Taskstream Narratives NETS-T I, III-V

Inspiration HB NETS-T I, II, III

I used the tool Inspiration to create a tree chart to organize information on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers.

JCCS Copyright and Internet Safety NETS-T II, III, IV

Google Docs was used to create a collaborative document to provide information on copyright/Internet safety.

Class Newsletter NETS-T I, II, III

This is my classroom newsletter. It will be sent home each week to communicate with parents. It will contain information that is happening in class.

CSUSM PSA NETS-T I, II,III, IV

I created this Public Service Announcement

to showcase CSUSM for incoming students.

WIKI Page- Build Your Wild Self NETS-T I, II, III

By using Build Your Wild Self students are creating a wild creature combining different animals and species. The creature is then named and each part is identified and explained. This is a creative way to have children learn about animals and their environment





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Scanned Self Portrait NETS I, II & III

This is me with long, thin legs....

Journal #9 Web 2.0 Today's Technologies, Tomorrow's Learning

Groff, J., & Haas, J. (2008, September/October). Web 2.0 today's technologies, tomorrow's learning. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(2), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/SeptemberOctoberNo2/L_L_September_October_2008.htm

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/SeptemberOctoberNo2/L_L_September_October_2008.htm



More amazing technology! Not only social networking, but interactive games and simulations are being used in today's classes. Eric Klopfer defines games as "purposeful, goal-oriented, rule-based activity that the players perceive as fun." This is a great way for children to learn. When children are actively participating in a classroom game and learning is happening, all aspects of school are being engaged. Digital games are becoming part of the classroom as well. Ayiti: The Cost of Life is a game that students are introduced to a family and have to calculate all their expenses and make decisions for the family. Through this students learn about decision making and life expenses. Another idea for the class is to have a social network set up. Students would be able to access this either at school or at home and allows them to communicate with other students regarding class assignments as well as ask the teacher questions.

How could I implement a simulation game in class?

Engaging students in learning is absolutely a must. Innovative technology that can be used to do this should be used without question. Teaching about other cultures out of a book would not have the same affect as seeing that culture and where they come from or making decisions for a family within this culture and witnessing the affects of the decisions. Creating real life situations is sometimes the best way to make the biggest impact on learning.

How would a teacher acquire the tools for simulations?

The teacher could contact the district's technical support person and inquire about how to go about finding the equipment that is needed. Hopefully the school already has computers, then it's just learning how to use them to access the websites that are reccommended for simulation learning.

Journal #8 Tapping the Wealth of Social Networks for Professional Development

Greenhow, C. (2009, June/July). Tapping the wealth of social networks for professional development. Learning & Leading with Technology , 36(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/JuneJulyNo8/36810g.pdf


Social networking seems to be the future for many areas of life. So many people of varying ages are on Facebook or MySpace. Looking for information becomes easier and easier to find now that there's real-time technology, answers are only minutes away as opposed to waiting for a phone call or email. Social networking tools in school allow more interactive ways for students to collaborate on projects or help one another with assignments. Many teens use different platforms to display their creative work such as photography, videos, or even art work. They then rely on peers or others to give them feedback on their work. The future is technology and having the ability to incorporate it into our classroom will be of great use to everyone involved.

How will instant technology affect face to face communication?

It's mind blowing that teens can be in the same car and text to each other instead of talk. It seems that phone etiquette has become compromised because kids don't need to talk on the phone. Communication skills are not what they used to be. Having a conversation with a child is difficult because they are not used to having to answer in complete sentences. I've seen full conversations going on through Facebook, but those two same people barely put a sentence together when face to face. Schools may need to conduct conversation classes to re-teach this important skill.

How would social networks be monitored in a class?

Strict rules with consequences for breaking them would have to be put in place in the beginning of the school year. Students and parents would be expected to sign a contract regarding the rules thus making everyone aware of correctly participating in social networks.

Crossword Puzzle - Playground Fun NETS-T I, II, III

I created a crossword puzzle using Microsoft Excel.

Journal #6 A New Concept of Citizenship for the Digital Age

Greenhow, C. . (2010). A New concept of digital citizenship for the digital age. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25564&DirectListComboInd=D doi: ISSN 1082-5754


This is article discusses what digital citizenship means to educators and students. The definition of digital citizenship refers to proper behavior guidelines being followed online. This includes the standards for legal, ethical, safe, responsible, and respectful uses for technology. Students should be educated on correct citizenship, show responsibility and respect while participating in online activities. Now that there's so many areas for students explore, such as facebook, myspace, or blogging it's even more important for them to be educated on proper computer etiquette.

