Wow, this was a great course. Lori B. thanks for your time and effort in helping me do this course. Your patience is also appreciated as always. I look forward to applying some of the things I have learned here with my kids this coming school year.
I know technology has a place in every subject area. I feel I am a bit challenged as I only see my kids twice a week (and there are so many of them) and that finding time to do "sit down" work has some issues. I am really going to try to do the blog with parents and kids on certain topic areas like fitness, nutrition and other areas of interest to the parents. I think I need to start off slow with a small target group of kids...maybe one classroom one grade and work from there.
I also would like to try the video idea of the progression of certain skills. I think this would be a great way for kids to enhance their learning.
Technology amazes me daily. I am so excited to learn more and to watch my kids learn and grow in this amazing world. I look forward to taking more classes and seeing where I can go with what is offered to me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
School 2.0
While school 2.o is interesting, it seems somewhat mechanical. I know it is just a sketch but there isn't much room for other important things in life. The whole concept of this model is thought provoking. The one thing that struck me as I observed this model was the people wheel. There is a lot of people involved, a lot of stakeholders. As I look at the wheel, it seems as though we have all of these people involved in learning today. Some may not be as involved as they should (students) some may be involved a bit too much and some may be so far removed from education and how it works that the decisions they make cloud the issues at hand. I also see the potential for the technology to "take off" as long as we are supportive of each others needs and learning hurdles that may come.
I especially like the learning ecosystem and how it includes not just a school building, but the combination of home, school and community that collaborates to bring the wider world into day to day instruction and provide a rich array of learning opportunities. I think educators often try to do this as they teach...to provide a rich array of learning opportunities, but I don't think the support outside of school is always there. To get everyone on the same page as this model proposes would be a great accomplishment.
As I look at this model and think of my own job, I don't see it. If I were to change anything, it would be to include those of us that "provide the break" for the classroom teachers. I think a well rounded child should have a grasp of what art is, what it's like to sing or play music, the knowledge of how proper nutrition and physical exercise promotes a healthy lifestyle. Things like that are missing from this model and it is something I would definitely change to make it a better, stronger community.
I especially like the learning ecosystem and how it includes not just a school building, but the combination of home, school and community that collaborates to bring the wider world into day to day instruction and provide a rich array of learning opportunities. I think educators often try to do this as they teach...to provide a rich array of learning opportunities, but I don't think the support outside of school is always there. To get everyone on the same page as this model proposes would be a great accomplishment.
As I look at this model and think of my own job, I don't see it. If I were to change anything, it would be to include those of us that "provide the break" for the classroom teachers. I think a well rounded child should have a grasp of what art is, what it's like to sing or play music, the knowledge of how proper nutrition and physical exercise promotes a healthy lifestyle. Things like that are missing from this model and it is something I would definitely change to make it a better, stronger community.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Lesson 10
Listening to Dr. Yong was interesting. My opinion of his thoughts kept wavering back and forth on agreeing with him and not. In his first segment, I am on the fence, I think we have come a long way with technology but at the same time, there is so much out there we have not touched on or taught our children. I do agree that we do look on the past a lot and need to break free from that. I think the NCLB act is holding us back a bit as is the focus on test scores. We need to look to the future and how we can build for a better tomorrow .
I like how the second podcast involved the concept of children working to learn. I don't think kids today realize how important hard work is to learning. We do however need to "revamp" our structure of learning to better ourselves first and then that will lead to bettering the education of the students. A collaborative effort (students and teachers learning and growing together)would be an interesting concept as well. The people making the "rules" however haven't been in the classroom in a while and doubtfully have been outside their own state much less the US.
The concept of video games has changed drastically since I was a kid. It is so much more intense and engaging not to mention you can play people around the world vs. the kid sitting next to you. Kids now are so into gaming that if it were a part of the education world in terms of being right in the schools I think we would be more successful. We are working toward improving our technological skills but there is so much out there we have not even touched on. This course is a great step but we can do better. Educational gaming sounds very powerful and successful.
Dr. Yong has many things to say and has challenged my thinking. I am a risk taker and would love to see more technological advances in the classroom...my own included. Some people are just not as open which presents the challenge of change. We are all control freaks in our own little ways, allowing more of a student ownership on things could prove to be a lesson not only for them but for us as well. I think to grow, we all need to step out of the box a bit.
