This is a short audio recording of my voice and a few sound effects that I created using audacity. I added a click track and changed the tempo and speed to create the sound and then just recorded my voice.
I could use sounds in presentations for my classroom in order to make them more fun and engaging to my young students. By adding sounds or audio files to my presentations I can make presentations more interesting to my students and stimulate their senses in order to make learning more exciting.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Web Two Point Oh!
Web 2.0 is a term that describes the web applications and changes in web design that allow for interactive use of the web and collaboration between users. This allows for information sharing, creation, and editing through applications such as social networking sites, video and picture sharing sites, blogs, online journals, wikis, web-based communities, and music mashing sites. This interaction is a major step from earlier web capabilities that only allowed viewers to passively view information on the web. When the term Web 2.0 was coined in 2004 to describe this interactive and ever changing world wide web, the "old," non-interactive world wide web of the past was termed "Web 1.0." Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way the world uses the internet. People can share their ideas and access information like never before. It is connecting people from one side of the world to the other. Classrooms have also become revolutionized by Web 2.0. Education is utilizing the tools, interaction, and collaboration Web 2.0 is providing in order to give students the greatest access to information, creativity, and each other. In today's world, children are growing up connected too the web. But even with the vast amounts of information and opportunities it provides to children, the new age of online life poses many threats to children. Just as the Frontline documentary presented, children can catch themselves in worlds of trouble by misusing the web and not knowing web safety. Because of the amount of interaction and exchange that Web 2.0 allows, children have increasing access to inappropriate material, dangerous people, and distractions.
In the field of teaching, as stated above, Web 2.0 is making a major impact. It is allowing teachers to revolutionize the way they teach and operate their classrooms. Students are now communicating with children in classrooms half way across the globe. As a kindergarten teacher, there is not much I can do with my students using Web 2.0, however older elementary age students can use online journals, blogs, and wikis for educational purposes in or out of the classroom. Web 2.0 allows for easy use of the web that is necessary for young children. As the teacher, Web 2.0 provides me with the simple but ever so necessary email, to collaborate and share information with other teachers and parents.
This is a short video about the arrival of Web 2.0. I like it because it makes a good point- the internet relies on US now, as opposed to us relying on it. Users create the content and participate in OPEN communication. Web 2.0 is opening doors instead of restricting its users. The WORLD is staying connected via Web 2.0. The video also provides a look at numerous different Web 2.0 applications.
In the field of teaching, as stated above, Web 2.0 is making a major impact. It is allowing teachers to revolutionize the way they teach and operate their classrooms. Students are now communicating with children in classrooms half way across the globe. As a kindergarten teacher, there is not much I can do with my students using Web 2.0, however older elementary age students can use online journals, blogs, and wikis for educational purposes in or out of the classroom. Web 2.0 allows for easy use of the web that is necessary for young children. As the teacher, Web 2.0 provides me with the simple but ever so necessary email, to collaborate and share information with other teachers and parents.
This is a short video about the arrival of Web 2.0. I like it because it makes a good point- the internet relies on US now, as opposed to us relying on it. Users create the content and participate in OPEN communication. Web 2.0 is opening doors instead of restricting its users. The WORLD is staying connected via Web 2.0. The video also provides a look at numerous different Web 2.0 applications.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Educational Technology
Educational technology is the practice of addressing educational needs and improving education by utilizing the most current and versatile resource-technology. By definition, education is "learning, teaching, knowledge, instruction, mental growth" and technology means a craft or art, gadgets, tools, techniques, products and practices. Therefore, educational technology can be described as addressing the needs of learning, teaching, knowledge, instruction, and mental growth by using new gadgets, tools, techniques, products and practices. There has been a drastic transition to the use of educational technology because of the transition of the world at large. The world has transitioned into the information and technology age, and that transition has required education to also make a change in order to keep up. At first, this was with the use of radio, slides, and sound recordings in classrooms-the latest, greatest technologies for enhancing education. Now there are numerous more technologies available that are used every day in education to best prepare children of the 21st century for the high-tech, ever changing 21st century. In today's world, students are learning in ways never thought possible 60,30, even 10 years ago. As the amount of information is infinitely growing, faster and more complex means of utilizing and spreading that information to students is needed. Thus, students are growing up in an educational system of technology. Computers, internet, television, video, virtual classrooms, online assignments, interactive lessons and activities, blogs, wikis, web pages, social networking sites-these are all technologies students are experiencing, learning from, and utilizing in their education. Educational technology is also being used in the military and workforce for training, instruction, and communications.
