Title of Article: Schools welcome ipods in classrooms
Publisher:The Dallas Morning News
Date of Publication: November 5, 2007
Author: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/110507dnmetgpipods.2f9eabc.html
Educators at a Texas elementary school use iPods to record songs about different aspects of history, science, etc. They use these songs in their classes where their students seem very responsive to instruction delivered in this new way. The principal of the school says that the teachers use new ways of reaching out the students and explains the reasons behind this approach. " "This is [the] tech generation. So, when we think of instructing students, we have to think of different ways of teaching," said principal Alisha Crumley. "To get their attention in class, we have to keep up."
The students interviewed in the article say that learning becomes fun and easy. They also like to learn new material this way instead of taking notes in a notebook. The article talks about how teachers in this school incorporate podcasts to make the lessons more engaging and to share the students' work with their parents.The students of a fifth-grade class, have produced a historical podcast about the American Revolution. The students learn and share the new information on American Revolution by using visual images. Students listen to their classmates talk about historical figures as images of the figures pop up on the iPod screen.
I think these methods of getting the students enjoy more their classes are great. It doesn't mean that they should be used all the time and leave the writing out but they are definitely a good way of providing the students with new and exciting ways of learning. In this school, teachers allow their students to take the iPods at home to revisit the lessons. I am not necessarily saying that this is a good thing but, according to the article, it works good for this particular school.
The district in which the school is located seems to be pretty responsive to new technologies and purchased 321 video iPods for the schools. This just makes me ask a question. Do district leaders in different states, network and talk about their ideas, vision and success stories in their district? Do they share their techniques and find out what's best for their schools?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Title of Article: “New online tool aids literacy programs”
Publisher: eSchool News online
Date of Publication: November 6, 2007
Author: eSchool News staff and wire service reports
The Verizon Foundation has funded an online literacy program tool that has been developed by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). According to Kathy Brown, senior vice president of public policy and corporate responsibility for Verizon, “In today’s workforce a person must have the ability to read, write, speak, compute, and solve problems at higher levels of efficiency. These are skills necessary to function on the job and that require higher levels of skills than what’s taught in high school.”
In an effort to assist literacy programs nationwide, this online resource “provides a detailed questionnaire that asks about a literacy program’s methods, the education level of its students, parental involvement, and current methods used to assess the program’s success.”
The information provided through the questionnaire is then taken into account to come up with a score of 1-5 to rate a program’s performance in “several areas.” As a program’s “grades” are taken into account, receiving scores of 3 or lower automatically makes resources available for educators who wish to further develop their program in specified areas of need. This resource is free of charge.
This assessment, labeled the Verizon Literacy Program Self-Assessment Tool (VLP-SAT) is one of many free offerings of the Verizon Foundation. One of the Foundation’s well-known resources is Thinkfinity.org, a “free online portal, where visitors can access more than 55,000 standards- and research-based educational resources. These include free online courses, K-12 lesson plans, best practices, program assessment tools, teaching and learning tools, model programs that demystify technology for parents, and abundant research highlighting the importance of literacy development.”
Brown is also cited a National Adult Literacy survey that estimated: “adult illiteracy costs the U.S. $17 billion a year from loss in common tax revenue; welfare, unemployment, crime and incarceration; and training costs for business and industry—causing a negative impact on the U.S. economy and society."
Publisher: eSchool News online
Date of Publication: November 6, 2007
Author: eSchool News staff and wire service reports
The Verizon Foundation has funded an online literacy program tool that has been developed by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). According to Kathy Brown, senior vice president of public policy and corporate responsibility for Verizon, “In today’s workforce a person must have the ability to read, write, speak, compute, and solve problems at higher levels of efficiency. These are skills necessary to function on the job and that require higher levels of skills than what’s taught in high school.”
In an effort to assist literacy programs nationwide, this online resource “provides a detailed questionnaire that asks about a literacy program’s methods, the education level of its students, parental involvement, and current methods used to assess the program’s success.”
The information provided through the questionnaire is then taken into account to come up with a score of 1-5 to rate a program’s performance in “several areas.” As a program’s “grades” are taken into account, receiving scores of 3 or lower automatically makes resources available for educators who wish to further develop their program in specified areas of need. This resource is free of charge.
This assessment, labeled the Verizon Literacy Program Self-Assessment Tool (VLP-SAT) is one of many free offerings of the Verizon Foundation. One of the Foundation’s well-known resources is Thinkfinity.org, a “free online portal, where visitors can access more than 55,000 standards- and research-based educational resources. These include free online courses, K-12 lesson plans, best practices, program assessment tools, teaching and learning tools, model programs that demystify technology for parents, and abundant research highlighting the importance of literacy development.”
