Yoder, Maureen.(2009). S'Cool Tools: 5 Great Tools to Perk Up Your Classroom and Engage Your Students. Received from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=November_No_3_5&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4436&ContentID=24614&DirectListComboInd=D
The article S'Cool Tools explains 5 great tools to perk up your classroom and engage your students. Maureen Yoder explains a number of different tools and activities for teachers who teach Kindergarten all the way up to high school. All of the tools she lists are easy and supportive, they have the ability to enhance learning, and are innovative new tools. The "toy" I found very interesting is called the WeDo Robotics Construction Set. WeDo includes more than 160 Lego elements, a motor, a tilt sensor, a motion sensor, icon-based software, activities with instructions for 12 models. It also includes teacher notes with curriculum objectives, questions for discussion, and suggestions. Yoder also describes the Smart Table, AVer Pen, New Multiuser Virtual Environments (MUVEs), and Google Aps Education Community.
How could the WeDo robotics set be used in a High School classroom?
Students in a history class can create a model with the Lego's and sensors etc. Some examples in the article include an airplane that plays sounds as you move it, using the tilt sensor. When they are finished they can look online and see what people their age have made all over the world.
How can these "toys" enhance a student's learning?
I believe student's need a break from just doing bookwork and taking notes. If there is an activity involved I believe most student's enjoy the lesson a lot more.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Journal 8: Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website
Amundson, Linda. "Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website." Learning and Leading with Technology 37.3 (2009): n. pag. Web. 8 Dec 2009. http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=November_No_3_5&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4436&ContentID=24615&DirectListComboInd=D
This article addressed the need for a website that is easy and accessible to all. There are five steps to follow that will make your website open to a wide community of diverse users. When teachers or technology coordinators make a website, they are creating a website that should be available to a diverse group of people. Website should also be easy to navigate for someone with hearing, movement, cognitive, and speech disabilities. There are so many tools that you can use to make website accessible for people with disabilities. Here are the 5 steps:
Step 1: Organize for Easier Navigation
Step 2: Navigation without a Mouse
Step 3: Text Explanations for Images
Step 4: Using Text that makes Sense
Step 5: Web Validators
After you believe you have followed these steps, there is the final check. Try the steps yourself and make sure everything works. Teachers need to make sure for than anyone that their website is accessible and following these steps will ensure that.
What exactly makes the website accessible?
In the article there is a list of things to make sure it is accessible. For example, use headers, doesn't require horizontal scrolling, use appropriate color scheme for background, can be viewed easily in gray scale, provides descriptive texts for links, etc.
Why is it important to be able to navigate without a mouse?
This is important so that people who are visually impaired or someone with a temporary disability can navigate the page with the tab bar.
This article addressed the need for a website that is easy and accessible to all. There are five steps to follow that will make your website open to a wide community of diverse users. When teachers or technology coordinators make a website, they are creating a website that should be available to a diverse group of people. Website should also be easy to navigate for someone with hearing, movement, cognitive, and speech disabilities. There are so many tools that you can use to make website accessible for people with disabilities. Here are the 5 steps:
Step 1: Organize for Easier Navigation
Step 2: Navigation without a Mouse
Step 3: Text Explanations for Images
Step 4: Using Text that makes Sense
Step 5: Web Validators
After you believe you have followed these steps, there is the final check. Try the steps yourself and make sure everything works. Teachers need to make sure for than anyone that their website is accessible and following these steps will ensure that.
What exactly makes the website accessible?
In the article there is a list of things to make sure it is accessible. For example, use headers, doesn't require horizontal scrolling, use appropriate color scheme for background, can be viewed easily in gray scale, provides descriptive texts for links, etc.
Why is it important to be able to navigate without a mouse?
This is important so that people who are visually impaired or someone with a temporary disability can navigate the page with the tab bar.
