I've completed the course feedback survey, the university course evaluation, and I've checked my grades on blackboard - everything is in.
Thanks for helping me understand technology. I had a great experience.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Internet Safety Reflection
I chose to read the article by Elder M. Russell Ballard entitled Let Our Voices Be Heard. As I read this, I felt like the biggest challenge we have with regards to media is that the media has the capability to devastate our families and pull our children as well as parents away from the gospel path. Most often, the attacks on the family are not direct or openly immoral; rather the attacks are subtle and amoral - the right and wrong issues don't even come up. Because immorality and sexual innuendos are everywhere, it is believed that since everyone is doing it, it must be okay. This is what is in our homes.
I also watched several video clips that were suggested. Julie's Journey talked about meeting someone you've met online. She describes the internet as a tool; it has to be used properly. It's like a knife; it can cut you. Amy's Choice warns us about going into private chat rooms. Sexual predators are very cunning and can lure an unsuspecting individual into a dangerous situation. Tracking Teresa had the most impact on me. Even though you may think you are safe and using good practice on the internet, this clip showed me otherwise. In a matter of 20 min. enough information was accumulated unbeknown to Teresa including exact directions to her house. Scary!! Keisha's Crime was disturbing. Anger can lead to destructive behavior that the internet can facilitate if not careful. Peer to peer harassment is becoming more and more common among the youth. The clip Faux Paw - the Techno cat is a great tool to use to teach kids about internet safety. It is easy to understand and because it's cartoon, it captivates the children. Katie's Story helped me to know, as a parent, how important parent involvement is when a child is using the internet. After watching this clip, I'm going to be buying the "missing game" that was suggested by police personnel. When children feel they can't talk to their parents, the situation gets worse and worse. This game allows a child to see red flag instances that might be happening with them. This game also teaches children how unsafe the internet can be and what cautions to use. The last clip I watched was Growing up Online - a Frontline story. This took a long time to view, but it was worth it. It talked about all the important aspects of using the internet at what not to do.
I spoke with two of my teenage children about how they communicate online. We talked about the importance of not putting any personal information online. They told me all about facebook and how safe it was to use. They assured me that there was no way anything bad could happen to them using this feature. I shared with them the clip on Tracking Teresa. I expressed to them that Teresa didn't share any personal information either, or so she thought. My daughter gave me the "I know, I know" response with the added eye roll affect. I really do need to give her credit though; she showed me her profile on facebook. She doesn't go anywhere else to chat. My son, though, was listening intently. He sat with me for a little while as I continued to watch more clips. We talked about how cunning predators are and how we need to be extra careful when chatting online. After our conversation, he went downstairs to the kids computer and revised his profile on facebook. Taking the time to talk to him about this and sharing with him my thoughts of how important this is, really had an impact on him. He has a lot of friends who spend many hours online. I'm sure he will be sharing what he learned with them.
I also watched several video clips that were suggested. Julie's Journey talked about meeting someone you've met online. She describes the internet as a tool; it has to be used properly. It's like a knife; it can cut you. Amy's Choice warns us about going into private chat rooms. Sexual predators are very cunning and can lure an unsuspecting individual into a dangerous situation. Tracking Teresa had the most impact on me. Even though you may think you are safe and using good practice on the internet, this clip showed me otherwise. In a matter of 20 min. enough information was accumulated unbeknown to Teresa including exact directions to her house. Scary!! Keisha's Crime was disturbing. Anger can lead to destructive behavior that the internet can facilitate if not careful. Peer to peer harassment is becoming more and more common among the youth. The clip Faux Paw - the Techno cat is a great tool to use to teach kids about internet safety. It is easy to understand and because it's cartoon, it captivates the children. Katie's Story helped me to know, as a parent, how important parent involvement is when a child is using the internet. After watching this clip, I'm going to be buying the "missing game" that was suggested by police personnel. When children feel they can't talk to their parents, the situation gets worse and worse. This game allows a child to see red flag instances that might be happening with them. This game also teaches children how unsafe the internet can be and what cautions to use. The last clip I watched was Growing up Online - a Frontline story. This took a long time to view, but it was worth it. It talked about all the important aspects of using the internet at what not to do.
