journal 4

From Toy to Tool
By Liz Kolb

What a fun article! Liz Kolb, a student at Michigan University whom studies technology learning, writes about the fun ways in how to incorporate a cell phone into your lesson plans. Although the idea might sound a little crazy, Kolb mentions several ways in how students can use their cell phones to help them study, do reports or even conduct interviews over the phone yet still have it directly imported online. Kolb recognizes the fact that students are more interested in their cell phones at times than they are the teacher standing in front of the room, and because of this, creative thinking is needed in order to stimulate the learning process. She proposes the idea of using helpful websites such as Gabcast.com and Blogger.com that will include the use of the students cell phones when they need to record important information. Once the students sign up on these free websites, they are able to record interviews they are conducting or record important information they believe they will need later. The data recorded by student is then automatically posted on the web under the site they/or the class as a whole has set up. Kolb also confronts some of the skeptical comments and provides convincing arguments that could make a teacher comfortable enough to go ahead and try this new concept.

Question #1: Do you think this is a good idea for students in the middle level grades?

I believe this is a fantastic idea for teachers of all grades, but especially for the middle and high school levels. Since teachers commonly have to compete with the student’s cell phones in class, bringing the cell phones forth and showing ways in which they can be beneficial to their learning is very smart. I believe that any way a teacher can bring forth real life situations to a subject to the student is just another way to encompass different learning styles and therefore create a better and more enjoyable learning environment.

Question #2: What are some different arguments you could make as a teacher to find the money to support this lesson and buy cell phones and perhaps computers for your classroom?

As a teacher, I would recognize the following concepts that the students would develop with the use of cell phones and computers: the use of technology that the students use in their everyday lives, cell phones are not only social toys, but also a learning tool, etc.

journal 3

Video in the Age of Participation
By Glen Bull

This Article presented by Glen Bull brings forth great new and upcoming ideas that can help teachers when planning their lessons for the week. Teachers, and everyone else for that matter, are beginning to recognize the explosion of the web use by students all around the globe. Because of its popularity, teachers have found themselves in need for some adjustments when it comes to maintaining student interest in the classroom with the use of technology. This article gives several examples in how to stay hip and up to date with your students with the use of the web. Bull mentions several different websites, mostly created by Discovery and National Geographic, that provide live web cams that have been placed all around the world. Bull supports websites such as these because of the increasing popularity of other not as useful sites such as U tube. The article concludes by mentioning how useful these websites can be in a classroom and how easy the creators have made it for the teachers to use within the short class period.

Question # 1: What is one lesson you think of in which you would be able to implement one of these websites/web cams?

I really like the idea of students observing other students and becoming aware of the many different ways in how to learn something. Web cams that are placed around the world could encourage an interesting topic for students to investigate. For example, a class based in San Diego could possibly observe a class in Tokyo through a web cam and watch the different methods of learning and classroom set-ups. Another great idea would be to use one of the National Geographic web cams to investigate animals around the world and use those observations for a report.

Question # 2: If you could place a web came anywhere (I mean anywhere) where would you put it, and what would you have your students do with it?

I would definitely put a camera on the sun. Wouldn’t it be so cool to watch the sun explode with all of those gases and energy? It would be a great video to show in class because we would be able to study all of the different reactions the sun has as well as help the students grasp the concept of the suns power.

journal 2

Breathing Fire into Web 2.0
Co-Authors Justin Hardman and David Carpenter

The article presented by Hardman and Carpenter, represents a new idea and extension of interactive websites. This new idea was first inspired by the need to store several files and useful information in one area and still have it accessible by just one individual or many at the same time. A school in Hong Kong has recently implemented this idea and has created a program titled “myDragonNet”. This program allows students to compile all of their work, creating an online portfolio, keep organized with interactive calendars, blogs with classmates and much more. Hardman, a familiar user of myDragonNet, as well as Carpenter, believe that a program such as this will help students and teachers maintain current knowledge with technology and perhaps encourage its use more often.

Question # 1: What are some possible disadvantages to a program such as myDragonNet?
As a potential teacher for the Oceanside School District, I find a couple of disadvantages to implementing an online site in a classroom. My biggest concern is the availability of computers to all of my students. Because Oceanside, CA, does not have the highest of incomes has many students do not have access to a computer. I feel that requiring students to constantly be in touch with online assignments would be unfair and unrealistic. However, with this problem, there lies a solution. Students could work with the teacher and together write a proposal for computers in the classroom, telling why it is so important and how students in their class as well as others would benefit.

Question # 2: What are some things as a teacher you would want your students to do with myDragonNet?
One of the main uses I would want my students to have with myDragonNet would be an electronic portfolio. I believe an electronic portfolio would help the students always be prepared to show off their hard work if applying for a job. Not only does it allow them to work with computers and become more familiar with different types of communications, but it also allows them to really recognize what they excel in and perhaps things they need to work on.

journal 1

Professors adjust their methods to reach technology-savvy generation
By Eleanor Yang Su
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

In this article, the author describes the generational shift in technology and it’s affects in the college classroom. According to Yang Su, teachers are feeling both weary as well as excited about having to use technology to connect with their students. Students are continuously on their cell phones talking or texting or on their computers instant messaging their friends, all while taking notes during lecture. Teachers in the San Diego County Universities are finding that they must adjust their teaching strategies in order to maintain an intriguing learning environment. The article also stated that this new generation, which has been recognized as “Generation Y”, has become adapted to some serious multi-tasking abilities. As an example, Yang Su mentioned a college student who was able to effectively have a conversation with her grandmother, check and respond to her email accounts and carry on a conversation through ichat with one of her friends. Teachers who have been able to adjust their teaching methods have found that they now have a much better connection and understanding of their students in their class and recommend using technology in creative way s when creating lesson plans.

Question 1: How familiar are you with technology and prepared to use in your classroom?
Luckily CSUSM has provided me with many classes that reinforce my compatibility with technology. I feel as though I am confident in performing the tasks that I would need when conducting or creating new lesson plans for my class. I do, however, feel as though it is necessary to constantly update my knowledge in the technological field, as, I am sure, the students in my class are.

Question 2: Do you think that technology is beneficial to the classroom?
Yes, definitely! I agree with the above article written by Yang Su, when it talks about how bringing the use of technology into the classroom can help stimulate discussion and actually help the teacher relate more with their students. As a teacher, I believe that it is important to stay updated on the new and upcoming uses of technology. I believe that the more methods you know in how to effectively teach a lesson to all different types of learners the better.