The article also talks about using multimedia to jumpstart a lesson. This, too, has been a powerful tool to hook kids on a math concept that perhaps wasn't as interesting in previous courses. I can have interactive logic problems, or short videos (like from BrainPop) at the start of the lesson to grab their attention . . . and usually it will last.
The article "Internet2 and Libraries" was eye-opening for me. I was unaware - or perhaps have never really considered - the limitations of the Internet as it is. Perhaps that is because it usually does what I want it to . . . usually. But in reading about some of the opportunities that are coming . . . WOW!! Video-conferencing with classrooms around the nation - even around the world - would be amazing. I know our school has struggled with online learning, and how much is appropriate/acceptable for high school students. This technology - and the speed/dependability it offers - could really allow us to provide high quality online learning experiences for our K-12 students.
"Every kid a Publisher" was also interesting . . . and this is something our language arts department is trying to implement. E-matter and its willingness to publish anything, however, opens possibilities to all subjects. At the end of the article, they talk about the problems of cheating - buying term papers and such - and this certainly needs consideration. It requires teachers to think about what they really value from students . . . and how best to assess it.
38 comments:
I think the Horizon Report is right on target when they say that user-created content and social networking are going to become accepted in the classroom soon. Already we are seeing universities using social networks for classes (like ours!) and k-12 teachers who are having students create their own media projects in class.
The idea of using mobile phones as classroom tools is really very interesting. I can see it being used in high schools, especially.
I love the idea of students recording data and sending it to their teachers via text or picture messaging. I also think the ideas of “field trips where students post to their blogs/wikis whilst they’re there; creating mini-documentaries using the camera in their phone; be in different places working on the same project and be talking via instant-messaging (http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2006/09/21/20-ideas-getting-students-to-use-their-mobile-phones-as-learning-tools/)” are really neat. I have personally used the mobile phone audio tour at the Columbus Museum of Art – very cool!
As for educational gaming - I think it’s a really neat idea. I loved “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiago”, “Oregon Trail”, and “Myst” when I was younger. I would love to create games like those for my music students. Has anybody tried www.thinkingworlds.com? I’d be interested to know what the games are like.
I got a laugh out of the ten tips for online publishing in the article "Every kid a publisher"
Step 6 Talk to your network administrator
Step 7 Ignore your network administrator.
This is SO true. You need to have a relationship with these people but since they are not usually teachers, they have a completely different perspective. I like the idea of using the free stuff. Then you can prove the benefits and trouble shoot the risks of these and be able to present that to the network administrator
I love the two artiles, Every kid a publisher and Going beyond Pencils and books. As an educator of teachers it is so important to try to get our preservice teaching canidates to understand that the possiblities for multimedia in the classroom are endless. I find that they still have a tendency to be paper driven. I run all my class materials through LiveText and I find it stretches my students. In place of the old fashioned card file for an art class we use a co-edited document to which links to articles and activities are attatched. Each student makes 13 submissions over the course of the semester and we edit and transform the document as a learing comunity. In the end they have a massive teaching file that they can copy, save to disk and use as a reference for all their other classes. What is think is critical in the process of learning is the modeling done by the instructor. In using digital story telling in class I use the medium to explain class assignments and instructions so that the elements do not look foreign to the students when they attempt the same concept in an assignment. Modeling, learning communities and exposure and crutial entities in the process.
I found the Horizon Report very interesting. I especially liked reading about the social networking aspect for education. The idea of being able to use something like this really excites students.
However .... sites like this are blocked on our server. Google Docs is even blocked. I'm just wondering how other districts handle some of the social networking / collaboration issues. These sites really seem to (understandably) scare technology coordinators.
Internet2
Wow, how could this have existed since 1996 and I have not even heard even a whisper about it before this article? I found this article very interesting. Is this the future that would allow our students to connect to educational sites when they are completing research projects? Often the students are blocked out of valuable information at school when doing research projects such as abortion and other subjects that might be considered risky. Is this a possibility that we as educational institution could have access to this and not even know it.
From what I understand from this article, if you are part of a K-12 institution and are connected to the state’s educational networks it is a possibility that your school might be connected and not even realize it. I tried to run the applet to check and see if we are but either we are not or our tech coordinator has certain components blocked that will not allow me to run the applet on the school network. This is a good possibility.
