Last One! :) ... or :(

So, this is it, my final blog. I'd love to say that I will continue to blog after I leave this class, but more than likely, I will probably stop -- at least for now. It's hard for me to blog when I feel I have nothing important to say. And for the time being, I really don't. I learned SO much from this class, and it has been great having all this new technology to work with and cuss at. It's great stuff, and even when it doesn't do what you think it will, there is always a learning experience in there somewhere. So, I guess this blog finale is "ambition blogging," because if there is one main thing I have discovered in this class, it's that I really know now what kind of instructor I want to be some day.

Since I'm going to be teaching college students, I am going to be under pressure to keep up with them. I always hated it when teachers tried to talk about things they new nothing about, and tried to work technology about which they were utterly clueless. I think that's why so many teachers are reluctant to try new things. They stick with what they know, to avoid being laughed at. I really do understand that, and it helps me remind myself not to become that way. I hate being the laughing stock (I know what you're all thinking, and stop it). As obsessed as I am with Second Life right now, I have to remember to not try to use it with my future students. They'll be well into their third lives by then, and will think I'm a dinosaur for bringing it up. It's like those gomer professors that assume because we're younger than them, we automatically like the Backstreet Boys. It isn't right.

I'll admit it - I want to be the cool teacher, the one students invite to go out drinking with them (even though I don't drink - I mean, you all saw what happened when I had the Pepsi, and the cookies, and the taffy... I am still, quite frankly, bouncing off the walls). I want to be like Vicki Davis - there's no way her students could ever find her lame! It's going to be difficult, but I have to make sure to always know more than (or at least as much as) my students, so that when they come to me needing ideas for presentations, I can offer them fresh ideas, and hopefully inspire them. I don't know how you do it, Dr. Z , but rest assured, I will be picking your brain every chance I get!

Link Blogging

I've been thinking about video games lately, and whether or not they can be educational (my boyfriend is a junkie for them, but I don't think the kind he plays will make you smarter). Here is a collection of links to some good information on gaming in education.

This link talks about how gaming can be useful because it allows you "fail to success." You can test limits and not be afraid to fail, because it is just a game. I like that idea, and it makes sense. If you blow your head off in a game, you grow a new one. No harm, no foul.

http://www.wideopendoors.net/educational_technology/gaming.html



This is Brainmeld, and organization of people from the video game and educational industries coming together to create video games that would be useful in the classroom. The site contains free teaching guides that help teachers add educational video games to their curriculum.

http://www.brainmeld.org/

This is a very cool blog post by Dannette Veale, the global virtual strategist for Cisco Live and Networkers conferences. She talks about how gaming can actually enhance kids' interest in education. According to her, video games can be a "driver for exploration and discovery."


http://blogs.cisco.com/virtualworlds/comments/gaming_and_education/

Life Blogging

I really enjoyed Lisa's blog this week. In it, she mentioned that she has a hard time getting into technology if she doesn't see it as valuable in the classroom. I totally understand, and have similar issues. My biggest issue is that there is just too much stuff out there, and I don't have time (who does?) to become an avid user of all of it. Therefore, I have to choose carefully the things that I feel will benefit me the most, and pretty much ignore the rest. It's difficult, especially since I plan on teaching college students. They're like teenagers, only worse! :) They are ravenous consumers of all kinds of technology, and I need to stay on top of it and try to incorporate it into their learning experience.

I also liked the picture Lisa included in her blog - it really took me back! I remember when I was in high school, I thought I was so cool because I had a pager. Not a cell phone, a pager. It had 2 buttons on it, and displayed whatever phone numbers my friends entered when they called the phone number. We found creative ways of using pagers to communicate more than just phone numbers, though. We developed numeric codes that meant different things, and while it didn't work as well as a cell phone, we managed to have pretty detailed conversations with numbers only. I always knew when my best friend had met a hot guy, or when there was an emergency ("911"). Sure, the technology was nothing compared to what we have now, but it allowed us to be creative and learn the devices inside and out. Now, I have a cell phone, iPod, etc., and I don't understand or use half of the features available to me. When I was younger, I never dreamed that pagers would become obsolete. Now, they're really only used by doctors (and restaurants, to let you know your table is ready). Technology can be really intimidating, and if you're not careful, it's easy to let it get away from you. I feel like I'm in constant danger of becoming a dinosaur, and I'm not even in my third decade of life yet!

