Script, Outline, Assessment
For this assignment I chose to do my podcase as an introductory lesson on genetics. I discussed Mendel, his laws of inheritance, key genetic terms and some basic genetic processes. In addition to writing a script for this lesson I also designed an outline for student to take notes on and a simple assessment. They were all joined together in one word document and uploaded to google docs. The standards met by this activity are stated in the beginning of the Podcast.
This is probably the most relevant assignment we've done all semester (the others were valuable but this has direct application). It was hard to develop an audio lesson with no visual aids, but a power point could be incorporated into this for a more effective lesson. This would be valuable as a review or for students that missed a class. Having the supplemental materials online is also helpful for these students or those that misplaced handouts. I can definetly see myself incorporating this technology into my classroom.
I was also suprised at the low cost of the equipment. I had to go buy a microphone for this assignment and was shocked that it was only $9.00. The audicity program took 2 try's to dowload but thanks to the discussion board I figured it out. After that it was smooth sailing. I recorded my script added intro and closing music and added effects to the music. All this was done by simple copy and paste. I couldn't use the music I had stored on my computer because it was the wrong type and I didn't know how to convert it, so I just played it and recorded it to audicity with the microphone. After this I saved the audicity file and then exported as a .wav file which didn't work because podbean doesn't support this. This I tried to export the mp3 file which auditicity couldn't do because of patent issues. I had to go through link after link and download after download to finally get to an unzipped version of a .dll file called "lame". This exported the .mp3 right to my music fold and I uploaded it to podbean and then linked that to this post! INTRO TO GENETICS POD CAST! Viola! Finished! It wasn't that hard, but you'd think someone would make all these things compatible!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Google Quiz
Photosynthesis Quiz
This type of assessment would be really helpful for an online class, which is very common in college. If I were to use it in a high school science class is would probably be as a take home/review type assignment, the major benefit here is that it famalirizes students with online assessments that they will most likely encounter in college. I also like that when the answers come back, you can see exactly what time and date the students took the quiz, also with their answers. If it was an optional homework/review assignment, it would be very easy to see who did it when and give credit accordingly. I didn't realize gmail had this option, very conveinent for teachers.
Applicable ISTE-NETS T Standards
1b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society
Again, this is another assignment that integrates technology and the classroom so well that it meets multiple standards.
This type of assessment would be really helpful for an online class, which is very common in college. If I were to use it in a high school science class is would probably be as a take home/review type assignment, the major benefit here is that it famalirizes students with online assessments that they will most likely encounter in college. I also like that when the answers come back, you can see exactly what time and date the students took the quiz, also with their answers. If it was an optional homework/review assignment, it would be very easy to see who did it when and give credit accordingly. I didn't realize gmail had this option, very conveinent for teachers.
Applicable ISTE-NETS T Standards
1b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society
Again, this is another assignment that integrates technology and the classroom so well that it meets multiple standards.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Your Rubric
Your Rubric
For this assignment I viewed several pre-made rubrics on Rubistar. I chose the one that assess a Lab Report because what constitutes a complete report (an 'A') is difficult for students to understand and I thought this rubric did an excellent job of describing what would be required in order for students to earn an A (despite a few typos). For this assignment we were asked to download the rubric (as an excel spreadsheet), upload it to google docs and publish it to our blog. However, I'm not in a classroom so I used a premade rubric. I right clicked on it and selected send to Excel, but the formatting wasn't correct and I'm still working with th excel version to try and get it to fit neatly onto one page. As I was looking to see if their was another way to export this document I found an option that said send to blog, which automatically pulled up blogger and asked me to log in. When I did it went right to a new post and automatically inserted a link to the rubric. I thought this was very helpful so I went ahead and included it in my blog post.
