Friday, August 7, 2009

Journal #9 (NINE): Science + Technology = Creativity (and Fun!)

Mader, Jared (2009). Science + Technology = Creativity (and Fun!). Learning and Leading with Technology, 1, Retrieved 08/07/2009, from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=August_No_1_2&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4363&ContentID=23906&DirectListComboInd=D

This is a good article that gives science teachers some idea of how to incorporate video cameras, I-pods, and microphones in their classes but says nothing about tools that would actually be used in a scientific capacity. I take issue with the author and his opinion of scientist being linear thinkers. This cannot be farther from the truth. If scientific thinking was so linear then I doubt that there would be any scientific revolution. Mathematics and other sciences may have linear approaches to academic problems but science is hardly linear. The article gives ways to incorporate I-pods and video cameras to make learning fun (I hesitate to call them tools because they are entertainment devices) and give students ways to express their learning experiences. If you give students tools and time and be vague then they can find their own creativity and express the meaning of the content in their own way.

Would teachers benefit from incorporating assignments using these tools in their classrooms?

Of course they would. Assignments like these would break up the monotony of homework and traditional assignments.

Does this aid learning?

I think this aids in finding creativity and can aid learning because it makes the process of learning fun and students would be less likely to question the need to learn the material.

Journal #8 (EIGHT): Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One Learning

Bouterse, Brian (2009/08). Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One. Learning and Leading with Technology, 1, Retrieved 08/07/2009, from
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/L_L_August.htm

If you were in-charge of incorporating a One-to-One learning initiative in your school and needed some information on how to go about doing this or some general information about some common devices that schools use, then this article is a great starting point for you. This article focuses on selecting the portable computing device that will best meet the needs of your school or districts One-to-One learning initiative. This article includes some considerations that you must take into account such as: the purpose of the device, the device’s operation system, the applications and content that will be used, peripherals that will be used and the overall robustness of the device, when you are choosing a portable device. There are also side-by-side comparisons of some of the most commonly used devices but if you are seeking something a bit more specialized then it would be a good idea to perform a more detailed investigation of equipment that will best suite your classroom needs.

How useful is this information to a district that is thinking about implementing a One-to-One learning initiative?
The information presented here is common sense and would most likely be taken into account or already known by the instructor or administrator that is make the One-to-One change. The article only compares the most basic computers or “learning devices” (which is educational speak for laptop computer) and not specific models or applications that these devices would be used for.

Is this One-to-One initiative feasible in all schools?
No, since some schools do not get the same amount of funding as other schools. I all schools received the same amount of funding then I think this classroom model is not far off for all schools but not any time soon.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

My iMovie NETS - II & III

This is an iMovie that I created using iMovie software with video and audio clips provided my instructor. This video utilizes screen effects, titles, transitions, and recorded video and audio. This software is so simple to use would be easy to incorporate into the classroom.


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I am in the Program!

Well guys I am in the program and I was put in the Night Cohort, which kind of sucks but I am grateful to be in the program. Good luck to everyone else.

My Inspiration NETS - I & V












This was a fun project created with Inspiration 8 software. This software creates charts and outlines for just about any project you can think of. Try it out!

Welcome to Copyright Cove NETS - IV & V

This is a collaborative project about the copyright rules that teachers should be aware of when they are using work done by someone else for purposes of teaching. I would like to thank my partners Liliana Tucker and Alisa Dean for their collaboration, Hard work and Professionalism on this project.

Copyright Cove

Monday, August 3, 2009

A Web 2.0 Wiki Page I Created for Ed422 NETS - 2 & 3

This Wiki page was created using a site called Wetpaint. Wetpaint is a collaborative site that lets people who are interested in the same things post about their passion on a cool website without hassle.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Math-themed Crossword Puzzle for High School NETS - I & II

This is a math themed crossword puzzle for use in a high school mathematics class. I was very easy to create and there are plenty of tutorials on how to create this project on www.atomiclearning.com.

Ed422 Crossword

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Journal #7 (SEVEN): Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities

Reynard, Ruth (2009/07/15). Beyond social networking: Building toward learning communities. The Journal, Retrieved 08/01/2009, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2009/07/15/Beyond-Social-Networking-Building-Toward-Learning-Communities.aspx?Page=1

Ruth Reynard presented some interesting information on how social networking tools and other web 2.0 applications can be incorporated into the classroom to help students develop some much needed technology skills while at the same time learning in a fun and exciting way. Kids already use social networking tools to communicate with each other so why not take advantage of the tools and apply them to teaching and learning. Social networking provides a great way to expand the teacher’s options to convey information and keep the learning process fresh. The author suggests that through the use of social networking and other web 2.0 tools kids can develop other skills such as collaboration and discussion. I don’t think that students can learn these skills solely from using web 2.0 tools but it surely can help. It should be said that the teacher is still the most important part of learning as teachers dictate how students learn and by what methods they transfer information to their students.

