This was my first ever online course and I found it to be the best course I have ever taken. The material was relavent and informative. My first reaction was fear of not being able to complete the required activity because I felt it would be over my head. I soon learned that with Lori's directions and help from others I was able to be successful without to many issues. This class has been great learning experience and helped to boost my confidence in the classroom and at home when it comes to using online tools. I no longer feel afraid to try new technology. I have gained a new understanding of how useful the internet and it's tools can be as a teaching and learning tool.
I love the use of blogging and communicating this way. Not only did it give me the opportunity to practice using my blog but also to stay connected with others. I was able to gain insight from the the other participants that I may not have otherwise had. I especially liked the idea of online courses as it allows you to do the course at your own speed and still not feel left out or that you are missing something. I really look forward to more online courses. I would definitly take another one although I'm afraid I don't have any ideas what to do it on. I will leave that up to you.
This format is a huge success as far as I can see. Lori has done a great job of making the course suitable for even the most challenged of us. This class has given a new confidence and desire to continue learning about new technology.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Time for Reflection 3
Everything I know about new technology trends in education I learned in FALL 07 - Issues, Trends, and Tools in Education and Technology in a Web 2.0 World. Basically I had heard the terms blog and wiki but that was the extent of my knowledge. I found this course to be a great way to learn new technology. I could work at my own pace and didn't feel any pressure to keep up with the class. The directions were wonderfully easy and clear. Great Job! I enjoyed reading the post and learning from others in the class. There is a lot of information in this class that I am already using and will continue to use. I feel good about the knowledge that will help me stay current with the student. I feel confident I will be able to help students use the information I have gained from this class.
There is nothing I could think of that I would change about the course. I have gained a great deal of confidence in my abilities and knowledge of resources the internet has to offer.
I look forward to taking another class that will expand on my new found confidence. I am ready to take on the web! Thanks Lori!
There is nothing I could think of that I would change about the course. I have gained a great deal of confidence in my abilities and knowledge of resources the internet has to offer.
I look forward to taking another class that will expand on my new found confidence. I am ready to take on the web! Thanks Lori!
School 2.0
I believe that in the next generation schools will have to face the changes that are inevitable. There is no doubt that technology will allow us to change our approach to education. I believe the question is how do we make ourselves relevant. The students today are exposed to much more online communication and electronic communication than we have ever expericenced. We have to be able to bring the learning to the students as apposed to bringing students to the learning. We are seeing that change in our schools today with the access they have to computers.
I think that School 2.0 is a great vision, however with budget crisis and limited resources I don't know how practical it is to assume that every school district could afford to renovate their buidings to accomadate the vision. The School 2.0 idea is the first step toward taking learning out of the current school setting and into a wider community. The idea that I love is that of engaging students in learning instead of teaching students. Change doesn't come easy but if you want students to be knowledgeable, capable and responsible learners than you have to empower them to do so. That is what School 2.0 is about.
I am not sure what I would change because it is difficult to know what something will look like when you see it on paper. There is so much involved in the map and to be honest it is difficult to look at on the internet.
I think that School 2.0 is a great vision, however with budget crisis and limited resources I don't know how practical it is to assume that every school district could afford to renovate their buidings to accomadate the vision. The School 2.0 idea is the first step toward taking learning out of the current school setting and into a wider community. The idea that I love is that of engaging students in learning instead of teaching students. Change doesn't come easy but if you want students to be knowledgeable, capable and responsible learners than you have to empower them to do so. That is what School 2.0 is about.
I am not sure what I would change because it is difficult to know what something will look like when you see it on paper. There is so much involved in the map and to be honest it is difficult to look at on the internet.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Dr. Zhao
I am not sure where to begin. One minute I am nodding my head and thinking this sounds great and then I think how will we ever get from here to there? My reaction to these podcasts took on many changes from cheers to fears. I see a future where collaboration and communication are encouraged. Critical thinking allows our students learning beyond books and lectures. Students are connected to the world outside of the classroom and allows for learning that could not of otherwise happened. The use of technology helps students to seek information on their own and creates excitement for learning. They will learn lifelong skills, confidence in their ability to find answers on their own. They will not only be lifelong learners but lifelong communicators.
So along with that come the fears of the unknown. How do we meet state standards and what about all those exams they are required to pass. How do we control content and outside contacts? How do the teachers and other adults become comfortable with the new technology that students seem so comfortable with? Do we lose communacation skills on a personal level with all this new technology? So these were just a few of the questions that kept me wondering what will this new school look like because I am sure we will see some form of it in the future if not already.
So along with that come the fears of the unknown. How do we meet state standards and what about all those exams they are required to pass. How do we control content and outside contacts? How do the teachers and other adults become comfortable with the new technology that students seem so comfortable with? Do we lose communacation skills on a personal level with all this new technology? So these were just a few of the questions that kept me wondering what will this new school look like because I am sure we will see some form of it in the future if not already.
Collaborative Project
In my attempt to be creative and come up with an idea I could use in the Math classes I push into I came across "The Math Trail" project, http://www.nationalmathtrail.org/ . Here is an example of taking math out of the classroom and into the community. This is done by teaching students to work together as a team and connecting that activity with students across the country. The message is that math is everywhere. The students create problems based on math they discover in their neighborhoods, communities and region. The problems are classified by topics and grade level. The team has to indicate the Standard to which their problem correlates. Technology such as photographs, videos, power points, illustrations etc. are used to enhance the submission. I loved this project because it makes math relavent and answers that age old question, "When will I ever use this in my life?".
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