I believe that Dr. Zhao has good ideas and brings up valid points in theory but it is very different to put them in place. Unfortunately the way that we teachers were educated to teach is becoming extinct. Teacher training needs to be upgraded and all of these digital methods need to be taught before the teacher leaves college. They should be walking out knowing this technology and knowing how to implement the digital resource methods within the classroom.
Current teachers were not educated this way and will have a very hard time “catching up”. It would be great to train teachers to use these methods to teach more affectively to students in the digital era. Our education system needs an overhaul and needs to stop requiring teachers to teach to all of these paper tests. Outcomes should be assessed in new ways if teaching needs to travel in new directions.
The changes need to not only happen at teacher level but also from national and state levels. Technology and collaborative methods of teaching need to become not only a focus, but a priority. Students need to be able to be responsible for more action in there learning and we need to stop spoon feeding them. The way students will learn best is through methods that they are not only familiar with but are already experts in!!!
1.08.2009
Assignment #9 Collaborative Project
The idea of collaboration with other schools, classrooms, communities etc. with students is intriguing and I can see how it could be very effective in certain circumstances. I believe I would be interested in finding ways to link this type of teaching with my curriculum. I know the students wouldfind it exciting and motivating at least for the first few times. It would take a lot of pre-planning and collaboration outside of the classroom for me as the teacher. I think teachers would be willing to do this but the time needed to set this up would be daunting for many. The plus is that once you set it up for the first time it would be much easier each time following.
When considering ways I could link it to my curriculum I can think of a few and with more time would be able to broaden my ideas and enrich my planning. I could have a math class, a technology class, and my art class have a web discussion about designing a mobile that would hang in the front foyer of the high school. We could hold this discussion using web cam in order to reduce travel disturbances in halls and loss of class time. The Technology students could explain the choices that we would have for materials as far as what to use, how heavy it would be, if it could be hung, how to alter the appearance of it. The Math class could figure out where the hanging points had to be in order for it to be balanced, be able to move freely and not get caught up in itself and calibrate weight scale and trajectory. The art students could decide what the design would look like, shapes of the floating pieces, the idea visually represented and the surface treatment. We would have to collaborate several times and go back and forth with design and materials as well as materials and function being that weight and size would change as the design changed.
It is an interesting concept but somewhat overwhelming when faced with the idea that I've never done it before. But I guess the kids would figure it out wouldn't they???
When considering ways I could link it to my curriculum I can think of a few and with more time would be able to broaden my ideas and enrich my planning. I could have a math class, a technology class, and my art class have a web discussion about designing a mobile that would hang in the front foyer of the high school. We could hold this discussion using web cam in order to reduce travel disturbances in halls and loss of class time. The Technology students could explain the choices that we would have for materials as far as what to use, how heavy it would be, if it could be hung, how to alter the appearance of it. The Math class could figure out where the hanging points had to be in order for it to be balanced, be able to move freely and not get caught up in itself and calibrate weight scale and trajectory. The art students could decide what the design would look like, shapes of the floating pieces, the idea visually represented and the surface treatment. We would have to collaborate several times and go back and forth with design and materials as well as materials and function being that weight and size would change as the design changed.
It is an interesting concept but somewhat overwhelming when faced with the idea that I've never done it before. But I guess the kids would figure it out wouldn't they???
12.10.2008
Assignment #8 Reflection
As an Art teacher that teaches a variety of traditional Drawing and Painting classes, Advanced Portfolio classes and Digital Media classes I am using technology like this constantly. I am always looking for ways to motivate my students, provide them with information and keep them connected to current and historical art examples they can use to progress in their own work. I also look for examples to give them direction when they need more clarification on a project or an example to demonstrate a method that shows a process visually. It is extremely difficult to gather and store all of the visual information that I use daily with limited storage space. Relying on the Internet and some of the free information and storage systems available there has helped tremendously.
I currently have a del.icio.us site and although I have not used it often yet I will be relying more heavily on storing my resources here. I use hundreds of websites to teach kids platform functions and using tutorials that are found on different sites is a necessity. To be able to store links and to publish those so that students have a list to use is extremely helpful and will be something I begin initiating more frequently. It is also great for my advanced students to find more in depth sites to research from as well as gather information on processes and inspiration from images.
I have also used YouTube as a constant resource in my digital media class. I teach Flash and need examples of flash animation all of the time. I keep all of my favorite video casts organized in a YouTube account. I have also talked with another teacher who is going to be teaching me how to download video content from YouTube so that I will not run into the possibility of an example not being available after a certain period of time. Not having text books in our classrooms, as Art teachers, we have to keep a variety of resources "up our sleeve" and this course is helping me to create a large resource pool to allow me to give my students a strong enrichment within their curriculum.
I currently have a del.icio.us site and although I have not used it often yet I will be relying more heavily on storing my resources here. I use hundreds of websites to teach kids platform functions and using tutorials that are found on different sites is a necessity. To be able to store links and to publish those so that students have a list to use is extremely helpful and will be something I begin initiating more frequently. It is also great for my advanced students to find more in depth sites to research from as well as gather information on processes and inspiration from images.
I have also used YouTube as a constant resource in my digital media class. I teach Flash and need examples of flash animation all of the time. I keep all of my favorite video casts organized in a YouTube account. I have also talked with another teacher who is going to be teaching me how to download video content from YouTube so that I will not run into the possibility of an example not being available after a certain period of time. Not having text books in our classrooms, as Art teachers, we have to keep a variety of resources "up our sleeve" and this course is helping me to create a large resource pool to allow me to give my students a strong enrichment within their curriculum.
