Teacher's Machine vs. Student's Machine

After reading the chapter in our book, Teaching and Learning, Whose Computer Is It?, I began to question how I use the computer for my students. I do control what websites the students visit and which skills to teach. During snacktime, I let my students listen to storylineonline.net to promote literacy yet it also serves as crowd control and a boredom eliminator. Wow! I am pleased I've integrated technology to teach students skills and reinforce concepts. I do encourage research as well. Is a webquest a teacher tool or student based? I think it touches upon both. Should students create webquests? I think not, but are there better ways I can be allowing my students to use the computer (in first grade) in a safe way. Hmm. It leaves me with something to think about. Any suggestions?

Internet-Linked Book

To help my group create our webquest, I came across a book that I've owned but have not yet used. It is called The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World-Internet Linked. It offers Usborne-recommended web sites to take you further into the subject in an interactive and fun way. The book is also a vibrant source of information as well. The book allows you to travel from continent to continent and explore and get to know the people of the area including their cultures, beliefs, homes, jobs, traditions, etc. Each page of information offers an internet link to valuable information including slide shows, virtual tours, etc. (Leslie and Kate, the following will help us. Try to check it out before our next class so we can use some of the sites for our webquest.) For example, when learning about the Rainforest peoples, you can read the page and then visit the website http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com/usa/usa_homepage.asp. Enter the key word peoples for links to:
website 1: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/education/teachers/curriculum/brazil/slideshow/index.html It offers slideshows and other information for grades k-8. Click on the Learning Site Home to begin navigating. (Leslie and Kate, I thought this would be helpful to the creation of our webquest.)
Website 2: http://www.eduweb.com/amazon.html .
Website 3 wouldn't attach for some reason and I couldn't open it up. It has a video. (If anyone sees it, let me know how it is and if it would be useful in an elementary classroom.)

Does anyone have any experience with internet linked texts such as this one? The book seems to balance old and new literacies. I'd love to know if there are anymore out there like this one. Also, if anyone is interested in seeing the book, I'll have it in class on Tuesday.

Response to Dewey and Technology and Using the Web to Support Inquiry Based Literacy Development

Not having none much about John Dewey, I was interested in reading his philosophy of education: learning by doing. It is our personal experiences that allow us to find meaning in those experiences. I am not sure that Dewey would feel that the computer is a substitue for a different mode of learning but an additional resource or opportunity to have new and purposeful experiences. Dewey would approve of the use of technology as long as we used it in meaningful ways, such as inquiry based units. The cycle of inquiry begins with asking, and moves around to investigating, creating, discussing, and reflecting. This type of literacy development allows students to take ownership of their learning, while the teacher guides them in asking the appropriate questions to foster deeper levels of thinking and comprehension. Teachers can integrate curriculum areas to this form of learning. In turn, the students will first hand experience learning and construct their own meaning of the new acquired information. Amazing! But at what grade level would we begin doing this? Many of the inquiry based units began with middle school students to the college level. I am consistently trying to take the new ideas I've learned and adjust them to meet the needs of my first grade students.

Last, I've been chewing on the following statement from the reading. "Many have trouble connecting what they know of their learning process, or the experiences from their own teaching with the canonical articles and theories they are given in university courses." Are teachers 'struggling' to integrate new theories into their classrooms? Will we ever be "caught up" in the current trends in educations? Just when I am comfortable using technology in my classroom, what new theories will present themselves? I enjoy learning new theories and furthering my education for myself and my students, but will us educators fully have our head above water? Probably not...if we're dedicated.

Internet Frustrations!

I've been on board with the use of technology as a means of communication. However, today, leaves me feeling frustrated with how much we rely on the internet. I've been having difficulties with my wireless service on my laptop. When writing a lengthy reply to a scavenger hunt, I was booted offline! This was done after four hours of technical work on my computer because it wouldn't start. I rely on this computer to communicate for class and share my knowledge and learn. Because of my computer, I've had an unproductive day! If I'd simply been working on word, I wouldn't have had these problems! In the classroom, we must be prepared for situations like I had today! I think there is still something to be said for traditional literacies: reliable and still meaningful (because of best teaching practices). Not only to we need to learn how to explore the worldwide web, but do we need to learn the technical aspects of our computers and internet to ensure success and productivity? I am sorry for all the exclaimation points, but you can imagine my frustration. Has anyone encountered any frustrations such as this in concern with our class or in the classroom?

