Today was a great day all round from a computer perspective.
First the lab computers were working well, slow, but well.
Second, I went to a computer inservice on creating a web page, blogging, and podcasting in First Class. It was great because I had the interest and background knowledge I needed from the Computer Part 1 course and this inservice showed me a simple way to begin blogs in my classroom.
Our IT who does the First Class trainings is very humble and runs a great inservice. Now I am ready to blog with the grade 4s.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Computer Lab Reflection
I have had a frustrating start in the lab this year. First the wiring issue, then the cluster IT came in and helped me get the machines up and running, but the Internet and Kidpix grind the machines to a halt.
It is so unfair for the kids. Sometimes it takes the whole period just to log a machine on. I am trying to get the staff to leave the open id on permenantly since we do not have our individual student IDs yet, but some still insist the machines get shut down at the end of their visit.
Needless to say I am revamping my program because September/October I usually have the Grade 1s and 2s doing an assignment in Kidpix and the Grade 4s do research using the Interent.
I looked through the Internet permission forms today and all are in except my two non English speaking students. We are waiting a meeting with an interpreter in order for them to get all of their forms in, but I can easily find reading activities to help them for now.
This just means I need to pull some other activities out and try them out.
It is so unfair for the kids. Sometimes it takes the whole period just to log a machine on. I am trying to get the staff to leave the open id on permenantly since we do not have our individual student IDs yet, but some still insist the machines get shut down at the end of their visit.
Needless to say I am revamping my program because September/October I usually have the Grade 1s and 2s doing an assignment in Kidpix and the Grade 4s do research using the Interent.
I looked through the Internet permission forms today and all are in except my two non English speaking students. We are waiting a meeting with an interpreter in order for them to get all of their forms in, but I can easily find reading activities to help them for now.
This just means I need to pull some other activities out and try them out.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Reflecting on the Internet from the Past to Now
The next topic for the online course is Internet safety. This topic is one I have found interesting to follow over the past several years.
First, I have a daughter (now 20) who in Grade 7 was caught up in a bit of a mess because of the Internet. She and her friends were at that naive stage where they all exchanged msn names and passwords. Sadly one of the friends was not such a good friend and would sign on as one of the others and say nasty things about the other friends. This went on for awhile and eventually death threats were made and when the school was notified the police were called in. The girls learned some very valuable lessons through this, but they did learn the hard way.
Next, I remember first using the Internet with classes prior to any board having any real stand about safety. Not only did we not have rules, cyber tips, or safety programs, we did not have any sort of blocks for sites. No one really knew at that time what we were up against. There was a search engine specifically for kids and if an "s" was added or forgotten at the end the kids reached a porn site of sorts. Thankfully there are much better filters now.
Then there was the day that two boys tested out www.fart.com. (NOT meant to be a link) Yes, those were interesting times. Since then our board has had many inservices for ITs and staff, and an internet form is now distributed that all students and parents must sign in order for the Internet to be used by a student.
We now use "Student Link" as our home page. It is very user friendly and keeps students from 'straying' on their own. To see a sample of this go to: www.studentlink.ca
HWDSB also has programs for the middle school students and our community officer makes cyber bullying part of her bullying presentation each year. (The OPP safety tips are sent home after the presentation.)
Certainly what I have learned is that everyone needs to be educated when it comes to Internet safety: educators, parents and students.
First, I have a daughter (now 20) who in Grade 7 was caught up in a bit of a mess because of the Internet. She and her friends were at that naive stage where they all exchanged msn names and passwords. Sadly one of the friends was not such a good friend and would sign on as one of the others and say nasty things about the other friends. This went on for awhile and eventually death threats were made and when the school was notified the police were called in. The girls learned some very valuable lessons through this, but they did learn the hard way.
Next, I remember first using the Internet with classes prior to any board having any real stand about safety. Not only did we not have rules, cyber tips, or safety programs, we did not have any sort of blocks for sites. No one really knew at that time what we were up against. There was a search engine specifically for kids and if an "s" was added or forgotten at the end the kids reached a porn site of sorts. Thankfully there are much better filters now.
Then there was the day that two boys tested out www.fart.com. (NOT meant to be a link) Yes, those were interesting times. Since then our board has had many inservices for ITs and staff, and an internet form is now distributed that all students and parents must sign in order for the Internet to be used by a student.
