What is a microworld?
A microworld is a term coined at the MIT Media Lab Learning and Common Sense Group. The lab defined a microworld as, literally, a tiny world inside which a student can explore alternatives, test hypotheses, and discover facts that are true about the world. It differs from a simulation in that the student is encouraged to think about it as a "real" world, and not simply as a simulation of another world.
Information obtained from, Using Technology in the Classroom by Gary G. Bitter and Jane M. Legacy
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Games and Virtual Environments
How can teachers use games with their students?
Gaming in the classrom will continue to grow and will become an intregal part of everyday classroom tools. Teachers can use educational games such as:
Gaming in the classrom will continue to grow and will become an intregal part of everyday classroom tools. Teachers can use educational games such as:
- repetitive drill and practice
- simulation
- tutorials
- content instruction
- solving equations
- scoring points
- solving mysteries
- guessing words
- enduring iterations
- solving puzzles
- handling sophisticated problem solving situations with rules, commpetitions, adventures, and fantasy situations.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Emerging and Assistive Technologies and the Future
What will the future student computer look like?
- The future student's personal computer will be a palmtop or tablet device with wireless Internet access, software programs, input devices, and many mathematical capabilities. The student palmtop will have a calculator, graphing capabilities, productivity tools for word processing and spreadsheets, geometry construction tools, simulations, algebra systems, and intelligent tutor capabilities. The computer will start instantly. It also will be able to adapt to the user's interests and abilities and may even talk to him or her. The wireless device will have a touch screen option like a magic slate, allowing students to input or write without a keyboard. Battery life will be weeks.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Technology Integration in the Content Area
How can teachers use technology in the content areas?
Teachers of all content areas can foster a positive attitude in their students toward technology in education by designing instruction that integrates technology as a tool for learning rather than relying on technology as a delivery mechanism. Integration is the key. Technology enriched lessons engage students and allow students the opportunity to participate in the learning process.
Teachers of all content areas can foster a positive attitude in their students toward technology in education by designing instruction that integrates technology as a tool for learning rather than relying on technology as a delivery mechanism. Integration is the key. Technology enriched lessons engage students and allow students the opportunity to participate in the learning process.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Selecting and Integrating World Wide Web Resources, Including Designing Online Instruction
What constitutes a quality online educational resource?
Richman proposed the "Ten C's" to provide criteria to consider in evaluating Internet resources. They include:
Richman proposed the "Ten C's" to provide criteria to consider in evaluating Internet resources. They include:
- Content
- Credibility
- Critical Thinking
- Copyright
- Citation
- Continuity
- Censorship
- Connectivity
- Comparability
- Context
- Documentation and Credibility
- Content
- Audience Appeal and Suitability
- Ease of Use, Navigation, and Accessibility
- User Interface and Design
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Planning and Developing Technology-Rich Instruction
In what ways can technology integration be planned for a lesson?
Discussion of the limitless classroom technology applications can be facilitated by describing them according to four types.
*Technology as business resource.
*Technology as subject. Technology is the subject when the software or hardware itself is the focus of learning.
*Technology as content delivery. Technology can comprise the majority of the lesson.
*Technology as lesson support.
Information provided from Using Technology in the Classroom by Gary G. Bitter and Jane M. Legacy
Discussion of the limitless classroom technology applications can be facilitated by describing them according to four types.
*Technology as business resource.
*Technology as subject. Technology is the subject when the software or hardware itself is the focus of learning.
*Technology as content delivery. Technology can comprise the majority of the lesson.
*Technology as lesson support.
Information provided from Using Technology in the Classroom by Gary G. Bitter and Jane M. Legacy
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Producing and Presenting, Including Podcasting and Digital Storytelling
What role can digital storytelling play in education?
Digital storytelling helps students explore teh meaning of their own experience, give value to it, and communicate that experience on multiple levels to others. The stories can be people, places, things, and happenings.
Digital storytelling helps students explore teh meaning of their own experience, give value to it, and communicate that experience on multiple levels to others. The stories can be people, places, things, and happenings.
Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues
What steps would you take to ensure child safety on the WWW?
Some of the steps I would take are:
Information cited from Using Technology in the Classroom by Gary Bitter and Jane Legacy 2008
Some of the steps I would take are:
- restrict access to sites that I have deemed safe
- purchase and use child saftey montioring software
- explain internet safety practices with child(ren)
- ensure that computer virus protection is on and up to date
Information cited from Using Technology in the Classroom by Gary Bitter and Jane Legacy 2008
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Simulations and Data Analysis
What is a simulation?
A simulation is the process of imitating a real situation or object with a set of mathematical formulas. Computer simulations can imitate weather conditions, chemical reactions, nuclear accidents, medical techniques, cost required to produce a particular design, biological processes, cockpit and spacecraft systems, and product safety testing, to name just a few.
Here are a few simulation websites that the text recommends:
A simulation is the process of imitating a real situation or object with a set of mathematical formulas. Computer simulations can imitate weather conditions, chemical reactions, nuclear accidents, medical techniques, cost required to produce a particular design, biological processes, cockpit and spacecraft systems, and product safety testing, to name just a few.
Here are a few simulation websites that the text recommends:
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Getting to Know the World Wide Web
What are good practice manners to follow when using email?
Our text lists several, so I will list a couple that I feel are important.
Legacy, G. G. (2008). Using Technology in the Classroom. Boston: Pearson.
Our text lists several, so I will list a couple that I feel are important.
- Check your email regularly. Once people know you have email, they will start using it and expect you to do the same.
- Scan unknown attachments with your virus protection software before opening them.
- Never send anything that you would not want anyone other than the intended recipient to read.
- Use all capital letters sparingly, only when what you are saying is extremely important. When an email message written in all capital letters is read, it appears as though the sender is "SHOUTING!(Legacy 2008)"
Legacy, G. G. (2008). Using Technology in the Classroom. Boston: Pearson.
Productivity Tools and Application Software
Design a problem-solving exercise where computer applications and concept mapping will be used in the solution.
Our text shares kidspiration as a tool students can use to create concept maps for a variety of subjects. I decided to investigate the inspiration website to see what the site has to offer. Kidspiration is software you can purchase that allows teachers to design interactive concept maps for students to use. Students fill in the concept maps with information from stories or problems the teacher gives them. I am including a link to a sample lesson on their site that I thought was a great use of the software. Check it out, they are currently offering a free trial download of the kidspiration, I am strongly considering the software for my family.
Here is the link Kidspiration Writing Lesson
Our text shares kidspiration as a tool students can use to create concept maps for a variety of subjects. I decided to investigate the inspiration website to see what the site has to offer. Kidspiration is software you can purchase that allows teachers to design interactive concept maps for students to use. Students fill in the concept maps with information from stories or problems the teacher gives them. I am including a link to a sample lesson on their site that I thought was a great use of the software. Check it out, they are currently offering a free trial download of the kidspiration, I am strongly considering the software for my family.
Here is the link Kidspiration Writing Lesson
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Getting Started With Technology
What are the trends of the Information Age?
An economy built on information rather than goods and services began to emerge. Knowledge (cognition) and knowing how to learn and think (metacognition) increased in global importance, significance, and value. The three significant trends with implications for education mark the Information Age:
1. A shift in demographics
2. An acceleration of technology
3. An ever-expanding base of available data through which to search,
sift, sort, and select
An economy built on information rather than goods and services began to emerge. Knowledge (cognition) and knowing how to learn and think (metacognition) increased in global importance, significance, and value. The three significant trends with implications for education mark the Information Age:
1. A shift in demographics
2. An acceleration of technology
3. An ever-expanding base of available data through which to search,
sift, sort, and select
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