The Great Mobile Debate

Should cell phones be allowed in the classroom?  Cell phones are becoming "smarter" every day.
Are they a distraction or a valuable tool for the classroom?  Let me know what you think.

Here are a couple of videos to start the conversation...

A video featuring  Marc Prensky about using handheld devices for learning in the classroom

http://handheldlearning.blip.tv/file/444704/

Cool video featuring the Simpsons!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXt_de2-HBE

The Cloud Ate My Homework

More and more schools are beginning to use cloud computing in the classroom.
Is this a direction you can see your own school taking?

Here are a few links to information about clouding computing.

http://www.iste-community.org/forum/topics/iste-eduverse-talks-episode-16?xg_sou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJncFirhjPg

Engaging Students with Technology

Here are a couple of videos that might give you some insight into the possibilities technology offers for engaging students in the classroom....

A video with Alan November explaining three things students need to know to compete the 21st century

http://vodpod.com/watch/1134131-alan-november-3-skills-students-need-to-succeed


An other video with Leslie Fisher on using Twitter for education

http://www.schooltube.com/video/23ece9f628b1620ee695/2010-Fall-CUE-Leslie-Fisher-Twitter-Spotlight-Session

A video with Will Richardson about using social media and networking in education

http://vodpod.com/watch/1874988-will-richardson-on-social-media-and-schools

Web 2.0 for Educational Technology

There are NUMEROUS Web 2.0 resources and applications available for use in engaging students and improving learning and instruction.  Here is a brief list of links....

Video sharing with Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/

Google Apps for Education

http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/edu/

Photo sharing with Flickr (check out my pics!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56873873@N07/5437092277/

Social bookmarking with Delicious

http://delicious.com/

Here is an additional list of possible Web 2.0 applications that might be useful in your classroom..

Audacity * Blogger * Bloglines * Bubbl.us * Classblogmeister * Delicious * Diigo * Edublogs * Elluminate * ePals * Facebook * Flickr * Freemind * Gaggle * Google+Calendar * Google+Docs * Google+Earth * Google+Notebook * Google+Reader * Google+Video * iGoogle * Jing * JotSpot * MindMeister * Moodle * MySpace * Netvibes * Ning * Pageflakes * PBWiki * Plurk * Scratch  * Skype * Slideshare * TeacherTube * Twitter * UStream * VoiceThread * Wetpaint *Wik * Wikispaces * WizIQ * Xtranormal* YouTube * Zoho+Writer *

Emerging Instructional Technologies

Here are a few links to further information about Emerging Technologies...

An article explaining some to ed-tech stories from 2010

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/12/21/the-most-popular-ed-tech-stories-of-2010/

A podcast by Terry Freedman about Emerging Technologies

http://terryfreedman.podomatic.com/

A Youtube video by March Pensky about engaging students with Emerging Technologies

http://front  row.bc.edu/program/prensky/

A great keynote address about Educational Technology by Rushton Hurley

http://www.schooltube.com/video/7533e9ec2a17034b580f/2010-Fall-CUE-Opening-Keynote-Rushton-Hurley

More Edtech Information

As we near the end of another school semester, I'm posting some links and (hopefully) useful information regarding Educational Technology.  We've gathered up A LOT of good stuff during this class, and I think their are many educators out there that need to see some of these videos and read these articles.

If you're nervous about using technology in your classroom, always remember- YOU ARE NO ALONE!!

They're are many resources, links, and web content out there to help you through your struggles.
The creation and improvements of Web 2.0 applications will continue to drive technology and teaching in the 21st century.

Free Online Computer Apps Review

For this week’s activity, I tried a few of the recommended online applications.  In the Office Suites category, I looked at Google Docs and ThinkFree.  We already use Google Docs quite a bit at my school, so I am fairly familiar with how to use it.  We use it primarily as a means of online discussion.  For example, my principle will create a document with some sort of school related topic.  He then sends us a link and then we respond directly on the document.  We also use it for PLC work and for really anything that requires convenient excess to a shared document.  The nice thing about Google Docs is that it’s part of the Goolge package, so if you’re already a user on Google, it’s right there to use.  I wasn’t a big fan of ThinkFree, mostly because it wouldn’t work on my machine.  I was able to register and got to the site, but it kept getting stuck while trying to load up a new document.  I got annoyed and gave up.  Overall, I like the idea of having access to an online office suite.  It has many applications and can be useful in a lot of educational settings.  It could potentially save a district money, however I worry that if you totally replace purchased software, can you still work offline?  If you have any sort of Internet trouble (as my district often does) then you could run into serious problems if you can’t access your work.

