Check out: Amusement Park Physics (gr 9-12), Elements of a Story (gr 2-5), or Geo3D Shapes (gr 6-8),...plus MANY More!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
X-tra Link O'the Month: Interactives
Interactives, which “provides ...strategies, content, and activities that can enhance and improve students’ skills…” offers a variety of topics for all grade levels and subject areas.
Check out: Amusement Park Physics (gr 9-12), Elements of a Story (gr 2-5), or Geo3D Shapes (gr 6-8),...plus MANY More!
Check out: Amusement Park Physics (gr 9-12), Elements of a Story (gr 2-5), or Geo3D Shapes (gr 6-8),...plus MANY More!
Link O'the Month: WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha is NOT another search engine. Instead, it is described as a Knowledge Engine. A Computational Knowledge Engine, described as a site that “generates output by doing computations from its own internal knowledge base, instead of searching the web and returning links.”
WolframAlpha is a free, continually updated resource with current information, all reviewed by domain experts, and for all levels “from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond.”
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Safe practices with Web 2.0
My business admin asked me for help with a presentation on Internet Safety. I provided this site for him (which also houses a presnetation)
Internet Safety ~ Cyber Bullying ~ Digital Citizenship ~ Nettiquette
Buzz words in educations today. I’ve facilitated many discussions and presentations regarding those topics... ...for students, parents, and recently teachers. The information (as with anything technology) changes often- and quickly! My advice is always:
Know the computer/technology, know your kid(s), know the dangers, know the tips. Know how to Keep Safe.
The topic I‘d like to explore is the legal side. According to the law, what is the role of school personnel in regard to social technologies- specifically using them for personal reasons. There are always rumors: a teacher was fired for posting a picture on FB of herself drinking a beer. Another teacher was placed on suspension for subscribing to a gay/lesbian dating site. A parent sued when a teacher DID report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. And the flip side, a parent sued when a teacher DID NOT report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. The question on the minds of many educators is: what are my rights? What is expected of me in and out of school? Professionally and personally?
To begin, I consulted the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) website and their pages dedicated to Technology & Your Profession. I wanted to learn the current position of the institution that exists to protect me – an educator. Years ago, or dare I say up until a few months ago, it was the position of PSEA to say “don’t do it” in regard to sites like Facebook. However, with the explosion of social networking sites for educational purposes, PSEA seems to have changed their stance. Instead, according to their website, they advise users to 1) Think Before They Post, 2) Know Their Friends, 3) Scrutinize Pictures for Appropriateness, and 4) Protect Privacy. Common sense for the most part. The question remains: who determines appropriate? Is a picture of an educator holding a glass of wine an issue?? Or worse, an educator at a party – outside of school hours, not on school property- in a risqué position…is that a problem? Do educators have rights in their personal life?
I jumped on Google and searched using the following: teacher, technology, rights, school code, school law, and all combinations. I found a great resource of current court cases on the NSBA (National School Boards Association) website. There is a section dedicated to recent cases involving technology. Included:
~a Millersville University Student is removed from a student teaching assignment based on a picture posted of her on Facebook;
~a non-tenured teacher’s contract is not renewed based on his My Space profile; and
~Students create online parodies of their principal…what are the principal’s rights/obligations?
The court rulings are interesting to say the least, and not always consistent! I continued exploring…one site led to another and another. I found, as can be expected, cited cases, opinions, comments, rumors, tips, etc. Other interesting reads include: Blogging While (Publicly) Employed: Some First Amendment Implications and Teacher Disciplined for Facebook Postings . In both instances, educators were disciplined for using social networking sites to complain about their workplace.
I guarantee this topic will continue to evolve…and again, the most important thing I (we) can do is pledge to Stay Informed! Know: what is happening, what are our rights? what are the expectations as an educator and a student’s role model…
Internet Safety ~ Cyber Bullying ~ Digital Citizenship ~ Nettiquette
Buzz words in educations today. I’ve facilitated many discussions and presentations regarding those topics... ...for students, parents, and recently teachers. The information (as with anything technology) changes often- and quickly! My advice is always:
Know the computer/technology, know your kid(s), know the dangers, know the tips. Know how to Keep Safe.