One study highlighted the reactions adolescents had regarding cyberbullying. Practical educational scenarios within Second Life were used to make students aware of the characteristics of cyberbullying. Using these proved to be potential tools for education and prevention of cyberbullying. The other study examined the teacher's views on ethical issues that are being used in social networking. Teachers are given multiple ethical dilemmas dealing with the different levels of the teacher's domain and the control teachers have when it is dealing with what the students are exposed to and the what their right to privacy are.

How could teachers help students learn about cyberbullying?
Teachers would be able to search for websites that educate students on what to lookout for when using a social network. It's important for students to be aware of what cyberbullying is so that children use proper Internet etiquette, are responsible, and respectful to everyone they are interacting with.

What do you know about cyberbullying?
Students would be able to discuss the information they have learned about cyberbullying. They could work together on ways of identifying it and what to do and who to tell. Educating students of all ages is important when dealing with this situation.

Journal #7 Collaborative Documents

Collaborative Documents refers to the ability for people in different locations to simultaneously interact through a website to make it possible to work on the same project or assignment even though their not together.


Wiki or Google Docs?

http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/wiki-or-google-docs

I learned that Google docs are a great way for people to be able to work together on a paper/assignment at the same time from different locations. Because it's "live" each person can see the updates as they are being done and that makes it easier to track the changes. One suggestions was each contributor use a different color font so they can be easily identified.

Document Sharing-Applications

www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:32026

I found out there are other websites out there for online collaborations.
http://www.stixy.com/ and http://www.spruz.com/ are both good for collaborating and have more features to choose from. It seems even though there are many options, people still opt for googledocs as their favorite.

NETS Power Point NETS-T I, II, III, IV

I created a Power Point presentation to demonstrate my awareness of the National Educational Technology Standards for Students. My presentation was focused on K-2 grade. Through this presentation I was able to include transitions between the slides, clip art, hyperlinks, and relay pertinent information regarding the NETS-S standards.

NETS Power Point Rubric NETS-T I & II

The power point rubric was a collaborative effort by our class. Learning to use this tool to assess our peers as well as well as to use for our future students will be beneficial to us for grading classroom assignments.

Social Bookmarking NETS-T III, IV, V

In order to use Social Bookmarking I joined Delicious then had the ability to bookmark websites used for education as well as interesting topics. This is a great networking tool which allows you to discover new ways to find resources on many different subjects. While completing this assignment I visited the National Archives, Kathy Shrock's clip art gallery, learned about Cyberbullying, completed a quiz on correct Netiquette, and learned about Tolerance.

1. The exhibit I selected was One Hundred Years of Photography from the National Archives. The pictures are amazing and have a story to tell without using words. The images that were captured in these photos will live on forever so we can never forget our history or where our ancestors came from. Having the ability to use primary sources as a classroom tool would be very beneficial for students and teachers. It allows them to go directly to the source they're looking for and have access to the information they need. http://www.archives.gov/

2. Student Groups Experiencing Achievement Gaps

Children at risk include:
* Racial and ethnic minorities
* English language learners
* Students with disabilities
* Boys/girls
* Students from low-income families

"Becoming a Culturally Competent Educator"
http://www.nea.org/index.html

Three areas that fit my teaching style.


a. Ensure that your school has a mission statement that commits to cultural competence as an integral component of all its activities. The cultural competence committee should be involved in developing this statement.


Creating a mission statement that fits our school is important so that all students and faculty feel they are included and welcomed. Having a diverse population at school should be reflected in our mission statement. The cultural competence committee should be involved in writing the mission to ensure equity among the school's population.

b. Network with other schools that are developing and implementing culturally competent systems. Adapt the processes and information that are consistent with your school's needs and interests.

Collaborating with other schools would be beneficial to everyone involved. Having consistent programs throughout a district creates an availability for teachers to work together and come up with ideas that would work well for them and what they are creating. When a school community is involved in developing and implementing programs incorporating many ideas from people's different point of view will make the programs stronger.

c. Assess what your school staff perceive as their staff development needs related to providing services to each group.

Finding out what type of staff development workshops the teachers are interested in would create an environment to include them in the decision making process. They could choose the topics that relate best to the school and it's students. Having the choice of what programs they want to learn about will put them at ease instead of telling them "This is what you have to do." they'll be more inclined to be open to staff development.

3. Are you a Cyberbully?
It turns out my score equaled Cyber Risky. I guess making a joke may be funny to the person making it but not funny to the person the joke is about.

