Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Week 12 Discussion
1) Who is responsible to pay for students attending virtual high schools?
I would say that the students should have to pay for their online schooling. As was said in the screencast, "Technology is a right, not a privilege" and so if the student would rather "attend" an online school, it should be his/her reponsibility to pay for it.
2) Should all public schools have a virtual high school component?
It seems to me that online classes take a lot of planning, effort, and I am assuming money to make them both interesting and effective, and I don't believe that some schools could afford to make something like that, especially here in Montana. I feel though that if a school can afford it, and has a capable staff able to create and maintain it, that an online high school would be an effective alternative.
3) How should parents be notified of the opportunity for online courses?
The awareness of online high schools should be readily available for anyone interested, so maybe a mailer, or perhaps informational handouts in high traffic areas, such as grocery stores and post offices.
4) Should teachers receive a degree in teaching online courses before being allowed to teach an online course?
I don't think a teacher should necessarily need a degree in it, but they need to have a good amount of experience and knowledge about it. Problems are going to arise in any classroom, and the teacher needs to be prepared to handle anything that can come up. Also, without having a designated classroom to have to go to, some students might find it hard to commit to online classes, and end up becoming lax in their commitment. In that case, the teacher also needs to make sure they know how to keep an online course interesting and engaging, making the students want to come back often and learn.
I would say that the students should have to pay for their online schooling. As was said in the screencast, "Technology is a right, not a privilege" and so if the student would rather "attend" an online school, it should be his/her reponsibility to pay for it.
2) Should all public schools have a virtual high school component?
It seems to me that online classes take a lot of planning, effort, and I am assuming money to make them both interesting and effective, and I don't believe that some schools could afford to make something like that, especially here in Montana. I feel though that if a school can afford it, and has a capable staff able to create and maintain it, that an online high school would be an effective alternative.
3) How should parents be notified of the opportunity for online courses?
The awareness of online high schools should be readily available for anyone interested, so maybe a mailer, or perhaps informational handouts in high traffic areas, such as grocery stores and post offices.
4) Should teachers receive a degree in teaching online courses before being allowed to teach an online course?
I don't think a teacher should necessarily need a degree in it, but they need to have a good amount of experience and knowledge about it. Problems are going to arise in any classroom, and the teacher needs to be prepared to handle anything that can come up. Also, without having a designated classroom to have to go to, some students might find it hard to commit to online classes, and end up becoming lax in their commitment. In that case, the teacher also needs to make sure they know how to keep an online course interesting and engaging, making the students want to come back often and learn.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Week 10 Discussion
1. As a teacher, what must you do to prepare your class for podcasting?
I think for one, a class must have the means to access the podcast, in one way or another. It just wouldn't be fair to have most of the students able to access the information, while two or three have no way to get to the podcast. Also, the teacher needs to know how to effectively utilize the tools available. I think it would be all to easy for teachers to ramble and to get off topic, losing their listeners' attention and interest.
2. What are the potential detrimental effects on education for podcasting use? What
are the potential benefits?
Face-to-face interaction is a very important aspect of communication, and by moving more towards a podcast oriented class, I think a lot of opportunites would be wasted, just because there would be no back and forth discussion between the class and the teacher. I also think it causes people to get lazy. I know with these screencasts, I wait until Sundy night, usually, and just barely manage to scrape out a response and watch the screencast, whereas with a class, I have to be ready by that specific time every time. However, it is very convenient to be able to catch a lecture online, especially if there were no way to make it to class for some reason, whether it be illness, or an emergency of some sort requiring a student to be out of town for awhile.
3. If a teacher uses podcasts, what are the students’ obligations for the class?
The students should be expected to listen to the podcasts, and perhaps post a discussion of sorts on a forum online, with either the rest of the class, or the teacher, or both, because social interaction is a part of the learning process, in my opinion. Also, the students would be expected to show what they've learned through testing and homework assignments.
4. Should there be options for class attendance?
I think no, but a lot of people would disagree with me, I think. I believe a lot can be and is lost when students don't attend class. I had a class where all the lectures were online and attendance was optional, so of course I never went. I think I would have learned a lot more though if I had attended class and got all the interaction with the teacher and the rest of the students.