    For Image Editing, I looked at Sumo Paint.  I really like this program, and already have some ideas for how to use it in the classroom.  I’ve been fooling around with a similar purchased software called SketchPro for my Macbook.  I was thinking about buying it for my entire classroom, but think I might hold off after seeing Sumo Paint.  It becomes difficult to introduce new software into a classroom, especially when you have no budget for it and you have to be concerned with issues like site licensing, etc.  After fooling around a bit, this program seems like a good, simple way to introduce using computer software as an artistic tool to a group of novice high school students.  I’m not sure how completely feature rich it is yet, but from what I’ve seen, it will certainly do the trick.  At least until my students out grow it (which I’m sure they will!)

Google Sites

Check out my attempt at creating a Google Site.  I'm not a big fan yet, but I'm still working with it.
I think I prefer iWeb.  Here's a link to my Google site.

https://sites.google.com/site/lakewoodartroom/

Check out my "Art Chart"

As a majority of my students are visual learners, I thought this concept mapping lesson would be a good opportunity to create a flow chart of the classes that I offer.  We are right in the middle of scheduling for next year, and a number of students get confused about the progression of classes and what their options are from year to year.   A visual representation seems a little easier to understand than a list on paper.
I'm planning to add this to our curriculum guide as well as posting this to my school iweb page.
I also plan to print a poster sized hard copy to hang in my room.  As far as application within the classroom,  a concept map would be a great tool to use for explanation of art history or for outlining steps for projects and procedures.

Google Map Lesson

I am designing a lesson for my Advanced Drawing and Painting students.  For this lesson, they will be ask to create a realistically rendered pencil drawing of a historical building in the Lake Odessa, MI area. 

They will choose a building from a pre-determined list.  They will then be ask to locate the building in Lake Odessa, photograph the building (as a reference) and then complete a detailed pencil rendering of their chosen building.

The Google Map would be an interesting addition to this lesson.  Students could compile a class map, documenting their chosen historical buildings.  Their pencil drawings could be scanned and added to the map along with their reference photos.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213001884817998847669.00049e2c24d0c1c51a2d3&t=h&z=16

Week & - Podcasting

After reading Chapter 14, a few concepts really stuck out at me.  First, was a passage from the chapter that just I found to be interesting and almost funny, in a way.  After studying education at the graduate level for a number of years, I find can definitely find humor in a line like “another fad in the long list of miracle cures we have all seen roar into our busy work environments, disrupt out routines, offer incredible promises, only to fade away like broken dreams into mists of organizational forgetfulness”.  Mists of organizational forgetfulness!  How awesome is that! 

I’ve seen A LOT of programs and ideas at my school die out and float away into that “mist”.  I’m sure we can all relate to the types of “miracle cures” the author is taking about. 

    Aside from my simple observations about the authors writing style, I really did actually find a few interesting concepts throughout the chapter.  I really like the idea of “Human Capital”.  It applies nicely to education.  After all, we are in the business of preparing students to be productive members of society.  I guess you might say our “capital” is “humans”. 

    Later in the chapter the author details a number of principles that “focus on performance”.  I especially like the idea of “valued accomplishment” and how it is necessary to produce great performance, thereby reinforcing the ideals of hard work, great knowledge, and motivation.  As teachers, this is key to educating our students.  They need to know that how they perform and what they do in the classroom is valued.  They need genuine feedback on authentic assessment.  If I assign some lame busy work assignment, give them all “A” grades and then dump the pile of papers in the trash, I’m not really providing much of an education to my students. 

     As for our technology assignment for the week, I searched around itunes, and found some really great art/art education podcasts.  The site I posted on my blog is called EWArt.  It’s a site that provides information on art and art history and has a number of short, video podcasts available on a number of art related subjects.  I specifically posted a video podcast about The Mona Lisa.  I am DEFINITELY going to start using this in my classroom.  So many great possibilities!  I also thought I might mention itunes U.  It’s a really cool section of itunes that has thousands of podcast lectures on numerous content areas.

    We’ve been using podcasts at our school for the last couple of years.  One of the main reasons our district switch to Macbooks was the creative educational possibilities the iLife suite is able to provide.  Many of my colleagues have been designing lessons that require students to create podcasts using Garage Band.  It’s a really fun and exciting way for students to present information to their classmates.  A few of my colleagues have even started compiling podcasts of lessons for when they are absent from the classroom.   I myself have a podcast lesson planned for next trimester. 