We now use "Student Link" as our home page. It is very user friendly and keeps students from 'straying' on their own. To see a sample of this go to: www.studentlink.ca
HWDSB also has programs for the middle school students and our community officer makes cyber bullying part of her bullying presentation each year. (The OPP safety tips are sent home after the presentation.)
Certainly what I have learned is that everyone needs to be educated when it comes to Internet safety: educators, parents and students.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Internet Safety
Internet safety is something that baffles me. I know that our board has a pilot program and a program about it. I am the IT and they are always offering the pilot programs to the Grade 7 and 8s. There is nothing specific for the grade 4s, but I try to make sure the students know that they should not be putting their names, addresses and phone numbers on anything without parental consent. We also have the community police officer come in and do a presentation on bullying and part of that presentation is about cyberbullying. It is very well done.
Our board believes, "We need to educate parents, children and the community about safety online." This is stated specifically in the following newspaper article and the article ends with a very important message reminding us that children must be taught about the dangers of the Internet: http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/media/news/details.aspx?id=242&Page=0&year=2006&profiling=2
What truly baffles me is the lack of parental involvement with respect to what the children are doing on the Internet. Parents are so protective and worried about the dangers of strangers outside that they are allowing their children to stay inside on the Internet and feel this is a safe place for them to be. Educating the parents about Internet safety and having them be accountable for their children, especially when they are very young, is our biggest challenge.
Our board believes, "We need to educate parents, children and the community about safety online." This is stated specifically in the following newspaper article and the article ends with a very important message reminding us that children must be taught about the dangers of the Internet: http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/media/news/details.aspx?id=242&Page=0&year=2006&profiling=2
What truly baffles me is the lack of parental involvement with respect to what the children are doing on the Internet. Parents are so protective and worried about the dangers of strangers outside that they are allowing their children to stay inside on the Internet and feel this is a safe place for them to be. Educating the parents about Internet safety and having them be accountable for their children, especially when they are very young, is our biggest challenge.
Reflection
Today I am looking at how things are lining up in the computer lab. This was a difficult start because we got all new flooring in the lab, so all of the computers had to be rewired. We are also awaiting our new lab roll out which means our machines are getting a little old and tired. Needless to say today was the first day that I really felt things there were up and rolling.
Our board techie has been very helpful in getting some of the machines reimaged and he has replaced some boards and fixed some power switches. That is the type of stuff that is beyond what I can do.
All of the classes I teach have now been in the lab and had a chance to use the computers. The grade 1s will learn how to login, once we have the IDs from the board ITs, the grade 2s will be working on a math strand that will also help them develop specific computer skills. The grade 4s have already had "Cross Country Canada" modeled for them and a few students have completed trips. This is the "game" they are allowed to go to when they complete part of their Social Studies assignment. It is a great motivator.
Typically it takes two weeks to get all of the kinks out of the lab and get the students into the lab routine. We are off to a great start.
Our board techie has been very helpful in getting some of the machines reimaged and he has replaced some boards and fixed some power switches. That is the type of stuff that is beyond what I can do.
All of the classes I teach have now been in the lab and had a chance to use the computers. The grade 1s will learn how to login, once we have the IDs from the board ITs, the grade 2s will be working on a math strand that will also help them develop specific computer skills. The grade 4s have already had "Cross Country Canada" modeled for them and a few students have completed trips. This is the "game" they are allowed to go to when they complete part of their Social Studies assignment. It is a great motivator.
Typically it takes two weeks to get all of the kinks out of the lab and get the students into the lab routine. We are off to a great start.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
As I continue to plan how to use a blog within my grade 4 classroom to promote literacy, I also reflect on the article by David Huffaker. I know that there are many ways that literacy can be promoted without technology, but I am of the mindset that the more ways we can reach children and motivate them to read and write, the better.
I believe that using a blog in a Grade 4 classroom can be a good format for teaching children to respect the internet, learn ‘netiquette’, and become aware of the long term ramifications if they are not careful about what they put on a blog or website.
I believe that using a blog in a Grade 4 classroom can be a good format for teaching children to respect the internet, learn ‘netiquette’, and become aware of the long term ramifications if they are not careful about what they put on a blog or website.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Blogging Articles
Throughout the summer I have come in contact with several people who have blogs and have either shown me their blogs or sent me their links. I also keep hearing on the radio that if I would like more information on a certain topic I should check out the radio hosts blog. As a result I have been “lurking” blogs to see what they are all about. However, in all the reading that I did I never commented on any of the blogs. I am not sure why. Perhaps it is because I am reluctant to have my name out in the world, perhaps it is because I never felt my addition would “make a difference”, or perhaps it is because blogging is new to me and writing was a risk.
