What sounds come out of my computer lab?
Woooah!!!!
Coooool!
Awesome!!!!
In my K-5 Computer Lab it is exciting to hear that I can still amaze students with all the things that a computer/computer application can do.
It's exciting to hear students excited that they can create what they often believe only an adult can create.
It's exciting to teach them things their parents do/don't use and the power they seem to feel at having this knowledge equal, or sometimes above, what their parents know.
As a teacher I have always had high expectations for my students (inside and outside of the computer lab setting). I find that they can do it and why set the expectations low if they can accomplish so much more. If I set my expectations high and they don't quite get there, it's okay, but that rarely happens. Perhaps that has a lot to do with my personality. I have high expectations for myself.
I'm proud of what my students can do. Hopefully what I teach them will be valuable. Hopefully they will remember. Hopefully I set them up for success after 5th grade.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Interactive Whiteboards
I purchased with some PTO $ last year an Interactive Whiteboard. It has drastically changed my instruction for the better I think. What makes me even more excited is that I allow my 1st through 5th graders to use the board. I tell them what to do, and they model it for the class. It is encouraging to know that I am putting technology into the hands of very young students. I hope that I can do that more!
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Forwarded Message
I, like most people I know, hate forwarded messages. I rarely read them. Most go directly to my trash can. I have not found anyone that likes them, so it amazes me the amount I get on a daily basis.
However, if you send me a forward message, I will read your very first one. If it is a good one, I will read the second one you send me. But if you ever send me one of those chain mail types or one that I really don't have time to read, then you go into my "do not read" category.
I have only a very select few people who I will read their forwarded messages. But those on my "read" list are very selective on what they send. I know that what they send me will make me laugh.
So this is blog post goes out to those selective forwarders. You're the best!
However, if you send me a forward message, I will read your very first one. If it is a good one, I will read the second one you send me. But if you ever send me one of those chain mail types or one that I really don't have time to read, then you go into my "do not read" category.
I have only a very select few people who I will read their forwarded messages. But those on my "read" list are very selective on what they send. I know that what they send me will make me laugh.
So this is blog post goes out to those selective forwarders. You're the best!
Window/Mac
I am a Window's user forced into the Mac world. I truly feel I can operate both systems now equally as well.
I can see many benefits to Macs. I think the iLife suite is my main love, but when we bought our computer a few weeks ago...sorry my Mac friends...but it was a Dell.
We waited far too long to purchase a new machine, but I needed some of the kinks out of Vista before I purchased a machine. My mom has the original Vista and I wasn't so excited about some of it. Finally we couldn't wait any longer and I really think they have done a fairly good job working out all of those issues.
As for educating our children. I'm not sure what I believe is the best for our children. I used to think we were doing a disservice to our children by educating them on a Mac because in the "business world" more Windows machines are being used. Now my Mac friends would tell me that that is changing, but I have yet to see that unless you are in graphics or video production.
But I've come to change my mind. I think that Macs are good machines for our children to work/learn from. Why? Well pretty much because of the office suite. With Word, Excel and PowerPoint now on the mac it equals the playing field. Since I'm a "dual user" I know that there are some differences, but most of them are insignificant. If you teach a child to use a computer, they'll be able to easily switch from one to another system. And the iLife suite is sweet!!
As for teachers who already use Macs. Yikes. Being in the position I'm in, I'd say Mac all the way because they know Mac (or at least they know it the most). And let's face it. Adults don't like change. They'll make the small differences into big deals. I'm not sure I want to deal with those "big deals".
As an educator we know that technology we teach today is going to be outdated by the time these kids have to use it in their adult life. Who knows, programs like Word, Excel and PowerPoint might not exist. That's why we teach process, vocabulary. That's why we teach how to think and find and guess
I think I'll always be a Window's user in my personal life, but you know....Mac's really good too. I think as long as the computer is 0-4 years old, it doesn't matter what type of machine it is. Kids will learn what they need to know to be productive and fluent users of technology.
I can see many benefits to Macs. I think the iLife suite is my main love, but when we bought our computer a few weeks ago...sorry my Mac friends...but it was a Dell.
We waited far too long to purchase a new machine, but I needed some of the kinks out of Vista before I purchased a machine. My mom has the original Vista and I wasn't so excited about some of it. Finally we couldn't wait any longer and I really think they have done a fairly good job working out all of those issues.
As for educating our children. I'm not sure what I believe is the best for our children. I used to think we were doing a disservice to our children by educating them on a Mac because in the "business world" more Windows machines are being used. Now my Mac friends would tell me that that is changing, but I have yet to see that unless you are in graphics or video production.