Has anyone heard of this before and might share any insight into Internet2?
I also found the Horizon Report very interesting. I agree with Jeanette, students would be very excited to use social networking as a part of their education.
I thought the use of cell phone for education was also an exciting thought. Why not use the technology the students already have and carry with them?
After reading "Going beyond pencils and books", I really want to be able to barcode my DVDs! I have little "clips" of music examples from all types of movies and tv shows that I share with my students.
Recently my school recieved DVDs through a grant for our ESL students. These DVDs play in both Spanish and English (like most DVDs) but the DVD is more interractive and will give more information or background to the student. I have yet to use one, I have "signed" one out for the 3rd week of Feb. I'll see how it goes!
The Horizon report certainly is right on target. I agree with their assessment of the difference between student view of technology and faculty view of technology. I encourage my students to use cell phones to record events in field placement to bring back to class and share and they are always amazed. Many faculty at my institution do not allow cells in class or even computers. I find this head in the sand philosophy confounding. Our institution should be places of innovation and creativity that push academics to the limits. Sometimes people are just content to do or teach what they know and they are not interested in moving on. On the flip side of this are the students who give up if Internet is down. They fell like that is an excuse for not doing work. Last semester we had the power go out in a dorm for two days and classes were canceled. I left notes on my office door for student who had assignments due but it never occurred to them that they could check there for messages. I now remind my students that there are more ways to communicate than cell, email and instant messenger. I think communication is a key.
Horizon Report
I would like to cast my vote for the increased use of mobile devices in education as well.
Listening to reviews sessions and lecture recaps on my Ipod during workouts would be a much better use of my time. There are some instructors who are already using Itunes for free digital distributions of lectures. I know this kind of digital distribution was looked at by Ohio University but some reason did not work out.
Providing educational content to mobile devices such as a cellphone or Ipod could help students turn dead time into productive time.
INTERNET 2
I was curious if anyone in the class has ever been part of a video conference that was conducted using internet 2?
All the readings for this week are very interesting. While they all touch on similar themes, each raised different issues, and some gave examples of success stories highlighting on the importance of using technology in the classroom.
Educational Technology in Teacher Preparation noted some of the challenges of technology integration the classroom in a 1998 national survey. Some of the identified included availability, access to equipment, funding limitation, training and instructional and technology support. During our face-to-face class some of you noted that technology integration in the classroom and is still a major obstacle almost ten years after this survey was done.
Internet2 and Libraries and Serving your Communities at Speed light outlined some of the growing and positive contributions Internet2 has made to communities nationally and internationally. I like that it encourages readers to get involved and check for if their library is connected.
I agree with all those who said The Horizon Report was the most interesting. The importance and relevance of the five discussed topics (User created content, social networking, mobile phones, virtual worlds and massively multiplayer educational gaming) to teaching and learning and creative expression are outlined. Some of the advantages of using the technology discussed in the paper are
• Commentary and feedback
• Cost
• Different perspectives in the same subject
• Motivation
• Connecting diverse people in different locations
• Fostering deep connection
• Accessibility
• Collaboration
• And giving voice to communities
• Allows everyone to contribute
• Effective learning spaces
• Allows easy visualization of physical objects and materials.
While I also found Every Kid a Publisher to be an interesting article, I thought the author undermined the importance of paper training. Also, while technology gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and share his or her ideas with others, it raises the question of the validity of some information pasted on the Internet.
Going Beyond Pencils and Books gave good examples of the success stories. I think it is encouraging to teachers who face obstacles in their struggle to integrate technology in the classroom.
I see this week’s reading as having some unique similarities in my view. The Horizon Report highlights the difference in thought processes of technology between students and teachers. I think teachers, to a large degree, generally are intimidated by the thought of using technology in their classrooms, probably due to the fact they are unaware how easy it is to utilize some simple and basic tools. Students, on the other hand, have many more experiences as well as desires to be instructed using technology. Students have more knowledge of how to use new and emerging technologies, which probably further intimidates teachers because they feel they should know more than their students. This article opened my eyes to thinking about using students to be the subject matter expert in different circumstances, allowing myself to take the backseat and learn from them.
