Tutorials on Google Earth Outreach

http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/tutorials/index.html#

A click on this link will take you to the website Google Earth Outreach with a good number of short videos. They are very helpful in getting you started with your lesson plan. Have fun!

Discoveries on Google Earth

Since we were working with Google Earth, I found this video shows 10 interesting things that were discovered around the world through Google Earth. When introducing students to Google Earth, this would be a good attention grabber.

Posts on Blog

I thought it will be nice to make you all smile today by posting this our class blog. There are so many things to do because the session is coming to an end so I just want to remind everyone not to forget to continue posting on our class blog. We tend to forget to post in our class blog or even comment on other's post. I am guilty sometimes and I try my very best to come in and post and make sure to read everyone's posts and comments. So when I found this online I thought to post  it so that it remind us that we get graded by posting and commenting on each other's posts. In order for us to get a good grade let us continue posting on our class blog. We are almost done for this session!!

Learning is Ongoing

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” ― Henry Ford. Quotes About Lifelong Learning. Good Reads. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/lifelong-learning Towards the end of the spring semester, I asked a classmate of mine what classes she was taking and she said she was taking a break. I seriously thought about taking a break, but my best judgment encouraged me to keep taking classes. After all, summer is a season, not a term for vacation. When I sit at my table to work on my class assignments, I feel happy, proud, and useful about myself. In fact, while I am studying, I am doing what I like doing; it is my hobby, my pastime, my time to myself. I am improving myself academically and professionally by taking all these classes. I don’t feel busy. This is how I keep my learning ongoing.

How much kids use technology

This video, aired on ABC News, explains how much time the average kid uses technology. It also points out that kids who spend longer times using technology, such as Facebook and texting, get Cs or lower in school. Kids whose parents set limits on their children's usage are more successful. In this clip, technology includes cell phones, computers, television, and music devices. Taking into consideration the claim that kids are spending more time with technology, it is a motivation to implement technology into our classrooms.

Never Give Up.

Illustration and quote from: MotiveWeight.Blogspot.com

We always think that giving up is the best option when things go bad. When we teach, and see students not picking up our lessons we tend to somehow feel helpless and worse is we feel like giving up already.  The quote would like to bring up the inner you, to never give up in whatever challenges you have no matter how impossible it may be. It may be taxing for us educators to teach a student who have no regard for education but once you have helped them see the light and see progress, then you must be proud of yourself for being an effective teacher, for not letting down your student in spite and despite of the challenges you’ve been through to teach him/her because at the end of the day, their achievements reflects what teacher have we been to them.

Past, Future, and Present...

Quote from the movie: KUNG FU PANDA

Illustration from: www.tumblr.com

There are different types of learning, we could learn from what our parents taught us, could also be from our professors and could also be from our experiences. Like what the old saying goes “experience is the best teacher”. The quote suggests that we should always learn from our past, always be ready for what might happen tomorrow, and treasure the gifts of the present. In relation to teaching, reflect on your strategies that you use in the past, modify your strategies that were ineffective to make it more effective for future usage, and use your present to learn more. Using that formula would not only make you a better educator but also a better individual who contributes to the society.

One Excellent Lesson Based on the Use of Technology

The link will take you to an excellent lesson plan called “News-Based English Language Activities from the Global News Paper” published in January this year on The Guardian Weekly. It is a complete lesson plan with a separate worksheet to build students’ vocabulary that helps them talk about and even do survey for their own use of mobile web use. I found it interesting as it gave me some perspective for education and the use of technology outside the U.S. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/interactive/2013/jan/23/classroom-materials-uk-mobile-web-use 

Self Reflection

Going through our class blog and class moodle I realized that there are so many things going on this past weeks. Reading everyone's posts and comments it finally hit me that this is summer and everything is packed in to four weeks. Everyday there is always something to be turn in on moodle or blogger. Not to mentioned creating websites and managing a weblog just to name a few. I was little intimidated at first but I realized that there is no time to be nervous about everything. This is the perfect time to learn as much as I can so that I can apply the new techniques and new skills this coming semester whether in the classroom or in my other grad courses. 

