Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Voicethread
I have been attempting to embed my Voicethread into my blog. However, the Voicethread automatically goes to Colton's Corner instead of my Digital Classroom by Smith! This is an attempt to trick it into the correct blog!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Stumble!
Stumble! is AWESOME! I have discovered so many sites through this process....sites that benefit my students and enrich my teaching. If I learn nothing more than this from the the Digital Classroom class, it has been well worth the time and effort! I have found inspirational web pages, great tutorials, and just fun places to explore. If you have not yet discovered Stumble!....check it out soon.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Reading Revolution: New Texts and New Technologies
Web 2.0 tools are providing new ways to help our students become better readers. Dr. Laurie Fowler, in her presentation "Reading Revolution: New Texts and New Technologies," focused on three main tools to help our students to develop 21st century reading skills. Blogs, "wikified" word walls and podcasts create new and engaging tools to develop better reading and comprehension skills.
The first tool, blogs (or weblogs) provide students with a safe place to respond to literature or to polish a response before making it public. Dr. Fowler examines the value of new texts available as ebooks, audio books and other alternative texts. She provided links for new texts that ranged from early elementary to secondary readers. A second tool includes wikis and word walls, a traditional technique transformed into the 21st century. Using wikis and programs such as Wordle, students work with words in a unique and interactive manner. Podcasts, the third tool, provide another means to respond to literature in the form of book reviews and audio responses. Vokis and gcasts are two methods to record student responses, both engaging and 21st century!
Now....why would I be interested in Web 2.0 tools for reading? A couple of reasons come to mind. The first is that I am always looking for ways to engage students! Blogs can be used for responding to literature....or art! Same tool, different use! Wikis can be used for word walls...and art terms. Podcasts can be created to demonstrate new learning or to respond to student work. Using the cell phone for a gcast appeals to high school students, particularly when the use of the phone is banned in classes (for non-academic use anyway)!
My second reason for choosing this presentation is a more personal one. I am working with my grandson on reading fluency. He is a bright young man with excellent phonetic and comprehension skills who struggles somewhat with fluency. He also loves technology! Anything I can create with technology seems more like play than work. I have created Colton's Corner, a blog to engage him in reading and writing. I have enlisted family help with this blog in order to create authentic reasons for him to engage in reading. I plan on using Wordle and wikis to highlight words that need extra work and gcasts and podcast to record his progress in fluency when reading aloud.
The first tool, blogs (or weblogs) provide students with a safe place to respond to literature or to polish a response before making it public. Dr. Fowler examines the value of new texts available as ebooks, audio books and other alternative texts. She provided links for new texts that ranged from early elementary to secondary readers. A second tool includes wikis and word walls, a traditional technique transformed into the 21st century. Using wikis and programs such as Wordle, students work with words in a unique and interactive manner. Podcasts, the third tool, provide another means to respond to literature in the form of book reviews and audio responses. Vokis and gcasts are two methods to record student responses, both engaging and 21st century!
Now....why would I be interested in Web 2.0 tools for reading? A couple of reasons come to mind. The first is that I am always looking for ways to engage students! Blogs can be used for responding to literature....or art! Same tool, different use! Wikis can be used for word walls...and art terms. Podcasts can be created to demonstrate new learning or to respond to student work. Using the cell phone for a gcast appeals to high school students, particularly when the use of the phone is banned in classes (for non-academic use anyway)!
My second reason for choosing this presentation is a more personal one. I am working with my grandson on reading fluency. He is a bright young man with excellent phonetic and comprehension skills who struggles somewhat with fluency. He also loves technology! Anything I can create with technology seems more like play than work. I have created Colton's Corner, a blog to engage him in reading and writing. I have enlisted family help with this blog in order to create authentic reasons for him to engage in reading. I plan on using Wordle and wikis to highlight words that need extra work and gcasts and podcast to record his progress in fluency when reading aloud.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Never Too Young
Sharon Betts' in "Never Too Young" shared three innovations or ideas about using technology with young children. I will admit that I had a two-fold purpose in selecting this presentation! First, I needed to select something for my class assignment! No brainer here! However, the reason I was intrigued with this title was my grandson Colton. I have been working with Colton on reading fluency over the past 6 months and realize that technology energizes his learning. It is much more fun to read Fry words on a PowerPoint than on a sheet of paper! I thought I might discover ideas to make our sessions more fun and allow him to learn technology along the way.
