Technology Resources for Students

Technology is not only associated with computers and internet resources; technology also includes the history of advanced infrastructure throughout various cultures. It is amazing to think what has been accomplished throughout societies with or without technology. I found a few really cool websites that get students familiar with these concepts. For the subjects of technology throughout various cultures, students can view http://www.technologystudent.com/culture1/culindex1.htm. 

Cultures & Advanced Technology

This website covers cultural societies and how they have used technology throughout the past. The great thing about this website is that it is extremely interesting and it is written on the students’ level (so they can easily understand the material). I can see myself using this website once I become a teacher. So many different projects can be built that integrates technology into various subjects.

I also wanted to point out that I came across this website through http://www.technologystudent.com/. I spent a few hours just looking at the vast amount of information they have displayed. From topics like designing, graphics, electronics, health & safety, and structures, this website covers a lot. There offer 23 additional pages; one including additional websites/links that can be helpful to students and teachers. Just the technology and environment page covers everything from solar/wind/tidal power, to damns and hydro electricity, to drinking water. Alternative energy sources, power generations, energy saving devices and nuclear power generation topics also included. This website is awesome. I am glad I came across this website. I plan on using some of the resources for the project based learning project I am creating.

Lastly, in viewing all the cool, different sub-pages located on technologystudent.com, I additionally came across another site that I wanted to share: http://www.howstuffworks.com/. This site can be found under the websites links sub-page, but I wanted to give it some attention. This also helps to incorporate technology throughout various subjects and there is tons of videos, lessons and information displayed for students. It is a site I would feel safe enough let students explore on their own. One could really get lost on this site as well.

I know that internet resources are sort of easy to come by, but it is always nice to come across new ones. Hopefully these sites will be useful to others too.

Project Based Learning – “Fly Me to the Moon Travel Agency.”

Astronomy is another one of my favorite Science subjects. It just seems so amazing that we live on a little planet in a HUGE world. The project I choose was “Fly Me to the Moon Travel Agency.” I did a group project something similar to this in an Astronomy class I took a few semesters ago. It was a little more intense than this project but it basically entailed traveling to an expo-planet. As a travel agency group, we had to design a brochure explaining why traveling to our planet was the best. Not only did we have to study the conditions of the planet, but we also needed to know how we could travel (without taking years). It was fun and I think that students would love doing something like this.

Anyways, the project I choose is designed for Kindergartners and it helps them understand a little more about our moon. Students in this project research the moon (i.e. conditions, distance), and also understand traveling methods and materials. Similar to my experience, this scenario also has students design their own travel agency. The driving question for this project is, “What are the essential things we need to know for moon travel?” First, students take a virtual trip to the moon. (The tour wasn’t strictly limited to the moon. It only allows you to be there for a few seconds and then travels to other random space locations.) Additionally, a representative from AAA will come in and help talk about the designing a trip to the moon. Students will be creating a book answering basic facts about the moon and what people would need. Additionally, students make pictures, spaceships (rockets), or spacesuits. There are several embedded websites that allow students to explore and learn more facts to develop their own ideas. There are also several books that are included along with encyclopedias and a dictionary. Students will work in groups of 4 to answer these questions in their book. How long will it take you to get to the moon? What will you need to take with you? What will you see and do after your arrival?

In Kindergarten, students only know that the moon exists and is easily seen at night. Prior to the project, students should understand that the moon is reflected by the sun, travels around earth and changes shape because of the shadows created. During the projects students will learn the various conditions of the moon including temperature and environmental conditions (no wind, rocky). They will be able to describe those characteristics and different phases of the moon and know what accommodations are needed. The students are also using software to create their book (Kids Pix), websites to research and videos of the moon which helps prepare them with technology literacy.

The standards for this project include identifying objects in the sky, using sources to gather information, using new vocabulary, writing methods for expression, demonstrating an understanding for good team work and recognizing models are representations of real things. The rubric includes content and ideas (using prior knowledge, gaining new knowledge and applying it in real world activities), organization (sequence of travel), style/voice (using adjectives or descriptive sentences), and conventions (integrating ELA, English Language Arts).

I think this project is a great way to familiarize the younger students with our sky. It also helps students put real world activities in to context so they can use and apply their knowledge in situations. It also helps familiarize students with technology and provides literacy of computer skills. Very interesting and fun!