Brown is also cited a National Adult Literacy survey that estimated: “adult illiteracy costs the U.S. $17 billion a year from loss in common tax revenue; welfare, unemployment, crime and incarceration; and training costs for business and industry—causing a negative impact on the U.S. economy and society."
Learning Authenticity in the Language Arts Classroom
Online Journal : From Now On - The Educational Technology Journal
Vol. 17 No. 2 November 2007
Learning Authentically in the Language Arts Classroom
By Jamie McKenzie http://fno.org/nov07/lang.html
This article talks about how teachers need to challenge students by involving them in situations outside of school where they will be exercising problem solving and communication skills. The article refers to middle school or high school students.
The article talks about involving them in internships, simulations or Interviews with people in the work force. If students are more involved in the real world they can do better
in the classroom. It makes sense if you allow students to see what the real world is about they will be more eager to get involved. I don’t think there is enough programs that involve students in situations that will prepare them for the outside world.
This program is based on Newman's model of instruction which
talks about the five standards of authentic instruction which are 1) high order thinking 2) Depth of knowledge 3) Connectiveness to the world beyond the classroom 4) Substantive conversation 5) Social support for student achievement.
Part of the teachers job is to survey a range of professions and jobs with the idea of identifying situations within each that might require problem-solving, decision-making and powerful communication.
The job could have some direct that directly involves the community in some way. The children think up questions to ask the person. The children visit the job site and interview the person or persons involved.
The students could visit the local park dept. office. They are told that there are not enough volunteers for some of the local programs. The students are asked to think of ways that the park department could can get more volunteers. This allows the students to get involved in real life situations.
Newmans philosophy incorporates 21st century skills and is a step in the right direction to educating our children.
Vol. 17 No. 2 November 2007
Learning Authentically in the Language Arts Classroom
By Jamie McKenzie http://fno.org/nov07/lang.html
This article talks about how teachers need to challenge students by involving them in situations outside of school where they will be exercising problem solving and communication skills. The article refers to middle school or high school students.
The article talks about involving them in internships, simulations or Interviews with people in the work force. If students are more involved in the real world they can do better
in the classroom. It makes sense if you allow students to see what the real world is about they will be more eager to get involved. I don’t think there is enough programs that involve students in situations that will prepare them for the outside world.
This program is based on Newman's model of instruction which
talks about the five standards of authentic instruction which are 1) high order thinking 2) Depth of knowledge 3) Connectiveness to the world beyond the classroom 4) Substantive conversation 5) Social support for student achievement.
Part of the teachers job is to survey a range of professions and jobs with the idea of identifying situations within each that might require problem-solving, decision-making and powerful communication.
The job could have some direct that directly involves the community in some way. The children think up questions to ask the person. The children visit the job site and interview the person or persons involved.
The students could visit the local park dept. office. They are told that there are not enough volunteers for some of the local programs. The students are asked to think of ways that the park department could can get more volunteers. This allows the students to get involved in real life situations.
Newmans philosophy incorporates 21st century skills and is a step in the right direction to educating our children.
Friday, November 9, 2007
New Class(room) War: Teacher vs. Technology
Current Issue #4 - Justin Fox
EDLA 615 - Language Arts and Technology
New Class(room) War: Teacher vs. Technology
(title linked to article)
By Samuel J. Freedman
November 8, 2007
This article speaks of how a number of teachers have become simply exasperated at the fact that students are spending the majority of their class time utilizing technologies that distract them from the class. The article utilizes a professor’s plights with such technologies being used in his class, and documents his “no-tolerance” policy on cell phone use in his class. It also brings up technologies that can be utilized to monitor student usage of computers in class, such as SyncronEyes, that would allow the teacher to freeze a student’s computer if they are off task. Overall it paints quite a negative picture of the advent of technology usage at the university level.
I find the picture that this article paints about the use of technology in education to be very interesting. It seems to almost echo the opinion that many of the senior teachers tend to use in my own school, as well as an issue that I, myself tend to have. Being that I am a Computer Science teacher, I tend to experience many of the issues that the article addresses. I frequently observe my students, while in the lab portion of my class, surfing various different websites unrelated to the class. Initially, and due to this fact, I was very hesitant about conducting the lecture portion of my class in the lab as well. By employing a simple “turn off your monitor” technique with my class, however, the issue of distraction during lecture was resolved.
