Item #22

Wiki's in education seem like a great way of moving away from some of the older project ideas like posters, diaramas and other such antiquated project ideas. Students can easily work collaboratively on the computer to create the wiki and it cna be used for future students to learn and grow from that project. With an older type of project, students would post their poster, display it for a set amount of time, then bring it home. How many of us saved all of those fine pieces of work? How many of us took it home and threw it away? This is a project that can continue on...I like that.

Item 23

Wow, what a wealth of knowledge. Thank you Joan and Maureen for putting this project/class together. I think I'm going to miss the hand guy and his simple explainations for different ideas. I truly enjoyed learning about the variety of ideas you put on this class, and would love to have a day of inservice to sit, play, review with colleagues, and even put together projects to use this year using some of these topics. Students would truly enjoy making a wiki and it would teach the teachers that there are other methods out there.

The movie demonstrated how fast the world changes, and that couldn't be a more accurate depiction of the world. We are the editors of the future, we are the publishers of the future, we are the brain behind the chip. Staying stagnant is not an option, the second you stop, technology life will pass you by.

Thank you again for showing me all of these ideas...technology classes in the elementary level will not be the same as they have in the past.

Item 21

I like the idea of Wiki's as a collaborative project and would love to see them in place of PowerPoints, or posters (ahhhhh, no more poster projects!!!!) I like the idea of utilizing them across the curriculum with basic math concepts, and having students explain math concepts in terms other students might understand vs. a teacher trying to explain the same topic.

I like the idea of collaborative work in a space that can be shared and used for future students. When a student creates a PowerPoint or a poster, what happens to it when they are done showing off their work? It gets saved in their folder or probably thrown away, there is no use to future students, with a wiki, other students can move forward on that project or learn from previous students efforts.

Item #20

I have often thought about the world of Ebooks and how they could change so much of what we do in the academic arena. I watch students walk into the building with these heavy backpacks that are half of their weight. Well, that problem could be solved if we either use an Ebook concept, or put the books on a jump drive and have the students read on the computer vs. a book.

Ebooks will not only be more environmentally friendly, as they would save millions of trees, they would allow students the ability to bring their homework or reading assignments wherever they go in a non bulky method.

I reviewed the Kindle site, and see the benefits of utilizing that system, but I have to say, I'm partial to the idea of an IPAD. If you just want a reader or Ibook system then the Kindle or a device similiar to a kindle would work fine, it enlarges the text, it's a nice size, text appears easy to read, but it's limited to what else it can do. The battery will last as long as a space shuttle mission....ummmm, ok, are we sending kids into space???? If so, can I volunteer a few choice students?

The Kindle is lighter and smaller than the IPOD, has free wireless and has no extra costs associated (monthly charges), so to a parent, having a child have a device ONLY for reading might be beneficial and doesn't tempt the child to download a game to play that instead of working, but I still like the multi-functional use of a IPAD. The downside to an IPAD is that it's heavier, has more items on it to distract from the learning process and requires a monthly service or a wireless connection of some sort.

The online system for downloading an ebook is fairly simple, the google ebook page is very well organized by topic, and I like that they have some of the more popular ebooks there for me to view. When you put your mouse on the book it gives you more information, which is nice.

Overall, I'm hoping that the world of ebooks and ebook readers moves into the academic world sometime in the VERY near future. Now we just need to create an elibrary where you can borrow a book, and when the specific time period is up to borrow a book, it is removed from the reader so that the borrowing system stays in place. Buying books will get costly, borrwing is a system that has worked for over a century since the first public library was established.

Item #19

Hmmmm, I like this, I think I like this a lot. As a computer teacher, I'm often showing multiple steps in a slow motion so that my students can see the steps, hear me explain how to navigate to specific areas, and then have them do each step with me. This is a lot of work, and sometimes a lot for a young child to remember. What if I had a screen capture that somehow continued on a loop so they can see the steps over and over again, so if they get lost they can work through the issue themselves? I wonder if that would work. I'm just thinking out loud, but I think this is a good idea. I used screen castle and couldn't be happier. This is the easiest thing I've done all day. I attempted to add the video in here, but I'm thinking the file is too big, it's amazing how quickly a movie gobbles up memory. I am not converting the file, let's see if that works. I think that will be a huge issue if I choose to do this at work. Will Craig Holland have a heart attack if I use screen captures often? Hmmmmm...one to ponder on for the evening. OK, maybe this file is too big,I attempted to convert the file...that didn't work. I redid the screen capture, it's not quite as informative, but it may attach to this post.

Hmmm, this is what I'm getting...
Sorry, there was an error uploading your video. Please contact support and include the following information:
Blog Id:8432496921222682983
Video Id:

Item #18-Podcasting

I have listened to Podcasts before, some more interesting than others. There have been times where I've downloaded a podcast to the IPOD, and taken the dog for a walk and worked and walked at the same time. Multitasking in both my personal life and my professional life makes me feel like I've spent that time well. Jack, my dog agrees with me
First I went to a Podcast on educational technology gaming and simulation. I was excited to hear what they had to say on this topic because I truly enjoy watching education come to life when I find a great online interactive activity or simulation. First, I will teach a topic then I love to incorporate some type of online interactive activity to see how many students I actually got through to. I also learn, who I didn't reach, who I need to sit with a little bit longer, and who is ready for the next step, and everyone seems to have fun when they learn with this style of teaching.

I listened to the podcast and was disappointed when they were very excited and spoke about second life, which is a world that my students are not only not ready for, but an online world that I don't believe is appropriate for elementary students.

My second podcast I went to was about Moodles. I like the name, never heard the term, so I listened in on that information. It's a way for teachers to create an online classroom with information, wiki's, activities, pretty much everything a teacher needs. It's an interesting system, and one that has been used quite a bit in England. I ventured to the site, and read more on there. It looks very user friendly, seems easy to understand and navitage so now my next step is go in and play and create an online classroom and put it to the test.