Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Advocating Creativity!

Creativity is vitally important in the lives of children AND adults.

Creativity can improve a child's self-esteem, motivation and achievement...students who are encouraged to think creatively and independently become interested in discovering things for themselves, they are more open to new ideas, and are ready and willing to work with others and explore new ideas.

Creativity prepares our students for the future; for life.

Creativity enriches the lives of children.

Encouraging creativity in young children is a PROCESS. Teachers have to open their own minds and allow, accept, and turn over their control to the children themselves.

Once again, my TE 401 class has provided me with a wonderful example of a technique that fosters creativity through the use of digital images. Here it is...Digital Storytelling. Anyone heard of it? Has anyone created their own digital story? Well, the gist of it is this...

"Digital Storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. As with traditional storytelling, most digital stories focus on a specific topic and contain a particular point of view. However, as the name implies, digital stories usually contain some mixture of computer-based images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. Digital stories can vary in length, but most of the stories used in education typically last between two and ten minutes. And the topics that are used in Digital Storytelling range from personal tales to the recounting of historical events, from exploring life in one's own community to the search for life in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between." (http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/)

If you're interested...the following link will take you to a sample Digital Story :)

A second grader's autobiography

What do you think?

I've been working with a group of peers today, and we're preparing to present a technique for teaching social studies to my TE 401 class in the next few weeks. Our topic is whether or not our country should continue to celebrate Columbus Day...should it be called Native American Day? Personally, I believe the name should be changed and what we are celebrating needs to get a closer look. Genocide? Conquest? Are these concepts really what we are teaching our children to value???

Obviously, good ol' Columbus is no longer with us (although the mythological figure is...) but here is a photo of a Columbus memorial, located in downtown Baltimore...


Flickr Photo CC by Brent and MariLynn

Observe. Talk. Listen.

Today, I had a pretty cool encounter with a new way to utilize technology in a classroom. It's called Today's Meet. Today's Meet is a great resource for educators.

Imagine you are giving a presentation and you realize that your audience is no longer listening, in fact, they are passing notes, whispering, and falling asleep. Why are they tuning out your very interesting (that was sarcasm) lecture? Well, chances are, they either don't understand what you are talking about, they don't care where the lecture is headed, or they simply don't feel that their attention is needed.

Today's Meet is a resource that can prevent your audience from tuning you out. A lot like Twitter, Today's Meet is an instantaneous messaging online application; however, a social networking tool, such as Twitter isn't always appropriate. A few reasons being...your desired audience may not have Twitter accounts, or you simply do not want to have a public discussion forum. And that is where Today's Meet steps up to bat...

"Today's Meet gives you an isolated room where you can see only what you need to see, and your audience doesn't need to learn any new tools like hash tags to keep everything together"

So, rather than have your audience snooze and miss your awesome lecture due to boredom, you can now create an online classroom where students can post comments on your lecture and you can see these comments immediately, see participation, and tweak your lecture in whatever way necessary!

Wheeeww! Here's a link to the site so you can get a feel for it yourself...let me know if you have any questions :)

http://todaysmeet.com/

Friday, September 25, 2009

Michigan State University’s 4-H Children’s Garden

Just this past Thursday, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a class field trip to the 4-H Children’s Garden on the south end of Campus. My TE 401 course (concerning the methods of teaching Science to elementary students) is composed of seniors preparing for a career in elementary education. The objectives of the class field trip was to discuss the positive and negative aspects of school field trips, discuss how to create a memorable and educational field trip, and observe and experience the 4-H Children’s Garden programs and technology available to teachers.

First, I would like to say that having the opportunity to take a walk-through of the gardens from the perspective of a future teacher was really beneficial. I had never had an opportunity quite like that before. I believe the personnel and educators who make themselves available for children/classes, and who create these experiences for children that are not only educational, but fun and exciting, should be venerated! The fact that these people create such long-lasting memories for these kids is amazing. Science is a subject that completely surrounds us and by crafting such fun programs, programs that can last days or even weeks, MSU is instilling a life-long appreciation for science in our future leaders.

Secondly, I want to point out just how a-head of the game the curator of the 4-H Children’s Garden is. Dr. Norm Lownds was able to demonstrate just how technologically advanced their program is becoming. They have integrated a Smart Board into the “Curiosity Classroom” (the main classroom in which classes and children enter to do experiments, arts and crafts, discussions, lectures, etc.). The Smart Board they have installed enables instructors to fully integrate technology into their lesson introductions and follow-ups; in doing so, the hands-on experiences the children participated in in the gardens is enhanced and expanded on. Dr. Lownds and his colleagues also created a kids’ website/wiki page called “Seeds of Science”. This online application is an interactive arena where children can log-on and discuss what they experienced on their field-trips, they can ask questions and get immediate feed-back, and they can also take a virtual tour of the Gardens; the website also has photos, e-newsletters, videos, chat capabilities, web-cams, and so much more. The way in which Norm and his colleagues were able to arrange and establish their interactive online application, positively influences children’s excitement, involvement and motivation.

