Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Children want to be like us
this is a short video clip that many of you will have already seen. I think it is so touching and I showed it to my daughter who is nine and she wanted to watch it over and over again. The clip sends a powerful reminder that we are role models for our children and our students and that children want to be like us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu9IQ5-MyGo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu9IQ5-MyGo
Safety on the computer
I was reading the other blogs about invites to Facebook and MySpace. I get people inviting me to join all the time but I just delete their emails. They don't have to know that I never join and I don't have to worry about hurting their feelings by declining. No one has ever said anything to me so I don't think it is a problem not to join.
I have gone the odd time and looked at MySpace accounts of students (not my students) to see what they say on there and these kids had a lot of swearing, the F word seems to be a favourite term these days. The profiles talked about their sex lives, their use of drugs and alchohol and the latest parties they attended and how drunk they were going to get the next weekend.
These kids were fourteen to sixteen and had invited me to join MySpace.
The question Dean talked about tonight was how do we handle that - if they are students in our classrooms? Are their private accounts private? Do we have a right to know what is on there? Would that be like reading a printed copy of someones personal diary?
My view is that I would advise them of the reasons why "I think" they should not post certain things on their site that may hinder them in future employment options and for other reasons. Employers are google searching names before the interview these days or searching YouTube for videos. I know when I need an employee for my equine photo work I will see what comes up under their name and I do not know much about doing a search. An employer such as SIAST would be able to do a thorough search on a potential employee.
But I still believe it is as private as a diary and that I do not have the right as a teacher to forbid students to post certain things - I think we need to give them the information and hope they follow through.
Of course I am talking about their own private time at home and not at school. At school I would not use MySpace or others - in my classroom for the above reasons. It's not my place to monitor it - so I would not use it.
I have gone the odd time and looked at MySpace accounts of students (not my students) to see what they say on there and these kids had a lot of swearing, the F word seems to be a favourite term these days. The profiles talked about their sex lives, their use of drugs and alchohol and the latest parties they attended and how drunk they were going to get the next weekend.
These kids were fourteen to sixteen and had invited me to join MySpace.
The question Dean talked about tonight was how do we handle that - if they are students in our classrooms? Are their private accounts private? Do we have a right to know what is on there? Would that be like reading a printed copy of someones personal diary?
My view is that I would advise them of the reasons why "I think" they should not post certain things on their site that may hinder them in future employment options and for other reasons. Employers are google searching names before the interview these days or searching YouTube for videos. I know when I need an employee for my equine photo work I will see what comes up under their name and I do not know much about doing a search. An employer such as SIAST would be able to do a thorough search on a potential employee.
But I still believe it is as private as a diary and that I do not have the right as a teacher to forbid students to post certain things - I think we need to give them the information and hope they follow through.
Of course I am talking about their own private time at home and not at school. At school I would not use MySpace or others - in my classroom for the above reasons. It's not my place to monitor it - so I would not use it.
Technology
Hi,
well I finally finished up my haying so the horses can eat all winter! Now I have to spend time catching up on my class work. I think the collaborative project is a great idea for students to connect with people in other parts of the world. What a great way to learn about different aspects of the curriculum in a fun and interesting way.
well I finally finished up my haying so the horses can eat all winter! Now I have to spend time catching up on my class work. I think the collaborative project is a great idea for students to connect with people in other parts of the world. What a great way to learn about different aspects of the curriculum in a fun and interesting way.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Big Shifts
I found it interesting that the text book commented on the fact that schools and teachers at one time "owned" the content of the curriculum. The curriculum being taught only from the text with few outside resources. Students did not have much outside information available to them. I remember when I was in school and doing a research paper, we had the encylopedia and books at the library. It took a long time to research and find the information.
Today, students are able to go online (teachers also) and get so much more information and it is fast.
The text also talked about how the way of teaching is changing to more open source and that everyone can contribute to the curriculum. We have access to other teachers today, in ways we never had before, we can get our lesson plans online, or view things that worked or did not work in other classrooms.
Students have the opportunity to share their work with others via the web. Isn't that a great incentive to complete a project? Before only the teacher saw the hard work put into an assignment but today it is possible for many to view it. Students can also work together on projects that they would have had to meet in person in the past. Today, they can do a whole project and never meet face to face.
Today, students are able to go online (teachers also) and get so much more information and it is fast.
The text also talked about how the way of teaching is changing to more open source and that everyone can contribute to the curriculum. We have access to other teachers today, in ways we never had before, we can get our lesson plans online, or view things that worked or did not work in other classrooms.