Is it to a teachers benefit to incorporate web 2.0 tools into the classroom?
Absolutely it is. I have no doubt that theses are great tools for teachers and every teacher should try to use these tools in their classroom. I am going to try these when I have my own classroom. Let’s face it; this new generation is more computer literate than ever before so they would feel comfortable in the virtual environment. I my opinion these tools can only make a teacher’s job easier.

Are there drawbacks to using these tools in the classroom?
Of course, there are drawbacks to everything. Social networking sites weren’t designed to be used for educational purposes. The issue for teachers is how they are going to use these tools solely for academic purposes. For example; if a teacher creates a blog for a class to use, the blog can be viewed by anyone and anyone can leave comments on the blog. This can lead to undesirable use of the blog in a way that is not conducive to learning. Teachers must be careful when implementing the tools in their classrooms.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

PowerPoint on NETS-S Grades 9-12 Profile NETS - III

This powerpoint gives possible classroom ideas for 4 of the ISTE NETS for Students and how students in grades 9 to 12 can meet the student NETS standards.

Classroom Newsletter - NETS I

This is an introduction newsletter for a High School Math Class using M$ Word.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Journal #6 (SIX): "Don't Feed the Trolls"

Richardson, Karen W. (2008). Don't Feed The Trolls. Learning and Leading With Technology, 7, Retrieved 07/28/2009, from
http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=May_No_7_&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=3972&ContentID=20817&DirectListComboInd=D

Karen Richardson’s article “Don’t feed the trolls” is about the use of blogging for education purposes and the room for students to abuse the purpose of blogging for other unintended purposes. Richardson then outlines some of the more common rules for civil discourse in the online environment and how students should take responsibility for the way they handle themselves online. Richardson highlights a group called MOOse Crossing that seeks to teach children in the 9-13 age group about the rules of behavior online and also how they can abide by the rules and use self monitoring to develop civil discourse online. Overall there is nothing new for me to learn from this article but it does give some good information and resources to help teach younger kids about blogging and the overall rules of Netiquette when they are online.

Are kids more likely to behave with civil discourse if shown how?
For the most part I think that most kids would but without monitoring by an outside source or without the threat of penalty I don’t think a vast majority of kids would use civility. In my experience with online gaming I can tell you that there is no civil discourse in that environment and there never will be for the simple fact that you can say whatever you want to someone because you don’t have to be face to face with them and the worst thing that can happen to you is you get banned under the screen name you are using and can simply get a new one. Without threat of penalty this will never change.

Is civil discourse taught just for the online environment or is learned even before that?
I think that the way kids act online is a reflection of what kind of person they really are and how they really behave in real life. The way children act online is a window into how they have learned to behave either through their parents of the environment they have been raised. Until this is addressed then we cannot change the way children treat each other online.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Journal #4 (FOUR): Screencasting

A Screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output which is also called video screen capture, often containing some audio narration.
These videos show you how to perform something while the creator of the video can give you verbal instructions about what you are to complete. This is a really good tool for trying to convey a lesson or something that is hard to describe with a paragraph or word-of-mouth. This technology is really great if you need to describe how to perform some action within a software program. The majority of the threads on classroom 2.0 had to do with using Screencasting as a teaching tool as well as the best programs, read the cheapest program, for creating and distributing their Screencasts. The coolest idea I saw being discussed was the use of Screencasts on students’ ipods. That is the coolest idea ever because what student doesn’t own an ipod or some form of video MP3 player. The most popular programs were Windows Media Encoder and Camtasia for the PC, there were some other freeware programs but the people on the forum did not recommend them as the quality was not very good. Seems that this is one of the tools that are being adopted in the classroom for teachers to continue to help students with their assignments and test preparation. I am all for it and would implement this in my classroom.

Journal #3 (THREE): Assessment Made Easy

Zucker, Andrew A. (2009). Assessment Made Easy. Learning and Leading With Technology, 36, Retrieved 07,24,2009, from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=June_July_No_8_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4333&ContentID=23577&DirectListComboInd=D

Andrew Zucker outlines the success that the Denver School of Science and Technology, a charter school, is having with its one-to-one student-laptop program. The success Zucker notes, comes from the ability for teachers to provide instant feedback because of the laptops, thereby providing more opportunity for teachers to focus on the areas that students in their classes are struggling with. Teachers are now able to focus more on the areas of weakness of the students to better help them when it comes time to take the standardized tests throughout the year. Zucker makes important note that the Denver School of Science and Technology has as 40% of its students, kids that come from low income families and that the schools takes students based on a lottery. He also notes that this program is only possible due a million dollar grant from Hewlett Packard and another donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

Is it possible for all schools to adopt this type of program?
It is if H.P. is going to donate a million dollars to every school in the United States. This is a great program but somewhat unrealistic. It is creating great success for students at the DSST but what does this program really prove? That if you provide all students with technology that they will succeed, and go on to be accepted in a four year university? The author also does not note the enrollment numbers in his article for the DSST.

