Blogs, Wikis, and Bookmarking are tools each so powerful in their own way. Each discipline has a definite advantage over the others, depending on a user's goals. I have been considering which is right for me and for the students with whom I work. As a teaching assistant I would be most inclined to use the the lessons that Teacher Tube and other educational blogs provide. Many that I have explored allow students to review and relearn subject matter that they may have trouble learning.
I myself, have actually reviewed some Math concepts that I have trouble remembering by studying concepts, like decimals, that always escape me. These podcasts have also given me ideas, expressions, and words to explain a problem in an alternate manner.
On a more personal note, I have enjoyed the Collaborative Bookmarking. I have noted some great sites some of my co-workers have marked and I found some very entertaining and useable. One was a way of cooking with the ingredients that I had and came up with a great recipe (yet to be tried).
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
wiki news
The wiki pages were befuddling to me at first as there were so many busy formats and I felt like many of the subjects and ideas were not as connected as those presented in websites or blogs. What was great was the ease of responding to or editing (once I figured out how to go about it on the HCSD Class Demo Wiki ). I couldn't get on The Village Elementary School Wiki or others that I tried, but I think I needed a special password.
I learned that one shouldn't use too many capital letters and have short wiki names, should have an easy and memorable password, that there are clocks which give one the real time/place of fellow wiki students, and a tab to convert and allow for language differences. I learned how to expand on classroom lessons, and got a glimpse at what a flat classroom is. This class has exposed me to new vocabulary words and their meanings. The Flat Classroom project page was illuminating and it was called Illuminate 2007.
I was especially impressed by the knowledge and computer skills of the children at grade levels as low as first grade. I got see what my grandchildren are doing at Village and I am so happy and impressed with them and all their wonderful teachers.
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I learned that one shouldn't use too many capital letters and have short wiki names, should have an easy and memorable password, that there are clocks which give one the real time/place of fellow wiki students, and a tab to convert and allow for language differences. I learned how to expand on classroom lessons, and got a glimpse at what a flat classroom is. This class has exposed me to new vocabulary words and their meanings. The Flat Classroom project page was illuminating and it was called Illuminate 2007.
I was especially impressed by the knowledge and computer skills of the children at grade levels as low as first grade. I got see what my grandchildren are doing at Village and I am so happy and impressed with them and all their wonderful teachers.
.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Comparison of video sites
I found this part of the course extremely enlightening because I have never really explored any of these sites. Even though I knew they were available I did not know how to get to them or see their purpose. "Seeing Service" was great for reminding students that they are valuable people and have a purpose. That is something I try to teach my students each day. I also believe what Wesley Fryer said, "personal stories can connect information better than reading information in a book."
I think I like NextVista.org the best, but that may be because it was a first and a new, fun experience for me. I questioned if some of these videos would be objectional and got my answer when listening to Teacher Tube. Teacher Tube emphasized being articulate, correct and of having quality content. I learned that there is a certain standard and four rules that apply when judging a video to be presented. That intimindated me until the speaker recognized that some videos would be mediocre, but that is ok because students could use the idea presented and improve on it in their own video.
The Math podcasts in Lightbulbs would have helped me a lot when I was a student because I needed to see and hear information to "get it". Also, listening to Robert Frost's poem "Traveling The Road Not Taken" was better understood when hearing and reading the poem at the same time. The following study session was full of great questions about life, philosophy, choices and significant decisions we are expected to make in life. We constantly have conversations about choices and consequences with our students, and it was heartening to hear and watch how other teachers explore these common and universal ideas.
Youtube and Clipblast were like pop culture to me. Many of the themes were less focused on education and more similar to those presented on T.V. They were entertaining and/or politically based. There were a few worthy Health and Education videos. One I did like was from NYC called 92nd Street. The people who made it interviewed visitors, made them feel welcome and were connecting to all sorts of individuals to enrich lives and embrace fellowship.
I think that in my Resource room many of these videos would be applicable because they are short and focused on subject matter/content that the kids are learning. Often a different teacher or style of teaching can get a point across to a student struggling with a concept. In the video "When Kids Don't Get It" the point was made that when they don't "get it" they feel dumb. I see this everyday. The result is avoiding or not questioning the teacher. A video that they could re-run and watch could help.
I think I like NextVista.org the best, but that may be because it was a first and a new, fun experience for me. I questioned if some of these videos would be objectional and got my answer when listening to Teacher Tube. Teacher Tube emphasized being articulate, correct and of having quality content. I learned that there is a certain standard and four rules that apply when judging a video to be presented. That intimindated me until the speaker recognized that some videos would be mediocre, but that is ok because students could use the idea presented and improve on it in their own video.
The Math podcasts in Lightbulbs would have helped me a lot when I was a student because I needed to see and hear information to "get it". Also, listening to Robert Frost's poem "Traveling The Road Not Taken" was better understood when hearing and reading the poem at the same time. The following study session was full of great questions about life, philosophy, choices and significant decisions we are expected to make in life. We constantly have conversations about choices and consequences with our students, and it was heartening to hear and watch how other teachers explore these common and universal ideas.
Youtube and Clipblast were like pop culture to me. Many of the themes were less focused on education and more similar to those presented on T.V. They were entertaining and/or politically based. There were a few worthy Health and Education videos. One I did like was from NYC called 92nd Street. The people who made it interviewed visitors, made them feel welcome and were connecting to all sorts of individuals to enrich lives and embrace fellowship.
I think that in my Resource room many of these videos would be applicable because they are short and focused on subject matter/content that the kids are learning. Often a different teacher or style of teaching can get a point across to a student struggling with a concept. In the video "When Kids Don't Get It" the point was made that when they don't "get it" they feel dumb. I see this everyday. The result is avoiding or not questioning the teacher. A video that they could re-run and watch could help.
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