Students have the opportunity to share their work with others via the web. Isn't that a great incentive to complete a project? Before only the teacher saw the hard work put into an assignment but today it is possible for many to view it. Students can also work together on projects that they would have had to meet in person in the past. Today, they can do a whole project and never meet face to face.
different ways of teaching
HI
I am excited that people are taking the time to reply to my blog. I never expected that to happen. Thank You, I appreciate the feed back.
I don't really see the computer as a seperate identity and I see the possibilities of it's use in language and the other domains. The story book is a great way for students to express themselves, you are right. And better yet - if we can get the parents "hooked" through a story book about their family for example, then the parents might get more involved with the school and that would be a wonderful thing.
Ronda
I am excited that people are taking the time to reply to my blog. I never expected that to happen. Thank You, I appreciate the feed back.
I don't really see the computer as a seperate identity and I see the possibilities of it's use in language and the other domains. The story book is a great way for students to express themselves, you are right. And better yet - if we can get the parents "hooked" through a story book about their family for example, then the parents might get more involved with the school and that would be a wonderful thing.
Ronda
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Story Book 3
I am having way to much fun playing with this story. I find the photograph part of it is lacking in some aspects. I can not rotate the photos or grab and slide them around. Also, the text is only allowed in certain places, I can not angle it or grab and place it.
I am so used to working in PhotoShop - this is quite frustrating to me at times. Really I do not find it much different than powerpoint. Maybe I am not finding all its features yet - you can let me know if I am missing the way to do the above things.
It is fun though. I spent about 20 hours on it already. Love it. Keep messing with it.
Ronda
I am so used to working in PhotoShop - this is quite frustrating to me at times. Really I do not find it much different than powerpoint. Maybe I am not finding all its features yet - you can let me know if I am missing the way to do the above things.
It is fun though. I spent about 20 hours on it already. Love it. Keep messing with it.
Ronda
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Kindergartens on the computer
I was thinking about the reply to my blog that asked at what age do I think that children should start on the computer and do they need to start in kindergarten to learn the skills. In my experience children in kindergarten and grade one will not choose the computer if given free choice of what they want to do. This age seems to prefer other activities and it is usually teacher directed and not child directed when they have to use the computer at this age. Granted there are some children that will want to be on the computer but not many. Will they be deprived and behind other children, if not teacher directed towards the computer, at this young age? Personally, I don't believe so.
To me that is like saying - "if you don't start reading blue prints" in grade one, then you will never be a carpenter. Or if you are not using a camera on manual settings by the time you hit grade one - then you will never be a photographer.
Children will still know how to use the computer and have all the skills they need for the future even if they are not using the computer in kindergarten and grade one.
Really, I am not against technology - honest - and I think Mrs. Cassidy's class is the coolest ever and being in her class and watching the kids work on the computer is amazing. I would love to intern in her class! But I would sneak a book or two in there to read to the children.
Here is a question fellow classmates: If we want student directed classrooms and our grade one students prefer other activites over the computer - are we going to accept that? Or are we going to step in as a teacher director and sit them down in front of that computer?
We all know there is never enough time to do everything in the classroom so - is reading on the computer in grade one the same as having a book read to you? Would the time be better spent reading to your students or having them on the computer?
Maybe my experiences are different than yours but the young children I have been around will choose to have a book read to them over going on the computer.
What are your thoughts?
To me that is like saying - "if you don't start reading blue prints" in grade one, then you will never be a carpenter. Or if you are not using a camera on manual settings by the time you hit grade one - then you will never be a photographer.
Children will still know how to use the computer and have all the skills they need for the future even if they are not using the computer in kindergarten and grade one.
Really, I am not against technology - honest - and I think Mrs. Cassidy's class is the coolest ever and being in her class and watching the kids work on the computer is amazing. I would love to intern in her class! But I would sneak a book or two in there to read to the children.
Here is a question fellow classmates: If we want student directed classrooms and our grade one students prefer other activites over the computer - are we going to accept that? Or are we going to step in as a teacher director and sit them down in front of that computer?
We all know there is never enough time to do everything in the classroom so - is reading on the computer in grade one the same as having a book read to you? Would the time be better spent reading to your students or having them on the computer?
Maybe my experiences are different than yours but the young children I have been around will choose to have a book read to them over going on the computer.
What are your thoughts?
Text Book
I really enjoyed the live session last night. I am excited to try out the PhotoStory 3. I love the way the photos can pan across and zoom in and out - I think that is awesome!
The text book talked about how the computer is just another media for our students to use. I have to admit that I can see that point. The more options the students have the better for them. When we talk about Reggio Emilia and the 100 languages of children but then we go and steal 99 of them and leave the students with only the pen and paper - I can relate the readings in the text to my early childhood classes. I was thinking about that last night (instead of sleeping) and for sure some students would be engaged and using different languages on the computer. These same students may not otherwise want anything to do with school and the pen and paper but if we can hook them in with something they really have an interest in - then that is a good thing, for sure.
