comments on technology affordance

comments on categories of digital technologies

What about group 3? I think their categories were good. They were very thorough, but the graph was hard to read.
I liked group 5's the best overall. It had a clear, easy to read layout. The categories are clearly identified. Each technology is listed. I think it is a good overall outline of digital technologies.


Group 4 - Theirs was also easy to read and very straightforward.


HEre is a list of all of our comments. If you'd like to change or add, do so today. I'll post this before I leave work today at 2 p.m.

Group 2 –

I never thought about placing the items in a Venn diagram. I think that is a great idea! They were able to put the technology in more than one area.

I really like Group 2's idea of placing it in a Venn diagram. It was very easy to read and the technology that both students and teachers use was easily identified in this type of classification.

I thought that was interesting also. I also liked how she gave directions for making a Venn diagram using word. I thought the group who only used two categories did it simply. However, sometimes simplicity is the best. It never crossed my mine to categorize them simply as a teacher instead of as a student in this class.

Yea, I liked it to on the surface--but--if we are need to think in higher order, does it really accomplish that?

Group 3 –

I think their categories were good. They were very thorough, but the graph was hard to read.

It was very thorough. It did take a little longer to read through and follow across, but this is because they didn't combine to one cumulative list. Excellent job!


Group 4 –

Theirs was also easy to read and very straightforward.

Yea, but again, did it travel through the higher order thinking skills?

I think Group 4 tried to separate everything into specific categories, but I found it a little strange that they had a category for extra multi-media when they could have listed it together with their first listing. Also, I thought their distance learning unique. I would also think you could consider some software that was listed in another category that as well. I think it just goes to show us that we all think of technology a little differently.

Group 5 –

I liked group 5's the best overall. It had a clear, easy to read layout. The categories are clearly identified. Each technology is listed. I think it is a good overall outline of digital technologies.
Group #5 did a nice job as well. I really liked the classification of technology and then how they showed some technology in several categories. I think it was easy to understand and in very clear terms.

You are right about that. I think it also shows higher order thinking--more on the analysis side than the concrete.

Feb. 26

For my critical pedagogy class we choose a book to read along with the class text. I choose "Teaching Passionately: What's Love Got To Do With It?".In the chapter I read last night it was talking about collaborative teaching. It had a section entiteled "Collaborative Learning in a Virtual Context". It discussed how easy it is to have long distance collaboration now days because of the internet. It also placed a emphasis about the only appropriate use of teechnology in the classroomis as a tool fro enhancing specific curriculum opportunities. It talked about a website, www.ks-connection.org/willage/village.html, where students can connect immediately with other students around the world. I found this very interesting. How neat would it be to have a pen pal on the other side of the world! It also talks about how the Internet encourages literary development. I agree with this because it makes assignments relevant and meaningful to the child.

I know that I use the Internet so much for my class. EVERYTHING we study about I search on the Internet for lessons, videos, etc. I really enjoy the freedom and ease the Internet provides me in my teaching. What did we do before the Internet?

comment

critique

I like how your critique was very thorough. You gave almost a paragraph answer to each question. I think it was very great for your first go at it. Have you thought about using online resources? I would google different technology components that are in the lesson or that you think should be in the lesson. Try googling "Powerpoint in education", "Blogs in education", or "internet in education". My lesson uses Kidspiration and I went to their website and found the main goal Kidspiration is used for and put that in my critique. Also, on the bullet about a good match between technology and ped. approaches, I think you might try to be mroe specific. Give specific examples about what you think could be done differently. It jsut seemed a little broad on this bullet. Excellent job overall. I hope this helps some!

I see where you are coming from. I battled with this thought myslef. However, because it does not say, outright, who is leading the research, I was led to make my own interpretation. Personally, I would use the internet in whole group to search for information. Especially with this age group. Therfore, I made my personal assumption on that was how th Internet would be used. Personally, I think the broadness of the lesson plan leads much to the decision of the individual teacher.


Thanks. Those are some great ideas. However, I would personally use your idea of finding a picture online and prinitng it off as part of a lesson. I guess that's just a personal opinion. But thanks for the ideas none the less. They were great.
I posted my lesson plan at the bottom of my critiques because Dr. Wang said, on another student's, to please attach lesson plan to the critique. It was hard for me as well. Copying theentire thing and pasting would not work. I had to do mine by individual sections. For example, I copied the heading "Outcomes" and pasted it then I copied the outcomed and pasted them. I had to do it step by step. You might want to try that. Thanks!!!!!



Karen,
Thanks for the input. this lesson plan is very vague. I also found alot of things I would personally do differently than the person that wrote this lesson plan. I will be sure to include your suggestions under the bullet about other technology affordances that could be used.
For the purpose of this lesson, the lesson's author seems to use Kidspiratio as a type of assessment. Kidspiration is a type of software that the teacher can use to, in a way, make your own computer "games". The teacher who wrote this lesson seems to use Kidspiration to make a "computer game" about matching the bears to their characteristics. Kidpiration is actaully downloaded onto the computers in the lab at UAB. If you are interested, you could always just play around with it on there.

Thanks for the input!!!



First, to answer your question about the references, I did both.
Second, Wow! Awesome job! I like how your answers were very thourough with good, specific examples. I especially love that you developed your own checklist.
I wish I could, but I can't find anything I would change!!!!
Excellent!


Good work. I like how your answers were specific. I only have a few minor things you could change. First, your second post did not have the lesson plan with it....I think you forgot to attach it. Second, midway through your critique your text changes from italics to regular font. My only suggestion would be about bullet one. You might want to discuss the specific affordances more. For example, if the internet is used oyu could say something like, "The Interent quickly allows the students to find accurate information."
Hope this helps!


