Embedded Voice Thread

Here is my voice thread!!

http://voicethread.com/share/73946/

More frustrations…

Either I am really not smart or my computer hates me! I finished tech task 8 but I cannot upload my 4 pictures onto my blog, this is weird because I have uploaded other pictures.  Also I had the flickr widget and delicious one on before but they somehow disappeared!!!Anyone????

frustrations!!!

Okay, I am trying to do tech task 6 and my computer will not let me download photo story! I have tried like 5 times but it keeps telling me I have a trial version that has already expired. Anyone care to help???

Online learning

I found out some very interesting information when I went home this week.  I learned that my Dad is taking an online investing course.  He was explaining to me how it is online and he is able to interact with his teacher and the rest of the students in the class. I explained to him about this class and together we found it quite interesting to compare notes.  Once again I am amazed at the technology we have right at our finger tips and how this type of education is only going to become more and more common!

It’s Elementary

       The part of the presentation I thought was most interesting, was the student’s thoughts and feelings about online learning tools.  Having never been taught this way in school and only just being introduced to the concept here in University, I have often wondered what students actually think and if it really is as profitable as we are being taught to think.  Interestingly enough, after giving the students a survey, results show that most students enjoyed this way of learning, mostly because it is a fun way to learn.  This made me realize that this is a great way to teach and that it is something that will be important in my future career.  I hope I can learn enough about it to make learning fun for my own students. 

Kathy Cassidy’s Presentation

        I really enjoyed listening to Kathy Cassidy’ Presentation on using 2.0 tools in a grade one classroom.  I think it is really neat to be able to get kids blogging at this early of an age.  Especially when I have just been introduced to this concept at the age of eighteen and it takes my adult mind a lot to get used to.  Kids brought up with this kind of education will be so comfortable with technology when they are adults themselves.  I am especially interested in the work Kathy is doing because I have decided to mentor with her class and am very curious and excited about how it will work.  I think it is so neat how people from all over can comment on the kid’s blog and how even the parents and grandparents can see their progress.  She said that nothing has inspired her student’s learning like blogging has and I can only imagine how excited they must get when someone comments on their blog.  This is a learning tool I am anxious to try when I have my own class.   

Cell Phones In the Classroom

Yesterday I listened to presentation about cell phones being used in the classroom as learning tools.  This presentation really sparked my interest, because I went to a high school where cell phones were to be kept out of sight and barely mentioned.  If one happened to ring we would all hold our breath until the teacher found the guilty victim and confiscated the cell phone.  The thought of cell phones being allowed  into the classrooms and even used to promote learning is a thought that truly amazes me! It does make sense though because a large majority of high school students not only own cell phones but seem to be very much addicted to them.  I can see how allowing them into the classroom could possibly revive student interest in the subject being taught.  It was interesting also to see the different uses the presenter had in mind for teaching the students through their cell phones.  Most of these ideas were over my head, being a bit technologically impaired.  This is certainly an idea I would to see in action and to learn more about so that I can better understand it!

Feb. 1/08

I was having a difficult time getting into this class because I am usually not much for going on the net except for email, so I was having a hard time finding interesting websites to talk about on here, but today in my Aesthetics class I was introduced to the most amazing website ever.  In this class we all have to give a presentation on a great teaching tool we have found.  Today these girls showed us the website: www.deviantart.com.  This website is amazing for those out there who love visual art, since there are literally millions of works posted by artists from all over the world of any kind of medium imaginable.  This site is especially useful because once artists post their work, they can receive comments and feedback from other artists viewing their work.  I never knew anything like this was possible.  It is amazing just to be able to see how much artistic talent is out there especially by people who are not famous or proffesional artists.  It is also a great way for aspiring artists to get feedback on their art and make improvements.  They can also make sales if someone really likes their art.  I can see how this would be a great resource for students.  It will allow them to make connections with people from all over the world and see things that they would never have access to inside the classroom. 

   I thought this photography work was especially amazing!!

technology

I never know what to write on here, but this week I was thinking about new technology and how fast it is always changing.  I was also made aware of how technology is a very big part of our lives and how it will continue to be.  I went cell phone shopping this week with one of my roomates and my boyfriend.  I just got my first cell phone 6 months ago and was amazed to see how different the new ones are from mine and just how dated mine looks.  My boyfriend has what you might call a cell phone fetish and has to have a new cell everyone two months in order to keep up with the latest technology.  This made me realize how just how powerful technology and advertising is to people of our generation and just how dependant we are on our gadgets like computers and cell phones.  My dad would say this is horrible because he doesn’t even have a cell phone yet.  I don’t think technology is a bad thing at all but if we let it control our minds it can get rather expensive.