G-docs vs. the M word let the battle begin!

Morally we should not pick sides when it comes to technology, but since you(the teacher) made us (the students) to pick I guess I will have to.  Being that we were subjected the Mislevy influence when it comes to the use of Google docs. I would have to say it worked but not because of the fact that you are our teacher and you are right all of the time.  It was through the exploration of the Google apps that impressed me most.  A live page, you can't beat that, sharing options on unheard of, multiple formats that are excepted the cherry that tops the ice cream.  Oh and by the way it can be accessed from any technology that can view the internet.  So for me the verdict is in, therefore just as the web app was so eloquently sold to us students, I too will be able to do the same to the school district I work in.

5 ideas for a spreadsheet application

First to report back from the meeting and promote the use of Excel or another spreadsheet applications I would choose a spreadsheet project that would create enthusiasm and by-in on the programs uses.  Keeping that in mind the project must be an idea that makes the teachers life easier or more efficient.  I was amazed that Julie G almost was brought to tears when we explored the rubistar web app.  So during the meeting a dialogue would be started on what ways an Excel app. may improve your teaching career.

Another idea deals with a spreadsheet application as a database.  Teacher colleagues are always in need of supplies and sundries that are useful in the classroom.  I would suggest to my co-workers and I inventory their items using a spreadsheet program.  I would ask that the listed items be placed in a public forum for the teachers such as Google docs.  This idea not only takes care of the budget deficit that teachers encounter daily but also enhances team building. Those who do want to share do not have to participate.

One great use I found for Excel and other spreadsheet apps. is the ability to create forms and or documents in which spaces are left intentionally blank for the user to input.  A suggestion for the staff would be to create a template based off of a spreadsheet app. and then adapt for specific use.  The template would be recognized easily by the students and universal throughout the school.  This provides consistency which directly relates to a recognition of Mal information.  Plus, how great would it be if one more thing was taken off your plate when you are an educator.

My fourth idea is an anonymous reward system based off a spreadsheet application.  The students names would be named and anybody can recognize the student for going above the standards in specific categories, I.E. safety, enthusiasm, helping others, and other positive categories.  The system can be as simple as a tick mark and a simple explanation.  The remarks would have to be checked for validity, and tactful writing.  I believe if peers and students always have these categories on their mind an environment will be created in which others tend to try to achieve a mark in the categories provided.

Lastly, for  curriculum based spreadsheet project, I think that meta-cognition is important, one category particularly would be t.v. watching time vs computer use time vs playing outside.  Children must recognize the use of their time. To do this recording on a spreadsheet would be perfect.

Social Bookmarking

I would define social bookmarking as a representation of one's thoughts.  Social bookmarking is popular in my opinion because it connects a physical action to a specific thought.  For example, it is exactly as if you tie a string around your finger or someone says you would remember that if it was stamped on your forehead.  The physical action reinforces the aha moment of the reader.  That action is the bookmarking  of the web page.  As a student a digital reference is huge it not only backs up your research with ideas that are similar to yours but using the power of search engines for your own research that was done in the past.  Another facet as a student you can quickly go to what you personally know as a reliable site.
The other day I was walking through my home saying to myself I wish my home had a Google engine built into it, this was in order to find some mundane item.  That is the power of social bookmarking for a teacher, it organizes the millions of thought that a teacher has through the day that can apply to a students learning process.  It also cuts the guesswork out for the students, when doing research.  This alone gives the students a break in the exploration of the internet and allows them to focus directly on the subject at hand.  This is valuable to those students like myself who like to procrastinate when bombarded by so many visual things happening around them.

A comment on the videos

The videos both show students in dire need to use technology in the classroom.  I think the situation of technology not in the classroom is a case of in with the new and out with the old thinking of the boards of trustees that are actually running the schools.  Taking a step back it is obvious that the members on the board are digital immigrants.  With that being said, can the schools adapt fast enough to obtain the return on investment and maintain profit margin.  The students on the video are ignorant to the fact that institutions are business structures.  Unfortunately, the intent of the school thought of as a business really means that the people who are making money do not care if a student is educated.  In fact, it would make more sense if the cartel of schools decided not to change at all but continue to raise tuition costs.  In summation schools to not change because they are not willing to change.  There really is no such thing as a Magnet school system because of the unwillingness to change as a whole.

