Red
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, May 9, 2008
Week 8 Writing Prompt Response
Experiencing Park University ED 491
Park University ED 491 far exceeded my expectations. Each and every class session was loaded with useful ideas for integrating technology in teaching and learning activities. In a time when it seems like keeping up requires continuous, substantial reinvestment in the latest, greatest technology equipment and applications, this class showed the smart way to make the most of technology using software and equipment you have or can obtain inexpensively. PhotoStory 3 and Audacity definitely qualify as practical applications anybody could use in their classroom. Through assigned projects designed for use of those applications, class members were forced to find out for themselves just how possible it is to produce customized teaching tools quickly and easily with technology. I would not change a thing about this class, save remaining dedicated to delivering information about the most recent free, simple technology tools teachers would benefit from knowing about and experiencing. Thanks for a terrific learning experience.
Park University ED 491 far exceeded my expectations. Each and every class session was loaded with useful ideas for integrating technology in teaching and learning activities. In a time when it seems like keeping up requires continuous, substantial reinvestment in the latest, greatest technology equipment and applications, this class showed the smart way to make the most of technology using software and equipment you have or can obtain inexpensively. PhotoStory 3 and Audacity definitely qualify as practical applications anybody could use in their classroom. Through assigned projects designed for use of those applications, class members were forced to find out for themselves just how possible it is to produce customized teaching tools quickly and easily with technology. I would not change a thing about this class, save remaining dedicated to delivering information about the most recent free, simple technology tools teachers would benefit from knowing about and experiencing. Thanks for a terrific learning experience.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Week 7 Writing Prompt Responses
Grant Opportunity
With the current focus on Math, Science and Communication Arts learning and achievement, grant opportunities for visual arts education appear to be in limited supply. The Kids in Need Foundation awards mini-grants, in amounts ranging from $100 to $500, to classroom teachers for use in innovative learning activities for students, without ties to specific content areas. A $500 mini-grant would fund the purchase of a set of four to five Flip video cameras for fourth- and fifth-grade students to use in a digital video art project. With a brief learning curve, the Flip video cameras would easily integrate with existing technology at the elementary school level and allow the art teacher to develop lessons focusing on artistic concerns around video creation such as storyboarding and frame composition. Additionally, this exciting learning opportunity would allow students to showcase their learning using current technology methods.
$2500 Donation to Classroom
A $2500 donation would go a long way to fund technology integration in a single classroom. In my own classroom, this donation would fund four equipment purchases: one Elmo projector, one set of ten digital cameras, one set of ten digital microphones, and an external hard drive for backup. The Elmo projector provides a convenient method for the teacher to quickly project print and digital instructional content without relying on specialized, occasionally messy, supplies such as transparencies, Vis-à-vis markers, and photocopied pages. A teacher may simply place a book or a print of an artwork beneath the Elmo’s document camera for instant projection, or insert a memory device to retrieve saved content to be projected. In the long run, the cost of the Elmo will be offset by savings in supplies, copies and instructional time. Equipping a classroom with a set of low-cost digital cameras will make student access to technology for their learning projects much more efficient and engaging since students will be able to advance through assignments with technology components at a reasonable rate. Elementary art students would use digital cameras for learning elements and principles of art, art history, and graphic representation. Students would also use digital images to learn basic image manipulation techniques using software bundled on school computers. The same ideas apply for equipping a classroom with a set of digital microphones. Elementary art students would use digital microphones to record critique comments in a computer-based program, or to demonstrate learning around art history topics. Additionally, students might develop a podcast, or record voiceovers on PowerPoint shows. By regularly backing up their work on their own classroom stand-alone hard drive, students will establish the best practice of regular backup of their work. In short, a $2500 donation would place technology in reach for students on a daily basis in meaningful, authentic learning activity.
With the current focus on Math, Science and Communication Arts learning and achievement, grant opportunities for visual arts education appear to be in limited supply. The Kids in Need Foundation awards mini-grants, in amounts ranging from $100 to $500, to classroom teachers for use in innovative learning activities for students, without ties to specific content areas. A $500 mini-grant would fund the purchase of a set of four to five Flip video cameras for fourth- and fifth-grade students to use in a digital video art project. With a brief learning curve, the Flip video cameras would easily integrate with existing technology at the elementary school level and allow the art teacher to develop lessons focusing on artistic concerns around video creation such as storyboarding and frame composition. Additionally, this exciting learning opportunity would allow students to showcase their learning using current technology methods.
