Bethany's thoughts

Link to E-Portfolio

2005-04-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Weblogs post

2005-04-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed using the blogs and being able to post my thoughts on the web. I like using blogs because it inspires me to be creative with my writing skills and to try and make what I post interesting to the reader. I think blogs are not only great for school use but for personal use as well. My best friend has a blog that she uses to post her personal thoughts and she truly enjoys it and gets lots of comments everyday about her writing. I think it is great for children because it encourages them to try their best and it makes them feel special being able to post their thoughts and ideas and know that their peers will read what they write. I have enjoyed blogging this semester and I plan on using this in my own classroom one day.

Final Reflection Paper

2005-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Bethany Ballard

Final Reflection Paper

I have learned a lot about technology from taking this course. I feel more prepared to enter the classroom than I did before taking this course. I was only familiar with Microsoft Word, using Internet Explorer, and sending e-mails. I loved learning how to use new programs and I intend to use Microsoft PowerPoint for slide show presentations, Excel to create databases, and I want to create a web page for my classroom. I am also more comfortable with creating spreadsheets and using them to create graphs when comparing data. I have learned that technology can be very frustrating at first but once you become more comfortable with it, it makes teaching a whole lot easier and more convenient. I used several programs in this class that I haven’t used before including the database program, the spreadsheet program, Inspiration and Desktop Publishing. It is a great feeling to know how to access this technology and to be able to use it in a beneficial way for my students and I.
I can use what I have learned when I enter the classroom in several ways. First of all, I would love to create a web page for my future students as well as their parents so they can access information about the class and assignments that are due, as well as missed work. I would love to create a Blog that my students can communicate and express their ideas on. I really believe that it enhances their writing skills and encourages them to be more creative since they know their writing is available for others to read. I would love to use the spreadsheet program to create a graph when comparing data because it gives a better visual representation of the data for students to compare and analyze. I would also love to use Inspiration for a lesson because it is a great program to use for brainstorming and it challenges the kids to think and come up with ideas on their own. I also love the fact that you can attach graphics to your ideas so the students can have a visual representation of the subject being taught.
The level of technology resources in my future school of employment will greatly affect my teaching. If there weren’t enough computers for each classroom, it would create a problem because more than likely the students would have to use a computer lab, which isn’t as convenient as having computer access in your own classroom. Also, if the schools didn’t have projectors to use PowerPoint that would keep me from being able to use slide shows for my lessons which I think are great because there are many added features that make this program interesting and fun for the kids. It’s a great program to use that is not as traditional as using the chalkboard or dry erase board. I also think that it is important for each student to be able to learn how to use technology on their own which means they each need access to a computer when learning how to use it. Most classes don’t have one computer per student, but they do have computer labs where technology is taught and normally there are at least two or three computers in the classroom that are available for students. They can take turns using and practicing on the computers. If this option were not available, it would be hard to have the children use these programs when researching or doing assignments. I think that the children need to know that technology can make their life easier as well as the fact that it will be essential for them to know how to use it when they are out of school and working. I want them to learn that it is for their benefit to learn how to use it which can’t be taught if the resources aren’t available.
I think technology can help teaching and learning because everyday our society relies more and more on the use of technology in all aspects of everyday life. The use of technology was developed to make our life easier and more convenient. For example, a teacher can use Excel to keep track of grades and averages instead of having to calculate them on her own. It is a more convenient method for teachers to use who already work under a busy schedule. The children can also use the Internet to collect vast amounts of information that they could never find in their school library. They can also use Microsoft Word to help them with their writing, punctuation, and grammar skills. Using this program is a great way for children to learn the correct way to write and spell. Technology was not invented to make our lives more difficult, and I think that once you know how to use it, it can only make things easier for you and your students.
As I move through my teaching career I know technology will continue to change. I plan on going to seminars or taking classes in order to keep up with the changes. Once I have learned about a new program or a new way to use a program, I will take time to learn it and practice using it so I can teach my students how to use it and how to incorporate it into their learning. It will be impossible for me to teach it to my students if I myself don’t know how to use it. That is why I think it is so important for me to be informed and educated of the changes in technology.
I have enjoyed taking this class because it has taught me so many things about different technology programs that I never even knew about. Once you learn how to properly use technology, it is always more convenient to us and it makes things easier. Since our society is so dependant on technology now and will become even more dependant as the years progress, I think it is essential for all teachers to know how to incorporate it into their classrooms because our students will rely on technology in the future even more than we rely on it now. My favorite part of this class was learning how to create and use a Blog. I never even knew they existed before this class and I love to write things on my Blog and know that it’s available for others to read. It encourages me to be more creative with my writing just as it encourages young children in the same way. I will take what I have learned in this class and apply that knowledge in my own classroom for the benefit of my students and their future use of technology.