If you would like to view the project, here is the website.

http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/public/project/Guide.cfm?upid=3266&tsele1=3&tsele2=100

An article on Social Media access in classrooms

Here is the article I wanted to share.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues423.shtml

This article is not from Edutopia, but I did come across this when I was searching. The author in this article brought up some really great points. I know this subject has been discussed before, but I wanted to share this because it reestablishes some important aspects when it comes to Social Media access in classrooms.

I just finished writing an essay questioning whether school districts should allow access to Social Media websites. I was sort of on the fence about this, because while I feel that some sites are appropriate for education, others may have little value. Twitter and Facebook, for example, are two sites I feel have minimal educational value when it comes to social media. YouTube, on the other hand, has so much educational value, but it can sometimes also have inappropriate content.

One of the great points in this article raises awareness to risks associated with allowing social media access. “Problems are associated with these social networking sites, but the sites themselves generally are not the problem.” Most of these sites, including YouTube have terms and agreements that users are expected to follow. The problem with this is that there are millions of users, and far less workers that are able to keep track of those rules broken. What is the solution to this? Well, with the proper education students would learn online social responsibility and etiquette. Teaching this responsibility to students and allowing them access to exhibit proper behavior can only increase success and cause less distractions.

Another great point was that “many parents are not paying attention to what their children are posting on the sites.” If parents are allowing students access to emails and internet access to social media sites, they should also continuously monitor their children. They should also help support the teachers by providing proper instruction and teaching good responsibility. Not posting personal information such as names, addresses, not spending hours on the computer so trackers are able to access, and not illustrating negative behavior or online bullying. These are risks generally associated with the user or lack of parent supervision, not the site.

Lastly, I wanted to touch on the topic of school administration and district participation. They should develop a clear policy that focuses on educational value. Plan ahead and evaluate some of these sites and weight out the positive and negatives. Collaboration is important when it comes to creating these guidelines. Additionally, properly educate the students about safety and responsible use. Monitor students and provide appropriate consequences when needed.

Additionally while I was searching, I came across a video when I was reading another. The article was interesting, so here is the link if you would like to read. http://www.edutopia.org/teaching-shakespeare-digital-media.

The video I came across happens to be with the use of Minecraft or an English assignment. I have an eight year old son, and he has been playing this game for a few years now, and I have seen it become increasingly popular. This student created a Minecraft world of Shakespeare’s Globe, and recorded a video tour of it.

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/cvjXy6aKAYY

I thought this was SO awesome. A really smart way to incorporate technology and history. Students are so creative in different ways. I love it.

Social Media Websites & Applications

There are many reasons individuals use social media websites. I think the main reason is for communication purposes, but it is also a way to keep up with new trends. When Myspace first came out, it quickly became one of the most popular websites. Then Facebook came around shortly after with a different, possibly easier to use set up and that also became one of the most popular websites. Sites like Pinterest and Instagram compliment some of these social media websites. They allow individuals to express their own interest and show who they are as a person. I can say that I have participated in these websites, including; Myspace, Facebook and Pinterest. Myspace and Facebook are great for keeping in touch with old friends and extended family. Pinterest has a number of great ideas that allows you to bookmark specific items. These sites have a great purpose, but I think that some people are so overly consumed with social media websites that it can stir up a lot of ruckus.

I was never a fan of Twitter, and I have recently deleted my Facebook account. People seem to forget how to communicate regularly (through phones, in person, by email) since they are always on Facebook. The public has become so consumed with it, anywhere you go business respond with, “like us on Facebook”. Phone or mailed copy invitations to weddings, birthdays, parties, etc. has now turned into Facebook invitations (only). If you meet up with someone new, it always turns into, “do you have a Facebook?” It becomes some huge popularity contest and ends up in drama. Couples fight constantly about who they added as a friend, or why they responded to someone’s post. It becomes a problem when people are so overly engrossed with it. I think when these sites are used in moderation; they can play a positive role.

Sites like Facebook and Twitter should not be allowed in the classroom setting. Pinterest would be the only exception since it has bookmarking capabilities. I do not feel they have an educational value and can even be an enormous distraction. These social media sites have definitely impacted our culture and the way we live and it will continue to do so in the 21^st century. I don’t necessarily believe that these sites will be as popular in the future, because if some new type of technology is introduced, we will also become engrossed with that. Educational instructors really have no reason to introduce social media websites to students.  They should even be monitoring the use at school. You hear of many stories throughout school districts where Facebook becomes an issue with bullying. Parents should also help support and monitor their child when it comes to using social media websites. Often times, it is the ONLY way their child is communicating, and can become a problem.

So don’t let it consume you!!! Be apart of this community and tune in to the REAL (not virtual) world.