Week 14

Chapter 31 Reading Response:

Chapter 31 “Emerging Instructional Technologies: The Near Future” was a fun read. I thought the Electronic Training Jacket was a really cool idea. It would be so nice to simply use a voiceprint, fingerprint or DNA scan to log into a computer or get into a building. It sounds a lot like the futuristic movies I have seen. I know for me I carry around half a dozen keys and a handful of log in and passwords; it would be so much easier if I could simply put my thumb on a pad and have the door open or unlock. It would be really amazing to simply say a little phrase and log on to my computer or any computer for that matter with all of my stuff. I know that in the school setting (especially at the beginning of the year) when my class goes to the lab I have a hand full of kids that do not know their passwords or log in names, or they use their friends log in because they have lost their computer privileges, it would be so much easier if they had voice print identification, thumb print identification to log on to the system. However, it does scare me to think that my DNA might be used to log me into a system. It makes me a little uneasy for that information to be out there.

It is really difficult for me to decide what my favorite activity was from this class, but since I have to choose, I would say the website. I found it to be the most applicable to me at this moment. I love the ease with which you can create a website. Now that I know how to do it I have shown a number of colleagues how to create websites for their classes. It is so much easier to create a website as a means for disseminating information. I simply put the information for a class on the website and email parents or students the link.

I love how easy it is to edit and change the website. I go to my site just about every day now. It is so much fun and I have found that it saves me a lot of time. I use to get a lot of questions from parents about track and indoor track (honestly questions that did not take long to answer but still replying to phone calls and emails does take time). Now, I email the parent(s) a link to the website. I can spend more time teaching and coaching and less time answering emails. If you are like me you get a ridiculous amount of emails a day and I can spend an hour or more just replying to emails.

Week 12

Google Docs Office Suites

I really liked this application. I found it to be very much like Word as far as word processing goes. However, I did not see a grammar check in the tools. Many of my students are used to the red and green squiggles that indicate that there is a problem. I have found, though, that sometimes the grammar check with Word is not necessarily correct. I really liked that they could share the document with others. As a teacher, I always get the excuse, “I saved it last night, but today when I tried to bring it up it was gone.” With the “share” function students can share documents with others (like their teacher) so finding it or recovering documents may be easier. I am often surprised at how many students do not have Word on their computers. They often have some sort of word processer that my computer is not set up to run. With Google Documents, as long as you have Internet access, you can access the processor. I know that many students do not have the Internet at home, but most can have access through other venues. They could go to the library, stay after school, or go to a friend’s house. This tool would also be valuable for those of us that co-teach. There is a function that allows multiple users to edit the document. Tests and quizzes could be shared and altered easily, and from anywhere. I would recommend this application to both colleagues and students. However, I would not recommend it as the sole word processor for our district.

Picnik Image Editing

I really liked Picnik. I thought that it was very similar to Iphoto. I am not really into photography; I honestly only use Iphoto to store photos. I am sure that this is not the best use for this tool. I did share this application with my students, many of whom had not used this or other imaging editors. Many of the students found it fun to alter photos and add different effects. Most of the students wanted the website so they could play with this application at home. I would not recommend this application for our staff because we already have Iphoto on the MacBooks that the district bought for us. I would recommend this application for students that do not already have an image editing tool.

Week 12 Reading Response

This week’s reading, Chapter 30: Using Rich Media Wisely, gave some excellent advice about using media to assist in teaching. I teach special education, and I often need to find media to relay the information to students. I use the media as an alternative delivery method because many of my students have extreme reading disabilities. Many of the subjects that I teach are required courses and they have a required curriculum. I have tried to simply read the text to the students and I have found students lose interest. I have found that I have had much more success when I have find short video clips or PowerPoint presentations to deliver the information. I never make the PowerPoint too elaborate (add music or animations). The PowerPoints that I have developed generally contain a few words with pictures. I use the Microsoft reader to have the text read to the students.

Another aid I use to teach students with disabilities are short movie clips. Prior to reading this chapter, I simply would search for movie clips that related to topics being covered in class. I never gave thought to how the clips were put together. I will definitely be more cognizant of the types of clips I choose. I will look for clips that do not have distracting music or other factors that may actually detract from students’ ability to learn.

My Website

http://sites.google.com/site/courgartrackclub/

This was really fun after I was able to work out some bugs with my computer.  I really think that this could be a useful tool for the classroom and in many other areas of life and business.

