Saturday, December 6, 2008

Energy Conservation Project

Well, after much thought, and many computer problems, I decided (a while ago, but am just being able to post) to evalute what my carbon footprint is, and what I can do to reduce it. In order to accomplish this, I need to track how much I drive, my electricity usage, and the amount of trash I accumulate. My apartment is about 700 square feet, and has two very large windows, which helps heat the apartment when it is sunny, but I do live in Kodiak and the sun does not always shine.

So, my essential questions are:

What is my carbon footprint?
How much fuel do I use?
How much electricity do I use per month?
How much trash do I accumulate?

What can I do to reduce my carbon footprint?

Hopefully, with this project, I can do my part in reducing carbon output, and make a small impact on the environment.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Article Assessment 3

Tools for the Mind

by Mary Burns



In her article, Tools for the Mind, author Mary Burns discusses the current use of computers in the majority of our classrooms during our present age. While she believes computers can be very valuable tools, she states they are not being used to their full instructional potential. In recent years, computers have become an aid for student learning, narrowing the focus of technology, at the expense of other learning "pillars." The reasons for this include training teachers in skills rather than how to best capitalize on computer use, school districts have not made appropriate accommodations or support, and classifying all software as instructionally equal. Many software programs do not support higher-order thinking skills, yet there are many programs that do and these are not utilized often enough or appropriately. Burns offers two suggestions for increasing the use of computers to capitalize of the potential of computer use. First, she suggests teaching critical thinking skills first, then using technology to increase student learning. She also suggests teachers focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment, and not focus on computer use.






  • Computers can provide transformative student learning experiences if used properly.

  • Developmentally apppropriate and challenging tools offer richer opportunities to practice analytical and critical thinking skills.

  • Computers need to be used as mind tools.

  • Critical thinking skills first, then technology.

  • Focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment.

  • Teachers must

  • engage in ongoing professional development to understand how technology can be used as a problem solving tool, and to see how computers and learning connect more appropriately.

  • Schools must take measures to ensure that they are using computers to their fullest instructional potential.

The article points out many flaws with computer use in our schools, and offers many suggestions regarding how to improve its use. With budget cuts, NCLB and other issues facing our schools today, it is difficult to get the appropriate funding for districts to provide the staff development neccessary to improve student learning. With all the information available on the internet, it is important for students to know how to discern what is correct and incorrect. In the field of history, there are many great sites and many not so great sites, therefore, it is extremely important for students to know how to evaluate these sites. With that in mind, teachers need to be sure students have critical thinking skills developed enough to appropriatly evaluate sites.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Article Assessment 2

The Educators Guide to the Read/Write Web
by Will Richardson

The internet now is a place where users can publish their own information, through blogs, wikis, and other social networking sites. Also, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, and podcasting allow internet users to access data and information that has been stored by a tool called an aggregator. Many blogs are also stored on these tools.

These tools enable students to access more information and allow them to publish and share their learning with other students around the globe. It is important for teachers to become users of these tools, as well, and to teach their students the importance of identifying sourses and discerning what is authentic and accurate. These new ways of learning and working are valuable and will change the lives of students.

  • blogs are tools that enable people to share information on the Web.
  • wikis are a collabortative tool that allows anyone to edit and share content, such as wikipedia
  • RSS feeds allows people to subscribe to feeds of information through many different sources.
  • social bookmarking enables allows for the storage and archiving of information.
  • del.icio.us and furl.net are social bookmarking sites.
  • another form of acquiring information is podcasting.

The Read/Write Web can be a valuable tool for teachers and students alike. As teachers, it enables us to share information with students other than through traditional methods in the classroom. These tools are also valuable for students who miss school for various reasons, by allowing them to keep up with the information and to submit assignments.