Software and Website Comment

2005-04-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

The software that I chose is called Community Construction. It is a great piece of software that allows students to create buildings and communities on the computer and then print it out to make a 3-D model. It can be used in conjunction with several subject areas including: Math, History, Science, Language Arts, and Art.
The website that I chose was The Lesson Plans Page. This website offers over 2,500 lesson plans on almost any subject imaginable for every grade level. You begin by selecting a subject and then searching for specific topics.
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/

DNN Article Response

2005-04-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

I think this is an excellent article because it talks about creating real content for real audiences when using blogs. This type of environment can defintely be more motivating for kids and makes them more comfortable with reading and writing. I agree that one of the things that motivates the kids is that their work is out there for real people to consume and interact with. When they are writing in class on regular paper, they aren't as motivated because their work isn't available for anyone and everyone to read and have access to. When they are writing on a blog, they know others will review and critique their work which gives them more motivation to try and do their best. It also gives them a greater sense of empowerment when using blogs. This is a great article that opened my eyes to why it using blogs can be so beneficial for students.
http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=361

Database Documentation

2005-04-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Project Name:
Fun Facts About Ocean Life

Description Of Learning Goals and Standards:
In this lesson, students will sort through Fact Files about ocean life and categorize the data according to weight and group. By the end of the activity, they will be able to report out on the mammal, fish, or invertebrate that weighs the most and the least.
1.Record numerical data in systematic ways, keeping track of what has been counted.
2.Ask and answer simple questions related to data representations.
3. Students will learn that there is variation among individuals of one kind within a population.
QCC's
Topic: Productivity
Standard: Manages information with databases and spreadsheets.
Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
Standard: Identifies and uses technology tools to solve problems with teacher assistance.

Rationale For Technology:
This is a great tool to use for this type of lesson because the students looking on the database that contains all the information they need. They can use the database to create a table to organize, store, and help them sort through their information. Using the database program to create the table will help them organize the information so they can get a clear picture of all the information at once and can differentiate between the facts. Looking at the table is an easy way for them to answer the questions regarding sea life as well as comparing each life form.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
The students will be in groups of two, with each group having access to a computer. They will be given a web address to the database and as they look through the database at each type of sea life, they will use the data to answer the following questions:
Which type of ocean life weighs the most? What group does it belong to?
Which type of ocean life weighs the least? What group does it belong to?
Challenge Questions:
Which mammal weighs the most?
Which mammal weighs the least?
Which fish weighs the most?
Which fish weighs the least?
Which invertebrate weighs the most?
Which invertebrate weighs the least?
-The students will make a table to record the information they obtain. After they have recorded all the necessary information, they will begin to sort them according to their weight.
-After students have completed the table, they will begin to rank them according to their weight. By creating a second table, students can sort them in order of heaviest to lightest or vice versa.
- In order to answer the challenge questions, students will need to create new lists sorted by weight and group.
Assessment:
Once the students have organized their findings, they will write a short paragraph explaining their research of the data.
1.Here are some sample questions that can help with their summary:
2.What did you learn about ocean life?
3.Was there a big difference between the weights of mammals compared to that of fish or invertebrate?
4.What does the heaviest type of ocean life like to eat?
5.What does the lightest type of ocean life like to eat?
6. Did you discover anything that surprised you?
Other Places To Use This Solution:
Using database can be useful for teachers as well as anyone doing research where they need to compare or sort data. It can be used for almost any type of office environment.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time:
I learned that students need to have adequate time to learn how to make a table and next time I would use class time to make sure they knew how to make the table before asking them to use the database program.

References/Resources Used:
http://eprentice.sdsu.edu/F02X2/brooks/dbl-lesson_bsb.html
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/lessons/science.html

Excel Documentation

2005-03-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

Project Name:
Favorite LunchTime Foods
Grade: Second Grade

Description Of Learning Goals and Standards:
1)Instant creation of graphs and charts from spreadsheets in various styles.
2) Selecting, interpreting, and collecting data.
3) Spreadsheet entry.
4) Use of Microsoft Excel to implement lesson.

QCC Standards:
Topic: Productivity
Standard: Creates, manages, and utilizes information using database tools and applications.

Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
Standard: Uses technology to solve problems and make decisions with teacher guidance.

Rationale For Technology:
Excel is a great program for children to use when they are learning how to gather and compare data. It is a good program to use for creating graphs and interpreting data from those graphs. The students can get a visual of the data presented in the spreadsheet which helps them interpret what the data means. It is also great for calculating a variety of functions such as the sum, average, and so forth. It helps students keep track of data using columns and rows and helps them calculate the data correctly using formulas. This program is great for teaching a lesson on surveys and polls, which is what my lesson pertains too. Using this program in my lesson allows the students to see what food was the most popular in each class and which food was the most popular over all. It also shows them the difference in taste that each class has for each different type of lunch item. They can see all the data, compute the averages and sums, and find which lunch item was most popular among all three classes.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
Before this lesson is implemented, each class in the second grade will take a written poll as to what their favorite lunch item is. They will be given a list of the top ten lunch items that are served the most often. They will then be asked to select their favorite item on the lunch menu. After the results are in, they will be given to my students on a sheet of paper that lists the results for each class. I will ask my students to get into groups and create a spreadsheet of the data, calculate the sum of how many people are in each class, and the average number of votes for each type of food. They will then graph this data and turn it in as well as the spreadsheet data.

Assessment:
The students will be graded by the accuracy of the calculations and data that is presented in their spreadsheet as well as completion of graphing the data. After they graph the data and perform the calcuations, they will be asked to give a summary of which food was the most popular and which food was the least popular of all three classes as well as each individual class.

Other Places To Use This Solution:
This program could be used in any office to calculate finances. It could be used by any teacher to store grades and averages. It could also be used at home for research projects to calculate numerical data or graph data.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time:
Next time I would use numerical data that is a bit more complex after the students are more familiar with how to use Excel. I would ask them to perform calculations different from what they did on this lesson so they could use other features that are also offered by this program.

