Wrap Up: Professionally: Word, Power Point, Basic Microsoft (Word, Excel, Power Point), how to Research. Socially: Online banking, e-mail, IM, facebook, blogs, and Itunes.
Work Ethic: God has been taken out of all civil life. There are no longer standards or consequences for doing wrong. Children are no longer allowed to fail as it will cause horrible damage to them. Children are constantly rescued. Parents not teaching values to build character. Parents not giving children an Anchor. Kids must learn about other cultures to have a World view. Ugly Americans.
I agree....When a nation's focus, money and attention, becomes Sports and failed athletes...What is left? Guess we have learned nothing from the cultures of Greece and Rome.
Thank you soooo much for helping with this project for my class. I actually will be making a blog to be used outside of school by the staff of my building. A way of getting to know the new teachers and for us 'oldies' a way to remind us of why we got into teaching. It will be a place of positive Encouragement.. I now see a 'bigger picture' in the world of computers. Mucho Gracias!
July 22, 2008
July 21, 2008
Software Absolutely Needed
Cell Phones Win????
In your opinions, which software do you use the most in your professional life? (This includes being a student.)
Which do you use most in your social circles?
These questions are based on the premise of what should schools be focusing on teaching for the future? Education is focused so much on relevancy. The society of children that come in my classroom are only willing to do as 'little' as they can to pass the project and get the grade. 'Why do I have to do this part??' 'Is that on the test?' I find that sneaks into my thinking when I am in a class and workshop. The work ethic is vastly disappearing from our Culture.
A friend of mine just visited the inside of Cheyenne Mountain recently. The tour guide said that a facility of this type probably could NOT be built today. The Engineers that are graduating today do NOT have the skills to build it.....that's SCARY! Is the computer contributing to this kind of thinking? OR Is our Culture just NOT instilling a healthy work ethic in their children??? Are children so use to having everything handed to them that they are 'lazy to the bone'?
OOPPSS! That's not fair....I gave you more questions than the original 2. Still could you give me a short answer to the others? I would be interested.
In your opinions, which software do you use the most in your professional life? (This includes being a student.)
Which do you use most in your social circles?
These questions are based on the premise of what should schools be focusing on teaching for the future? Education is focused so much on relevancy. The society of children that come in my classroom are only willing to do as 'little' as they can to pass the project and get the grade. 'Why do I have to do this part??' 'Is that on the test?' I find that sneaks into my thinking when I am in a class and workshop. The work ethic is vastly disappearing from our Culture.
A friend of mine just visited the inside of Cheyenne Mountain recently. The tour guide said that a facility of this type probably could NOT be built today. The Engineers that are graduating today do NOT have the skills to build it.....that's SCARY! Is the computer contributing to this kind of thinking? OR Is our Culture just NOT instilling a healthy work ethic in their children??? Are children so use to having everything handed to them that they are 'lazy to the bone'?
OOPPSS! That's not fair....I gave you more questions than the original 2. Still could you give me a short answer to the others? I would be interested.
July 20, 2008
What could you live without???
I began social blogging when Deb Hash sent me hers. She said that it was easy to set up and it might be fun. I had a myspace that I have let gone dormant and only use the blog 2 to 3 times a month. I tend to write too much and would like to get use to doing it with shorter entries more times a month. I have sent my URL to other friends but they leave few comments. I read my daughter's and son in law's regularly.
Question for July 20 -- What could you NOT live without? The Computer? or Your Cell Phone?
Why?
Thanks again for your comments.....Feel free to comment on any of the days that you missed July 17-20.
Question for July 20 -- What could you NOT live without? The Computer? or Your Cell Phone?
Why?
Thanks again for your comments.....Feel free to comment on any of the days that you missed July 17-20.
July 19, 2008
A WIKI????
Wiki comes from the Hawaiian word 'wiki-wiki' which means 'quick'. We are familiar with Wikipedia which is an encyclopedia that is attempting to store the 'sum of human knowledge'. The founder, Jimmy Wales (2004) said, "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we are doing." All people are invited to add to the knowledge of human kind.
