Twice this semester, I have had Aha moments. The first occurred when I began my ePortfolio. This was a very stressful activity for me. I did not think I had done enough work to create an ePortfolio. Putting together my work I felt I was bragging on myself. Coming from the generation were being humble was expected; I did not feel comfortable with the idea of an ePortfolio. After I created the ePortfolio, I felt proud of what I had accomplished. It was much more than I anticipated. I realized this was a more accurate way to show my educational experience as opposed to looking at a transcript and seeing grades. The second Aha moment was when I realized I still had a great deal to learn. I thought I was familiar with most of the Web 2.0 applications. After taking this course, I realize there are many Web 2.0 applications that I am not familiar with using.
While I have studied wikis and blogs before, how to apply them to a course still seems awkward. As I become more comfortable with these apps, this should improve. Implementing these apps gradually will be the best approach for me. While in theory, I agree technology is the means and not the end; I find it fun to use and look for ways to use it. As my educational philosophy continues to evolve, technology will hopefully become more a tool to use when applicable. My fascination with it needs to be tempered with good instructional design.
Developing my educational philosophy has affirmed that technology is a tool that can enhance the delivery of content. It is also a way to reach the Net Gen students. Using technology to demonstrate understanding allows the student to show their natural creativity. This can make the assignment more fun and more meaningful for them. It guided me in developing my projects, by using the technology as a tool to deliver content in a way to engage the students. My philosophy will continue to evolve as I progress through my career. In time the awe and wonder will subside and I will truly see technology as a tool to enhance teaching and learning.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Digital Explorer
Having read information on NetGen students in other courses, I was familiar with the information in this article. Generationally, I am a Baby Boomer. Technologically, I am close to being a Digital Native. By that I mean computers have fascinated me and the technologies associated with computers since the 1960’s. I have sought out information on computer technologies as well taught myself how to use a computer and the Internet. I guess I am a Digital Explorer actually. As for the questions addressed in this assignment.
1. Are you more comfortable composing documents online than longhand?
Definitely, I haven’t written a paper or assignment in long hand in ages. Like this assignment, I compose my assignments in Word, and then Cut and Paste them into the course website.
2.Have you turned your "remembering" (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device?
My cell phone remembers all of my phone numbers (Speed Dial) and my computer remembers my email contacts, Favorite websites, and the date and time of activities. The reminders sent from my calendar are very helpful.
3. Do you go to meetings with your laptop or PDA?
My laptop goes with me on vacation, to class, and just about anywhere I happen to be. I use my cell phone to text message my daughter and friends.
4.Are you constantly connected? Is the Internet always on whether you are at home or work? Is your cell phone always with you?
One or both computers at home are always on. The Internet is always on whether at home or work. My cell phone is with me 24/7. I only turn it off during a movie but I turn it on as soon as the movie is over. I also use it to text message.
5. How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
While I am working on my computer, like now, I also have the TV one, volume down. I can also talk on the phone while working on the computer, if necessary
6. Do you play video or computer games?
I don’t play video or computer games but I do play games on my computer. I play Spider Solitaire on my computer rather than playing with an actual deck of cards on my desk. I also enjoy Second Life. I have a neat avatar, much thinner, prettier, and younger than me. I am learning how to move around in SL and how to communicate with the people I meet there.
7. What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few?
As I stated earlier, I am a Baby Boomer but I think of myself as a Digital Explorer because I have sought out technology and have taught myself how to use different apps because I was interested not only as an assignment.
1. Are you more comfortable composing documents online than longhand?
Definitely, I haven’t written a paper or assignment in long hand in ages. Like this assignment, I compose my assignments in Word, and then Cut and Paste them into the course website.
2.Have you turned your "remembering" (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device?
My cell phone remembers all of my phone numbers (Speed Dial) and my computer remembers my email contacts, Favorite websites, and the date and time of activities. The reminders sent from my calendar are very helpful.
3. Do you go to meetings with your laptop or PDA?
My laptop goes with me on vacation, to class, and just about anywhere I happen to be. I use my cell phone to text message my daughter and friends.
4.Are you constantly connected? Is the Internet always on whether you are at home or work? Is your cell phone always with you?
One or both computers at home are always on. The Internet is always on whether at home or work. My cell phone is with me 24/7. I only turn it off during a movie but I turn it on as soon as the movie is over. I also use it to text message.
5. How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
While I am working on my computer, like now, I also have the TV one, volume down. I can also talk on the phone while working on the computer, if necessary
6. Do you play video or computer games?
I don’t play video or computer games but I do play games on my computer. I play Spider Solitaire on my computer rather than playing with an actual deck of cards on my desk. I also enjoy Second Life. I have a neat avatar, much thinner, prettier, and younger than me. I am learning how to move around in SL and how to communicate with the people I meet there.
7. What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few?
As I stated earlier, I am a Baby Boomer but I think of myself as a Digital Explorer because I have sought out technology and have taught myself how to use different apps because I was interested not only as an assignment.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Electronic Portfolios as Digital Stories of Deep Learning
My entire academic career from First Grade to the Present has, in my perspective, focused on proving to my teachers what I have learned. The perspective has been the Assessment of Learning rather than aiding in my learning and synthesizing knowledge. Portfolios have the potential to provide Assessment for Learning. This is a new perspective for me. Being a task oriented person; I am very conscientious in completing the course assignments. As an assignment is completed it is checked off the To Do list and never given a second thought.
