Outlandish article!

http://naesp.typepad.com/blog/2007/08/computers-in-th.html (this is the site I found the article on)

http://www.naesp.org/ContentLoad.do?contentId=2277 (here is the actual article)

This is a disappointing step backward in a crusade toward technological advancement and familiarity for all students and the future of humanity. Sure, the article is only trying to illuminate the disadvantages that introducing technology into the classroom confers, but its arguments are absurd. They argue that some children lack access to computers and cannot complete assignments, however, this is the reason to allow them time to absorb material and to familiarize themselves with computers. We are hoping to level the playing field and offer everyone an equal advantage and as much instruction as can be offered. This is no excuse to deny anyone their right to an equitable education.

At one point the authors mention that “rapid changes in computer hardware and software are likely to make the 'new' equipment obsolete before the teachers and technology staff can get them to work properly. ” The reality is that everyone who purchases any technology arrives at their home and unpacks an obsolete machine. This does not lessen its value, for the rest of humanity is likely using similar (or even older) equipment (if any!). The educational value still lies within obsolescent technology, and it will be so for years to come.

Another of the absurd arguments put forth by the authors of this article is the blaming of chat rooms for the “increase in racist and sexist remarks”. As children are indicating that their language is just an extention of the discussions they are having in "unmonitored" chatrooms. If it isn’t computers, television will be blamed, or movies, or music, etc. We’ve seen this argument many times before, confronting every medium. The truth is, children will access this information from the media, or vicariously through their peers, who have accessed the media. We do not live in a social vacuum and cannot isolate ourselves from the negative influences that exist around us - perhaps the chat rooms should be monitored if frequented.

I found this article disappointing, and was surprised to find it written in 2007. Perhaps it would have been more enlightening if written 15 years prior to its publication date.

Technology-Enhanced Literature Circles

http://www.drscavanaugh.org/lit_cir/


What an idea that I hadn't previously thought of. This idea combines the unification of literature circles (a student centered cooperative learning reading activity for a group of four to six students at any grade level or subject area) with technological applications. Using technology applications, these enhancements require students to use technology tools such as search engines, paint programs, concept mapping software, and chat rooms. The site is broken up into the cogs I've pasted below, which serve as links to information:

Powerpoint tutorial website

http://www.actden.com/pp/index.htm

A phenomenal site that offers step by step instruction delivered in a talk show type format by animated characters Sue Special and Jim Jingle. The eight-unit tutorial shows K-12 teachers how to use PowerPoint to present many different forms of information. The animated characters demonstrate the basics on using PowerPoint's toolbars, laying out your information, saving, moving your information to the place you'll be presenting it - and much more. Great for introducing children to the program as well.

Problems encountered within PowerPoint

The only problem I've encountered with recording sound within PowerPoint is the poor quality that results. I have a pretty good microphone/headset combo, but the background noise is as bothersome as a fly in the ear...PowerPoint should focus on this aspect of the program and provide some better sound editing options as I haven't come across any(within PowerPoint) that can rectify this problem.

I have inserted short videos that I have taken with my camera into my presentation. I have discovered, after saving them to a Clip Drive and transferring them to another laptop, that the videos won't play!! So, it appears that video may also be lost in the transferral process! I hope the newer versions of this software (I am running 2003) have improved on such "weaknesses".

A bit more on visual/auditory learners (and others)

With regard to differentiated instruction, I make it a point to always search for various ways to teach spelling to my students. I have been experimenting with a concept I call the Wheel of Words which incorporates instructional activities that will reach multiple intelligences and the various learning styles that encompassed by these intelligences. I have constructed a few wheels that are mounted to a spinning device with an arrow - it looks similar to the wheel used on Wheel of Fortune, but(obviously) not nearly as large. I am able to interchange several wheels that I have made. On the wheels are different strategies that I have found that cater to multiple learning styles. For example, on one "Wheel of Words" there are 6 categories – Act It Out, I Sentence You, Word Pictures, Word Boxes, Take the Stairs, and Take a Trip. Act it out is a charades-like game. I Sentence You makes children compose sentences with the words and spell it at the end of the sentence. Word Boxes is entails tracing the shape of the words. Take the Stairs makes students use the last letter of the word to make the first letter of a new word in stair-like patterns. Take a Trip entails having students make word associations with the words. I have three of these Word Wheels and I find that children respond well to the novelty of them.

Reply to David's "Dazed and Confused" post

David,

I am beginning to relate with the confusion that you speak of. It seems that many websites marry podcasting and digital storytelling. Put simply, I think the difference is that digital storytelling incorporates pictures and captions, with or without audio, whereas podcasting is audio only (unless one is referring to Video Podcasting, in which case, the lines between podcasting and digital storytelling become even more blurred [Here I think the only difference would be the technology you choose to convey your story - [e.g] Ipods [video podcasting] vs. Powerpoint[digital storytelling]) From what I have read this is how I have come understand the difference. I hope this is correct and I hope this helps you out!

Dangers inherent in MySpace

http://www.colonialhts.net/internet_safety/Dangers_in_MySpace_AP_story_3-3-2006.pdf

http://www.colonialhts.net/internet_safety/MySpace_Your_Kids_2-6-2006.pdf

Watching these clips, I was reminded of a story I had heard on the radio while driving into work last week. Apparently a man in his forties, posing as a 20-something supermodel on Facebook (with pictures he had procured from the net) had "lured" many young girls, between the ages of 14 and 18, into taking nude pictures of themselves and sending them to him. Hearing of the dangers inherent in cyberspace just screams for more active monitoring of children's time on the internet. We see how sites that are a massive social phenomenon amongst today's youth become the stalking grounds of perverted pedophiles. Parents, teachers and administrators could block such sites from computers in schools and the classroom, however, there would always be a friend who's computer would be waiting afterschool. Also, with Blackberry and cell phone surfing, blocking the exposure of children to such sites becomes virtually impossible. If they want to be there, they will find a way. I feel that we simply have to prepare them for the dangers inherent in the sites that they visit. This should involve frank discussions where factual information and such stories as the one I had heard on the radio are shared and questioning by students is encouraged.

Reply to Michael

Hi Michael,With regard to your wondering about how to keep students focused and avoid their inclination to play around while on the computer, I think it is necessary to watch over them, while they are in school, and make sure they're using the blog page instead of surfing around. In addition, one could limit their access to additional programs (games) on the computer, by restricting such areas with password, or taking them off of the computer. As for monitoring at home, the blog itself should take care of that. Students will have to post in their blog and keep it up-to-date to earn their marks. If the work isn't being done, this will surely reflect in the quantity and quality of work that is displayed in their blog. How do these ideas sound as a start?

Problems with inserting sound

The only problem I've encountered with recording sound within PowerPoint is the poor quality that results. I have a pretty good microphone/headset combo, but the background noise is as bothersome as a fly in the ear...PowerPoint should focus on this aspect of the program and provide some better sound editing options as I haven't come across any(within PowerPoint) that can rectify this problem.

A plethora of PowerPoint material

http://www.rapides.k12.la.us/VI/PowerPointresources.htm

The Nebo school board has compiled a comprehensive list of presentations, ideas, templates and other "know-how" relating to PowerPoint. The PowerPoint shows for us (I wonder if this was meant to be "use" - the numerous other spelling errors on this page may persuade one to think so [However, don't let this sway you! Although the content is Americanized, there is some great stuff in here!!) In the Classroom link breaks down presentations by subject area. These presentations provide, if nothing else, some great photos and a lot of compiled material under specific headings that could save a teacher search time. This material can simply be "borrowed" or modified to suit one's own needs.