Educator's have a problem with the accuracy of the facts that are added to a particular subject, the originators answer '....that there are vastly more editors that want to make it right than those who want to make it wrong.' If there is inaccurate postings, someone else can go in and dispute giving the correct information. If there is vandalism to the postings, There is a page history where these individuals can be located or you can block them from your site. Most educators will accept the Wikipedia as one source but not the primary source.
I have chosen to make a Private posting on my wiki. It will only allow the people that I have invited to post. The subject matter is The Art of Teaching and it is primarily made up of teachers that have taught or are teaching at Carson.
Wiki's are in my opinion less user friendly to the originator = me. My opinion was colored in that beginning a wiki was more difficult. Where a blog had a 1, 2, 3 step process the wiki did not. There was a webinar (presentation) which took 3 hours to download to my old computer. With the webinar and talking to my instructor, I held my breath and jump in. Once it is begun, it is like a blog in the entry process, availability to be a public or private wiki, or easily accessed. I will not continue subscribing to the PBwiki since after the 2 month free trial there is a cost per month. It has been interesting and challenging to learn this process. A Digital Immigrant can continue to learn. Would I have learned about wiki's on my own, most likely not. It is more applicable for the High School level because of the restrictions on the Internet applied by our School District.
Question for today July 19 -- How, why did you start you own social blog on blogspot?
Educator's have a problem with the accuracy of the facts that are added to a particular subject, the originators answer '....that there are vastly more editors that want to make it right than those who want to make it wrong.' If there is inaccurate postings, someone else can go in and dispute giving the correct information. If there is vandalism to the postings, There is a page history where these individuals can be located or you can block them from your site. Most educators will accept the Wikipedia as one source but not the primary source.
I have chosen to make a Private posting on my wiki. It will only allow the people that I have invited to post. The subject matter is The Art of Teaching and it is primarily made up of teachers that have taught or are teaching at Carson.
Wiki's are in my opinion less user friendly to the originator = me. My opinion was colored in that beginning a wiki was more difficult. Where a blog had a 1, 2, 3 step process the wiki did not. There was a webinar (presentation) which took 3 hours to download to my old computer. With the webinar and talking to my instructor, I held my breath and jump in. Once it is begun, it is like a blog in the entry process, availability to be a public or private wiki, or easily accessed. I will not continue subscribing to the PBwiki since after the 2 month free trial there is a cost per month. It has been interesting and challenging to learn this process. A Digital Immigrant can continue to learn. Would I have learned about wiki's on my own, most likely not. It is more applicable for the High School level because of the restrictions on the Internet applied by our School District.
Question for today July 19 -- How, why did you start you own social blog on blogspot?
Which Do You Use More?
I find that I only learn something new on the computer if I am required to do so. This course has stretched me the most lately. I do remember the week before I took over the Computer Class at Carson I thought, "My God, what have I done?????" That first year all I could do was to keep 1/2 of a project ahead of the students. I am glad that I was still teaching Choir at the time and
only had 3 classes of Computer. I have always told my students that I am a 'life long' learner and learn something new about the Computer EVERY DAY......I have had many students teach me new aspects of a software and the very first time of printing the old Excel software in 1995, a 6th grader taught the class and I how to print. Otherwise, their projects would be still waiting to print.
Please share whether you use the computer for more 'social' uses (e-mail, blogging, etc.) or if you use it more for your job. Why?
only had 3 classes of Computer. I have always told my students that I am a 'life long' learner and learn something new about the Computer EVERY DAY......I have had many students teach me new aspects of a software and the very first time of printing the old Excel software in 1995, a 6th grader taught the class and I how to print. Otherwise, their projects would be still waiting to print.
Please share whether you use the computer for more 'social' uses (e-mail, blogging, etc.) or if you use it more for your job. Why?