The main drawback to such easy access and ability to edit, information may be erroneous and not reliable. Students must learn to recognize reliable sources and to discern what may or may not be accurate. Which means, teachers must know this, as well, and pass that information on to their students.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Kodiak High School Technology Culture

This assignment really opened my eyes to the level of technology available at Kodiak High School. There is much more than I realized, even after having been there for a while, and having my own kids as students there. The librarian is very helpful when it is needed and is quite willing to be of assistance. While there are computer labs available, the number of computers in each lab is not sufficient for classes over thirty students, which there are quite a few that large in the school. With major drawbacks due to facility issues and budget, the school is doing its best to move forward to make technology more available and current with new technology.

Read full report here

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Article Assessment 1

Listen to the Natives
by Marc Prensky
Overview

In Listen to the Natives, Marc Prensky discusses the digital age and the students that have grown up with digital technology and are now present in our schools. Today's students are fluent in speaking the language of digital technology and it is a native language to them. These students will evolve and change as rapidly as new technology emerges. The article also discusses the growing gap between teachers and students. While our students are digital natives, today's teachers are what the author refers to as digital immigrants, meaning the digital language is a second language and we speak the language with an 'accent.'


  • Digital natives are those who have been born in the digital age, while digital immigrants are those who were born in the predigital world.
  • As educators in the 21st century, we must engage students by using 21st century technology.
  • Students can be a good resource for teachers learning to use digital technology. "Digital tools are like extentions of students' brains."
  • Over 50% of U.S. teachers say computer technology has affected the way they teach.
  • A great deal of teachers and administrators do not know what a cookie, a blog, or a wiki is.
  • Educators in the 21st century must stop and listen to students, discover how they learn best and incorporate new ideas into their teaching.

Reflection

While many educators are what Prensky refers to as digital immigrants, there are many that have adapted to the new technology available and use it quite effectively. Students need to be engaged in order for them to learn and to make it meaningful to them and most technology is useful to fulfill that need, but some technology, such as cell phones and ipods, are distractions in the classroom and cause students to become disengaged. I disagree with the author regarding lessons in video game format, and while video games can produce some learning, students need to learn in other ways and discover the many different ways to find information. It is extremely important for teachers to understand today's technology, but at the same time, it is more important for teachers to use methods of teaching that will reach as many students as possible, which may not necessarily utilize technology.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Futuring

A. How would you "grade" or assess Fox Becomes a Better Person, and School Train?

In order to appropriately assess School Train and Hannah- Fox Becomes a Better Person a rubric would be necessary. The vidoes were both innovative and interesting in their use of digital technology, and as long as all required elements and information required by the assignment are present, "grading" would be straight-forward.


More specifically, for School Train, their assignment asked the students to show they understood the meaning of a metaphor. The students comparison of school to a train clearly displayed their understanding of the term. Their use of technology also displays the amount of digital technology knowledge young people have in our present day.

Also, for Hannah-Fox Becomes a Better Person, without knowing the requirements for the assignment, it is difficult to know if she accomplished the task. I would assess the assignment based on the following:

  • Was the story Hannah told an accurate accounting of the story based on cultural knowledge?
  • Did the digital technology enhance the story?
  • Were all the required elements present in the final project?




B. What impacts could the developments prtrayed in epic2015 have on your classroom, particularly with respect to things like podcasting?

The developments portrayed in epic2015 could have positive and in the classroom. The ability to share information through podcasting could enable students and teachers to have greater access to information needed to enhance the learning process. Conversely, and perhaps it is a bit pessimistic, but podcasting could make cheating more prevalent, without greater diligence by teachers. Another possible negative aspect is the ease of posting information on the web. Information found by students could not be accurate or completely false, and that possibility also requires greater diligence and knowledge by teachers.


C. How might you use Sabrina's piece as a model for something would do with your own students?

How would I use the piece as a model? As I ponder that question, I think about how Sabrina's journey is her personal history and how, as a history teacher, how can I incorporate this type of assignment with my students? One idea is to have students link their personal histories and journey's through school with an historical event or person that inspires them and to continue with their goals for their futures.