I have to be honest that even though it's scary knowing that I have to learn so many great things about technology in the classroom within four weeks only, I was really excited. I have learned new skills and got some great ideas just by reading everyone's posts and comments on moodle and blogger. Now that I have learned to create websites and learn how to use some of the online tools, I can't wait to be in the classrooms again so that I can apply everything that I have learn. I have created a list of websites from the IRA Newsletter weekly projects and I am going to put them all in to Delicious for my future references. I have to admit that I am little bit behind but I am excited and look forward to learning more great and new skills and ideas from everyone in the class. I really enjoyed reading everyone's posts and comments. 

Google humor

 

I thought I share a laugh/smile with everyone.

 

I experienced a student telling me that they've seen pictures of other teachers by looking up their names on Google. I have also know of students trying to add teachers or other school personnel onto their social networking pages. I think creating websites and blogs are great alternatives for students who would like to communicate with their teachers online. 

An Informal Self-Reflection

I decided to browse through the blog today, to read all the postings again, and to make sure I did not forget or skip to leave comment for all of other's postings. This is the last blog posting until we write up for our Midterm Self-Reflection next week and I want to remember what we have discussed so far in this class blog. Instead of spending time today in looking for more to share with, I enjoyed reading and absorbing what others were sharing. I learned much from this activity and could grasp a whole picture of the past two weeks work altogether.
I am a supporter of Gestalt psychology that has the central idea that "an organized whole is greater than the sum of its parts" (Bigge, M. L. & Shermis S. S. (2004) Learning Theories for Teachers). To me, everyone's contribution on this blog has brought a great meaningful whole for our class and learning experience.

Technology is just a tool

I thought it will be nice to share this with everyone. We have to keep in mind that Technology is nothing but just a tool teachers use to have the students engage and interact. In order for the students to interact and engage with one another the TEACHER is the one behind all of that action. Teachers make it happen and they are the most important people behind everything that happen at school.

Tips for Integrating the Internet Into the Classroom

This video shares some tips for integrating the Internet into the classroom. The tips discussed can be applied to secondary level students. However, it can also be modified to be suitable for younger students. As we come across different ways to integrate the Internet, it would be a good idea to share our findings with our colleagues. It is also important to remind students about how to appropriately utilize the Internet and what are the best sources for them to use when doing assignments.

Get them involved.

Illustration from: www.scenicreflections.com

"You teach me I forget, You show me, I remember. You involve me, I understand"

-Edward O. Wilson

www.goodreads.com

Teachers should not just teach, we must also be creative enough to enhance learning in our classrooms. One way of having our students learn if to show them how to do things like how to cook, make a sushi, or fold an origami using that way not only they will remember that but they could also used that as a way of living in the future and inspire them. Involvement in a study promotes better understanding in a subject as you will have a deeper knowledge about the process. So we teachers must not just do lectures and talk in front of our class, sometimes our student will get bored try to involve them by doing games and stuffs once in awhile to stimulate their minds. 

While I am taking this class Teaching with the Internet, I also keep in mind that not all the children from all over the United States are fortunate to have a technology device of their own. I am more than convinced after my IRA Newsletter Weekly Project #3, having found Reading Is Fundamental. Many children in the United States alone do not own books let alone a computer or an iPad or such device at home. They come from low income families and they rely on association such as RIF, which is a non-profit association launched more than 4 decades ago by a dedicated teacher and some volunteers. It has been growing with 6 figures of volunteers. Although it appears to be a good sign to see such association growing, on the other hand, what we can also assume is that there are many children of low-income families more than what we would like to believe who are in need of books. How could we promote reading or literacy among children without having enough books for all?

Please watch the following video clip and see what can be done for the children in our own communities who are in the same situation of the children mentioned above.

Shine Bright Like a Torch Light...

illustration from: www.dreamstime.com

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."

-Ben Sweetland

www.goodreads.com

Educators are expected to guide and be good adviser to our students. You cannot expect people to believe in what you teach if you yourself don't believe in what you do. Everything must come from within and you'll just be surprised to see that everything will fall in the right place, and as you go along, let your brightness light others path towards greatness.