As an educational major, educational technology is going to increasingly be an aspect of my career. Teaching a classroom full of 21st century children, using technology in my classroom to improve education is basically inevitable. As a kindergarten teacher, I can use technology not only to enhance learning, but to engage young children and keep their attention and make learning fun and exciting. I can use different types of technology in different ways to best fir the needs of each child, help them visualize what is being taught through the use of video or computer graphics, and help them learn the basics of certain technologies such as computers. However, I don't want technology to become a substitute for me. I do not want my students to become so distracted by and enveloped in technology that learning in others ways (from me or by working with each other) becomes unexciting. Technology will be used only when necessary or highly beneficial. That is, assuming I work in a school where technologies, which can be expensive and challenging to keep up to date since it is ever changing and improving, are affordable and available.
A Changing World!
As an educational major, educational technology is going to increasingly be an aspect of my career. Teaching a classroom full of 21st century children, using technology in my classroom to improve education is basically inevitable. As a kindergarten teacher, I can use technology not only to enhance learning, but to engage young children and keep their attention and make learning fun and exciting. I can use different types of technology in different ways to best fir the needs of each child, help them visualize what is being taught through the use of video or computer graphics, and help them learn the basics of certain technologies such as computers. However, I don't want technology to become a substitute for me. I do not want my students to become so distracted by and enveloped in technology that learning in others ways (from me or by working with each other) becomes unexciting. Technology will be used only when necessary or highly beneficial. That is, assuming I work in a school where technologies, which can be expensive and challenging to keep up to date since it is ever changing and improving, are affordable and available.
A Changing World!
This video (embedding was disabled so I included a link) goes through the evolution of technology in education over the years. I chose it because it not only gives the history of technology in education, but it shows just how far technology has come and how the shifts have greatly affected the way classrooms are run and how education is administered. It also provides a look into the future and a glimpse as to where technology may take education in the future!
Creative Commons
Creative commons is a non-profit corporation that provides a modification to copyright. It provides free tools and licenses that allow creators of information of any kind to label and mark their work with the freedom they would like it to have. When an individual creates something, they automatically own an all rights reserved copyright which protects their creativity. However, if full copyright is too restrictive and they want to be able to share their work, they can specify which parts they want to give free access to and what kind of uses of their creation they will allow. Therefor, creators can refine the rules of copyright and specify if they want "no rights reserved" or "some rights reserved" for their work rather than "all rights reserved," and which specific rights those are. This makes it easier for creators of information to share their creativity and allow others to use it, learn from it, and build upon it. This allows for more collaboration between people, as they are able to freely exchange information and work together to accomplish something. Creative commons also provides people with the opportunity to take information from a variety of different sources already created and make it their own creation. Creative commons plays an important role in increasing the amount of cultural, educational, and scientific content that is shared around the world, on a GLOBAL scale, through "the commons," which is the collection of work that is available to anyone for free and legal sharing, use, repurposing, and remixing. This global scale sharing is imperative, for in today's information and technology based age, it is virtually impossible to go a day without utilizing creative commons, whether you know it or not. Without this corporation, information and creativity sharing would cease to exist as we know it.
As an elementary education major, it is very important that I am familiar with creative commons. In order to teach my students and provide them with the information they need, I am going to have to access a variety of information from a variety of sources in order to form lesson plans, make activities, and operate my classroom in a fun, informative, and creative manner. Whether its printing worksheets or activities from online for my students to complete or playing a video or audiotape during free time or to enhance a lesson plan, I will be utilizing a multitude of educational resources and teaching materials made legally accessible and reusable by creative commons. With creative commons, I can provide for my students and allow them to utilize resources to be inspired and develop their own creativity. The entire field of education, not just my area of study, is based on information and creativity sharing between educators and educational institutions. Without the freedom creative commons gives, information sharing and collaboration would not be possible on a local or global scale, and the wealth of knowledge would be far less.
GET CREATIVE!
This PDF file is a great resource for information about creative commons. I included it because it has a variety of information pertaining to creative commons. It explains what creative commons is and how it works, the direction creative commons is going and what it hopes to accomplish in the future (really cool stuff!), its implications for education (which I obviously find interesting as an education major), and even some negative aspects of creative commons.