My Pride and Joy

Hi All! Now the videos to the right are my bragging rights as a proud aunt! There are two videos of my nieces; Abby, my 7 month old niece is roller girl. Hannah, my 3 year old niece is starring in "She'll go to heaven." My sister and her children live in New York and I am not fortunate to see them often. But with the use of technology, I am able to watch them grow and view those small, proud moments. Technology is a useful form of communication and a meaningful way to remain current and updated. And although it is not a cure for motivation and teaching children how to read, it sure is engaging and enjoyable!

E-Portfolios

The most meaningful aspect to portfolios is the reflection piece. Because of portfolios, students are not just submitting a project to meet a deadline (as I certainly did in my high school years) but taking the time to examine the purpose. The most learning that I've experience occured when I took the time to reflect on my teaching and graduate work projects. For teachers of the higher grades, students are able to manage their portfolio independently while the teacher can comment electronically. But I am wondering how to manage an electronic portfolio in first grade. Currently, I select student work. I have in the past had students keep a writing portfolio. It is extremely time consuming and I found it hard to manage student-teacher conferences with all to the teaching content I had to get through. Rubrics work well though. Any suggestions? But from our readings, what I found to be most useful to me were the templates to produce web-publishable mulitmedia projects. I can create alphabet books and various slide shows. From experience, some the best learning that took place in my classroom were collaborative internet research projects. After such work, the students could create a slide show as a culminating project! Wow! The resources are endless. After the completion of such a project, individual students can reflect through conversation or written work as to what they learned, why the choose the topic covered and question what else they may want to know about the topic. Anyway, I am curious to hear how other teachers manage and use portfolios with their students.

Freedom Writers

AHH! You have to check out that Freedom Writers Website. Erin, the teacher, is an inspiration! She's made me realize how important it is to TRULY get to know and understand your students. It's also important that they get to know you. This will create a comfortable and open-minded classroom. I never knew my teachers personally. Reading about Regina's life allowed me to know her better, and appreciate, respect, and value her. We should do the same for our students. Cool website! I may have to get the book, even though I am not a high school teacher.

Two points I'd like to touch upon after reading The Importance of Recognizing the Expanding Boundaries of Literacy.

1. When signing into my blog tonight, I did not know how to at first. I actually thought that simply visiting my webpage allowed me to add and edit my page. Well, I found out I had to sign in and it didn't work initially. After exploration, I was able to sign in under the newer version section. Through trial and error, I was also able to add pictures. What fun! Tara, from the article, through her internet exploration was able to create a great presentation for her class. I am glad to be doing the same as many of our students.

2. "Teachers who want to signify acceptance and valuing of their students' everyday literacy practices are best able to do so by demonstrating an understanding of the literacies that form an important part of students' lives. Lack of knowledge about IM, avatars, activeworlds, text messaging, MP3 downloads, and the like distances teachers from the students they want to reach." What a profound point! It is important to balance the literacy in school and the literacy in their everyday lives so that students value the importance of reading and contructing meaning on their own no matter where they are! Isn't that the goal of educators, to promote reading and engage students in higher levels of thinking ,so that students reach their potential? Well, technology is the new way!

New literacies

I considered myself fairly well-versed on the current technologies. Well, I was wrong after reading the article on digital natives. What is modding? I couldn't tell you. But I have learned that many of the new literacites include hypertext, smartboard, e-mail, text messaging, blogs, webquests, search engines, and even those neat little blackberries! All of these new literacy technologies should remain significant to teachers because today's child uses them to read, write, and communicate (effectively). Therefore, it is important for us, as educators, to adjust our ways of teaching children. I am already training my mind to think in new technological ways as I am with this new blogging thing. Well, not knowing where to begin, I decided to send myself a blog. How thrilling! :) But since it is on a website that is open to all, I am hoping for a response. Are students continuousy waiting for a response to their blogs, waiting to be heard when sometimes their voices aren't enough? It provides an outlet for students and adults alike for learning, expressing one's self, and enjoyment. It allows us to take quiet risks without the fear of failure. Now think, if it reaches student on the enjoyment level, let's reach them through this mode and further educate them!