The article, Every Kid a Publisher and Internet2 are articles that have the possibility to deeply impact teaching. Tweaking the typical instruction techniques to put the students to work on assignments meaningful in their eyes, while still meeting our goals as teachers. Putting software and the potential to publish material to the internet is a way to get students on board in an enthusiastic manner. Using the Internet2 to gain access to educational materials that would otherwise be unavailable would be a great way to free students up to research with less risk of the problems of the Internet. I think the materials on Internet2 would also aid teachers in materials and resources to help in the use of technology in their teaching.
I agree with Cynthia that the Going Beyond Pencils and Books is an article that may encourage teachers on the fence about using technology that the benefits are great, with some tips on how to easily implement technology.
Jeanette and Karole mentioned something I found interesting, about how some very useful sites that are blocked by school servers, and I thought of the Internet2 article as a possible resource to combat that issue. I’ve never heard of Internet2 before, but I think the possibilities seem very limitless if the “junk” of the Internet is kept away.
The readings for week 4 were fairly interesting. I agree with Karol when I say that I have never heard about Internet2. I find it amazing that there is a great tool for libraries and education out there, and it is not being advertised or utilized to its fullest. With the internet and multimedia increasing, less people seem to be actually going to the library in person. Internet2 seems to be a new tool that libraries can offer that people can’t get at home. The possibilities are limitless. It would be amazing to view artifacts in any of the national libraries in Washington, DC virtually. Also, not everyone has the capability of visiting the cave in Missouri in person but to see it with the cameras would be the next best thing.
I do not want to just agree with everyone else, but the Horizon report was interesting. I was actually impressed with Ohio University when I was reading it. OU employs many of the things that were discussed (text message alerts and second life). After reading the Horizon report I also remembered a recent phone call from my mom. She is a technology coordinator for a county in southwest Florida. She was at a conference that was discussing the second life virtual campus tour that OU has. It was interesting to hear that technology educators in Florida were discussing what OU was doing.
I find all these topics so interesting & totally agree that the children would LOVE the variety of technology within an educational setting....
But... In the district I teach in we are SO far behind... If I would mention these ideas to our leadership team - I would be laughed at
I really liked the Beyond pencils and Books article. I think this article illustrates how multimedia can tap into the multiple intelligences of students and enhance their learning experience.
I also found the Horizon report quite interesting like everyone else. Obviously with the way technology is changing rapidly, we as educators must find out how we can take advantage of technology like iphones, ipods, social networking sites, gaming and embed some form of educational content for learners.
I must say the rising strength of multimedia in education is pushing the concept of constructivism to greater heights. This is because, with the integration of technology into the classroom the different ways people learn are going to be tapped into. And while it is a good way of facitating the cognitive development of every child in a classroom, I think it is also a good way for helping children start identifying their strengths and weaknesses in learning; and with a supportive teacher in place, all children can reach greater heights since there will no longer be subject fields that are the preserves of only the traditionally "gifted", since for instance children who would hitherto have been dismissed as having deficits in say biology in a trditional class setting may be turned in geniuses through teaching biology with multimedia. And I think the postings of the teachers among us attest to this.
Like Karole, Emily, and other have indicated, I also think the article on Internet2 was a real eye opener. I have also never heard of it. I read the article with an open mouth on what can be accomplished with this internet2. Frankly spaeking it makes the "commodity internet" seem like a child's play looking at the fact that it is able to download good DVDs at a 100-Gbps.
I must add that the E-matter stuff is also going to drastically change the way things were/are done. I like the part that said $25 books may start going for $1 or $2. That is certainly going to be awesome. I also think profits of writers will rise even though the amount individuals will pay for their works will go down. This is because through the use of the internet to publish, their production cost will go down and their client base will increase thereby cancelling out the lost that would have come to them as a result of the reduction in the prices individuals will pay to have access to their works. By the way.......
Does anybody know if OU is on the list of schools currently connected to this network?
Does anybody know if it can interface with the regular internet as and when users like? or they both run on seperate routes?
February 2, 2008 6:29 PM
This week, I found three of the readings to be the most interesting to me.
While I had heard of Internet 2, I didn't know much about it. After reading this article, I think there is still a lot more to learn.
