scavenger hunts

Scavenger hunts are awesome because they can be done by anyone, whether or not they have access to technology or not.  They are especially useful for history because they require doing research.  In turn, research aids students in developing their own conclusions.  Scavenger hunts can have people, places, things, phrases, or anything relevant to a topic on them.  THen, the students are tasked with researching and explaining why what it is, is important. They can findo ut by reading books or articles online.  We then can discuss the findings in class.  This task is general and broad, allowing students to be creative and original.

Adaptive technology

Adaptive technology rules.  This stuff makes a general education available to almost anyone, even people with severe disabilities.  THe technology allows students to view websites, even if they are blind, hear, even though they are deaf, type, even without control of their hands, and learn despite their disadvantages.  Every modification has been made to technology that most privileged people take for granted, so that those who can't use it can.  Keys on keyboards are made larger, track balls are larger and less sensitive, text is enlarged, websites can be read aloud.  It takes a lot of practice to learn how to use this space aged technology, and most people can't afford it, but for those who can, life is changed.  The day that inner city schools get this stuff will be the day that the achievement gap is eliminated, but one can hope.  The fact that this technology even exists, for a small but constantly growing population, represents a feat of magnificent magnitude.  It means that someone out there, probably someone trying to make a buck off of someone else's misfortune, or that person him or herself, cares enough to create this adaptive technology.
Maybe someday, the people who need this technology to live a more equal life will be able to afford it on their own, or with the help of a government and population that currently ignores them as much as possible.

web 2.0

I did my web 2.0 on DIIGO.  I like  this website because it is a social networking site that is based on useful information.  I do not use facebook because I can't stand seeing what other people waste their time doing.  However, this website connects people with similar interests regarding information.  For instance, people who read a lot of political articles online are introduced to each other.  This website would be useful to use in school because students would have paper free access to current event articles and other websites that i wanted them to see. It consolidates what I want into a single place so that students can avoid nonsensical websites.  I can also make notes and highlight what I want on other websites.  Then, all students will be able to see my notes and highlights.  I can post qeustions and highlight the aprts that I am referring to.

However, many students do not have internet access at their homes, so I could not possibly rely on this, or any other website for homework assignments.

Podcasting

Podcasts can be made by anyone with the required technology.  Podcasts can be made on garageband about anything that the recorder wants to talk about.  A person can record his or her voice and add pictures which will show while the persons' voice is playing.  As a teacher, I could use podcast to record more difficult lectures and lessons. The students could then access it on their own time and play it as many times as they need to.  They could focus on specific parts, such as the casuses of the Civil War, or the Battle of Gettysburg.

However, many students at inner city schools, such as south philly, or another one that i probably will get a job at, do not have mac computers.  Nor do the libraries have them.  Therefore, many students would not be able to make their own podcasts, or even listen to mine.

10.17

Today we started class by discussing upcoming assignments.  We have a newsletter and brochure due at the end of the month.  We practiced making out own newsletter and then looked at others'.  This is a super useful skill to know because it is a very easy and catchy way to communicate with parents.  It is quick and easy and if done well, it will draw parents' eyes to important information.  Moreover, we watched three presentations of websites which are useful to use as a teacher. I really like the idea of using flickr in the classroom because most students are drawn to pictures.  The more pictures I can show in my class, the more interested they will be in the lesson. Visualization also helps them understand and learn the information.

10.10

Today we discussed our Web 2.0 projects.  We have to select from a premade list a single website that we will present to the class through a powerpoint presentation.  We watched an example of a video that another person made about a bookmarking website.  We learned about the factors that must be considered to make a good powerpoint. This is very important because I will use powerpoints in my classroom and it will need to keep the students' attention, but not distract them from the lesson.
Next, we learned about giving the presentation.  It is important to keep students attention and not insult them by reading what is on the slides.
We made our own powerpoints to display our understanding of the important aspects of making powerpoints.