References/Resources Used:
http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/class/excel_resources.htm
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/kadkins/zillions.htm

Blooms Taxonomy

2005-03-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Knowlege:
What are the different types of pollutants affecting our oceans?

Comprehension:
Disscuss the affects of these various pollutants in our oceans.

Application:
What is the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable items?

Analysis:
Analyse certain items and whether or not they are biodegradable.

Synthesis:
Design a powerpoint presentation with pictures showing how pollutants affect our oceans and marine life.

Evaluation:
Recommend ways everyone can help put an end to ocean pollution.

Documentation for Newsletter

2005-03-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

Project Name:
Ocean Pollution

Description of Learning Goals and Standards:
Student's will create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher to summarize their learning growth in the content area of Ocean Pollution.
The students will:
1) Give an introduction of ocean pollution
2) Describe the major sources of ocean pollution
3) Describe the difference in biodegradable and non-biodegradable items
4) Describe the effects of plastics and stryofoams when dumped into the ocean
5) Describe the effects of various pollutants
6) Tell what we can do to help reduce the amount of pollutants dumped into the ocean

QCC Standards:
Topic: ProductivityStandard: Creates, manages, and utilizes information using database tools and applications.

Rationale for Technology
This is a great program to use because it gives the children simple, easy instructions to follow on how to create a newsletter. They are allowed to be as creative as they want when coming up with graphics, choosing colors, headers, font style, text style, and so forth. This program is great for children who aren't necessarily creative on their own. MS Publisher offers a wide variety of graphics and colors for their newsletter to make it look neat, appealing, and professional. It can be taught in a step-by-step manner that is easy to use and easy to learn. The students will have fun getting to use this program by putting their own unique styles and ideas into their newsletters.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
I would begin the lesson by asking the students to tell me what ocean pollution is. After they have given me an educated guess, I will show a powerpoint presentation including the definition of ocean pollution as well as various pictures of different ocean pollutants. Next on my powerpoint presentation, I will display the definitions as well as pictures of biodegradable and non-biodegradable items. I will then pass styrofoam cups and plastic ring holders around the class and have them observe each item. I will ask them what they think happens to these items once they are dumped into the ocean. I will then tell them what really happens with plastics and styrofoams that are dumped into the ocean. Lastly, I will show a video to the students that explains and shows the effects of pollutants in our ocean. After the video, I will give a handout to each student explaining what they can do to help reduce the effects of ocean pollution. I will also pass out a handout that summarizes each topic that was discussed in the lesson. The students will be put in groups of four at a computer and I will guide them through the Microsoft Publisher program. Once they understand the basics of how to use the program, they will have one week to complete a newsletter based on the information they learned in class. The idea of the newsletter will be for them to convey to others the enormous threat that pollutants have on our ocean and how we can help save the ocean.

Assessment
The students will be assessed by their oral participation during the lesson as well as the completion of the newsletter. There will be criteria that must be met for each newsletter and each group will be graded according to whether or not they correctly met the criteria.

Other Places to Use This Solution:
This is a great program that could be used in any work environment or by any teacher.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time:
I would take more time to explain more of the options available in MS Publisher. There are so many options to choose from when using this program. I think it is important to take the time to make sure that each student understands how to use the program and how to access all of the available resources. Many students don't catch on as fast as others and it's important to make sure that each and every student understands and that you as a teacher take the time to answer questions.

References/Resources Used:
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/ocean_pollution.htm

http://www.marinematters.org/

http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/oceanpollution.htm

2005-03-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

Awesome Cards
This is a website of awesome cyber cards that can be used for a variety of occasions and activities. This website offers St. Patricks Day cards, and since today is St. Patricks Day, the students can create a cyber card to send to each of their classmates and their friends. This website caught my attention because it offers colorful, animated cards that can be used for any occasion. It is important for students to have visual literacy in their lessons because they need a visual picture to give them a better idea of what they are learning about. This acitivity allows each student to choose from a variety of different cyber cards and they can also choose what they want to card to say. Do you think allowing the children to create their own cyber card will make them more interested in the assignment?

Documentation for PowerPoint Presentation

2005-03-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

Project Name:
Ocean Pollution

Description of Learning Goals and Standards:
Students will:
1) Learn actions that can be taken to ensure healthy oceans.
2) Learn how they can assume responsibility for their own actions.
3) Make a stronger connection between what they do and how it can affect the ocean.
Powerpoint software will be used to enhance student interest and create an interesting, pictoral presentation.
QCC Standards for 3rd Grade:
Topic: Basic SkillsStandard: Identifies basic technology tools.

Topic: Communication
Standard: Uses technology to gather information, communicate with others.

