I recently watched the you tube video of Amanda Baggs, "Im My Language". I am astounded at her ability to communicate with "us" when she chooses to. She said many times that normal society sees her as "non-communicative" because she does not communicate the same way that we do. When she finally did begin communicating her life (using a computer interpretor), it was absolutely amazing to have some insight into those who live in the same world that she is apart of daily.
I am most likely one of the people she was describing as "not understanding her way of communicating". It is because of my lack of exposure, rather than my lack of ability to understand her. Her video gave me a new found appreciation for the terms "intelligence" and "disability". I also feel more aware and sensitive in regards to interacting with those I meet with the same life situation.
Being exposed to other nationalities and cultures is a way of life for me. Yet I live among many like Amanda Baggs, and have not yet understood how to communicate until perhaps now. With the use of the internet and computer, I was able to gain insight/information into a person's life that otherwisemay not have been possible.
Also, seeing,hearing the sights and sounds on this video helped me to become more engaged than just reading text.
To see Amanda's video for yourself follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc&feature=related
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Technology used in the classroom
An exciting time has come in the world of education. Teachers have the opportunity to incorporate technology in the classroom to help students grasp concepts, while maintaining the excitement of learning at the same time.
It is not enough to expect students to sit and listen attentively while a teacher lectures for an hour. Todays students are surrounded my high tech media throughout the day and night. If teachers wish to be apart of their students "world", then it is imperative teachers embrace technology in the classroom.
Students that are currently using educational technology daily are more engaged and stimulated than those that are still sitting and just listening to the verbal lectures of a non stimulating environment. Just think back to your own days in school. Would you rather of watched the video to learn about other cultures, or listen to a teacher "tell" you information from a book, with no actual experience of their own?
Using technology in the classroom can go well beyond "videos" using a dvd player. Now it's possible to acutally bring in others from around the world by using webcams and skyping technology. Students can ask questions and recieve real answers from a person who actually knows. Long gone are the days of writing to your pen pal on paper and waiting for the mail for two weeks. You can contact your pen pal via the webcam and actually see your pen pal conversing instantly! Which is a better way to learn about another's culture and develop long lasting relationships? Precisely.
Follow this link to learn more about technology in the classroom:
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ddsqzxm4_76f9vdrxgv
It is not enough to expect students to sit and listen attentively while a teacher lectures for an hour. Todays students are surrounded my high tech media throughout the day and night. If teachers wish to be apart of their students "world", then it is imperative teachers embrace technology in the classroom.
Students that are currently using educational technology daily are more engaged and stimulated than those that are still sitting and just listening to the verbal lectures of a non stimulating environment. Just think back to your own days in school. Would you rather of watched the video to learn about other cultures, or listen to a teacher "tell" you information from a book, with no actual experience of their own?
Using technology in the classroom can go well beyond "videos" using a dvd player. Now it's possible to acutally bring in others from around the world by using webcams and skyping technology. Students can ask questions and recieve real answers from a person who actually knows. Long gone are the days of writing to your pen pal on paper and waiting for the mail for two weeks. You can contact your pen pal via the webcam and actually see your pen pal conversing instantly! Which is a better way to learn about another's culture and develop long lasting relationships? Precisely.
Follow this link to learn more about technology in the classroom:
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ddsqzxm4_76f9vdrxgv
The New Age of Teaching
We have entered the 21st Century as the "future educators". Our task in the classroom is to teach students how to be self sufficent in a time where "the world" goes well beyond memorizing the names and capitals of countries. Instead, we will have to teach students how to actually interact with "the world". Students will need skills in the 21st century that may have seemed like a sci-fi book just 25 years ago.
With the emergence of the internet, then the availability of computers, ipods, cell phones, and laptops. The amount of media students are exposed to is much greater than previous generations. It is imperative that students know how to use these tools correctly and advance their skills/abilities for the future. This is where the 21st century educator steps in.
A 21st century educator will need to be able to engage "tech savy" students. First of all, Incorporating media and technology into the classroom for starters. Second, teachers must give students opportunities and guidance through communication skills, multi tasking, and the social skills necessary to succeed in our global community.
No longer are we a community within our own neighborhood. This is a much larger picture than many educators are used to. Think "globally". If students have any chance of succeeding, it's time to step up the expectations of educators, parents, and students alike.
Follow this link to find more information on this topic:
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/
With the emergence of the internet, then the availability of computers, ipods, cell phones, and laptops. The amount of media students are exposed to is much greater than previous generations. It is imperative that students know how to use these tools correctly and advance their skills/abilities for the future. This is where the 21st century educator steps in.
A 21st century educator will need to be able to engage "tech savy" students. First of all, Incorporating media and technology into the classroom for starters. Second, teachers must give students opportunities and guidance through communication skills, multi tasking, and the social skills necessary to succeed in our global community.
No longer are we a community within our own neighborhood. This is a much larger picture than many educators are used to. Think "globally". If students have any chance of succeeding, it's time to step up the expectations of educators, parents, and students alike.
Follow this link to find more information on this topic:
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Vegetables are Great! -Video Project
My thematic unit topic is "Vegetable Garden".
The unit objective this project supports is; Given the necessary supplies (C), Second Grade students (A), will create a vegetable garden containing five vegetables each in rows of ten (B), with 100% accuracy (D).
The audience for this assignment is the Second Grade.
This project supports the component that "fosters active learning, collaboration, and supportive interaction within the classroom"; from the standard number 6; because this video project is designed to inspire students to develop ideas and think creatively about Vegetables.