As an elementary education major, it is very important that I am familiar with creative commons. In order to teach my students and provide them with the information they need, I am going to have to access a variety of information from a variety of sources in order to form lesson plans, make activities, and operate my classroom in a fun, informative, and creative manner. Whether its printing worksheets or activities from online for my students to complete or playing a video or audiotape during free time or to enhance a lesson plan, I will be utilizing a multitude of educational resources and teaching materials made legally accessible and reusable by creative commons. With creative commons, I can provide for my students and allow them to utilize resources to be inspired and develop their own creativity. The entire field of education, not just my area of study, is based on information and creativity sharing between educators and educational institutions. Without the freedom creative commons gives, information sharing and collaboration would not be possible on a local or global scale, and the wealth of knowledge would be far less.
GET CREATIVE!
This PDF file is a great resource for information about creative commons. I included it because it has a variety of information pertaining to creative commons. It explains what creative commons is and how it works, the direction creative commons is going and what it hopes to accomplish in the future (really cool stuff!), its implications for education (which I obviously find interesting as an education major), and even some negative aspects of creative commons.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
21st Century Skills
21st century skills refer to the unique blend of worldly skills and core academic subjects that readies a student for the 21st century. 21st century skills build on the basis of academic knowledge and understanding to teach students the essential 4C's (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity) they need to succeed in today's global economy and technology based society. Instead of teaching just the academic skills students need to succeed in the academic realm, 21st century skills are equipping students with the literacies, skills, knowledge, and expertise they'll need to succeed in LIFE. Once the core subjects are taught, interdisciplinary themes are included to promote a higher level of understanding; learning and innovation skills are included to prepare students for the work environment; information, media, and technology skills are included to prepare students for a technology based society; and life and career skills are included to prepare students to function in life and work. When all these things come together, they create a well-rounded, informed, able, prepared, multi-dimensional individual. In today's ever-changing, high speed, complicated, information loaded world, more and more is required of students. 21st century skills prepare students to go out and be able to not only accomplish what is required of them in this demanding world, but make contributions as well.
As an elementary education major, my field is not only refining the 21st century skills I’ve learned through schooling, but is teaching me how to teach these skills to students when I become a teacher. My profession goes beyond the core subjects. As a teacher I am preparing these children for the world-the purpose 21st century skills serves. Without 21st century skills and the framework for 21st century learning, my field would be, in essence, futile. We would not be able to create well rounded, prepared individuals. Therefore, I have to have all the 21st century skills down to a “T” if I am going to teach them to young children.
Besides teaching these skills to children, I will be using them on a daily basis in my field. Teaching kindergarten requires a lot of creativity and innovation. I have to be able to create learning activities for my students that are fun, exciting, and engaging (5 year old attention spans don’t last long), but at the same time effective and meaningful. If one activity isn’t effective, or a child is not understanding or progressing, I have to be innovative and utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills to deal with the problem and find a solution. Communication skills are imperative. Not only do I have to effectively communicate with kindergarten age children and be able to communicate with them on a level that makes them understand and in a way that suits their needs, but I have to communicate with parents. Communication with parents is a vital aspect of gaining their trust in teaching their child and in promoting the child’s success. Collaboration skills will be used on a daily basis when working with other teachers to create lesson plans, share ideas, and help each other to run an efficient classroom, and when working with my class as a whole on an activity. In an ever changing, high speed, technology focused world, I have to be ready to teach a generation of children that will probably be able to use more technology than me and be learning in ways we didn’t at that age. I will utilize information, technology, and media skills on a daily basis. Whether it’s using technology to enhance lessons and stimulate learning, such as powerpoints, videos, songs, the computer, or interactive technology; using technology to form my lesson plans, such as researching databases and making use of the internet; or using technology to organize, such as computer documents for grades and lesson plans, and email for contact with parents, I will need to be technology savvy to do my job. Life and career skills may be the most important of all the 21st century skills for my field. I have to be flexible, especially dealing with kindergartners. They may not always understand or be able to do something I ask them to, and I have to be flexible and find a way to adapt the situation to fit the needs of the student. I also have to be flexible when dealing with parents and faculty and dealing with decisions that I did not make but have to work with. I have to have social and cross cultural skills in order to work with people of varying ages all day everyday, and to understand why certain students act a certain way or have certain characteristics and not be offensive to anyone. I have to be productive in order to effectively and efficiently teach young children everything they need to know I order to succeed and move on in their schooling. And last but not least, I have to be a responsible and be a leader for my students. I am responsible not only for their academic success but their well being during the school day. I have to care for them and adequately provide for them. And I have to be a leader for them. They need a role-model to look up to, who they can trust and rely on to always lead them in the right direction.
