In Your Face
By: Christopher Beam
Facebook and Myspace are the two largest social networks on the Internet. However, Facebook has a cleaner image than myspace in which the interface is comfy, sturdy, and attractive without being too showy. Moreover, just recently Facebook has opened its pages to outside developers and has introduced a new tool kit called Facebook Platform. This new tool kit allows not only students but multimillion dollar corporation to poke around and rearrange the innards. Nevertheless, there are a few more simple things that Facebook needs to add such as email and an instant messaging program in order for Facebook to really stand out.
What social network do you belong to?
I don't belong to any social network; moreover, I don't really know much about the benefits of belonging to a social network. However, if I decided to join a social network, after reading this article, I think Facebook is the way to go.
How many people do you know have a Myspace account?
It's funny, I work for the Boys & Girls Club and I was amazed to find out how many middle school students have Myspace accounts. If this is the case for middle school students, I can only imagine how many elementary students have their own accounts. For this reason, I think parents should be more aware of their kid’s on-line activities.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Journal #8
Google Spy
By: Michael Agger
Google has recently come up with a new idea to send a camera equipped van to take 360 degree shots around the streets of the largest cities in the U.S. Subsequently, this new site is called Street View which allows users to view actual street pictures and in some instances a little more than that. The issue of privacy has been a concern for some people but Google responded by saying that Street View only features images that any person can readily capture or see walking down the street. Moreover, Google provides a page to report inappropriate images that should be removed.
Would you have a problem if Street View took a picture of your street or your house?
I would not have a problem if street view took a picture of my streets nearest intersection but I would have a problem if they took a picture of my house. I would not feel comfortable knowing that the public could view pictures of my house.
What kind of benefits does the site Street View have to offer?
I'm a visual person and there's only so much you can get from using a map. Hence, if I were driving to a specific location, it would really be helpful for me if I could see a picture of the actual location.
By: Michael Agger
Google has recently come up with a new idea to send a camera equipped van to take 360 degree shots around the streets of the largest cities in the U.S. Subsequently, this new site is called Street View which allows users to view actual street pictures and in some instances a little more than that. The issue of privacy has been a concern for some people but Google responded by saying that Street View only features images that any person can readily capture or see walking down the street. Moreover, Google provides a page to report inappropriate images that should be removed.
Would you have a problem if Street View took a picture of your street or your house?
I would not have a problem if street view took a picture of my streets nearest intersection but I would have a problem if they took a picture of my house. I would not feel comfortable knowing that the public could view pictures of my house.
What kind of benefits does the site Street View have to offer?
I'm a visual person and there's only so much you can get from using a map. Hence, if I were driving to a specific location, it would really be helpful for me if I could see a picture of the actual location.
Journal #7
4 Steps to Standards Integration
By: Vanessa Domine
In this article, the author talks about how she outlined 4 easy steps that allow educators to visually assemble curriculum where standards are at the forefront of their teaching and where instructional technologies play a supporting role. The first step teachers should make is to create a list of all the possible technological tools the school has to offer. The second step is to create a simple curriculum goal statement. It can be any kind of goal that is grounded in a specific content area that aligns with district and school goals. The third step is to create a list of teaching strategies that might include lecture, demonstration, large/small group discussion, research, or media research. Hence, this allows teachers to reflect and if necessary, revise their teaching style to accommodate specific standards and students with special needs. The last step is to lay in front the three lists in order (take inventory, curriculum goal, and teaching strategies.) Thereafter, the educators can generate a technology integrated matrix. By doing these four steps, teachers can experiment using new media technologies to support existing curriculum or, conversely, use traditional media technologies to support new or unfamiliar curriculum standards.
What if during your inventory you realize the school only has limited resources of technology?
If I found myself in a school with a limited amount of technological resources, then I could always ask for a reasonable request of technological tools that I felt was needed to enhance learning in my classroom. Moreover, I could consult with the district or school technology plan to find out what equipment the school has to offer.
How often do teachers change their curriculum or try to find new strategies to enhance learning in their classroom?
Most teachers are skeptical in trying new things or take time to find better ways to enhance learning in their classroom. Once teachers become comfortable with their teaching style it's very hard for them to take a risk and try something new. I think if teachers really cared about teaching and their students then they will always try to find the best possible approach and teaching style that will benefit their students.