"Every Kid as a Publisher" was another favorite of mine. I think the article had a lot of really good resources that might come in handy to me in the coming year. However, I did have one concern as I read the article. No where did the article mention getting parent permission to publish student work. Our board policy states that we can't publish student work beyond the building without parent permission. We started broadcasting Live Announcements in January. Like the article stated, students really enjoy producing, editing and publishing a live TV narrowcast. Our narrowcast is now intirely student run.
"Beyond Paper and Pencils" contained a lot of really cool ideas for using multimedia in the classroom. The mulitmedia ideas shared in the article are all examples of bringing the world into the classroom.
I have to agree with Jenny about being laughed at when talking about using myspace or facebook at school. I think that's partly because of all of the negative publicity the media gives these sites. I can't recall ever hearing a positive story about myspace on the local news.
Reading the Horizon Report made me laugh-- "Researchers note that online spaces like Myspace and Facebook give students a safe place to gather..." That's the complete opposite of what you usually hear.
James Werle and Louis Fox’s article on "The Internet 2 and libraries-Serving Your Communities at the Speed of Light" highlighted the role of Internet2 and how emerging technological innovations and forward-looking public, school, and academic libraries are beginning to use their access to Internet2 to thoughtfully integrate advanced-networking-enabled applications into the lives of their libraries, and thus the lives of the community members they serve.
Internet2 allows librarians to think beyond the current limitations imposed by the commodity Internet and to consider new ways to deliver digital services. This has clear implications for those embracing the principles of a user-centered, multimedia-rich, socially engaged, and community-innovative library embodied by Library 2.0.
An interesting revealing part of the article was that it took nearly 25 years for the Internet to be diffused beyond the research community into the educational mainstream. Leaders in the academic research and technology community saw an opportunity with Internet2 to engage a broader community in the development of the next-generation Internet much closer to the users. However, the article also touched on some challenges facing the deployment of fast Internet connectivity. While connectivity to Internet2 opens up a world of opportunity for libraries, it also elevates the need to address these “last mile” challenges and to reassess how schools and users define broadband in an advanced-network-enabled world. This means broadband Internet accessibility is relative. It depends on bandwidth in which individual school or library is connected.
It is worth noting that Internet2 is one of the environments where educational versions of new applications could thrive. The explosive growth in popularity of immersive 3-D multiplayer online gaming and virtual world environments, such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, offer further evidence of how emerging networked technologies will continue to change the way users experience information, learn, and socialize in the 21st century. My only concern with the article is whether the Interner2 project is helping needy and schools in deprived areas in USA. In other words the project should not only favor well-endowed or privileged schools.
Going through another report- "Educational Technology in Teacher Education programs for Initial Licensure", the report provides another dimension of the state of affair of technology in teacher training institutions. The research from the 1998 National Survey on Information Technology in Education pointed to significant shortcomings within schools, departments, and colleges of education with respect to the preparation of teacher candidates to use educational technology, citing lack of sufficient training among faculty and insufficient practice in using technology during field experiences,competing
priorities in the classroom, the lack of available technology infrastructure in the schools
and lack of training or skill, lack of adequate time and willingness on the part of supervising teachers to integrate technology in their classrooms among other findings.
These challenges triangulates other studies on technology integration in schools. Unless frantic efforts have been taken by educational authorities to address some of the problem, the gaol for technology integration in education would be mirage.
I have to second other people's surprise at not having heard of Internet2 before - technology in libraries is my field, but somehow I've remained essentially ignorant of this program. I'm interested in learning more about a system that honestly left me feeling a little confused about the tangible benefits of participation - how can an institution be a participant and not be aware of it? Very interesting.
I had previously seen the Horizon report for this year, and was again struck while looking it over by its basic similarity with past years' reports... mobile technology, social technologies, games, etc. It makes me feel like the emerging technology education movement may be entering a period where it is able to hit its stride with a range of technologies that may only undergo incremental, more predictable change, thus allowing us more time to respond and perfect our approaches. The Library 2.0 movement, for example, is entering a phase where its proponents and detractors critically reflect on experiments in social technologies undertaken by both early adopters and latecomers. This process is meant to separate useful services from technology bandwagon-jumping, and I believe a similar process is likely to happen across education in general, wherein general claims about the promise of e-tech (like in Every Kid a Publisher, etc) give way to program evaluation and broad dissemination of tested best practices.