Rationale For Technology:
Using the PowerPoint technology allows the teacher to create a visually enhancing presentation that contains color, movement, graphics, and is a lot of fun for the students. Using transitions and builds between slides adds variety to the presentation and helps maintain student interest. There are numerous amounts of different transitions and builds available to make the presentation interesting and motivating. Using PowerPoint also allows the teacher to choose from a wide variety of colors, pictures, graphics,video, font, and so forth. These features play a huge role in helping the children learn and in keeping their attention. Children tend to learn well when presented with visually enhancing information, which is a great feature of PowerPoint. This program adds variety to the everyday teaching style that is normally used in the classroom.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
I would begin by asking students what they think pollution is. After they give their answer, I will begin the slide presentation. Before I present each slide, I will ask the students to first answer the question and then compare their answers with the actual facts given in the slides. One of the slides states how much time it takes for biodegradable and nonbiodegradable items to break down. Before I present that particular slide, I will ask the students to tell me how long they think it would take for certain items to decompose in the ocean. Then I will present the slide that tells how many years it takes the specific items to break down. After the presentation, the students will do an activity called "Breakdown Time." I will put several items in a basket and ask the students to put them in order of which degrades the fastest. On a card I will write: "Put the items in order from fastest to break down to slowest to break down." Some examples of the items would be paper, a lemon, a tin can, aluminum cans, plastic six pack rings, styrofoam pellets, and fishing line.

Assessment
As an assessment I will have the students list five ways, they as an individual, can help make a difference. They will also have to find at least one item in their home that is biodegradable and one that is not biodegradable. They will bring them to class and show the class as we discuss why these items will break down or why they will not break down.

Other Places To Use This Solution:
Powerpoint can be used with any elementary age level. It can be used by the teacher as a class presentation or it can be used in a computer program to teach individual lessons. As the children get older, they can learn to create their own powerpoint presentations for projects and class presentations.

What I Learned and What I would Improve Next Time:
I learned that PowerPoint is a great program to use for teaching. It is an effective way to present a lesson in a fun and interesting way. It is fairly easy to use to create presentations and it offers a wide variety of ways to present information using color, graphics, pictures, movement, etc. Next time, I would like to create a presentation that includes a video. This is a great way for students to watch a video in a different way.

Reference/Resources Used:

http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Ocean/

http://www.oceanlink.island.net/onews/oceannews6/oceannews6p1.html

http://www.marinematters.org/

2005-02-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

Project Name:
Ocean Pollution

Description of Learning Goals and Standards
1. To determine actions that can be taken to ensure healthy oceans.
2. To make a stronger connection between what students do and how it can affect the ocean.
3. To allow students to research the internet to research and help brainstorm ideas.

QCC's:
Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
Standard: Uses technology to solve problems and make decisions with teacher guidance.

Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Topic: Science Inquiry, Process Skills and Problem Solving
Standard: Asks questions, makes and keeps records of observations, classifies objects and events, communicates with others, makes inferences and predictions, uses estimation and measurement, uses evidence to construct explanations, makes sketches and diagrams to explain ideas, organizes data into tables and charts for interpretation, reads and interprets various types of graphs, formulates simple hypotheses, identifies and controls a limited number of variables, and designs a simple experiment.

Rationale For Technology
This lesson uses Inspiration software which allows the teachers and students to create a cognitive map to carry out the lesson. The students are also allowed to research on the internet prior to creating the map so they will have ideas and answers they can give the teacher. The great thing about the inspiration software is that is is very colorful and has pictures which are a great way to keep young students' attention and interest.

Description of Lesson Implementation
The students will be given a half hour to research on the internet about ocean pollution. They will be asked to research the answers to the following questions:
1. What is ocean pollution?
2. What are different types of ocean pollution?
3. How does pollution get into the water?
4. What does biodegradeable mean?
5. What are some non-biodegradeable objects?
6. What can you do to help the ocean?
After the students have found ideas to answer the questions, the class will come together as a whole and the teacher will ask the students to brainstorm as a class and answer the questions. She may call on an individual, she may call on a group, or she make take volunteers to answer each question. After the cognitive map is completed, the teacher will print out a copy for each student to have.

Assessment
Students will be given a written exam that is multiple choice. This exam will consist of multiple choice questions and they will be given a whole class period to complete it. They will also be asked to write a short essay on how they can help save the ocean. This essay will be due one week after the exam. The written exam is a great way to test the student's knowledge while the short essay gives them a chance to express what they've learned as well as how they feel about saving the ocean.

Other Places to use this solution
This can be done at home since inspirations software can be downloaded and used at home as well.

