A learning network connects people both on and offline, and it provides a way for individuals to communicate with others about experiences, issues, etc. A learning network has many implications in the classroom, and for college students. They provide a lot of new resources that were not available just a couple years ago. This just goes to show that technology is always changing and improving, and future educators need to be aware and up to date in the society that centers on technological advances. However, the term “technology” scares many individuals. As future educators, we need to move past fears and create a learning network centered around student based learning and a transformation of the school that no longer meets the needs of students in today’s society.
Learning networks leave the responsibility of learning to the student, and it focuses on what students learn outside of the classroom. While books are helpful in an educational environment, they no longer meet the needs of the society we are sending these children into. All schools need to be willing to transform and become a product that looks completely new. The problem is that some teachers and schools are not willing to take on this extreme change in life. Teachers need to learn differently than they did in their high school years. The world is constantly changing, and that includes the field of education. Educating is a lifelong process of learning, and teachers need to be willing to accept this and take it as a challenge. In addition, the students will be more willing to learn if the teachers are learning along with them. Once again, another example of transformation. This idea of communication and building a new environment for learning is too powerful to ignore. Fear is what is holding many districts back. However, technology is not the issue. If students wanted to learn and were engaged in the material, they would clearly be using technology in a beneficial way.
As you can see, this topic sparked many controversies in our classroom. Some people see them as very beneficial, while others feel that technology is too damaging to the students. I personally see potential in this idea. However, educators need to be willing to make it work. Students cannot do this alone. Teachers need to be willing to change and learn too. With technology constantly changing, a future teacher and his or her students will be learning together to make it through as successful year.
My SEDU 183 class is great at using these types of materials. The blog that we continue to maintain is the best example. We post on the blog about things that we all experienced (such as this discussion), but we all had different opinions. This allows us to share our opinions to everyone and get feedback from people who will soon be experiencing the same things. I know that some of us also go and comment of other students’’ blogs, which helps to develop a community of bloggers who can share and talk about different topics in the educational world. We can also blog bout things from other classes and get feedback from other students. I think it is important for all of the students to comment though. Everyone has an opinion, and no two opinions are the same. We willing to share your thoughts because it will help both the writer of the blog and the commenter to better develop an understanding on the topic.
I defiantly see myself using this in my classroom. It is important for students to feel comfortable talking and communicating to students for help. While they can talk to students in the class, they will also grow to rely on a new community of learners though learning networks. Students grow to rely too much on adults and expectations. I know that I fall into this category, but the changing society does not demand this. If we want to produce successful individuals, we as future teachers are going to take to incorporate technology and learning networks into the classroom because this is what is demanded of all individuals in the working and professional world.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Using Videos in Education
We recently learned to use video in an educational classroom. The fun part is writing the script and acting it out, but we also had to learn how to edit the project in the end. Everyone thinks they can make a video, and most are capable of it, but the thought behind the video is what distinguished between a good and bad final product. Our video was a public service announcement about idea of going green (the video is in my last blog post). My group wanted to make an impact on the viewers, so we did take the idea seriously. However, we tried to add some comic relief to the video in order to keep our audience interested. All of these things are what we learned on our own during the time it took us to create our final video. It is important to remember the audience if the group wants a successful video.
Our group had a lot of fun creating our PSA. It was stressful at times trying to come up with a topic and acting ideas, but our group learned very quickly the importance of working as a team. We really did not know how to create the video, but we learned as we continued through the project. Recording the video was very interesting. Our two actors changed the entire script from what was originally practiced. However, they went off the top of their heads and made a fantastic final product. The editing did not start out well for us. We had trouble figuring out the volume level, and we thought we would have to record everything again. However, we learned to smooth out the rough parts, and we all feel that our video is a great representation of what we learned in the unit of video editing. I am sure that with more time allowed, we could have made a more complex video.