Excel Spreadsheet

Today we learned some some useful tools in Microsoft Excel.  We learned how to make grade books and turn them into different graphs.  When fluent with the program, this can be a very important and useful tool.    It is a good way to keep students' grades neat and organized.  When using the spreadsheet grades can easily be changed and distributed to parents and students.  They can also be charted to see students shortcomings on tests, topics, and individual questions.  With this information the teacher can focus his or her attention on where the most students struggled. For example if all the students did fairly well on a specific test but the graph shows one question with very low marks, that question may be erroneous.  Likewise, if a single student's bar on the class' graph is lower than his or her classmates, that student may need extra help. Over the course of the class I will be able to see whether or not low scores are consistent. If they are, it would indicate a learning disability or other factors leading to low achievement.  I would definitely need to meet with the student in private.

10.3

Today we discussed standards and how to hold teachers accountable for their students.  We discussed formative and summative assessments.  Neither of these, do I feel, are appropriate measures of teacher success.  When a student comes into 9th grade at a 5th grade reading level and leaves at an 8th grade level, the test will reflect failure onto that teacher. However, that is a very successful teacher.  Other classes that pass the end of the year test may not have had as much progress as that teacher.  Instead, we must look at progress made over the course of the year.  To do this would mean more work for everyone involved, but accuracy and accountability would improve drastically.  We must use graphs and charts to display progress made, NOT end of the year skills.   We also briefly discussed the CORE standards which will be put in place soon.  No Child LEft Behind was also mentioned.

What I learned 9.12

Technology is a very important part of teaching and learning in our schools today. It is a very useful tool, but does not assume that students with technology will be more successful in the classroom.  It is crucial that as a teacher, I know how to use technology for several reasons. First of all, students will expect technology to be used.  Videos, pictures, powerpoints, etc.  will help me appeal to a wide variety of learners.  It will keep the students' attention. However, more importantly, I must teach my students how and when to use technology.  Given the right circumstances, the internet can lend itself to learning on students' own time. For instance, it is much easier for students to do research on the internet than it is for them to go to a library.  Moreover, students will need to be proficient with technology for the job market after school.  Future employers will almost certainly demand a sufficient understanding of technology from new hires. In the classroom, the more I can involve the students, the better.  If they are participating and I resist classes which are only lectures, I will have better results as a teacher.
In addition, there are many differences between digital  natives and immigrants.  Natives are much more familiar and used to using technology. Therefore, they are more comfortable turning first to technology to solve problems. For instance, they may turn immediately to the internet to find the answer of a questions instead of the library.  On the other hand, an immigrant may turn to technology only after he or she has exhausted all other options.

The Differences Between Classrooms of Last Century and Today

Teaching and learning has changed significantly over the last century.  It is important for teachers to recognize these changes so that they can adapt and become comfortable in an ever changing environment. Failure to do so will certainly have endless negative effects on our students.  Today, students play a more active role in their own learning. Teachers  allow students to learn by doing and monitor their progress, interacting when necessary. Students may build models, research, or create projects instead of listening to lectures. Next, each subject relates to each other.  That means that skills learned in one class are needed in another. The topics may be loosely related or even an extension of a single lesson which applies to more than one subject.  Thirdly, students have many more resources at their disposal than they did a century ago.  Students not only have an endless supply of books, but they also have technology including computers, the internet,  and other software programs.  Students who need varying levels of attention are afforded it through individualized lessons and programs.  Importantly, the goal of school has changed.  It is no longer for students to learn facts. Rather, successful schooling is marked with students understanding how to learn on their own.  If a student knows how to ask questions and subsequently find answers to those questions, he can learn anything he or she wants to. Therefore, assessments have had to change as well. They no longer call for students to repeat facts that they heard in the classroom.  Instead students use projects and presentations to demonstrate what they have learned.  This gives the students a freedom to express what they learned on a wider scale.
To be a successful teacher today, one would have had to adapt from the 20th century.  The teacher is no longer the sole facilitator of learning.  Instead he or she has an active role and must stay active to be successful.  Teachers must work with one another and administrators to ensure they are using the most up to date methods and curriculums.  Teachers also must be aware of individual studetns' learning styles and appeal to all of them.  Meanwhile, the teacher must also institute cooperation amongst the students themselves.  They must work together in order to learn skills needed in the real world.  Social skills and teamwork are crucial skills that do not necessarily fall within the normal boundaries of classroom learning.  Next, teachers must continuously update their superiors, other teachers, and parents on the progress of the class and individual students.  Perhaps one or more students is struggling and may require extra help.  The teaching profession has evolved significantly in the past century and if we want to keep up on the World stage, we must be committed to keeping up with that change.