The topic I‘d like to explore is the legal side. According to the law, what is the role of school personnel in regard to social technologies- specifically using them for personal reasons. There are always rumors: a teacher was fired for posting a picture on FB of herself drinking a beer. Another teacher was placed on suspension for subscribing to a gay/lesbian dating site. A parent sued when a teacher DID report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. And the flip side, a parent sued when a teacher DID NOT report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. The question on the minds of many educators is: what are my rights? What is expected of me in and out of school? Professionally and personally?
To begin, I consulted the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) website and their pages dedicated to Technology & Your Profession. I wanted to learn the current position of the institution that exists to protect me – an educator. Years ago, or dare I say up until a few months ago, it was the position of PSEA to say “don’t do it” in regard to sites like Facebook. However, with the explosion of social networking sites for educational purposes, PSEA seems to have changed their stance. Instead, according to their website, they advise users to 1) Think Before They Post, 2) Know Their Friends, 3) Scrutinize Pictures for Appropriateness, and 4) Protect Privacy. Common sense for the most part. The question remains: who determines appropriate? Is a picture of an educator holding a glass of wine an issue?? Or worse, an educator at a party – outside of school hours, not on school property- in a risqué position…is that a problem? Do educators have rights in their personal life?
I jumped on Google and searched using the following: teacher, technology, rights, school code, school law, and all combinations. I found a great resource of current court cases on the NSBA (National School Boards Association) website. There is a section dedicated to recent cases involving technology. Included:
~a Millersville University Student is removed from a student teaching assignment based on a picture posted of her on Facebook;
~a non-tenured teacher’s contract is not renewed based on his My Space profile; and
~Students create online parodies of their principal…what are the principal’s rights/obligations?
The court rulings are interesting to say the least, and not always consistent! I continued exploring…one site led to another and another. I found, as can be expected, cited cases, opinions, comments, rumors, tips, etc. Other interesting reads include: Blogging While (Publicly) Employed: Some First Amendment Implications and Teacher Disciplined for Facebook Postings . In both instances, educators were disciplined for using social networking sites to complain about their workplace.
I guarantee this topic will continue to evolve…and again, the most important thing I (we) can do is pledge to Stay Informed! Know: what is happening, what are our rights? what are the expectations as an educator and a student’s role model…
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Link O'the Month: Infographics
Infographics are visual representations of data, information, and knowledge. They are intended to present simple and/or complex information quickly and clearly given a mix of text, pictures, data, charts, etc.
For example, the Infographic to the left was created by Rick Mans, author of the article How Infographics Accelerate Learning, to support his thoughts. (edudemic.com) I've also included several Infographics below to give you a taste of what’s out there!
Use the sites listed to find Infographics for use to enhance your student’s learning experiences – topics range from history to current trends, and everything in between! Or, encourage students to create their own Infographics!
~Infographics in Education http://infographicsineducation.wikispaces.com
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Research and the Reflective
As a reflective practitioner, I realized how to find ideas and/or how to find current writings about new technologies and ideas is not a question for me. Nor is what do these terms mean (blogroll, digital story, webinar, wiki, google lit trip, gam-o-matic). These things I can answer and most of the terms I am familiar with or can easily make sense of…
Instead a question most prominent for me is Which technologies are the best?? More specifically, for me to address with teachers, Which one(s) should I advocate in my position as an elementary technology coordinator- to promote positive and meaningful experiences and, as a result, create rigorous and significant learning? How do I integrate technology?
Often, I am asked for advice from colleagues on how to integrate technology into lessons. I remind them to treat their “techno-infused” lessons as they would all of the lessons by: First, reflecting upon their audience/ group of learners; and second, determine their desired end result given a topic/project/goal. Then, begin to explore and rationalize available technologies & tools. Keep in mind technology may not always be the best method. Just because a method may make a lesson flashy or extra-fun, it doesn’t mean it’ll add to the learning experience. Also, and most unfortunate, think about the limitations within your school’s network. (most exist under the blanket of providing security!)
