I have mixed feelings about online learning in our school system. Yes, it is great where time is concerned but I worry about the social aspect of it. I know as college students we experience good teachers and not so good teachers. I realize that the teachers November is talking about are highly trained and experienced. I also know that there are many differant styles of learning and some students need that face to face interaction to be successful. I see positives and negitives with online learning.
As far as Second Life, I know it appears to take a lot of time to set up. I don't know many teachers that would dedicate their time to such a large project. Yes, I think it is amazing what all can be done with it and students would probably love it, but I'm just not sure how much teacher involvement you would get.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
NARA and NAIL
National Archives and Records Administration and NARA Archival Information Locator are very impressive. I was very impressed with the NARA website and all that it contains. If I were a teacher I would use this in my classroom without a doubt! I did show this to my daughter who will be in high school next year and she was amazed at all the information that was available. What a good way to help students find accurate information and I was really impressed with the NARA Worksheets that are available for you to print. It allows the students to evaluate the source material.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Computers and Education
1. As the third millennium begins, it is evident that the development of digital technology has had, and will continue to have, a profound, pervasive impact on the course of global civilization.
There's no way to talk about all the technology advances that have taken place over the years but is evident that technology is growing by leaps and bounds. I can't think of a day that I don't use technology and if I try to think about some of the jobs I do without technology it would a disaster.
2. Computer technology has been adapted to amplify the capacity of professionals in virtually every aspect of society-with the exception of the teacher. Rationalizing this reality becomes increasingly difficult, since teaching and learning is an information-intensive process.
I like the point that is made in this section, many teachers have been forced to learn technology and how to do basic functions on the computer. Due to the knowledge that our students have about computers it is essential to try and keep up with what's new and the latest technology trends. It is hard for teachers to incorporate technology with all they have to teach these days but we have to venture out of our comfort zones from time to time.
3. There is generalized intuitive feeling that computers should have a vital role in teaching and learning. What is lacking is a sharply focused definition of that role and a strategy for integrating computers into education alongside books and chalkboards-in a mode that secures the teacher's central role.
It is like I mentioned earlier, teachers must venture out of their comfort zone and explore new ways to teach their lessons and involve technology. Yes, it will take some extra time, but the learning experience for your students will be so much more exciting and hopefully more beneficial for them.
4. Because computers store multimedia information interactively utilzing software that is course-specif, they allow teachers to provide each member of the class an increased number of individualized learning experiences based on the learner's need raher than the teacher's availability.
This is an excellent way for students to get extra practice on skills that they need reinforcement in. I didn't have experience in this since I wasn't a classroom teacher but I have a program that my daughter uses on our home computer and she loves it! It is a treat when students get to work on the computer and most don't realize they are getting extra practice.
5.The mind coupled with a computer infinitely amplifies its capacity to perform the basic cognitive functions. Yet there is no configuration of microchips that replicates the intricate, vital interface between mind and emotions-a basic limitation of computers.
I do agree to a certain extent with this statement. I think we do become dependent on computers to remember information for us. I even heard a teacher at my daughter's school say, "don't worry about spelling very much you know we have spell check". She even said this in front of some students. She was right but what kind of message was she giving her class? Is it alright not to study your spelling words? We ahve to be careful not challenge ourselves not to rely solely on the computer.
6.The fundamental role of computers in the classroom is to extend the capacity of teachers to provide individualized tutoring to learners, thus compensating for the disparity in each individual's capacity to achieve.
The computer can be such a vital tool in helping the learner gain more information. There are so many games and programs that can help reinforce the content areas that the student is having problems with. It is sad that more teachers don't take advantage of this opportunity due to their lack of computer skills.
There's no way to talk about all the technology advances that have taken place over the years but is evident that technology is growing by leaps and bounds. I can't think of a day that I don't use technology and if I try to think about some of the jobs I do without technology it would a disaster.
2. Computer technology has been adapted to amplify the capacity of professionals in virtually every aspect of society-with the exception of the teacher. Rationalizing this reality becomes increasingly difficult, since teaching and learning is an information-intensive process.
I like the point that is made in this section, many teachers have been forced to learn technology and how to do basic functions on the computer. Due to the knowledge that our students have about computers it is essential to try and keep up with what's new and the latest technology trends. It is hard for teachers to incorporate technology with all they have to teach these days but we have to venture out of our comfort zones from time to time.
3. There is generalized intuitive feeling that computers should have a vital role in teaching and learning. What is lacking is a sharply focused definition of that role and a strategy for integrating computers into education alongside books and chalkboards-in a mode that secures the teacher's central role.
It is like I mentioned earlier, teachers must venture out of their comfort zone and explore new ways to teach their lessons and involve technology. Yes, it will take some extra time, but the learning experience for your students will be so much more exciting and hopefully more beneficial for them.
4. Because computers store multimedia information interactively utilzing software that is course-specif, they allow teachers to provide each member of the class an increased number of individualized learning experiences based on the learner's need raher than the teacher's availability.
This is an excellent way for students to get extra practice on skills that they need reinforcement in. I didn't have experience in this since I wasn't a classroom teacher but I have a program that my daughter uses on our home computer and she loves it! It is a treat when students get to work on the computer and most don't realize they are getting extra practice.
5.The mind coupled with a computer infinitely amplifies its capacity to perform the basic cognitive functions. Yet there is no configuration of microchips that replicates the intricate, vital interface between mind and emotions-a basic limitation of computers.
