The English major/geek in me loves using the verb "e-porting". Woo!
I wonder if last year's SMACers did too??
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Oh the places you'll go...
Last night we, almost veteran MACers, got a chance to meet the incoming MACers. It was almost a surreal experience... and I'm not quite sure why.
I wasn't present at this meeting last year, but I remember clearly the anticipation of beginning the program in June 08. The filling out the questionnaires, finding out who my mentor would be, making the move to A2, visiting my placement for the first time...
And the weirdest part? I can barely believe that it's been only a year. So much has happened! And I think I say this every year... but this year has been so jam packed full of experiences sometimes I think I'm on overload.
They warned us... that this year we would be busy. And I thought to myself! Ha! Of course I can do this! I've been busy before... but this is a different kind of busy. But I'm happy as well as tired...
All those memories of the summer before are so clear in my mind, and I can hardly believe that I've come to know so many people in such a short amount of time.
And oh the things I've learned about people about teaching... the list is endless. Sometimes I feel as if I've experienced more in this year than I did in my four years of undergrad. Amazing and amusing.
I wasn't present at this meeting last year, but I remember clearly the anticipation of beginning the program in June 08. The filling out the questionnaires, finding out who my mentor would be, making the move to A2, visiting my placement for the first time...
And the weirdest part? I can barely believe that it's been only a year. So much has happened! And I think I say this every year... but this year has been so jam packed full of experiences sometimes I think I'm on overload.
They warned us... that this year we would be busy. And I thought to myself! Ha! Of course I can do this! I've been busy before... but this is a different kind of busy. But I'm happy as well as tired...
All those memories of the summer before are so clear in my mind, and I can hardly believe that I've come to know so many people in such a short amount of time.
And oh the things I've learned about people about teaching... the list is endless. Sometimes I feel as if I've experienced more in this year than I did in my four years of undergrad. Amazing and amusing.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Just a Thought
I love colored chalk. No. Really. It's great. Especially pink chalk. That stuff is awesome.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
MACUL Application/Reflection (sort of)
It is finally spring break! Though it doesn't truly feel like spring outside. In fact it feels like fall: cold, windy, and dreary. But I think I'll take this opportunity to reflect on what I learned from MACUL... those many weeks ago.
Twitter is fun, addictive, and when used correctly, I imagine effective for certain purposes (though I have not updated in weeks). LiveBlogging has potential... though I wish the comments made by others participating would show automatically on the screen. Otherwise, it just looks like I'm talking to myself.
I attended a session about how to use Powerpoint effectively in the classroom. And one of the interesting pieces of information I learned during this session was the effectiveness of placing a picture on a slide and having the text on a separate sheet of paper (handout).
So.
I decided to attempt a lesson using this suggested method. The lesson was with my 11th graders on the characteristics of Gothicism. Actually, I was quite proud of this lesson. I got some great pictures (classic paintings and the like) that I thought really embodied Gothicism. What I didn't take into account was the following...
The importance of an LCD projector.
Powerpoints in my classroom must be given through the television set. The quality of the Powerpoint slides then goes down dramatically. My students were squinting trying to see what was on the screen. And the impact that I was hoping for? Kind of missed it...
Alright I have to admit there were more factors other than the technological that got in the way. However, I'm going to try look into a possible LCD Projector that I might be able to borrow. Maybe? I don't do Powerpoints that often, but to engage visually oriented learners it might be a good idea to try this type of lesson again with something that might make the images have more impact.
Twitter is fun, addictive, and when used correctly, I imagine effective for certain purposes (though I have not updated in weeks). LiveBlogging has potential... though I wish the comments made by others participating would show automatically on the screen. Otherwise, it just looks like I'm talking to myself.
I attended a session about how to use Powerpoint effectively in the classroom. And one of the interesting pieces of information I learned during this session was the effectiveness of placing a picture on a slide and having the text on a separate sheet of paper (handout).
So.
I decided to attempt a lesson using this suggested method. The lesson was with my 11th graders on the characteristics of Gothicism. Actually, I was quite proud of this lesson. I got some great pictures (classic paintings and the like) that I thought really embodied Gothicism. What I didn't take into account was the following...