A Little Lost...

This blog is just a little late this week. Between the sick dog, the new job, and the Eracism judging ordeal, things just got a bit weird. Once I got it all figured out, the judging things was pretty fun. I liked listening to the kids go back and forth and, at times, get rather vicious with each other. It made me miss being a teenager! I wonder if the project has any ties with this one - http://www.eracismfoundation.org/ . This Eracism project was created in 2006 by Louis Gossett Jr. Maybe the two are unrelated, but they seem to have similar goals. It just makes me sick that in 2009, racism is still a problem. Human beings accept all kinds of change - we are inundated with new technology and new ways of doing things, and think it's great. We are constantly changing our ways of thinking about everything - except, apparently, race. Why can't we change our minds about something so trivial as the way we look? Why do people still make decisions about others based on skin color?

Deb's blog was really interesting this week - http://djbloomie.blogspot.com/. She mentioned how she showed a video about technology in her class, and a student said the video had no claim, only facts. Do younger people, then, have a better shot at erasing racism? If they are so accepting of technology as simply "the world as they know it" (thank you, Deb), then perhaps they will also be more accepting of skin coming in a variety of colors. I think technology's biggest benefit is globalization, and the fact that it is now totally commonplace for a high school kid to complete a project with a student of a different race, culture, and religion. Hopefully, our future generations will know of racism only through history books, and will think of it as archaic as dial-up Internet.

(By the way, I think this is "evangelist blogging")

Wikis, Blogs, and Nings

Am I just super ignorant, or do other people wonder what the difference is? I'm learning more as I go through this program, so I'm starting to grasp it better... I think. It might help if all three names didn't sound like E.T.'s buddies. From what I gather, a blog is somewhat like an online journal, where you post your thoughts on stuff. At least that's what I'm doing with mine. Wikis, then, are basically online documents that a bunch of different people can add stuff to and change. Are Google docs considered wikis? SO, what are nings? Nings seem to be the same things as wikis, but that couldn't be possible. They wouldn't create two totally different names to refer to the same thing, right? Or is the universe just torturing me?

I think wikis are my favorite, because of the collaboration factor. They have proven very useful for the group projects I'm currently participating in, and are much more convenient than emailing attachments back and forth. Sure, they have bizarre quirks and gliches (I had to re-make the same flowchart 3 times last night because the stupid thing couldn't figure out how to insert it -- or could that have been me?) but they have so many uses in both the education and corporate worlds that they are definitely worth a try. Erin brought up some awesome corporate uses for wikis in her blog this week - http://techtechgoose.blogspot.com/. I love the idea of using a wiki for a company handbook. Everyone could add to it and share their ideas and advice. I wish the places I have worked would have adopted something like that.

I found a really awesome blog from McDaniel College that talked about the use of wikis in higher ed. I couldn't figure out who the author was, but it was at http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/InTech/blog/. The blog mentioned using wikis for research. I hadn't even thought about that one, but it's a great idea. I know for group projects, it would make finding and sharing sources so much easier. For me, the research phase is usually the most frustrating. It would be nice to have each group member find so many sources, and list some information about each one. This would probably be good for high school students, too (though I have very limited knowledge of what teenagers like - they scare me senseless). I know they are using wikis for the Flat Classroom Project, and I think it's a perfect use for them. On a side note, I just figured out how to make words link to a certain website (Flat Classroom Project). I'm smart! My education dollars weren't wasted! Woo hoo!!!!!

Oh yeah, this was insight blogging.

Piggybacking

This week, we're supposed to use a different format again, PLUS refer to another blogger, so I'm going to kill two birds with one stone and piggyback on Vicki Davis' blog: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/07/whats-wrong-with-dopa.html. It was really interesting this week. In all my ignorance, I hadn't even heard of DOPA. I'm glad I read her blog, because now I know how much it sucks. It could cause many blogs, wikis and social networking sites to be blocked. I know they are trying to protect kids, but this is just going too far. These sites aren't responsible for kids being targeted by sexual predators and other screwed up sickos. Like Ms. Davis said, the studies never really say where the kids are being approached. Nothing is safe any more. The Internet isn't the only place evil lurks. If parents could see what kids see (and do) at their friends' houses, or at the mall, or the park, etc., they would realize the horrible things they are worried about aren't linked to technology. When I was in high school, I knew kids who got themselves into awful situations, no computers necessary.

