Technology in Review

Well, my class has completed its course (so to speak...) As I sit here, avoiding the impending shoveling that I have to do, I decided to reflect upon the last 6-8 weeks of class (tough choice, huh?)

Anyway, here's what I'm walking away with...

1. Technology is a tool, a tool that has numerous uses, so long as we use them.
2. Assess the path the students take to get to their end product, not just the end product.
3. I may have to adjust some of my styles in order to help the students reach their goals (i.e. Conversation can be good!)
4. All the tools in the world can't help if you don't know how to use them (i.e. TRAINING!!!)
5. There will be times where I'll be learning from the students.
6. Take the time to evaluate what you use before you use it.

I could go on and on, but that's just a start. I think the one thing that scares me is that some of what I'm learning NOW might be obsolete in 1 1/2 years when I graduate. That's how quick technology evolves, and we must always be ready for that next wave of learning. If not, it's not we that suffer, but our children. Deep, huh?

Have a great holiday season!

The future...

This week's focus-The future of technology, and more importantly, how does that affect me as a teacher?

First and foremost, I think the reality is that technology has advanced at a scary rate over the last 10 years. To just think about what is slowly disappearing (floppy disks, CD players, etc) and what is rapidly growing (iPod, Blogs, mySpace/Facebook) makes me think that today's teacher has to be immersed in today's technological world. From my standpoint, I see a lot of resistance; there are a lot of teachers out there who are more than happy to let "next year's teacher" deal with it. On top of that, there's the reality that kids are exposed to things that teachers aren't, and might not have any clue what to do. How can a teacher prepare a class to do a podcast if they have no clue of knowing what it is?

The main thing that worries me is that we may spend so much time prepping for items like this when the next wave is approaching. What to do? Part of me isn't sure; I want my kids to be aware of everything that they can do, but how can I build onto the future when I don't know what the future holds? I remind you, iPods didn't exist when I was in college, and I graduated in 1997! My, how things have changed...

Just....InTime

This week's agenda: Look at some videos online about incorporating technology with the classroom. After 3 days of pain-inducing discomfort of trying to get Real Player to work, I was finally able to pull a video or two to watch and observe. Once I was actually was able to watch it, I was able to pull some decent ideas from it. I watched a high school video (might as well see what my kids are expected to know in a few years...) and felt comfortable about what I'm doing. The idea that I pulled was incorporating technology as a tool to make projects. In this case, they were making a museum of information about the ocean. I would've liked to see more creative examples of what the kids were doing, but then again, who knows what I'd do with a camera on me.

Anyway, could this be a good tool? Sure, if you have staff interested in learning from it. My problem is that I still have staff that don't want to use the computer for minimal usage; I don't exactly see motivation to observe ideas online taking flight. Doesn't mean I'll give up, but I can foresee some resistance down the road...

Anyone else out there used InTime? How'd it work for you?

Solving Problems

This week's topic-Using the computer to solve problems.

I actually am trying to use this with the class.  I think that this is as good an idea as any to use in the class; below are some ideas that I'm thinking of using with my class as real "problems."

Possible topics for solving problems

1. Options for dealing with budget cuts in the school system.
2. How to handle money problems in the house.
3. Being treated as a kid Vs. Being treated as an adult.
4. School issues (i.e. Gum, Clubs, etc.)  

I'm sure that there are other ideas out there, but I've been painting rooms in my house for the last 3 days, so I'm out of ideas.  

As for organization, my district has been pushing for use of Inspiration, and I'm fine with that.  i actually like the program so far, and it does help organize ideas.  Again, that's the main idea that I have, but I think that there are more out there.

Well, gotta run, but as always, please post, so I don't look like a total bonehead with no responses....

Spreadsheets-Nothing Witty to Say...

This week's topic:  Spreadsheets.  More importantly, how do we use them with our students?  For me, this actually isn't too bad, as I've used spreadsheets quite a bit throughout the last few years with my class.  To be honest, I've mainly used them with my class to help design bar graphs and line graphs and the sort.  I guess I need to figure out where to use them next.  So, without further ado, here are some ideas that I have.  Feel free to add what I forgot...

Uses for Spreadsheets

1. Statistics
2. Conversion charts
3. Organization of notes
4. Making a table, graph, or chart
5. Magic Square (I stole that from class...)

After that, I'm stuck.  To be honest, I miss the database.  I'd like to figure out how to use the Spreadsheet like a Database, but it's been awhile.

Well, that's it for now.  My ideas are spread thin (he he he), so I'll see what all of you can add...

