Finding Curriculum Resources...The HARD WAY...

This week's assignment-use the web to find resources for the class. That, in itself, is easy. You can pretty much type in anything, and you'll get what you're looking for. You may have to do a little bit of searching around, but you should be able to get what you want.

For me, though, that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was finding an authentic source to validate using this. I'll tell you what--one thing that's changed since I was in college is the huge number of online sites, blogs, etc. that have the same information that articles might have. In other words, man, it took FOREVER to narrow down some searches, and in some engines, I was nowhere near what I was looking for. I'm all in favor of using all of this technology, but it scares me just a tad to think that anyone could access this blog and CITE it!!! I think that's a careful line to walk; I wouldn't want to have my citations end up being some 13 year old's mySpace blog for support.

No matter how much information is out there, we still have to be careful about what information that we use. Even Wikipedia isn't the most trusted source; don't tell that to the students, though. They find it very easy to get the information that they need, without the thought of whether or not it's accurate.

So what am I rambling about? No matter how easy teachnology has made life, we still need to take the time to ensure that what we use is accurate and faithful to the source. If not, I shudder to think of future term papers peppered with LOL and BFF, with citations to back it up...

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!!!