Journal 6: Trouble with Rubrics
Kohn, A. (2006). The Trouble with Rubrics. English Journal, 95(4), Retrieved December 8, 2009 from http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/rubrics.htm
Author Alfie Kohn discusses the setbacks of using rubrics in the classroom. He believe that rubrics are not the best way to go when grading. One of his arguments against rubrics is that teachers use them as quick and easy way to assess student work. He believes that assessing a students work should not be quick and that it should take time and should not be based off of one scale. His next reason for being against rubrics is the fact that students will do their work solely off of them. Kohl states that it will take away from a students creativity and they will think less deeply because of the guideline. He says students are more focused on A's rather than accessing their ideas. Students cannot do an assignment without looking at these rubrics and he feels that if teachers would actually take time in reading their students opinions it could create a much better learning environment.
Based off Kohn's reasoning, can a teacher create a rubric that will bring out a student's true ideas?
I do believe so. I believe that rubrics are made quickly and base off a curriculum. Students know what they need to incorporate but there needs to be some creativity as well. I believe that Kohn has a point when he says some teachers don't take enough time grading their students work. So if they take they time, rubrics can be very beneficial.
If there were no rubrics, what would teachers base their grades off of?
I believe a teacher does not need a rubric to base a grade. It does make it easier but I think all the students need are guidelines. If a teacher takes the time to great students ideas and make sure they meet all the guidelines, I think a student's capacity for creativity will grow.
Author Alfie Kohn discusses the setbacks of using rubrics in the classroom. He believe that rubrics are not the best way to go when grading. One of his arguments against rubrics is that teachers use them as quick and easy way to assess student work. He believes that assessing a students work should not be quick and that it should take time and should not be based off of one scale. His next reason for being against rubrics is the fact that students will do their work solely off of them. Kohl states that it will take away from a students creativity and they will think less deeply because of the guideline. He says students are more focused on A's rather than accessing their ideas. Students cannot do an assignment without looking at these rubrics and he feels that if teachers would actually take time in reading their students opinions it could create a much better learning environment.
Based off Kohn's reasoning, can a teacher create a rubric that will bring out a student's true ideas?
I do believe so. I believe that rubrics are made quickly and base off a curriculum. Students know what they need to incorporate but there needs to be some creativity as well. I believe that Kohn has a point when he says some teachers don't take enough time grading their students work. So if they take they time, rubrics can be very beneficial.
If there were no rubrics, what would teachers base their grades off of?
I believe a teacher does not need a rubric to base a grade. It does make it easier but I think all the students need are guidelines. If a teacher takes the time to great students ideas and make sure they meet all the guidelines, I think a student's capacity for creativity will grow.
WIki Page (NETS-T V)
In this assignment I used Web 2.0 which is a website that has a lot of different web tools that you can use in the classroom. The tool I researched on was called QuikMaps. This site lets you create your own maps and is very quick and simple. You can edit your maps and import pictures to personal your map. This assignment meets NETS V by engaging in professional growth and leadership.
iMovie PSA (NETS-T III)
In this assignment I created a short movie using the program iMovie. To create an iMovie I used iMovie software and put together a movie just over a minute which showed the many features of California State University San Marcos. Given a number of clips, I chose the parts of the video I wanted and put them in an order that I thought would display the university the best. I was able to cut out the sound from the video and use a song that would play in the background. I was also able to insert text into each movie clip. This assignment met the NETS III standards by communicating relevant information to students, parents, and peers using digital age media.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Excel (NETS-T III)
Using Microsoft Excel I created an original crossword puzzle using terms that had to do with the sport of baseball. (Go Dodgers!) I was able to create my own background and made it so that if you entered the word wrong it would show up red and if you entered it right it would show up green. This assignment met the NETS III standards by modeling digital age work and learning.
Baseball Crossword
Baseball Crossword
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Google Earth (NETS-T I, IV)
By using Google earth I was able to create a map of my own that went from Cal State San Marcos to my house and ending at Dodger stadium. I created this with custom icons and edited my path to the width and color I wanted. This assignment meets the standards for NETS I and IV by inspiring student creativity as well as understanding local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
