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!!