I think my last statement was a key! I felt that blogging was new and writing was a risk. I am of a different generation than this new generation of risk takers as Stephen Downes discusses in his blog, “An Operating System for the Mind”. I know my math facts and I was a good speller in school, but I am reluctant to write on a blog because it I feel threatened. What I really hope for my grade 4 students is that they will learn to love to write and not feel that it is a risk. I hope they have the confidence that I lack when it comes to writing in a forum where others are watching.
Reading the articles: “Educational Blogging” by Stephen Downes and “The Educated Blogger: Using Weblogs to Promote Literacy in the Classroom” by David Huffaker made me envious of the students today who are not afraid of putting their thoughts into words. David Huffaker explains that the highest percentage of bloggers is in the 13 to 20 age bracket and this is reflected in information that I got while talking to a scout leader about blogging. He said that they are looking for a way to get information out to the scouts in a different format than a newsletter because they did not feel the newsletters were being read. For this reason the scouter set up the newsletters in a blog format. From the beginning of September to September 18 the blog had 191 hits! This is great news. Although I realize that does not mean the blog has been read, I do know there is a possibility. It is exciting to think that kids are reading because they want to.
When I first read that beginning a blog was part of this course I was extremely intimidated. Then I tried to create one and I lost what I created. This did not help my nervousness, but I kept at it. I had a friend chatting online and she helped and then I went to the forum and saw what others had done and went back and tried again.
After creating the blog site I went and checked out a few other sites created for the course and I realized that I wrote a reflection about blogging instead of an introduction. I was embarrassed, but the damage was done and I had taken the risk, so I decided I would just continue on the path. Stephen Downes article made me feel better because he discussed how blogging might be used with a set format or people could choose different formats. His article made me feel that blogging was very individual, so I stopped comparing my blog to other people’s blogs and instead decided to watch my blog develop and in the end I hope to see some sort of development.
Both articles helped peak my interest and I am looking to investigate use of blogs in elementary grades. As Huffaker says, “Weblogs are an excellent way to fuse educational technology and storytelling inside the classroom and beyond school walls.” I would love to implement a blog into my classroom program so my students build the confidence to be good writers.
I think my last statement was a key! I felt that blogging was new and writing was a risk. I am of a different generation than this new generation of risk takers as Stephen Downes discusses in his blog, “An Operating System for the Mind”. I know my math facts and I was a good speller in school, but I am reluctant to write on a blog because it I feel threatened. What I really hope for my grade 4 students is that they will learn to love to write and not feel that it is a risk. I hope they have the confidence that I lack when it comes to writing in a forum where others are watching.
Reading the articles: “Educational Blogging” by Stephen Downes and “The Educated Blogger: Using Weblogs to Promote Literacy in the Classroom” by David Huffaker made me envious of the students today who are not afraid of putting their thoughts into words. David Huffaker explains that the highest percentage of bloggers is in the 13 to 20 age bracket and this is reflected in information that I got while talking to a scout leader about blogging. He said that they are looking for a way to get information out to the scouts in a different format than a newsletter because they did not feel the newsletters were being read. For this reason the scouter set up the newsletters in a blog format. From the beginning of September to September 18 the blog had 191 hits! This is great news. Although I realize that does not mean the blog has been read, I do know there is a possibility. It is exciting to think that kids are reading because they want to.
When I first read that beginning a blog was part of this course I was extremely intimidated. Then I tried to create one and I lost what I created. This did not help my nervousness, but I kept at it. I had a friend chatting online and she helped and then I went to the forum and saw what others had done and went back and tried again.
After creating the blog site I went and checked out a few other sites created for the course and I realized that I wrote a reflection about blogging instead of an introduction. I was embarrassed, but the damage was done and I had taken the risk, so I decided I would just continue on the path. Stephen Downes article made me feel better because he discussed how blogging might be used with a set format or people could choose different formats. His article made me feel that blogging was very individual, so I stopped comparing my blog to other people’s blogs and instead decided to watch my blog develop and in the end I hope to see some sort of development.
Both articles helped peak my interest and I am looking to investigate use of blogs in elementary grades. As Huffaker says, “Weblogs are an excellent way to fuse educational technology and storytelling inside the classroom and beyond school walls.” I would love to implement a blog into my classroom program so my students build the confidence to be good writers.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thoughts on Backup_Education
I found this article very interesting as it is a topic that arises often in our staff room. We have some retired staff members who had a very different viewpoint on technology in education. Some actually felt that computers should not be a part of the elementary school system for reasons that were sited in this article. They felt children were not learning the basic skills such as math facts and cursive writing.
