Is one enough?/Chapter 9 reflection

Now that I have all of this information about technology and how to use it in the classroom, I truly can't imagine how I didn't use this before. I look back and think, how did I teach classes without knowing this stuff?? Number one: Things just seem easier with technology and Number two: my kids need and want this stuff. But I still wonder, what about the older teachers?

Situation:
You have forty teachers in your school building, 30 are excellent teachers with/without technology, and ten of them are excellent teachers with technology. And then you have 10 teachers without any clue about technology and/or high students at all and are just there waisting space and time. How do I get all 40 teachers integrated in technology and how do I get technology in all classrooms?

I see that what I have gained now from this class will make me better, make my students better, and in the end make my school better, but is one enough? I find myself unsatisfied with the fact that 10 teachers in my school are technology ready, where 30 others are not. I find myself unsatisfied with the fact that I just learned all types of technology that will make my classes better, yet there are older teachers out there who will never use technology or even care about what they are missing through the lack of technology in their classrooms.

Is one enough?

Revised Technology Autobiography

As of June 4th, if I would have been asked to complete a quiz over the following words, blog, wiki, podcasts, moviemaker, digital storytelling, digital (for that matter), and myspace, where one had to write the definition, I would fail. Actually, these words might lead to some very interesting definitions. Moviemaker- Brad Pitt give me a call, I have the perfect role for you! Myspace- a bubble of 3 feet in every direction that surrounds me.When I was in school, power point was a new thing, and excel was everyone’s dream spreadsheet creator. So as for my technology autobiography, I am excellent at power point and can budget my checkbook on-line! But, as for today’s technology, I feel lost. However, I am extremely excited about it and willing to learn anything. For some reason, I have no idea what some of these words mean, but they sound interesting, especially the word, wiki!Even though my lack of technology knowledge proves that I have seldom used technology in the classroom, I still believe that computers for the future in classrooms are a must, and our trees are begging for them. Imagine if all students entered the workplace with the know-how to create documents, presentations, and to communicate on the world wide web. As of right now, my students know I can create a power point, check email, and add printers to their computers, but what if I could bring Spain to them through technology and had the resources available for them. Our entire thought of interactive activities would change. The possibilities are endless; what if teachers all had the know-how to show students an actual bullfight in Spain, happening at that moment? Would our students not see, believe and learn differently?Technology in the classroom can only be a good thing, with the appropriate know how of usage.

As of June 29th I am officially a technology guru. I have learned that Brad Pitt might want to hold off on calling me, since my movies do not exactly involve him or a theater. Movie making, podcasting, and blogging are three types of technology, which I have learned are going to help me teach my students. I wonder what they will think when I walk in this next year with technology written on my forehead. I am just so excited about the possibilities. In the past two years I have found myself conforming to the old teaching strategies of paper and pencil, always with the knowledge that this could be different but never with the know-how of how to do it. Look out students, here comes professor McCoy with enough technology to bring Spain to your fingertips.

Trailfire

Dear Mr. Wied,
Trailfire is a website guide for research. It guides students through websites, which I have chosen to share with them. It is a great way to allow students the ability to research topics through a focused and safe set of websites.

When assigning research projects in the past I have found that many of my students are lost in how to gather research from the Internet. This teaching tool will first allow me to teach the students where to go on the Internet that is safe and useful for gathering information, and then to teach them how to categorize that information. It also focuses my studnets on where on the Internet they should be, instead of surfing the web or checking their email.

Trailfire is a great way to integrate high quality technology that will be beneficial to them in the future. It also allows me to use my time more successfully because I will not have to deal with as many discipline issues while using the technology needed for the 21st century. It is a great asset to my classroom and can be for others as well.

ROBIN

Richardson chapter 6 Reflection

Well, at least I don't feel so lost anymore on the reading. I found social bookmarking! In Chapter 6.
Anyway, I get this idea of social bookmarking, and really the whole social web, but I can't say as I can get a plan in my head at the moment for using this. Sharing my information, but why would my students want to look at the same sites that I do. Can I not just create a hyperlink to them on my blog?
I don't want anyone to think that I don't appreciate this information; at the moment my head is just so full of podcasts, digital storytelling, blogs, that maybe I am having a hard time opening it up to much more.
So, as for my comments: it seems good.
And as for a question: Does anyone have any good ideas of how to use this in a classroom, where the students will actually use it? I don't want to waste time doing it and then have the students completely ignore it.

DIANE!!

DIANE!!

I said this on your comments, but just in case you didn't look there: I didn't get those emails, could you try again either at: robin.hawkins@henry.kyschools.us or robinhawkins82@hotmail.com

If you don't have time or for some reason it doesn't work again I will just try to get it from Dustin sometime.
THANKS!!

Richardson chapter 8 Reflection

Imagine a world of no make-up work interruptions by students who have missed the day before or even the week before. Imagine being able to teach your students who have been placed on homebound just as much information as the in-class students are receiving. Imagine allowing language learning students to practice from home or receive listening and speaking assignments from the internet. Welcome to podcasts.

For my classes next year I want to spend 30 minutes (more or less) dictating and instructing on information that was taught in class each day for those students who missed or may have just missed part of the class because of a pull out, a discipline problem or an attention problem. Eventually, I might be able to have the students in the class do it, maybe as an end of the period "wrap-up" activity. Or have my teacher aids do it ?? Who knows, the options are limitless.

I want to also have a couple parent nights during the first two weeks of school to explain this process and how to help their students receive the information from home. It will also give me a good time to introduce our class blog, and a give me a chance to meet a lot of the parents.

I also want to use the itunes free podcasts to allow my students to hear authentic native Spanish speakers. Forget about tapes and cd, here comes podcasts.

Digital Story Board/Script

Title: The man I married... "The man I married..."

Picture (below age of 10) "Your aunt whispered to me one day, "be happy," and so I said
Picture (Below age of 10) yes when you asked me to marry you."

Picture (fishing) "One day while getting a dress altered my seamstress said, that
Picture (turkey hunting) you are the best man she has ever met."
Picture (fishing older) "And I came to know this and agree."

Picture (basketball tournament) "I promised on our wedding day, to take you as my
Picture (mom and dad picture wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward
at regional tournament) until death do us part."

Picture (with friends) "I have seen and enjoyed the world with you."
Picture (with canon) "I have lived and loved with you."
Picture (at camp w/kids)
Picture (with dogs)

Picture (Engagement picture) "Love is just you and me, kid."
Picture (wedding picture)
Picture (picture of cartoon kids)

Credits (Robin McCoy) "Production brought to you by "the new McCoy"