You can view this Video at URL: http://unietd.fliggo.com/video/tNxQlRQT
To view other Educators in the Field using related media follow these links:
1.) http://www.teachersdomain.org/
2.) http://www.converttube.com/
The unit objective this project supports is; Given the necessary supplies (C), Second Grade students (A), will create a vegetable garden containing five vegetables each in rows of ten (B), with 100% accuracy (D).
The audience for this assignment is the Second Grade.
This project supports the component that "fosters active learning, collaboration, and supportive interaction within the classroom"; from the standard number 6; because this video project is designed to inspire students to develop ideas and think creatively about Vegetables.
You can view this Video at URL: http://unietd.fliggo.com/video/tNxQlRQT
To view other Educators in the Field using related media follow these links:
1.) http://www.teachersdomain.org/
2.) http://www.converttube.com/
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Food Journal Speadsheet (tracking our veggies)
My thematic unit topic is "Vegetable Garden".
The unit objective this project supports is: given tools to create a "food journal" (c), Second grade students (a) will track their snack/dinners at home for five days; (b) Students will enter the information into the computer with 100% accuracy (d).
The audience for this assignment is the Second grade students in my class.
This project supports the component to "encourage development of students crtitical thinking skills, problem solving, and performance skills," from standard number 4; because students must document information and then reorganize the findings into organized columns.
This project also supports the compnent "integrates computer and other high and low technologies" from standard number 11; because students must use the computer in order to record their information from the "food journals" daily.
Follow these links to find other teachers using related media in the classroom:
http://www.amphi.com/~psteffen/excel.html
http://www.techteachers.com/spreadsheets.htm
The unit objective this project supports is: given tools to create a "food journal" (c), Second grade students (a) will track their snack/dinners at home for five days; (b) Students will enter the information into the computer with 100% accuracy (d).
The audience for this assignment is the Second grade students in my class.
This project supports the component to "encourage development of students crtitical thinking skills, problem solving, and performance skills," from standard number 4; because students must document information and then reorganize the findings into organized columns.
This project also supports the compnent "integrates computer and other high and low technologies" from standard number 11; because students must use the computer in order to record their information from the "food journals" daily.
Follow these links to find other teachers using related media in the classroom:
http://www.amphi.com/~psteffen/excel.html
http://www.techteachers.com/spreadsheets.htm
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Vegetable Garden-Webquest
I have created a "Vegetable Garden Webquest" for second graders. The webquest is designed to
inspire second graders to think about vegetable gardening in a positive way. I asked the
students where their favorite foods come from? (This question was a prompt to get them
thinking creatively about vegetable); If you said, "popcorn" was one of your favorite foods, then
the next question is, "where does popcorn come from?" Eventually the second graders would
connect the dots and realize that without vegetable farmers and gardeners, they would not be
able to enjoy many of the foods they know and love.
Through this webquest students would have to form groups of four. Each would then select a
"role" to perform related to vegetable gardening. One student would be the "vegetable plant
expert", another would be the "garden bed expert", and so on. Students would have five days to
research information; At the end of the five days the students would come back together and
organize their findings into one presentation to the class.
The students would have to collaborate, work individually (INTASC #6), and use different types
of media in order to accomplish their goals; Including the computer (INTASC #11).
Educational links that support media tools in the classroom:
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-cameron
http://learninginhand.com/articles/photoessays/taylor/index.html
inspire second graders to think about vegetable gardening in a positive way. I asked the
students where their favorite foods come from? (This question was a prompt to get them
thinking creatively about vegetable); If you said, "popcorn" was one of your favorite foods, then
the next question is, "where does popcorn come from?" Eventually the second graders would
connect the dots and realize that without vegetable farmers and gardeners, they would not be
able to enjoy many of the foods they know and love.
Through this webquest students would have to form groups of four. Each would then select a
"role" to perform related to vegetable gardening. One student would be the "vegetable plant
expert", another would be the "garden bed expert", and so on. Students would have five days to
research information; At the end of the five days the students would come back together and
organize their findings into one presentation to the class.
The students would have to collaborate, work individually (INTASC #6), and use different types
of media in order to accomplish their goals; Including the computer (INTASC #11).
Educational links that support media tools in the classroom:
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-cameron
http://learninginhand.com/articles/photoessays/taylor/index.html
Monday, May 25, 2009
kidspiration reflection
1.) My thematic Unit topic is "Vegetable Garden".
2.) My unit objective that this project supports is: Given the materials needed (c) Second grade students (a) will demonstrate how to grow a vegetable plant (b) with 100% accuracy (d).
3.)The audience for this assignment is the Second grade students.
4.) This project supports the component "Communication" from the standard number 6, because it "fosters active inquiry" as well as "supportive interaction within the classroom"; Helping students in learning the necessary factors for growing a successful vegetable garden.
Follow these links to see related media used by other teachers in the classroom:
http://www.inspiration.com/Examples/Search
https://lms.uni.edu/webct/urw/lc4130001.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct
2.) My unit objective that this project supports is: Given the materials needed (c) Second grade students (a) will demonstrate how to grow a vegetable plant (b) with 100% accuracy (d).
3.)The audience for this assignment is the Second grade students.
4.) This project supports the component "Communication" from the standard number 6, because it "fosters active inquiry" as well as "supportive interaction within the classroom"; Helping students in learning the necessary factors for growing a successful vegetable garden.
Follow these links to see related media used by other teachers in the classroom:
http://www.inspiration.com/Examples/Search
https://lms.uni.edu/webct/urw/lc4130001.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct
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