It really is interesting to listen to different opinions on this topic and the opinions can be very heated. I cannot imagine a world without books and I feel there is a need for children to learn to read, to spell and to learn basic math facts in order for them to have a foundation to help build their learning with or without technology. However, having said that, I also realize that some students will never learn their facts and for them a calculator is a very valuable tool, as is spell check for children who struggle with spelling, etc.
It is hard to tell if the future will have a need for pencils and pens, but then at one time a future without horses and buggies was hard to conceive.
It really is interesting to listen to different opinions on this topic and the opinions can be very heated. I cannot imagine a world without books and I feel there is a need for children to learn to read, to spell and to learn basic math facts in order for them to have a foundation to help build their learning with or without technology. However, having said that, I also realize that some students will never learn their facts and for them a calculator is a very valuable tool, as is spell check for children who struggle with spelling, etc.
It is hard to tell if the future will have a need for pencils and pens, but then at one time a future without horses and buggies was hard to conceive.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
My Introduction
It seems that I misunderstood and introduced the blogging instead of myself. So here goes...
I am really enjoying this course and am learning so much already. I currently teach Grade 4 and also teach Grades 1, 2 and 4 in the lab in a mini rotary setting which I absolutely love. I have been teaching for over 25 years, but love to try my best to keep up with new innovative ideas.
In my classroom, I am fortunate enough to have a SMART board and a printer/scanner. From the sounds of it I use my scanner in a way that a Document Camera is used, but I think the Document Camera would be much more efficient.
This is my first online course, so if you notice me fumbling, please guide me.
I look forward to learning and sharing ideas.
Marj
I am really enjoying this course and am learning so much already. I currently teach Grade 4 and also teach Grades 1, 2 and 4 in the lab in a mini rotary setting which I absolutely love. I have been teaching for over 25 years, but love to try my best to keep up with new innovative ideas.
In my classroom, I am fortunate enough to have a SMART board and a printer/scanner. From the sounds of it I use my scanner in a way that a Document Camera is used, but I think the Document Camera would be much more efficient.
This is my first online course, so if you notice me fumbling, please guide me.
I look forward to learning and sharing ideas.
Marj
SMART board fun
Today I had the grade 1s for computer and our lab is a little dysfunctional right now. A new floor was put in and the machines were all unplugged and they are not all up and running, so I took the grade 1 classes to my classroom to experience the SMART board.
After some great discussion about what it was and clues about what it did each student got to print their own name. They loved it and each got to "try" out the magic board. (This is what they called it :)
After some great discussion about what it was and clues about what it did each student got to print their own name. They loved it and each got to "try" out the magic board. (This is what they called it :)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Introduction to Blogging
Blogging is something that I have been interested in lately and I have asked a few friends and colleagues about. I have also checked a few different blogs out, but nothing consistently.
Blogging interests me because I can see how through blogging you can encourage others to try things and also give and get new ideas. However, I am nervous about blogging because I have never been good at writing regular journals and I am always afraid that what I am writing is not of importance to anyone.
I see, though, that blogging could be a useful tool to reflect on lessons: the kid’s reactions, the relevance to curriculum and how the lessons work into the school / board / ministry focus.
This year our school focus is on writing, so beginning a blog could be very valuable to me in many ways.
I really hope this attempt at blogging works for me tonight because I have set up 2 or 3 accounts now and somehow keep losing them. I have done some investigating and chatted with a friend on msn and she sent me a youtube video that helped me out a lot!
Here's hoping this blog is the beginning of many :)
Blogging interests me because I can see how through blogging you can encourage others to try things and also give and get new ideas. However, I am nervous about blogging because I have never been good at writing regular journals and I am always afraid that what I am writing is not of importance to anyone.
I see, though, that blogging could be a useful tool to reflect on lessons: the kid’s reactions, the relevance to curriculum and how the lessons work into the school / board / ministry focus.
This year our school focus is on writing, so beginning a blog could be very valuable to me in many ways.
I really hope this attempt at blogging works for me tonight because I have set up 2 or 3 accounts now and somehow keep losing them. I have done some investigating and chatted with a friend on msn and she sent me a youtube video that helped me out a lot!
Here's hoping this blog is the beginning of many :)
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