What is also interesting is how the issue of cell phone usage also extends to the university level. In a high school, I feel, the age and maturity level of the students directly influences their lack of attention to the simple rudeness that utilizing a cell phone in class would imply. I am surprised, however, to see that students at the college level possess such an innate disregard for simple politeness, by speaking on their cell phone in the midst of class. In this case, I do agree with the professor’s strict cell phone policy…but do not feel that it should extend to the high school level.
Needless to say, I wholeheartedly disagree with the negative stance that the article takes on the use of technology in the classroom, and, frankly, it disappoints me. There are so many positive aspects of the usage of technology in education, as we have observed in this very class (thank you Dr. McPherson). The fact that many teachers will not take the time to set a precedent in their class on the penalties that result from using distracting websites and, instead, simply avoid using technology altogether, is disheartening. I do not have a choice of utilizing technology, and holding my class in a computer lab. As a result, by instituting penalties for “illegal” surfing during class time (points off lab projects), I feel that I have controlled for such distractions. Simply put, if I can do it why can’t others?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Current Event #4
CALIFORNIA EXIT EXAM BOOSTS DROPOUT RATE
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: New York Times November 8, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Exit-Exam-Dropouts.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Submitted by Laurie Bobley
In 2006 California high school seniors were required to pass an exit exam to graduate. The exit exam is intended to measure English, math and algebra skills. In that same year, 26,000 seniors dropped out of school - that’s 10,000 more dropouts than four years earlier.
California lawmakers and others, including the Human Resources Research Organization, recommended that rather than an exit test, alternative assessments be considered to measure proficiency in these subjects. One proposed alternative assessment was a high school student portfolio, similar to those required in Massachusetts and Washington state for graduation. The recommendation to use alternative assessments has been made before, but the superintendent of public instruction has without fail, opposed it.
The test results and the dropout rate indicate that the achievement gap is lingering. According to a report compiled by the Human Resources Research Organization, Black, Hispanic, and ELL students, in general, do worse than white and Asian students on the test. They score lower still when they attend schools with a high percentage of similar students.
One fact is hard to refute after examining these results. A large number of students are not meeting the academic mark.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: New York Times November 8, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Exit-Exam-Dropouts.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Submitted by Laurie Bobley
In 2006 California high school seniors were required to pass an exit exam to graduate. The exit exam is intended to measure English, math and algebra skills. In that same year, 26,000 seniors dropped out of school - that’s 10,000 more dropouts than four years earlier.
California lawmakers and others, including the Human Resources Research Organization, recommended that rather than an exit test, alternative assessments be considered to measure proficiency in these subjects. One proposed alternative assessment was a high school student portfolio, similar to those required in Massachusetts and Washington state for graduation. The recommendation to use alternative assessments has been made before, but the superintendent of public instruction has without fail, opposed it.
The test results and the dropout rate indicate that the achievement gap is lingering. According to a report compiled by the Human Resources Research Organization, Black, Hispanic, and ELL students, in general, do worse than white and Asian students on the test. They score lower still when they attend schools with a high percentage of similar students.
One fact is hard to refute after examining these results. A large number of students are not meeting the academic mark.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Nicole's Curent Issue #4
Nicole Dagro
Language Arts and Technology
Current Event #4
Due 11.13.07
Title: Learning tool for Spanish speakers to be added at high schools; Grant from Mexican Consulate
Author: Benjamin Price
Source: CEC SmartBrief
Athens Banner-Herald
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/102907/news%2020071029041.shtml.
Publication Date: October 29, 2007
I found an article discussing software that was developed for Spanish speaking students. The software is called “Plaza Communitaria,” or “Communication Plaza.” A school in Clarke County, Georgia received a grant from the Mexican government that has allowed them to obtain this software. They will be one of the first schools in Georgia to implement it. The software provides students with the curriculum they learn in English in their classes’ everyday, in Spanish. They may access the software after school.
The article states how it is very hard for students who do not speak English to gain the academic language they need for science, math, etc. They must learn English and gain this academic vocabulary at the same time. The software provides that extra support to help them master the content in their own language. The article also states that the software can be used to obtain a GED or a Mexican equivalency diploma.
This article relates to our Language Arts and Technology class because we are always discussing how we will reach all types of students. This software can do just that. We can now reach those who need the extra support in their own language when we would not have been able to do it before. Technology is aiding us to reach more students. This article also relates to our class because we are always looking for ways to increase literacy using technology, hence the name of the class. This software helps to increase literacy for students whose first language is not English. Although the software provides them with the curriculum in Spanish, they are gaining the academic words they will need to understand the concepts in English. Once they gain this vocabulary in Spanish they can begin to make connections to English.