Project based learning is very important for future educators to understand. This is obviously an example of project based learning because we were given a new tool and a project to create using the tool. That was all we were given, and we learned to use the tool on our own. This learning style is great for a class like technology because most students will lose interest in a lecture on these topics. However, creating the video gets all students involved and creates an interest in the topic area. Although project based learning cannot be used at all times, it is important to incorporate it as much as possible because many students learn better hands on and will retain the information better from this type of learning style.
Video can be used in many different ways in the educational environment. Teachers can use videos to reinforce topics recently taught in the class. Teachers can also let students create videos in order to show their understanding of a topic. A common use that students like is recreating a scene from a novel that they are reading. Many times teachers use videos as an option that students can choose to do. Some students greatly succeed in the area of media, and video allows students the ability to bring their own creativity to the classroom. Videos can be used in a very negative way too. They should never be used to waste time. Teachers too often put in a video as a way to waste time, so that the teacher can grade tests. Videos allow students a new tool and way of thinking. It is important for educators to allow all students’ creativity flourish, and by incorporating video into a lesson, an educator is doing just that.
Videos are a create use for instruction in the classroom. Some students can better realte to this type of media. Videos are also a fun way for teachers to take a break from the normal lectures and include something new and exciting. Even in college, all of us were excited to watch videos! It is a create way to learn in class, and it mixes up the everyday classroom instruction that students often times get bored with.
Educators can also use video to assess what students have learned. Some students do not take paper tests well, so this is a way to reach the needs of many students. It also allows students to think in a creative light, while still reflecting on what they learned. Students can create videos of them acting out a book plot, and the teacher will clearly know if they students are understanding. Videos take something that is usually not fun (like assessments) and add some enjoyment for the students while still be educational.
Communication is key in an educational setting, and videos can help enhance this. Teachers can use videos for students who may be absent that day. They can record everything on the smart board and then post it to a blog for the students to view. This way the student will not be behind upon returning. The teacher can also record him or herself teaching a lesson if they cannot make it to class one day. Not only does this help out substitutes who may not understand the topic clearly, but it also prevents "blow off days". Substitute teachers are not focused in all areas of study, so this would greatly help them out in teaching a strong lesson to the students.
While this lesson was a lot of fun, the time allowed to create the video was too limited. We could have done so much more experimenting, but we had a very limited amount of time to work in. However, I clearly understand that finals are coming up so we had to crunch it in. Thererfore, I think it was okay to limit the time. We can be thankful that we atleast got some time to work with the program and get a feel for what videos are like in education.
Our group had a lot of fun creating our PSA. It was stressful at times trying to come up with a topic and acting ideas, but our group learned very quickly the importance of working as a team. We really did not know how to create the video, but we learned as we continued through the project. Recording the video was very interesting. Our two actors changed the entire script from what was originally practiced. However, they went off the top of their heads and made a fantastic final product. The editing did not start out well for us. We had trouble figuring out the volume level, and we thought we would have to record everything again. However, we learned to smooth out the rough parts, and we all feel that our video is a great representation of what we learned in the unit of video editing. I am sure that with more time allowed, we could have made a more complex video.
Project based learning is very important for future educators to understand. This is obviously an example of project based learning because we were given a new tool and a project to create using the tool. That was all we were given, and we learned to use the tool on our own. This learning style is great for a class like technology because most students will lose interest in a lecture on these topics. However, creating the video gets all students involved and creates an interest in the topic area. Although project based learning cannot be used at all times, it is important to incorporate it as much as possible because many students learn better hands on and will retain the information better from this type of learning style.
Video can be used in many different ways in the educational environment. Teachers can use videos to reinforce topics recently taught in the class. Teachers can also let students create videos in order to show their understanding of a topic. A common use that students like is recreating a scene from a novel that they are reading. Many times teachers use videos as an option that students can choose to do. Some students greatly succeed in the area of media, and video allows students the ability to bring their own creativity to the classroom. Videos can be used in a very negative way too. They should never be used to waste time. Teachers too often put in a video as a way to waste time, so that the teacher can grade tests. Videos allow students a new tool and way of thinking. It is important for educators to allow all students’ creativity flourish, and by incorporating video into a lesson, an educator is doing just that.
