a view of wild clouds with colors enhanced:
These are of my favorite subjects although they rarely sit still for a good picture
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
a couple edited pictures...
a view of wild clouds with colors enhanced:
These are of my favorite subjects although they rarely sit still for a good picture
PLN entry 1
I came across this article about schools using free software. I am a big fan of this idea.
These are the big ideas that Richard Stallman are as follows:
*Save the Schools money
*School should teach students ways of life that will benefit society as a whole. They should promote the use of free software just as they promote recycling.
*Free software permits students to learn how software works. Students can learn a lot about programing as many of these free software programs are "open" which I understand allows for programming by many, including perhaps our students. With the world/web changing so fast, we want our kids to keep up in theis "flat" world.
*Schools that use free software will enable gifted programming students to advance.
*Teaching the students to use free software, and to participate in the free software community, is a hands-on civics lesson. It also teaches students the role model of public service rather than that of tycoons. All levels of school should use free software.
Big Ideas, cool stuff, mind expanding, thanks PLN
I can't wait for the school year to start to use the network. I think we are at a disadvantage in terms of seeing the posibilities of PLN without school being in session.
Thats all for now
Jasper
These are the big ideas that Richard Stallman are as follows:
*Save the Schools money
*School should teach students ways of life that will benefit society as a whole. They should promote the use of free software just as they promote recycling.
*Free software permits students to learn how software works. Students can learn a lot about programing as many of these free software programs are "open" which I understand allows for programming by many, including perhaps our students. With the world/web changing so fast, we want our kids to keep up in theis "flat" world.
*Schools that use free software will enable gifted programming students to advance.
*Teaching the students to use free software, and to participate in the free software community, is a hands-on civics lesson. It also teaches students the role model of public service rather than that of tycoons. All levels of school should use free software.
Big Ideas, cool stuff, mind expanding, thanks PLN
I can't wait for the school year to start to use the network. I think we are at a disadvantage in terms of seeing the posibilities of PLN without school being in session.
Thats all for now
Jasper
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I find a quick scan daily is about all you need to use twitter effectively. These folks that post all the time make that a priority for them. I think the ones that post like 50 times a day are working towards creating a network and getting their names out maybe??? I think you can search your posts for certain subjects. Go easy in the twitter I think it might be a controlled substance? LOL
Monday, June 22, 2009
google reader, Twitter and some thoughts
I have been using googlereader for just a few weeks. Some of the articles that come up are pretty cool. I found some neat stuff without having to wade through the "crap". I have found the ability to see everyone's blog posts. I can see what folks are learning, and it can be a good reminder that I should be doing something besides read the news, my own news... I heard a suit on some news show discussing the demise of newspapers as an industry. They no longer dictate to us what news is. We decide what the news it! Go googlereader!
ACCESS via Twitter I believe???
"Website access for us teachers versus the students"
Several of us in the Tech-Know at our school would love to use sites that are unfortunately blocked to us as teachers. I understand how they should be blocked to students, but not to teachers. Our tech people in our district (the two of them, I don’t know how they do it) can only limit websites to everyone. I really would love to use Youtube and facebook at school for great resources but they would not allow us to have regular access. We can email them and get sites unblocked for a time, but then the kids have access to them during that time. They can at least do that, but the kids still have access there has to be a better way! I have been saying that there should be different security levels for teachers than there are for kids. Nobody can figure it out though. I came across this blog that discussed this exact issue…
http://explodingsink.com/
“My school district has finally been able to distinguish a teacher from a student, at least in terms of their online access.
We recently received an e-mail explaining that teachers would be able to access previously blocked sites (i.e. YouTube and many blogs) for educational purposes. In order to get this access, teachers will have to sign a form explaining they understand what “Acceptable Use” and “Educational Purposes” mean.
The district is responding to staff requests for increased access privileges. At this time, the district will provide access to the previously blocked resources of YouTube and external blogging. The district will open additional resources that are identified and approved for educational purposes.”
So my tech help showed me teachertube which is supposed to be “as good as youtube” only safer and more appropriate. No offense intended to the makers of teachertube, but is nothing close to youtube in terms of oh every measurable parameter.
To be clear, Websense (our internet filter) will still be in place. When teachers come upon a site that is blocked through Websense, they will be able to pass through - offering them a gentle reminder that there is reasonable cause to have the site blocked in the first place.
Under the district’s interpretation of CIPA, students will not be granted this level of access.
Finally, I feel like a professional who can make decisions about what should and shouldn’t be used in the classroom.”
I think that's all I have for now!
Jasper
ACCESS via Twitter I believe???
"Website access for us teachers versus the students"
Several of us in the Tech-Know at our school would love to use sites that are unfortunately blocked to us as teachers. I understand how they should be blocked to students, but not to teachers. Our tech people in our district (the two of them, I don’t know how they do it) can only limit websites to everyone. I really would love to use Youtube and facebook at school for great resources but they would not allow us to have regular access. We can email them and get sites unblocked for a time, but then the kids have access to them during that time. They can at least do that, but the kids still have access there has to be a better way! I have been saying that there should be different security levels for teachers than there are for kids. Nobody can figure it out though. I came across this blog that discussed this exact issue…
http://explodingsink.com/
“My school district has finally been able to distinguish a teacher from a student, at least in terms of their online access.
