Distance Education

Virtual schools and their websites have been developed with the best intentions. The developers have made an attempt to try and facilitate the learning process from any other place that is not the school. Although this technology has been developed for a good purpose there are many advantages and disadbantages that go along with this type of education.

As time goes by, more and more online classes are being developed. Many students and parents are finding virtual schools to be really convenient. For example, the student has the ability to learn at their own pace. The student is given realistic deadlines that should be met and the student is free to determine how many hours of study the student would like to have. Another advantage is that the student is free to take the calss at anytime from any place. The student does not necessarily have to be present in a classroom and this offers flexibility for the student to take class at anytime that the student may have available. On-line classes can also at times be more hands on and interactive for students and therefore facilitate the learning process. For example, while teaching math there are simulations that students complete or games that help teach topics such as adding and multiplication. A final advantage, especially for younger children, is that the parent may be more incolved in their child's education. For example, while looking at www.wava.org the online program works with the parent as the teacher and the parent is involved in preparing the teaching materials for the child. The child has more time to spend with the parent rather than spending seven hourns out of the home in a school.

Although there are many advantages there are also many disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that the student is not allowed to hace as mych social interaction as he or she could have if they were in the traditional classroom. Another disdvantage is that there are subjects that are more hands on compared to others an example of this would be reading. Reading may be difficult to teach online without the proper tools. There are some online classes that are offered online that may be somewhat expensive for some students. Oregon Online School (coolschool.k12.or.us/) offers an online program that costs 295 dollars per student per semester for an Oregon resident and 345 dollars per student that is a non-Oregon resident. If a parent would really like to have their student obtain this type of education may be a financial burden. This is definitely the case, especially when there are public schools which are offered for free. It may even be expensive to begin with an online program if the family does not have the proper equipment. Distance learning can be fun and interactive, but if the student is not very teach savvy it may take time for them to learn the program used. This would then take time out of teaching the actual material that sould be taught, while attempting to teach the student how to use the technology needed. A final disadvantage is that the student may find that the course content, the online learning evironment, and managing the technology to be overwhelming, particularly if the student is moving from the traditional classroom to online classes.

It is difficult to determine whether a student is ready to participate in distance delivery. I think that the first step should be teaching the student how to manage this technology. I feel like this is a big part of virtual schools. By having the student know how to manage this technology the student does not have to waste time trying to figure out how to work it and instead could begin immediately on their course work. I think that a majority of the subjects can be taught online, it is just a matter of using the correct software and methods as well as the latest in technology cameras and microphones. I think that bein available for the student whenever the student needs help is another big factor. Virtual schools are the future to teaching and although there are some disadvantages, there are also some advantages that definitely outweigh them. Virtual schools are going to be used more and more especially as technology advances.

Emerging Technologies

As time goes by technology advances more and more. As technology advances so does it’s use. It is being used everywhere in different ways. Technology has become a great help especially when it comes to the classroom and education.

There are many programs and technologies that have been created to help facilitate the process of education as well as teaching. The three technologies that I looked at were found on http://www.apple.com/education/k12. The apple website provided many different products for a large range of grade levels. This website also provided hyperlinks along with the products for in case anyone who was interested wanted to find out further information about the product.

The first program that I analyzed was Kid Pix Deluxe 3X by Software MacKiev. This software is made for elementary and middle school children. It helps reinforce creativity, spelling, word processing, keyboarding, inquiry and research, writing and organizational skills. This program allows for students to use technology to express themselves with drawings and the child is allowed to use mediums that look so real. It also allows for the student to animate.

The second technology that I looked it was the EarthBrowser by Lunar Software, Inc. This three-dimensional model of the earth allows students to learn about the earth. It gives students the opportunity to look at different things that occur on earth. For example, this product allows students to zoom in and out of earth because it uses satellite images. The student is able to explore clod animations, current weather conditions, volcano locations as well as earthquakes and storms to name a few.

The final product that I looked at was The Geometer’s Sketchpad 10-User Apple Mobile Lab Package by Key Curriculum Press. The Geometer’s Sketchpad software focuses on a variety of mathematical concepts. This software allows for a more hands on experience for students while investigating shapes as well as looking at the relationship and the consequences when they are manipulated. The Geometer’s Sketchpad can be used in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus while illustrating shapes, figures, models, diagrams, and graphs.

These three emerging technologies are great supplements for teaching math, science and to enhance computer skills. I feel like these programs will allow for students to better understand the subjects that are being taught. These programs will definitely have a positive impact on any teaching that I may do while using these programs to reinforce what I teach.

Kiosk Reflection

The kiosk project was a fun and interactive way to teach children about certain topics. While observing the other kiosks I really liked how the transitions made some of the projects stand out more than others. The transitions helped the presentation look a little more creative and neat. Another thing that I liked about other kiosks that I viewed was how there were videos that were incorporated to help enrich the presentation of the information.

While working on my kiosk I came across some difficulties. For example, for some odd reason all of the buttons that I had made were linked to the wrong slides or they wouldn't link at all even though it appeared to be linked. Another difficulty that our group encountered was trying to get the animation to work while having the slideshow run, but we later figured out how to do it.