It is scary to think these things might be taken out of schools. Kids need to be educated on all the different tools available to them, as well as the dangers that might be out there. In their "real lives," and in their future careers, kids will use all these technologies frequently, so why not give them the opportunity while in school to learn how to make the most if them? I was so excited to read Deb's blog http://djbloomie.blogspot.com/, and learn that her community college composition students are using blogging in their assignments. Imagine how much more difficult it will be for students to come to college without any knowledge of the educational uses of these technologies! I hope this bill doesn't get passed, and that teachers and parents can keep control over educating kids about all the good (and bad) things on the Internet.

I have officially cast my pod...

Check out my super cool podcast: http://sthomas726.podbean.com/

Learning/Teaching Opportunities Through Virtual Worlds

I have been having so much fun with Second Life, I sometimes forget the educational aspects of it. After all, there is a LOT of trouble to get into there. Plus, the girlie-girl in me tends to get sidetracked with all the clothes and hairstyles (I guess I must not have gotten over my Barbie phase). After getting past the silly stuff, however, there is a ton of great uses for Second Life in the classroom. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it is a virtual world, so people can be present in Second Life without actually setting foot in the classroom. This is especially helpful given the current worldwide panic over the H1N1 issue. Meeting in Second Life is a great alternative to holding class in the classroom. I keep hearing on the news that some schools are closing. Perhaps they should consider closing the building, but continuing to hold classes in Second Life, so that students don't fall behind in their studies.

Second Life is also great for taking students on field trips. Time and budget issues prevent teachers from taking their classes to many places, but in Second Life, you can "beam" the while group there, let them look around, read tons of information, and then have discussion afterwards. No, it's not exactly like the real thing, but it's better than watching a video about it or reading an article about it. It is so easy to become immersed in Second Life, after a while, it really does feel as though you're "there."

Finally, Second Life also helps students connect with other countries and cultures. People all over the world are on Second Life, and students can learn a ton about other cultures simply by interacting with them. Translators make communication much easier than even an in-person interpreter could do, so students can have near-instant conversations with someone who doesn't speak English. Imagine the possibilities! I, for one, will probably never have the time or money to visit Japan, but through Second Life, I can at least immerse myself in the virtual sights and culture, and that's definitely better than nothing!

My attempt at "Life Blogging"

This week, it is our choice as to what we blog about, and we need to choose a different format. So, I am going to pick "Life Blogging," and hope it works out well. In life blogging, one is supposed to share a personal story, and I had a weird experence today, so I thought it would blend in well with the assignment. I spoke with someone this afternoon, and she informed me that my program of study is going to be suspended, and perhaps even eliminated. This is freaking me out, not because I'm going to get hosed and not be able to graduate or anything, but because I don't understand why my program is so short on people. I guess there is only a handful of people in my program, and it's not enough to keep it going. But why? Aren't people interested in technology any more? Or is it just such an intimidating field of study that nobody wants to "go there"?

I have to admit that I have always had a love/hate relationship with technology, but have basically taken up the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy. I started out as an English major, but grew frustrated with the repetition and busy work, so I turned to technology. Weird switch, huh? I know, but I figured schools are constantly adopting new technologies, and kids are crazy about all the new gadgets, so there would likely be a lot of jobs out there for someone with my major. That's why it's so weird to think that this program might cease to exist. Is there some major shift in the cosmos that's causing folks to shun technology? Or some freaky Y2K-type thing that's going to wipe out technology altogether?

I'm probably being excessively paranoid, but it's still really disappointing to think about. Technology has helped education a great deal by breaking down cultural barriers, assisting students with disabilities, and making information more (and more quickly) accessible. I was really excited to know that after graduation, I would be a part of that. And though nothing is going to change for me, it sucks to think that future students might not have the same opportunity.