Assessment for Learning, which is learner centered and controlled, is a more productive approach, I believe. This is the first app I have encountered that I have been excited about for my own learning. The other apps I have encountered I evaluated them in how they would aid in my delivery of course content to my students. But this, the portfolio, is exciting for its potential to aid me in my learning. Having one place to collect examples of my learning along with my reflections on my learning and my plans for future learning is very liberating for me. I am in charge of my own learning and assessment! Portfolios have a great potential to aid in learning if it is learner controlled and learner centered. Creating and developing my ePortfolio has already energized me to think about “The Story” of my learning. Before reading the articles associated with this unit, I saw creating the ePortfolio as just another assignment to check off the list. Now, I am excited to have all my work in one area so I can truly reflect on what each activity meant individually and what they all mean collectively. This will an excellent tool to integrate and clarify my learning and the impact of my learning on my intellectual development and maturity.
Assessment for Learning, which is learner centered and controlled, is a more productive approach, I believe. This is the first app I have encountered that I have been excited about for my own learning. The other apps I have encountered I evaluated them in how they would aid in my delivery of course content to my students. But this, the portfolio, is exciting for its potential to aid me in my learning. Having one place to collect examples of my learning along with my reflections on my learning and my plans for future learning is very liberating for me. I am in charge of my own learning and assessment! Portfolios have a great potential to aid in learning if it is learner controlled and learner centered. Creating and developing my ePortfolio has already energized me to think about “The Story” of my learning. Before reading the articles associated with this unit, I saw creating the ePortfolio as just another assignment to check off the list. Now, I am excited to have all my work in one area so I can truly reflect on what each activity meant individually and what they all mean collectively. This will an excellent tool to integrate and clarify my learning and the impact of my learning on my intellectual development and maturity.
Monday, June 14, 2010
MAPping Posting
I went to the Victorian Robots website. I decided it was just for fun! The information was too outlandish to be true. (A robot helped Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.) My research indicated this was a commercial web site. The author sold t-shirts and comics, in addition to having a page about Victorian Robots. Using a Search Engine, a link to an article about the website, indicated that approximately 30% of the visitors to the website believed the information concerning the Victorian Robots. That was surprising and disturbing. Relevance was the factor I thought was used in determining the order links appeared in the Search Engine results. This had the greatest impact on my opinion of search results. I usually chose the first two or three results because I thought they were more relevant to my needs. Now I know the order is determined by the number of hits a website receives that matches a search.
Students must learn to ascertain the motivation for a website. Is the author providing factual information or is there an agenda the author is promoting? This is an important issue if we are going to have an informed public and not a misinformed public.
Delicious and Google Reader are applications I am not yet comfortable with using. I feel overwhelmed with all the information and how to use it. They seem like a better alternative than bookmarking since they can be accessed from any computer. I usually go through the following stages when I encounter a new application:
1. Neat but complicated
2. Totally overwhelmed-have to walk away for a while.
3. Look in on a few times-talk to a few people.
4. Go back and create an account and try to use the application.
5. With time, I finally feel comfortable with the application-example I now love jing.
Microcomputer Applications is the wiki I created. I have taught this course several times and I find the lecture method boring for the students and not the best way to deliver the course content. The wiki offers opportunity for the students to get personally involved in their own learning. Videos and diagrams can be uploaded to demonstrate student understanding. Disadvantages to wikis are some students may try to “hog” information input. Other students may try to cut and paste information rather than reading and understanding their entry. Wikis fit in with the digital natives habit and skill of making short entries, often, and being continually connected.
Other Web 2.0 technologies that I would like to learn more about are Second Life and DimDim. The university SciFi Club meets in Second Life occasionally. I enjoy the idea of an avatar environment but learning how to navigate the environment seems very complicated to me. I had used DimDim in another course and found it to be similar to ClassLive. Having this tool for a school offers teachers another way to interact with their students.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
First Post
Putting my philosophy of education in writing helped me to clarify for myself what my philosophy is. This will act as a guide to my further study. Knowing it will probably change over time encourages continual thought on my philosophy.
Blogging has the potential of allowing students to have equal access to the teacher and their classmates. The more outgoing or confident students will not dominate the conversation. The restrictions many school districts put on blogs make it difficult for teachers and students to express themselves freely.
The area in Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning that resonated with me is having live video in every classroom. As a teacher I am very aware of the discipline problems faced by many public school teachers. With live video in each classroom, parents can look in and see how their child is behaving. Teachers will also be motivated to present meaningful lessons.
Blogging has the potential of allowing students to have equal access to the teacher and their classmates. The more outgoing or confident students will not dominate the conversation. The restrictions many school districts put on blogs make it difficult for teachers and students to express themselves freely.
The area in Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning that resonated with me is having live video in every classroom. As a teacher I am very aware of the discipline problems faced by many public school teachers. With live video in each classroom, parents can look in and see how their child is behaving. Teachers will also be motivated to present meaningful lessons.
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