Videos are a create use for instruction in the classroom. Some students can better realte to this type of media. Videos are also a fun way for teachers to take a break from the normal lectures and include something new and exciting. Even in college, all of us were excited to watch videos! It is a create way to learn in class, and it mixes up the everyday classroom instruction that students often times get bored with.
Educators can also use video to assess what students have learned. Some students do not take paper tests well, so this is a way to reach the needs of many students. It also allows students to think in a creative light, while still reflecting on what they learned. Students can create videos of them acting out a book plot, and the teacher will clearly know if they students are understanding. Videos take something that is usually not fun (like assessments) and add some enjoyment for the students while still be educational.
Communication is key in an educational setting, and videos can help enhance this. Teachers can use videos for students who may be absent that day. They can record everything on the smart board and then post it to a blog for the students to view. This way the student will not be behind upon returning. The teacher can also record him or herself teaching a lesson if they cannot make it to class one day. Not only does this help out substitutes who may not understand the topic clearly, but it also prevents "blow off days". Substitute teachers are not focused in all areas of study, so this would greatly help them out in teaching a strong lesson to the students.
While this lesson was a lot of fun, the time allowed to create the video was too limited. We could have done so much more experimenting, but we had a very limited amount of time to work in. However, I clearly understand that finals are coming up so we had to crunch it in. Thererfore, I think it was okay to limit the time. We can be thankful that we atleast got some time to work with the program and get a feel for what videos are like in education.
Our Going Green PSA
We took the time to experiment with video editing, and we made this public service announcement. This PSA is a fun interaction of Going Green. After this experience, we now know how to use video editing to make a fun project with a new educational tool.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Interesting News
In one of my education classes, we were just informed that the state is trying to change the way teacher observations are conducted. Right now, teachers are observed by a principle or assistant principle. However, they want to make the observation based 50% on a principle’s observation of the teacher, and 50% on student performance (from state assessment tests). They want this in effect by Fall of 2012, which means that our class of future educators is clearly effected by this. I personally see this as a horrible idea because some students will always struggle of state tests, and some students are just poor test takers. Also, some students do not take the tests seriously, which shows that they did not learn anything when we know that it is true. Although there are no promises of this taking place, it is important to be aware of the implications. How do you see this affecting the education system? Why do you think they would change to this? What would this really be measuring in your opinion?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Incorporating New Tools into the Classroom
There are many tools that are centered for a particular age group, but some resources are helpful enough to incorporate ideas for both early childhood educators and secondary educators. Teaching is an ongoing process; we are always running into new ideas to incorporate into lessons. As future educators, it is important to be alert of new tools in order to create an interactive and fun classroom in the future.
Finale is a tool for students with a great interest in the field of music. It allows students or educators to create their own MP3 or composition. I really liked that the tool had a follow along guide to show the students what part of the composition was being played at that moment. The tool also gives a lot of instruments for the educator to choose from that are preinstalled in the program. The negative side is the price because it will cost the educator 300-600 dollars for use. This would require some type of funding that is not always available in the changing economic standing that educators of today must face. Teachers can use this at a basic level of nursery rhymes for young students, or they can make it very advanced for a music class. However, the educator creating this must have a music background to make the tool most beneficial because of the huge learning curve and the complexity of the program. This class presentation was interesting because of all of the sample pieces we got to listen to and see being used. Teachers can use this to explore the more creative side of lessons, such as songs for steps and processes to help students remember things. Students are able to use this to demonstrate understanding, while presenting in a fun and interactive new style.
