Learning how the internet can make an impact on the way we "can" deliver curriculum, has had a major implication on how I deliver concepts, as a result of what I have learned in this class. I think that I have certainly gained quite an enormous amount of information that will be quite useful for the students I work with.
In this day and age, the young people are more technologically prepared as they grew up with the development of the computer age. They are more willing to take risks and are intriqued by the activities they can do on-line. Tools that they can use to communicate with their peers is one of the major tools that the youth have used. Messenger and Bebo are the two most common programs that have been used by our students in our school. Although these communication programs are useful in assisting youth, there comes another problem.
This problem is the issue of cyberbullying, this matter, although not taken seriously by staff in my school, it has had a negative impact with the students. As well students are not aware of the serious legal issues that they can face. Another matter that's important to for students to understand is the deragatory terms they use for their user name. How can a program allow negativity like this?
Critical Literacy is the skill that students need to carefully evaluate any program's validity and it's usefulness in accomplishing their objective. Students need to be taught these skills so that they are well informed in the way they choose to use the internet and it's tools.
The Web 2.0 tools will make a significant impact on the way the students can be more successful in their learning. It provides a tool for the educator to use in the delivery of education. Students are already interested in the computer and the internet. Getting them ready for the future implications of how the internet is developing and the many ways they can utilize it is of most importance.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
What Have I Learned?
Well one thing for sure, if not a few! I have learned a whole new way of utilizing the computer with the help of Web 2.0 tools. I have created wikis, blogs, twitter, & voicethreads to enhance my delivery of educational concepts in the most motivating, if not in a captivating way! This is the way of learning! I just found out on Friday that I will be teaching the grade nine's computer skills. I can't wait! With what I have learned in this short span of time, I can truly say that I can utilize the skills that I have learned in this class with the grade nines.
One of the most frustrating things that I encountered in this class is not being able to fully put 100% of my potential into what I could have done. Now that this class is over I can find the time to do work. I have been alone for the passed couple of days and I have had the opportunity to thoroughly go over the final project of one of the other participants in the class. I guess I like to see other peoples work and enjoy what they have created.
I will have to be more of a risk taker, as I became afraid to download stuff when my computer crashed or perhaps purchase a better software to get rid of viruses. My computer is still in the computer hospital, hopefully my pictures can at least be saved. I guess that was one terrible experience for me during this course.
I am going to try out the PD with the staff and see who's interested: 23 things. I like to get everybody on board as I can see that there is alot of potential to deliver courses to students who can't come to school due to personal circumstances.
It would be another way to keep in touch with those students who have left the community to be with family away at university. Lots and lots of things that can be done to make learning fun, interesting, and meaningful. Those are the things that I have learned in this class.
One of the most frustrating things that I encountered in this class is not being able to fully put 100% of my potential into what I could have done. Now that this class is over I can find the time to do work. I have been alone for the passed couple of days and I have had the opportunity to thoroughly go over the final project of one of the other participants in the class. I guess I like to see other peoples work and enjoy what they have created.
I will have to be more of a risk taker, as I became afraid to download stuff when my computer crashed or perhaps purchase a better software to get rid of viruses. My computer is still in the computer hospital, hopefully my pictures can at least be saved. I guess that was one terrible experience for me during this course.
I am going to try out the PD with the staff and see who's interested: 23 things. I like to get everybody on board as I can see that there is alot of potential to deliver courses to students who can't come to school due to personal circumstances.
It would be another way to keep in touch with those students who have left the community to be with family away at university. Lots and lots of things that can be done to make learning fun, interesting, and meaningful. Those are the things that I have learned in this class.
Critical Friend Review
Wow! Although I haven't had a chance to look at everybodies final projects, I had an opportunity to be a critical friend for one of the other Master-to-be's project. I was so mesmerized by what she did in her project. Her project certainly fits in with what she's doing right now. I could sense the passion she has to teach these students and the enormous research she probably did to find resources befitting for the learning capabilities of her students. I can't comment her enough other than say to her: "Excellent job! If I were the instructor in this course, you'd totally get a "you knocked my socks off, mark" (Dr. Friesen).
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Reflection, reflection, reflection....
I am just so strapped for time! I am trying my best to do what is expected of me but I can no longer keep up. I have had no time to create those wonderful projects that I so wished I could. I am just reminscing about last Spring when Dr. Herman Michel said that there will be obstacles and challenges to overcome while in this program (Masters). I really believe it now! Just got back from 3 busy days in Skt'n with my four high school boys who went to compete at the Science Fair. The seniors won second and the Intermediate level got 1st! Now am awaiting to go to Skt'n again for my baby boy's potential surgery on Wednesday. My boy is 15 but he's still a baby to me. I am just trying to relay some of my hardships so that people understand why I simply don't have the time to respond to your blogs and other projects you have posted, unlike myself I am glad that other students are on track and doing well (just a general statement for everybody out there) I promise that when things are a bit peaceful in my life that I will catch up with you someday and maybe a bit more of a collaborator.
My presentation on-line is abit short but otherwise a presentation. My major project is not what I expected, there's a lot of static in my voice and not a whole lot of resources that I wished I could have included. Now I am just trying to figure out how to invite respondents to comment on the questions I asked. I did one English version and one Cree version, in hopes that maybe an Elder could just comment on how he/she understands the translation of the Medicine Wheel.