I do agree to a certain extent with this statement. I think we do become dependent on computers to remember information for us. I even heard a teacher at my daughter's school say, "don't worry about spelling very much you know we have spell check". She even said this in front of some students. She was right but what kind of message was she giving her class? Is it alright not to study your spelling words? We ahve to be careful not challenge ourselves not to rely solely on the computer.
6.The fundamental role of computers in the classroom is to extend the capacity of teachers to provide individualized tutoring to learners, thus compensating for the disparity in each individual's capacity to achieve.
The computer can be such a vital tool in helping the learner gain more information. There are so many games and programs that can help reinforce the content areas that the student is having problems with. It is sad that more teachers don't take advantage of this opportunity due to their lack of computer skills.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Perceptions
1. All human activity is driven by information; the more demanding the activity-the greater the need for information. Thus, information can be termed the fuel that powers the teaching-learning process.
In my line of work people come to me or my programs for knowledge. They are driven to learn more about something that has an effect on them.
2. At a fundamental level, it can be assumed that all learning is initiated by information perceived by the senses: specifically, what you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel.
When I give a program I use a powerpoint a majority of the time. It is my observation and experience that it makes the program much more interesting and provides a visual for everyone and could increase the knowledge that they retain. As an ex teacher I agree that children all learn differantly.
3.Information technology empowers teachers by amplifying their capacity to readily provise their learners the heightened sensory percepions of multimedia.
Technology provides teachers with such a variety of teaching and learning styles. If I were a classroom teacher I would try to use everything that was available and increase the children's awareness and capabilites of learning through technology.
4. How teachers manage information has a major impact on the outcome of the teacher-learning process. Technology faclitates and and amplifies the teacher's capacity to provise learners with information of higher fidelity in an individualized, interactive mode. Thompson said that the successful teacher primarily manager information, not students.
There are so many ways to teach. Teaching depends on your audiance and topic, just to name a few. As a teacher or educator making sure your audiance learns what you are presenting is what is important regardless of your teaching style.
5. Their is compelling evidence that learning is heightened when teachers create visually rich ecperiences, thus engaging the learner's entire brain-rather thatn only half.
It makes a lesson much more exciting to have a visual and not just listening to someone lecture. It's hard for childrena nd adults to sit and listen to a lesson for a long period of time before their mind starts to wonder off and lose sight of what is being taught.
6. In great part, the effectiveness of the communication phase of the teaching-learning process determines the outcome. Additionally, there are threee critical factors that determine how well learners assimilate the information made available: fidelity, relevancy, and accessibility.
Romano talks about three critical factors that determine how well learners assimilate the information made available.He discusses fidelity, relevancy, and accessibility.
Fidelity to me provides a hands on for your lesson. Relevancy means trying to provide the information necessary for them to learn what they need to know. It is your job to provide that for your audiance. Accessibility means to me is the information at hands reach? I try to provide handouts for them to go back and review. I provide a business card for them to contact me if they should have a question arise.
This class has been very interesting to me. If I were still teaching this class would provide such an amazing set of tools to work with, all the possibilites to be such a great teacher. Even with my present job I hope to make things I do more interesting and eye catching by using some of the new techniques.
In my line of work people come to me or my programs for knowledge. They are driven to learn more about something that has an effect on them.
2. At a fundamental level, it can be assumed that all learning is initiated by information perceived by the senses: specifically, what you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel.
When I give a program I use a powerpoint a majority of the time. It is my observation and experience that it makes the program much more interesting and provides a visual for everyone and could increase the knowledge that they retain. As an ex teacher I agree that children all learn differantly.
3.Information technology empowers teachers by amplifying their capacity to readily provise their learners the heightened sensory percepions of multimedia.
Technology provides teachers with such a variety of teaching and learning styles. If I were a classroom teacher I would try to use everything that was available and increase the children's awareness and capabilites of learning through technology.
4. How teachers manage information has a major impact on the outcome of the teacher-learning process. Technology faclitates and and amplifies the teacher's capacity to provise learners with information of higher fidelity in an individualized, interactive mode. Thompson said that the successful teacher primarily manager information, not students.
There are so many ways to teach. Teaching depends on your audiance and topic, just to name a few. As a teacher or educator making sure your audiance learns what you are presenting is what is important regardless of your teaching style.
5. Their is compelling evidence that learning is heightened when teachers create visually rich ecperiences, thus engaging the learner's entire brain-rather thatn only half.
It makes a lesson much more exciting to have a visual and not just listening to someone lecture. It's hard for childrena nd adults to sit and listen to a lesson for a long period of time before their mind starts to wonder off and lose sight of what is being taught.
6. In great part, the effectiveness of the communication phase of the teaching-learning process determines the outcome. Additionally, there are threee critical factors that determine how well learners assimilate the information made available: fidelity, relevancy, and accessibility.
Romano talks about three critical factors that determine how well learners assimilate the information made available.He discusses fidelity, relevancy, and accessibility.
Fidelity to me provides a hands on for your lesson. Relevancy means trying to provide the information necessary for them to learn what they need to know. It is your job to provide that for your audiance. Accessibility means to me is the information at hands reach? I try to provide handouts for them to go back and review. I provide a business card for them to contact me if they should have a question arise.
This class has been very interesting to me. If I were still teaching this class would provide such an amazing set of tools to work with, all the possibilites to be such a great teacher. Even with my present job I hope to make things I do more interesting and eye catching by using some of the new techniques.
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