I have been exposed to many rubrics in the last few years and have found them extremely helpful but was frightened by the idea of actually creating one on my own. I was afraid of not being specific enough or of setting my expectations too high. This site has thousands of rubrics along with a format for creating your own and made the task a little less scary. It gave me an idea of what other teachers are asking of their students so I can make sure my expectation are in line with theirs. This tool is extremely valuable and becuase it integrates the interent with classroom learning also demonstarate the teachers ability to integrate technology. I also think that for self evaluation projects or even peer evaluations this would be a valuable website for students to create together. If they all created it and then all used to the same rubric to grade, it would keep the classroom interactive and interesting while integrating technology. It would also take away alot of the subjectivness of such evaluations and make students more accountable for the evaluations. Students will no longer be able to grade each other completely as they please, or becuase they like or don't like someone. There will be specific requirements that they helped create.
One definite postive of this assignment is that it definetly facilitates student learning because I doubt many students have done this type of assignment before (ISTE_NETS T Standard 1). This is also definetly a digital age assessment (Standard 2). Again, this assignment could be linked to most of these standards like many of our other assignments. But I believe its application to standards one and two are what make this assignment unique.
Still working on editing the rubric in Excel . . . .
Finally finished check it out here
For this assignment I viewed several pre-made rubrics on Rubistar. I chose the one that assess a Lab Report because what constitutes a complete report (an 'A') is difficult for students to understand and I thought this rubric did an excellent job of describing what would be required in order for students to earn an A (despite a few typos). For this assignment we were asked to download the rubric (as an excel spreadsheet), upload it to google docs and publish it to our blog. However, I'm not in a classroom so I used a premade rubric. I right clicked on it and selected send to Excel, but the formatting wasn't correct and I'm still working with th excel version to try and get it to fit neatly onto one page. As I was looking to see if their was another way to export this document I found an option that said send to blog, which automatically pulled up blogger and asked me to log in. When I did it went right to a new post and automatically inserted a link to the rubric. I thought this was very helpful so I went ahead and included it in my blog post.
I have been exposed to many rubrics in the last few years and have found them extremely helpful but was frightened by the idea of actually creating one on my own. I was afraid of not being specific enough or of setting my expectations too high. This site has thousands of rubrics along with a format for creating your own and made the task a little less scary. It gave me an idea of what other teachers are asking of their students so I can make sure my expectation are in line with theirs. This tool is extremely valuable and becuase it integrates the interent with classroom learning also demonstarate the teachers ability to integrate technology. I also think that for self evaluation projects or even peer evaluations this would be a valuable website for students to create together. If they all created it and then all used to the same rubric to grade, it would keep the classroom interactive and interesting while integrating technology. It would also take away alot of the subjectivness of such evaluations and make students more accountable for the evaluations. Students will no longer be able to grade each other completely as they please, or becuase they like or don't like someone. There will be specific requirements that they helped create.
One definite postive of this assignment is that it definetly facilitates student learning because I doubt many students have done this type of assignment before (ISTE_NETS T Standard 1). This is also definetly a digital age assessment (Standard 2). Again, this assignment could be linked to most of these standards like many of our other assignments. But I believe its application to standards one and two are what make this assignment unique.
Still working on editing the rubric in Excel . . . .
Finally finished check it out here
Friday, July 17, 2009
Windows Movie Maker
Cloning Movie
Wow, I feel like it's been a while. This assignment was to find or make a powerpoint presentation that taught something and turn it into a movie. One of the samples was an informational piece about Natural Resources, so I decided to go ahead and use my cloning power point. The only downside I found to this project is where I don't see how the finished project is that much different than the original powerpoint. I know there are different transitions and effects, but they are really not that different. In fact, the biggest difference is the file type. I went from a power point, to saving each slide as a .jpeg and then inserting them into the windows movie maker and adding a different effect and transition for each one. I don't have any acceptable music on my computer to add to I left that out. But I did change the length of time it spent on each slide to accomodate those with more words that it takes longer to read. Again, there are obvious creative ways this can be used in the classroom, the best being that when you couple these images with music it is very powerful (I definetly would have liked to know about this program when I was in speech class- it would have been useful for my persuasive speech). This assignment meets the same learning objectives as the other film we made did for the photostory (I'm abbreviating my explanation because I feel like a broken record). However, the ISTE-NETS T standards are very closely linked to any program involving technology and this assignment was very much like the Photostory one. I didn't really encounter any problems but I wish there was music available in programs like this to use with presentations because I just don't have anything that fits. I also had to upload the video to youtube, which didn't accept the first file type I tried, so I'm going to try it again . . .