Every Kid a Publisher
Interesting article but I was disappointed when I went to fatbrain.com. It takes me to Barnes and Noble. Is there a section in Barnes and Noble to do what the article talks about? eMatter is not in existence either...lots of outdated articles on the net but nothing current that I could find. Does anyone know of current publishers of this nature? I am not sure what keyword to use to even google it.
I read the article “The horizon Report” which is very interesting. In the paragraph two-“Critical challenges” the authors considered critical challenges facing high education like assessment, leadership, intellectual property and copyright, skill gaps, collaborative learning, and expectation; and those challenges are “as most likely to impact teaching, learning, creative expression in coming years.”
The authors also described “six areas will have significant impact college and university campuses within the next five years” and the relevance of teaching, learning, and creative expression. The six areas of adoption horizon are “User-created content, social working, mobile phones, virtual world, the new scholarship emerging forms of publication, and massively multiplayer educational gaming.”
I also liked the "Every Kid a Publisher" article. The thought of sharing the information from classroom to classroom is intriguing to me. Sharing school papers, etc. Keeps everyone connected and seeing what other schools are doing can spark ideas in your school. I think it sounds great to have all of these reviewers at your disposal.
I also had never heard of Internet2, but it sounds like a very good concept. I do agree with Charlie as long as we can keep all the junk out and only filter in good information it would be limitless and such a good resource.
I think I am behind a week somehow... Anyway, I did find the Every Kid a Publisher article interesting. Though I can not remember the name at this moment, but the "Cone of Learning" says essentially that we remember about 5% of what we hear in a lecture and 90% of what we do. Having student publish, and "do", tasks will stick with them. How often are you asked to create then publish something online in a math class. I'm just hoping that our server has enough space for the ideas I have been getting...
Ditto! Everyone has provided excellent insight on the articles for this week. I just love all the technology tools that have been suggested to use in the classroom! Salshaus makes an interesting comment regarding the concept of "constructivism moving to greater heights." The effective use of technology in education/in the classroom will certainly enhance the skills of those who may not have flourished in the traditional classroom. When those less fortunate children who may not have the tech tools at their disposal at home, have the access at school, will almost always enhance their KSAs with the guidance of a good teacher!
Every kid truly is a publisher. They are constantly using cell phones to message one another. This can be a major distraction in class, but if a way could be found to use the cell phone in the classroom to enhance learning, I am all for it since most students already have them.
Although I commented this week in the blog for other things, I somehow missed commenting on the readings which I read and enjoyed. Also, I was very caught up w/the week's assignments and having trouble w/certain aspects that I forgot to go back and comment on the readings. I do plan to show a better "attendence" for the whole blogging idea from here on out though.
I agree w/ Ryan that finding ways for students to use their cell phones w/in the classroom would be a great way to integrate technology into the classroom. Rather than it being a nuisance it could become very an innovative tool for successful learning outcomes. This would call for some insight from long term mobile phone users. RESEARCH ideas!!!
Personally, I have what I consider a "prehistoric" cell phone - I just prepay minutes and use it only to call out (i.e., for emergencies and quick calls out). It does the job for now, but I look forward to getting up to date w/a newer version that can do more - like text messaging (once I can afford it - like when I land my full time job in teaching). I am aware of the more advanced capabilities w/cell phones, but nothing is like daily experience. Soon (I hope)...very soon.
Educational Gaming is a great way for children to learn. My three nieces are crazy about "Carmen San Diego" and I can see how it is really developing their critical thinking skills. Children at my school love to engage in math w/ games like "Math Baseball", even children who are developmentally delayed have fun with such games.
Week 4 Blog:
Educational Technology in Teacher Education
It seems to me that if we are to integrating technology within the curriculum, that technology should become a part of the methods courses that preservice teachers take. I teach computer technology at my school. I often get frustrated because the students and other teachers seem to view the use of computers as a separate subject. If colleges teach educational technology as a totally separate course or subject, new teachers may not see how to integrate the technology into their classroom.