I love the idea of using teenangels to educate students on "safe, private and responsible Internet and wireless use." Empowering teens and tweens is so important. Teaching them the tools to use so they can protect themselves on the internet against online predators, cybercrime, and online abuse is a must. What I learned from the articles is the most important thing we need to do for our children and students it arm them with information so if they're presented with cyberbulling they will know what to do and who to come to for help.
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/kids/index.html

4. Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
Using Fact Monster is an amazing way for students to learn about many assorted topics. Having the opportunity to play educational games, look up facts, find help independently for homework assignments, or just explore the different areas and discover something interesting to read about is a wonderful tool for students to have access to. I would use this website as a reward for classwork being completed, homework being brought in on time and completed, and proper behavior as well as classroom rules being followed. Having something to work for is a great motivator. When I checked out Kathy Schrock's articles I was amazed to find a plethora of technology information to choose from. This would be so helpful to me as a new teacher setting up a classroom network, to find ideas and tools to use for my class, and educate myself on many interesting topics.
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/


5. My top 3 intelligences are:
1. Bodily-Kinesthetic 67%
2. Naturalistic 58%
3. Logical-Mathematical 56%

I watched the video Multiple Intelligences Thrive in Smartville and was truly amazed at the innovative way these children were being taught. I learned that many subjects can be incorporated in teaching while gearing what's being taught toward each type of intelligence. Through the experiences the children are having at their school they are learning through doing which in turn teaches responsibility. What an absolutely amazing school.
http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-introduction

6. The Gift of Community Grades preK-2 http://www.tolerance.org/activities

Suggested Procedures

I would use the suggested procedures for my lesson. First we would read the book, “The Gift” about a boy who goes in search of hidden presents in his neighborhood" as a whole group to familiarize ourselves with the story. We could then talk about what's in our neighborhood and compare ours to Max's and make a list of what we discovered. We would make a map of our community with landmarks the children listed. The students would each make a picture of one landmark for our map with a description of what it is and how it's used. We would talk about the diverse community we live in and how that affects us. I would tie it all together by having the students write a story about our community and their neighborhood then we would share them.

7. Compared with White women, how likely are African American women in the U.S. to die during childbirth due to a lack of access to prenatal care, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality?

I couldn't believe the answer to this was 4 times as likely. I thought there was more help available for prenatal care.

In a 2007 study, UNICEF rated the treatment of children in the 23 wealthiest countries in the world based on 40 indicators of child well-being. Which two countries received the lowest ratings?

The answer to this question was astounding. How could the US and the UK receive the lowest ratings? I thought the US was one of the wealthiest countries. I guess wealth has nothing to do with how children are treated, even the rich abuse their children.
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/quizzes.html

8. My Netiquette score was 80%. I just couldn't remember what scrolling or spamming were.

Teaching Netiquette and emoicons are important so students know how to communicate properly and correctly in cyberspace. When students are armed with knowledge they are more apt to use it in a positive way. :-D
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/

Journal #4 Playing with Skype

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Journal #4 Playing with Skype

Weller, T. (2010, March/April). Playing with Skype. Learning & Leading with Technology , 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25508&DirectListComboInd

Using Skype to connect students to professionals is an example of differentiated instruction in the classroom. Weller makes a good point about using technology, “If it makes for a richer educational experience, then it’s worth it.” Skype is an easy to use source of technology that can benefit students in many ways. This keeps the students engaged in a different way of learning because it’s a live feed; both audience and expert can see one another so the students behave in a different manner. The possibilities for using Skype in the classroom are endless given that there are so many occupations to observe and learn from.


Questions:

What type of equipment is necessary for Skype to be used?

The only equipment needed for Skype to be used is a computer with a broadband internet connection, which most schools have, a webcam, a couple of microphones, adapters for the audio feed to pump through the sound system, and a projector screen, which once again is provided in most classrooms. If the equipment wasn’t readily available at the school site, there’s usually a technology coordinator in the district that could be contacted.

How would a teacher use Skype to implement a theme?

The first step would be for the teacher to seek out an expert on the theme, contact them, and then set up a specific time to have the specialist appear. If I didn’t have the proper knowledge on a specific topic, I’d be more than happy to have my class learn from an expert in an interactive environment.

Journal #3 Navigate the Digital Rapids

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Journal #3 Navigate the Digital Rapids

Lindsay, J., & Davis, V. . (2010, March/April). Navigate the digital rapids. Learning & Leading with Technology , 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Navigate_the_Digital_Rapids.htm


This article is about creating collaborative digital based networks for students to participate in with other students around the world. Students are able to practice their online citizenship behavior conducting themselves in a respectful way when using these tools. Students have the ability to interact with each other on school related projects, ask thought provoking questions, and use Skype to learn about communication. Using this technology encourages teachers to accept the challenge of incorporating it into their classroom and welcome it openly without being anxious. When starting out there are others to turn to for advice. The ability to monitor computer use through the Flat Classroom projects puts concerns to rest. This generation needs constant change to keep them engaged in learning and this is one method for educators to use.