I spoke with two of my teenage children about how they communicate online. We talked about the importance of not putting any personal information online. They told me all about facebook and how safe it was to use. They assured me that there was no way anything bad could happen to them using this feature. I shared with them the clip on Tracking Teresa. I expressed to them that Teresa didn't share any personal information either, or so she thought. My daughter gave me the "I know, I know" response with the added eye roll affect. I really do need to give her credit though; she showed me her profile on facebook. She doesn't go anywhere else to chat. My son, though, was listening intently. He sat with me for a little while as I continued to watch more clips. We talked about how cunning predators are and how we need to be extra careful when chatting online. After our conversation, he went downstairs to the kids computer and revised his profile on facebook. Taking the time to talk to him about this and sharing with him my thoughts of how important this is, really had an impact on him. He has a lot of friends who spend many hours online. I'm sure he will be sharing what he learned with them.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Watching the three videos
This has really been an eye opener for me as to what technology can do for children in a classroom. The video that demonstrated the spiders was amazing. It used to be that you could only draw information from an encyclopedia when I was in school to now actually seeing them in a real-life setting in a place where kids can actually go and take pictures, put those pictures on the computer and then send their to another school in a state thousands of miles away to make comparisons of different spiders in each of the states. To me, that is very fascinating. I really liked the story extension application. Taking what was a simple story on pages in a book to creating a multimedia presentation with the same idea but extending it using the students' ideas is fun to watch especially having the students be in Kindergarten. Wow!! The teacher mentioned the students being fearless when it comes to learning technology. I'm learning that a little at a time. There is so much out there that I still am overwhelmed with most of it. I've watched how Kid-pix deluxe software has been a hit with kids everywhere. The students at the school where I am teaching right now are thrilled when they are able to explore this application. They especially like the drawing tool that was used in the video clip. It was an amazing thing to see it drawn and then published to make a presentation for parents and other to view by using technology. I will continue on improving my skills as I continue to learn about technology.
1st grade lesson plans
Math direct instruction
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_0cn3d6xcn
Literacy direct instruction
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_3hfg2gfgr
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dg7xgcg8_4hq8qvddw
Content guided instruction
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_13jzb5rhr
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_0cn3d6xcn
Literacy direct instruction
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_3hfg2gfgr
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dg7xgcg8_4hq8qvddw
Content guided instruction
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7xgcg8_13jzb5rhr
Monday, November 9, 2009
Completing the evaluations
I completed both evaluations that were included in Assignment 9 along with the survey.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Observation of technology at my school
My first initial response to the technology in the school where I'm teaching was a little surprising at the small amount that was available. This school has a high socio-economic rating and I thought there would be more funding for technology. But I am very excited for some of the updated pieces of technology that are available, like the flex-cams and the computer projectors. This makes sharing possible for anything you have to show rather than just using an overhead projector and being limited on what you can share. Each grade has a TV/VCR checked out to them at the beginning of the year. The school is limited to one DVD player so scheduling that is a little more difficult, so planning is very important. There is also one mobile lab with about 30 laptops for the students to use. There are some digital cameras and camcorders also available. Teachers are becoming more computer savvy at my school -- there is no computer specialist at the school. If a teacher wants to teach using a specific program, someone from the district comes and teaches the teacher and then the teacher instructs the class. You really have to be on your toes with this. This encourages the teachers to get with technology!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I will do a science observation with a 3rd grade classroom. By using Google Earth and Sky, the students will observe the Earth and the Moon and determine their similarities and their differences.
Content:
In the State Core Curriculum under Science, I will be referring to:
Standard 1 -- Students will understand that the shape of Earth and the moon are spherical and
that Earth rotates on its axis to produce the appearance of the sun and moon
moving through the sky.
Objective 1 -- Describe the appearance of Earth and the moon.
Indicator --
a. Describe the shape of Earth and the moon as spherical.
b. Explain that the sun is the source of light that lights the moon.
c. List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as viewed
from space.
Pedagogy:
Observing -- the students will use Google Earth and Sky to observe the Earth and the Moon
and make some discoveries.
Predictions -- from observing the Earth and the Moon, make predictions about how they are
similar and different.
Constructing a
hypothesis -- making an educated guess about the similarities and differences of the Earth and
Moon.
Acquire and
Process the Data -- constructing a table to show the similarities and the differences
between the Earth and the Moon.