Educause chapter 5,6,7

The race for the top, is out of control.  Distinguishing oneself in the net generation is becoming increasingly more dangerous.  I even find myself so motivated a headache daily is not uncommon.  Now I find myself in a bad way.  I must work full-time to support my family and receive a Masters degree at the same time.  This does not allow me to put community service time in.  The author suggests, based on the reading, my resume will is no longer pertinent. Perhaps filling the attention deficit we learn by exploration.  A net gen student can not just accept the professor's word they must find the answers themselves.  Learning completely virtually, in my opinion can be done, I have done it.  Was the learning as effective, well that depends, on you?  If you are a person who disciplines themselves to learn, you will be successful.  This independence towards the ability to learning, is an innate characteristic, and can be carried into group learning.  It is funny that visual images are so powerful for net gen's but thrive on RSS, this is a contradiction in my opinion.  I thought it was funny that everybody is cashless.  I am cashless because I have no money, and when I do have money I only use debit/credit cards.
Chapter 6 brings on many questions, about how each generation learns, interacts, and conducts daily activities.  The begining of the chapter as a little offensive calling net gens shallow readers believing everything that is read on the internet.  I paused and reflected should I believe what I am reading now?  The chapter then moves towards education and how to educate each generation.  The author expresses the challenges of educators. There is no standardized way of teaching the net gen as believed with prior generations.  Throughout the chapter the author predicts net generation students, commenting that students stressors include lack of immediacy by other students/teachers for online classes.  I sometimes agree that with all the technology abound teachers and other students should be constantly connected to the internet.  Although it is not viable to constantly be reflecting and posting thoughts on the internet.  If you did your head may explode.  The writer touches on how personal technologies are better then university tools for students to interact and how schools are trying keep up with the personal technologies.  Sounds easy to me just keep raising tuition costs, at least they would be justified.  Overall this chapters theme was not very informative and could have used some more examples to convince me of a conclusion.
Chapter 7
This happened to be a more interesting chapter for me, the author admits that so far data is of the qualitative state, this means data may not be completely accurate.  I found it comical that the first studies were done in the state of Wisconsin in 2004.  For some reason I can not see the cheese state representing the nation especially in 2004.  Another comical point a study found that low grade point averages are congruent with the time spent playing video games, wow breaking news.  Out of the survey one interesting finding was that students are not educated in specialized applications.  This is interesting because the survey sounds like all students are taking liberal arts degrees.  I did find one contradiction, the reading mentions that students are not developed writers, then goes on to say that schools should approach technology like they approach writing.  I can only shake my head.  Then when I read that, young men overate there skills in technology applications I questioned the author, was he ever a young man?    Some survey findings I discounted like a students GPA not a factor in class choice, I am thinking to myself that is because students generally have a curriculum to follow.  Later in the chapter the author states that digital natives want prompt feed back by instructor and classmates.  I thought for a second and then realized we are in 2010 were information is instant and we all want things now not later.  I am in total agreement that if the university buys into technology then students will preform better.  Of course how they do this is he hard part.  A education center can either raise tuition costs or partner with corporations to provide discounts.  At the end of the chapter the subject of course management systems came to light.  This tool is essential in the education scene, it is now apparent at the middle school level in our district.  Fortunately, this tool is is not viewed as a negative, and why should it be. students use it for tracking grades, calender events and assignments.  Ours is moodle, does it enable instructors to meet the needs of the students, possibly? I think that this tool is a partnership between the student and the instructor.  So the big question of this chapter, can schools harness the power of technology and adapt as fast as the technology changes? I think schools can if the thinking of the school changes.  For example, schools should provide specific guidence to what technology a student should invest in and then provide some type of discount.  As the author states,"we are witnessing a social change,"unfortunately sometimes turning the ship around may take a nautical mile.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Google apps

When it comes to Google apps it is amazing the applications conjured up.  The section I like most are the lesson plans that are specifically designed by age group.  The fact that Google has taken a collaborative effort for the betterment of students of all age groups says a lot.  As we discussed in class these apps may not have the full effect of specifically made apps for individual operating systems.  On the other hand, as most of us know we must crawl before we walk and the introduction of using Google apps will definitely introduce students to the computer world. Watching the video I learned that 8 out of 10 dollars go to waste in the IT world, based on the fact of a putting out fires or response time may be slow.  Unlike business owned Google apps the education edition does not own any data that is put through Google apps.  I also learned that Google is based on a linux system, this is supposed to represent the reliability of the system.  The Google apps education edition also updates automatically, this was one point brought up in our class.  How about the Google calender what a great application, I am still stuck on ical, but I may integrate the two.After review of the video I tried all of the apps just briefly.  My concern is that naturally in a normal work environment I would not use all of this cool stuff. I mean to say I am not that busy.  Possibly in the future but who knows!

