Online Professional Development that Works
By Jim Vanides
We live in a world where technology is a basic part of our lives. Our life's rythm is very accelerated and sometimes it is impossible to schedule another activity in our agends. Our lack of availability is the reason of the rapid growing of online courses through the country. This is a well received project because allows teachers to organize their time and actualize their curriculum without the necessity of being face to face while take new courses. As the writer Vanides mention, this change in our life’s style united with the growing demand for science content courses for teachers, resulted in the NSF-funded National Teacher Enhancement Network. It is a project of courses offered by the Montana State University for teachers across our country. Jim Vanides teaches an online course for Montana State University on the Science of Sound. Vanides expressed his experiences working with online courses and what he finds different from a face to face course. As Vanides explained, an online course is similar to a face to face course but students do not need to be online at the same time. Students have assignment deadlines, conduct experiments, work on projects together, talk to each other interchanging their ideas and sharing their experiences. The online curse experience of Vanides as an instructor was unexpected. He realized that he needs to change his teaching techniques to meet his goals in the curse. Mr. Vanides accepted the challenge to create a more creative and interesting instructional design. Students can make virtual fieldtrips to listen and see interviews from professionals whose activities are related with the course. As Mr. Vanides explained, online courses are not going to save time, they are going to allows you to schedule your study time, but the time that you as a student are going to spend in the course is the same. Online classes are improving every day, and persons such as Jim Vanides take the challenge to develop efficient and professional online courses.
What are some of the advantages of taking an online curse?
The disponibility of every student to schedule their student hours at their best convenience. The develop of the critical thinking while writing and analyzing all your thoughts.
As an online teacher what are some of the challenges to face in the course?
An online course is totally different structured than a face to face course, the design must be creative, the writings must be proofread and analyzed to express the right idea of the teacher. There must be a constant assesment in different ways to sense the frustations and misconceptions of students.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Journal 9
Cyber Humanities
Rigor and Relevance through Video Conferencing
By Lynne Sueoka
Through the time, men expressed his feelings about history through art’s expression. It can be a song, a poem, paint, or a sculpture; all of them reflect the perception of human’s history through the eyes of his creator. Questions such as “What does artistic expression, spanning time and place, reveal about humanity, conflict, and our future?” are some of the themes used to increase student’s knowledge through a project of videoconferencing called “Cyber Humanities” involving some schools of Hawaii and Japan. Technology is an essential tool to develop the knowledge of students, helping them to understand diversity of cultures through the analysis of our history events such as wars and humanity conflicts. Sharing their perceptions with others students of different countries students expand their understanding of these actions and expressed their ideas and feelings through art pieces. The use of Power Point presentations also allows them to share their learning with other students in others countries through the use of technology such as video conferencing. Projects such as “Cyber Humanities” is an example that hard work and teachers enthusiasm to collaborate in technology projects are doing well offering student engagement following the high school academic core curriculum.
What are the benefits of using videoconferencing with students?
Some of the benefits are the increase of knowledge through communication with students of other places. Interchange of ideas between students of different countries help students to acquire a better understanding of culture diversity. Through the use of Power Point Presentations created by students and transmitted to other students by videoconference allows students to share their knowledge and allows students to interchange ideas of the same topic.
What could be some of the obstacles to implement videoconference at high school level?
One of the obstacles for this improvement at schools can be the economic; with the cuts of economic resources in the last years it is hard to believe in a great budget to implement such technology at our high schools. Another possible obstacle can be apathy and indifference to technology, because the use of new technology requires more work and new studies from the academic personal.
Rigor and Relevance through Video Conferencing
By Lynne Sueoka
Through the time, men expressed his feelings about history through art’s expression. It can be a song, a poem, paint, or a sculpture; all of them reflect the perception of human’s history through the eyes of his creator. Questions such as “What does artistic expression, spanning time and place, reveal about humanity, conflict, and our future?” are some of the themes used to increase student’s knowledge through a project of videoconferencing called “Cyber Humanities” involving some schools of Hawaii and Japan. Technology is an essential tool to develop the knowledge of students, helping them to understand diversity of cultures through the analysis of our history events such as wars and humanity conflicts. Sharing their perceptions with others students of different countries students expand their understanding of these actions and expressed their ideas and feelings through art pieces. The use of Power Point presentations also allows them to share their learning with other students in others countries through the use of technology such as video conferencing. Projects such as “Cyber Humanities” is an example that hard work and teachers enthusiasm to collaborate in technology projects are doing well offering student engagement following the high school academic core curriculum.