In this video, leaders in education and business talk about the importance of 21st century skills. I chose this video because it includes prestigious and well-educated individuals who are successful in today’s world and whose words have substantial support. They do a great job of explaining the importance of teaching 21st century students 21st century skills, and preparing them with the skills to be able to think on their own and succeed in today’s global economy, and to go beyond that and make contributions to their world. They emphasize the need for 21st century skills in an ever changing and challenging world, no matter what field of study or work you are in. I can strongly relate to this video because it stresses the role teachers play in implanting these skills in students, and how teachers are having to adapt their teaching methods to catch up with the 21st century.
As an elementary education major, my field is not only refining the 21st century skills I’ve learned through schooling, but is teaching me how to teach these skills to students when I become a teacher. My profession goes beyond the core subjects. As a teacher I am preparing these children for the world-the purpose 21st century skills serves. Without 21st century skills and the framework for 21st century learning, my field would be, in essence, futile. We would not be able to create well rounded, prepared individuals. Therefore, I have to have all the 21st century skills down to a “T” if I am going to teach them to young children.
Besides teaching these skills to children, I will be using them on a daily basis in my field. Teaching kindergarten requires a lot of creativity and innovation. I have to be able to create learning activities for my students that are fun, exciting, and engaging (5 year old attention spans don’t last long), but at the same time effective and meaningful. If one activity isn’t effective, or a child is not understanding or progressing, I have to be innovative and utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills to deal with the problem and find a solution. Communication skills are imperative. Not only do I have to effectively communicate with kindergarten age children and be able to communicate with them on a level that makes them understand and in a way that suits their needs, but I have to communicate with parents. Communication with parents is a vital aspect of gaining their trust in teaching their child and in promoting the child’s success. Collaboration skills will be used on a daily basis when working with other teachers to create lesson plans, share ideas, and help each other to run an efficient classroom, and when working with my class as a whole on an activity. In an ever changing, high speed, technology focused world, I have to be ready to teach a generation of children that will probably be able to use more technology than me and be learning in ways we didn’t at that age. I will utilize information, technology, and media skills on a daily basis. Whether it’s using technology to enhance lessons and stimulate learning, such as powerpoints, videos, songs, the computer, or interactive technology; using technology to form my lesson plans, such as researching databases and making use of the internet; or using technology to organize, such as computer documents for grades and lesson plans, and email for contact with parents, I will need to be technology savvy to do my job. Life and career skills may be the most important of all the 21st century skills for my field. I have to be flexible, especially dealing with kindergartners. They may not always understand or be able to do something I ask them to, and I have to be flexible and find a way to adapt the situation to fit the needs of the student. I also have to be flexible when dealing with parents and faculty and dealing with decisions that I did not make but have to work with. I have to have social and cross cultural skills in order to work with people of varying ages all day everyday, and to understand why certain students act a certain way or have certain characteristics and not be offensive to anyone. I have to be productive in order to effectively and efficiently teach young children everything they need to know I order to succeed and move on in their schooling. And last but not least, I have to be a responsible and be a leader for my students. I am responsible not only for their academic success but their well being during the school day. I have to care for them and adequately provide for them. And I have to be a leader for them. They need a role-model to look up to, who they can trust and rely on to always lead them in the right direction.
In this video, leaders in education and business talk about the importance of 21st century skills. I chose this video because it includes prestigious and well-educated individuals who are successful in today’s world and whose words have substantial support. They do a great job of explaining the importance of teaching 21st century students 21st century skills, and preparing them with the skills to be able to think on their own and succeed in today’s global economy, and to go beyond that and make contributions to their world. They emphasize the need for 21st century skills in an ever changing and challenging world, no matter what field of study or work you are in. I can strongly relate to this video because it stresses the role teachers play in implanting these skills in students, and how teachers are having to adapt their teaching methods to catch up with the 21st century.
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