Tools for the TEKS

Wow, this article starts way back on a red door, then brings us to present day.  I am always intrigued with the applications of web 2.0 especially in/out of the classroom.  I like how classroom projects lead to amazing internet feats.  Although the article was a little dated based on the Mac OS system, we can see how aggressive the market is by creating gadgets daily.  Lastly, the article states the ease of which web 2.0 and other internet applications can be used.  Relating back to the digital immigrant this is great news, because everyone likes easy.

Library 2.0 Theory

This is a lot of information to digest, luckily the information is reiterated in most other articles.  It is funny how the internet is becoming one big mashup.  The Library itself, will probably not be a building but a server one day.  It is possible to mashup any genre.  This makes me think that one day our acquisition of items will not be a standard of how well we live.  We may be focused on how well we can find items efficiently.  The library just as all business must keep current either which way.  If not these appendages will not be useful and discarded.

Back to School

After reading the article I looked back at several points of interest.  First, that students are blogging just to blog not because they have to.  The itunesU program and pod casting references.  I always have to remember the capitalism that is tied to all of these programs.  On the testimonials I felt that some are not sincere although unintentional.  For example, one student said that at first they did not like to blog, and then changed his/her mind, that contradicts reality in my opinion. I agree with the being part of the learning process through a wiki will reinforce their learning.

The 21st-Century Digital Learner How tech-obsessed iKids would improve our schools

Advocacy for children is huge, all educators, and education administrators, as well as parents must be in agreement.  It is unfortunate that forums are not open between all the above listed.  i find it comical that children of a young age have no problem voicing there needs, but then miraculously they are in a submission hold according to social norm, only to(if needed) lash out.  Will, adults ever know the necessities of generations that follow them.  Unfortunately, the answer is no.  So what must change?  Well in my opinion that mystery gag order that is placed on children between certain years of the child's life.  Of course being tactful must be applied out of courtesy.

Learning Amongst the Riches: Students in the Cloud

One immediate issue I see when using social networks as a tool in the classroom, especially for institutions, a social network may diminish the value of the institution.  For example, an educator is hired by the institution to make the school more reputably/valuable.  If the professor was now available to the public the content in which the professor holds is worth less value.  Education institutions use knowledge/educators as a commerce they protect this with contracts and firewalls.  Personally, I am for the betterment of civilization.  A man such as Jonas Salk has worth more to the world, then any copyrighted product.

Connectivism

I picked out some points of interest when reading Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.  It is always interesting to me the calculated amount of knowledge in the world. Paraphrasing, I once read that a person born in the 21st century, can pick up a newspaper and will have more knowledge, then someone born in the 19th century.  Of course, I factored in relevance, and it diminished the statement greatly.  My point when I read something such as the "shrinking half-life of knowledge doubling every 18 months." I try to grasp the relevance of the statement.  I also found it interesting that he definition of learning, is so incomplete.  This is unfortunate since every time I read a new definition of knowledge I will have to factor all of the points this article has brought up.  Another, something to think about," The Black Box theory" caught my attention.  Most bring this issue up when it comes to autism, especially because of the lack of verbal or other forms of communication.

1-4 Educating The Next Generation

Again I converted the text to spoken track, to focus on key phrases.  While listening I kept finding myself hearing the word MTV, and then discounting some of the readings.  When I heard,"They have fast response times, whether playing a game or responding to an IM. In fact, more value may be placed on speed than on accuracy," I disagreed.  Other points in the reading, felt a little off also.

Digital Natives

Posted in 2001, the "Digital Natives" theory seems to hold true today.  We still have digital immigrants in our midst, I do not feel that a digital immigrant should be discriminated though.  In fact, they should be embraced.  The author tells a story of a digital immigrant not believing in watching television while learning, simply because the digital immigrant can not do both at the same time.  I feel the author has a misconception.  It is not that a digital immigrant can not do it, it is that there was such a thing as undivided attention.

This is only a test

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