Take that back, youtube doesn't accept the Windows Movie Maker file type either, so I published it to my computer (which just save it as a .wmv file) which is uploading as I type. Done . . . just follow the link at the top of this post.
Wow, I feel like it's been a while. This assignment was to find or make a powerpoint presentation that taught something and turn it into a movie. One of the samples was an informational piece about Natural Resources, so I decided to go ahead and use my cloning power point. The only downside I found to this project is where I don't see how the finished project is that much different than the original powerpoint. I know there are different transitions and effects, but they are really not that different. In fact, the biggest difference is the file type. I went from a power point, to saving each slide as a .jpeg and then inserting them into the windows movie maker and adding a different effect and transition for each one. I don't have any acceptable music on my computer to add to I left that out. But I did change the length of time it spent on each slide to accomodate those with more words that it takes longer to read. Again, there are obvious creative ways this can be used in the classroom, the best being that when you couple these images with music it is very powerful (I definetly would have liked to know about this program when I was in speech class- it would have been useful for my persuasive speech). This assignment meets the same learning objectives as the other film we made did for the photostory (I'm abbreviating my explanation because I feel like a broken record). However, the ISTE-NETS T standards are very closely linked to any program involving technology and this assignment was very much like the Photostory one. I didn't really encounter any problems but I wish there was music available in programs like this to use with presentations because I just don't have anything that fits. I also had to upload the video to youtube, which didn't accept the first file type I tried, so I'm going to try it again . . .
Take that back, youtube doesn't accept the Windows Movie Maker file type either, so I published it to my computer (which just save it as a .wmv file) which is uploading as I type. Done . . . just follow the link at the top of this post.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Pecha Kucha
Again an assignment with end less possibilities for use in the classroom to foster creativity, get studetns interested, demonstrate their knowledge, and prove that they know how to use technology like slideshare and powerpoint. Also again by demonstrating that the teacher is savvy about these programs too. I'm sick tongiht. I'll fix this post better later! Sorry for the inconvenience. I checked this on my blog after embedding and the timings aren't 15 seconds anymore. I'll have to check the discussion board tomorrow.
Cloning
View more documents from Valentine184.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
PhotoStory
I created this video from the pictures already on my computer. They were mostly of my animals and are all the things that make me happy.
To make this assignment classroom worthy you would have to designate topics within the subject matter. Used correctly this is a very powerful tool and was suprisingly easy to do using a free program available on the internet that I didn't even know about. Being knowledgeable about this program definitely demonstrates 3a of the ISTE-NETS Standards (fluency of technological systems and the transfer of knowledge). In addition, this assignment could probably be used to demonstrate standard four better than another assignment yet. This style of video with powerful pictures, snappy captions, and touching music can be very powerful in conveying a message (obviously mine's not quite that serious, but these things are all dear to my heart and important to me). All these standards seem very tied together and I keep referring to the same ones, but I also think this assignment obviously meets every aspect of Standard 1 by fostering creativity. Students could really develop their own sense of style with this one. I can see where this would be especially helpful in a speech class for a persuasive speech, but I'm sure it could have applications in almost every classroom. Again, another assignment I'm glad I was exposed too and one I plan to encorporate into my classroom.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Power Point #1
Laboratory Equipment Power Point
As I'm sure everyone knows there are endless possibilities on how to encorporate powerpoint into the classroom and there is so much you can do with this program. Students can use it to give presentations and teachers can use it to accompany lectures. One of the reasons why I think this program is so popular in the classroom is becuase it appeals to various learning styles. Visual learners usually have some sort of graphic. For auditory learners the teacher is saying what is being projected on the overhead, and for those of us who have to read and re-read and maybe even re-write or take notes, the handouts that can be printed are incredibly helpful.