I think for one, a class must have the means to access the podcast, in one way or another. It just wouldn't be fair to have most of the students able to access the information, while two or three have no way to get to the podcast. Also, the teacher needs to know how to effectively utilize the tools available. I think it would be all to easy for teachers to ramble and to get off topic, losing their listeners' attention and interest.
2. What are the potential detrimental effects on education for podcasting use? What
are the potential benefits?
Face-to-face interaction is a very important aspect of communication, and by moving more towards a podcast oriented class, I think a lot of opportunites would be wasted, just because there would be no back and forth discussion between the class and the teacher. I also think it causes people to get lazy. I know with these screencasts, I wait until Sundy night, usually, and just barely manage to scrape out a response and watch the screencast, whereas with a class, I have to be ready by that specific time every time. However, it is very convenient to be able to catch a lecture online, especially if there were no way to make it to class for some reason, whether it be illness, or an emergency of some sort requiring a student to be out of town for awhile.
3. If a teacher uses podcasts, what are the students’ obligations for the class?
The students should be expected to listen to the podcasts, and perhaps post a discussion of sorts on a forum online, with either the rest of the class, or the teacher, or both, because social interaction is a part of the learning process, in my opinion. Also, the students would be expected to show what they've learned through testing and homework assignments.
4. Should there be options for class attendance?
I think no, but a lot of people would disagree with me, I think. I believe a lot can be and is lost when students don't attend class. I had a class where all the lectures were online and attendance was optional, so of course I never went. I think I would have learned a lot more though if I had attended class and got all the interaction with the teacher and the rest of the students.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week 8 Response
1. If you were the teacher, how would you handle this situation?
If "by this situation" means the two girls cheating, I would give them both zeroes the test they were found cheating on, as this is clearly a situation that would be considered cheating. However, if it instead refers to the growing problem of cheating using cell phones in the class room, that's a little different story. I suppose I would most likely require students to put their cell phones out on their desks while they took a test. That way I could monitor them much easier than watching to see if students are texting in their laps.
2. As a teacher, would you ban all cell phones in your classroom?
I believe cell phones could definately be used in an educational manner in the classroom. Off the top of my head I can't think of any applications, but I am sure there are plenty. Also, as a band teacher, I'm sure there will be plenty of times where I need to focus on just one group to get a part right. If my other students are texting each other, instead of talking to each other, which they most likely would do if cell phones were banned, would keep the noise level down and allow the students who are having the problems concentrate on what I need to teach them without distractions from conversations going on around them.
3. What should happen to Laura and Jessica?
I don't think anything outside the realm of what happens to other students who cheat using less modern methods of cheating. They were using technology to do things that students have been doing for probably since school started. For the test they were caught cheating on, they should probably get zeroes, but beyond that, I'm sure there's not much I as a teacher could do.
4. Should cell phones be prohibited in schools? If so, how do you make parents feel
that their kids are safe at school? And how can a policy be enforced?
I feel as though cell phones should not be completely prohibited in school. They are a very useful tool in the right context, in an academic perspective. Plus, students are just going to sneak them in anyways if they're prohibited. However, I think certain measures need to be taken to prevent the misuse of cell phones. For instance, having students place their phones on their desks durin tests can help eliminate texting answers to classmates. And I think that if there really is an emergency where a parent needs to reach their child, the cell phone is the perfect way to do that.
If "by this situation" means the two girls cheating, I would give them both zeroes the test they were found cheating on, as this is clearly a situation that would be considered cheating. However, if it instead refers to the growing problem of cheating using cell phones in the class room, that's a little different story. I suppose I would most likely require students to put their cell phones out on their desks while they took a test. That way I could monitor them much easier than watching to see if students are texting in their laps.
2. As a teacher, would you ban all cell phones in your classroom?
I believe cell phones could definately be used in an educational manner in the classroom. Off the top of my head I can't think of any applications, but I am sure there are plenty. Also, as a band teacher, I'm sure there will be plenty of times where I need to focus on just one group to get a part right. If my other students are texting each other, instead of talking to each other, which they most likely would do if cell phones were banned, would keep the noise level down and allow the students who are having the problems concentrate on what I need to teach them without distractions from conversations going on around them.
3. What should happen to Laura and Jessica?
I don't think anything outside the realm of what happens to other students who cheat using less modern methods of cheating. They were using technology to do things that students have been doing for probably since school started. For the test they were caught cheating on, they should probably get zeroes, but beyond that, I'm sure there's not much I as a teacher could do.