Virtual Worlds in Education

I waited a little while to post this blog because I really wanted to understand what these virtual worlds were all about. Now that I have played around in Second Life several times, I think I get what all the hype is about. Before, I thought it was just like a silly video game where people walked around and slapped each other. Now, I realize that there is so much more to it. And although there is a LOT of trouble to get into there (I have already removed clothing and found cigars and beer), there is a whole ton of valuable resources in Second Life. You can visit schools, museums, and other places that actually have educational value. Even just being there in Second Life teaches a lot of technological skills. There are elements of pretty much every school subject there, and lots of cool (and really smart) people there to talk to. I love the idea of being able to simulate real places and situations without the permanence and consequences of real life. The articles about using Second Life to train medical students and disaster responders made me realize that there is a wealth of learning opportunities out there that could really only exist in a place like Second Life.

This article I found on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/11/13/second.life.university/index.html talks about how Second Life can build a sense of community and help students understand international international perspectives. I also found a really cool (and funny) NPR program with Michael Demers, a professor at New Mexico State University, who holds classes in Second Life. (The host, Scott Simon, says his avatar looks like Anderson Cooper in a wetsuit) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101580485
There is also a really interesting article on Read Write Web - http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/shouldnt_schools_have_embraced_second_life_by_now.php that talks about some of the recent educational additions to Second Life, and how many teachers still have not adopted it for use in their classrooms. If I end up teaching some day, I will definitely hold classes in Second Life. For one thing, my Avatar always looks super hot, even if I'm at home in my jammies. And more importantly, I think the sense of community and interaction with diverse people and places are essential elements of an interesting and meaningful class.

An On-Time Blog to Compensate for the Late Blog from Last Week

It's another "blog about whatever you want" week, so I'm hoping to be clever this time. I was really interested in the website Nate posted about using blogs to facilitate learning. Since I am not really very good at blogging yet, the information on the website helped me understand more about their educational value. I liked what it said about good writing habits, as well as good reading habits. I think that is one of the biggest benefits to blogs - there is always new stuff being added, so students have to check them regularly to see what's new. This definitely promotes good habits in that the students set aside time every so often to check the blogs they follow regularly. It's kind of like reading the paper, which is something teachers have been encouraging students to do for years. So, since we are supposed to blog in a different format this week, I think I'll go with "list" format, and make a list of different technologies that I know of, or am learning about, that can benefit students in some way

1. cell phones
2. iPods
3. laptops
4. blogs
5. wikis
6. e-book reading devices
7. PLNs
8. bookmarking sites like Delicious
9. social networking sites like Twitter
10. GPS devices

Feel free to share any others I'm missing. This exercise was just sort of a "brain dump" and an experiment in using a different blogging style, which was kind of fun.

Oops - late blog

I might as well just get it out there - this blog is late. I can't believe I forgot to blog! It just goes to show how someone who doesn't usually use this sort of stuff can easily blow it off in favor of bad television (which is, sadly, what happened). I wish we had a specific topic to blog about. All this freedom is just too much for me. My brain is sort of an overcrowded wasteland, and if not properly directed, can get away from me. So, I think I'll piggy back on Erin's topic, if she doesn't mind (thank you, Erin!) http://techtechgoose.blogspot.com/. She mentioned how teachers will use rap or other "cool" teaching tactics, and their reasons behind it. The fact is, that stuff really works! I know when my teachers busted out with a rap song about the Constitution or something, it was always so lame I couldn't help but remember it. So maybe the teacher's plans of being cool backfired, but if it makes the kids laugh, then they're not likely to forget it. It's a win-win situation. It's the same with technology. If we at least make an effort to reach them on their level, they will probably appreciate it more than if we use an overhead projector simply because we know how it works.

I'm all for the idea of using cell phones and other portable devices in schools. Why not? In today's society, it's really all about finding the answer - not necessarily retrieving it from memory. So what if the kids don't have all the historical dates memorized? If they can do a quick search and find them, isn't that all that matters? They use Google all the time anyway to search for Britney Spears and gosh knows what else, so let them apply the same methods to their schoolwork, and they'll probably surprise us with how much great information they can find. Chances are, if they are forced to memorize a bunch of people and places and dates, they'll forget them all after the test anyway (I did). So why not teach them effective searching skills they'll end up using most of their lives instead?

