My experiences with blogging has been incredible. Before this class I never have had a blog or really know what it was. Now I believe I have been quite a little computer geek. I can express my thoughts and ideas on different topics and go back and remember things that I had forgot we had done. Blogs could defiantly be used in the classroom.
I choose to read Ashley Denson's blog. I still can not figure out how to get the music on my blog page, but I would love to know how to! Ashley put a picture on almost every blog post she did. It is obvious that she, unlike many people, put time and effort into her assignments. I enjoyed reading all of her posts
There are many positive things that come out of using blogging in the classroom. First you can keep up with others ideas and thoughts electronically. Also you can put all your projects to be graded on one page to view.
While I love blogging and plan to try to use it in my future classroom I could see from a parents perspective in that the internet is not a safe place. I can view lots of blogs of adults that may not be acceptable for elemetary students to view. This negative view of blogging could be elimated with blogging certain sites, but there will always be new blogs made each day. It is hard to weed out the bad from the good.
Overall I enjoyed blogging and hope that I too can someday use blogs in my classroom. There are so many great things about blogs and I am happy that I am leaving this class more familiar with how to use them!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Duke University - Center for Documentary Studies
South Africa is not always thought of as the honeymoon getaway. It is commonly known to many as the country in turmoil. One of the largest issues in their country is HIV and AIDS. More and more grandparents become the sole providers of the house hold due to their children dying from AIDS. Due to the illness and the affect on the country, it is everyday leaving children and young adults more susceptible to violence then ordinary people of that age.
Luckily the are some programs to help the youth in South Africa. It is known their as role playing. It lets people know that they are not alone. It is just like a skit, except you have the support of other students. I think these are some great programs they have.
This film was showcased by Duke University, but was created by the students in South Africa. The South Africa students wanted to express that they are the future and that is something that can not be changed. No matter what they go through in life they WILL be the next generation. This video can be found on itunes university under Duke's center for documentation studies.
Luckily the are some programs to help the youth in South Africa. It is known their as role playing. It lets people know that they are not alone. It is just like a skit, except you have the support of other students. I think these are some great programs they have.
This film was showcased by Duke University, but was created by the students in South Africa. The South Africa students wanted to express that they are the future and that is something that can not be changed. No matter what they go through in life they WILL be the next generation. This video can be found on itunes university under Duke's center for documentation studies.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Podcasts From Our Class
So I just got done listening to a few podcasts from our class. I listened mine as well as three others. There were so many great things about the podcasts, but there is defiantly room for improvement.
My podcast which I did with Tina Dillen was about how the internet is used in our education classes here at south. While we really had a conversation throughout the podcast I felt I talked rather fast. Of course I was a little nervous! Given the opportunity to do it again I do not feel like I should have prepared any more then we did.
I also listening to the podcast called blogs and blogging. Silas Smith, Andrea Williams, and Lashonda Pruitt discussed blogs and blogging and how they can be used in teaching. Their podcast was one of the funniest to me just because Silas made fun of Mississippi schools and he is from there! There conversation was great, but I felt all the people did not each have the equal amount of input into the conversation.
As for the others that I read, I feel as though some of the groups rehearsed what they were going to say before so they did not seem to be having a real conversation. Everyone talks in different ways, but in a lot of the podcasts people did not put in emotion nor enthusiaism into their conversations.
My podcast which I did with Tina Dillen was about how the internet is used in our education classes here at south. While we really had a conversation throughout the podcast I felt I talked rather fast. Of course I was a little nervous! Given the opportunity to do it again I do not feel like I should have prepared any more then we did.
I also listening to the podcast called blogs and blogging. Silas Smith, Andrea Williams, and Lashonda Pruitt discussed blogs and blogging and how they can be used in teaching. Their podcast was one of the funniest to me just because Silas made fun of Mississippi schools and he is from there! There conversation was great, but I felt all the people did not each have the equal amount of input into the conversation.
As for the others that I read, I feel as though some of the groups rehearsed what they were going to say before so they did not seem to be having a real conversation. Everyone talks in different ways, but in a lot of the podcasts people did not put in emotion nor enthusiaism into their conversations.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Mathematics with Technology
Using technology can make math more student centered, Judy Chandler, math teacher, and technology integration specialist thinks that technology is essential for teaching mathematics. The National Council for teaching math, states that technology is essential for teaching math, and have included it as ONE of the SIX principles for teaching math.
Judy Chandler also talks about how teachers should see technology as a tool instead of an add on and then technology would become affective. She is afraid this is one the factors pushing teachers away from technology use in math. Students already know how to use technology better than a lot of adults. By using technology we are giving them tools to see examples visually! This is a great thing.
Her next podcast is on thinking mathematically. In most classrooms math is taught by repetition. When thinking mathematically we get students students into the lesson and do not just have them memorize. For example when teaching math, have students volunteer to teach problems on the board. Don't force them, but allow peer help when a student finishes and his/her work is checked to make sure he/she is doing it right. They learn not only subject matter but how to think mathematically.
One way I can do this is by asking questions to guide and to encourage learning in my own classroom. Don't see the glass half empty, instead see it half full!
Judy Chandler also talks about how teachers should see technology as a tool instead of an add on and then technology would become affective. She is afraid this is one the factors pushing teachers away from technology use in math. Students already know how to use technology better than a lot of adults. By using technology we are giving them tools to see examples visually! This is a great thing.
Her next podcast is on thinking mathematically. In most classrooms math is taught by repetition. When thinking mathematically we get students students into the lesson and do not just have them memorize. For example when teaching math, have students volunteer to teach problems on the board. Don't force them, but allow peer help when a student finishes and his/her work is checked to make sure he/she is doing it right. They learn not only subject matter but how to think mathematically.
One way I can do this is by asking questions to guide and to encourage learning in my own classroom. Don't see the glass half empty, instead see it half full!
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