Week 10 Response Chapter 27

I feel that I have a number of areas of strength and a few weaknesses from the list of competencies from chapter 27. As a Special Education teacher, effective communication is extremely important. If I were not an effective communicator I would not have lasted as long as I have in this field. I must be able to communicate with students, teachers, parents and administrators with a number of media. I must be able to communicate effectively through writing, and verbally as well. Another area I feel that I am strong in is developing and monitoring a strategic plan. This is special education. I develop goals and objectives for students with special needs. Then I have to plan how students can meet those goals and objectives. Next, I must develop strategies to aide in the students’ successful completion of these objectives.

I did feel almost embarrassed when reading about organizational skills. I do have a method to my madness but it is extremely inefficient. Because I am so unorganized, many projects take me longer to complete. I often spend large portions of time organizing my materials. If I could maintain this organization, I would increase my productivity and reduce my stress.

I wish that I were better at developing instructional material. As a special education teacher I am often asked to teach classes for which I do not have curricular mastery. I am often learning the course material (at times) the day before the students are learning the material. It is extremely difficult to develop instructional materials if you do not have great knowledge of the curriculum being taught.

How to Set up a Blog with Blogger.com

This is something that I plan to do with my students for our next big project. They will use a blog to create a time line of the progressive ear. To do this they will need to know how to set up the blog. I plan on making all of them watch this quick tutorial then I will help those students that truly need my help.

Reading Response Week 10

I have come to notice through the readings and through discussing with colleagues, professors, friends and family members there are a number of similarities between higher education, business and p-12 education. In my opinion, teamwork is the most glaring similarity and essential for success. It is extremely difficult to run a school, college or business if there is not a system in place that determines or directs how it’s members will work and interact with one another. In business if there is not a common language or structure for the working of teams then the business stands to lose money. In higher education and p-12 educations are more or less businesses. Though they will not lose money per say but they can lose students, qualified teachers or prospective students.

Last week we had our biweekly staff meeting. I walked in the Library looked at the sea of tired, and weary teachers, ready for the weekend (and not in the mood for the meeting). I knew that most of them were thinking the same thing I was…. “Why do we do this to ourselves. What in the world is the point in these meetings?” This is truly what went through my mind. Then our principal began to talk about some of the major hurdles that we were going to face in the coming weeks, month and year. As I have mentioned in many of my post we had a bond passed and with this we have been given a lot of technology but we have been having a number of roadblocks along the way. He used this as an example of what we as teachers must do with our students. He said this is a problem and it is in need of some creative thought and some temporary solutions. He then began to explain that if we cannot work though these technology set back how can we ask our students to. He explained that colleges have concerns about the students that are coming out of high school. They fear that they are not given proficient enough at solving problems. The he explained that in the business world they are looking for people that are problem solvers. As he talked I began to perk up because it was almost as if he was talking to me and about some of the things we have learned about during the reading. Problem solving is a major component of p-12 education, higher education and in the business world. It makes perfect sense. The business world has always had a major impact on what we teach in schools. Businesses inform colleges what students need to be ready for the work place. Higher education then develops curriculum that addresses the businesses concerns. Colleges notice the shortcomings of students that come to the universities. They in turn let schools know where the schools seem to be lacking. The slowest to changes is the p-12 education. According to my Principal it takes longer for change to occur in schools then in any other profession.

Reading Response Week 9

While reading Chapter 21 in the Trends and Issues In Instructional Design Second Edition By Robert A. Reiser and John V. Dempsey first section, Piecemeal vs. Systemic Change, really stuck out at me…mostly because I had no idea what either of these were until I read this part of the chapter. I understand why we have both types of change. Sometimes we only need to change a few things about a current system and all will be well. Other times no amount of tinkering will fix a broken system. I have dealt with both types and both can be difficult. When looking at the two types it would seem like Piecemeal would be the easier one to deal with but that is not always the case. Sometimes people do not want to make concessions and would rather die than have their system changed, even in the slightest.

After reading the first section, I found myself reading and then rereading the section Guidance System for Transforming Education. I found this section intriguing because it stated when a district engages in systemic change they should focus on the process. I would think that you would focus on the problem. After further thought it became clear that focusing on the problem may actually hurt the goal of creating change. That is likely do to the emotions that generally are brought in when teachers, students, administrators are asked to change. Think about any meeting you have ever been in. When ever change is proposed or mandated someone in the room will likely complain about it. Not just a snide comment but usually there is an eruption of emotions. If we can focus on the process to create the change or the process that the change will occur we may be able to avoid the emotional tirades that in all actuality do not help the situation, they only add to the discomfort.