What are the benefits of using videoconferencing with students?
Some of the benefits are the increase of knowledge through communication with students of other places. Interchange of ideas between students of different countries help students to acquire a better understanding of culture diversity. Through the use of Power Point Presentations created by students and transmitted to other students by videoconference allows students to share their knowledge and allows students to interchange ideas of the same topic.
What could be some of the obstacles to implement videoconference at high school level?
One of the obstacles for this improvement at schools can be the economic; with the cuts of economic resources in the last years it is hard to believe in a great budget to implement such technology at our high schools. Another possible obstacle can be apathy and indifference to technology, because the use of new technology requires more work and new studies from the academic personal.
Journal 8
Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
With the new legislation No child left behind the new challenge for teachers is to develop new techniques to success in the growing proyect of virtual schooling. Technology advance every day and we advance together with it. Virtual schooling is a useful tool to increase education in the country. Some of the technology that can be used are video conference sessions with online learning tools such as blackboard. Preparation of teachers for this new schooling is very important to meet the requirements of the educational system. For Virtual schooling are necessary three elements; a teacher, a VS site facilitator, and a designer. Of course these people must be supported by Principals, counselors, technology coordinators, and parents. The main point is communication between students and teacher, communication can be made by videoconference, e-mail, WebCT, and ofcourse provideing feedback over finished projects. Preparation of teachers for Virtual Schooling is essential for present moments, they open the possibility of education to many students that otherwise never would finish highschool.
What are some of the advantages of Virtual Schooling?
The principal advantage is related with social justice, all the kids in the country deserve free and quality education services. Through Virtual Schooling is possible to be in one place sharing ideas with students in other distant places. VS also made easy to advance at school with the flexive schedule. Students are in constant contact with technology.
What is the challenge of Virtual Schooling?
The big challenge is for teachers, they must renew their knowledge in technology to learn how to develop proficient lesson plans using tools such as video conference, e-mail, and WebCT. Communication between students, teachers, and administrators is also other challenge.
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
With the new legislation No child left behind the new challenge for teachers is to develop new techniques to success in the growing proyect of virtual schooling. Technology advance every day and we advance together with it. Virtual schooling is a useful tool to increase education in the country. Some of the technology that can be used are video conference sessions with online learning tools such as blackboard. Preparation of teachers for this new schooling is very important to meet the requirements of the educational system. For Virtual schooling are necessary three elements; a teacher, a VS site facilitator, and a designer. Of course these people must be supported by Principals, counselors, technology coordinators, and parents. The main point is communication between students and teacher, communication can be made by videoconference, e-mail, WebCT, and ofcourse provideing feedback over finished projects. Preparation of teachers for Virtual Schooling is essential for present moments, they open the possibility of education to many students that otherwise never would finish highschool.
What are some of the advantages of Virtual Schooling?
The principal advantage is related with social justice, all the kids in the country deserve free and quality education services. Through Virtual Schooling is possible to be in one place sharing ideas with students in other distant places. VS also made easy to advance at school with the flexive schedule. Students are in constant contact with technology.
What is the challenge of Virtual Schooling?
The big challenge is for teachers, they must renew their knowledge in technology to learn how to develop proficient lesson plans using tools such as video conference, e-mail, and WebCT. Communication between students, teachers, and administrators is also other challenge.
Journal 8
Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
With the new legislation No child left behind the new challenge for teachers is to develop new techniques to success in the growing proyect of virtual schooling. Technology advance every day and we advance together with it. Virtual schooling is a useful tool to increase education in the country. Some of the technology that can be used are video conference sessions with online learning tools such as blackboard. Preparation of teachers for this new schooling is very important to meet the requirements of the educational system. For Virtual schooling are necessary three elements; a teacher, a VS site facilitator, and a designer. Of course these people must be supported by Principals, counselors, technology coordinators, and parents. The main point is communication between students and teacher, communication can be made by videoconference, e-mail, WebCT, and ofcourse provideing feedback over finished projects. Preparation of teachers for Virtual Schooling is essential for present moments, they open the possibility of education to many students that otherwise never would finish highschool.
What are some of the advantages of Virtual Schooling?
The principal advantage is related with social justice, all the kids in the country deserve free and quality education services. Through Virtual Schooling is possible to be in one place sharing ideas with students in other distant places. VS also made easy to advance at school with the flexive schedule. Students are in constant contact with technology.