     I’ve been involved in some extensive Apple/Macbook training this year, and part of that training revolved around the many uses for podcasts in the classroom.  Not only have we discussed the technology use, but also the design of a specific podcast lessons.  Often times introducing new technology in the classroom can be unsuccessful if students are just thrown into using it without any guidance.  We’ve discussed planning a podcast lesson and how to guide students through the process, including topic research, scripting, effective recording techniques, and rubrics for assessment. 

Check out other cool podcasts and more at the EW Arts website

http://ewart.sbc.edu/

Cool Art History Podcast!

Learn all about The Mona Lisa! Check out this cool video podcast!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/art-history-in-just-a-minute/id207973604

Here's the drum kit I have my eye on!!

One of my favorite cities in the world....Prague

View Larger Map

Awesome drum video!!

Week 5 - Photo Sharing!

I apologize for the lateness of my reflection.  It’s been kind of a long, tough week, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet.  I choose to use Flickr for our photo sharing activity.  I have a background in photography, but have gotten away from it in recent years.  I’ve had the bug to get back into it lately, and a photo sharing site is an obvious place to display any work I might be doing in the up coming months.  As an art teacher, I can think of numerous ways a photo sharing site could be useful for my students.   They could use it to share photo ideas, inspirations,  and resources for projects.  Or, they could also photograph their work and build an online portfolio.  The applications for photo sharing are really endless in a creative, visual art setting.  The problem for me is, our district blocks EVERY photo sharing site.  I tried eight different sites, and not a one made it past the filter.  I suppose that answers the question about concerns.  Content is definitely an issue.  When I first opened the Flickr to get started with our activity, one of the first pictures I saw posted was of Japanese animated porn!  Right there on the home page!  So, I guess that might be a problem in a classroom setting.

I found the reading this week much easier to relate to as an educator.  I’m glad that it was a little less broad and started to focus on the “how” of instructional design.  I’ve had some experience with the ADDIE model, and was surprised at how closely I follow its structure in my own lesson planning.   Elements of the model like authentic problem solving, valid assessment, and learner selected objectives and learning methods are all regular parts of a visual art curriculum.   I also found it interesting that the author mentioned that early ID models were largely based around behaviorism.   I find that I incorporate a lot of this philosophy into my own day to day planning and teaching.  I teach a number of special needs students, so behavioral issues can play a big part in the success of a lesson. 

Check out my Flickr page!!

Click here to see some cool photos!!

Week 3 - Wiki Stuff

    Well, perhaps I’m beginning to warm up to this Web 2.0 technology.  The blogging and the RSS feed set-up left me a little unsure, but this weeks Wiki activity has definitely perked my interest.  The pages were very easy to set up, and the experience immediately got me thinking about how I might use a Wiki page in my own classroom (more about that later).  

    I really enjoyed the O’Reilly article, although I did, at times, feel like it was a little over my head.  I’ve always been a casual user of the Internet, so a discussion about the inner workings of the technology used to create it, seemed a little daunting. 

The language and terminology took me a minute to wrap my brain around, but I’m starting to get it. 

    I also enjoyed  “The Machine is Us” video.    Very clever and well produced.  I’ve been working with imovie lately, and I am really starting to understand the power of well-made presentations. 

    As an Art teacher, I can imagine a number of uses for a Wiki page.  I teach multiple classes, usually at least four different preps per trimester.  I could set up a Wiki page of information for each class, as well as links to sites of interest for students.  My students use the Internet almost daily for research, so a Wiki page could be a useful collection point for regularly visited sites.  A Wiki page might also be a great place to set up emergency lesson plans for unplanned absences.  I could set-up and outline an activity from home and post it to the page.  A substitute could direct students to the page and have them post activity answers/results that I could review and grade from home.  A Wiki page would also be a great place for me to display student artwork, along with links to sites with information related to student projects.

    In general, I like the idea of Wiki pages. It was easy to set up, and I could see myself really getting into using it for my classes.  I have a lot of scattered information and websites that I like to use for different lessons.  A Wiki page would be a great way to organize all of my web-based information and experiences.  

Mmmmmm....Delicious!

Come see what I'm bookmarking at http://www.delicious.com/rinckeyo

Come see my Wiki page!!!

Click here to view my Wiki page!