After ALL that leg work, think about what the technologies can add to the learning experience…looking for the answer that works best in the scenario developed above. Creating techno-infused lessons that are meaningful can involve lots of trial-and-error. A learning experience for the student(s) as well as the teacher! Think about what might work, what did work, and what to change to make it work.
My MOST IMPORTANT piece of advice: KNOW and REALIZE that there is NOT one RIGHT answer. Nor is a RIGHT answer always a right answer. It is important to accept that what works in one situation may not work in all situations. This is where the reflective practitioner comes in…
Places to start:
Ten Technology Tools for Technology-Rich Learning
How-To: Use New Technology to Reinforce Instruction
How to Use Technology in the Classroom
Instead a question most prominent for me is Which technologies are the best?? More specifically, for me to address with teachers, Which one(s) should I advocate in my position as an elementary technology coordinator- to promote positive and meaningful experiences and, as a result, create rigorous and significant learning? How do I integrate technology?
Often, I am asked for advice from colleagues on how to integrate technology into lessons. I remind them to treat their “techno-infused” lessons as they would all of the lessons by: First, reflecting upon their audience/ group of learners; and second, determine their desired end result given a topic/project/goal. Then, begin to explore and rationalize available technologies & tools. Keep in mind technology may not always be the best method. Just because a method may make a lesson flashy or extra-fun, it doesn’t mean it’ll add to the learning experience. Also, and most unfortunate, think about the limitations within your school’s network. (most exist under the blanket of providing security!)
After ALL that leg work, think about what the technologies can add to the learning experience…looking for the answer that works best in the scenario developed above. Creating techno-infused lessons that are meaningful can involve lots of trial-and-error. A learning experience for the student(s) as well as the teacher! Think about what might work, what did work, and what to change to make it work.
My MOST IMPORTANT piece of advice: KNOW and REALIZE that there is NOT one RIGHT answer. Nor is a RIGHT answer always a right answer. It is important to accept that what works in one situation may not work in all situations. This is where the reflective practitioner comes in…
Places to start:
Ten Technology Tools for Technology-Rich Learning
How-To: Use New Technology to Reinforce Instruction
How to Use Technology in the Classroom
Monday, March 5, 2012
Link(s) O'the Month: Global Collaborations
“Tomorrow’s citizens must be global communicators, must be able to participate successfully in project-based activities, and must have collaborative skills.” (EdTech Magazine, 9/2007) Collaboration is a natural part of our traditional classroom...With technology, we have the unique opportunity to participate in collaborative learning experiences that reach OUTSIDE the walls of our classroom.
To begin, check out the following sites:
As always, I would love to help out. Feel free to contact me for assistance. Enjoy!
To begin, check out the following sites:- Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration: http://www.cilc.org/
- ePals: http://www.epals.com/
- Global School Net: http://www.globalschoolnet.org/
- Skype in the Classroom: http://education.skype.com/
- Taking It Global: http://www.tigweb.org/
Possibilities are endless!! Think about...
...a book chat with a class in Texas;
...a political debate with a group of students from California;
...exploring other climates and/or cultures by talking to students in Italy, China, or Australia;
...creating a project of your own and search for partners! Sunday, February 5, 2012
Link(s) O'the Month: Comics
Recently, there’s been a huge amount of emphasis on the power of comics as a tool for enhancing student engagement and literacy. According to C. Thacker from Macinstruct, creating comics in the classroom can have the following impact:
Comic Creator: www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/
Make Beliefs Comix: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
ToonDo: http://www.toondoo.com/
WriteComics: http://writecomics.com/
- for the pre-reader, a comic can be purely graphical in nature and help provide practice with sequencing as well as concrete to abstract transitions using illustrations instead of written words...comics can help early readers or readers with language acquisition problems by providing visual clues to the context of the narrative.