Internet and the Classroom

     Children today can be seen texting, playing on an iPad, or reading a story on a Kindle. Students use the internet on a daily basis. Many teachers today must keep up with technology and what benefits it has to offer for students in the classroom. Students and adults tend to get so engrossed when using technology. The use of technology can be seen everywhere!
     One way teachers can make a connection with their students is by bringing in the use of the internet in the classroom. By incorporating the use of the internet in the classroom, can have some positive advantages. The increase of student participation is one advantage. Rather than looking for information from textbooks, the internet also offers a wide range of information in such a short period of time. Another advantage is that information can be exchanged much more quickly between student and teacher, student to student and teacher to parents. The internet also provides a vast number of images on different subject matters which would help increase retention, due to the different visual aids that can be provided. The use of the internet is one teaching technique students always seem to look forward to.

Internet Safety for Kids and Parents

The following are links to Internet safety sites that we could share with our students and children:

FBI-Kids Safety
http://www.fbi.gov/fun-games/kids/kids-safety

GCF-Internet Safety for Kids
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internetsafetyforkids

Kids Health- Internet Safety
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internetsafetyforkids

There are many more websites that address Internet safety and are made for kids. Parents and teachers can also get a lot of information that would be useful to teach our students/children. As teachers, we can make time to go through some of the Internet safety information.

Something about Technology in Education for students

After I read Tish’s posting about the drawbacks in the use of the Internet, I thought I would share this finding on YouTube. The reason is that young people from this generation are not necessarily aware of the evolution of the technology in education over the period of time. This short video clip has attempted to include every significant milestone of education since ancient time until now. I uploaded it on my personal technology blog, and I’m planning to show it to my students as well. It’s brief but I think it is very educational and informative for my young students. Name: The History of Technology in Education URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s

Drawbacks of the Internet

Here is the link to a brief article about the drawbacks of the internet: http://www.musicteachers.co.uk/journal/2000-11_editorial_1.html
Title: The Internet- An Educational Tool
Author: John Woodford

 

 

The article focuses on how the internet is not 100% beneficial as an education tool due to the easy access of pornography, hate mail, chain letters, fraud and espionage, etc. Aside from that, the author also brings out a good point about how some information published on the internet is inaccurate. This may cause students to be reviewing and using such information, many times without even knowing if it is a reliable source. The article also discusses how it is important to educate teachers on how to teach and assist students in using the internet to some extent. Because we are relying much on the internet, I feel that it is important to discuss appropriate ways to work with the internet. I remember in the Audiovisual course I took at SOE, we went over a few topics in regards to internet safety. I think that is something we need to bring into our classrooms.

Why and How We Use the Internet Tools and Resources as Teachers

I’d like to share my finding of this YouTube video clip “Use of Internet in Education” uploaded in March 2011. We all know or have ideas why Internet use is significant in education. The content of this clip adds up to my knowledge for why and how we use the Internet and its resources in our classrooms. The use of Internet enables us not only to personalize our lesson plans but also to keep appropriate pace with the school(s) we are teaching at, other teachers, students and parents alike. While some Internet resources and tools are useful for your students, others assist you in microblogging with educators and any academic groups beyond your classrooms and schools. I am convinced that the use of Internet especially blogging keeps us to stay connected to the world and to interact with others just as George Siemens explained about it (Quoted in this video clip).

Making Connections

Technology and Education
This educational video was“published on Nov 21, 2012 by Paul Hamilton who presents 'Technology in Education', a creative and artistic look at the challenges edtech faces. He also possesses expertise in the implementation of mobile devices into pedagogical frameworks” YouTube.
Content of this video clip is thought-provoking for educators alike for how we are using technology and what factors should be in consideration while using technology in our classrooms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyCECMxhOs

Facing our fears

As educators we have to keep in mind that there are many students out there that need helps to face their fears. Most students have the fear of trying something new because they might fail. We have to encourage our students to stand up to their fears. Sometimes not only the students can't face their fears.  Teachers have fears too. I have fear of believing in myself. One of our assignments is to pick a website from the three websites we were given and create a course online using that website. This passed few days I was so afraid and nervous because I don't know much about creating websites and stuff like that. Even though, I did a lot of reading on the website I was still afraid I couldn't do it. After last night I felt so much better. Reading everyone's posts and see that most of us are new at this eased my fear. I finally created my course online using Rcampus.come and getting myself familiar with the different features on the website. I can't wait to add more things like quizzes and assignments to the course. What we all need to face our fears is to know that we are not alone and that there is always someone out there for us. 