The text book talked about how the computer is just another media for our students to use. I have to admit that I can see that point. The more options the students have the better for them. When we talk about Reggio Emilia and the 100 languages of children but then we go and steal 99 of them and leave the students with only the pen and paper - I can relate the readings in the text to my early childhood classes. I was thinking about that last night (instead of sleeping) and for sure some students would be engaged and using different languages on the computer. These same students may not otherwise want anything to do with school and the pen and paper but if we can hook them in with something they really have an interest in - then that is a good thing, for sure.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Technology means money
I have been thinking about the trouble I am having with this class with slow dial up and non up to date equipment. It seems clear to me that my students would have to have access to plenty of money in order to use the technology in the classroom. I don't feel that is fair and would leave some students feeling left out. Not all students will have computers in the home and not all schools have computers in them, though more schools have them I expect.
I don't have much money so I don't have the new computer and I can not afford satellite to get high speed so I can see where my students might have trouble. Myself, I do not want anyone to feel singled out by not being able to afford a computer to use at home and I don't feel this is something that should be pushed into the classroom. I think it should be available for students who wish to use it but not mandatory and not for the whole class because there will be students who can not use the computer or lack skills because of their family backgrounds and as an educator I would never make those students feel uncomfortable in my classroom.
Students with limited finances are going to find this very difficult because they will not have had a computer in the home to develop skills nor will they be able to access the sites from home, if the school chooses to go with the information online.
I think we need to keep in mind that not everyone has a computer and not everyone can afford this stuff.
Also, as a single mom in full time university working three part time jobs - I find this extremely time consuming and frustrating. I would never blog without this class or set up all those feeds because I have no interest in that sort of thing. What about my students who have no interest and no time? I would not make this mandatory in my classroom - it does not allow for the "whole child" concept incorporating everyones unique differences. Not everyone wants to learn by computer.
I do see the purpose in learning about it myself, though because for my students who are using this, it will be helpful to keep in touch and monitor them and as an educator, I need to keep up with the changing times............even though I am kicking and screaming about it.
It is just another media for my students and in the long run - the more options for my students the better - but never forget - know your students and don't hurt anyones feelings or make them uncomfortable.
I don't have much money so I don't have the new computer and I can not afford satellite to get high speed so I can see where my students might have trouble. Myself, I do not want anyone to feel singled out by not being able to afford a computer to use at home and I don't feel this is something that should be pushed into the classroom. I think it should be available for students who wish to use it but not mandatory and not for the whole class because there will be students who can not use the computer or lack skills because of their family backgrounds and as an educator I would never make those students feel uncomfortable in my classroom.
Students with limited finances are going to find this very difficult because they will not have had a computer in the home to develop skills nor will they be able to access the sites from home, if the school chooses to go with the information online.
I think we need to keep in mind that not everyone has a computer and not everyone can afford this stuff.
Also, as a single mom in full time university working three part time jobs - I find this extremely time consuming and frustrating. I would never blog without this class or set up all those feeds because I have no interest in that sort of thing. What about my students who have no interest and no time? I would not make this mandatory in my classroom - it does not allow for the "whole child" concept incorporating everyones unique differences. Not everyone wants to learn by computer.
I do see the purpose in learning about it myself, though because for my students who are using this, it will be helpful to keep in touch and monitor them and as an educator, I need to keep up with the changing times............even though I am kicking and screaming about it.
It is just another media for my students and in the long run - the more options for my students the better - but never forget - know your students and don't hurt anyones feelings or make them uncomfortable.
Monday
I am trying again to access this live session. I am feeling so lost and behind in this class.
I have read the whole text book - twice. It's an informative text book but I found out that I do not have much interest in this sort of stuff. I suppose it would be useful in a classroom but I am yet to be convinced.
I have read the whole text book - twice. It's an informative text book but I found out that I do not have much interest in this sort of stuff. I suppose it would be useful in a classroom but I am yet to be convinced.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
July 10
I can see why I do not like technology in the classroom. I have yet to be persuaded that this beats the pen and paper!! I can not get logged in to tonights session once again. I also can not view last weeks sessions that was recorded. I don't think anyone plans around dial up because it is 20 times slower and this stuff is not working especially since I have such a slow old computer on top of dial up.
I am about to give up. I have been trying to get into the session for an hour. I sent Dean several emails but I don't think he is getting those either because he has not replied.
Ronda
I am about to give up. I have been trying to get into the session for an hour. I sent Dean several emails but I don't think he is getting those either because he has not replied.
Ronda
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