Is it possible to have this kind of success without the laptop computers?
Yes I believe it is. A school could just set up extra time for students that do not have access to a computer outside of class in its computer lab. Students also do not need laptops in the class to in order for teachers to carry out many of the lesson that Zucker alluded to, such as the teacher editing a students essay in class.

Journal #2 (TWO): How Teenagers Consume Media: the report that shook the city

Robson, Matthew (2009,07,13). How teenagers consume media: the report that shook the city. The Guardian, Retrieved 07,21,2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/13/teenage-media-habits-morgan-stanley

This article was written by a 15 year old named Matthew Robson so I don’t put much stock into the material presented. He merely sites how much teenagers use various types of media and the methods they use to access that media. I think it is important to note that the article is based on British teens and their habits. He gives what seem to be opinions on how much teens use the television, internet, newspapers, video game consoles (not games console, he clearly does not play video games), cell phones, radio and so on. Personally I don’t see how this report “shook the city.”

Did this article use sources for it figures cited or is it merely opinion and could it be used a credible source for a school assignment?
Clearly this is not a credibly source as it reads like an opinion column in the morning newspaper. I am pretty sure that 99% of all teens do not own a cell phone. The author gives no citing in his paper for his sources which tells me that this is not research but merely a teenagers’ opinion on technology. As a teen I used the yellow and white page quite frequently, just saying…

Where are good sources for teens and children to use on the internet?
Primarily the best websites and sources from the internet are on sites with the .edu extension and from published journals with a long history in publication. As teachers it is important that we are able to show teens and children where to find good sources for their research.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Journal #1 (ONE): Do Your Teachers Need Personal Trainers?

Owens, Aileen M. (2009). Do your teachers need personal trainers?. Learning and Leading With Technology, Retrieved 07/15/09, from http://www.iste.org/

This article is about providing training to teachers on ways that they can integrate technology in their classroom. Technology will help to evolve old lesson plans while making certain classroom activities easier for teachers and more exciting for students. The article describes a partnership that was formed between the Duquesne University Instructional Technology Department and the Mt. Lebanon school district in Pittsburgh in which Duquesne University would identify students with particular technology skills and those students would come to a particular school in the Mt. Lebanon school district and help teachers boost their technological skill set. These students would help teachers create lesson plans that would integrate technology into the teachings. The teachers would get technology help and the intern students would gain much needed experience with lesson plan design and student teacher training. Sounds like a win-win situation for the college students and the teachers.

Is it really a good idea to integrate so much technology into the classroom?
This is something that I have been thinking about even before I began the teaching program while still a student at San Diego State. If there is so much reliance on technology and having students use technology aren’t we just making lazy students and teachers? I have been tutoring for over a year now and can’t tell you frustrating it is to hear students say “why do this by hand, I can just use a calculator.” Students have become lazy and too reliant on technology. With the reliance on technology to complete assignments we are just alienating and making it hard for the student without access to a computer to complete assignments and thereby creating a classroom that is not equitable. I personally think there is too much reliance on technology.

Is this a good program and should more colleges create partnerships with school districts to run a plan like this?
I do think that this benefits schools tremendously by giving future teachers training in creating lesson plans and experience in front of a class while also helping older teachers become more tech-savvy and streamline their teaching practices.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Social Bookmarking

The National Archives
I chose to read about the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 and the tremendous toll on human life that occurred with its outbreak. There were numerous first-hand documents and pictures during this time of the outbreak. Sources such as these are invaluable to students as they research and construct projects or papers about events and people. Primary sources such as this are of great use in the classroom since their authenticity cannot be questioned.

The National Education Association
The four main ethnic groups that are the most susceptible to achievement gaps are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Every teacher should learn the demographics in the area he or she will be teaching in as this is a good way to learn about the students that will be attending your class. This will also help you to incorporate cultural ideas into you lesson plans. The third thing a teacher should do is to network with parents and the communities that they will be teaching in. It will help you learn a lot about the students by seeing how they integrate into their communities and what sort of communal values they hold. Incorporating these into you classroom with help you to deal with diversity in your classroom.