Online Publishing...Part 2!

Well, it's the middle of the week, and I've attempted to install the usage of Google Docs with my 6th grade classroom.  I do have to say, the writing part of it has gone very well, as I've been able to respond to my class quite frequently and continue with improving their papers.  The negative?  Oh wait, here it comes....the set-up is PAIN INDUCING!!!  Oh man, it's not easy setting up all of those accounts with the huge e-mail that our district uses (not a knock on my district, just a really LONG account to type...)  And yikes, the fun that I had with password set-up.  All in all, I'd recommend it, but please, don't think that you can take your class into the lab and instantly get it set up.  You'll drive yourself MAD!!!

Online Publishing...The Wave of the Future?

So this week's class assignment was to look into online publishing sites, and how to incorporate them into the class.  After seeing all the freeware that existed (glad I just bought Office 2007...), it then came into focus as to how to use this within the class.  I thought I'd give it a try, so I started the initial set-up with my class, and we'll be doing this throughout the week with my class.  So here's my review thus far:

Positives

• Kids seem interested in ANYTHING involving the computer.
• Feedback could be immediate-I can even give feedback on their paper as they're writing.
• Saves paper (guess I can buy some Birkenstocks, or whatever eco-friendly wear today's kids are wearing...)
• Saves me the time of HANDWRITING my responses (be glad I'm typing this blog--if it was handwritten, that would be another story...)

Negatives

• Takes away some of the humanization of teaching.  I've learned some of the kids' personalities by sitting with them and reading their papers with them.
• Once this is at home, there's no proof that the kids wrote this--technically, anyone could write it, and there's a HUGE trust factor that has to be present.
• Not every student has access to a computer at home.

As you can see, there's positive and negative.  For right now, I'm in the middle.  I'll give an update as to the success or failure later in the week.

How about you?  Any opinions on online word processing? (For the record, I'm using Google Docs right now.)  Let me know...

The Wonders of Online Shopping

You know, for the most part, I've rarely had a problem with online shopping.  I've bought hundreds of things over the years, and even when the occasional item got stolen from my old apartment (who on Earth really wanted a DVD copy of Basket Case-not making that up...), I'd get a replacement free of charge.

Well, I finally have a negative.  I ordered a book for my class that I'm taking.  2 weeks ago.  With a seller that hasn't responded back to me in a week.  Gotta love it.  So, what on Earth does this have to do with technology?  Simple.  ONLINE BOOKS, word!  

Yep, I found what I needed online, so thank you, thank you, thank you, www.coursesmart.com!!!  (not a shill, and it definitely isn't free, but, man, what a life saver!

So, the lesson for the day:  Technology can be a great friend sometimes.  When I have Thanksgiving this year, I know what I'm thankful for....

Great Idea in Theory

Don't you wish all kids had this option?

I knew about this, because a few kids in my class are currently applying for this.  What comes to mind is, what happens after this?  I think it's great that families are getting a chance to get technology, even if it's not financially feasible.  However, what the family said in the article struck a chord:  How do they use it now?

This flashed into my mind when I was at my grad. school class this week.  I often create notes for my kids to use in Math using Powerpoint.  However, what to do when a family doesn't have it?  I've started experimenting with a few online sites that have the same features as Powerpoint.  Why?  More accessibility.  Just because I have a program doesn't mean that everyone else has it.  I guess that I have to be more open to other programs that are out there in order to get my help out to a bigger audience.

Anyway, there are perks are pains.  Some of the features were similar.  I like Powerpoint more, simply because there seems to be more features, and it's a tad easier to navigate.  Of course, when you pay for software, you would expect that.  It's manageable, and I think that I'll toy around with some online tools in the future; however, I think we need to get the families of our kids used and introduced to these programs, too.  There's a lot out there; if it overwhelms me, I can only imagine what it would do to a family who has a computer for the first time ever...

Good Google?

Anyone else have the same struggles that I have with Google?

http://http://www.informationweek.com/news/services/hosted_apps/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211201751

Consider me a newbie, but I felt like a moron trying to request help on some of the Google applications that I'm trying to set up. Frustration almost to the point of going back to what I was using before....

How's Google treating you? I'd love to know.

Hey, a way to save districts on increasing health costs...

Man, that could have saved me a lot of money over the summer when I bruised my ribs...

http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/64917.html

That brings up the question: Any household items that you've found to have an unheard of 2nd use? Nothing nasty, I have a reputation to uphold...Sorta