4. Should cell phones be prohibited in schools? If so, how do you make parents feel
that their kids are safe at school? And how can a policy be enforced?
I feel as though cell phones should not be completely prohibited in school. They are a very useful tool in the right context, in an academic perspective. Plus, students are just going to sneak them in anyways if they're prohibited. However, I think certain measures need to be taken to prevent the misuse of cell phones. For instance, having students place their phones on their desks durin tests can help eliminate texting answers to classmates. And I think that if there really is an emergency where a parent needs to reach their child, the cell phone is the perfect way to do that.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Week 6 Discussion
By utilizing technology for storytelling and paper writing, students gain a familiarity with the various aspects of the technology they are using to create the story. For instance, by using iMovie, students also learn how to import pictures, video, and audio files into the program to use in their story. They also learn how all these tie together to make an impact on the reader/watcher. This could be useful outside of school in a business, for instance, when making a presentation for a meeting. If the content is interesting and well laid out, it will be much more effective at presenting the ideas contained within.
I believe that there is no end to the amount of learning a teacher should have concerning technology before bringing it into the classroom, as technology is constantly improving and evolving. It would be impossible to know everything there is to know about it. That being said, the teacher should have enough knowledge to be able to help students import files to the software being used, how to troubleshoot problems concerning saving the presentation, for instance, and also tips and tricks that might make it easier for the students to complete the assignment. Also, and I say this from personal experience, the teacher should be able to troubleshoot problems where plug-ins are required for a system, such as the newest version of Flash media player, so that each student can get the materials needed to complete their project.
By giving shy students the opportunity to make their presentation with a video, it might help take the pressure they may feel with all eyes just on them. The concept of having to entertain everyone in a class can be hard for some people, so when they have more than one thing for the audience to look at and pay attention to, they can relax a little, knowing that they don't have to "perform" the entire time. However, relying solely on technology during presentations may not be a great idea either. If a high school teacher gives all students the opportunity to use digital presentations for their papers, the students may be unprepared when they get to college, if the professors there decide they want the students to hand write their papers, and present them in front of the class, with no technology at all. Outspoken students, on the other hand, could benefit from digital storytelling because by having another "presentor" going on, they are forced to turn the limelight over to the digital presentation. This could help enforce the idea that perhaps they are not necessarily the most important thing going on all the time, constantly. It could also help them stay concise and to the point, if they tend to babble and go off on tangents, especially if there is a time limit in place. It is much easier to monitor total time if it is handily displayed on the bottom of the screen at all times.
I believe that there is no end to the amount of learning a teacher should have concerning technology before bringing it into the classroom, as technology is constantly improving and evolving. It would be impossible to know everything there is to know about it. That being said, the teacher should have enough knowledge to be able to help students import files to the software being used, how to troubleshoot problems concerning saving the presentation, for instance, and also tips and tricks that might make it easier for the students to complete the assignment. Also, and I say this from personal experience, the teacher should be able to troubleshoot problems where plug-ins are required for a system, such as the newest version of Flash media player, so that each student can get the materials needed to complete their project.
By giving shy students the opportunity to make their presentation with a video, it might help take the pressure they may feel with all eyes just on them. The concept of having to entertain everyone in a class can be hard for some people, so when they have more than one thing for the audience to look at and pay attention to, they can relax a little, knowing that they don't have to "perform" the entire time. However, relying solely on technology during presentations may not be a great idea either. If a high school teacher gives all students the opportunity to use digital presentations for their papers, the students may be unprepared when they get to college, if the professors there decide they want the students to hand write their papers, and present them in front of the class, with no technology at all. Outspoken students, on the other hand, could benefit from digital storytelling because by having another "presentor" going on, they are forced to turn the limelight over to the digital presentation. This could help enforce the idea that perhaps they are not necessarily the most important thing going on all the time, constantly. It could also help them stay concise and to the point, if they tend to babble and go off on tangents, especially if there is a time limit in place. It is much easier to monitor total time if it is handily displayed on the bottom of the screen at all times.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Jeph + Biline
Hi! I'm Jeph Morris, from West Yellowstone, MT, and I have a new kitten named Bunny! :)
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