We recently received an e-mail explaining that teachers would be able to access previously blocked sites (i.e. YouTube and many blogs) for educational purposes. In order to get this access, teachers will have to sign a form explaining they understand what “Acceptable Use” and “Educational Purposes” mean.
The district is responding to staff requests for increased access privileges. At this time, the district will provide access to the previously blocked resources of YouTube and external blogging. The district will open additional resources that are identified and approved for educational purposes.”
So my tech help showed me teachertube which is supposed to be “as good as youtube” only safer and more appropriate. No offense intended to the makers of teachertube, but is nothing close to youtube in terms of oh every measurable parameter.
To be clear, Websense (our internet filter) will still be in place. When teachers come upon a site that is blocked through Websense, they will be able to pass through - offering them a gentle reminder that there is reasonable cause to have the site blocked in the first place.
Under the district’s interpretation of CIPA, students will not be granted this level of access.
Finally, I feel like a professional who can make decisions about what should and shouldn’t be used in the classroom.”
I think that's all I have for now!
Jasper
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A good wiki...
useful chem
So I am starting to understand better the openness of a wiki
The most recent post here was about the cooling effects of soda pop.
I can see a question to pose to start a really good inquiry lab...
Something like "How do carbonated beverages create a cooling effect when consumed?"
Ideas ideas, but using web tools during class time is still a risky venture, it will take time to adopt, and some of us are really happy with the results we are getting with our traditional approaches.
I could see substituting a wiki as opposed to a lab report, and let all my 30-40 lab groups create one super, interactive, collaborative report... hmmmm Looking at all of my classmates blogs, I am impressed and intimidated.
Good night,
Jasper
So I am starting to understand better the openness of a wiki
The most recent post here was about the cooling effects of soda pop.
I can see a question to pose to start a really good inquiry lab...
Something like "How do carbonated beverages create a cooling effect when consumed?"
Ideas ideas, but using web tools during class time is still a risky venture, it will take time to adopt, and some of us are really happy with the results we are getting with our traditional approaches.
I could see substituting a wiki as opposed to a lab report, and let all my 30-40 lab groups create one super, interactive, collaborative report... hmmmm Looking at all of my classmates blogs, I am impressed and intimidated.
Good night,
Jasper
copyrights...
What are the rules, should we be putting any website where we get information on here whenever we post it. As a teacher I have been cutting and pasting for 8 years. I try to give credit whenever I can... any thoughts???
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
a cool website, not sure what it is... (Blog, Wiki??)
So I get tons of stuff from this guy who has been teaching chemistry for fifty years!
Here it is:
http://boomeria.org/
cheers
Jasper
Here it is:
http://boomeria.org/
cheers
Jasper
Introduction to Web Tools09
guiding principles |
Definition from google
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/guiding-principles.html
Broad philosophy that guides an organization throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in its goals, strategies, type of work, or the top management. See also principles.
I was wondering about what exactly my guiding principles might be...
Here are some things that I came across that should be taken into consideration:
- Will it help my students be prepared for the "flat world" competitive with China and India, etc.?
- Is is collaborative, and is that collaboration healthy/appropriate
- Am I contributing to my community?
- does it help "students engage in science learning they could not otherwise do without technology? " (pg 2) Ed Tech in the Sci Classroom text
- Is what I'm using going to be a better use of time than the traditional activity I might be replacing?
- Am I emphasizing the use of data, analysis, collection, both produced by students and by scientists?
- Am I bridging the disconnect between what the kids are doing at school and what they are doing at home
- Effective use pg 93...
technology;
(2) using technology in ways that are consistent with appropriate pedagogy, including
opportunities for inquiry learning;
(3) using technology in ways that allow teachers and students to do what would
otherwise be difficult to do without technology; and
(4) taking advantage of technology’s power to engage student participation and
interest.
Web 2.0 will be a very effective communication tool. Absenteeism: sports, medical, school sponsored, etc. will have a great solution in the form of a blog or wiki.
Can I get my school to get me the number of classroom computers that I will need to accomplish some of the ideas I have???
In idea of mine that I have been trying to do is make an interactive syllabus, I know not exactly cutting edge or a new idea, but a syllabus with links to worksheets, labs, helpful links, and practice tests and quizzes... I am working on that and I would like help from you all in this class getting it all nailed down... here is a link to what I have so far, and some of my failed attenpts...
So I'm looking at it and it looks like I am using a wiki for a blog. What's the difference?
As I understand it, you make your own blog, just you, whereas a wiki is modefiable to everyone who is part of the wiki? Am I close?
here is my interactive syllabus so far...
http://howellsciencelibby.wikispaces.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)