The first main topic is the use of VoiceThread, a conversation around various forms of media. I can see this potential as a record of his reading fluency and for a way to hear himself read. On a high school level, VoiceThread would be a powerful tool for art critiques and art history discussions....or discussions on any topic. The only drawback I see to this is the cost of the service. While it is not great, it might limit it's use in the classroom
Dipity, a timeline organizer, is the second idea Sharon Betts suggested. With the ability to include photos and images, this tool would provide a fun way to examine what was happening in the world during a particular art period. Student research would be easy to organize and visual through Dipity.
Blogging is the final technology tool recommended for young learners...even the very youngest! Because I believe reading and writing go hand in hand, I am going to set up a blog for my grandson to read and respond to and may even invite others to join in the discussion. What a way to make learning relevant! In the art classroom, blogging would allow my AP students to exchange ideas and comment on other's work....making my classes a learning community!
Although I had to download this presentation twice (the first time only half had audio), it was well worth the time and effort it took to view. Sharon Betts has a wikispace with additional links and resources as well as her presentation which can be accessed at Never Too Young. Although her presentation is targeted for teachers of young students, the principles and tools demonstrated are applicable to any age group!
The first main topic is the use of VoiceThread, a conversation around various forms of media. I can see this potential as a record of his reading fluency and for a way to hear himself read. On a high school level, VoiceThread would be a powerful tool for art critiques and art history discussions....or discussions on any topic. The only drawback I see to this is the cost of the service. While it is not great, it might limit it's use in the classroom
Dipity, a timeline organizer, is the second idea Sharon Betts suggested. With the ability to include photos and images, this tool would provide a fun way to examine what was happening in the world during a particular art period. Student research would be easy to organize and visual through Dipity.
Blogging is the final technology tool recommended for young learners...even the very youngest! Because I believe reading and writing go hand in hand, I am going to set up a blog for my grandson to read and respond to and may even invite others to join in the discussion. What a way to make learning relevant! In the art classroom, blogging would allow my AP students to exchange ideas and comment on other's work....making my classes a learning community!
Although I had to download this presentation twice (the first time only half had audio), it was well worth the time and effort it took to view. Sharon Betts has a wikispace with additional links and resources as well as her presentation which can be accessed at Never Too Young. Although her presentation is targeted for teachers of young students, the principles and tools demonstrated are applicable to any age group!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
art teacher
What Would Dr. Seuss Say about Online Communities?
From: geekygirldawn, 3 months ago
A Ignite format presentation about online communities told through learnings from Dr. Seuss.
SlideShare Link
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Reflections on New Learnings: PLN
Hmmm....new learnings! One thing I have learned is that I really need more hours in the day! I can lose a couple of hours playing with Stumble! and finding such awesome sites for both me and kids to use. Fonts, brushes, and textures, oh my! Drawing tools, photography, museums...even programming sites simple enough for a child to use.
I love the reinforcement of the importance of the arts on an education and for success after high school. Daniel Pink and others stress the creative side of the brain....and that an MFA will become as essential to business as an MBA.
Education is about more than tools, textbooks and tests...it is about creating knowledge and student learning. Education is about facilitating student discovery, not teacher directed delivery. Education is about the tools that make that learning engaging including Web 2.0 and Marzano.
While I have not yet developed an addiction to Twitter (not for lack of trying however), I have become a fan of Google Notebook and Reader and even like the look of my custom iGoogle page. Now, if it were not midnight (for the third time this week and it is only Wednesday), I would continue these thoughts....unfortunately, they will have to wait for another time.
I love the reinforcement of the importance of the arts on an education and for success after high school. Daniel Pink and others stress the creative side of the brain....and that an MFA will become as essential to business as an MBA.
Education is about more than tools, textbooks and tests...it is about creating knowledge and student learning. Education is about facilitating student discovery, not teacher directed delivery. Education is about the tools that make that learning engaging including Web 2.0 and Marzano.
While I have not yet developed an addiction to Twitter (not for lack of trying however), I have become a fan of Google Notebook and Reader and even like the look of my custom iGoogle page. Now, if it were not midnight (for the third time this week and it is only Wednesday), I would continue these thoughts....unfortunately, they will have to wait for another time.