This program is so important it is used in classes from middle school to college by students and teachers. It enables both to be creative while still getting the message across and adding their own personal touch and showing that they know there way around a computer. I even believe that a presentation like this (when done in a classroom) can show you how much the teacher or student cares by how much time and effort they put into the presentation. As a student I can't begin to describe how much I relied on these powerpoint handouts as study guides, they helped me more than I can expalin, I think they are an extremely valuable tool and plan to use them in my classroom whenever it suits the material.
As I'm sure everyone knows there are endless possibilities on how to encorporate powerpoint into the classroom and there is so much you can do with this program. Students can use it to give presentations and teachers can use it to accompany lectures. One of the reasons why I think this program is so popular in the classroom is becuase it appeals to various learning styles. Visual learners usually have some sort of graphic. For auditory learners the teacher is saying what is being projected on the overhead, and for those of us who have to read and re-read and maybe even re-write or take notes, the handouts that can be printed are incredibly helpful.
This program is so important it is used in classes from middle school to college by students and teachers. It enables both to be creative while still getting the message across and adding their own personal touch and showing that they know there way around a computer. I even believe that a presentation like this (when done in a classroom) can show you how much the teacher or student cares by how much time and effort they put into the presentation. As a student I can't begin to describe how much I relied on these powerpoint handouts as study guides, they helped me more than I can expalin, I think they are an extremely valuable tool and plan to use them in my classroom whenever it suits the material.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Jackson Pollock Painting
Big thanks to everyone on the discussion board for helping me figure this one out.
This assignment created several problems: 1. the link we were given only allowed us to paint in orange and 2. there was no way to save the work. I solved these problems by going to the discussion board and seeing that others had the same questions. I follow Mr. Pollock's (not the painter's) advice and did a search for "Jackson Pollock Paintings Online" and was taken directly to this site. Next I did Alt+Print Screen then I pasted this image into paint, cropped it, and saved it as a .jpg. After this I inserted it into this blog and linked the picture to the site I used to create it (jacksonpollock.org).
I saw on the discussion board that others had problems with the print screen button, and had to use the SNIP feature, but print screen worked fine for me.
This is another assignment that demonstrates the various things you can do online; however, unfortunately I don't believe this one has a place in most classrooms. It does make me want to search to see what else is out there though.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Self Portriat
Self Portriat
This was a fun assignment that used another website to demonstrate what all is really available on the internet. So far everything we've done in this class has been a new experience for me. I don't think we need to relate this assignment to the standards (since its in blue and the description under the course activities doesn't say to) so I won't.
While I thought this project was interesting I did find some limitations. For example, I couldn't right click and do a "Save As", some of the objects (the hair) didn't scale up as much as I wanted, and I couldn't fill in anything with color (just the lines). I resolved these capabilities by putting my painting in the gallery and emailing the link to my gmail account and then inserting the link in this posting, scaling down other objects to fit the ones that would only go so big, and working within the other capabilities of this program.
The activity list for this project says to include the image in the posting; however I wasn't able to save the image or copy and paste? Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Emailing the professor to see.
I don't really view this image as a description of myself, but I guess since I created it some might say it says something about me. This reminded me alot of creating a mii (if anyone has ever played the wii).
This was a fun assignment that used another website to demonstrate what all is really available on the internet. So far everything we've done in this class has been a new experience for me. I don't think we need to relate this assignment to the standards (since its in blue and the description under the course activities doesn't say to) so I won't.
While I thought this project was interesting I did find some limitations. For example, I couldn't right click and do a "Save As", some of the objects (the hair) didn't scale up as much as I wanted, and I couldn't fill in anything with color (just the lines). I resolved these capabilities by putting my painting in the gallery and emailing the link to my gmail account and then inserting the link in this posting, scaling down other objects to fit the ones that would only go so big, and working within the other capabilities of this program.