Kiosks are an excellent tool for presenting information in a fun and creative way. Kiosks can be incorporated into teaching as a means of either having students create one as a final project for a certain topic. It can also be a way to introduce topics or lessons. I thing that this makes learning alittle more exciting and interactive for the student, which is a good way to help children actually remember what they are learning and not forget it by the next time they come to class.

Engaging Students with Concept Mapping

Concept mapping is an excellent way to get students who are visual learners involved in the classroom. As a visual learner a concept map allows for the student to visually represent information in an orderly fashion. This allows for the student to fully layout their ideas. Another thing that concept maps allow is organization and brainstorming. For example, a concept map can be an initial step to writing a paper kind of like an outline. A concept map allows for the student to layout the main topic as well as the sub-topics. After the topics are all laid out in an organized manner with the concept map it is easier for the student to write the paper.
Concept mapping can also be a way to test how well students understand the topic presented. To do this a student should be presented with a topic, then they are to link subcategories by themselves correctly. Then if the student adds subcategories to the other ones and demonstrates how they are connected if that was done correctly this is definitely a good way to test a student’s knowledge. Another way to test a student’s knowledge is to have a full concept map lay out. I would probably leave some of the links blank and have the students fill them in with the correct answer

Blogs in Education

While searching “Educational blogs” in three different search engines I found that most of the results were similar. The search engines that I used were Yahoo, Google, and Ask. I felt like the search results were the same because most the keywords were the same and because there is only a limited amount of educational blogs then the results were all similar. Another main reason could be that since the keywords were broad there were more results, but if the search would have been a little more exact then the results may have been different and more limited.
Three innovative ways in which blogs can be used are digital storytelling. In a sense digital storytelling is using the web and multimedia to tell a story. The multimedia that would be used would be like graphics and audio. A second way that blogs are as a means of sharing lesson plans. Blogs are an excellent way to share lesson plans with other teachers that may be teaching the same lessons or grade level that you may be teaching. The third way that blogs are being used creatively are by posting the school or class newspaper online. This is definitely a creative way of getting students to use technology in the classroom.
Before beginning my search for aggregators and RSS readers I had no idea what these words meant. I came to realize that RSS was an acronym for Real Simple Syndication and that an aggregator which in a way can be a blog, but it also includes podcasts and news headlines. A class can have the ability to use aggregators and RSS readers to keep students and parents informed on what is going in the classroom. As well as to let parents know what assignments are due and other events that may be going on in the school.
Using blogs and RSS readers can be a new level of education. If this new educational tool is incorporated into the classroom the students are gaining a new level of experience. Blogging and RSS readers are most definitely way to get students to interact technologically. By using these, the students are going to become more advanced at using technology at a younger age and there may be more work outside work that can be assigned.
Two pros of using RSS readers and blogs in education are that we are that one we are teaching students how to use different kinds of tools and we are advancing their knowledge in technology. Another advantage would that it is making learning fun and different. In a way this type of teaching is more hands on and therefore the students may be actually understanding the material rather than just memorizing the material that is being taught. Two cons of using blogs and RSS readers are if the student does not know how to use computers or has a difficult time using them then the student may struggle on any assignments that may be assigned in this way. A second con could be for the teacher that is using the RSS readers or blogs. The teacher has to know well what they are posting and hope that there aren’t any technological errors. If any errors occur then the teacher must go back and fix it and any assignments that are due may have to be postponed.

RE: Webquest!!

After discussing what a webquest is with a group we all came to the conclusion that it was somewhat like a lesson plan. Some of the activities that were presented on the webquests were grade level appropriate. There were times that if the actual cite is to be used by the students then it is somewhat difficult for the students depending on the grade level to complete the activity. Webquests are extremely useful especially when it comes to designing lessons. It is an excellent way of coming up with ideas for virtually any topic. It seemed that most of my group members agreed that it appears to be a little more difficult to create a webquest from all of the directions that were provided, but in all we all agreed that it is a good way to get students to learn interactivly while making learning a fun experience.

Multiple Intelligences and Technology

Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences is a perspective that offers the theory that humans have multiple ways of learning. By teaching with the use of technology several if not all of these intelligences can be satisfied. For example, a child that has an intrapersonal intelligence can be very shy. For an intrapersonal intelligence any project that is presented to that child via the computer is more than satisfying to the child because the child can be independent and there is no need for the child to interact with other students.
A child that has a spatial intelligence is a visual learner. A child with this learning ability learns via pictures and images. By using technology and computers to present information and lessons or activities the child’s learning is facilitated. For example, if a child is presented with diagrams or told to make one for learning the life cycle of an insect their spatial intelligence is being satisfied.
By taking Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple intelligences into consideration for technology a teacher can design a lesson online that has some music for those with the musical intelligence. A lesson with a variety of pictures, diagrams, and charts for those who have a strength in the musical intelligence. With the use of interactive website a majority of these intelligences can be met.

First Post!!

My name is Elizabeth Madrigal and I am the oldest of three. I am the first generation to go to college as well as to have graduated from high school. My goal is graduate with a bachelor's in elementary education with a minor in human development as well as an endorsement in ESL. I would like to teach the third grade and I hope to go back to the Tri-cities and hopefully get a job in that area.