- for more advanced readers, comics can contain all the complexity of 'normal' written material which the student must decode and comprehend, such as puns, alliteration, metaphors, symbolism, point of view, context, inference, and narrative structures...a single pane in a comic can represent paragraphs worth of written material in a manner that is enjoyable and effective for the early or challenged reader.
Here are a few online sites for creating comics:
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Link(s) O'the Month: Digital Stories
Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights. ~ Leslie Rule, Digital Storytelling Association
Here are several sites designed to aid students in becoming authors:
- MyStoryMaker www.clpgh.org/kids/storymaker
- StoryBird http://storybird.com/
- StoryJumper http://www.storyjumper.com/
Monday, December 5, 2011
Link O'the Month: Google Lit Trips
Google Lit Trips are amazing teaching tools created using Google Earth. Google Earth, self described as a satellite imagery-based mapping product, puts the whole world on a student's computer. It enables users to "fly" from space to street level to find geographic information and explore places around the world. More to the point, and one of my favorite descriptions, is from About.com: GoogleEarth is a map of the world on steroids. To download and learn more, http://earth.google.com/.
(If anyone out there has NOT explored Google Earth, take my advice and set aside some time! Once you start to explore, you really cannot stop. I have given many unplanned minutes to GoogleEarth!)
Developed by Jerome Burg, a Google Lit Trip combines educational reading material with virtual road trips using GoogleEarth’s interactive technology and satellite imagery. Viewers can “fly” from place to place as they explore setting from the reading. The site enables users to download ready-made trips, categorized by grade level. There are approximately 40 trips, with new ones added often. For more informaiton, check out Steve Hargadon's A Great Mashup and
Bring Travel Tales to Life from Edutopia.
One of my favorites on the site is Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings, offering a p
ictorial tour of the fictitious Mallard family as they waddle through the streets of Boston. The tour include questions and prompts that encourage thought-provoking discussion. Another favorite, for older students, is Kahled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. The authentic pictures pull the viewer into the story as they follow the hero, Amir.
Google Lit Trips is a great tool for engaging students in their reading! In addition, participating on the virtual tour engages students…creating an experience that can feel very real to the students.
One of the best ways for students to develop an understanding of their reading and make themselves part of the learning is to create their own lit trip . I usually start by having students create a “Life Trip”…An auto-biographical exploration of where they’ve been, where they would love to go and/or places they’d like to visit!!
(If anyone out there has NOT explored Google Earth, take my advice and set aside some time! Once you start to explore, you really cannot stop. I have given many unplanned minutes to GoogleEarth!)
Developed by Jerome Burg, a Google Lit Trip combines educational reading material with virtual road trips using GoogleEarth’s interactive technology and satellite imagery. Viewers can “fly” from place to place as they explore setting from the reading. The site enables users to download ready-made trips, categorized by grade level. There are approximately 40 trips, with new ones added often. For more informaiton, check out Steve Hargadon's A Great Mashup and
Bring Travel Tales to Life from Edutopia.
One of my favorites on the site is Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings, offering a p
ictorial tour of the fictitious Mallard family as they waddle through the streets of Boston. The tour include questions and prompts that encourage thought-provoking discussion. Another favorite, for older students, is Kahled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. The authentic pictures pull the viewer into the story as they follow the hero, Amir.Google Lit Trips is a great tool for engaging students in their reading! In addition, participating on the virtual tour engages students…creating an experience that can feel very real to the students.
One of the best ways for students to develop an understanding of their reading and make themselves part of the learning is to create their own lit trip . I usually start by having students create a “Life Trip”…An auto-biographical exploration of where they’ve been, where they would love to go and/or places they’d like to visit!!
Friday, November 11, 2011
A Lesson for Teachers
A fellow educator recently said to me: can you just SHOW me what you mean? WHAT should I do with the kids?
I thought about that and decied, why not create a lesson ? In trying to pick just ONE lesson to share, I had a tough time! Pod/vodcasts? Wikis? Blogs? Digital stories? Online sharing? Finally, I decided, why not share a lesson FOR EDUCATORS that outlines how to create an online learning experience?