July 17, 2008
Learning New Skills
Great Comments! Thanks for taking the time....
I feel more like a Digital Immigrant still. When I want to learn a new skill, I am usually on the phone to my kids. Since I am a visual learner it is easier for me to be 'shown' how to do something new.
This class I am involved in is a real stretch for me. While I am familiar with the Blog format, it has been difficult to learn to create a Wiki on my own with the text book. I am now being forced to click on 'Help' and read or watch a Webinar provided by the company. While these and my instructor have help....it has been difficult not to have someone show me what to do.
The questions for today is: How do you learn a new skill on the computer? Why do you learn a new skill?
I feel more like a Digital Immigrant still. When I want to learn a new skill, I am usually on the phone to my kids. Since I am a visual learner it is easier for me to be 'shown' how to do something new.
This class I am involved in is a real stretch for me. While I am familiar with the Blog format, it has been difficult to learn to create a Wiki on my own with the text book. I am now being forced to click on 'Help' and read or watch a Webinar provided by the company. While these and my instructor have help....it has been difficult not to have someone show me what to do.
The questions for today is: How do you learn a new skill on the computer? Why do you learn a new skill?
July 15, 2008
Digital Native? Digital Immigrant? Digital Illegal Alien?
Today begins my professional blog. Here I will muse about computers, middle schoolers and tech education.
I have been taking a Graduate Course about Weblogs, Wikis and Podcasting. I have come to realize that my 'students' will become the Superintendent, School Board, Administration, and fellow colleagues, as well as myself. So begins this journey of learning together.
In my text, the author describes Mark Prensky's two approaches to the computer. One is being a Digital Native. A Digital Native is someone who has ...'grown up immersed in technology'. Since both of my children have been schooled since 1989, they are termed Natives. They are well versed in '....using the computer, digital cameras, cell phones, text messaging, Internet, Weblogs, and Podcasting...'. Computers have '....become the strategy for how to live, survive and thrive in the 21st century....'.
Digital Immigrants have NOT been surround by technology. They carry '.... accents: they [still] print out their e-mails, write checks to pay their bills, and use phone books to look up phone numbers....'. If you were in college before 1993 you can remember type writers, home phone land-lines, and car mechanics 'tinkering' under the hood. Who do you call when you can't figure something out on your computer or cell phone????? YOUR CHILDREN......the Natives.
My allergist just added another category: the Digital Illegal Alien. This person tries and miserably fails in all they attempt. Some, as my parents age 87 and 92, won't even attempt and are fascinated to 'watch' on the side lines.
So, please comment: What category are you in? How do you think you can move to the Digital Native or at least a Semi-Native category?
I have been taking a Graduate Course about Weblogs, Wikis and Podcasting. I have come to realize that my 'students' will become the Superintendent, School Board, Administration, and fellow colleagues, as well as myself. So begins this journey of learning together.
In my text, the author describes Mark Prensky's two approaches to the computer. One is being a Digital Native. A Digital Native is someone who has ...'grown up immersed in technology'. Since both of my children have been schooled since 1989, they are termed Natives. They are well versed in '....using the computer, digital cameras, cell phones, text messaging, Internet, Weblogs, and Podcasting...'. Computers have '....become the strategy for how to live, survive and thrive in the 21st century....'.
Digital Immigrants have NOT been surround by technology. They carry '.... accents: they [still] print out their e-mails, write checks to pay their bills, and use phone books to look up phone numbers....'. If you were in college before 1993 you can remember type writers, home phone land-lines, and car mechanics 'tinkering' under the hood. Who do you call when you can't figure something out on your computer or cell phone????? YOUR CHILDREN......the Natives.
My allergist just added another category: the Digital Illegal Alien. This person tries and miserably fails in all they attempt. Some, as my parents age 87 and 92, won't even attempt and are fascinated to 'watch' on the side lines.
So, please comment: What category are you in? How do you think you can move to the Digital Native or at least a Semi-Native category?
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