Analyze the data -- determine if our data is accurate by comparing it to other sources using the
internet.
Conclusion -- Was our prediction accurate?
Technology:
The students will use Google Earth and Sky in the observation assignment. This is a useful took because it allows the students to see up close and move around both the Earth and the Moon. It also lets the students see the time-lapse for how the sun moves across the Earth and the Moon; giving light to both.
Content:
In the State Core Curriculum under Science, I will be referring to:
Standard 1 -- Students will understand that the shape of Earth and the moon are spherical and
that Earth rotates on its axis to produce the appearance of the sun and moon
moving through the sky.
Objective 1 -- Describe the appearance of Earth and the moon.
Indicator --
a. Describe the shape of Earth and the moon as spherical.
b. Explain that the sun is the source of light that lights the moon.
c. List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as viewed
from space.
Pedagogy:
Observing -- the students will use Google Earth and Sky to observe the Earth and the Moon
and make some discoveries.
Predictions -- from observing the Earth and the Moon, make predictions about how they are
similar and different.
Constructing a
hypothesis -- making an educated guess about the similarities and differences of the Earth and
Moon.
Acquire and
Process the Data -- constructing a table to show the similarities and the differences
between the Earth and the Moon.
Analyze the data -- determine if our data is accurate by comparing it to other sources using the
internet.
Conclusion -- Was our prediction accurate?
Technology:
The students will use Google Earth and Sky in the observation assignment. This is a useful took because it allows the students to see up close and move around both the Earth and the Moon. It also lets the students see the time-lapse for how the sun moves across the Earth and the Moon; giving light to both.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Watching others videos
I watched videos from
- Brittany Crowder -- lots of fun to watch. Exciting topic of Volcanoes and Earthquakes. I like the variety of activities used.
- Alexis Pagel -- I love the Zoo!! What a fun place to go and see the animals up close and to see how they are at a safe distance. Nice job on choosing the animals you did. I loved it! Makes me want to go now.
- Ashley Howes -- This was on the relationships between human settlements and geography. What an interesting way to share with the viewer so many ways to see the different settlements in different areas. Nice job on the variety of tools used.
- Marni Story -- Great minds think alike!! I loved it. I was able to go places I probably will never get to see. I like the variety of tools you used. It was a fun tour. Nice job!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Three TPACK Questions
Content: Science 5th grade
Standard 2 -- Students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering and erosion reshape the Earth's surface.
Objective1 -- Describe how weathering and erosion change the Earth's surface
b -- Describe how geological features (eg. valleys, canyons, buttes, arches) are changes through erosion (eg. waves, wind, glaciers, gravity, running water)
I chose this topic because I love to study natural wonders and how nature shapes the earth using different kinds of force.
Pedagogy:
I will be teaching 3 aspects of erosion and the effects it has on the earth. This is an exciting concept to teach 5th graders because they are adventuresome and like the outdoors -- viewing cool things that nature, not man, has created using a type of natural force.
Technology:
I like the idea of a virtual tour as my technology to show the students actual places that they may not have seen, or may have an opportunity to share with the class if they have. This creates a level of excitement as they see how nature through erosion shapes the earth into these amazing creations. Google Earth creates a reality that pictures, books or even movies really can't express. Google Earth puts you right there.
Standard 2 -- Students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering and erosion reshape the Earth's surface.
Objective1 -- Describe how weathering and erosion change the Earth's surface
b -- Describe how geological features (eg. valleys, canyons, buttes, arches) are changes through erosion (eg. waves, wind, glaciers, gravity, running water)
I chose this topic because I love to study natural wonders and how nature shapes the earth using different kinds of force.
Pedagogy:
I will be teaching 3 aspects of erosion and the effects it has on the earth. This is an exciting concept to teach 5th graders because they are adventuresome and like the outdoors -- viewing cool things that nature, not man, has created using a type of natural force.
