Sunday, September 14, 2008
Did you know?
This is a video I found on http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2006/08/did-you-know.html
It stops and makes you think. As an educator, I do not feel that I am doing everything I should/can do to prepare my students for the future. Technology is limited by funding. Everyday I see where my students would benefit from being able to have constant access to a laptop.
This year every student in my class, with parental permission, created a Gmail account. Now children can create, save it though Google and work on it at home. Web 2.0 has amazing tools to enhance and engage students.
Last year, I was able to set up a computer for a child who had a lengthy illness. We used Skype to communicate on a daily basis. She was able to see and hear her classmates.
I believe that there are many useful tools on the Web. Parents and educational leaders need to look at this issue and help with looking at funding issues. It would be remarkable to have a parent group work on grant writing to purchase laptops for every child.
What issues concern or interst YOU???
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4 comments:
As a parent, access to personal laptops opens up a pandora's box. Not only must parents police the communal media posts of tv, gaming, & internet, but will have to add the personal laptop in the bedroom to the list.
Katie, I agree about Pandora's Box and laptops. Unfortunately, there are many sites out there that are not for young children. I am a firm believer and advocate teaching children Internet safety.
www.wordle.net is a site where kiddos can express their thoughts in a creative fashion. However, it is not monitored for content. So, something inappropriate may appear. This is only one of many sites that are incredibly engaging for children to use, but not content monitored. It would be nice if these sites would offer an educationally safe alternative.
What issues concern me?
One issue that concerns me is the amount of money that is connected to getting the right kind of materials to kids. As we move into a world where information is old as soon as its published, we must be ready for the costs of instructional materials to go up. It used to be OK to buy books every seven years; not anymore. Now materials are updated online and and updated annually, so books don't make sense for some of our upper level courses. Biology books, for example, are well over 90 dollars now and are two inches thick. We must be able to be flexible with our purchases and have a system of materials review that is nimble enough to respond to changes in information more quickly than every 7 years.
Another concern: We need to figure out how to embrace the electronic tools the kids are using every day instead of prohibiting their use. E.g., cell phones; how can we use them in the classroom to collect data, call on an expert, communicate with other students studying the same subject, etc. . .? Kids may already see laptops as passe'. Their lives are revolving around a simple device that keeps their calendar, their contacts, their emergency information, and their internet access; yet we don't allow them to be turned on during class.
Another concern - we ought to adopt a standard here that says if we can perform an activity without a computer we shouldn't replicate it on a computer. Let's not turn laptops into fancy textbooks. Let's take advantage of their power to crunch data, provide up-to-date information, and allow kids to create. They have too much potential to engage a child if they are used to challenge the learner to create and evaluate rather than regurgitate information.
Mark,
As an educator I do my very best to provide my students with using and exploring the technology available to me. The Web 2.0 is a resource that needs to be a common term; rather than something known and used by only a handful of teachers. Money has always been and probably will always be an issue. I am all for exploring and using what is available now to enhance learning. It is sad. Some teachers are thrilled when I show them tools to use with their students others “don’t have the time to learn something new.”As a potential principal in the future it will be part of my mission to bring in professional develop to my staff to show them the possibilities and implement various tools with their kiddos.
I introduced my students to a tool called, Blabberize (Web 2.O). It can be found at http://www.blabberize.com/ I thought it would be a creative way for children to "become" a character. The kiddos love it. I had one student inform me that you can use your cell phone to create the voice. As you mentioned, it is better to educate children rather than prohibit. Blabber is not censored. So, there is a potential for unsavory items to be available for anyone to view. I also educate students not to click on view, unless they know it is "safe." I have informed my students and parents of this possibility. I applaud your view and support on not teaching regurgitation of facts. We are in the business of promoting higher level thinking skills which involve analysis, generating, integrating and evaluating. Bloom, Marzano, Webb, and Cambourne all promote higher thinking skills. Check out this link for more information on the above http://red6747.pbwiki.com/Comprehending+concepts+and+comprehending+details
I am not sure on the standard stating if you can perform an activity without a computer, don't replicate it on the computer. Perhaps a student can choose the media they would like to create. I agree about repeating a performance, but believe in giving children many modalities for their opportunities to learn. Thank-you for your input.
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