Assignment #6 Tasks
I must say that wiki's are definitely not my thing! I am not really sure why, as a teacher, I would need to use these as I have already so many other controllable ways to interact with my students online. I am not thrilled with the fact that posts can be placed unedited and would never trust all of my students to use respect and consideration when using the wiki. I find the whole wiki thing difficult to navigate and, sort of, a glorified chat room where anything goes. It feels like overkill to me.
9.16.2008
Assignment #5 - Video Resource Review
I believe that all four of the video share sites are helpful/useful in their own way. It depends on what you are searching for and the user that is conducting the search. As a teacher in the visual arts all four have their benefits.
Youtube, obviously, has the largest content base but you need to do a lot of searching through subjects and proofing the videos for the specifics as some sound appropriate but are not. Teacher tube provides a variety of subject matter that is definitely appropriate in content but the selection is not as vast. Next Vista has the potential of being great but is so new and probably not as well publicized therefore the information is sparse. It could take some time to build up a reference base that would be beneficial to teacher and student needs.
As parent, student or teacher the availability of these sites can be a goldmine of information. Just as Wesley Fryer commented in his podcast, Moving At the Speed of Creativity, students can access information and learn the pieces they may be missing without drawing attention or learning on their own time. Teachers could use these sites as assignments for research possibilities, or as resources in the classroom as visual cues instead of always written or verbal transfer of information. I know that I have often used videos from YouTube to demonstrate lessons or generate examples to encourage student motivation.
Youtube, obviously, has the largest content base but you need to do a lot of searching through subjects and proofing the videos for the specifics as some sound appropriate but are not. Teacher tube provides a variety of subject matter that is definitely appropriate in content but the selection is not as vast. Next Vista has the potential of being great but is so new and probably not as well publicized therefore the information is sparse. It could take some time to build up a reference base that would be beneficial to teacher and student needs.
As parent, student or teacher the availability of these sites can be a goldmine of information. Just as Wesley Fryer commented in his podcast, Moving At the Speed of Creativity, students can access information and learn the pieces they may be missing without drawing attention or learning on their own time. Teachers could use these sites as assignments for research possibilities, or as resources in the classroom as visual cues instead of always written or verbal transfer of information. I know that I have often used videos from YouTube to demonstrate lessons or generate examples to encourage student motivation.
7.11.2008
Assignment #4: Thoughts on blogging and pre-collegiate education
The world of blogging is very new and overwhelming to me. Although I am technologically savvy, so to speak, I feel out of my league here. I can say that in just the past week I am much more educated in the area of blogging. I believe it opens a lot of doors in the profession of education. It allows many to come together in situations that would be impossible without the blogging arena. I have taken a class that used something very similar to blogging and realize that students and teachers are able to communicate with the whole group as well as the individual almost simultaneously. Students are able to attend class from any number of locations and still remain part of the communicative group.
I see pros and cons for teachers below the collegiate level, however. College professors have the ability to run a course entirely on the web where ALL of the grading, teaching and communication is conducted there. As primary and secondary teachers we still have the responsibilities of lesson planning and classroom teaching a full class load along with the possible maintenance of a website and all of the paperwork and politics of the regular day. I can see where a teacher could get in over their head as far as the volume of blogging and how they use it in accordance with their current responsibilities.
There are so many different ideas and different ways that blogging would be benefitial to students but teachers would be shortchanging themselves and their students if they were to place all of their ideas into effect at one time. I could see getting caught up where you would be checking during other class times or taking away from planning time in order to keep up or you would be putting in so much extra time that you may get burnt out. I think the challenge would be taking this blogging idea and only plugging in small pieces at a time in order to maintain time management.
I would personally use blogging for Art/Artist critiques of web gallery sites, discussions on concepts and arguments in the art arena, peer critiques of student work, homework assistance, etc. I believe students would not only benefit from the interaction but also become more motivated, more involved and feel more a cohesive group as they walked into the classroom each day. They would be able to be in contact with each other outside the classroom and still be engaged in the learning that took place in the room at a previous time.
I see pros and cons for teachers below the collegiate level, however. College professors have the ability to run a course entirely on the web where ALL of the grading, teaching and communication is conducted there. As primary and secondary teachers we still have the responsibilities of lesson planning and classroom teaching a full class load along with the possible maintenance of a website and all of the paperwork and politics of the regular day. I can see where a teacher could get in over their head as far as the volume of blogging and how they use it in accordance with their current responsibilities.
There are so many different ideas and different ways that blogging would be benefitial to students but teachers would be shortchanging themselves and their students if they were to place all of their ideas into effect at one time. I could see getting caught up where you would be checking during other class times or taking away from planning time in order to keep up or you would be putting in so much extra time that you may get burnt out. I think the challenge would be taking this blogging idea and only plugging in small pieces at a time in order to maintain time management.
I would personally use blogging for Art/Artist critiques of web gallery sites, discussions on concepts and arguments in the art arena, peer critiques of student work, homework assistance, etc. I believe students would not only benefit from the interaction but also become more motivated, more involved and feel more a cohesive group as they walked into the classroom each day. They would be able to be in contact with each other outside the classroom and still be engaged in the learning that took place in the room at a previous time.
7.05.2008
My First Post
So, I am testing this blogging thing out for the first time. Not sure if I am getting it all but hopefully I can get the hang of it before September. I am hoping to get a photo in here soon but not quite sure how that works right now. Here is a quote for inspiration, enjoy:
"A fool-proof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble; then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant."
~Author Unknown
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