References Resources Used
Inspirationd Software
Marine Matters

Midterm Reflection Paper

2005-02-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

Bethany
Midterm Reflection Paper

Since I wrote my last reflection paper, my expectations for what I hoped to learn have changed in a positive way. I was under the impression that it would be difficult to create a webpage yet, besides a few minor problems, I found creating a webpage to be fairly easy. I am proud of myself for accomplishing something that many people have no clue how to do. I know that I will need to know how to make web pages when I become a teacher and I am hoping to share my knowledge with my students and teach it to them in an easy and understandable way. I am still hoping to learn more about power point since it has been a few years since I used this program. I am enjoying using the “blogs” and never knew they existed until taking this course. I feel like I have learned a lot about integrating technology into my teaching curriculum. I have learned that it can bring more effective learning and more motivation to students. Implementing technology into every lesson is not always the best, but many lessons can be done easier, faster, and more efficiently with the help of technology. I have learned that it is also important to receive student feedback after using technology in a new activity. That way, you know how the students felt about it and whether or not it changed their attitude towards the assignment. Sometimes the students perform and achieved better without technology, yet sometimes it makes a huge, positive difference in their learning outcome. I have also learned how to successfully create a webpage and how to create links within that webpage. I have also learned how to use a “blog” and hopefully I can show my students how to create their own “blog.” Being able to communicate with my fifth grade student has taught me how much she enjoys using her “blog.”
I do feel that I have gained a better understanding of how to tackle challenges. I am the type of person that can get frustrated easily with something if I don’t get it at first. I have learned that challenging myself with difficult assignments leaves me with a great sense of accomplishment when I am finished. From what I have learned so far, I feel more comfortable with technology than I ever have. I have learned a lot of useful tips that I could use in the future when I integrate technology into my own lesson plans. I feel that technology can make a lot of difficult challenges, simple.
I am doing things different now with technology than before I took the course. First of all, I am posting my thoughts on a “blog”, which I had never even heard of before taking this class. I have learned how to create a webpage which I had no clue how to do before this class. I have also found several lesson plans using technology that have given me a lot of creative ideas I wouldn’t have come up with on my own. I am also getting to respond to my classmates’ posts and getting to read their responses to mine. This is the first class I’ve had where a classmate has responded to something I wrote.
I have learned a lot of useful things from this class thus far and look forward to learning more. Technology is becoming more and more useful in our everyday lives and I think it is crucial for all future teachers to know how to use technology in the classroom. I think this course will leave us with a lot of information and knowledge that we will use for the rest of our teaching careers.

Documentation For Webpage

2005-02-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Name:
Gifts Caring for thof the Ocean Environment

Description of Learning Goals and Standards:
-The students will discuss some ways in which the ocean environment has been polluted by industry, business, and vacationers.-The students will find out about diseases caused by pollution in humans and in all types of sea dwellers.-The students will read about and find Internet resources that will enhance their knowledge of what happens to our oceans and the life within when pollution goes unchecked.-The students will find out about various concerns of local beaches where they will be vacationing this summer (for example: oil spills or littering).It is important for the students to use the internet for this assignment because it allows them to research faster and more efficiently about the ocean environment as well as local beaches they will be vacationing at. The internet is full of so much information and is great way for the children to look up various things in a shorter amount of time.

QCC Strand: Basic SkillsStandard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.

QCC Strand: ProductivityStandard: Uses brainstorming/Webbing software in planning, organizing, and prewriting.

QCC Strand: CommunicationStandard: Uses telecommunication tools and on-line resources to communicate with others, gather information, and express ideas.

QCC Strand: ResearchStandard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Rationale For Technology:
In this webpage, I included three very informative websites for the children to use in their exploration. Each website is designed for student use and is a great way for the students to have access to an abundance of information. The first website contains an informative article titled: "Dangers at Sea: Our Changing Ocean," which is very helpful. The advantage of creating my webpage is so the children can have a fast and easy way to understand the assignment. If they are unclear of any directions, all they have to do is go to the website and click on each link. The graphics also provide visual enhancement to the site which the students love and find interesting.

Description of Lesson Implementation
Creating the website was not difficult, and this is a great way to implement a lesson, granted that all students are familiar with how to navigate in a webpage. I would make sure that each child had access to a computer either at work or home so they could have easy access to their assignment. Each child would be provided with a handout that has the web address to they can look at the webpage when they are at home as well. There would be an allocated time for this assignment to be completed in class. If it's not completed in class, the students can work on this at home or at the end of the day when they have completed all other work. The only drawback to this type of lesson is that not all children have internet access at home.

Assessment
Student progress will be assessed by oral participation and written literature pieces. Students will share their internet resource findings orally.
I think having the webpage for the students to look at was a great way for them to understand the assignment and what was expected of them. That way, they were able to complete their work correctly because they knew what was expected of them. I will also take a class survey asking the students if using the webpage made the assignment easier or more difficult.

Other Places To Use This Solution
The students can complete this activity at home with their parents.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time
From doing this assignment, I learned that creating a webpage is time consuming, but not difficult. I enjoyed making my webpage and being able to put my own creativity into it. If I could improve anything, I would allow more time for this acitivity to be done, such as a week instead trying to do it in one day.

References/Resources Used

The article title: “Dangers at Sea: Our Changing Ocean” speaks for itself as making this a helpful and informative site.

http://www.seaweb.org/campaigns/danger/trouble.html

2. This group is dedicated to the advancement of the education of children. The information provided opens new worlds of information for children to explore.

http://worldkids.com/

3. Students can use this site to get information about ocean life.

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/ocean.html

Chapter 6 Comments

2005-02-15T08:27:00.001-08:00

"Lars, just look at these pre-post data on the semantic differential, Mia
said, clearly pleased with the results. Nearly every student a major
improvement in how they felt about people from the countries we were
studying. It's hard to believe how much the e-mails and products affected
how they look at other cultures. I can't remember my students being so
excited about something they've produced." (Scenario 1, Phase 5, Chapter 6, pg 33)

I liked this quote because Mia talked about how excited her students were about what they had accomplished. In education, it is so important for the students to be motivated and excited about what they are learning. If there is no motivation, there is not much learning. Using the internet to research and talk to other students around the world really boosted the students motivation, as well as their self-confidence. It gave them more respect for people in other countries and more respect for themselves as learners. It gave them a more direct approach to learning about other cultures. They got a first-hand experience of other cultures which is something they wouldn't have been able to do without integrating technology into this activity. Nearly every student showed a major improvement about how they felt about other cultures. Those results alone, show that the overall objective of the lesson was successful. Using the internet and communicating through e-mails not only benefited Mia's students, but also other student's around the world.

