I watched a video about the sun and the universe. They consider the sun a "universal work of art." The sun generates enough energy to hold the universe together. That is a lot of energy considering our universe is very large. The sun is equivilent to 1 million degrees fehrenheit. Our sun is 93 million miles from the sun. The sun is powerful enough to heat our earth and give enough centrifical force to hold the entire universe together. It takes 8.5 minutes for light to leave the sun and reach the earth. If one were to leave the earth it would take them approximately 11 months to reach the sun.
My class could definately use this video as a learning resource. They could learn a lot about the solar system and how it works. A lot of people think that the sun is a lot closer and more insignificant than it is. While watching this video I learned different things that I did not know were true. I, for one, thought that the sun was just another star along with the others. I was wrong. The sun actually holds together our universe.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Itunes University
Itunes University is great. It is learning for in the classroom, at home, or anywhere on the go. Students can use their ipods for education purposes. A good thing about itunes university is that is always available 24-7. It gives students access to universities, top colleges, and educational focuses organizations around the clock. All the students have to do is have a MAC or a PC. Students can sync itunes university with any iphone or ipod, which pretty much nowadays everybody has.
College students love itunes and ipods. This helps them learn on their own turf so to say. They can watch movies, download information, and a lot of cool stuff from the comfort of their own home. It also gives information in a more vivid way than just text and pictures. It also gives a chance for schools to open their information to the public to see. Students can download the information they need and listen and learn while they eat, workout, or ride in the car. It is learning of the future and an awesome thing at that.
College students love itunes and ipods. This helps them learn on their own turf so to say. They can watch movies, download information, and a lot of cool stuff from the comfort of their own home. It also gives information in a more vivid way than just text and pictures. It also gives a chance for schools to open their information to the public to see. Students can download the information they need and listen and learn while they eat, workout, or ride in the car. It is learning of the future and an awesome thing at that.
video podcast summary
I watched a video podcast about the Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem. It was directed towards K-5 age group. It basically talked about coral reefs and photosynthesis. It talked about how energy is passed in an ecosystem through the food chain. How the herbavores each algae and the carnivores eat the herbavores. It was a good learning tool for kids of that age.
These podcasts are a great resource for children and teachers. It has a lot of visual effects that are good for the children. I think that it would keep their attention and get them interested in the subject at hand. I also think that is was a very informative video. Teacher could use these video podcasts in the classroom or have the students go home and watch them. They could have little quizzes on the videos and that would be a good way to keep them involved.
I was not aware of how many resources itunes had for teachers and students. The podcasts video and radio are an awesome tool to have in the classroom. I think it is a good thing that schools are starting to incorporate technology into the classroom. Technology is becoming a big part of learning and the students need to learn how to use it.
These podcasts are a great resource for children and teachers. It has a lot of visual effects that are good for the children. I think that it would keep their attention and get them interested in the subject at hand. I also think that is was a very informative video. Teacher could use these video podcasts in the classroom or have the students go home and watch them. They could have little quizzes on the videos and that would be a good way to keep them involved.
I was not aware of how many resources itunes had for teachers and students. The podcasts video and radio are an awesome tool to have in the classroom. I think it is a good thing that schools are starting to incorporate technology into the classroom. Technology is becoming a big part of learning and the students need to learn how to use it.
Mr. Sullivan's Presentation
Mr. Sullivan's presentation is basically instructions and information on how everyone can use the World Wide Web. He starts off by giving some definitions that everybody should know such as web accessibility and adaptive hardware and software. He also talks about The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This says that federals agencies are required to disabled employees and public people easy access to the web. This is a good law to have because it helps the public. He goes on to give guidelines, user agents, a website for the hearing impaired, browsers and plug-ins, and information about software usage. All of these thing are a big help to people who are just getting started using the web.
I could use this as a future educator to help the students that are either handicapped in some way or are not computer literate. The presentation has a lot of good links for teachers to use in the classroom to help get them started.
I could use this as a future educator to help the students that are either handicapped in some way or are not computer literate. The presentation has a lot of good links for teachers to use in the classroom to help get them started.
Alabama Virtual Library
The Alabama Virtual Library is really handy tool for teachers, students, and parents. It is basically an online library where people can access library and information resources. It is an online database where students can access articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. This is only available to students in Alabama. It is used to raise the level of education in Alabama. There is an AVL council that meets every so often to discuss the library. The public is welcome to come and put their thoughts to good use.
