Wow, has technology ever changed our world! In more ways than I think we'll ever know. For example, my wife and I have not entered a single store to do Christmas shopping. Every single bit of it was done online. Today, through email and shared websites, I have been working with someone from Winnipeg to order clothing for our student body to purchase. After supper today my brother and I "Facetimed" while my wife and her brother were on Facetime. Our girls were watching a movie that we had on PVR at the same time. Later on, I practiced my guitar, using an online program to get music (notation) to follow. Now, I'm sitting at my laptop blogging. Maybe my family is too dependent on technology (my wife made supper using a recipe that she found on cooks.com).
Could I last 1 week without technology? Could I...
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Monday, 12 December 2011
The Final Countdown: Part 4
Okay, I'm finished my paper (well, almost...I just have to do some editing). Thanks to everyone who commented on things that I can do better.
The ability to share information and work using Google Docs is so amazing. Collaborating together on assignments provides strength to to final work because people are contributing ideas on how to make something better. And, as in this class, where there are 15 or so contributors, it means that the collective "brain" is more knowledgeable than the single.
Good luck in your final week of ICT 07:755.
The ability to share information and work using Google Docs is so amazing. Collaborating together on assignments provides strength to to final work because people are contributing ideas on how to make something better. And, as in this class, where there are 15 or so contributors, it means that the collective "brain" is more knowledgeable than the single.
Good luck in your final week of ICT 07:755.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
The Final Countdown: Part 3
Wow, working on my paper is getting a little overwhelming. I have 9 pages of quotes. Yep, 9 pages, and I still have to go over 7 more journal articles. I also had the brainwave that I would make a survey for teachers and students at Killarney School to get some authentic data for this paper. I made a Google Doc for the teachers/students to work on. So far 5 teachers and their students have responded (maybe more, I haven't checked). So, I have my authentic data, but now I have to do some type of analysis of the data.
I suppose this makes me feel pretty good about the final action research project, because it will be used by our school to help decide where tech $ should go and to help our school board see the importance of investing in technology. I'm just not looking forward to the work.
This is my last class for my graduate diploma, and my last paper that I'll possibly ever write. My wife is glad that I'm putting so much effort into it, but she would like it if I'd be home more evenings. Soon, very soon...I can almost taste it.
And just for fun: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
I suppose this makes me feel pretty good about the final action research project, because it will be used by our school to help decide where tech $ should go and to help our school board see the importance of investing in technology. I'm just not looking forward to the work.
This is my last class for my graduate diploma, and my last paper that I'll possibly ever write. My wife is glad that I'm putting so much effort into it, but she would like it if I'd be home more evenings. Soon, very soon...I can almost taste it.
And just for fun: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
The Final Countdown: Part 2
Well, I'm in the middle of information gathering and writing for my final paper. My paper is about interactive whiteboards and student engagement. This evening, three different articles mentioned the same thing. The technology is a tool and is as good as the teacher using it.
How true. How many of us have had a teacher who had all the material and knowledge, but just couldn't teach? Technology is a tool and needs to be in the hands of someone who knows how to use it (or is willing to learn). Yesterday I taught a group of EAs how to use a computer program to support students. Most understoood how to use the program as we were going through it, but one EA just didn't, and was getting frustrated, and, despite my slowing down and helping her out, just could not grasp what to do. I cannot imagine being the student who must work with the EA on the computer program and the frustration that both would experience.
Technology needs to be used by those who understand how to use it so that students can experience the full benefits of the technology. Teachers who know how to use an interactive whiteboard will use it in interactive, innovative, and creative ways. Students will benefit from the visual, auditory, and tactile support provided by and interactive whiteboard, but only if the teacher is able to make best use of that technology.
How true. How many of us have had a teacher who had all the material and knowledge, but just couldn't teach? Technology is a tool and needs to be in the hands of someone who knows how to use it (or is willing to learn). Yesterday I taught a group of EAs how to use a computer program to support students. Most understoood how to use the program as we were going through it, but one EA just didn't, and was getting frustrated, and, despite my slowing down and helping her out, just could not grasp what to do. I cannot imagine being the student who must work with the EA on the computer program and the frustration that both would experience.
Technology needs to be used by those who understand how to use it so that students can experience the full benefits of the technology. Teachers who know how to use an interactive whiteboard will use it in interactive, innovative, and creative ways. Students will benefit from the visual, auditory, and tactile support provided by and interactive whiteboard, but only if the teacher is able to make best use of that technology.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
The Final Countdown: Part 1
Well, today officially marks the final week of ICT 07:755. Even though the strike made things more or less an independent study, I learned quite a lot about social media and how it may be used in the classroom. I have created videos, podcasts, concept maps, and a wiki, tweeted and blogged (a lot), learned how to screen cast and share my computer desktop with someone over the internet.
For someone who is kind of a "techie", I have learned many skills that I will be sharing with my colleagues and students. EAs and teachers are already sharing the Kurzweil 3000 presentation that I'm did using Jing. Audacity has many features that I have been using for personal use. I wanted my band to do a medley of 2 songs, and I was able to combine the mp3s using Audacity so that the group could hear exactly what I wanted us to do.
So, here's to a great final week of ICT 07:755!
For someone who is kind of a "techie", I have learned many skills that I will be sharing with my colleagues and students. EAs and teachers are already sharing the Kurzweil 3000 presentation that I'm did using Jing. Audacity has many features that I have been using for personal use. I wanted my band to do a medley of 2 songs, and I was able to combine the mp3s using Audacity so that the group could hear exactly what I wanted us to do.
So, here's to a great final week of ICT 07:755!
Monday, 5 December 2011
Mindmeister Map
This weekend I started working on my final paper. One thing that I decided to do is to complete a concept map using Mindmeister. What a cool little program. Unfortunately, my brain doesn't work the way that Mindmeister is set up.
I'm NOT a visual learner. Tell me something, sing me something, and I'll remember. Put it in a map and...so, anyways, I will try and complete the map, but I'd rather organize my writing in a different way...a written outline.
Well, Mindmeister is still fun to play around with and has some good features (I really like the notes).
Anyways, I'm done for today. Everyone in my family is REALLY sick, and I've been trying to take care of them and work and finish my final paper. Let's just say I'm tired. Very tired.
I'm NOT a visual learner. Tell me something, sing me something, and I'll remember. Put it in a map and...so, anyways, I will try and complete the map, but I'd rather organize my writing in a different way...a written outline.
Well, Mindmeister is still fun to play around with and has some good features (I really like the notes).
Anyways, I'm done for today. Everyone in my family is REALLY sick, and I've been trying to take care of them and work and finish my final paper. Let's just say I'm tired. Very tired.
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