I am currently still trying to record my voice in the other slides but I am having technical problems, somebody ruined my ear and mike set,hopefully I can get a set tomorrow.
Well everybody wish me luck on my assignments.
My presentation on-line is abit short but otherwise a presentation. My major project is not what I expected, there's a lot of static in my voice and not a whole lot of resources that I wished I could have included. Now I am just trying to figure out how to invite respondents to comment on the questions I asked. I did one English version and one Cree version, in hopes that maybe an Elder could just comment on how he/she understands the translation of the Medicine Wheel.
I am currently still trying to record my voice in the other slides but I am having technical problems, somebody ruined my ear and mike set,hopefully I can get a set tomorrow.
Well everybody wish me luck on my assignments.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Block Seven Reflection
I was going through the 23 things PD options and was amazed how this would be effective for my colleagues or anybody else for that matter. I was trying some out with my 17 year old son and he was very interested I had to drag him away from the computer so I could continue with what I was doing. The blog I am following is in the Fischbowl, and funny thing was he had a post in 23 things.
I was truly amazed by the speed of technology, I could never had fathom that this would happen. While on that same topic I evaluated where my school was in this technology speed and I was truly disappointed at the stage we are in. We have very little access to computers for our students at the school, only those high school students who are taking Info Pro, Journalism are the ones only allowed to use the computers. None of the classrooms have a computer, never mind an internet connection. Even I don't have an internet connection in my office and I'm supposed to be a Career and Guidance Counsellor. You can see where we are at in my school. Three of the staff members have brand new computers and guess what? they have no idea how to use it! They also have an internet connection, with absolutely no use for it. I guess you can tell I'm frustrated with this topic, but what can I do?
Well, no matter I'll get around the obstacles that are thrown my way.
Getting back to my reflection I think that alot of staff are willing to learn about the uses of the computer, but are not given that chance, I am sure that I can provide a PD for them utilizing '23 things' it simple and they can work at their own speed. I have confidence that they'll be willing to learn and that they could in turn utilize these tools for the students benefit.
There will need to be alot of negotiating done though to get those bosses to understand that we are shortchanging our students by not providring them with the technological skills that they need. I am beginning to wonder if they realize that most of our students don't succeed in post-secondary because they might be shortskilled in the technology area.
I was truly amazed by the speed of technology, I could never had fathom that this would happen. While on that same topic I evaluated where my school was in this technology speed and I was truly disappointed at the stage we are in. We have very little access to computers for our students at the school, only those high school students who are taking Info Pro, Journalism are the ones only allowed to use the computers. None of the classrooms have a computer, never mind an internet connection. Even I don't have an internet connection in my office and I'm supposed to be a Career and Guidance Counsellor. You can see where we are at in my school. Three of the staff members have brand new computers and guess what? they have no idea how to use it! They also have an internet connection, with absolutely no use for it. I guess you can tell I'm frustrated with this topic, but what can I do?
Well, no matter I'll get around the obstacles that are thrown my way.
Getting back to my reflection I think that alot of staff are willing to learn about the uses of the computer, but are not given that chance, I am sure that I can provide a PD for them utilizing '23 things' it simple and they can work at their own speed. I have confidence that they'll be willing to learn and that they could in turn utilize these tools for the students benefit.
There will need to be alot of negotiating done though to get those bosses to understand that we are shortchanging our students by not providring them with the technological skills that they need. I am beginning to wonder if they realize that most of our students don't succeed in post-secondary because they might be shortskilled in the technology area.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Block Six Reflection
My goodness! I am just worried now about my prior work, did I use authentic sites to quote my sources?
I was just discussing this concept with the vice-principal who thinks that it is important to teach the students critical literacy. I can attest to that since I see alot of students come through my Info Pro classes with very limited skills. This might be due to the fact that there is very little time for computers in the middle years.
I am just so amazed at the extensiveness of computer knowledge. "How do we determine authority and relevancy on the Internet?"(B.Ricketts, 2001). Students must be taught to carefully scrutinize the sites they are accessing on-line. I never gave this much thought, so I guess this was my "aha" moment.
As the article: Developing Critical Literacy Skills for the Internet, we must equip students students with a wide range of skills; locating, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing the vast amounts of information available. Traditionally, teachers had to do this for the student by selecting relevant materials for their classes, now that is impossible as there are a multitude of sites that will appear once you begin your search. Knowing the 'know-how' of how to do a research is very important as one doesn't want thousands of infornmation to go through in the search engine.
I was just discussing this concept with the vice-principal who thinks that it is important to teach the students critical literacy. I can attest to that since I see alot of students come through my Info Pro classes with very limited skills. This might be due to the fact that there is very little time for computers in the middle years.
I am just so amazed at the extensiveness of computer knowledge. "How do we determine authority and relevancy on the Internet?"(B.Ricketts, 2001). Students must be taught to carefully scrutinize the sites they are accessing on-line. I never gave this much thought, so I guess this was my "aha" moment.
As the article: Developing Critical Literacy Skills for the Internet, we must equip students students with a wide range of skills; locating, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing the vast amounts of information available. Traditionally, teachers had to do this for the student by selecting relevant materials for their classes, now that is impossible as there are a multitude of sites that will appear once you begin your search. Knowing the 'know-how' of how to do a research is very important as one doesn't want thousands of infornmation to go through in the search engine.
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