There is a really handy tab on the website that helps people who are computer illiterate. It is the training resources tab. It helps you find a trainer in your area to help you get to know the site and its full usage. It also has age group tabs so elementary school kids are not looking for information on a college level article. It also goes by topics so it is very easy for everyone to use. I think the AVL is an awesome tool to have.
There is a really handy tab on the website that helps people who are computer illiterate. It is the training resources tab. It helps you find a trainer in your area to help you get to know the site and its full usage. It also has age group tabs so elementary school kids are not looking for information on a college level article. It also goes by topics so it is very easy for everyone to use. I think the AVL is an awesome tool to have.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Ipods in the classroom
Ipod use in the classroom has become a unexpected phenomenon. Duke University is a school that uses that quite frequently. The number of ipods in the classroom has quadrupled in the second year of use. They now have classes where ipods are required, they even give them out for free. The ipods are used to enhance the classes lectures, assignments, and quality of learning. Duke now has a program called Duke Digital Innitiative, also know as DDI. They use this program to incorporate the ipods into the classroom. They now have 280 students and 19 courses using this program.
A lot of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are even getting into the swing of things with ipod use in the classroom. They use podcasts to help get the children involved with learning. They use the audio tools to enhance their learning. Ipods engage the students and make things fun for them. Children nowadays know how to use technology pretty well, so why not incorporate something they know into something they can learn. This website is a good insight to ipods in the classroom.
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/ipod/
A lot of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are even getting into the swing of things with ipod use in the classroom. They use podcasts to help get the children involved with learning. They use the audio tools to enhance their learning. Ipods engage the students and make things fun for them. Children nowadays know how to use technology pretty well, so why not incorporate something they know into something they can learn. This website is a good insight to ipods in the classroom.
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/ipod/
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Podcasts
The first podcast I listened to was Kidcast # 56. It was about podcasting in the classroom. It was given by middle school science educators. They talked about how to merge structural technology and science content. The podcasts would be extended conversations of the students answering questions that everybody has. They said to play an exercise called the question game and you are only allowed to talk in questions. This is supposed to help with the podcasting so there is no awkward pauses.
The second podcast I listened to kind of got of subject a lot. It was supposed to be about clouds but they talked about birthdays for a bit. It was SMARTBoard lessons podcast lesson 146. I can see how they just talk about can maybe get off subject, but after awhile they came back to subject and talked about clouds and cloud formations.
The third podcast I listened to was Connect Learning Episode 90. It was a room of 9000 librarians. It was to talk about what they thought about podcasting in the libraries. They talked about collaborating with the teachers on podcasting and getting feedback from each other. They could do research in the libraries, debate it in the classroom, and then when the kids got home their assignment would be online. I think that is a really cool idea and a good way to use the podcasts.
The fourth podcast that I listened to was Connect Learning Episode 96. It talked a bit about web 2.0. This podcast was also 9000 educators. They were not regular educators though they were court community/ community day school educators. They only kept their kids for about 40-45 at the most. Some of their kids only stayed a couple of days. They talked about how the kids coming in their schools already know about technology by using ipods and what not. That it was not a learning environment just a using environment.
The second podcast I listened to kind of got of subject a lot. It was supposed to be about clouds but they talked about birthdays for a bit. It was SMARTBoard lessons podcast lesson 146. I can see how they just talk about can maybe get off subject, but after awhile they came back to subject and talked about clouds and cloud formations.
The third podcast I listened to was Connect Learning Episode 90. It was a room of 9000 librarians. It was to talk about what they thought about podcasting in the libraries. They talked about collaborating with the teachers on podcasting and getting feedback from each other. They could do research in the libraries, debate it in the classroom, and then when the kids got home their assignment would be online. I think that is a really cool idea and a good way to use the podcasts.
The fourth podcast that I listened to was Connect Learning Episode 96. It talked a bit about web 2.0. This podcast was also 9000 educators. They were not regular educators though they were court community/ community day school educators. They only kept their kids for about 40-45 at the most. Some of their kids only stayed a couple of days. They talked about how the kids coming in their schools already know about technology by using ipods and what not. That it was not a learning environment just a using environment.
Randy Pausche's last lecture
First off, Randy Pausche is an amazing speaker and person. He should be an inspiration to each and every person. This video was his "last lecture" because he was given 3-6 months to live due to 10 tumors in his liver. His lecture was based on childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others, and how you can achieve your dreams or enable the dreams of others. Even with a deadly illness he still seems to look on the bright side of things and see the good in everybody. My favorite thing he said in his lecture was that if you wait long enough you will see the good in everybody. You may have to wait years to see it, but everybody has some good.