View this for vodcast for more information:
Resources:
Lesson Plan Overview -page 1 (screen shot)
Lesson Plan Overview -page 2 (screen shot)
Rubric (screen shot)
The experience was very rewarding for me- and for the educators invovled. At first, they were extrememely intimidated when they saw samples of digital stories, blogs, wikis and pod/vodcasts- thinking they could not possibly create and/or maintian one!! However, as they worked through the process, they were intrigued and motivated to press on!
I thought about that and decied, why not create a lesson ? In trying to pick just ONE lesson to share, I had a tough time! Pod/vodcasts? Wikis? Blogs? Digital stories? Online sharing? Finally, I decided, why not share a lesson FOR EDUCATORS that outlines how to create an online learning experience?
View this for vodcast for more information:
Resources:
Lesson Plan Overview -page 1 (screen shot)
Lesson Plan Overview -page 2 (screen shot)
Rubric (screen shot)
The experience was very rewarding for me- and for the educators invovled. At first, they were extrememely intimidated when they saw samples of digital stories, blogs, wikis and pod/vodcasts- thinking they could not possibly create and/or maintian one!! However, as they worked through the process, they were intrigued and motivated to press on!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Link(s) O'the Month: Digital Timelines
Timelines are graphic organizers that can be used as a tool to explore and discover a sequence of events. Online timelines provide an interactive opportunity for students to create, share, and collaborate. Here are a few to try:
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Link(s) O'the Month: PPT alternatives
- Animoto: www.animoto.com/education
- Glogster: http://www.edu.glogster.com/
- Prezi: http://www.prezi.com/
- Slide Rocket: http://www.sliderocket.com/
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Link O'the Month: Illuminations
Illuminations
http://illuminations.nctm.org
Illuminations provides “standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students” and provides “materials that illuminate the vision for school mathematics”. The site is a product of NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and Verizon’s Thinkfinity.
There are over 105 activities! Use the search page to explore activities by grade level and/or keyword. For example:
http://illuminations.nctm.org
Illuminations provides “standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students” and provides “materials that illuminate the vision for school mathematics”. The site is a product of NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and Verizon’s Thinkfinity.
There are over 105 activities! Use the search page to explore activities by grade level and/or keyword. For example:
~Algebra Tiles ~Data Grapher & Advanced Data Grapher
~Calculation Nation ~Interactive Geometry Dictionary
~Computing Pie ~Shape Tool
~Conic Section Explorer ~Turtle Pond (length and angle measure)
~and much more!!!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Computing!
Tara L. Parr, Technology Integration K-12
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Link O'the Month: Glogster
Glogster’s tagline is “Poster Yourself!”
As per the website, Glogster empowers educators and students with the technology to create GLOGS, online multimedia posters, with text, photos, videos, graphics, sounds, drawings, links, data attachments and more.
Posters can be marked public or private; in addition, teachers can manage student accounts and share within their classroom only. Glogs can be tagged into many categories: including current events, economics, math, reading, etc.
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Tara L. Parr, Technology Integration K-12
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Link O'the Month: Tagxedo
Tagxedo
http://www.tagxedo.com/
From the website: Tagxedo turns words -- famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes, even websites -- into a visually stunning tag cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text. The site is similar to another favorite, Wordle (http://www.worlde.com/). The difference is Tagxedo word clouds can take the form of a shape (ie map of the US, Abraham Lincoln, footprint.) Tagxedo’s are also easy to download & save and import into other programs!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Tara L. Parr, Technology Integration K-12
From the website: Tagxedo turns words -- famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes, even websites -- into a visually stunning tag cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text. The site is similar to another favorite, Wordle (http://www.worlde.com/). The difference is Tagxedo word clouds can take the form of a shape (ie map of the US, Abraham Lincoln, footprint.) Tagxedo’s are also easy to download & save and import into other programs!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Tara L. Parr, Technology Integration K-12
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Link O'the Month: Snappy Words
Snappy Words
http://www.snappywords.com/
Snappy Words is a free online interactive English dictionary and thesaurus that helps you find the meanings of words and draw connections to associated words.