The activity list for this project says to include the image in the posting; however I wasn't able to save the image or copy and paste? Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Emailing the professor to see.
I don't really view this image as a description of myself, but I guess since I created it some might say it says something about me. This reminded me alot of creating a mii (if anyone has ever played the wii).
Figured out how to import the picture into my post thanks to the discussion board (almost forgot about that valuable tool). Still can't get the size right though.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Photoshop express
Wow, I didn't realize you could do so much with photos online, so easily and for free. I was amazed at how quick it was to get my photos from Picasa to Photoshop express and then back to Picasa. These two programs are obviously very compatible.
This assignment is similiar to the one we did yesterday, so I believe the standards it addresses are the same. However, I would like to add one thing. This tool is very useful in the classroom for adding important information and personal touches to photos, diagrams, charts, etc. and would be a very fun, motivational and interest capturing project for most ages. When summer school is over and I get some free time, I'm definitely going to put more photos on here and play around. Not to mention investigating what other free programs there are out there with such great capabilities, talk about motivated (I've always liked tweeking digital photos though).
To reiterate the important part, I do think this program or other similiar ones could be very useful in the classroom especially to keep students engaged and interested. The trouble will be to make sure they are being productive and using their time wisely.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Web Album Assignment
For this assignment I used some of my own photos and some sample photos already on the computer to create an album that shows some of the things that are important to me. I was amazed at how easy to use Picasa is. I followed common sense logic to work my way through the new tabs and even when I couldn't download Picasa I just went to the other "Basic Uploader" option a 'viola'. I love pictures (especially digital ones) and manipulating them on the computer and I plan to continue using this as part of my personal life (as soon as I get some free time to play around with it a little more!). However, I am hesitant to use this in a classroom and have a hard time finding how it would facilitate learning in a science classroom. Actual on task times always seems so valuable and scarce that I want to make the most of it. Usually technology can help do this, but a web based photo album? I don't know about that. On the positive side, if I ever can design an assignment that makes use of this technology that I'll know it's capabilities. I just don't think that this offers anything more to a student or teacher then say, powerpoint? That said it does apply to many of the ISTE -NETS Indicators. For example this assignment definetly "promote[s], support[s], and model[s] creative and innovative thinking." I have always found working with digital images to inspire creativity and motivate me (usually just to 'play' with pictures more though). I have a hard tie using this assignment to verify standard number 2 though. In many places this standard says "maximize content learning" or "adapt relevant learning experiences" and this is exactly where I think this would fall short in a science classroom. At this point in time (maybe my mind will change later) I don't see how a web-based photo album will maximize relevant learning experiences in a high school biology or chemistry class room.
Standard number three is exactly the reason why I am glad I am taking this course. It is very important to teachers to stay aware of the technology as it changes around us everyday (ISTE_NETS-4). We can't let the students get ahead or be completely clueless when they talk about blogging, gmail, myspace, and twitter. Our challenge is to take this technology and teach them how to use it in a responsbile and positive way (ISTE-NETS-4).
Friday, June 12, 2009
Kid's Zone Line Graph
Line Graphs
My honest opinion of this assignment is that it will not be a necessity in my classroom (though if someone wants to sway me otherwise I'm willing to listen). There are so many programs that students need to know how to use to create graphs and charts that this website is irrelevant for the students that I want to teach. Now, maybe for younger kids its simplicity will benefit them, but for the high school students that will be in my classroom I think it is more vital to preparing them for the 'real world' that they learn how to use excel and word or other similiar programs. Now I do like exploring the various options to integrate technology with education on the internet, but I think as educators we can't get too carried away and use something just because it's new and different unless its better. If we don't choose the best option then our students aren't getting familarized with the technology or information that they will most likely need to use later.
My discussion of each graph is under its image (follow the link above).