As a future teacher, I hope to follow their example of technology integration…I will use technology to enhance and expand, NOT impede.

Surrender to What Is...Always Say Yes to the Present Moment

It’s Friday afternoon. I’m sitting on my patio, journaling away; taking in the sunshine and listening to the sounds of my neighbors discuss what kind of beer they’d like to drink later this evening. If it were a normal Friday afternoon, I would currently be sitting in a cubicle, staring blankly at a computer screen, surrounded by background noise…the scanner scanning, the copy machine copying, the secretaries gossiping, you know, the normal day to day monotony of state government offices. However, today is not a normal 8 to 5 work-day on the 5th floor of the Department of Natural Resources. In fact, it’s far from it. Rather than drag myself out of bed at 7 am, I decided to take a mental health day. Yes, I’m playing hooky, and while I believe that I have every right to be doing so, I still feel guilty. But why do I feel guilty? I work hard, I study, I go to class, and if I’m not in class, I’m at work, (well…except for today). But really, why do I feel so guilty for taking ONE day for myself?

In our society, everything is always rush here, hurry there, do this, don’t do that…It’s beginning to feel as if our world is a never ending assembly line, and stopping to take a break or taking a moment to merely wipe the sweat off your brow, will cause everything to come crashing down. Everywhere I go, and no matter whom I talk to, at some point in the conversation that certain haggard lament will arise with a weary sigh: "Ugh! I’m sooo busy, I need a break!” or how about this one, “I never have any time for myself. School is taking over my life!” It seems there's never time to sit back and relax—and if we do, we feel guilty. I believe that life should be more than the 40 hours a week spent on the job or in the classroom, or fulfilling mundane responsibilities. How is it possible that in this complicated 21st century, in a society filled with time-saving devices, a person can’t seem to find the time to take a deep breath and just sit back? Is it EVEN possible? Our calendar has Labor Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. It seems there’s a day for everything. But where’s my day, where’s your day?

But here’s the irony…as soon as that tiny break presents itself; a compulsion to fill it seems to take over. Immediately, we’re rushing to surf the net, talk on our cell phones, play a computer game, go grocery shopping, or something. We find it nearly impossible to sit still. And THAT is the problem. People are unable to simply be. For some reason, society and our own mind, has convinced us that we should never just sit without anything happening, or without DOING something.

Lying in the sunshine without a book or cell phone and allowing your mind to simply cease has become a lost art, as is staring deeply into a crackling fire, or sitting peacefully and contemplating a beautiful sunset. So, what I’m realizing is this…I am so busy trying to get to this hypothetical future that my present moment has been reduced to a means of getting there. For the rest of my day…who cares about missing work, forget about the reading I have due next week, or about the assignment due on Tuesday. I will no longer feel stress or guilt; I will stop splitting myself between the past and the future, and I will accept the present.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Chrome vs. Firefox?

So...I'm curious, what are people's thoughts on the new Google Chrome web browser? Personally, I always manage to feel somewhat attached and comfortable with specific web browser after a certain amount of time. Good 'ol Mozilla Firefox, has been treating me well for the past few years now, but I feel its time to branch out. And I think Google Chrome is the answer. It's definitely a pretty alternative :)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Give Peace a Chance

Happy International Day of Peace :)

Friday, September 18, 2009

Making Connections

I'm having a great time browsing through my fellow classmates' blogs! It really is comforting to realize that I am not alone in my journey towards becoming a technologically savvy professional :)

This class is already providing me with indispensible resources; the knowledge to create blogs, websites and RSS feeds...but more importantly, CEP 416 has enabled an entirely new community (filled with educators, fellow-students, and life-long learners) to be unveiled right before my eyes.

Hi-Tech Toddlers

The other morning, I randomly found a photograph online that I found both adorable, and slightly troubling.

After the initial response, “oh how cute!” I delved a little deeper. How old is this child? Two? Is that his personal laptop, or his parents’? Is he being supervised, looking at educational software, or merely surfing the net? I realize some individuals may look at this photograph and say how clever it is that that child’s parents decided to introduce him to technology so early. Personally, I’m torn. Do children, specifically children under the age of five, need to be on the computer? Anyone who has ever spent time with young children knows that they are incredibly active. They wriggle, bounce, run, roll, crawl, and climb, all in the time it takes us to take a deep breath! I find it difficult to imagine these jumping beans sitting in front of a computer screen. However, according to the small amount of research I’ve done, the number of very young children who are being introduced to computers is increasing at an outrageous rate. This trend is driven not only by eager parents who want their children on the cutting edge of technology but also by computer software and toy manufacturers; churning out products for younger and younger children.

Computer use by infants and toddlers is the subject of ongoing debate among child development specialists and educators, and I believe it should be. Advocates claim that introducing very young children to computers gives them an intellectual advantage. They believe computer programs designed for toddlers can strengthen problem-solving abilities, increase hand-eye coordination, and stimulate their developing minds. Other experts are more skeptical. Too-early exposure may have harmful consequences on a child’s development. In a Family and Child Ecology course, I took at a previous time, I had a professor whom believes the fast-paced visuals, startling noises, and silly scenarios, are stimuli that divert the brain away from its natural developmental tasks. For my part, I find that opinion rather extreme.

