Journal # 11 Kidspiration and Atomic Learning

I went to the Inspiration website and looked at the different programs and decided on Kidspiration. I downloaded my 30 day free trial and dove in. I played with Kidspiration for a while to see what it was like. It became obvious that I needed some instruction and went to the tutorials at atomic learning. I am in the process of putting together a final product. My learning works around listening to a few introductory lessons then going to my document and trying to be creative. Once the idea set in that the assignment is about learning and being creative with this technology, it became fun. I chose geography and started with a city(Spokane) and went from there. I have currently listened to about two thirds of the tutorials and keep playing with the information. I don’t have a feel for how I would use this in the classroom; however the way the site is set up with verbal instruction; I can see students learning just as I am. It has been a fun process in that I am not sure what my final document will be; it keeps changing as I learn more.

Journal # 10 Gaming

I have always been interested in the fascination students and adults have with computer games. (I don’t have the same fascination, but I am interested in its educational applications) Under the gaming heading in the tools list Ed Jones asked if anyone was using any interesting interactive games for teaching history. He also asked for a list of games that were being used and opinions of them. One of the links is called Fling the Teacher. This link focuses on History and gives many topics to choose from with an appropriate grade level. The number of questions in each game is also provided; therefore you could choose a game with 30 questions up to 165 questions. Topics also vary depending on what area of history is the focus. A sample of the topics includes Ancient Rome; The Crusades; The Aztecs etc.
Another site which I found interesting was put together by teacher Larry Ferlazzo. This site titled Geography and the United States has interactive games that the students can play as well as hear languages from other counties. This site is huge with many links for learning history and geography. Some of the interesting topics for students to explore are; dances from around the globe; volcanoes around the world; and world folktales. The students will learn history; geography as well as diversity with these fun interactive games. I found this information inspiriting because anytime we can make learning fun half the battle is over.

Journal # 9

An Absence of Leadership. By Scott McLeod
ISTE Learning and Leading; October, 2007

Dr. Scott McLeod is the director of the UCEA Center for Advanced Study of Technology in Education at Iowa State. McLeod is concerned about leadership in schools as it pertains to preparing students for the technology driven; globally interconnected world. Dr. McLeod has two blogs that he uses to express his views and welcome colleagues into the discussion. Dr. McLeod blogs to point out that without proper leadership in schools student’s potential and future will be diminished. Administrators are the ones who can make positive change in schools as it relates to better and more involved use of technology. Most of the technology savvy employees in school districts are tech coordinators; media specialists; teachers or tech integrationists. The problem is that these individuals are not in a position of administration and/or don’t have leadership training. Dr. McLeod feels that schools and students will not see improvement until administrators know how to implement and build on technology related initiatives. The core problem is that administrators need more technology training and technology staff needs more administrative skills.

Questions
1. As a teacher how would I deal with administration that was not interested in technology in education? If I was in a position like this I would try and educate the people making decisions about the need for technology in classrooms. I would do this by giving solid examples and undeniable facts regarding the value of technology in schools.
2. What other ways can schools get administrators who can incorporate technology in schools and programs. Schools districts will change when people with training and a vision for the future are in positions of leadership. The most effective way for this to happen is to have staff with technology backgrounds get the training and become decision makers for schools and school districts.

Journal # 8

Laptops on Expedition: Embracing Expeditionary Learning. By Dianne Curtiss, from edutopia.

King middle school in Portland Maine is having great success with personalized, project based learning. The success is a direct result of the states decision to provide all seventh and eight grade students with an iBook laptop computer. The students stay with the same teacher for two years (looping) and participate in a four to twelve week interdisciplinary project. The projects have been varied and all have incorporated state curriculum standards. The projects have included an aquarium design judged by local architects; a CD narrative by Whitman’s O’Captain! My Captain! claymation explaining Newton’s law and many more. The students realize that their projects are to be seen by others and therefore work harder on the finished product. To present material in the various digital forms the student must reflect, look at the project, analyze and learn from their own representations. This type of process helps the students with deep learning of the subject matter. Another positive outcome is the students test scores. King middle school students have begun outscoring the state average in six out of seven subjects. This is even more impressive when taken into consideration that King middle school has 22 percent refugee students; 60 percent of the students are low income; and 28 different languages are spoken. Needless to say the combination of creativity; technology and project based learning is producing wonderful results at King middle school.

Questions
1. What would I do as a teacher at a school that did not have the resources for digital learning? If I was in a school that had very limited resources for the students I would call on experts for help. This would mean I would contact people that were in the know about federal and state grants. I would also contact tech firms that were willing to donate or have students get involved with their own services.
2. How would I encourage students that were not interested in technology and its applications for learning? As a teacher working with students who were timid or reluctant to use technology; I would group those students with friends in the classroom that were involved with a project that the subject matter was of interest to the student. I would have peers teach and encourage those students at a comfortable pace; making it fun.