Distance education is a growing option for students that allows them to complete high school courses online. One of the pros for distance education is that it can be made to fit a specific student's learning style and level. Distance education can also help students become proficient with computers and technology. This option can provide an opportunity to learn for students who find it hard to learn in classrooms with other students. Distance education can also be helpful for students who have social disabilities or are being bullied. Distance education can also lead to better parent involvment.
Distance education also has some cons. It can potentially be easy to cheat when all the school work is done online. Having students take online courses neglects to provide them with the social atmosphere that a regular classroom does. Distance education can also be difficult for students who struggle with technology. Students also don't learn many of the skills that they would in a regular classroom, such as teamworking and debate.
You would have to be careful when selecting students for a program like this. You would need to be sure that they have the technical skills required plus plenty of parent support. To teach in one of these classes you must not only have computer skills but also be creative enough to challenge these students with online assignments.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concept Map Review
Post your 2-3 paragraph summary of the 3-5 ideas you explored for how you could use Concept Mapping within your future classroom. Give your specific examples.
While looking through the various examples of concept maps on the internet I could not help but think of how I would use these in my classroom. One of the ideas I really liked about concept maps was to use them to compare different historical figures or events. Using comparative analysis is one of the key skills I want my students to learn. I could have them compare two presidents and their different policies for example.
Another way I can use this is to simplify a complex topic. So often in history we come across topics that are very vast and deep. Being able to reduce complex information into manageable pieces is a most for history teachers. Topics such as World War II would be much easier to cover in this form.
One other way I could use this program would be to make the class more fun. These concept maps are fun to look at and are much more interesting than text books. Using colors and pictures certainly helps students keep focused.
Discuss what you see as the impact of the use of Concept mapping might have on student learning within your future classroom. Give some details to support your statements.
I think that concept maps could have a big impact in the classroom because they appeal to visual learners. They also help students that are disorganized or have trouble focusing. These concept maps keep the information manageable and don't overwhelm the students as textbooks sometimes do.
Discuss at least 2 criteria that you would use to decide whether or not Concept Mapping activities would be part of a lesson for your students.
One of the criteria I would use would be whether or not they made my students too reliant upon them. These concept maps are supposed to supplement the lesson, not be the lesson. If I saw my studnets spending too much time studying the concept maps instead of other materials I might be hesitant to use them. Another criteria I would use would be to see if my students actually found them helpful. I would ask them whether these concept maps made processing the information easier, and if they say "no" or "sort of" then I would probably not use the concept maps.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
TeacherWeb Reflection
1. Describe at least 2 ways that the use of a class web site like TeacherWeb could be used to support your future teaching. Provide some specific details for each example.
I really enjoy working with the TeacherWeb site because I can see that it has a lot of potential. The ability to communicate clearly with students should be a very high goal for all teachers. I enjoy how I can put video and other forms of media on this website and let my students access it at any time. I also see the value in posting documents and papers online in a form that makes it easy for students to find information. I would use teacherweb to do both these activities.
2. Identify 2 ways students could use a class web site like TeacherWeb to enhance their learning. Provide some details for each way identified.
One of the ways that students would be able to enhance their learning using my teacherweb site would be to take the practice quiz and reflection questions that I have posted on the site. This would prepare them for the kinds of questions to expect on the quiz. My students could also use the website to collaborate on projects with each other. There are many learning websites that have been set up to allow studnets to work together on projects such as webquests.
1. Describe at least 2 ways that the use of a class web site like TeacherWeb could be used to support your future teaching. Provide some specific details for each example.
I really enjoy working with the TeacherWeb site because I can see that it has a lot of potential. The ability to communicate clearly with students should be a very high goal for all teachers. I enjoy how I can put video and other forms of media on this website and let my students access it at any time. I also see the value in posting documents and papers online in a form that makes it easy for students to find information. I would use teacherweb to do both these activities.
2. Identify 2 ways students could use a class web site like TeacherWeb to enhance their learning. Provide some details for each way identified.
One of the ways that students would be able to enhance their learning using my teacherweb site would be to take the practice quiz and reflection questions that I have posted on the site. This would prepare them for the kinds of questions to expect on the quiz. My students could also use the website to collaborate on projects with each other. There are many learning websites that have been set up to allow studnets to work together on projects such as webquests.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Blogs and Wikis Project
Blogs and wikis are changing the landscape of education all across the world. I see blogs and wikis as valuable tools and are the future of education. One of the most interesting aspects of blogs and wikis are that they allow teachers to communicate and share ideas. Teachers are the biggest plagerizers (in terms of ideas and lesson plans) in the world. As a teacher, I would be very excited to see what others are doing. Another interesting thing that blogs do in the classroom are that they keep things simple. They are an easy way of reminding your students of what assignments are due, what the next class lessons will be, and what materials they should study up on. Using a blog or wiki would be a simple way of keeping things "up to date." I also like how blogs are being used as communication tools for the students and teachers. Perhaps kids that are very shy would be more willing to participate on a blog than in the classroom.
RSS readers can save you a lot of time and frustration by summerizing information on blogs and helping you decide whether the information would be useful or not. In my classroom I would have students use these when they are looking for information but do not have a lot of time. A lot of time could be wasted reading stuff that is not useful. Having a summerized account would increase the amount of productive work time my students would get.
During this project I have found many pros for using blogs and wikis. One of the best is that it helps with teacher-student communication. Assignments, lessons, and other critical data can be placed on blogs and be retrievable by students at any time. I also have found that these online tools help develop students' (and teachers') technology skills. By using these blogs and wikis we become more comfortable with computers and the internet. Some of the cons involved with blogs and wikis are that poorly done, they can be very confusing. Students who don't have a lot of experience with blogs and wikis can become very confused if they are not done properly. Another con is that not all students have access to technology. You risk disenfranchizing some of your students if you rely too heavily on blogs and wikis.
