Top 10

Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in the Classroom:

10. Everybody's doing it. Since the kids like to use this one, I figure why not. Actually, this one refers to the fact that technology is becoming more interwoven in our lives and it is unlikely to stop. It's a matter of get on board or get left behind. Employers like to see it and stakeholders as well.

9. The possibilities are endless. When we look at how far we have come in the last 20 years, it really does seem like the possibilities are endless. Why wouldn't you want that in your classroom?

8. One laptop is easier to carry than seven books. It's amazing how much input is contained inside of those hard plastic shells. E-books are the future of many schools.

7. We can learn a whole lot from our students. I learn more from students about technology than any other subject.

6. Who needs an encyclopedia? Again, it is absolutely amazing how much input is available at one's fingertips. Do encyclopedia salesmen still exist?

5. Get stakeholders informed and excited. Using technology is a great way to get your community excited about your school.

4. Get parents informed, engaged, and excited. Fewer conference time surprises for parents. It also is a way to get and keep parents informed, interested, and on board.

3. Instant feedback. Students love feedback. For teachers, feedback can be a time consuming chore. Use blogs and forums to provide that feedback.

2. Dunder-Mifflin is in trouble. Use social networks, forums, and blogs to reduce the amount of paper that is used in your classroom.

1. Social-networking. Is there any better way to encourage students to take ownership in their education? Since they are already doing it, it is just plain natural.

Computer Architecture

For me, the most important benefit of this course is that it has given me a little more confidence. I think that most people want to be "tech savvy." Getting there can be tough. This course certainly has not made me savvy, but it is a step in the right direction. One thing that my action research has taught me is that familiarity with content vocabulary can greatly enhance student comprehension. Well, now that I understand the vocabulary a little better, it helps me when I need to interact with others regarding computer technology.

OS Activity Reflection

I really enjoyed this activity. It is important for me to step out of my comfort zone. Right now, my comfort zone is PC, Windows, Explorer, and some Firefox. In order for me to gain a better understanding of much of this stuff, I need to continue to step out of my comfort zone. And yes, "waiting for my computer to blow up" while running Ubuntu was very uncomfortable.

The Boot

Just completed the boot-up assignment. (I know that it was due like a month ago.) Anyway, I enjoyed digging out my wife's old laptop from 1997. It is amazing how much more powerful today's computers are. The thing that I appreciated most about this assignment is that I was forced to go into parts of the computer that I had never bothered to be in before. It further punctuates how I feel that I just missed being much more computer savvy. I say "just missed" because in the mid-to-late 90's, it seemed as though universities were just themselves on the brink of discovery with how to use the technology. Anyway, that's why programs like these are good for people like me.

Another "Nerds" reflection

As I have had more time to absorb and reflect on the documentary, I have gained a greater appreciation for it and the journey it entails. It is actually quite inspirational. It is a reminder that technology and its advancements are like a whole other world to be explored. I am not a huge techy, but I appreciate the technology and the smarts of the people who develop it. It also causes me to be appreciative of certain aspects of this program that have exposed me to aspects of technology that, no doubt, I never would have experienced. I really look forward to creating Nings for my engineering classes next year. It is neat to hear how Twitter is playing a significant role in Iranian protests and to think that we learned about it six months to a year ago. It is so very nice to be knowledgeable about these topics. Knowledge truly is power, and since so much of our life contains so much technology, knowledge of this technology is empowering. I guess that is why I find the "Nerds" movie to be inspiring, even though it seems like ancient history (especially when you see those 90's era eyeglasses). Anyway, good movie, I can't wait for the sequel.

Computer Architecture and Nerds

Really am looking forward to the class. Never had too much time to open the inside of a computer before--neat assignment. I really enjoyed the nerds movie. I was disappointed that Anthony Edwards and that Ogre guy weren't in it though. It's funny watching Jobs and Gates and thinking back to college and how the Computer Science people all looked like them. This stuff really is amazing though. It is interesting to think how different a perspective toward computers my children will grow up with compared to me.

New Jing fan!

Wow! I have had a lot of fun messing around with Jing and Screencast. This technology can be so useful to me in my engineering courses. This year, I am teaching Civil Engineering and Architecture. The students have an architecture CAD program that they must learn. I am very excited right now, but I will try to be brief: Instead of always showing student what to do with the CAD software via my computer and a projector, I could create a series of tutorials via screencast! I made one here. It does not have audio--I need a microphone. Anyway--very excited--gotta go.

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The Children Will Lead Us

I received an e-mail from a student the other day letting me know that the JV soccer team has a blog. If it wasn't for this program, I don't know if I would have understood or even cared. But I checked it out and it's not bad.