Input a word to create a color-coded web of related words, phrases, and definitions. Plus, the word web is interactive! Users can hover over any word to gain its definition; they can click and drag to explore other branches of the web; or double-click to generate new branches!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Tara L. Parr,
Technology Integration K-12
http://www.snappywords.com/
Input a word to create a color-coded web of related words, phrases, and definitions. Plus, the word web is interactive! Users can hover over any word to gain its definition; they can click and drag to explore other branches of the web; or double-click to generate new branches!
Enjoy ~ and Happy Creating!
Tara L. Parr,
Technology Integration K-12
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Creating My Own Social Network
Whew!!! My own social newtowrk. I feel like i am already a part of so many other people's social networks...and now I am ready to synthesize it all and combine it into a one-stop-shopping experience for me! To create that, I am planning to utilize iGoogle. I already have iGoogle set up but the configuraiton is from many years ago. My goal: to update/add/remove to make it current. Plus, create a work tab and personal tab...I am all about organization! And right now I feel lost without my own "method-to-the-madness" in place!
That will be a work in progress.
A semi-completed goal: to consolidate usernames/passwords. For some sites, I have more than one log-in! How did I let that happen?? Sometimes my work account, my home account, my google account. Yikes!
For example, Blogspot- I have two accounts there. Who knew? For this class, when I set up my blogspot, i used my work email, forgetting i already had an account through google. When I log on using my work email, I automatically get logged off of google...If I am logged in to google when I try to access BlogSpot, it logs me on to my former account, which is the wrong one for this class. I need to recall which account is which and how to sign on to get me where I want to be. Sound confusing? Try living it! Then, a thought: there MUST be a way to combine these two accounts! I looked it up, and voila! found an answer: Open the one account, invite another user (ME- as a google account user), accept the invite, give new guy (me!)admin right, remove old user (still me!) from account- and there you have it. Blogspot consolidated. Like I said, Whew!
Time to explore iGoogle. Putting all my hopes into using it as the ultimate online organization aide. Stay tuned...
That will be a work in progress.
A semi-completed goal: to consolidate usernames/passwords. For some sites, I have more than one log-in! How did I let that happen?? Sometimes my work account, my home account, my google account. Yikes!
For example, Blogspot- I have two accounts there. Who knew? For this class, when I set up my blogspot, i used my work email, forgetting i already had an account through google. When I log on using my work email, I automatically get logged off of google...If I am logged in to google when I try to access BlogSpot, it logs me on to my former account, which is the wrong one for this class. I need to recall which account is which and how to sign on to get me where I want to be. Sound confusing? Try living it! Then, a thought: there MUST be a way to combine these two accounts! I looked it up, and voila! found an answer: Open the one account, invite another user (ME- as a google account user), accept the invite, give new guy (me!)admin right, remove old user (still me!) from account- and there you have it. Blogspot consolidated. Like I said, Whew!
Time to explore iGoogle. Putting all my hopes into using it as the ultimate online organization aide. Stay tuned...
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Interesting Opportunity
Today I had a chance to participate in an ITS meeting sponsored by the PA Dept of Ed. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the ITS certificate, its competencies & requirements and how they may need to be "tweaked" given the new assistive guidelines for students with learning disabilities. The bulk of attendees were the higher ed decision makers. the creators of the ITS cert program.
The conversation was rich to say the least! So many "experts" in one room, each one very passionate about their field, methods and procedures. Each one very interested in the role of the ITS: what should be expected of the ITS? And once we determine that, how to train individuals to prepare them to assume the role of an ITS?
At first i was confused...Admittedly, I was the least knowledgeable in the room concerning what the certificate means and how to attain it. First thing I realized was that to enroll in an ITS cert program, you only need an undergrad degree- but the undergrad degree need not be in the realm of education...hmmmm, working in a school, advising educators on how to use technology in their classroom, but no education background. Odd. Now I realize that not all ITS certified people look to be hired in schools...but any role that trains others should have some sort of educational background. One instructional design course is not enough! A course about education principles is a necessity (in my opinion). But that is not the case in reality...