What is the challenge of Virtual Schooling?
The big challenge is for teachers, they must renew their knowledge in technology to learn how to develop proficient lesson plans using tools such as video conference, e-mail, and WebCT. Communication between students, teachers, and administrators is also other challenge.
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
With the new legislation No child left behind the new challenge for teachers is to develop new techniques to success in the growing proyect of virtual schooling. Technology advance every day and we advance together with it. Virtual schooling is a useful tool to increase education in the country. Some of the technology that can be used are video conference sessions with online learning tools such as blackboard. Preparation of teachers for this new schooling is very important to meet the requirements of the educational system. For Virtual schooling are necessary three elements; a teacher, a VS site facilitator, and a designer. Of course these people must be supported by Principals, counselors, technology coordinators, and parents. The main point is communication between students and teacher, communication can be made by videoconference, e-mail, WebCT, and ofcourse provideing feedback over finished projects. Preparation of teachers for Virtual Schooling is essential for present moments, they open the possibility of education to many students that otherwise never would finish highschool.
What are some of the advantages of Virtual Schooling?
The principal advantage is related with social justice, all the kids in the country deserve free and quality education services. Through Virtual Schooling is possible to be in one place sharing ideas with students in other distant places. VS also made easy to advance at school with the flexive schedule. Students are in constant contact with technology.
What is the challenge of Virtual Schooling?
The big challenge is for teachers, they must renew their knowledge in technology to learn how to develop proficient lesson plans using tools such as video conference, e-mail, and WebCT. Communication between students, teachers, and administrators is also other challenge.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Journal 7
Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom
By Elizabeth Ross Hubbell
Teaching technology in the early childhood classroom is a topic for discussion, some argued that technology in the early age will trunk their natural develop and lead to hyperactivity or other negative aspects. People who are in favor of technology argue that in the same way that a kid is introduced to books, pencils, and colors must be introduced to technology. Kids grew with technology around them, so technology is not going to transtorn them. Technology is going to help them to develop their abilities to reinforce their knowledge about letters, colors, numbers, iddentify differences and simmilarities, and practice math in a fun way. As the writer Ross Hubbell mention there are many programs that help to enhance learning with technology such as Kidspiration, this is a wonderful tool which introduces kids with the use of graphics, sounds, and text. It also allows students to save their assignments or send by e-mail. Teachers must use all the technology available to help kids to reinforce their knowledge through the use of interactive educational programs.There is a phrase that said that an image said more than 1000 words, well children are allow to create their own graphics basedon information that they provide. This is an excellent way to develop their skills to analyze information. Children are anxious to know every day something new, through the use of technology they can virtually visit another countries, see pictures and listen traditional music of that country.
What are some of the advantages of using technology at early age in classroom?
The main advantage is the better preparation in the use of technology for their following school years. Technology will help them to develop their thinking skills and to analyze information to solve problems in the better way.
What would be a consequence of a child that did not learn about technology in early years?
Here is social justice again, if kids born and grew with technology they have the right to learn how to use it at the same time as they learn how to use a pencil. Kids are very sensitive at early ages, so if in the classroom half class know technology and the another half do not know, the second half are going to feel less prepared than the others, and that is not fair.
Journal 6
Social Justice, Choice or Necessity?
By Colleen Swain and David Edyburn
The United States is the country of freedom, where social justice is a big issue. Social Justice is the cause of many debates and discussions in the process to make important decisions such as the use of technology in the classroom. We must recognize that today technology is found in everything and that the better paid jobs are for the people with technology knowledge. So, teaching technology in the classroom is not anymore a choice for teachers, it is a necessity. We as teachers have the responsibility to help kids to develop their abilities in technology and to help them technologically to be able to work and solve problems with all the technologic resources available. If some teachers take the easy decision to avoid technology, this teacher is decreasing the possibilities of his students to achieve a better future in life. Teachers also can investigate who has a computer at home and who do not; teachers can share information where these kids can use technology such as libraries, boys and girls clubs, or others.
What are the social effects from teacher's decision to use or not use technology to teach and learn in the classroom?
It is an issue of social justice, because children are going to be in disadvantage with other children who have technologic knowledge and fluency using technologic resources. Also affect their future, because our world is a world of technology, so they are going to be out of the advances.
How social justice can be applied to technology use?
