Few educators would question the positive role that computers can play in education. Most claim that ready access to computers in K-12 classrooms has a beneficial effect on educational outcomes. These proponents believe computers will make the classroom a better environment in which to teach the difficult concepts that lead to higher academic achievement (Johnson, 2000). But are classroom computers delivering on this expectation? Does access to a computer or use of a computer in instructing students improve their academic achievement?
Reference: Johnson, K. (2000). Do computers in the classroom boost academic achievement? Center for Data Analysis Report.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Best Methods for the Use of Blogs in the Classroom
Blogging in the classroom can be a powerful and effective technology tool for students and teachers. A blog which is sometimes called a weblog is a tool allowing instant publishing of text, artwork, links to other blogs or web sites, and other content. The postings that are entered are text entries similar to a journal which include a posting date and can be commented on by classmates and the teacher. The following are some of the benefits and downsides of using a blog in the classroom.
Benefits of blogging;
• Blogs are easy to use and require minimal technical knowledge. They are easily created and maintained.
• Blogs are convenient and accessible from home or the school computer lab
• Blogs are a convenient tool for communicating with students
• Educationally, blogs are motivating to students, especially to those who might not become participants in the classroom,
• Blogs provide excellent opportunities for students to read and write
• It provides a forum for collaboration where students and teachers can work to further develop writing. Teachers can offer tips, students can receive peer feedback, and cooperative research projects are possible.
• The blog allows for the teacher to mentor and scaffold students
• A classroom blog can aid in management as it is used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts and homework assignments, and act as a question and answer box.
• The blog can be a great tool for communicating with and informing parents of procedures and obtaining permission
• A class blog opens the way for discussion of topics outside of the classroom where students who are too shy to speak out in class can share their thoughts. It allows students to be reactive and reflective.
• Blogs are a great place to organize student work into a digital portfolio.
• Knowing their work will be published, spurs students on to do their best.
• Students can share information and ideas and read what others think.
• The teacher can read what the students think about the class and content, and writers can share their writings with people outside of the class
• A blog opens up networking opportunities with teachers and students across the country or even across the world. A whole new vista for gaining knowledge and information is available.
• The blog is a forum for building enthusiasm for learning as a student learns something new and wishes to share it with everyone.
• Blogs give students ownership and authenticity over their own learning.
• Blogging helps students see their work as interconnected with other subjects and helps them to organize their learning.
• Regular blogging can foster the development of writing and research skills and teach a variety of skills
Disadvantages of Blogs:
• Rules must be clear and enforced
• Blogs take time to keep updated
• Students may blog about things unrelated to the class
• Students without a computer at home are at a disadvantage
• Be sure to follow district Acceptable Use Policies and get permission from parents
• Students must be trained on acceptable use regarding access, privacy, security, and free expression.
• Students must never be defamatory, libelous, or infringe on the rights of others
• Blogs need to be updated regularly or students will lose interest
• Be careful the blog does not get off- track from its intended course
• The teacher must monitor to make sure it is always appropriate
• You may not want others outside of the class to be able to access your blog
Tips for How to Use the Blog:
Elementary Ed
• Begin simply by posting class information and assignments and deadlines. This will get the students to regularly check the blog.
• The instructor should work on the blog at first by adding links to interesting sites about class topics. It will set the tone for the students to realize what is expected.
• Have students explore other blogs to get an idea of what their class will be doing. This will foster reading and critical thinking and they will learn much about writing posts and responding to posts.
• Create a reason for the students to write. Have them write about a current event, a writing assignment, or something that they are studying in one of their subjects
• Encourage interaction and the reading of each other’s posts.
• Be sure to address any negative issues immediately. Bullying is especially unacceptable
Secondary Ed
• First model how you want students to write or respond to someone else’s writing, and make your presence known so they will stay in check
• Create a purpose and tie it to an instructional objective.
• Set up a discussion focusing on one or two essential questions at a time with a time period and cut-off date for posts.
• Everyone should be required to participate so that the blog does not get abandoned and die and so that everyone will have a place to be heard.
References
www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47
Academic VoIP Blog for Elementary Schools
http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/blogonlineclass/index.htm
Kimberly White's EDM310 Blog
Benefits of blogging;
• Blogs are easy to use and require minimal technical knowledge. They are easily created and maintained.
• Blogs are convenient and accessible from home or the school computer lab
• Blogs are a convenient tool for communicating with students
• Educationally, blogs are motivating to students, especially to those who might not become participants in the classroom,
• Blogs provide excellent opportunities for students to read and write
• It provides a forum for collaboration where students and teachers can work to further develop writing. Teachers can offer tips, students can receive peer feedback, and cooperative research projects are possible.
• The blog allows for the teacher to mentor and scaffold students
• A classroom blog can aid in management as it is used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts and homework assignments, and act as a question and answer box.
• The blog can be a great tool for communicating with and informing parents of procedures and obtaining permission
• A class blog opens the way for discussion of topics outside of the classroom where students who are too shy to speak out in class can share their thoughts. It allows students to be reactive and reflective.
• Blogs are a great place to organize student work into a digital portfolio.
• Knowing their work will be published, spurs students on to do their best.
• Students can share information and ideas and read what others think.