Thanks alot. That is true about what might pop up!!!!

lesson plan critique

Our assignment has really opened up my eyes about technology lesson plans. There are so many out there. Even for the lower grades! I found so many to choose from. By glancing over a few, I know they are not perfect. However, by taking some of the things I have learned in this class and using that to adapt those lesson plans I can make them "almost" perfect. I have convinced myself that a good thing to do would be to search different lesson plan sights and print out, or save in a file, any really great lesson plans I find. By doing this, when I beign to plan my lessons for the upcoming month I can look in my binder and see what fits in with our theme. This would also be great to do for Science and Socail Studies. I am only in my second year of teaching but I find myslef doing the same things over and over. By doing something as simple as this, I can assure myself a "database" of a variety of lessons that can be easily incoporated into our learning.

Comments

Digital Technology
-I think this is very good. We need to be thinking if we are going to keep all these categories, get rid of some or add some? However, I don't think we can really do this until we see what the other group member list.
-I have never even heard of Wiki until now. I would love NOT to be the leader on that one!

Comments on other's group lists
- thought that was interesting also. I also liked how she gave directions for making a venn diagram using word. I thought the group who only used two categories did it simply. However, sometimes simplicity is the best. It never crossed my mine to categorize them simply as a teacher instead of as a student in this class.

Technology Affordance
- So the top one should be a basic funciton? I still don't really understand. Can you give me an example so I can run with it?
Thanks for the help.
- Melanie,
Thanks so much for the constructive help. I think it was so hard for me because BOTH of mine are technology! Now I feel I have the idea and will work on it tomorrow.
Thanks!
- Stephanie,
I just found time to look at everyone's lists and try to offer some in put. I think yours looks great. The only thing I would think about changing is that paper and pencil can also be for journals and that was not written down. You might just want to add that one in. Thanks.
-Melanie,
I learned so much from reading your list! I love the ideas for the Wiki like the WOW words and the note taking. I had a few activities that you might want to add to your list though. Maybe they could use the Wiki for a collaborative project? You can include online games and online field trips under web page activities. You can also use search engines to find web pages and that is not the case with Wiki. by the way, thank you so much for all the help on mine. I sure needed it!
-Karen,
I just found time to reply to all of the postings about ou affordances and activities. I think yours is good. However, I am also seeing the font layered in the graph. I have a suggetion. You can add to the affordance of posters that they are inexpensive and supplies to make one are available to everyone, unlike power point. Just an idea.
Thanks!
-Yours seemed very good. The only thing I could think of to add would be that the internet has games and online field trips. The library also offers a physical meeting place for many activities. Just some more ideas!
Thanks!

Ch. 4-The Basic Three

Chapter 4 discusses the basic three software tools. These are word processing, spreadsheet and database program. These software tools improve productivity, improve appearnace, improve accuracy and support interaction. Becuase I teach Kindergarten we mostly use word processing. For the purpose of this blog, that is what I will focus on.

The book states a few reasons why teachers use word processing. Word processing saves time, enhances document appearance and allows sharing of documents. I use word processing almost daily. I send notes and reminders home that I used word processing to make. I use it for my lesson plans by having a skeleton lesson plan that I just fill in with what I am teachig to make it more exact. I can do this either at school or at home (where most of it gets done)!

There are many issues in debate abou word processing in classrooms. One, is the age that children should begin using this. many people agree that children should begin at as young as five or six. Personally, I agree and I allow my childre to use word processing in, about, the middle of the year, after we practice many computer skills. Many people debate over the effects word processing has on handwriting. I feel that it does have some effect. Mainly because people, including myslef, rely heavily on spell check and grammar check.

There are many ways children can use word processing in the classroom. First, it can offer support in learning the writing process. I allow students to use the computer to write spelling words and some can even use it to form sentences! Second, word processing can be used for a dynamic group approach. This would be great to assign small groups an activity such as writing peoms or short stories. Third, assigning individual assignments. As a teacher, you could assign chidlren their own individual computer work focusing on a variety of things that child needs to wrok on, such as combining sentences or punctuation. Last, word processing encourages writing through the curriculum. An example of this is usng word processing to form a report about something your class is studying in science, for example dinosaurs.

Page 128 has a very thorough, step-by-step, tip sheet for teaching word processing. I think it is aimed at higher grades but it would be fairly easy to change to activities fro younger grades.

Personally, I feel that word processing is one of the tools of technology that we use the most in my classroom. It is just very helpful, easy to teach and easy to adapt to the learning situation. It is easy to incorporate word processing in almost anything you do during the day.

Freedom

The other class I am taking this semester is Critical Pedagogy. One of our assignments over the weekend was to write about critical theory and liberating humans. It made me think that teaching many forms of technology in our classrooms is liberating to our students. Technology is part of the world today. People are expected to know it and use it. We need to give children multiple opportunities throughout school to use technology. If we have the ability and do not, it is a type of injustice to these children. Today, understanding technology is as essential as understand letter sounds for reading or learning how to form words and sentences for writing. Technology is only getting more and more in depth. Teachers should be using it, modeling and allowing student to use it. In today’s world it is highly important for children to learn about technology. Technology is all around us and we are expected to know about it and use it. There are hardly any jobs that do not include some form of technology. In my class we have e-buddies where we e-mail another kindergarten class. We sit around the computer and discuss what to write and how to e-mail. They play learning games on the computer. They use word processing to type sight words, spelling words, sentences and stories. Personally, I feel it is important for children, even in kindergarten to have various hands on experiences with technology. Technology in itself gives humans more freedom.