This is a short clip that I created on iMovie, which introduces the Cal State San Marcos campus. On the program iMovie, I edited movie clips and added text and music to create my own short film.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Journal 8: GoogleEarth (NETS-T 5)
On this assignment, I explored the wiki website Classroom 2.0. This site provides descriptions and discussions of various technology tools that can be useful in the classroom. I decided to explore the tool Google Earth, and the discussions that took place on the Classroom 2.0 wiki.
Google Earth is a free program provided by Google which provides basically a “virtual globe,” on which you can view clear satellite images of the Earth. You can view satellite images of everything on the earth from maps, to terrain, to 3D buildings, to galaxies in outer space, to national monuments, and even your own house! Within the program, you can also measure distances, add placemarks, photos, and notes about various geographical locations.
From the two discussion threads on Classroom 2.0, I have read about various ways that this program can be used in the classroom. The posts seem to agree that Google Earth is an excellent resource that the students really enjoy using. I think it allows the lessons to become more real and interactive, especially when they can view crystal clear images of everything from the Eiffel Tower, to the White House, to your own school. I have also learned particularly about the cross-curricular uses of Google Earth. One teacher used Google Earth to plot historic typhoons that had hit their island. In this project, the students were using math to create graphs of historic events. Google Earth can also be a fun interactive too to teach longitude and latitude coordinates. One cool website they mentioned is “Google Lit trips” (http://www.googlelittrips.com/), where the students find the locations that the stories take place on Google Earth. It can also add immensely to history lessons, such as mapping the battlefields. Whenever you want students to put into perspective location, distance, or movements, Google Earth is an excellent resource!
Google Earth is a free program provided by Google which provides basically a “virtual globe,” on which you can view clear satellite images of the Earth. You can view satellite images of everything on the earth from maps, to terrain, to 3D buildings, to galaxies in outer space, to national monuments, and even your own house! Within the program, you can also measure distances, add placemarks, photos, and notes about various geographical locations.
From the two discussion threads on Classroom 2.0, I have read about various ways that this program can be used in the classroom. The posts seem to agree that Google Earth is an excellent resource that the students really enjoy using. I think it allows the lessons to become more real and interactive, especially when they can view crystal clear images of everything from the Eiffel Tower, to the White House, to your own school. I have also learned particularly about the cross-curricular uses of Google Earth. One teacher used Google Earth to plot historic typhoons that had hit their island. In this project, the students were using math to create graphs of historic events. Google Earth can also be a fun interactive too to teach longitude and latitude coordinates. One cool website they mentioned is “Google Lit trips” (http://www.googlelittrips.com/), where the students find the locations that the stories take place on Google Earth. It can also add immensely to history lessons, such as mapping the battlefields. Whenever you want students to put into perspective location, distance, or movements, Google Earth is an excellent resource!
Journal 7: "Mining for Gold"
The article “Mining for Gold,” by Christ Bigenho, is a great source of information regarding Real Simple Syndication, or RSS. RSS allows internet users to control the information they receive by subscribing to different sources of information. The program that collects the new information posted on the internet is called an aggressor. RSS feeds come from many different sources, including journals, newspapers, blogs, and wikis. Bigenho describes how this program can be used utilized in the classroom. First, as a teacher you can bookmark articles for students to read and post it on the school’s learning management system or website. Another way RSS can be used in the classroom is with students blogs. If students create an educational blog, you the teacher can then subscribe to their blogs. This way, you don’t have to keep checking to see if it is updated. With a program like Bloglines, you will be notified when there is new information posted on that blog. Bigenho also suggests the use of social bookmarking. This allows you to keep your favorite webpages organized as well as allows students to access sites that are tagged for their particular course. Finally, Bigenho talks about the use of feeding content to an html page. Dynamic content for a course can be fed to a program such as JavaScript through a program called Feed2JS.
This articled is very practical source for the use of technology in the classroom. Bigenho explains how the use of RSS can be a great resource for students and teachers to find important information and keep informed about current events.
1. Is this useful for elementary age students?
I think it can be useful for elementary age students because they are growing up in a technological age. The sooner we expose them to the exciting, informative, and proper use of the internet the better.
2. Is there such thing as too much information through RSS?
I think one negative is that you may be focused on finding new information that you may become overwhelmed with so much information. The sources you use through RSS should be specific and educational.
Bigenho, Chris (2009, March/April). Mining For Gold. Learning and leading with Technology, Retrieved April/25/2009, from: http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/
This articled is very practical source for the use of technology in the classroom. Bigenho explains how the use of RSS can be a great resource for students and teachers to find important information and keep informed about current events.
1. Is this useful for elementary age students?
I think it can be useful for elementary age students because they are growing up in a technological age. The sooner we expose them to the exciting, informative, and proper use of the internet the better.
2. Is there such thing as too much information through RSS?
I think one negative is that you may be focused on finding new information that you may become overwhelmed with so much information. The sources you use through RSS should be specific and educational.
Bigenho, Chris (2009, March/April). Mining For Gold. Learning and leading with Technology, Retrieved April/25/2009, from: http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/
Journal 6: "Grow Your Personal Learning Network"
In this article, David Warlick explores the world of Personal Learning Networks, or PLNs. He states that there are three main types of PLNs. The first is “personally maintained synchronous connections,” which includes real-time questions and answers. This can be found through chatting, text messaging, or teleconferencing. The second type of PLN is “personally and socially maintained semisynchronous connections.” By semisynchronous, he means that collaboration does not have to be instant, it can happen over a period of time. We use this type of PLN in Facebook and Twitter. Finally, the third type of PLN is “Dynamically maintained asynchronous connections.” This is the RSS tool that we have been learning about. In this type of PLN, the learner does not have to go searching for the information, the information is updated periodically and then comes to them.
I like how Warlick stressed the importance of cultivating and building your learning networks. It is easy just to be passive about your internet use. It is important to be intentional about finding valuable sources especially when there are so many new and creative resources we can use in the classroom!
1. What are some other negative affects of Personal Learning Networks?
Warlick mentioned that most people who build personal learning networks tend to find articles, websites, and sources that reflect their own point of view. He says we should try and find sources that challenge us to see other perspectives as well.
2. How can we use this as teachers?
This is such a great way to get any information that we need. It is also an awesome ways to collaborate with other teachers. We want to be the best teachers possible. This is possible through constantly learning from others, hearing new ideas, and working together to solve problems.
Warlick, D. (2009).Grow your personal learning network. Learning and Leading With Technology. Retrieved April/22/2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/
I like how Warlick stressed the importance of cultivating and building your learning networks. It is easy just to be passive about your internet use. It is important to be intentional about finding valuable sources especially when there are so many new and creative resources we can use in the classroom!
1. What are some other negative affects of Personal Learning Networks?
Warlick mentioned that most people who build personal learning networks tend to find articles, websites, and sources that reflect their own point of view. He says we should try and find sources that challenge us to see other perspectives as well.
2. How can we use this as teachers?
This is such a great way to get any information that we need. It is also an awesome ways to collaborate with other teachers. We want to be the best teachers possible. This is possible through constantly learning from others, hearing new ideas, and working together to solve problems.
Warlick, D. (2009).Grow your personal learning network. Learning and Leading With Technology. Retrieved April/22/2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/
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