March 29, 2011
February 13, 2011
It has been very interesting reading your blog entries about the article from the NY Times Magazine assigned to you as part of the annotated bibliography assignment and the introductory article "Achieving Techno-literacy". The use of technology in education is a very high profile topic because of discussions about the implications of "digital kids in a digital world" and the current crisis in education funding. Those of you who plan to be teachers and all of you because you are citizens and will be parents must come to grips with these considerations. How will we as a society respond?
A student in this course several semesters ago wrote, “teachers need to start thinking of new ways to more boldly and intriguingly include technology into their curriculum. Educators should be constantly taught new ways to incorporate computers into their teaching and to use it as an added tool to enhance the topics learned in the classroom. As it is right now, however, teachers tend to simply hand out assignments that include technology for the sake of using a computer and not to really enrich the learning process.”
What will your position be?
February 08, 2011
A great learning time
The annual Texas Computer Education Association Convention I am attending this week in Austin is always a great time to hear some of the latest and greatest uses of technology in education.
This morning I attended a session called "Apptivities" which focused on using mobile device apps in ways that are active, independent, divergent, multi-disciplinary and take advantage of mobile features. What a cool way to engage students. Take a look at www.apptivities.org to get a feel for the concept.
During the middle part of the day I "dug deeper" into Google Apps and then ended the day with a session on using Google Maps to create multi-disciplinary GoogleTreks (http://googletreks.org/), a very interactive way of looking at the world.
What do you think? Would some of these approaches have made your learning experiences better?
This morning I attended a session called "Apptivities" which focused on using mobile device apps in ways that are active, independent, divergent, multi-disciplinary and take advantage of mobile features. What a cool way to engage students. Take a look at www.apptivities.org to get a feel for the concept.
During the middle part of the day I "dug deeper" into Google Apps and then ended the day with a session on using Google Maps to create multi-disciplinary GoogleTreks (http://googletreks.org/), a very interactive way of looking at the world.
What do you think? Would some of these approaches have made your learning experiences better?
January 11, 2011
Welcome
Welcome to CS1300-4: Essential Information Technology, Education Emphasis
Spring 2011.
I am excited about teaching this special section of Essential Information Technology designed for those who are interested in teaching, because education has been a lifelong interest of mine. I majored in education and music in my undergraduate studies and received a master's degree in musicology from UT Austin. While I went to college and taught a year in Chicago and also worked a year each in New York and St. Louis, I grew up in Houston and have lived in San Antonio for the last 30 years. I have taught at the elementary and higher education levels and am also certified at the secondary level. For the last 12 years I have worked as an Instructional Technology Specialist in public school districts where my job is to help teachers integrate technology into their curricula. I feel that the use of technology is an integral part of teaching and learning in any subject area today.
As you will also read in the course syllabus, I am very committed to helping you learn to learn about technology and teaching. I hope this course will give you the opportunity to explore many ways to use computers and the other technologies that are growing and changing every day to become a better learner and educator.
I love good music, good books and learning new things!
Spring 2011.
I am excited about teaching this special section of Essential Information Technology designed for those who are interested in teaching, because education has been a lifelong interest of mine. I majored in education and music in my undergraduate studies and received a master's degree in musicology from UT Austin. While I went to college and taught a year in Chicago and also worked a year each in New York and St. Louis, I grew up in Houston and have lived in San Antonio for the last 30 years. I have taught at the elementary and higher education levels and am also certified at the secondary level. For the last 12 years I have worked as an Instructional Technology Specialist in public school districts where my job is to help teachers integrate technology into their curricula. I feel that the use of technology is an integral part of teaching and learning in any subject area today.
As you will also read in the course syllabus, I am very committed to helping you learn to learn about technology and teaching. I hope this course will give you the opportunity to explore many ways to use computers and the other technologies that are growing and changing every day to become a better learner and educator.
I love good music, good books and learning new things!
October 31, 2010
October 17, 2010
TEDx San Antonio2010
There were a number of very interesting presentations at TEDx San Antonio here at Trinity yesterday. Trinity Prof. of Communications Aaron Delwiche focused on what he sees is the importance of everyone, not just geeks, being computer programmers. He proposes that people mystify technology, and "experts" tell the public that we do not have to think about how computers work. He contends that it is scary to let someone else think for you and that we can all understand and program our own systems. As examples, he discussed Scratch, a programming language for kids developed at MIT and Google's creation of a programming language for the Android phone.
I have seen Scratch being used by 4th & 5th graders (they love to make their own animations, etc.), but I'm not sure I agree with Delwiche's conviction that "we can and must all program our own computers," unless the definition of programming is extended to include the interactive web2.0 tools that you all experimented with last week. Perhaps that's it; we all can and must contribute to the vast stores of information being added to the the internet on a daily basis. What do you think? Do you want to program and control your computer?
I have seen Scratch being used by 4th & 5th graders (they love to make their own animations, etc.), but I'm not sure I agree with Delwiche's conviction that "we can and must all program our own computers," unless the definition of programming is extended to include the interactive web2.0 tools that you all experimented with last week. Perhaps that's it; we all can and must contribute to the vast stores of information being added to the the internet on a daily basis. What do you think? Do you want to program and control your computer?