I like how the second podcast involved the concept of children working to learn. I don't think kids today realize how important hard work is to learning. We do however need to "revamp" our structure of learning to better ourselves first and then that will lead to bettering the education of the students. A collaborative effort (students and teachers learning and growing together)would be an interesting concept as well. The people making the "rules" however haven't been in the classroom in a while and doubtfully have been outside their own state much less the US.
The concept of video games has changed drastically since I was a kid. It is so much more intense and engaging not to mention you can play people around the world vs. the kid sitting next to you. Kids now are so into gaming that if it were a part of the education world in terms of being right in the schools I think we would be more successful. We are working toward improving our technological skills but there is so much out there we have not even touched on. This course is a great step but we can do better. Educational gaming sounds very powerful and successful.
Dr. Yong has many things to say and has challenged my thinking. I am a risk taker and would love to see more technological advances in the classroom...my own included. Some people are just not as open which presents the challenge of change. We are all control freaks in our own little ways, allowing more of a student ownership on things could prove to be a lesson not only for them but for us as well. I think to grow, we all need to step out of the box a bit.
Collaborative Fitness
I've really thought a lot about what I could do with my kids to do a collaborative project. Fitness, nutrition and obesity among our young people is a hot topic now a days. Do the kids really see how important it is? I figure the project I've thought of could allow kids to really see first hand what it is to be fit. Students would be chosen randomly off of class lists for the entire grade. There would be 4 groups chosen instead of 3.
One group could do reasearch either online or a visit to their own pediatritian or maybe one of our own parents (who is a doc) or school nurse could help them get the right info of what a fit 6th grader should be like. Examples would be average ht and wt. What their resting pulse should be, blood pressure and hr during a 20 min. cardio workout (of course other info they feel would be necessary) They would then take a physical themselves to see how they would compare. With this information, this group will prepare a mini fitness program for this age group.
The next group would work on the nutritional aspect of things. Before doing research, this group would would be required to do a food diary (no restrictions) on what they would eat for 7 days and record every bit that goes into their mouths. The diary would be signed each nite by their parents and checked for accuracy. Once that is done, students would research what a healthy balanced diet would look like for a fit 6th grade student. They would also map out a diet plan for an obese 6th grade student by looking at labels and using research to see how many calories it should be based on for that student. This group would also have a physical to see how they compare.
The third group would put it all together and live the research the first two groups put together. Before they start, they would have a physical (for 2 reasons, to make sure they were healthy enough to withstand the challange and the other to show a before and after), and they would also keep a food diary for 7 days. This group would also take a pre and post fitness test (on days 1 and 14) to see how they compare. This group will have 14 days to do improve their test results as well as their physical and nutritional habits.
The final group will do all of the comparison data collected and do a presentation to their grade level based on the information they have found.
One group could do reasearch either online or a visit to their own pediatritian or maybe one of our own parents (who is a doc) or school nurse could help them get the right info of what a fit 6th grader should be like. Examples would be average ht and wt. What their resting pulse should be, blood pressure and hr during a 20 min. cardio workout (of course other info they feel would be necessary) They would then take a physical themselves to see how they would compare. With this information, this group will prepare a mini fitness program for this age group.
The next group would work on the nutritional aspect of things. Before doing research, this group would would be required to do a food diary (no restrictions) on what they would eat for 7 days and record every bit that goes into their mouths. The diary would be signed each nite by their parents and checked for accuracy. Once that is done, students would research what a healthy balanced diet would look like for a fit 6th grade student. They would also map out a diet plan for an obese 6th grade student by looking at labels and using research to see how many calories it should be based on for that student. This group would also have a physical to see how they compare.
The third group would put it all together and live the research the first two groups put together. Before they start, they would have a physical (for 2 reasons, to make sure they were healthy enough to withstand the challange and the other to show a before and after), and they would also keep a food diary for 7 days. This group would also take a pre and post fitness test (on days 1 and 14) to see how they compare. This group will have 14 days to do improve their test results as well as their physical and nutritional habits.