As a coach, I understand how sports can be used to help students find their way through school. Just like academics, it is important for athletes to take ownership in their team. Blogs are a tool that allow this to happen.

New Class--More to Think About

What I have liked about this first week, is that in the articles that we have read and through the discussion that has ensued, I'm getting some good ideas. While we have learned about web gadgets here and there, it seems that the blog (with all of the 2.0 stuff) may be the most useful for education. It is a tool that can be used to teach and learn from. The possibilities are numerous, and hey--the kids already spend so much time online, so why not. Web 2.0 stuff has stimulated some debate within our study group about its role and the role of more traditional education. That kind of debate is good. It simply amazes me how much is out there ready to be used. I wish that I had more time.

Change Boardgame

I found the game to be very interesting and well thought out. In the days that followed playing the game, I had one recurring and discouraging thought: Educational change can be a huge waste of time. I mean the beaurocratic undertones of the game became downright annoying. "Communicate with so and so and so and so will be on board. Make sure you report to him so that he likes us." While that is a reality in many facets of life, it is annoying and can bog a good group down.

The other conclusion that we were suppose to reach from this game is that change is slow. Well, sometimes change is too slow, especially when it comes to pleasing the right people just to get ahead. On the other hand, slow change can be good if it means that education can avoid disasters such as ebonics and the bad fuzzy math. (Some fuzzy math ideas are valid.)

527-Leading and Data Collection

This should be interesting (quite a change from designing web pages). This will be good for me however. First off, studying leadership is good for anybody. Secondly, at Thomas More HS, we are taking a really hard look at the data we have and how we need to improve data collection. This course will be good for me on those two fronts.

Final Project Reflections

While working on the final project, I really came to appreciate how well the class progressed. What I mean is, just about everything I wanted to do, I had already done, and just had to bring it together. The instruction and assignments progressed beautifully. I appreciate the clarity of the final project. Then again, it's probably just the math part of my brain talking.

Random Thoughts

This course has really caused me to think about teaching a programming course. I have really enjoyed challenge. One thing that I am looking forward to discussing is whether all of this html stuff has been worthwhile. What I mean is this. Is learning this really useful, or is it like learning how to figure square roots to the hundredths place without a calculator? In other words, what can I do with this new knowledge. I hope that our discussion yields some good ideas. I have my doubts though. In any event, maybe learning the language is enough to spark interest in the whole process like it has been with me.

That's good enough for me.

Enjoying the Class

Maybe it's because we have clear goals, and we know when we are finished with them, or maybe it's just because there is a good "end of the year" vibe, but I am really enjoying the class. Maybe it's just because this stuff appeals to the math part of my brain. Anyway, this is good stuff.

So far, so good

So far I find this class to be a nice change of pace. I feel like we are using the other side of our brain. (Don't ask me which side, I always forget.) I found our study group's discussion of Assignment 3 to be interesting. I would really like to learn enough in this course so that I can perhaps create my own websites for the teams that I coach and the courses that I teach. A wiki is an option, but if I want to branch out a bit, I hope that this class might get me started.

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What can I say? So far so good--a nice change of pace! I would love to create websites for my teaching and coaching.

My Digital Story

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Digital Movie Making in Engineering

My engineering students are responsible for a portfolio at the completion of each course. I am interested in supplementing their binders with some type of online portfolio. One way that I could use a digital movie is with our "Marble Sorter" project. My students build some pretty neat things with these really expensive lego-like parts. The problem is that at some point, their projects need to be dismantled and the parts stored away for later use. Currently, I have the students take digital photos of their projects and create Word documents that include a picture of their creation, a narrative description, and a print screen of the program that runs their creation. Having them create a movie would not only be fun, but it would also allow them to better document their progress. Right now, my students basically take a picture of the final product and describe what they did. With a digital movie, they could describe and show their progress and make a much more interesting presentation.

Digital Story Telling in Engineering

One of the hardest things to convince my students of in engineering is the importance of keeping a record of their work. They keep and engineering journal for major projects. In that journal, they record the progress of that day and what it is they hope to accomplish next. Students also keep a portfolio where they store pictures and summaries of the work that they do. One project involves a very expensive Lego-like kit. Since these kits belong to the school, it is necessary that the students dismantle their projects when they are done so that the next group can use them. After more than a month of working on these projects, it is somewhat of a sad day when they come down. I already have students take picures of their projects at various stages, upload them to the computer, and make it a part of their project summary. This is effective, but somewhat dry. It would be very interesting for the students to also make a digital story of their project. It would also be a great way to present and sell our program. I plan on trying it next year.