This article opened my eyes to technology I did not know existed. Last semester, when I was completing my student teaching, I had students in my second placement that really did not speak English. There were books I could make photo copies out of and give to them, but I did not know if they really understood the material because I could not communicate with them. I believe that this software is a great idea and wonderful tool because now students who may not have graduated because of the language barrier or students, whose academic potential didn’t show because of the language barrier, have a chance to excel. I think that this program could open many doors to students all over the country and it should be available in all schools. I know we are a long way from that, but maybe one day it could happen.
Language Arts and Technology
Current Event #4
Due 11.13.07
Title: Learning tool for Spanish speakers to be added at high schools; Grant from Mexican Consulate
Author: Benjamin Price
Source: CEC SmartBrief
Athens Banner-Herald
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/102907/news%2020071029041.shtml.
Publication Date: October 29, 2007
I found an article discussing software that was developed for Spanish speaking students. The software is called “Plaza Communitaria,” or “Communication Plaza.” A school in Clarke County, Georgia received a grant from the Mexican government that has allowed them to obtain this software. They will be one of the first schools in Georgia to implement it. The software provides students with the curriculum they learn in English in their classes’ everyday, in Spanish. They may access the software after school.
The article states how it is very hard for students who do not speak English to gain the academic language they need for science, math, etc. They must learn English and gain this academic vocabulary at the same time. The software provides that extra support to help them master the content in their own language. The article also states that the software can be used to obtain a GED or a Mexican equivalency diploma.
This article relates to our Language Arts and Technology class because we are always discussing how we will reach all types of students. This software can do just that. We can now reach those who need the extra support in their own language when we would not have been able to do it before. Technology is aiding us to reach more students. This article also relates to our class because we are always looking for ways to increase literacy using technology, hence the name of the class. This software helps to increase literacy for students whose first language is not English. Although the software provides them with the curriculum in Spanish, they are gaining the academic words they will need to understand the concepts in English. Once they gain this vocabulary in Spanish they can begin to make connections to English.
This article opened my eyes to technology I did not know existed. Last semester, when I was completing my student teaching, I had students in my second placement that really did not speak English. There were books I could make photo copies out of and give to them, but I did not know if they really understood the material because I could not communicate with them. I believe that this software is a great idea and wonderful tool because now students who may not have graduated because of the language barrier or students, whose academic potential didn’t show because of the language barrier, have a chance to excel. I think that this program could open many doors to students all over the country and it should be available in all schools. I know we are a long way from that, but maybe one day it could happen.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Current issue #3
Summarized By Allyson McDowell
The Outsourced Brain
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: October 26, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/opinion/26brooks.html?_r=3&ex=1351137600&en=0a18e911e776977e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
When I read this article I immediately thought of “The Giver” by Lois Lowery. David Brooks paints a dismal picture of sameness which is a frightening look at the future. More and more we are beginning to depend on technology to do everything for us. If David is correct in his anthology we will soon become a society dependant on technology to think and do for us.
He calls the externalization of geographic information from his brain to a GPS nirvana by the establishment of a romantic attachment. He continues by saying that the magic of the age of information is becoming mindless.
All memory is now externalized into various silicone memory banks that do everything thereby freeing us to think of nothing.
We now have iTunes for music sampling, Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia for memory Black Berry or Palm Pilot for personal information storage.
Think of it a third of under 30’s cannot remember their own phone number, they are foregoing memory before they have to do so.
Are you thinking yet.
Summarized By Allyson McDowell
The Outsourced Brain
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: October 26, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/opinion/26brooks.html?_r=3&ex=1351137600&en=0a18e911e776977e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
When I read this article I immediately thought of “The Giver” by Lois Lowery. David Brooks paints a dismal picture of sameness which is a frightening look at the future. More and more we are beginning to depend on technology to do everything for us. If David is correct in his anthology we will soon become a society dependant on technology to think and do for us.
He calls the externalization of geographic information from his brain to a GPS nirvana by the establishment of a romantic attachment. He continues by saying that the magic of the age of information is becoming mindless.
All memory is now externalized into various silicone memory banks that do everything thereby freeing us to think of nothing.
We now have iTunes for music sampling, Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia for memory Black Berry or Palm Pilot for personal information storage.
Think of it a third of under 30’s cannot remember their own phone number, they are foregoing memory before they have to do so.
Are you thinking yet.
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