September 19, 2010
Achieving Techno-Literacy
This Sunday the entire NY Times Magazine is devoted to education and technology. We will be looking at several of these articles, but I especially recommend that you see "Achieving Techno-Literacy" http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/magazine/19FOB-WWLN-Kelly-t.html.
Kevin Kelly says that "technological smartness" can be taught in school and lists 9 bullet points describing this type of literacy. What are your thoughts? Can technological smartness be taught and learned? Should it be? He further states that, "We don't need expertise with every invention; that is not only impossible, it's not very useful. Rather, we need to be literate in the complexities of technology in general, as if it were a second nature." Are you literate in this way?
Kevin Kelly says that "technological smartness" can be taught in school and lists 9 bullet points describing this type of literacy. What are your thoughts? Can technological smartness be taught and learned? Should it be? He further states that, "We don't need expertise with every invention; that is not only impossible, it's not very useful. Rather, we need to be literate in the complexities of technology in general, as if it were a second nature." Are you literate in this way?
March 07, 2010
Sad, but true
Be sure to read this article from the March 4 edition of the SA Express-News: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Downloaded_songs_could_cost_SA_woman_40000.html
It is so important to know and abide by copyright laws, whether or not you agree with them. As this article indicates, online activities done years ago can follow you and result in very real damages.
It is so important to know and abide by copyright laws, whether or not you agree with them. As this article indicates, online activities done years ago can follow you and result in very real damages.
March 02, 2010
February 21, 2010
My Web 2.0 Experiment
I've been playing with Glogster which creates online, interactive posters. It's embedded here, but would work better as a link.
February 14, 2010
Screentoaster example
I've recorded my screen while explaining a Word drawing technique using the free Web 2.0 application Screentoaster. We will investigate how to use this and other web 2.0 tools.
February 11, 2010
Amazing possibilities
There are some really fantastic web-based possibilities for making curriculum engaging to our 21st century learners. Check out this video: I Need my Teachers to Learn.
I am offering some extra points to any of you (like Steph) who comment on my blog and check my Twitter feed this week.
I am offering some extra points to any of you (like Steph) who comment on my blog and check my Twitter feed this week.
February 10, 2010
Web 2.0 mashups
Do you know what Web2.0 means? 3 F's: Fantastic, Fun &Free! One great list is at digitalgoonies.com. Take a look at the links on that site. We will definitely be investigating web2.0 resources!
February 08, 2010
February 06, 2010
Roy Furchgott’s NYT Blog Gadgetwise: Getting Smart about Personal Technology, is always informative and entertaining. His post for January 4, 2010, called My Favorite 14 Apps of 2009, is based on his choices of the apps “that I was most likely to show people when they asked ‘What do I need with a smartphone?’” You can see his list here. Yes, I did go look and compare my choices with his, but... since I have an iTouch, not an iPhone (just don't want to deal with AT&T), not all of the apps listed are available to me. I have discovered though that there is an app for the convention I will be attending next week. It lets me see all the concurrent sessions scheduled so that I can pick the ones I want - they're always very crowded, so you need to be close to the head of the line. - The sessions then appear on My Schedule in the app. Very handy, indeed.
How did I ever get along without these gadgets? Obviously, being an "older" geek, I spent a lot of time without them! Hm-m-m...
January 26, 2010
21st Century tech
Technology is, indeed, a huge part of our lives in the 21st century. Did you read about the man buried under rubble in a Haitian hotel for 65 hours who used his iPhone to help him survive? Quite a story. But how many of us use our techie gadgets to help us survive the hours of everyday? Perhaps more than we would like to admit. In all of this, finding, evaluating and using information creatively is so important.
"I am led to believing that the whole point of knowledge making in the new age is to train people to search for information, evaluate it, rewrite it, publish it, add a personal touch to it, and take advantage of feedback from whoever cares to give feedback." Posted Jan. 18 on the Wired Campus blog of the Chronicle of Higher Ed
"I am led to believing that the whole point of knowledge making in the new age is to train people to search for information, evaluate it, rewrite it, publish it, add a personal touch to it, and take advantage of feedback from whoever cares to give feedback." Posted Jan. 18 on the Wired Campus blog of the Chronicle of Higher Ed
September 22, 2009
September 20, 2009
A Test of Critical Thinking
I came across this rather interesting test of critical thinking skills on the Anderson Consulting website. As you prepare to be a "professional," see how you fare on this test!
The Giraffe Test: Are You Really Qualified To Be A "Professional"?
1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door.
This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
Did you say, "Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?" (Wrong Answer)
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door.
This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.
3. The King of the Forest is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?
Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.
OK, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
4. There is a river you must cross but it is inhabited by crocodiles. How do you manage it?
Correct Answer: You swim across. All the crocodiles are attending the animal conference.
This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
Note: According to sources, Anderson Consulting Worldwide said around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong. But many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting reportedly said this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four year old.
Hm-m-m...
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