$2500 Donation to Classroom
A $2500 donation would go a long way to fund technology integration in a single classroom. In my own classroom, this donation would fund four equipment purchases: one Elmo projector, one set of ten digital cameras, one set of ten digital microphones, and an external hard drive for backup. The Elmo projector provides a convenient method for the teacher to quickly project print and digital instructional content without relying on specialized, occasionally messy, supplies such as transparencies, Vis-à-vis markers, and photocopied pages. A teacher may simply place a book or a print of an artwork beneath the Elmo’s document camera for instant projection, or insert a memory device to retrieve saved content to be projected. In the long run, the cost of the Elmo will be offset by savings in supplies, copies and instructional time. Equipping a classroom with a set of low-cost digital cameras will make student access to technology for their learning projects much more efficient and engaging since students will be able to advance through assignments with technology components at a reasonable rate. Elementary art students would use digital cameras for learning elements and principles of art, art history, and graphic representation. Students would also use digital images to learn basic image manipulation techniques using software bundled on school computers. The same ideas apply for equipping a classroom with a set of digital microphones. Elementary art students would use digital microphones to record critique comments in a computer-based program, or to demonstrate learning around art history topics. Additionally, students might develop a podcast, or record voiceovers on PowerPoint shows. By regularly backing up their work on their own classroom stand-alone hard drive, students will establish the best practice of regular backup of their work. In short, a $2500 donation would place technology in reach for students on a daily basis in meaningful, authentic learning activity.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Week 6 Writing Prompt Response
Copyright and Teachers
Responsibilities associated with copyright and fair use, both in and out of the education setting, rest with all of us. Creators of content deserve credit, remuneration, and any other rewards they seek for their ideas and effort. In recent years, content creators have raised the profile of copyright concerns, and gained ground in legal protection for their work. Teachers need to realize their unique role in modeling responsibility for copyright and fair use in their own classroom practice, in addition to teaching their students about copyright and holding students accountable for use of content created by others. Copyright and fair use issues are not going away, and the sooner the education community is able to adhere to copyright and fair use requirements, the better off everyone will be.
Responsibilities associated with copyright and fair use, both in and out of the education setting, rest with all of us. Creators of content deserve credit, remuneration, and any other rewards they seek for their ideas and effort. In recent years, content creators have raised the profile of copyright concerns, and gained ground in legal protection for their work. Teachers need to realize their unique role in modeling responsibility for copyright and fair use in their own classroom practice, in addition to teaching their students about copyright and holding students accountable for use of content created by others. Copyright and fair use issues are not going away, and the sooner the education community is able to adhere to copyright and fair use requirements, the better off everyone will be.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Week 5 Writing Prompt Response
Is Google Good or Evil?
Conceptually, the many components which make up Google, by themselves, are good. Whether one wants to find information, communicate with others, or create files easily shared with others, Google has the elegant solution to meet the need. It would be difficult to argue with Google’s investment in creativity and problem solving for the masses.
As attractive as this one-stop shopping may be, Google remains on the “Buyer Beware” list. Google is the same as every other computer in that it is inherently built to record information, and then manipulate it. The more we use Google, the more data we freely offer to its care and keeping, placing us at the mercy of those in leadership at Google, now and in the future. It is impossible to predict what is ahead for Google and its leaders, but the wise consumer recognizes the potential for unwelcome use of personal information placed in the care of unknown stewards.
In the same way a savvy investor diversifies her assets, so too must the savvy technology user diversify her skill set and arsenal of technology tools. Google has its place in a modern arsenal of technology tools, but it should not be the one-stop shop. Diversification equals protection.
Conceptually, the many components which make up Google, by themselves, are good. Whether one wants to find information, communicate with others, or create files easily shared with others, Google has the elegant solution to meet the need. It would be difficult to argue with Google’s investment in creativity and problem solving for the masses.
As attractive as this one-stop shopping may be, Google remains on the “Buyer Beware” list. Google is the same as every other computer in that it is inherently built to record information, and then manipulate it. The more we use Google, the more data we freely offer to its care and keeping, placing us at the mercy of those in leadership at Google, now and in the future. It is impossible to predict what is ahead for Google and its leaders, but the wise consumer recognizes the potential for unwelcome use of personal information placed in the care of unknown stewards.
In the same way a savvy investor diversifies her assets, so too must the savvy technology user diversify her skill set and arsenal of technology tools. Google has its place in a modern arsenal of technology tools, but it should not be the one-stop shop. Diversification equals protection.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Week 4 Writing Prompt Response
On YouTube in the Classroom
YouTube, when properly filtered by teachers, is a great source of authentic content which likely will engage students in classroom learning activities. Teachers should not assign student work requiring students to access YouTube on their own because it places students at risk for exposure to inappropriate images and ideas. Ideally, I see no issue with students being allowed to post content to YouTube, as long as personal security measures are understood and followed. However, it may be time for education to step up and give students some training in their responsibility for what is recorded and published in their videos. The confrontation video reflected as much on the students’ blatant disrespect for their teacher, along with their probable misuse of cell phones during school hours, as it did on the teacher’s attempts to regain control of the classroom. Perhaps those students would reconsider posting that type of content if they understood that they are also publishing a record of their own behavior.
YouTube, when properly filtered by teachers, is a great source of authentic content which likely will engage students in classroom learning activities. Teachers should not assign student work requiring students to access YouTube on their own because it places students at risk for exposure to inappropriate images and ideas. Ideally, I see no issue with students being allowed to post content to YouTube, as long as personal security measures are understood and followed. However, it may be time for education to step up and give students some training in their responsibility for what is recorded and published in their videos. The confrontation video reflected as much on the students’ blatant disrespect for their teacher, along with their probable misuse of cell phones during school hours, as it did on the teacher’s attempts to regain control of the classroom. Perhaps those students would reconsider posting that type of content if they understood that they are also publishing a record of their own behavior.
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