Marzano and Web 2.0 Ed Tech That Works
Marzano and Web 2.0 Ed Tech That Works
-Stephanie Sandifer
PowerPoint presentations are expensive overhead transparency projectors and SmartBoards are no more than very expensive chalk boards. Educators must utilize new technology and tools to facilitate learning, not as delivery systems. Do we begin with the tools or pedagogy? We need to begin with the way we think, not just use technology as a tool. Good instruction must come first with the kids as the learners (and the adults as well!). Teachers need to understand the need for technology and model the use as well.
Unfortunately, too often teachers shut down when technology is mentioned. The excuses given in the presentation are too familiar! Professional development and best practices for adult learning must be ongoing, embedded, one-on-one support and delivered in bite-sized chunks. As Michael Fullen indicated, humans do not like to try something new and be a failure.
Technology and tools available, often at no cost, include Web 2.0 tools. Sandifer's descriptors clarified exactly what these tools include. Tagging is involved, RSS and ADAM feeds, and user generated content is produced through blogs and wikis. Most tools are found on the web and do not have to be downloaded. One of the collaborative Web 2.o tools I would like to explore is the use of Flickr. This tool will provide an option for my AP students to showcase their work and critique the work of other students in the classes, an essential component of the AP Portfolio.
Unfortunately, too often teachers shut down when technology is mentioned. The excuses given in the presentation are too familiar! Professional development and best practices for adult learning must be ongoing, embedded, one-on-one support and delivered in bite-sized chunks. As Michael Fullen indicated, humans do not like to try something new and be a failure.
Technology and tools available, often at no cost, include Web 2.0 tools. Sandifer's descriptors clarified exactly what these tools include. Tagging is involved, RSS and ADAM feeds, and user generated content is produced through blogs and wikis. Most tools are found on the web and do not have to be downloaded. One of the collaborative Web 2.o tools I would like to explore is the use of Flickr. This tool will provide an option for my AP students to showcase their work and critique the work of other students in the classes, an essential component of the AP Portfolio.
Grassroots Creativity: Helping Everyone Become a Creative Thinker
Grassroots Creativity:
Helping Everyone Become a Creative Thinker
Michael Resnick
Creativity in the educational system is found primarily in kindergarten and graduate school (and hopefully the art room)! Unfortunately, our education system is not designed to develop creativity which makes the visual arts even more essential the the education of our young people. The process to become a creative thinker is a learning spiral: imagine create, play, share, reflect and imagine. This spiral is illustrated on the left.Technologies can take the place of the creative nature of blocks and finger paint found in kindergarten. One such technology is a program developed at MIT, Scratch. Scratch allows kids to design interactive stories and games, making computer programming as to design as Lego blocks. Scratch is one tool to expand literacy and fluency in the 21st century. Kids need to be creators. Interacting with games and programming is not enough: they need to design and create to develop creative thinking skills.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Reflections on Ian Jukes
The 4 R's...reading, writing, 'rithematic and ART! Wow! What a great time to be an art teacher! Ian Jukes clearly differentiates the digital dinosaur from the digital immigrant to the digital native. Kids are different today..their brains are wired differently, they process information much faster and are able to toggle among tasks much faster. They have "a need for speed!"
I found it fascinating that kids today actually scan a page in a different manner than previous generations....the Golden Mean is no more! The majority of students process information visually or kinesthetically. Color as it relates to text is also an important issue with blood red, neon green and burnt orange the hues of preference. Black is ignored. How can I incorporate this knowledge?
So....what do I need to do? I need to teach differently to engage and inspire kids. I need to explore digital means to provide information and new learning for my kids. This learning needs to be quickly presented with multiple sources including pictures, sounds, and video. Networking with other students is a plus (weapons of mass collaboration)! And, of course, there is that instant gratification...authentic rewards given sincerely and frequently.
The digital classroom is not an option. To continue to teach in the manner we always have amounts to educational malpractice! We owe our kids the very best we have to offer!
I found it fascinating that kids today actually scan a page in a different manner than previous generations....the Golden Mean is no more! The majority of students process information visually or kinesthetically. Color as it relates to text is also an important issue with blood red, neon green and burnt orange the hues of preference. Black is ignored. How can I incorporate this knowledge?
So....what do I need to do? I need to teach differently to engage and inspire kids. I need to explore digital means to provide information and new learning for my kids. This learning needs to be quickly presented with multiple sources including pictures, sounds, and video. Networking with other students is a plus (weapons of mass collaboration)! And, of course, there is that instant gratification...authentic rewards given sincerely and frequently.
The digital classroom is not an option. To continue to teach in the manner we always have amounts to educational malpractice! We owe our kids the very best we have to offer!
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