Chapter 10 Quote

2005-02-10T10:18:00.000-08:00

"We all want our students to be artistically literate, as well as
read-and-writing literate, don't we?" I think you'll be interested in one
of the projects I'm doing this year. Next month we're taking a virtual
field trip to major art exhibits around the world. I've already identified
some of the websites."

I chose this quote from chapter ten because I think it is a great quote that the teacher tells the mother, who is concerned about her children being exposed to high-quality art. I think this is a great way for students to be able to see many art exhibits around the world, which is something they would never be able to do on their own. This way, they can get an upclose look at some of the most famous artwork that they wouldn't be able to see on a local fieldtrip. With all the children having access to a computer, they can all look at the same artwork at the same time and learn at the same time. They are unlimited to any type of art that the teacher wants them to see and learn about. The internet provides access to almost any piece of artwork you could think of. Learning on the internet allows them to see about a dozen museums compared to only one they would see on a field trip.
After visiting all the virtual art museums, the children will make their own art collection and make their own webpage to post their artwork on. This is a great assessment for the children to help them show what they have learned.
What is another type of assessment that could be used for this lesson?

Learning Environment Lessons

2005-02-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

Lesson Plan 1

Project Name:
Caring for the Gifts of the Ocean Environment

Description of Learning Goals and Standards
Grades 3-5
-The students will discuss some ways in which the ocean environment has been polluted by industry, business, and vacationers.
-The students will find out about diseases caused by pollution in humans and in all types of sea dwellers.
-The students will read about and find Internet resources that will enhance their knowledge of what happens to our oceans and the life within when pollution goes unchecked.
-The students will find out about various concerns of local beaches where they will be vacationing this summer (for example: oil spills or littering).
It is important for the students to use the internet for this assignment because it allows them to research faster and more efficiently about the ocean environment as well as local beaches they will be vacationing at. The internet is full of so much information and is great way for the children to look up various things in a shorter amount of time.
QCC Strand: Basic Skills
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.

QCC Strand: Productivity
Standard: Uses brainstorming/Webbing software in planning, organizing, and prewriting.

QCC Strand: Communication
Standard: Uses telecommunication tools and on-line resources to communicate with others, gather information, and express ideas.

QCC Strand: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Rationale for Technology:
Using technology in this lesson is essential for the students to learn first hand about pollutants and how they affect the ocean and the marine life. It also allows them to research various beaches where they plan to vacation so they can learn about the dangers of those beaches and what types of pollutants are in the water there. Doing this assignment gives them great practice at researching on the web and learning how to use the internet effectively. Searching on the internet for vacation destinations is both exciting for the students as well as educational. I don't believe there are any disadvantages in this lesson by integrating technology.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
Warm-Up:
-Students will view and discuss a National Geographic Video entitled: "Sea Nasties"
-Students will help to set up an aquarium to be a tiny replica of what is in the ocean and what may be found on the Ocean floor.
Activities/Procedures:
1) Students will work with suggested sites on the computer to find information that would tell them either what sort of pollution has been problematic or what has been done to help clean up various pollutants.
2) Students will work with computer sites to find out about various diseases to find out about how pollution has caused illness in humans and in ocean life.
3) Students will write a story or a poem to describe the beauty of the ocean.
4) Students will write an “obituary” for a mammal in danger of extinction.
I think this is a great lesson because it begins with a video to introduce the children to the topic so they will be familiar with what they are going to be researching. The replica of the ocean floor is a great way to give the students a hands-on, visual representation of what may be found on the ocean floor. After the first two assignments are completed, they are familiar with the topic and are ready to research and learn more about the topic. After collecting information off the internet, they will have enough resources to write a poem or story as well as an "obituary" for a mammal in danger of extinction.

Assessment:
Student progress will be assessed by oral participation and written literature pieces. Students will share their internet resource findings orally. I think the stories, poems, and "obituaries" are a great assessment because it shows whether or not they were using the technology effectively and researching the proper way to retain useful information. Sharing their internet resources orally lets every student hear what the others found so they can learn from others' research efforts as well. This assignment meets the learning goals and standards because the students are researching, brainstorming, and using on-line researching to communicate with others, gather information, and express ideas.

Other Place to Use This Solution:
This would be a great activity done at home with the children and their parents.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time:
I learned that hands on activities are often a great way to engage students in a topic and get them interested. I also learned that using the internet is a fast, effective way to research.

References/Resources Used:
Sister Hannah Miller, I.H.M.
http://www.dciu.k12.pa.us/EducatorSites/EcologyLessons/Oceans%20Marine%20Life.htm

Lesson Plan 2:

Project Name: Using Photography To Help Save The Oceans

Description of Learning Goals and Standards:
Grades 3-5
Students will:
-look at photographs by David Doubilet and other marine photographers;
-discuss ways that humans' actions impact various forms of marine life;
-research basic information about one form of marine life and the specific threats it faces;
-show where the life form lives on a map; and
-draw pictures and write captions showing how the life forms they studied live when they are in their natural healthy habitats versus in habitats that have been damaged by humans.
It is important for the students to look at photographs of marine life so they can become familiar with the marine life. Discussing how human actions impact marine life helps the students know why it is important to help save the oceans. Researching on-line gives the students an abundance of information about a certain form of marine life and how it is endangered. They can also look on a map to see where that particular life form lives and what type of habitat they are supposed to live in to be healthy.
QCC Strand: Basic Skills
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.