• The teacher can read what the students think about the class and content, and writers can share their writings with people outside of the class
• A blog opens up networking opportunities with teachers and students across the country or even across the world. A whole new vista for gaining knowledge and information is available.
• The blog is a forum for building enthusiasm for learning as a student learns something new and wishes to share it with everyone.
• Blogs give students ownership and authenticity over their own learning.
• Blogging helps students see their work as interconnected with other subjects and helps them to organize their learning.
• Regular blogging can foster the development of writing and research skills and teach a variety of skills
Disadvantages of Blogs:
• Rules must be clear and enforced
• Blogs take time to keep updated
• Students may blog about things unrelated to the class
• Students without a computer at home are at a disadvantage
• Be sure to follow district Acceptable Use Policies and get permission from parents
• Students must be trained on acceptable use regarding access, privacy, security, and free expression.
• Students must never be defamatory, libelous, or infringe on the rights of others
• Blogs need to be updated regularly or students will lose interest
• Be careful the blog does not get off- track from its intended course
• The teacher must monitor to make sure it is always appropriate
• You may not want others outside of the class to be able to access your blog
Tips for How to Use the Blog:
Elementary Ed
• Begin simply by posting class information and assignments and deadlines. This will get the students to regularly check the blog.
• The instructor should work on the blog at first by adding links to interesting sites about class topics. It will set the tone for the students to realize what is expected.
• Have students explore other blogs to get an idea of what their class will be doing. This will foster reading and critical thinking and they will learn much about writing posts and responding to posts.
• Create a reason for the students to write. Have them write about a current event, a writing assignment, or something that they are studying in one of their subjects
• Encourage interaction and the reading of each other’s posts.
• Be sure to address any negative issues immediately. Bullying is especially unacceptable
Secondary Ed
• First model how you want students to write or respond to someone else’s writing, and make your presence known so they will stay in check
• Create a purpose and tie it to an instructional objective.
• Set up a discussion focusing on one or two essential questions at a time with a time period and cut-off date for posts.
• Everyone should be required to participate so that the blog does not get abandoned and die and so that everyone will have a place to be heard.
References
ClassPress is a commercial blogging site where no one outside your class can view or participate without your permission. This might be worth looking into.
cmiseval@dtwd.wa.gov.au www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47
Academic VoIP Blog for Elementary Schools
http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/blogonlineclass/index.htm
Kimberly White's EDM310 Blog
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Teaching with Prezi
1. Prezi enables the teacher to dissect long sections of text into more manageable pieces, thus allowing for a more meaningful analysis.
2. The ability to zoom in and out on images and text helps students focus on what is important.
3. The ability to zoom in can also be used to expand on the meaning of a particular word, and clarify that meaning by associating the word with an image.
4. Teachers must be careful not to overuse the zoom and move functions. When used correctly they can be highly effective instructional tools; however, overusing these functions will decrease their effectiveness and may induce motion sickness.
5. Prezi goes beyond viewing images and diagrams, allowing students to dive in and explore.
6. Frames gather and collect information in any way a teacher prefers, allowing for a clear and concise means of presenting whole concepts.
7. Using Prezi, you can create a pathway but choose to leave it at any time to explore additional content. You can then return to your pathway, just as you do when your teaching.
8. As opposed to other tools like PowerPoint, which follows a traditional linear style of information presentation, Prezi allows teachers a greater level of flexibility and the ability to adapt to their students' curricular needs.
9. Images and videos can be embedded directly onto a Prezi presentation.
10. Prezi helps students see the bigger picture and understand relationships and sequences.
References:
http://prezi.com/rfsnedhqmhqa/thoughts-on-using-prezi-as-a-teaching-tool/
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
WebQuest Pro's and Con's
1. Pro - Enhance Learning: By requiring students to complete a Webquest before studying a particular topic provides background information and enhances the learning experience.
2. Pro - Engage Students: Helps engage students by utilizing the internet. Students today typically enjoy surfing “the web”; thus, they enjoy completing a Webquest.
3. Pro – Student Centered Learning: By using a Webquest, students are able to learn things for themselves, rather than listening to information provided by the teacher. They get to “fuss” with information by navigating through various websites; thus, they are able to gain a better understanding.
4. Pro – Self Paced Learning: Students are able to learn at their own pace. They can spend as much time on one particular site until they understand the concept or find the required information.
5. Pro – Structured learning: Webquest’s assure students access correct information. The internet is full of information – both reliable and unreliable. The creation of Webquests allows student to access the internet for research and assures that they access reliable sources.
6. Pro – Cross Curricular: Webquest’s can create bridges between various subjects. For example, if an English Literature teacher is teaching Shakespeare, he or she can create a webquest where the students learn about the Elizabethan Era as well.
7. Con – Time consuming: Depending on the student, it may take a considerable amount of time to complete the quest.
8. Con – Limiting: Students cannot venture outside the constraints of the Webquest, therefore they cannot solve the problems in other ways. They must follow a predetermined path.
9. Con - Lack of collaboration: Webquests are individual based projects. To eliminate this, teacher should require some type of collaboration during “the quest”.
10. Con – Computer Access: Not all students will have access to computers at home. As a result, Webquest’s should not be used as homework assignments.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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