Technology:
I like the idea of a virtual tour as my technology to show the students actual places that they may not have seen, or may have an opportunity to share with the class if they have. This creates a level of excitement as they see how nature through erosion shapes the earth into these amazing creations. Google Earth creates a reality that pictures, books or even movies really can't express. Google Earth puts you right there.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Erosion and the Effects It Has on the Earth
| Location | Activity Description | Google Earth Content |
| 1. The Grand Canyon, AZ | Using the ruler in the tools, measure the width of the Colorado River and, the vertical drop from "Dawn Light" Toroweep to the Colorado river. | I will put a placemark with information about the erosion that has taken place and is still happening, shaping the grand canyon. Instruction given to complete the activity. |
| 2. Devil's Tower, WY | Using the ruler in the tools, measure the length in feet from the top of the tower to its base. Also, measure the width and lenghth of the top of the tower. | I will put a placemark on the top of Devil's tower and will format it with information from Wikipedia and some images of the surrounding area to show how erosion can change the landscape. Instruction given to complete the activity. |
| 3. Arches National Park, UT | Using the ruler, measure in feet the highest point of the arch straight down to the ground. Also, measure in feet the length of the base of the arch from the outside of one side to outside of the other side. | I have put a placemark on the Landscape arch and will format it to show different pictures of the arch and make a path to other arches close by. Instruction will be given to complete the activity. |
| 4. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina | Use the ruler to determine how long, in feet, the glacier is from the back to the front and then from side to side. | I have put a placemark on the Perito Moreno Glacier and will format it with pictures. I will add a path to show the U-shape of the mountains -- a characteristic of what glaciers do to the landscape. Instruction given to complete the activity. |
Monday, September 28, 2009
Watching other videos
I enjoyed watching the videos from:
Ashley Daley, "Book trailer for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
Katie Matthews, "Katie Did"
Whitney Lethcoe, "Ice Cream, Pies and Triple Chocolate Brownies"
Kami Orr "Hooray for You"
Sabrina Huyett, "Book trailer for Hatchet"
Alexis Pagel, "Sick"
There was a variety of digital stories. I learned how to make trailers for books (which I thought were great), using pictures of family members was fun to see, and using life experiences to make up a story was interesting. This was a fun activity.
Ashley Daley, "Book trailer for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
Katie Matthews, "Katie Did"
Whitney Lethcoe, "Ice Cream, Pies and Triple Chocolate Brownies"
Kami Orr "Hooray for You"
Sabrina Huyett, "Book trailer for Hatchet"
Alexis Pagel, "Sick"
There was a variety of digital stories. I learned how to make trailers for books (which I thought were great), using pictures of family members was fun to see, and using life experiences to make up a story was interesting. This was a fun activity.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
My thoughts
I have created a wiki and the website is http://raedmonds8.pbworks.com
This assignment was packed with information and technology I didn't know existed. It has been a great learning experience for me. Web 2.0 is a tool used to let others learn more about you along with other uses. The wiki is another great way to learn about you and find out your likes and interests. I really enjoyed getting started with Goodreads. I'm not a big reader so, I'm not familiar with many books. This is a great way to build my library by reading others thoughts about what they enjoy reading. Good Reads was a site that allowed you to find websites that provided information for you about specific topics and bookmark them for easy access in one place. Diigo is a great way to interact socially.
The most difficult thing I did was organizing the wiki. This was very frustrating when technology wasn't working the way it was suppose to. But in the end, it all worked out.
My favorite thing was the video chat with Marni Story. How cool was that to see her in her home with her son. I really liked this technology.
Technology is still really new for me, so I hope it'll get easier to use so I can enjoy these wonderful tools we have access to.
This assignment was packed with information and technology I didn't know existed. It has been a great learning experience for me. Web 2.0 is a tool used to let others learn more about you along with other uses. The wiki is another great way to learn about you and find out your likes and interests. I really enjoyed getting started with Goodreads. I'm not a big reader so, I'm not familiar with many books. This is a great way to build my library by reading others thoughts about what they enjoy reading. Good Reads was a site that allowed you to find websites that provided information for you about specific topics and bookmark them for easy access in one place. Diigo is a great way to interact socially.
The most difficult thing I did was organizing the wiki. This was very frustrating when technology wasn't working the way it was suppose to. But in the end, it all worked out.
My favorite thing was the video chat with Marni Story. How cool was that to see her in her home with her son. I really liked this technology.
Technology is still really new for me, so I hope it'll get easier to use so I can enjoy these wonderful tools we have access to.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
I love education
Watching the eyes of children as they light up when they understand something you've taught them. The rewards of education are great.
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