The importance of an LCD projector.
Powerpoints in my classroom must be given through the television set. The quality of the Powerpoint slides then goes down dramatically. My students were squinting trying to see what was on the screen. And the impact that I was hoping for? Kind of missed it...
Alright I have to admit there were more factors other than the technological that got in the way. However, I'm going to try look into a possible LCD Projector that I might be able to borrow. Maybe? I don't do Powerpoints that often, but to engage visually oriented learners it might be a good idea to try this type of lesson again with something that might make the images have more impact.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Web 2.0
So I haven't been following one edublog exactly... but the 2008 Edublog Awards were recently given and I found this one known as the Generation Yes Blog (this blog appears to have the aim of empowering students with technology). It's an blog run by three people, and the entries here seem especially timely, particularly the one on the new Secretary of Education and... the one on Web 2.0 applications!
This Web 2.0 entry is the second part to a two-parter. The first part dealt with the problem of schools or districts basing their plans on Web 2.0 technology that is free and then the company failing, which would then be a huge problem. Therefore, Syliva (the blogger of these entries) came up with ten questions/ideas to consider before choosing a particular Web 2.0 application.
In particular the questions that rang true to me was: "Is it great? Would you pay for it?" and "How big are they?" I noticed, as Leanne and I searched for the application we were going to use for our webinar, that many sites offered two differing levels of membership (paid and unpaid). There are all sorts of neat gadgets out there, but if schools, teachers, and districts want to integrate these for the long term... there are many dimensions to consider, and at the bottom line is still money and motivation.
This Web 2.0 entry is the second part to a two-parter. The first part dealt with the problem of schools or districts basing their plans on Web 2.0 technology that is free and then the company failing, which would then be a huge problem. Therefore, Syliva (the blogger of these entries) came up with ten questions/ideas to consider before choosing a particular Web 2.0 application.
In particular the questions that rang true to me was: "Is it great? Would you pay for it?" and "How big are they?" I noticed, as Leanne and I searched for the application we were going to use for our webinar, that many sites offered two differing levels of membership (paid and unpaid). There are all sorts of neat gadgets out there, but if schools, teachers, and districts want to integrate these for the long term... there are many dimensions to consider, and at the bottom line is still money and motivation.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Technology and Classroom Management
Ah, yesterday was the second day that I 'substitute' taught in my classroom. It was a fairly laid back day; for the most part we watched movies (Renaissance Man and Twelfth Night).
Something interesting though... I like to think myself as pretty tech savvy... but when I began playing one of the DVDs, I didn't realize that the volume for the computer could be adjusted externally (we don't have DVD players hooked up to the television, we have to play DVDs through the computer). What ensued was a lesson in classroom management. I told the students that if they wanted to hear the film, they would have to be quiet because I couldn't turn the volume up any higher. And they were quiet! They really were enjoying Renaissance Man.It was fun to see that happen. Also, telling the class the only other alternative to watching the film is reading is oddly effective, though highly disconcerting.
Our school was/is having a no hall pass policy, and in order to use the bathroom during class, a student has to be escorted. That really cuts down on people wanting to leave randomly during class work!
As for acting as a substitute teacher, it was a learning experience. I got a chance to see just how many little decisions must be made throughout the day that are not necessarily related to curriculum.
Something interesting though... I like to think myself as pretty tech savvy... but when I began playing one of the DVDs, I didn't realize that the volume for the computer could be adjusted externally (we don't have DVD players hooked up to the television, we have to play DVDs through the computer). What ensued was a lesson in classroom management. I told the students that if they wanted to hear the film, they would have to be quiet because I couldn't turn the volume up any higher. And they were quiet! They really were enjoying Renaissance Man.It was fun to see that happen. Also, telling the class the only other alternative to watching the film is reading is oddly effective, though highly disconcerting.
Our school was/is having a no hall pass policy, and in order to use the bathroom during class, a student has to be escorted. That really cuts down on people wanting to leave randomly during class work!
As for acting as a substitute teacher, it was a learning experience. I got a chance to see just how many little decisions must be made throughout the day that are not necessarily related to curriculum.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