The final group will do all of the comparison data collected and do a presentation to their grade level based on the information they have found.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Assignment 8 Reflection 2
Wow, so much to take in! All great by the way. I love the blogging idea from the first strand of lessons and in this strand, I liked the video aspect with Next Vista best in a professional aspect. I think it would be a great tool to post video with explanation on how to do different physical views of a lesson with verbal explanation to go along with it. One example may be how to throw in opposition, or how to shoot a jump shot or position your hands on a basketball for a jump shot as well as so many other things.
Professionally and personally I love del.icio.us! It is something I've always wondered if you can do. So many times I go home and remember a great site someone gave to me or I found myself at school and I can't remember it. Now, I have no problem. I am so excited about this. It will also allow me to get a bunch of bookmarks together to maybe share with any medical excuse students to follow up and do some type of assignment during PE class. The options seem endless. I have already began using del.icio.us in a professional aspect in building bookmarks and tags that can be referenced to help enhance some lessons and possible blogging topics for the school year.
Professionally and personally I love del.icio.us! It is something I've always wondered if you can do. So many times I go home and remember a great site someone gave to me or I found myself at school and I can't remember it. Now, I have no problem. I am so excited about this. It will also allow me to get a bunch of bookmarks together to maybe share with any medical excuse students to follow up and do some type of assignment during PE class. The options seem endless. I have already began using del.icio.us in a professional aspect in building bookmarks and tags that can be referenced to help enhance some lessons and possible blogging topics for the school year.
Wiki's???
Well, I learn something new with every lesson of this course. It is amazing what technology can do for us, especially in education. I really enjoyed the blogging section. I'm not convinced on the Wiki's yet (from my perspective as a special area teacher). I'm not sure if it is because I don't completely get them or if I am not sure how I could use it in my area. Either way, I would like to take a class on Wiki's to see how to use it to my advantage. I checked out the Village's Wiki and I am quite impressed. I do like how it is a collaborative way to gather information. It's also great for kids that may be a bit more intraverted (like me :-)) to get involved without feeling the pressure of public speaking. There's two sides to that coin too I guess. Anyhow, Wiki's are a great new twist to technology.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Lesson 5 - Online Video Resources
This lesson was pretty interesting. The resource I liked the least in terms of educational value was clipblast. It makes me a bit nervous that there are no filters or tagging for inappropriate things. After that I guess 3rd place in my eyes would be you tube. I like it for personal things but not for teaching anything. Seems a bit scatterered to me. Teacher tube and Next Vista were pretty cool sites education wise. My personal favorite was Next Vista. I really liked how they had everything catagorized and broken down, (really liked the concepts of "light bulb", "global views" and "seeing service"). It was very user friendly and I really enjoyed that it was very student centered. I think kids are more open to watching their peers and learning from what they have to say. Teacher tube was catagorized too but not as much as Next Vista. The other plus for Next Vista was the rules they have before any videos were posted. If we are going to use these sites in our classroom, there should be rules to make the video and have it posted. Teacher tube was somewhat filtered but no rules, material was flagged if found to be inappropriate.
Basically, I found that Next Vista was easiest to use and clipblast would be a little less user friendly. I could totally see Next Vista being a great tool in my subject area as little bits could be posted on exemplary physical demonstrations for things like throwing or kicking to name a few. It would also be great to get the kids into the technology aspect of things as they could do the video taping, editing and making sure they are following the rules of the site. It would be a great collaboration with the classroom teacher as well.
I knew about you tube but the other sites were new to me. It's great to have these free online video resources but like everything else, there is a time and place for what each is good for. These lessons are definitely challenging my thinking and making my head spin in terms of what I would like to try this coming school year.
Basically, I found that Next Vista was easiest to use and clipblast would be a little less user friendly. I could totally see Next Vista being a great tool in my subject area as little bits could be posted on exemplary physical demonstrations for things like throwing or kicking to name a few. It would also be great to get the kids into the technology aspect of things as they could do the video taping, editing and making sure they are following the rules of the site. It would be a great collaboration with the classroom teacher as well.
I knew about you tube but the other sites were new to me. It's great to have these free online video resources but like everything else, there is a time and place for what each is good for. These lessons are definitely challenging my thinking and making my head spin in terms of what I would like to try this coming school year.
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