Blogs and wikis are changing the landscape of education all across the world. I see blogs and wikis as valuable tools and are the future of education. One of the most interesting aspects of blogs and wikis are that they allow teachers to communicate and share ideas. Teachers are the biggest plagerizers (in terms of ideas and lesson plans) in the world. As a teacher, I would be very excited to see what others are doing. Another interesting thing that blogs do in the classroom are that they keep things simple. They are an easy way of reminding your students of what assignments are due, what the next class lessons will be, and what materials they should study up on. Using a blog or wiki would be a simple way of keeping things "up to date." I also like how blogs are being used as communication tools for the students and teachers. Perhaps kids that are very shy would be more willing to participate on a blog than in the classroom.
RSS readers can save you a lot of time and frustration by summerizing information on blogs and helping you decide whether the information would be useful or not. In my classroom I would have students use these when they are looking for information but do not have a lot of time. A lot of time could be wasted reading stuff that is not useful. Having a summerized account would increase the amount of productive work time my students would get.
During this project I have found many pros for using blogs and wikis. One of the best is that it helps with teacher-student communication. Assignments, lessons, and other critical data can be placed on blogs and be retrievable by students at any time. I also have found that these online tools help develop students' (and teachers') technology skills. By using these blogs and wikis we become more comfortable with computers and the internet. Some of the cons involved with blogs and wikis are that poorly done, they can be very confusing. Students who don't have a lot of experience with blogs and wikis can become very confused if they are not done properly. Another con is that not all students have access to technology. You risk disenfranchizing some of your students if you rely too heavily on blogs and wikis.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
MI Blog Post Project
For the MI Blog Post project, you will create a new post on your blog site and title it “Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom”. Then, within this blog post, discuss your new knowledge and relate it to the following 5 issues:
Discuss which of the multiple intelligences you have strengths in and then discuss some of the core characteristics of that (or those) intelligences. Discuss which of the core characteristics best describe you and your learning style.
One of my highest rated intelligences is existential. Some of core characteristics in this group that describe me are the ability to see how something relates to the big picture and the ability to summarize details into a larger understanding. Since I am an auditory learner, that means I can take what someone tells me and apply it in a much broader scope.
Discuss what students with this type of intelligence enjoy, are like, or tend to do within classroom settings.
Students who are strong in existential intelligence seek connections across the curriculum and tend to enjoy literature. These students also have a strong sense of community and place an extremely large emphasis on community.
Discuss how you will support this type of intelligence within your classroom and within your teaching.
One of my highest priorities as a teacher will be to get the kids to think globally. I want all my students to see themselves as citizens of the world, and that what affects people in other countries should have meaning to us as well. This fits existential intelligence perfectly and will engage kids with high existential intelligence.
Discuss what technologies stimulate thus type of intelligence.
Some of the technologies I look forward to using in the future are virtual field trips and perhaps blogs that will help kids connect to the rest of the world. I will also use visual art and stage drama as a means of engaging interest in my students.
And finally, discuss how you might impact student learning by applying your understanding of learning styles and multiple intelligences within your classroom.
After doing these two exercises, I am more aware of how differently we all learn. What may work well for me might not make sense for someone else. I must keep in mind that students should be engaged in learning with visual, tactile, and auditory means. In regards to the multiple intelligences, I must pay particular attention to the technology each requires and the various ways to encourage each one.
For the MI Blog Post project, you will create a new post on your blog site and title it “Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom”. Then, within this blog post, discuss your new knowledge and relate it to the following 5 issues:
Discuss which of the multiple intelligences you have strengths in and then discuss some of the core characteristics of that (or those) intelligences. Discuss which of the core characteristics best describe you and your learning style.
One of my highest rated intelligences is existential. Some of core characteristics in this group that describe me are the ability to see how something relates to the big picture and the ability to summarize details into a larger understanding. Since I am an auditory learner, that means I can take what someone tells me and apply it in a much broader scope.
Discuss what students with this type of intelligence enjoy, are like, or tend to do within classroom settings.
Students who are strong in existential intelligence seek connections across the curriculum and tend to enjoy literature. These students also have a strong sense of community and place an extremely large emphasis on community.
Discuss how you will support this type of intelligence within your classroom and within your teaching.
One of my highest priorities as a teacher will be to get the kids to think globally. I want all my students to see themselves as citizens of the world, and that what affects people in other countries should have meaning to us as well. This fits existential intelligence perfectly and will engage kids with high existential intelligence.
Discuss what technologies stimulate thus type of intelligence.
Some of the technologies I look forward to using in the future are virtual field trips and perhaps blogs that will help kids connect to the rest of the world. I will also use visual art and stage drama as a means of engaging interest in my students.
And finally, discuss how you might impact student learning by applying your understanding of learning styles and multiple intelligences within your classroom.
After doing these two exercises, I am more aware of how differently we all learn. What may work well for me might not make sense for someone else. I must keep in mind that students should be engaged in learning with visual, tactile, and auditory means. In regards to the multiple intelligences, I must pay particular attention to the technology each requires and the various ways to encourage each one.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Welcome to my blog
Welcome to Greg's T&L blog. Throughout this semester I will be making entries and recording my thoughts on this blog. I have openned this blog in order to get better aquainted with technology in regards to my field of study (History and Social Studies Education). When I have free time I can be found on a golf course, at the rec, or on my apartment couch. More will be coming later.
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