Love what you do, Do what you Love.

Illustration from: www.tumblr.com

"Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind"

-Plato, The Republic

www.goodreads.com

Learning a certain craft or art requires time and devotion. Forcing oneself to love a certain course or study won't do any good for it will never be the one that the person wants. Learning should be voluntary and not compulsory. We as educators should always tell our students to chose the path they want to in the future. It is our responsibility to let our students fight for what they really want in life, for example the course they want in college. The field that they should go to should be the one that they want not what others want for them. It's more fun to learn if you really love what you are doing

Reading Rainbow

 

 

The Reading Rainbow program made available by PBS is a great way to get young children motivated to read. Although I don't see it often, I remember it airing on Guam. Because we are becoming used to technology, I think it would be a good idea to integrate multimedia during our reading activities. Making books seem alive can be done through technology.

LSM Project

                The Rcampus website is free and boasts many features.  The trial version has limited features, but in order to unlock them all, you must buy a premium subscription.  The only thing I did not like was that you have to pay for the test creation section.  It would have been nice to have at least tried out a slimmed-down version of the testing module so that I could try it before I buy it.  The site does not give me a full range of what it can do with the free subscription.  So I decided not to do my Course Management System at Rcampus.

                Coursesite is very good, but I think the learning curve is very high on that website.  I would spend a lot of time learning about the website to fully utilize it.  I like the creation of the website with the free version, but you have to pay to attach a file in your course which I did not like in the free version.

                Engrade was my last hope and although it does have a learning curve to learn the program I found it easier than the other two to create a course using the website.  The instructions are very simple and you can attach a file even a video in the free membership.  Engrade was the site I choose to do my Course Management System.  The process was tedious because I was doing my Curriculum Binder again but now it is in a website.

"July 10: The Scopes Trial began today in 1925" Reading Lesson of the Day

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/scopes-trial-began-today-a-20557.html.
The preceding link is one effective literacy website that I have found for IRA Newsletter weekly project. This particular site offers daily stories or events significant of the day. Today, when I went to explore the website for my project due tomorrow, I found this reading activity designed for 5 – 12 Grades, so decided to share it with you. Just simply click on the link.

Classrooms THEN and NOW

THEN

NOW

Getting a glimpse of how technology plays a vital role in the education of our students is an eye-opener. Looking back at how classrooms were structured and set up, we can see that our schools are shifting to a new world. Compared to classrooms of the past, we can see that environments are similar, but equipment and tools to carry out teaching and participate in learning has changed. With technology becoming an integral part of our lives, we are able to see that technology is needed in the classroom. Because of technology, we are able to connect to our students, upgrade our communication network with others, and even make teaching and learning convenient and accessible. Times are changing and, as teachers, we need to be able to change with the times in order to be effective. Technology can be utilized in numerous ways!!!

Making mistakes

We try so hard to be perfect, to never make mistakes and to avoid failure at all costs. But mistakes happen — and when they do — it is part of the human growing process. When life knocks us down we have to get back up and brush off the dirt and keep moving forward. We're raised to always strive for the right answer. 

Be a Role Model

Illustration from: www.grahamfrost.com

"(Kids) don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." 

-Jim Henson, It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other things to Consider

www.goodreads.com

Educators serves as a role model to their students. Students look up to their professors 

and most of the time they usually take some of the habits of the teachers and apply it in 

their own daily lives. So we as educators should always practice what we teach. 

Introducing the ED638 Team!

Pictured L-R:  Lwin Gugin, Dr. Rivera, Beauty Letewasiyal, Laura Lujan, Tish Cruz, and Mark Pacheco.