time for observations of students and other teachers. I know that in France, veteran teachers are given time off during the academic year for professional growth and they are paid full salary. I was also made aware a few years ago that teachers in either Finland, Sweden or Norway are given one year for professional training on full salary every five years they teach. The point made on the forum was that of teachers choosing their professional growth objectives and training with the assistance of an adviser. That is a wise choice given that often school and district-mandated trainings are not usually useful for most teachers and don't take into consideration each teachers needs.

3. What types of professional development work for me:
I find that professional development that is geared towards my shortcomings, passions, and areas in need-of-improvement are most useful. The ability to be able to reflect, particularly with a mentor, and choose development that will help me become a stronger, more well-rounded teacher, with clear points of expertise, is critical.

4. Resources I need to become a better teacher:
More effective collaboration time, funds for materials, time and funds for professional development, a positive and unified school staff with clear objectives and a sound mental climate. Strong, decisive leaders who will lay down the law in order to bring unity amongst a staff.

5. CA Content Standards and the curriculum I am assigned to teach:
The CA Content Standards are far too many and it is impossible to teach any of them effectively since you have to speed through them to keep pace. We need less of them so we can atleast teach some substance to our students.

6. No Child Left Behind:
It is more bureaucracy, testing and paperwork. It is not helpful in effectively educating our students.

7. How does class size determine my success as a teacher?
A smaller class size allows me to have closer contact with my students and offer them more one-one time, as well as occupies less of my time regarding grading, and administrative duties, which frees me up to prepare lessons, give students more individualized attentions etc...

8. I became a teacher...because I f0und myself doing it from an early age (eighteen) and even thought I kept looking elsewhere, it kept falling on my lap and I kept getting positive feedback from it. Although I must admit that the last two years have me considering taking a break.

9. It was actually nice to listen to the podcast. Now I know where that radio station is online and I can go back to it. Also, it was nice to be able to playback certain segments just to hear them again. I liked listening to a podcast as an assignment.

tecno-era

i have just about completed the first day in a course to complete my tech portfolio to clear my teaching credential. there are so many different types of internet programs out there...i feel as if i have been asleep for the last 10 years and have awoken to a whole new era, a techno-era, i am overwhelmed. i have been struggling to get my main email account under control and now i have activated pages all over the web...ahhhh, and i have already received 2 emails from a friend i haven't talked to in 4-5 years...and I have been wanting to get in contact with her...

all i can say is that if it( information technology) has helped barack obama to reach a greater mass of the u.s. population and has as a consequence motivated more people to be involved in politics, then i am all for it...even as i take my long awaited trip to brazil after the election...