Questions:

As future educators, what information should we have if choosing to create a digital classroom?

We should try to be more technologically proficient using tools such as wikis, Nings, and setting up blogs. Don Tapscott posts webinars, discussion forums, and pertinent information for both the students and teachers. There are also magazines and informational websites available for help and support.

How could we ensure the safety of our students using the internet?

The first thing to do is educate students on the proper use of global networking so that they’re making good choices while using the internet. Working together as a global team monitoring computer use 24 hours a day and reporting any inappropriate conduct as soon as something occurs will help reduce computer improprieties.

Journal #2 Finding Students Who Learn with Media

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Journal #2 Finding Students Who Learn with Media

Bull, G., Alexander, C., Ferster, B., & , Initials. (2010, February). Finding students who learn with media. Learning & Leading with Technology , 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25255&DirectListComboInd=D

PrimaryAccessStoryboard is a tool that teachers are able to use in their class to combine the use of student-generated work with the capability of analyzing and monitoring the work the student is doing. It’s also used to track and compare how engaged students are in their learning compared to basic essay writing. The results indicated that students were processing the information in different ways because of their technological ability as well as their comprehension of the content of the material. Through this monitoring teachers are able to modify their instruction based on their student’s level of learning then provide them with appropriate material to support their needs.

Questions:

How would using PrimaryAccess be beneficial in a classroom?

This would assist teachers to recognize where students need greater instruction in certain areas of the curriculum and create a more individualized learning environment for the student.

What would a teacher do if some students weren’t computer literate and didn’t want to use PrimaryAccessStoryboard?

I would try pairing these students up with or grouping them with others that had more experience on computers so the less experienced student could learn and feel less apprehensive using these programs.

Journal #1 The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips

Tuesday, April 12, 2010

Journal #1 The Beginner’s Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips

Zanetis, J. (2010, March/April). A Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. Learning & Leading with Technology , 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/L_L_March_April_2010.htm

This article was very interesting to me since I’ve never heard of Virtual Field Trips. The idea of using the Baseball Hall of Fame to calculate statistics is a unique way for students to retain the information that has been taught and use it in a practical and fun way. Having the opportunity to travel through a VFT to different parts of the world or through our own country may be the only possibility some students will ever have to experience this. Using a VFT is a great tool for teachers to have and for students to see what they’re studying as opposed to looking at pictures in a book. Learning about the Space Shuttle is wonderful, but having the ability to interact with an expert at NASA will give students a completely different point of view than doing a report.

Questions:

How would using a VFT enhance teaching and learning?

One example is, when studying rain forests in 1st grade, taking a VFT to the Amazon to see a rain forest would bring learning to life. Students could actually see the animals that live there, experience the different levels of the rain forest, and hear the sounds that are created from the environment. There are so many benefits to this type of field trip that incorporating them into a curriculum would greatly enhance the learning students would have and engage them in a new way of instruction.


Where do I find videoconferencing equipment for my school?

Zanetis recommends starting with the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (www.cilc.org). School districts typically have a technology coordinator and they should be contacted to find out what equipment is available through the district.

Intro Letter

Hi! My name is Helene Browne and I'm from Elizabeth, New Jersey. I moved to Vista in 1986 with my family. The elementary school I attended was School 21, then onto Hamilton Middle School, and to finish up my education, Elizabeth High School was the place to be. College began at West Chester University in Pa. for 2 years then we made the big move. So that I could have residency status, I went to Palomar for 1 year then graduated from Cal State Northridge with a B.A. in Child Development.

My technology experience consists of my PC, TV, DVD, stereo, and my kids "music machines" which are ipods. I love using excel for spreadsheets, my check book is all done on my computer, and I definitely rely on gmail to keep me up to date with everyone I know. Although I've only owned PCs, I'm liking the Mac we're using in class. My kids are responsible for teaching me the shortcuts and tricks for saving, cutting and copying information within a document and boy that's helpful. Using Paint, making pictures, and creating cards have been fun to learn and use as well.

The section of the mission statement from the COE that "speaks" to me is the absolute commitment the program has towards excellence in education through the courses and programs it has to offer. This was a factor in my decision to apply for the credential program because by being well prepared and having exposure to different schools, grades, and cultures I feel confident I will be ready for the challenges and rewards of teaching.