Week 12 Assignment

In this weeks assignment we were instructed to research itunes and how it is used throughout schools around the country. I had a lot of fun viewing all the different articles and study programs that are offered through itunes. I think it is a great way for students to become more involved in their studies as well as take pride in their school! I wish South Alabama would have a program like this!
When I was researching universities that had this program, there were tons. Sanford, Berkley, and other univerites use these educational podcast. Students at these colleges can pretty much look up any topic from their coures or school newspaper to learn more. This is such a great way for students to learn more and have fun with it! Below is just one of the many links I found about itunes in schools!
http://www.oculture.com/category/podcast_info

Week 9 Assignment

After reading and listening to the different sites for this assignment, I was not that shocked. Most people would just assume that internet sources like Wikipedia are reliable, but a lot of times this is not the case! The fact that anybody can get on Wikipedia and change the contents of a certain subject just based on what they think or trying to make others look bad is rediculous. After listening to the NPR episode about this issue, I will definently rethink using Wikipedia for information in the future!

Week 11 Assignment

Every week I am more amazed with all the different technology advances that have been made in recent years. Throughout this course we have researched some of these advancements. One of the newest items on the market is Apple's portable media players. the iPod.
The iPod has been around since 2001 but today there are various versions (ex: ipod mini, ipod touch, ipod shuffle, etc.). As an iPod can transfer music, pictures, and other media items there are also suggestions about iPods. When I was researching, I found different websites that displayed their different suggestions for future iPods. Below is one of these sites.
Many different schools and universities are somehow incorporating iPods into the curriculum. Duke University has taken on this great idea of using iPods in class. By using iPods students at Duke are able to use it as a study support tool and a classroom recording tool. I think it is a great way for students to learn as well as practice new technology!!

http://ekle.us/index.php/2005/05/ipod_suggestions

Week 10 Assignment

This website was created by Dr. Alice Christie. It has many useful thoughts about what she has experienced as an educator. This website is a "comprehensive resource for educators" who are having problems with new educational technology. This website has so many different things to offer to teachers!
One of the things I found useful for preparing myself for teaching was the main educational technology tab. There were so many great resources I had trouble choosing just one to talk about. The Rubrics link was one I found very useful! It gave me a better understanding of how a rubric should be used in the classroom and of all the great advanages of using them. I truely enjoyed exploring this website and definently found it useful for my future!!

Week 8 Assignment

For this week's blog I choose to read and blog about 'Best of Novemeber'. This blog by Mr. Fisch was titled "Why Wireless?". He was writing for his school newspaper to inform parents and staff of the positive atributes of have a wireless system at their school. He made some very interesting points about the positive effects wirerless internet can have on schools. I enjoyed reading this blog, and I definently agree with Mr. Fisch, I love wireless internet!

He also made many great points in his atricle. One main point that I really liked was when he talked about the world children are growing up in today are way different than the one's of their parents. This blog was mainly about how many great learning experiences can come along with having wireless internet system!

Week 7 Assignment

After reading this blog throughly I totally agree with Mr. Fisch. I think there is a big need for education courses to be more involved with technology. And I will amitt, I myself do not know as much as I should about computers. Technolgy is not going to go away, it will only progress throughout time so I find it very important to incorporate technology in education!
I really liked how Mr. Fisch outlined the importance of not just teachers being held responsible for their lack of knowledge when it comes to technology, but also administrators, professors, and even parents. Today students need to have teachers who understand and know exactly how to work computers. In a lot of my classes most of my teachers/professors have not been able to work different technology eqiupment and a lot of times the students have suffered from this! I really enjoyed viewing this blog and think every teacher should read it as well!

Week 6 Assignment

This blog site it the main headquarters for the international schools association. It was interesting to read about the different opportunities students have at international schools. I am a strong believe in educating children on others' cultures, not just their own. And I also think by having international schools this can be achieved. On this site there were other links to international schools which could be very useful if somebody was trying to find the right school for their child! It seemed like a great way for parents to get an inside view of the schools!

I thought this was a neat blog! It is the Shu Ren International school that is located in many different areas in the world. They teach Mandarian and English immersion for grades preschool through 8th grade. I thought it was very interesting to learn how they start educating children at the age of about 4 with various cultures. I enjoyed researching this blog and going through all the interesting pictures of what this school has to offer!