By: Vanessa Domine
In this article, the author talks about how she outlined 4 easy steps that allow educators to visually assemble curriculum where standards are at the forefront of their teaching and where instructional technologies play a supporting role. The first step teachers should make is to create a list of all the possible technological tools the school has to offer. The second step is to create a simple curriculum goal statement. It can be any kind of goal that is grounded in a specific content area that aligns with district and school goals. The third step is to create a list of teaching strategies that might include lecture, demonstration, large/small group discussion, research, or media research. Hence, this allows teachers to reflect and if necessary, revise their teaching style to accommodate specific standards and students with special needs. The last step is to lay in front the three lists in order (take inventory, curriculum goal, and teaching strategies.) Thereafter, the educators can generate a technology integrated matrix. By doing these four steps, teachers can experiment using new media technologies to support existing curriculum or, conversely, use traditional media technologies to support new or unfamiliar curriculum standards.
What if during your inventory you realize the school only has limited resources of technology?
If I found myself in a school with a limited amount of technological resources, then I could always ask for a reasonable request of technological tools that I felt was needed to enhance learning in my classroom. Moreover, I could consult with the district or school technology plan to find out what equipment the school has to offer.
How often do teachers change their curriculum or try to find new strategies to enhance learning in their classroom?
Most teachers are skeptical in trying new things or take time to find better ways to enhance learning in their classroom. Once teachers become comfortable with their teaching style it's very hard for them to take a risk and try something new. I think if teachers really cared about teaching and their students then they will always try to find the best possible approach and teaching style that will benefit their students.
Journal #6
Laptop Program Update
By: Pamela Livingston
Three years ago, Pamela Livingston wrote about a day in the life of a middle school student at Peck Middle School. In the article, she mentioned about a then six-year-old laptop program in which students had access to lap tops. Ms. Livingston visited the school again last year and noticed that the school had expanded their laptop program to include younger students. Laptops are moving into the lower grades, with sixth graders experiencing the one-to-one program. Sixth grade teachers are using lap tops to integrate activities in their English, History, Math, and Science classes. Moreover, they have extended their wireless network into classrooms; therefore, students are able to use e-mail, network saving and printing and access to the Internet. Subsequently, the shift in laptop availability has decided the school to take a bold move and eliminate their seventh and eighth grade technology classes. As a result, Teachers in every classroom are required to implement technology into their classroom. In addition, this change has made their sixth grade technology class more important. This class provides the skills used in math, science, English, and history. For instance, before starting a history project, sixth graders learn about appropriate websites where they can go and find information about a certain topic. One important program that is introduced to these students is called the LARK program. This program teaches students about Legal, Appropriate, Responsible, and Kind concepts about computers. Peck and many other schools are doing tremendous things with their one-to-one programs. There will be an entire generation of students soon who will have known firsthand the advantage of learning during this digital age. Many of these students won’t even be aware that not so long ago learning with computers meant leaving your classroom and walking to the computer lab once a week for isolated, non-integrated lessons.
What can be one of the negative aspects of introducing a wireless network inside the classrooms?
Teachers may encounter problems such as students visiting inappropriate websites; therefore, I think it's important for teachers to be constantly monitoring their student's activities.
At what age should students be introduced to technological tools?
I think the earlier the better, there are so many educational programs designed for children of all ages that can set them off to a good start in school.
By: Pamela Livingston
Three years ago, Pamela Livingston wrote about a day in the life of a middle school student at Peck Middle School. In the article, she mentioned about a then six-year-old laptop program in which students had access to lap tops. Ms. Livingston visited the school again last year and noticed that the school had expanded their laptop program to include younger students. Laptops are moving into the lower grades, with sixth graders experiencing the one-to-one program. Sixth grade teachers are using lap tops to integrate activities in their English, History, Math, and Science classes. Moreover, they have extended their wireless network into classrooms; therefore, students are able to use e-mail, network saving and printing and access to the Internet. Subsequently, the shift in laptop availability has decided the school to take a bold move and eliminate their seventh and eighth grade technology classes. As a result, Teachers in every classroom are required to implement technology into their classroom. In addition, this change has made their sixth grade technology class more important. This class provides the skills used in math, science, English, and history. For instance, before starting a history project, sixth graders learn about appropriate websites where they can go and find information about a certain topic. One important program that is introduced to these students is called the LARK program. This program teaches students about Legal, Appropriate, Responsible, and Kind concepts about computers. Peck and many other schools are doing tremendous things with their one-to-one programs. There will be an entire generation of students soon who will have known firsthand the advantage of learning during this digital age. Many of these students won’t even be aware that not so long ago learning with computers meant leaving your classroom and walking to the computer lab once a week for isolated, non-integrated lessons.
What can be one of the negative aspects of introducing a wireless network inside the classrooms?
Teachers may encounter problems such as students visiting inappropriate websites; therefore, I think it's important for teachers to be constantly monitoring their student's activities.
At what age should students be introduced to technological tools?
I think the earlier the better, there are so many educational programs designed for children of all ages that can set them off to a good start in school.
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