This information came from the NAEP website.
The assignment sheet says to include teh graphing tool (?) I'm not sure what this is referring to. Any help? I'll post this question to the blackboard site as well.
My honest opinion of this assignment is that it will not be a necessity in my classroom (though if someone wants to sway me otherwise I'm willing to listen). There are so many programs that students need to know how to use to create graphs and charts that this website is irrelevant for the students that I want to teach. Now, maybe for younger kids its simplicity will benefit them, but for the high school students that will be in my classroom I think it is more vital to preparing them for the 'real world' that they learn how to use excel and word or other similiar programs. Now I do like exploring the various options to integrate technology with education on the internet, but I think as educators we can't get too carried away and use something just because it's new and different unless its better. If we don't choose the best option then our students aren't getting familarized with the technology or information that they will most likely need to use later.
My discussion of each graph is under its image (follow the link above).
This information came from the NAEP website.
The assignment sheet says to include teh graphing tool (?) I'm not sure what this is referring to. Any help? I'll post this question to the blackboard site as well.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Crappy Graphics
Crappy-Generic Graph
This really was neat and soooooo easy! Not at all what I was expecting. I'm learning alot more than I thought possible in this class. Inserted Image and link are above.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Image Capture
I used the print screen button (yes, before this I seriously thought it would print on the printer) and then pasted this picture to paint. It's saved as JPEG and is 138 KB. Interesting assignment becasue I didn't know about this function and found the Print screen website interesting. It's a good way to get pictures to encorporate into presentations that you can't simply copy and paste or save. Or if there was a good webiste or diagram I wanted everyone to see but wanted to add some pointers to first I could copy it (using print screen) and then edit it and print it out as handout or add to a powerpoint. I'm sure students will use it in the same way and I'll definetly be sure to tell them about this function since I found in interesting and helpful.
6/21/09
The print screen button was used in a very basic way in this activity. But since discovering this valuable key I have used it for other things. For example our Jackson Pollock assignment where there was no "save as" button, and to have proof for a class when a website wasn't working and I kept getting an error message (luckily I went back later that day and it was running).
This activity meets ISTE-NETS 3a. The way I see it, if I didn't know the capabilities of this button, then some of my future students may not either. That said this demonstrates my fluency in technology systems and my transfer of knowledge. I'm sure as different assignments and situations arise I will use this key even more.
In addition I would like to say that I consider almost everything done in this class so far to meet ISTE-NETS 5. As I am learning so much and will of course incorporate this into my classroom, therefore it must be an example of Professional Growth.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Desktop Graphic
My Picture
I created this to stress the fact that you always add the acid to water and never the other way around. I created this picture using Printmaster 16. I saved this file as a jpeg but because I had to upload it to google docs and publish as a web page. The .sig file is 103 KB. The .jpeg file says 100 KB. Google Docs opens if you follow the link in the blog post but I also posted it as a picture. This and other safety graphics could be posted around the classroom as reminders. If students got to help create them to demonstrate their understanding of safety rules they might remember them better. Hope I posted this right!
6/21/09
I was late adding my ISTE-NET Standards so this addition may seem a little off in reference to the first edition (above). It seems to me that most the activities done so far meet all five standards. In particular this activity meets standards 1 and 2.
Any activity of this type inspires creativity and in this case students are definetly learning at the same time. They are using technology to create safety posters, an experience I'm sure they haven't had before. Instead of watching a video and answering questions, students have to design a poster that shows the right and wrong way of doing something, then they must explain it to the class including the consequences of doing something improperly. In turn they not only learn how to use a new computer program, they learn how to work with others, how to help others learn the program, and their safety rules at the same time.
Standard number two states discusses "digital age learning experiences" which is definetly what this is (2a). If this activity was done and then the multiple choice test was given, or better yet, students had to go from poster to poster and describe what rule it showed and the consequences of breaking the rule this activity would meet Standard 2d as well (formative and summative assessments aligned with technology).
