I did my presentation on Irish Dancing. This a topic that not everybody knows about, but that is very interesting to learn about. I have been Irish Dancing since 1995, my Dad has played the bagpipes since 1994, & my Mom, Sister, & whole family are very big into our Irish culture; so I thought this would be a great thing for me to share my knowledge of. This lesson could be taught around St Patricks Day in March, through a unit teaching the Irish culture.
Most of my effects & the music changed when I uploaded it as a GoogleDoc, but here is my PowerPoint Presentation on Irish Dancing...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Video Games.. & Learning?
Gee says that a good video game includes a lot of cognitive learning strategies, that are generally not learned in the classroom. He thinks these strategies should be taught & learned in the class, & that is one of the benefits of a good video game. He says a good video game will not be so easy the player becomes uninterested or bored, & not so hard that they give up.
I see both sides of the big debate on using computer and video games in the classroom, and have an opinion that is basically right in the middle. I know that different skills & strategies can be developed through video games, but I also know that learning can be done as good without playing a game. I have a hard time with them being used because teachers & parents can use them as a babysitter or time filler, & dont always pay 100% attention to what the child is doing. I also feel that some of the skills (like preparing for life outside of school) should be taught by a person, & not a machine. However, I do see the good aspects in how they can be a tool to enhance learning & reach children on a different level.
Scratch can be used in the classroom as a learning tool, to work on already developed skills; such as reviewing spelling words or math problems. The students are also able to learn through the aspect of creating a game, & reviewing the skills needed to know to play the game.
I see both sides of the big debate on using computer and video games in the classroom, and have an opinion that is basically right in the middle. I know that different skills & strategies can be developed through video games, but I also know that learning can be done as good without playing a game. I have a hard time with them being used because teachers & parents can use them as a babysitter or time filler, & dont always pay 100% attention to what the child is doing. I also feel that some of the skills (like preparing for life outside of school) should be taught by a person, & not a machine. However, I do see the good aspects in how they can be a tool to enhance learning & reach children on a different level.
Scratch can be used in the classroom as a learning tool, to work on already developed skills; such as reviewing spelling words or math problems. The students are also able to learn through the aspect of creating a game, & reviewing the skills needed to know to play the game.
Blogging Activity Thoughts
I thought that the blogging activity with the students was a really neat & great idea. It was impressive to see how well they were able to communicate with us & each other using technology, such as the internet & a blog. I have not been out of school that long, but it still surprises me how much technology has changed & become such a big part of the curriculum. I always had computer classes during school, but we mainly learned how to type & make little projects. We were never allowed to use the internet until we got to High School. But even then, it was very protected & only for research purposes. We were never given the opportunity to blog with another class of students our age or college students! I think if we had blogged, it would of been an enjoyable & good learning experience. My only slight concern would be to always make sure that comments & blog postings are read over by the teacher first, before they are allowed to be posted (like how our comments needed approval). I would probably use blogging with my future class. It is a way for the students to receive more input, opinions, & to learn even more.
Scratch
Scratch Content Standards:
21C.S.PK-2.1: The student will access, analyze, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in a variety of forms using appropriate technology skills and communicate that information in an appropriate oral, written, or multimedia format.
RLA.6.1.13: Students will spell commonly misspelled words, easily confused words and words with irregular endings across the curriculum.
Here is the Scratch that I choose to Remix:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/pinkguin121/714323
I decided to change the background color, font type, & size of the cat. This made the scratch look more visually appealing & easier to look at.
Here is the Scratch after I Remixed it:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/mrsmalott/793450
21C.S.PK-2.1: The student will access, analyze, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in a variety of forms using appropriate technology skills and communicate that information in an appropriate oral, written, or multimedia format.
RLA.6.1.13: Students will spell commonly misspelled words, easily confused words and words with irregular endings across the curriculum.
Here is the Scratch that I choose to Remix:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/pinkguin121/714323
I decided to change the background color, font type, & size of the cat. This made the scratch look more visually appealing & easier to look at.
Here is the Scratch after I Remixed it:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/mrsmalott/793450
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Irish Dance Presentation
I am trying to upload my Power Point before class, like we are supposed to.. but I do not know how to. It will not let me from the Google Docs & I do not know where else it would get uploaded from or how to do it. I have been trying for awhile now, & I guess I will have to wait to class to do it. sorry!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dr Jenkins - Convergence Culture
Dr Henry Jenkins explains in his video that convergence culture is a mixture of new media with the old. The new media doesn't completely take over, making the old media disappear. Rather, the old and new media blend together to make the new convergence culture.
Convergence culture can be seen by integration of technology into the classroom. Instead of teachers using traditional chalkboards and filmstrips, teachers are now integrating the use of SmartBoards into their classes. These SmartBoards can be used for everything, even for the child to use under the teacher's supervision. By incorporating technology into the classroom, the students are able to learn and understand how to use the different types of media that is out there. This allows them to be comfortable working with technology, which is important in our culture.
Schools restrict the use of technology by not allowing students to use their cell phones, social networking sites, YouTube, or iPods. Under proper supervision, they can be used as different ways to learn and answer questions. They can be a distraction or cause trouble if not used properly, but that is another reason they should be allowed. Students can learn how to properly use these technological tools for learning purposes, by guidance and monitoring done by the teachers. It is important to incorporate technology into the classroom, in all of the different aspects, because students need to learn how to properly use it. Technology is only going to get bigger in our culture, and proper understanding and use of it is essential.
Convergence culture can be seen by integration of technology into the classroom. Instead of teachers using traditional chalkboards and filmstrips, teachers are now integrating the use of SmartBoards into their classes. These SmartBoards can be used for everything, even for the child to use under the teacher's supervision. By incorporating technology into the classroom, the students are able to learn and understand how to use the different types of media that is out there. This allows them to be comfortable working with technology, which is important in our culture.
Schools restrict the use of technology by not allowing students to use their cell phones, social networking sites, YouTube, or iPods. Under proper supervision, they can be used as different ways to learn and answer questions. They can be a distraction or cause trouble if not used properly, but that is another reason they should be allowed. Students can learn how to properly use these technological tools for learning purposes, by guidance and monitoring done by the teachers. It is important to incorporate technology into the classroom, in all of the different aspects, because students need to learn how to properly use it. Technology is only going to get bigger in our culture, and proper understanding and use of it is essential.
Presentation
I am going to be doing my presentation on Irish Dancing. This is something I have personally been involved in since I was 10 years old, & can make for a fascinating lesson. I think it could be taught in a classroom during a lesson based around St Patricks Day, & teaching about Ireland & their culture. I have actually did a mini lesson on Irish Dancing with an After School Program (children ages 5-10) & they all loved it!! I hope to teach everyone something new!
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