Prezi is a tool that is much easier to use because it is less complex with a very minor learning curve. This program resembles a lot of the features of our well known Power Point program. Teachers can create themes and fonts that make the presentation more interesting and inviting for the students. Students can also create presentations for class assignments using this tool. Prezi allows an unlimited amount of space, so teachers are able to keep their lessons and make minor changes each year to the presentations. Prezi allows you to create pathways for the viewing of the information, which is a fun way to go above and beyond the usual Power Point slides. Prezi also gives you samples to use, which is helpful to new learners who wish to create the most beneficial presentation. However, be careful not to get too carried away with the pathways and motion. This can be very distracting and cause the students to lose focus on the importance of the information. Educators can use this to create flow charts. The presentation was great because we got to see a sample Prezi that actually was about our own majors. This site gives you templates to follow. Teachers can go to www.prezi.com to create fun and interactive lessons, and hopefully this helps teachers step out of the comfort zone of Power Point. Teaching is all about learning new things and expanding on ideas, such as Power Point, which are too often boring and overused.
Finale is a tool for students with a great interest in the field of music. It allows students or educators to create their own MP3 or composition. I really liked that the tool had a follow along guide to show the students what part of the composition was being played at that moment. The tool also gives a lot of instruments for the educator to choose from that are preinstalled in the program. The negative side is the price because it will cost the educator 300-600 dollars for use. This would require some type of funding that is not always available in the changing economic standing that educators of today must face. Teachers can use this at a basic level of nursery rhymes for young students, or they can make it very advanced for a music class. However, the educator creating this must have a music background to make the tool most beneficial because of the huge learning curve and the complexity of the program. This class presentation was interesting because of all of the sample pieces we got to listen to and see being used. Teachers can use this to explore the more creative side of lessons, such as songs for steps and processes to help students remember things. Students are able to use this to demonstrate understanding, while presenting in a fun and interactive new style.
Prezi is a tool that is much easier to use because it is less complex with a very minor learning curve. This program resembles a lot of the features of our well known Power Point program. Teachers can create themes and fonts that make the presentation more interesting and inviting for the students. Students can also create presentations for class assignments using this tool. Prezi allows an unlimited amount of space, so teachers are able to keep their lessons and make minor changes each year to the presentations. Prezi allows you to create pathways for the viewing of the information, which is a fun way to go above and beyond the usual Power Point slides. Prezi also gives you samples to use, which is helpful to new learners who wish to create the most beneficial presentation. However, be careful not to get too carried away with the pathways and motion. This can be very distracting and cause the students to lose focus on the importance of the information. Educators can use this to create flow charts. The presentation was great because we got to see a sample Prezi that actually was about our own majors. This site gives you templates to follow. Teachers can go to www.prezi.com to create fun and interactive lessons, and hopefully this helps teachers step out of the comfort zone of Power Point. Teaching is all about learning new things and expanding on ideas, such as Power Point, which are too often boring and overused.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Expanding the Usual Classroom
By expanding the classroom, educators can include new resources for the students to experiment with and learn new ideas. Education is a learning process for both the teacher and the students, so teachers should always be looking for new tools to use in the classroom. Kidspiration is a great tool to make a classroom a more active learning environment. This software allows for the use of a graphic organizer, and it benefits both the students and the teacher. The teacher has access to sample lesson plans, and the site also helps to provide lessons for special needs students. These students can all benefit from this site because is allows students to participate in activities that will help them further understand. The software also gives access to clip art that can be helpful in creating more motivational and exciting presentations. The site offers create activities for many subject areas, and it gives different opportunities based on age group. This is important because it shows the focus on the needs of the individuals of certain groups and areas, and not students as a whole. The downside of this program is that it has a cost for unlimited use. Therefore, most teachers will have to pay for this on their own if they want access to the new ideas. Teachers can go to www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration to create student centered activities that will help them develop socially and take more ownership of their work. The presentation clearly showed the success of this tool because of the video with students centrally involved in the lesson. Therefore, they are more excited to learn and are having input into their own educational progress.
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