Global Opportunities Availble to Learners

I think the biggest factor in global educational opportunities is technology. It has broken down many barriers, and has allowed us to communicate with others all over the world. With current technology, students are able to email, chat, and even use video conferencing to communicate. Before these technologies became widely available, most people had to communicate with others overseas by letter-writing or telephone, or by traveling. And while foreign exchange programs are still cool and a great opportunity for any student, it is not the only way to become immersed in other cultures. Technology has allowed us to practically visit another country without actually going there.

One major benefit of the globalization of education is that it has helped students to respect other cultures and celebrate diversity. Cultural practices and beliefs that may be different from theirs don’t seem “weird” when the students are frequently exposed to them, and can actually talk with students from other countries and cultures. Globalized education helps not only increase awareness and tolerance, but also to spark curiosity. Students are more likely to want to learn about other places when the information is readily available, and is presented in new and exciting ways. I read an interesting article (can’t remember where, or I’d post it) about how computers with Internet access are being donated to developing countries without electricity. From what I gather, the computers have a crank on them, and you can wind it up to get it to work (kind of like those flashlights that don’t need batteries). The article didn’t go into a lot of detail, but I think this sounds like a really valuable resource and will allow people access to information like they’ve never had before.

Social Networking in Education

I am about as eager to admit that I don’t use social networking as I would be to admit that I live in mortal terror of being crushed to death by space junk. Neither is a very flattering proclamation. But, since I would probably look like a bigger idiot for singing the praises of “My Face” or “Spacebook,” I had probably better be honest about my ignorance. I am sure there are a lot of practical uses for social networking. Like my classmates have mentioned, it’s a great way to keep in touch with long-distance friends. For educational purposes, I suppose students could have discussions with classmates and stay on top of assignments. For me, though, I have yet to develop a need for it. The few friends with whom I interact on a regular basis are local, and if I have a question, I tend to use the phone or send a quick email. Is this a terrible way to be?

I have looked at people’s Facebook pages from time to time out of curiosity, but I just don’t see the point in making a habit out of it. It seems, as Deb http://djbloomie.blogspot.com/ pointed out, that many of them contain questionnaire results and random stream-of-consciousness ramblings. I don’t have time to care about which Star Wars character Sally most resembles, or what Bambi thinks about fall lipstick colors. I barely have time to keep track of my own work and school duties. But, the awesome thing about this class is that I will get the opportunity to dink around with these technologies, and have it count as “schoolwork.” I love it! Perhaps I’ll fare better in my “Second Life” than I have in this one!

I know we’re supposed to refer to another blogger here, but I am having trouble finding blogs of value. I tried doing a “blog search” but just came up with random people whose credibility on the subject matter was questionable. I subscribed to Anderson Cooper’s blog http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/blog/ , but I don’t think that was really the point of the assignment. So, rather than rambling about Afghanistan, I think I’ll just ask anyone reading this: How does one find blogs about emerging instructional technologies by reputable authors?

The Role of Blogging in Education

I liked what Vicki Davis http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com said about blogging in education, and think that she made very good points about how it should and should not be used. Blogging is a good way for students to become more engaged in the subject material and share their thoughts and opinions. If students think their ideas on the subjects being taught to them matter both to the teacher and to other students, they will be more likely to participate.

I didn’t realize that teachers used blogs as a way of turning in papers. I guess that makes sense, but it probably shouldn’t replace turning assignments in either on paper or through email. The thing that bugs me is the lack of privacy in blogging. From what I gather (and I’m far from an avid blogger), everyone can see what you post on a blog, and if a student isn’t confident in his or her writing ability, he or she might be embarrassed to post a paper for everyone to see. Also, there are times when the subject matter of a paper might be personal or private. I have had teachers assign papers before that I wouldn’t want to share with the entire class, due to a sensitive or controversial topic.

I think blogs should definitely be used in education to help facilitate interaction and conversation, but only on a voluntary basis. Students should be asked to post their thoughts and responses to questions that they are willing to share with the whole group. But, like Vicki Davis said, blogs should be kept free of negative remarks. I noticed that even on her blog, the people who commented didn’t exactly have the nicest things to say about her ideas. That is basically why I don’t blog, or have My Space, Facebook, or any of that other stuff. People have a tendency to pick things apart, and I don’t like putting myself out there to be publicly eviscerated. I’m not saying that I think these things are bad, rather that I don’t have the guts to use them.