Week 2 - Reading Response

I’ve got to be honest here, I’m not really digging on the blog and RSS thing.  I can see the value in it, but personally, it’s just not for me.  Perhaps I just haven’t found anything that interests me yet.  I did browse through the Google Reader directory, and subscribed to a number of feeds that looked like they might be promising.  I guess I’m just not very interested in gathering information this way.  I usually prefer reading a book.  I suppose one might say there is a certain amount of irony to the fact that I’m embarking on a masters degree in educational technology, and sometimes I don’t always like using technology.  I like to have a balance of experiences in my life and when I do open my laptop, I usually spend more of my screen time creating.  I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking lately about the amount of time I spend on the computer.  I’ve realized that I’m falling into a pattern and that I’d like to make more productive use of my time.  I have a son who is almost 3 and I already feel like I’m setting a bad example by spending too much time on the computer.  So, with all of that said, for the purpose of this class, I’m going to give it a shot.  Perhaps some of you can change my mind. 

     Regarding Dale’s Cone of Experience, I can definitely see uses for this type of technology in the classroom.  Having students use blogs to present and share information has great potential as a very effective teaching tool.  Depending on the circumstances, blogging could fall in a number of places along Dale’s “Cone”.  When considering a specific application for this technology, it would seem that the  “Contrived Experience” might be a logical choice.  In my art classes, very few students have been to an art museum.  I’ve done some searching and found a number of online galleries that have RSS feeds available.   A “Contrived Experience” could be created by asking students to subscribe to a specific art gallery site RSS to view online artwork.  They could then respond to questions and blog about their experiences.   This practice could be brought into the classroom setting by gathering responses and creating further discussion.  

     I believe this type of activity is what Seigel might call “computer imaginative”.  In the visual arts, it can be difficult to provide students with the experience of viewing artwork for the study of art history and aesthetics.  Although it is a far cry from the experience of actually visiting an art gallery or museum, it is an easily replicated “Contrived Experience” that could be applied to any number of art lessons.  

Week 1 - Reading Response

After reading both articles, it is difficult to know where to begin.  These types of articles always get my head spinning about my opinions regarding public education and the work that we do.  I find myself caught somewhere in the middle of both authors, philosophically.  One the one hand, I can see many of the benefits the use of technology brings to the classroom.  Recently, my own school has undergone drastic technological upgrades, which have brought about positive changes in mine, and my colleagues methods of instruction.   On the other hand, I can see how thinking that technology is the sole answer to improving our educational problems is foolish and very shortsighted.  

     With that said, I tend to indentify more with the Postman article.  I have often thought that the problems with education run much deeper, and have less to do with what goes on in the classroom, and more to do with societal issues and how the public perceives education.   Postman states, “the great problems of education are of a social and moral nature and have nothing to do with dazzling new technologies”.  I tend to agree, especially at the elementary level.  We have placed so much importance on the use of technology that we put it into the hands of children as early as possible and demand it’s use in the classroom as early as Kindergarten.  There is plenty of research that indicates children develop and learn better through authentic play and INTERACTION with other children.  We already demand too much content and curriculum from lower elementary students and the addition of technology only aids in distracting younger students from real learning.

     The Reigluth article makes some excellent points about changing the educational paradigm, but this philosophy always seems so frustrating to me.  I agree that students should be given the opportunity to achieve and to learn at a comfortable rate, but the idea of customizing curriculum and instruction for EACH learner and allowing them as much time as they need seems like a nearly impossible task.  How are we supposed to do this?  Certainly not within a public educational system that is understaffed, underfunded, and held to impossible standards. 

     This is where I become very torn.  I teach high school and believe that it is our job to teach a sense of responsibility and to prepare students for what lies ahead.  I go to great lengths to provide as flexible an educational experience as possible, but often am frustrated by student’s lack of genuine enthusiasm for learning.  Reigluth says that in the information age the customer is “King”.  I feel like in public education we have made the learning “King” and we bow to his every whim.  Perhaps we’ve gone too far in one direction.  I want to believe that we can accommodate all learners, but realistically there are often times too many obstacles.  As much as we try to “customize” learning, unfortunately, students won’t be able to work a job at their own pace or take college classes that allow them as much time as they need to learn the material.  If we spent more time considering what is appropriate for learners at every level (especially younger levels), we might find that we would have to do a lot less damage control at higher levels.  Learners might be better developed, enthusiastic, and equipped to handle higher order thinking and problem solving.  More screen time won’t help to achieve this goal.  I want very much to provide each of my students the 

Ed Tech Class

Hey Everyone!

Welcome to my blog!  It's my first time at this, so please cut me a little slack.  I look forward to hearing from all of you!