QCC Strand: Productivity
Standard: Uses Brainstorming/Webbing software in planning, organizing, and pre-writing.

QCC Strand: Communication
Standard: Uses telecommunication tools and on-line resources to communicate with others, gather information, and express ideas.

QCC Strand: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Rationale For Technology:
In this lesson, using technology is a great research tool for the students. They have access to an abundance of pictures and information that they wouldn't be able to find in a regular library. It is also a faster way for them to research and allows them to improve their researching skills and computer skills, while learning at the same time. Researching about a particular animal not only lets them see the animal, but it also lets them know how the animal can be protected and what they can do. There are so many online resources that are available that can better enhance their learning. The only disadvantage to the students would be if they didn't know how to properly use the internet to research.

Description of Lesson Implementation:
Opening:
Read students the following quotes by marine photographers:
"My job description is to make a picture of a place no one has ever seen before or, to make a picture that's different of a place that everybody's seen before." - David Doubilet

"We have the ability and the responsibility to help educate the public about the very real need to protect the undersea world and the plants and animals that live there." - Henry Wolcott

Show the class Doubilet's photo gallery and Marine Photo Bank with images from different photographers and ask students to think about the quotes as they look at the pictures.

Why do students think Doubilet and Wolcott do what they do? Do they think photographs can help people understand the world's oceans better and care more about what happens to them?

Ask students to think about how humans might be damaging the oceans. Have they heard news stories about dolphins being caught in fishing lines, for example, or about oil spills killing ocean animals? Why do students think people harm the oceans and the animals that live in them? Do they hurt ocean life on purpose or out of carelessness?
Have students form small groups, and assign each group to research one of the following marine life forms:
Coral reefs
Goliath grouper
Sea otters
Sea turtles Ask students to pay careful attention to the pictures of the animals. Students should think about the following questions using the Web sites below:
What does it look like?
How big is it?
Where does it live? (Have students show this by marking the areas on blank outline maps of the world.)
What does it eat?
How do human activities endanger it?
What could be done to help protect it?

Bring the students back together as a class and discuss what they have learned. Do they feel that looking at photographs of ocean life and studying human impact on the oceans has made them feel more strongly about ocean conservation? Why?
I think this step-by-step process really makes the students think about marine life and the effects the humans have on it. Being able to research about a particular animal allows each group to become familiar with that animal and learn more about how that animal stays healthy and what endangers it's health. Studying about ocean life and human impact allows the students to develop their own feelings concerning ocean conservation.

Assessment:
Have students draw pictures of the animal they studied in the lesson. Ask them to draw one picture of the animal looking healthy in its natural habitat, and one depicting the animal under stress by some form of human contact (for example, they could draw a seal tangled in a net). Each picture should have a caption explaining basic facts about the animal: the caption under the healthy picture should include information about its size, diet, and natural habitat; and the caption for the stressed animal should indicate how its interaction with humans has affected its environment and its health. They should also indicate how this animal could be protected in the future.
Have students post their drawings with the captions on the wall, and allow the class to walk around and look at them. Ask them if they think the drawings have changed their own opinions about how humans are treating the oceans.

Other Places to Use This Lesson:
This is another great lesson that can be done at home with children and their parents.

What I Learned and What I Would Improve Next Time:
I learned that letting the students see each other's work not only enchances their learning, but can change their opinion and convey the message of the lesson in a better way. I wouldn't change or improve any part of the lesson.

Refereces/Recourses Used
MarcoPolo: National Geographic Xpeditions
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g35/doubiletphoto.html

Internet Activity

2005-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

Today we are learning about search engines that can help us with our learning environment idea that we picked last week in class. There were three websites I found that I think will be beneficial to me in my search. First of all, I liked http://www.big6.com because it is the most widely known and widely used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. It gives you six simple steps and a framework to approach any information based question. This will be very helpful for me since I normally have trouble searching the internet for specific topics when I enter in a keyword.
Another search engine that I found to be helpful is http://library.albany.edu/internet/search.html because it covers three basic types of tools: 1) subject directories, 2) search engines, and 3) so-called "deep" or "invisible" web which are links that exist but are always almost impossible to find using a regular search engine. Having three tools to help me with my search is much better than just using a search engine.
Another search engine I liked was http://library.curtin.edu.au/staff/personal/gwpersonal/compare.html.
This site features six different international robot-drivin search engines such as gigablast, google, sensis, teoma, wisenut, and yahoo search. I liked this link because it has google and yahoo search which I am very familiar with, yet it also introduced me to new search engines I didn't even know existed.

I am glad that I found search engines today that will be beneficial to me in the future. I look forward to using these links to help me with my projects now and when I become a teacher myself.

Initial Learning Environmant Assignment

2005-01-31T05:34:00.000-08:00

Bethany Ballard
IT3210
Thursdays

Initial Learning Environment Plans

Members of the design team:
Bethany Ballard

Metaphor/Theme being used in the Learning Environment:
Oceans and Seas

Targeted grade level for the Learning Environment:
5th grade

Initial idea of the overall goal for creating the Learning Environment:

To teach the children the many functions of the oceans, such as storing heat and energy from the sun and distributing this heat to land through the ocean currents. The heat stored in the ocean waters heats the land and air during winter and cools it during the summer. I also want to children to be able to locate on a map the four recognized oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. I also want the children to learn that a sea is a smaller branch of an ocean, which is often partially enclosed by land. The largest seas are the South China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. They will be able to locate these on a world map.

