Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thing 11.5: 11.5 Things
1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I learned so many neat things this summer. First of all, I also feel like what I was doing, was validated. I really LOVED the Screencast - that was SO cool! I also enjoyed finding videos that could be used and shared with my class and parents.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?My lifelong learning goals are and will always be growing with technology and keeping up with the latest and greatest ways to incorporate it with our curriculum.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Second Life really took me by surprise. I knew that there were games like that available, but had never dabbled in it to know what it was about. I really couldn't stand it because I'm too wiggly to sit still and "game" on the computer. I didn't see much in it - but that is because I'm in the primary sector of education.
Again, with the Screencasting, I am planning on putting together some staff development trainings where people can go and "rewatch" how to do something!
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I'm not sure if you could do anything differently! I really appreciate being able to participate from home at my leisure - and being able to do some when I'm on the road too! This was such a great training - thanks so much!
I learned so many neat things this summer. First of all, I also feel like what I was doing, was validated. I really LOVED the Screencast - that was SO cool! I also enjoyed finding videos that could be used and shared with my class and parents.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?My lifelong learning goals are and will always be growing with technology and keeping up with the latest and greatest ways to incorporate it with our curriculum.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Second Life really took me by surprise. I knew that there were games like that available, but had never dabbled in it to know what it was about. I really couldn't stand it because I'm too wiggly to sit still and "game" on the computer. I didn't see much in it - but that is because I'm in the primary sector of education.
Again, with the Screencasting, I am planning on putting together some staff development trainings where people can go and "rewatch" how to do something!
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I'm not sure if you could do anything differently! I really appreciate being able to participate from home at my leisure - and being able to do some when I'm on the road too! This was such a great training - thanks so much!
Thing 11: 11.5 Things
Digital Citizenship
I wanted to first say, that I am very impressed in the way that my school teaches and facilitates the use of the Internet throughout the school / classroom. Secondly, I want to also state that "locking down" the Internet, is not always the best way to teach ethics, reliability, and the "etiquette code" to the world wide web.
Fortunately, because my librarian does such a phenomenal job in guiding students with reliability, I feel certain that most of the "recommended" sites that we use are accurate. If in doubt, I ask! That is what I encourage my kids do too. If you guide them as they are learning, and give them pointers to teach to that moment, then the process of validity becomes seamless in their search for knowledge. Keeping that in mind, I always tell my kids as they begin to do a google search, if you happen to come across an inappropriate site, close it immediately and do not make a big deal out of it.
One issue that I think needs to be visited more, is that of a cyber-bully. When Gmail became open for social networking (Google Buzz), we had some issues where students were bullying others - and, unlike Facebook, conversations were open for all to see... And, the user cannot have "selected friends" like that on Facebook. Although this specific issue was conducted off of school premises, it was a springboard for future expectations in acceptable use policies and as a means of communication that we were going to have zero tolerance for bullying! Again, our librarian conducted some trainings with the 3rd, 4th & 5th graders and revisited our community agreements.
Fortunately, I teach 2nd grade and have been doing so long enough to know if the sites we are using, (with many of million of thanks to our librarian and the library resources page) are appropirate for 7 and 8 year olds!
I wanted to first say, that I am very impressed in the way that my school teaches and facilitates the use of the Internet throughout the school / classroom. Secondly, I want to also state that "locking down" the Internet, is not always the best way to teach ethics, reliability, and the "etiquette code" to the world wide web.
Fortunately, because my librarian does such a phenomenal job in guiding students with reliability, I feel certain that most of the "recommended" sites that we use are accurate. If in doubt, I ask! That is what I encourage my kids do too. If you guide them as they are learning, and give them pointers to teach to that moment, then the process of validity becomes seamless in their search for knowledge. Keeping that in mind, I always tell my kids as they begin to do a google search, if you happen to come across an inappropriate site, close it immediately and do not make a big deal out of it.
One issue that I think needs to be visited more, is that of a cyber-bully. When Gmail became open for social networking (Google Buzz), we had some issues where students were bullying others - and, unlike Facebook, conversations were open for all to see... And, the user cannot have "selected friends" like that on Facebook. Although this specific issue was conducted off of school premises, it was a springboard for future expectations in acceptable use policies and as a means of communication that we were going to have zero tolerance for bullying! Again, our librarian conducted some trainings with the 3rd, 4th & 5th graders and revisited our community agreements.
Fortunately, I teach 2nd grade and have been doing so long enough to know if the sites we are using, (with many of million of thanks to our librarian and the library resources page) are appropirate for 7 and 8 year olds!
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