I believe the best choice for parents, at this point, is to proceed with caution. I think there are many advantages to providing technology to young children (as long as it is in some way educational) such as: helping toddlers learn shapes, colors, letters, and numbers. But by no means should it be used as a replacement to human interactions, or learning toys like blocks, sandboxes, or crayons. Yes, technology is an important aspect of our rapidly changing world, but lets keep things in perspective, okay?

Friday, September 11, 2009

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Technology has played a minimal role in my life up until I started college. I grew up in a house full of PCs and I have always felt comfortable and proficient in using simple computer programs, such as Microsoft Word, Paint, Excel, and Internet Explorer. As I progressed through elementary school, middle school, and high school, I never had to challenge myself by using any technology outside of my "safe zone", i.e. Microsoft Word and perhaps the Internet. However, that all changed when I started college. My freshman year, I encountered Macs for the first time! People really understand those?? I remember opening those courageous peoples' laptops and staring blankly at the screen. What do I do next? How do I get online? I didn't take me long to get the hang of it. I actually came to admire how easily Mac users were able to simply turn on their computers! My poor old Dell Inspiron takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get booted up! And the virus software needed on a PC! I've never even seen any Norton on any MAC!

Anyway...besides encountering my first MAC my freshman year, I also had to become comfortable with the university's personal Learning Management System (LMS), Angel. Thankfully, I caught on quickly and I was able to follow my course guidelines easily and often. As well as Angel, I was also introduced to Lon-Capa. However, Lon-Capa and I have quite a strenuous relationship, so I'm going to refrain from going into too much detail there. You can ask my freshman year Chemistry professor. As the years have gone by in college, I have had surprisingly few opportunities to experiment with new and exciting technologies. My sophomore year I began to use PowerPoint on a regular basis. Sadly, I am still at a VERY low level of proficiency in that department. While I am capable of creating a simple PowerPoint, I am still unable to venture into the realm of PowerPoint creativity. Besides computer software and programs, I am very capable of handling an Mp3 player. I rarely set down my i-pod and when I do, it's merely to update my play lists, or add new music. I also own a digital camera, however, it's rarely charged, and therefore, I rarely use it. And finally, I own a cell phone, and for the first time in 23 years, it is a VERY high-tech cell phone. I'd say, it took me about..oooh...a week to fully comprehend all that it can do. I love it :)

Outside of the university environment and my own personal space, I have had a slightly broader experience in relation to technologies. I work for the Department of Natural Resources as a student intern and while working for those amazing people, I have had the opportunity to work with copiers, scanners, Micro-film machines, printers, label makers, etc. And I have also worked with many State Government computer programs. However, I don't see any of those programs preparing me for a career in teaching, so I'll move on!

I have spent a fair share of hours in different classrooms. Sadly, those classrooms were in deep trouble financially and were not able to provide their teachers or students with many different technologies. The rooms rarely had computers, let alone smart boards or projectors. The most hands on experience I received in those environments was using an overhead, or taking the class down to the computer lab to work on Mavis Beacon.

So, as you can see, I am at a very low level of proficiency in regards to using the new and hip technologies available these days. There are SO many things to learn. I would LOVE the opportunity to expand my repertoire. I have never blogged before, I'm a first timer! I have also never Tweeted. I actually have NO idea where to begin in that department. I've never created a website or a wiki. These are ALL things I WANT to learn. It is my belief, as well as the belief of many school administrators, that if you want to be a successful teacher, you MUST be comfortable using these new technologies. Not only that, but i believe that these technologies provide new and different ways in which to express yourself creatively and that is extremely important. My main goal for this semester is to learn how to create wikis and blogs and websites, all of which I can turn around and apply in my future classrooms.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Blogger Girl

It's nine am on a school day
The regular crowd shuffles in
There's an older guy sitting next to me
Makin' love to his keyboard and screen

He says, "Ma'm, do you know how to Twitter or Blog?"
I'm not really sure how it goes
But, it's cool and it's hip and I bet I'd know how
If I wore a younger man's clothes

Now, John in the computer lab, is a friend of mine
He helps me with the error message screens
But he's slow with the typing and he hates all the blogging
Cuz, there's some place that he'd rather be
He says, "Blogger girl, I believe this is killing me"
As his smile ran away from his face
"Well, I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"

Tweet us a line, you're the Blogging Girl
Blog us a line tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a clever story
And you've got us feelin' all right

It's a pretty good crowd for a friday morning
And the professor gives me a smile
'Cause he know's it's my blog they've been comin' to read
To forget about their life for awhile

And the Twitters, they sound like a flock of birds
And the Blog smells like a hit
And they sit at their desks and they compliment my blog
And say, "Ma'm, what are you doing here?"