Something Catchy

Wikis for Classroom Use

2008-01-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

Before Technology for Educators class, I really didn't know much about wikis. I had spent time on wikipedia.com, but thought it only to be a site with shady information. After being instructed to check out some websites where students had collaborated to comprise a wiki, I found that they could be much more than just an non credible source for research papers. A couple of the sites I visited were:

These sites showed me that, if done correctly, wikis can be conducive to learning. Another site that I visited (http://www.diglib.org/pubs/execsumm/wikiexecsumm.htm) listed some benefits of creating a wiki. The site focuses most on the benefit of working collaboratively with fellow students or employees. I can definitely see the good that comes from having students work together and pool their research to make a wiki. I would have my students build on past students' work in order to provide more depth to the research.

My Copyright Action Plan

2008-01-08T08:59:00.000-06:00

Plagiarism: it's a concept that is taboo in the education world. As a student, and soon to be teacher, it is something that I need to have a full understanding of to remain responsible. To get a better understanding of plagiarism, I have to understand the intricacies of copyrighting and the laws associated it. As a future educator, I want to get a clearer picture of what I can and cannot do in my classroom.

The first concern I had about copyright laws and how they might affect my teaching was with the regulations on printed materials. I want to be able to have access to materials that could supplement my lessons without committing any infractions to copyright laws. I learned from the "fair use" act as well as a list of regulations at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/copyright/finaldoc.pdf that printed materials can be used to supplement lessons for educators as long as they fall in line with the rules of copyright. After finding that out, I was relieved to still have the capability to rely on supportive material.

Another area of concern was the use of the Internet. I know that there is a lot on the web, both good and bad. In other words, the Internet contains very valuable resources as well as hoaxes and false information. After looking at the same site that is listed above, I found out that Internet usage is comparable to the use of printed materials. There are restrictions to using certain items or quantities of sources, but with permission, the Internet can very well be used to supplement lessons. This was also a relief because I know from experience that the Internet can enhance learning.

On a side note, I learned that no more than 10 percent of a work can be used without permission. This is good to know.

My action plan for teaching concerning these laws is pretty simple. I believe it is my responsibility to keep the students interested in the material that I teach. But, at the same time, it is also my responsibility to maintain my integrity and credibility by teaching good work habits for my students. This includes, using academic honesty and not cutting corners just to make something easier. I fully intend to maintain my credibility by following the regulations. I am not saying that I will never have a mishap, but to best of my ability, I will give my students the best education they can have while staying honest and legal.

Multimedia in the Classroom

2008-01-04T20:32:00.000-06:00

People often suggest that we live in the technology era, and with good reason. The world has changed so much in the last 20 years because of the progressions made in different technologies. A couple of technologies that have played a role in this advancement are audio and video. It is crazy to believe that these two forms of media are pretty low-key compared with some of the other technologies in our world today. Both audio and video, although not very interactive, can enhance a classroom experience.

Our textbook does a very nice job of laying out some advantages for both audio and video use in the classroom. I'm going to list a few for both audio and video.

Audio:

Provides a verbal message to enhance learning --> Helps students that struggle with reading
Web-based audio often provides most current information available
Very effective when teaching a foreign language
Stimulating --> Adds alternative way of teaching that the students aren't used to

Video:

Grabs the attention better than text or still photos can
Shows processes more effectively
Ability to observe in a risk-free environment
Effective emotional impact --> useful in shaping personal and social attitudes
Allows for a better understanding of various cultures

Audio and video have their place in all contents. Having a social science background, I could use the speeches of someone like Martin Luther King Jr. or show a dramatization or documentary of the lives of people in wars past and/or present to enhance a history class. All of these possibilities are more than likely going to be available to me because of the increase of computer and multimedia use in classrooms. High school history teachers have so much technology at their finger tips now days that can enhance the learning of students. We don't need to rely so much on lectures and slide shows anymore. We can actually watch events that are taking place in the world today and compare them with events that occurred years ago. The ceiling of what we can use to teach has been lifted very high for teachers today.

With the introduction of Smart Boards into classrooms, it is nearly certain that I will teach in a classroom that has this technology or something similar at some point. I don't know a whole lot about this technology right now, but I would use it in my classroom. I would have timelines where the students drag events to the right dates. It could be used with maps to show where events took place in a war or something to that effect. I am sure there are many more possibilities, but I would have to gain a better understanding of the Smart Board technology to figure them out.

What is Media?

2008-01-04T20:11:00.001-06:00

Our class textbook defines media as "the means of communication" and "anything that carries information between a source and a receiver." There are different forms or types of media which can be split into two groups: projected media and non-projected media. Projected media requires the use of devices to display information. This form of media includes devices like Power Point, overhead projectors, videos, etc. Non-projected media, on the other hand, does not need additional display devices. This type of media includes pictures, charts, graphs, etc. The goal of most media is to make the abstract, or verbal symbols, more concrete for the receiver.

I plan on using a variety of media in my classroom when I begin teaching. I believe teachers should be flexible and resourceful when it comes to teaching methods. They need to present the material using the medium best suited for the material, but more importantly, best suited for the students in order for the students to get a better comprehension of the information being presented.

quote

2008-01-03T10:56:00.000-06:00

"Whenever I feel like I'm getting sick I stop being sick and start being awesome!"
- Barney from How I Met Your Mother