But I've come to change my mind. I think that Macs are good machines for our children to work/learn from. Why? Well pretty much because of the office suite. With Word, Excel and PowerPoint now on the mac it equals the playing field. Since I'm a "dual user" I know that there are some differences, but most of them are insignificant. If you teach a child to use a computer, they'll be able to easily switch from one to another system. And the iLife suite is sweet!!
As for teachers who already use Macs. Yikes. Being in the position I'm in, I'd say Mac all the way because they know Mac (or at least they know it the most). And let's face it. Adults don't like change. They'll make the small differences into big deals. I'm not sure I want to deal with those "big deals".
As an educator we know that technology we teach today is going to be outdated by the time these kids have to use it in their adult life. Who knows, programs like Word, Excel and PowerPoint might not exist. That's why we teach process, vocabulary. That's why we teach how to think and find and guess
I think I'll always be a Window's user in my personal life, but you know....Mac's really good too. I think as long as the computer is 0-4 years old, it doesn't matter what type of machine it is. Kids will learn what they need to know to be productive and fluent users of technology.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
NATS
In just 16 days I am presenting at the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) Conference. A good friend of mine from Elmwood Murdock introduced me to the conference many years ago and I fell in love with it instantly. It's a smaller conference with people I love to be around. People who love teaching. Love teaching science. And, maybe, just maybe a little zany. In fact, I think this would be a great conference for my American Idol, Bill Nye the Science guy, to attend. I think he would fit right in!
My presentation is going to be Integrating Technology into the Science Curriculum and I've been working on it for almost 6 months. It won't be nearly as engaging as Doc Gizmo or some of the other phenomenal presenters, but I really wanted to start sharing with others. A small (and forgiving) audience like those at NATS seemed like the perfect place to start.
Sometimes I feel what I have to share is of value and other times, I don't know if what I have to share is worth much at all. I just know that I have a passion for technology in education and if I could get just one teacher to increase their use of technology with students through this conference, I would call it a success.
I'm a little nervous. I've never really presented professionally to anyone. I hope it goes okay. I hope what I have to share if valuable to those who attend. Wish me good luck. I'm going to need it!
My presentation is going to be Integrating Technology into the Science Curriculum and I've been working on it for almost 6 months. It won't be nearly as engaging as Doc Gizmo or some of the other phenomenal presenters, but I really wanted to start sharing with others. A small (and forgiving) audience like those at NATS seemed like the perfect place to start.
Sometimes I feel what I have to share is of value and other times, I don't know if what I have to share is worth much at all. I just know that I have a passion for technology in education and if I could get just one teacher to increase their use of technology with students through this conference, I would call it a success.
I'm a little nervous. I've never really presented professionally to anyone. I hope it goes okay. I hope what I have to share if valuable to those who attend. Wish me good luck. I'm going to need it!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Funny Thing About Teaching
I'm going to take a step off my chosen path to talk about technology and instead...just this once...talk about teaching in general.
The funny thing about teaching is that our goal is for students to not need us anymore and when that happens you have succeeded.
The funny thing about teaching is that a good teacher is actually a good student.
The funny thing about teaching is that we teach so much, but the only thing our students will really remember is our personality, who we were.
The funny thing about teaching is that you have no idea what kind of impact something you say or do might have on a student, both positive/negative and yet you do it every day.
The funny thing about teaching is that you don't have to be a teacher to teach.
The funny thing about teaching is that some of the most valuable lessons aren't in a text book.
The funny thing about teaching is that your classroom goes far beyond the walls of your room.
The funny thing about teaching is that you teach more than just your students.
The funny thing about teaching is that no matter where you are, you're still a teacher.
To be continued....
The funny thing about teaching is that our goal is for students to not need us anymore and when that happens you have succeeded.
The funny thing about teaching is that a good teacher is actually a good student.
The funny thing about teaching is that we teach so much, but the only thing our students will really remember is our personality, who we were.
The funny thing about teaching is that you have no idea what kind of impact something you say or do might have on a student, both positive/negative and yet you do it every day.
The funny thing about teaching is that you don't have to be a teacher to teach.
The funny thing about teaching is that some of the most valuable lessons aren't in a text book.
The funny thing about teaching is that your classroom goes far beyond the walls of your room.
The funny thing about teaching is that you teach more than just your students.
The funny thing about teaching is that no matter where you are, you're still a teacher.
To be continued....
Monday, September 1, 2008
Directories
So, why don't we have e-mail and cell phone directories yet? I mean these aren't new technologies. People have been talking about directories for ever, so why don't they exist yet? Is it because Corporate American can't cooperate and compile their information together? You know the information is there. I'm sure it's all sitting on some data bases in some server closets across the country/world. With a few clicks of a button, I'm sure that all the information could be combined. One of the first things we teach children is to share and to cooperate. Why in the world can't we get these companies to just love one another? Or is there a good reason that I'm overlooking?
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