Giving all the kids the same opportunity to technology knowledge through the implementation of lessons involving technology and solving real problems with technology. The main point is to use technology to enhance learning opportunities for the future of our children.
By Colleen Swain and David Edyburn
The United States is the country of freedom, where social justice is a big issue. Social Justice is the cause of many debates and discussions in the process to make important decisions such as the use of technology in the classroom. We must recognize that today technology is found in everything and that the better paid jobs are for the people with technology knowledge. So, teaching technology in the classroom is not anymore a choice for teachers, it is a necessity. We as teachers have the responsibility to help kids to develop their abilities in technology and to help them technologically to be able to work and solve problems with all the technologic resources available. If some teachers take the easy decision to avoid technology, this teacher is decreasing the possibilities of his students to achieve a better future in life. Teachers also can investigate who has a computer at home and who do not; teachers can share information where these kids can use technology such as libraries, boys and girls clubs, or others.
What are the social effects from teacher's decision to use or not use technology to teach and learn in the classroom?
It is an issue of social justice, because children are going to be in disadvantage with other children who have technologic knowledge and fluency using technologic resources. Also affect their future, because our world is a world of technology, so they are going to be out of the advances.
How social justice can be applied to technology use?
Giving all the kids the same opportunity to technology knowledge through the implementation of lessons involving technology and solving real problems with technology. The main point is to use technology to enhance learning opportunities for the future of our children.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Journal 4
From Toy to Tool
By Liz Kolb
The new century began full of technology, when I was little we did not have a telephone at home, neither a cell phone. Now, almost everybody has a telephone at home and a personal cell phone. With family plans, cell phones are very accessible. As Liz Kolb mention in her article, cell phones are essential for communication. It is like a toy for teenagers. But this toy can be used as a tool in technology. Audioblogging is an easy way to process information from the cell phone and transmit that information online to your blog page. There are free programs such as Gabcast.com which helps you to create the connection between your cell phone and your blog. For elementary kids, audioblogging can be used in excursions and important events. It is very important to teach kids the different uses that a device can have. They also need to be aware of using information such as songs, phrases, and information without any permit. In Audioblogging the cell phone works as a recorder camera, replace the microphone, and made easier the process. We need to know that all the information we collect and posted at the blog as an audioblog is allowed to anyone at school. If we want more privacy about our postings we need to pay a monthly payment.
In what ways can I use Audioblogging for K-2 grade levels?
Well, as Kolb mention in her article, audioblogging has a lot of uses, we get the information by the phone, and send it to my blog page in the same instant. We can save the sounds of different animals at the zoo, take pictures and organize at classroom a nice resume of the trip.
Mention three good reasons why to use the Audioblogging tool?
The main reason is to know that with the cell phone we are ready to get an interview, to get different information and send it immediately to your blog page without the use of a recorder. Another reason is that the program has free access, and also is important to know that in the present tools have different uses in technology; everything is connected in the technology chain.
By Liz Kolb
The new century began full of technology, when I was little we did not have a telephone at home, neither a cell phone. Now, almost everybody has a telephone at home and a personal cell phone. With family plans, cell phones are very accessible. As Liz Kolb mention in her article, cell phones are essential for communication. It is like a toy for teenagers. But this toy can be used as a tool in technology. Audioblogging is an easy way to process information from the cell phone and transmit that information online to your blog page. There are free programs such as Gabcast.com which helps you to create the connection between your cell phone and your blog. For elementary kids, audioblogging can be used in excursions and important events. It is very important to teach kids the different uses that a device can have. They also need to be aware of using information such as songs, phrases, and information without any permit. In Audioblogging the cell phone works as a recorder camera, replace the microphone, and made easier the process. We need to know that all the information we collect and posted at the blog as an audioblog is allowed to anyone at school. If we want more privacy about our postings we need to pay a monthly payment.
In what ways can I use Audioblogging for K-2 grade levels?
Well, as Kolb mention in her article, audioblogging has a lot of uses, we get the information by the phone, and send it to my blog page in the same instant. We can save the sounds of different animals at the zoo, take pictures and organize at classroom a nice resume of the trip.
Mention three good reasons why to use the Audioblogging tool?
The main reason is to know that with the cell phone we are ready to get an interview, to get different information and send it immediately to your blog page without the use of a recorder. Another reason is that the program has free access, and also is important to know that in the present tools have different uses in technology; everything is connected in the technology chain.
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