His first point was his childhood dreams and how he achieved each and everyone of them through hard work and perserverance. He talked about how when he was a child he was always smiling. There was not one single picture of him as a child not smiling. I think that says something about his character. A few of his childhood dreams were being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, being captain Kirk, winning stuffed animals, being a disney imagineer, and being an author of the world book encyclopedia. As for the being in zero gravity, he achieved it. He put together a project with some of his students and they were allowed to fly on this jet plane called the "vomit comet." It gives about 25 seconds of zero gravity. For most people this dream would only be a dream, but he made it a reality.
As for enabling other peoples dreams he was a master. He started this thing called The Dream Fulfillment Factory. It allowed 50 students from all different departments of the college to come together and make virtual reality. He gave them 2 weeks to make a project. After those two weeks he was blown away. The students surpassed his expectations by far. This goes to show you to never set the bar too low. After this happened the project grew and grew. It has given students guaranteed jobs.
The roles of his parents, mentors and students played a big part in his life. His dad fought in WWII and won the bronze star for valor, and in 50 years of marriage his wife never knew. That goes to show what kind of person he is. His mentor was Andy Van Dam. He was described as a mythical creature. If it weren't for him he wouldn't have gone to graduate school. One thing he said in his lecture was in life you can either be a tigger or an eeyore, its your choice. I thought that was a really cool comparison to life.
All in all this was an awesome speech. It really made me think about life. I am a big beleiver in karma and so is he. He said "you can't get there alone" meaning if you do good to others, it will come around to you. He also said tell the truth, be earnest, apologize when you screw up, and focus on others, not yourself. Those are words that everybody needs to live by. I would definately recommend this speech to anybody.
His first point was his childhood dreams and how he achieved each and everyone of them through hard work and perserverance. He talked about how when he was a child he was always smiling. There was not one single picture of him as a child not smiling. I think that says something about his character. A few of his childhood dreams were being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, being captain Kirk, winning stuffed animals, being a disney imagineer, and being an author of the world book encyclopedia. As for the being in zero gravity, he achieved it. He put together a project with some of his students and they were allowed to fly on this jet plane called the "vomit comet." It gives about 25 seconds of zero gravity. For most people this dream would only be a dream, but he made it a reality.
As for enabling other peoples dreams he was a master. He started this thing called The Dream Fulfillment Factory. It allowed 50 students from all different departments of the college to come together and make virtual reality. He gave them 2 weeks to make a project. After those two weeks he was blown away. The students surpassed his expectations by far. This goes to show you to never set the bar too low. After this happened the project grew and grew. It has given students guaranteed jobs.
The roles of his parents, mentors and students played a big part in his life. His dad fought in WWII and won the bronze star for valor, and in 50 years of marriage his wife never knew. That goes to show what kind of person he is. His mentor was Andy Van Dam. He was described as a mythical creature. If it weren't for him he wouldn't have gone to graduate school. One thing he said in his lecture was in life you can either be a tigger or an eeyore, its your choice. I thought that was a really cool comparison to life.
All in all this was an awesome speech. It really made me think about life. I am a big beleiver in karma and so is he. He said "you can't get there alone" meaning if you do good to others, it will come around to you. He also said tell the truth, be earnest, apologize when you screw up, and focus on others, not yourself. Those are words that everybody needs to live by. I would definately recommend this speech to anybody.
Fischbowls post on August 15, 2006
I decided to read the post on the fischbowl's blog for August 15th. It was entitled "Did You Know?" He started off by telling how he was wanted to speak at the annual beginning of the year meeting that the teachers have. He wanted to focus more on staff development than anything else. He tells how staff meeting are actually a really bad place to talk if you have something you want to say, so he decided to make a powerpoint presentation to show to the teachers. His main focus was to get teachers to think about what students today in the 21st century need to learn to be successful in the real world.
His powerpoint was pretty cool. He used a lot of facts that a lot of people, I'm sure, did not know. He starts off by giving statistics about how many new computers his school will have in the new year. Then he talks about China and how many people they have compared to us. He goes on to give many more bizarre statistics that are crazy to think about. I think this presentation got a lot of teachers attention on what is really going on in the technological world. Hopefully they can better prepare their students for this.
His powerpoint was pretty cool. He used a lot of facts that a lot of people, I'm sure, did not know. He starts off by giving statistics about how many new computers his school will have in the new year. Then he talks about China and how many people they have compared to us. He goes on to give many more bizarre statistics that are crazy to think about. I think this presentation got a lot of teachers attention on what is really going on in the technological world. Hopefully they can better prepare their students for this.
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