Sample QCCs to be addressed in Learning Environment:

Topic: Basic Skills
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.
Topic: Productivity
Standard: Uses multimedia tools to express ideas.
Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
Standard: Identifies and uses technology tools to solve problems with teacher assistance.

Initial ideas for activities:

An Oceans and Seas of the World “label me” printout. Children will locate on the computer, the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, as well as the three largest seas. After they have successfully identified the oceans, they will print out their work to save and keep in their notebook. A Water Cycle “label me” printout. Children will label the diagram of how water cycles the earth. This will also be done on computer and printed out to keep in their notebook. A Water Cycle “find it” quiz. This is a quiz on the earth’s water cycle. This computer programmed quiz will let them know if they have a wrong answer, and will allow them to retry until they achieve the right answer and score 100% on the quiz. This way, they will know the right answer to each question and can keep a copy of the quiz in their notebook to have as a study guide. Also, a Water Cycle Adventure game. This is an interactive computer game that shows the children each step of the water cycle while explaining it at the same time.

Response to chapters 3-5

2005-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

I think it is good to state an objective and projected outcome when introducing new technology to your students. That way, you know whether or not using the technology was affective and brought better results. It is also important to assess the outcomes so you can know how the children felt about integrating technology into their lesson and whether or not it was more beneficial to them. In chapter 4, I enjoyed learning on how to decide on teaching/learning methods. I didn't know their were guidelines that help you choose whether to use a directed method of teaching or an inquiry-based method. In chapter five, I found the essential conditions for effective technology uses to be helpful and informative. One of the conditions I found to be the most helful was having adequate hardware, software, and media. I remember using computer labs in middle and high school and not having enough computers available for everyone. It was an ineffective way for everyone to learn because they were unable to have their own computer and apply what they were being taught. I found these chapters to be helpful and informative and I look forward to learning more.

Initial Reflection Paper

2005-01-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Bethany Ballard
IT 3210

Initial Reflection Paper

While I am in this course, I hope to learn how to create my own web page. I also want to learn more about Excel and how to use it since I haven’t had much experience using that program. I also hope to learn how to create graphic images using the computer since I am not knowledgeable when it comes to that. I also need a review on how to use Power Point. I used it three or four years ago but I my memory needs to be refreshed.
My level of experience using technology in the classroom is average, but not excellent. I know how to use Microsoft Word, Works, Internet Explorer, e-mail, and various other programs but I am not an expert. I know just enough to get by. I have been using computers since I was in elementary school so they aren’t foreign to me, yet I still get confused when an “error” pops up or a virus infects my computer. I took a keyboarding class in high school which really helped me with my typing skills. When I attended Clayton State, I took two computer classes. One class was solely based on teaching you how to create your own webpage. It was helpful, but I have forgotten a lot of what I learned. I also had to create my own power point presentations while I attended Clayton State.
I would really miss learning more about Microsoft Word if it wasn’t covered. I am pretty good at using this program, but I would love a review. I would also miss the topic of creating a web page because I can’t remember how to do it and I am sure as a teacher I will need to know how to create a web page. I would also miss the topic of creating graphic arts because I am very unfamiliar with that topic.
I think technology should be used in the classroom as an advantage, yet not taken advantage of. I don’t think we should teach our children to rely solely on technology, yet technology is the “wave of the future” as everyone says and it is imperative that our children learn and know how to use technology. When it comes to writing skills, I don’t think children should rely on Word to correct their grammar and punctuation, yet it can help them improve on those skills.
In our world today, everything is beginning to be based on technology which is why it is so important that our children acquire the knowledge of how to use technology and incorporate it into their everyday life. Children should use technology in the classroom because they will be using it at home and in the working field when they graduate and have their own jobs. Using technology in the classroom also allows the children to become familiar with it so they aren’t overwhelmed when they are expected to know how to use it outside of the classroom.
Each year, we become more and more dependant on technology at work and at home. We even depend on it for everyday tasks in certain situations. Children who do not know how to use technology are at a disadvantage in our society and will certainly have problems later in life using it. I think this is a great course because I myself have a lot of problems using technology. If I am going to be a teacher who is teaching my students how to use technology, I should definitely know how to use it myself.

Response to Adrieana

2005-01-20T10:30:00.001-08:00

Adrieana, my fifth grade student, said that she liked when her teachers allowed her to work with a partner when doing an assignment. She also enjoys going on fieldtrips and particularly enjoyed going outside in the woods with her class to learn about nature. I agree that working with a partner or in groups is a great way to facilitate effective learning. Field trips are also good because they allow students to actually experience what they are learning about.

Response to Adrieana

2005-01-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

I learned today that Adrieana, my fifth grade student, likes when teachers allow her to work with a partner on an assignment. She also loves field trips and particularly liked going outside in the woods with one of her teachers to learn about nature. I agree that working with a partner or in a group is can be much more beneficial in facilitating effective learning.

My first post

2005-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

This is my very first time to create a web log. I am in a class learning how to use web logs.