I created this to stress the fact that you always add the acid to water and never the other way around. I created this picture using Printmaster 16. I saved this file as a jpeg but because I had to upload it to google docs and publish as a web page. The .sig file is 103 KB. The .jpeg file says 100 KB. Google Docs opens if you follow the link in the blog post but I also posted it as a picture. This and other safety graphics could be posted around the classroom as reminders. If students got to help create them to demonstrate their understanding of safety rules they might remember them better. Hope I posted this right!
6/21/09
I was late adding my ISTE-NET Standards so this addition may seem a little off in reference to the first edition (above). It seems to me that most the activities done so far meet all five standards. In particular this activity meets standards 1 and 2.
Any activity of this type inspires creativity and in this case students are definetly learning at the same time. They are using technology to create safety posters, an experience I'm sure they haven't had before. Instead of watching a video and answering questions, students have to design a poster that shows the right and wrong way of doing something, then they must explain it to the class including the consequences of doing something improperly. In turn they not only learn how to use a new computer program, they learn how to work with others, how to help others learn the program, and their safety rules at the same time.
Standard number two states discusses "digital age learning experiences" which is definetly what this is (2a). If this activity was done and then the multiple choice test was given, or better yet, students had to go from poster to poster and describe what rule it showed and the consequences of breaking the rule this activity would meet Standard 2d as well (formative and summative assessments aligned with technology).
Monday, June 1, 2009
TPCK Assignment #1
Responses to Questions
Reflection
This is actually a subject I have thought alot about and have considered doing my action research project about. Mainly I want to investigate nontraditional ways to get high school students interested and involved in biology and chemistry and one major way to do this is going to be through encorporating technology into the classroom. I found a great site called MERLOT that encorporates all kinds of animations and other technology based teaching aids. I also found a great site a while back (that I can't locate the link to at this minute). It was a virtual lab bench where you have to weigh and mix chemicals to make reagents and do experiments. A great idea for a school with a small budget and a great way to increase the number of 'experiments' students get to do! However there's no substitute for hands on learning, so real-life actual experiments are still a must. Dissections can also be done online on animals students otherwise wouldn't be exposed to . . . more than just the typical frog. Then of course, there's always the increased communications possible with other classrooms across the country or even the world. This would facilitate cultural awareness, information and idea sharing, and expose students to situations or problems that might not arise in their area or in their school
Reflection
This is actually a subject I have thought alot about and have considered doing my action research project about. Mainly I want to investigate nontraditional ways to get high school students interested and involved in biology and chemistry and one major way to do this is going to be through encorporating technology into the classroom. I found a great site called MERLOT that encorporates all kinds of animations and other technology based teaching aids. I also found a great site a while back (that I can't locate the link to at this minute). It was a virtual lab bench where you have to weigh and mix chemicals to make reagents and do experiments. A great idea for a school with a small budget and a great way to increase the number of 'experiments' students get to do! However there's no substitute for hands on learning, so real-life actual experiments are still a must. Dissections can also be done online on animals students otherwise wouldn't be exposed to . . . more than just the typical frog. Then of course, there's always the increased communications possible with other classrooms across the country or even the world. This would facilitate cultural awareness, information and idea sharing, and expose students to situations or problems that might not arise in their area or in their school
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Introduction
Hi, my name's Samantha. I'm 23. I have a Bachelors in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry from Shepherd University. I spent 1 1/2 years at the University of Findlay (Findlay, OH) and 1 1/2 years a Shepherd University. I'm going to apply to vet school in less than 1 month and if I get in where I really want to go it Auburn, Alabama here I come! I was going to teach biology and chemistry, but decided to follow my dream of becoming a veterinarian instead. I work at a vet clinic as an assistant and receptionists and have since I was 16. I love what I do and hope to continue working in this field for the rest of my career. I'm nervous about this class because I haven't used gmail or blogs before, but I'll give it my best try. Good Luck to all!
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