Next lots of discussion centering around what the ITS needs to know. BACK UP...what is an ITS? Is there a consistent definition??? Let's start there. Each institution defines the role differently. How can we determine what an ITS should know if a single definition of what an ITS is cannot be developed? Even if we had that definition, the question of what an ITS should know can be broken down...what should an ITS know to receive the cert. What does an ITS need to know once employed?
lots of thoughts...good, healthy conversation! It was a very enjoyable day. I do not feel like we reached any "answers", at least not in the traditional sense of 2+2=4. But, as with any worthy experience, the process was much more beneficial than the product!!
The conversation was rich to say the least! So many "experts" in one room, each one very passionate about their field, methods and procedures. Each one very interested in the role of the ITS: what should be expected of the ITS? And once we determine that, how to train individuals to prepare them to assume the role of an ITS?
At first i was confused...Admittedly, I was the least knowledgeable in the room concerning what the certificate means and how to attain it. First thing I realized was that to enroll in an ITS cert program, you only need an undergrad degree- but the undergrad degree need not be in the realm of education...hmmmm, working in a school, advising educators on how to use technology in their classroom, but no education background. Odd. Now I realize that not all ITS certified people look to be hired in schools...but any role that trains others should have some sort of educational background. One instructional design course is not enough! A course about education principles is a necessity (in my opinion). But that is not the case in reality...
Next lots of discussion centering around what the ITS needs to know. BACK UP...what is an ITS? Is there a consistent definition??? Let's start there. Each institution defines the role differently. How can we determine what an ITS should know if a single definition of what an ITS is cannot be developed? Even if we had that definition, the question of what an ITS should know can be broken down...what should an ITS know to receive the cert. What does an ITS need to know once employed?
lots of thoughts...good, healthy conversation! It was a very enjoyable day. I do not feel like we reached any "answers", at least not in the traditional sense of 2+2=4. But, as with any worthy experience, the process was much more beneficial than the product!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Exploring WEB 2.0- FOR ME!
There are soooo many things to learn, explore, expand on, and make real in our lives. In the past, I flirted with social bookmarking...I dabbled in aggregators and RSS (and even helped create a few podcasts attached to an RSS!), and thought about the best way to share and make use of WEB 2.0 tools. And then...POOF overload. and i went back to my comfortable way of doing things! Emailing items back-and-forth to myself. Exporting and importing bookmarks (silly!) And joining every site that came down the pike! Blogger, Skype, DimDim, Elluminate, Edublogger, Facebook, MySpace, MAGPI, Delicious, Twitter, MUSE, Wikispaces, Voicethread, Blabber, etc etc etc . However, without taking the time to identify a real, practical reason for using the sites, my membership (as well as my recollection of username/password) began to fall by the wayside.
Recently, I re-visited some of the sites mentioned above...for example, Delicious. I now maintain online bookmarks. I also make use of the Outlook feed, AND, I personalized Google so some of the informaiton I wanted immediate access to was readily available (such as recipes, thought of the day, puzzles). But that is only part of what I want to explore!
In retrospect, many of the Web 2.0 sites I have visited lately are for use in the classroom. How can we use this with students? How can this enrich the learning experience? I am looking forward to tapping into this class (at least initially) for ME! How can I make use of WEB 2.0 to make MY life easier?
Recently, I re-visited some of the sites mentioned above...for example, Delicious. I now maintain online bookmarks. I also make use of the Outlook feed, AND, I personalized Google so some of the informaiton I wanted immediate access to was readily available (such as recipes, thought of the day, puzzles). But that is only part of what I want to explore!
In retrospect, many of the Web 2.0 sites I have visited lately are for use in the classroom. How can we use this with students? How can this enrich the learning experience? I am looking forward to tapping into this class (at least initially) for ME! How can I make use of WEB 2.0 to make MY life easier?
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