Cyber Bullying
Well I scored a 6 so apparently I am cyber risky. My score comes primarily from my online gaming habit. I don’t use other peoples’ account information and things such as that. I cannot believe that in this day and age people don’t think about these things more. Parents should teach their kids that once you post something on the internet it is public domain. Especially if you publish to Facebook and social sites like that where the company or website has ownership of whatever you post. Teenangels would be a great tool for any classroom, helping to teach teens about internet dangers would most helpful as parents cannot be relied on to do such things.

Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators
Under “Subject Access” I chose Mathematics of course and chose a site called Mathworld. This site is actually called Wolfram Mathworld. I use this site all the time to look up Mathematical formulas and definitions. This site would be of great use to any educator that is teaching mathematics or science. I do think it would be a little advanced for some high school students but a great asset to teachers.The rubric and Assessment area under “Teacher Helpers” was great as it provided all kinds of rubrics to assess almost anything you can in a classroom. This will be great for new teachers and old teachers looking to update their assessment tools.

Edutopia: Multiple Intelligences
My top three intelligences are (in order): Logical/Mathematical, Naturalistic, and Interpersonal.
I watched the video entitled: Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences. I do believe that all students learn in different ways and believe 100% that learning is not memorization of facts. I did not agree with Mr. Gardner on the fact that schools teach too many subjects though, schools can teach multiple subjects while still finding new ways to teach to a student’s learning strengths. The purpose of school is to expose students to a wide array of things and to broaden the ways in which they think about things, college is where you go to focus your studies to a few fields or subjects. If you only learn about certain subjects or ideas in school how are you going to find out what you are interested in?

Teaching Tolerance
I chose the upper grades, the subject is mathematics and the topic was tolerance. The lesson plan described was from a professor at the university of Texas El Paso and considered of a table with different functions in the first column and the other columns consisting of a trait by which a function could be classified. After filling in the table students were asked if it was difficult to find a characteristic that is universal to all the functions in the table. Students were then asked if a group of people could all share the same trait. This was an ingenious way to get students to look at tolerance with a mathematical perspective. I would definitely use this in the classroom and maybe incorporate a little MS Excel in the exercise to give my students some exposure to a widely used software application.

EdChange: Multicultural Education
I found it pretty alarming that 84.5% of gay, lesbian or transgender high school students say that their teachers do not respond to homophobic remarks in the classroom. I though educators were supposed to created safe learning environments for all their students? That is really sad.
It is pretty disgusting that the CEO makes what and average American worker makes in a day. There is something really wrong with that. What the hell does a CEO do that it warrants that kind of salary. No person is worth that kind of money.

Netiquette
My Netiquette score was 80%. Since a lot of learning is taking place over the internet it is very important that students become familiar with Netiquette. Netiquette is another way to help people to communicate in a civil way when you are not face to face with that person. It can also help to eliminate any misunderstandings there might be since you cannot gauge how a person feels over the internet. :)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Introduction Letter of Ricardo Amador


My name is Ricardo Amador and I was born right here in San Diego California. My family (before my brother was born) lived in Otay Mesa for about a year and a half and then moved to La Mesa. I attended elementary, middle and high school in La Mesa. I went to La Mesa Dale Elementary School, La Mesa Middle School and Helix High School before moving on to Grossmont Community College. I went to Grossmont for about a semester a then dropped out to become an Electrician. I did that job for about 3 years and decided it was time to get serious, so I re-enrolled in Grossmont and received my Associates degree in Mathematics and then transferred to San Diego State University. I graduated from SDSU with a degree in Applied Mathematics. I am hopping to get either a Masters degree in Mathematics or Statistics.

I have plenty of experience in technology due to my course work for my undergraduate and my experience in the engineering industry. Pretty much all of my experience with technology is oriented towards mathematical applications. The majority of my experience is with Microsoft Excel and mathematical software like Maple, Matlab, and Minitab. I also have programming experience with Java, Visual Basic and C++. It makes me sad that all these skills are becoming rusty as I have nothing to apply them to at the moment.
I am a PC at the moment, but the more I use the Mac, the more I think about switching over. The problem is that outside of the video editing industry and educational institutions PC’s are what is being used and not to mention I currently have a lot of expensive mathematics software (some of it not so legal) that I would not be able to use if I switched to a Mac.

Honestly I had no idea that the college of education had a mission statement until the first day of my 350 class. This pretty much means that it was not a factor in my decision to apply to CSUSM. I applied based on the good words that others have said about the program after finishing it. However I do feel strongly about educational equity, as in the mission statement. Every student should be given what he or she needs to help them succeed. As a future educator I would work to make sure this is something that done for all of my future students.