Cyber Humanities: Rigor and Relevance Through Video Conferencing
By Lynne Sueoka
Cyber Humanities is an ongoing series of video conferences that focus on addressing academic content standards and engaging students in meaningful experiences. So far, the group has been involved in four projects which ask questions like, "What does artistic expression, spanning time and place, reveal about humanity, conflict, and our future?" Five teachers led groups of students to answer that question through the "particular focus of their curriculum," offering a perspective through poetry, art, literature, and technology. The different groups of students, from Hawaii to Japan, were able to participate in discussion forums, sharing their perspectives. Technology allows our students to experience the diversity that exists in our world. It makes it possible to connect to other people, and forces us to use more than just textbooks to learn. These dedicated teachers have enabled their students to be engaged on a much deeper level.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Journal 8
Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
I have heard of online classes being offered in college, but not in K-12 education. Apparently, this trend of virtual schooling has been happening at the high school level for several years, and has grown increasingly popular, even reaching many of the middle grades. Teachers and students use e-mail, videoconferencing, and a learning management system, such as blackboard. Most professors at CSUSM use the WebCT software to facilitate their classes, and to move to more of a paperless system. Teachers can prepare to move into the VS system with help from the Teacher Education Goes Into Virtual Schooling project, which is lead by Niki Davis and supported by the U.S. Department of Education. Virtual Schooling is becoming common, and educators must be up for the challenge because ours students depend on us.
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
I have heard of online classes being offered in college, but not in K-12 education. Apparently, this trend of virtual schooling has been happening at the high school level for several years, and has grown increasingly popular, even reaching many of the middle grades. Teachers and students use e-mail, videoconferencing, and a learning management system, such as blackboard. Most professors at CSUSM use the WebCT software to facilitate their classes, and to move to more of a paperless system. Teachers can prepare to move into the VS system with help from the Teacher Education Goes Into Virtual Schooling project, which is lead by Niki Davis and supported by the U.S. Department of Education. Virtual Schooling is becoming common, and educators must be up for the challenge because ours students depend on us.
Journal 7
Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom
By Elizabeth Ross Hubbell
Technology is for everyone, including our youngest learners. Students can use technology to "engage in critical thinking activities and practice basic skills." Some of the instructional strategies that have been proven to work include identifying similarities and differences, reinforcing effort and providing recognition, homework and practice, nonlinguistic representation, and cooperative learning. We know that technology can be used as a medium, but so it makes sense that we should start familiarizing children with computers at an early age. Websites like starfall.com were created for emergent readers. Kidspiration helps youngsters "gather ideas, assign pictures and sounds to words, and put ideas into outline form." This type of hands-on learning is great for kinesthetic, aural, and visual learners. The earlier we introduce our children to a world of technology, the more opportunities we are giving them to learn and grow.
By Elizabeth Ross Hubbell
Technology is for everyone, including our youngest learners. Students can use technology to "engage in critical thinking activities and practice basic skills." Some of the instructional strategies that have been proven to work include identifying similarities and differences, reinforcing effort and providing recognition, homework and practice, nonlinguistic representation, and cooperative learning. We know that technology can be used as a medium, but so it makes sense that we should start familiarizing children with computers at an early age. Websites like starfall.com were created for emergent readers. Kidspiration helps youngsters "gather ideas, assign pictures and sounds to words, and put ideas into outline form." This type of hands-on learning is great for kinesthetic, aural, and visual learners. The earlier we introduce our children to a world of technology, the more opportunities we are giving them to learn and grow.
Journal 6
Social Justice: Choice or Necessity?
By Colleen Swain and David Edyburn
Technology is everywhere, and if we, as teachers, don't make it part of our daily classroom lives, than we are doing a disservice to our students. The authors urge educators to "infuse the use of technology in classrooms as a component and catalyst for social justice, the educational experience for all students will change." It is so important that teachers give students the opportunity to use a variety of multimedia formats, so that they become knowledgeable and comfortable with technology.
Teachers must commit to continuously learn about new ways to use technology in the classroom. There are plenty of valuable resources out there to choose from. The Digital Equity Portal contains more than 150 strategies and resources, and would definitely boost the use of technology in a classroom. These resources can enable us to help students who have individual needs, and also offer variety for different types of learners. Even more importantly, technology will put our students in touch with the world, and give them the tools that they need to think critically and solve problems. Students who have opportunities in the classroom to explore life through technology will feel confident and capable as they move toward the future.
By Colleen Swain and David Edyburn
Technology is everywhere, and if we, as teachers, don't make it part of our daily classroom lives, than we are doing a disservice to our students. The authors urge educators to "infuse the use of technology in classrooms as a component and catalyst for social justice, the educational experience for all students will change." It is so important that teachers give students the opportunity to use a variety of multimedia formats, so that they become knowledgeable and comfortable with technology.
Teachers must commit to continuously learn about new ways to use technology in the classroom. There are plenty of valuable resources out there to choose from. The Digital Equity Portal contains more than 150 strategies and resources, and would definitely boost the use of technology in a classroom. These resources can enable us to help students who have individual needs, and also offer variety for different types of learners. Even more importantly, technology will put our students in touch with the world, and give them the tools that they need to think critically and solve problems. Students who have opportunities in the classroom to explore life through technology will feel confident and capable as they move toward the future.
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