Horizon Report
I was very interested in reading the Horizon Report. When I read about the emerging technologies, it made me happy that I chose this program when I began my masters' work. Two years ago, I would have felt absolutely lost when reading through this report. Now I know what they are talking about and am already (trying to) incorporate these emerging technologies into my instruction.
"Every Kid as a Publisher" : It was an interesting article. It had good resources for teachers and very helpful information about multimedia files.
"Beyond Paper and Pencils" contained a lot of great ideas for utilizing multimedia in the classroom. I enjoyed reading how others using technology in their classrooms
Going Beyond Pencils and Books
I like the idea of bar coding (bookmarking) a place on a DVD but how do you do that?
Going Beyond Pencils and Books
I like the idea of bar coding (bookmarking) a place on a DVD but how do you do that?
Internet 2
It sounds like a wonderfully "unadvertised" tool. It sounds as though it has been around for some time but sounds as though they need to spend some time informing teachers. This isn't something the normal teacher just "finds" with any regularity by themselves.
The reading for week 4 is very interesting. It give you the feeling, we still need to learn more about technology and how many different ways to use them in the classroom.
I think, it's a great opportunity to learn from other experiences, even if it sounds sometimes that it could be too complicated, but i think, it worth it to learn how to use it and to use it, so far the instructor feels confident enough to use it in the classroom.
I am always excited to know how new technology works and i think to use these in the classroom would make the students excited about the class, even if the material could look boring for some of them.
After reading the Horizon Report... I am really glad that I am getting my masters in tech...
The social networking works so well, when it works, it makes me wonder if the future improvements in the field of technology will decrease or even eliminate the need of teachers... I would like to think that early childhood teachers would always be needed... but high school students could be taught using social networking just as we are...
Also... the difficulty with using a server with BESS always makes things more complicated- Google Docs is blocked! TeacherTube and YouTube Blocked- They are holding back the things that would really benefit our kids
The Every Kid a Publisher article was very interesting. I wanted to copy it and put it in "tradition" aka paper trained teachers mail boxes... but I held myself back (for now.. hahaha) Honestly, it is frustrating to know the posibilities, but not have the resources to apply what you know.
Our district is currently in "CUTS" mode. They are trying to figure out to save money- The idea of beaming information to teachers and children is much more cost effective and the students would think it is FUN!
Online stories and videos would work amazingly in my room!!!
We can never deny the importance of moving beyond pencil and paper even the past pedagogy of classroom being teacher centered. Technology encourages participation or engages students in a way that pencil and paper cannot do. Even the blackboard and whiteboard today failed to engages students. Students need to immersed in that environment and be free to innovative. The benefits of technology inside the classroom is endless students can receive immediately feedback, collaborate with others even teachers and students, etc Like one of the educators has said about learning how to use the smart board with students. Even mobile phones is getting ready to make a big impact especially in developing worlds where some areas cannot be easily accessed. One thing I noticed about some of those areas the people have mobile phones and with Japan getting ready to launch a new satellite those places will not be left out in incorporating technology inside the classrooms.
Some of the abstracts subjects will be easily taught with some activities developed in different technologies. Technology will actual help to bridge the digital divide if use in classrooms. People in remote rural areas will not be left out and they will contribute in the society and do collaborations with those in developed nations.
Week 4
I like the Going Beyond Pencils and Books. It talked about teachers and how they used technology in their subjects. They use things alike DVD’s to help teach the students. They said it helps the students because it’s a different form and they like it. I didn’t like that they talked about using a DVD player so much because there is a lot more than just that tool out there. When they started talking about using iMovie to help students in class learn about writing I got really pumped. I had never thought about using storyboards to help the students write. I knew it would help them with the order of the movie but never thoughts about it helping them to write better in the future.
Tom
For this week’s reading, I like the article “Educational Technology in Teacher Preparation”, this “statistical Analysis Report” released on December 2007, it’s quite new. It offers us the guidelines of implementing technology. However, I review another report, which was released on 1997 “Technology in American schools: seven dimensions for gauging process-a policymaker’s guide.’ (http://www.mff.org/pubterms.taf?file=http://www.mff.org/pubs/ME158.pdf)
Although these two reports are differ around 10 years, but some of the principles or guideline are similar, and still need people to pay attention on them. This makes me think about how the quality and quantity of implementing technology into education systems.
Sophia
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