Activity Log
** Forgot to add to the bottom of my blog**
I finished up my Focus Project and posted it on my blog. I am working on resizing it because it is a big file. I posted my new blog on Ed Norman and made three comments on others blogs as well. I am working on and finalizing my second focus project that is due next week. Its been a good week :)

Session 7

Ed Norman Syndrome:
First off I want to state that I was so shock listening to this podcast. I can't believe those types of restrictions. At my school site... I would say that we are pretty easy when it comes to downloading, uploading, using and abusing the computer. Lets face it, most of us learn through trail and error. If we upload the wrong thing and we get a virus or in some cases the "blue screen of death," then we learn to maybe check with someone first. We are not given permission to do personal activities on work computers (bills, surf, shop, email) but many of us do. We are there at work for more than half of our day and some of us (like me- who drive an hour and half- one way- to get work) spend more than that. We allow teachers to use their own computer software in the classrooms that they are in. We don't encourage pirating software and using it all over the school- so when they rotate out of that classroom, we ask that they remove it off the computer. Being on the tech committee, I wish less people would download those free screen savers onto their computers. Those will slow down your computer something fierce and you can never really get rid of them because of the viruses that they install. But the teachers love them and they want their computers to be pretty.
As far as our students using the computers, they have a log in and password of their own and with that come certain Internet blocks to regulate what they are viewing, but they are able to surf at will.
I am not sure how I would react to someone like Ed Norman, that would drive me crazy, especially because I have a background in computers. It is such a waste of money to purchase something that you strict so much that no one uses. That is like the school purchasing a nice jungle-gym for all the kids at the school, and because you don't want it to loose its shine or because for heavens-sake a kids falls off....that you don't allow them to use it. What a waste of money. What better way to learn, than to mess up a few times and get that second chance. I highly doubt that there is anything that a teacher can do to a computer (without wanting to) that would destroy a computer beyond fixing. So as far as Ed Norman, I pray that I never meet him or wind up a school that has that many restrictions. I think that that is rediculious and too "big brother."

Focus Project 1

Digital Storybook:
The purpose of this project was to demonstrate the use of technology with even the youngest student. Many teachers believe that the upper grade teachers are the only ones that can use technology with the students. I used the project to show how the students can use technology as a learning tool and I worked with a group of Kindergarten students on the story the Gingerbeard Man. They had to read out the play and record onto the computer. Then I took pictures of them using a digital camera. To put it altogether, I used Photostory 3 and blended the pictures and sound together to create a short movie. With older students, you can have them do the editing process on their own, but the kindergartners will still able to learn how to record and drag and drop the pictures into the movie.
(enjoy)

Session 6

This topic comes up every year at most school sites. What types of technology do we need to get and why will it be beneficial? Teachers are starting to learn that certain types of technology are important in the classrooms, but they fail to see how other types of technology can also be useful in meeting the needs of the students.
The three concerns that Dr. Newberry pointed out are the same points I see at my school: lack of computers, time and training. As I have stated in past blogs, my school is pretty tech savvy in which means, we have computers in every classroom and all the teachers are using the computers because we are a paperless school and so this is their only means to receive information. However, even the most technological school has these same issues to deal with. As stated in the podcast, even if the teacher has all the technology that can benefit them and their students, it still raises concerns. Such as classroom management, training, availability and students knowledge. I agree with my teachers at my school site when they say, "it just takes so long to get the students use to the computer and to teach them how to navigate through it." Of course it does, it took me a while to learn the computer and I am not in Elementary school. I tell my teachers that teaching them to read, do math, learn history and to play with science all takes time too. Nevertheless we continue to do it---why? Because we have to? No, because we want them to learn and to build on their skills so eventually they can go on and graduate high school. So why not teach them computers also---a skill that will not only help them to graduate high school, but a skill that will continue to grow and get them a higher paying job someday. People that are technology knowledgeable are in higher demand today that ever before. Teaching a child will prepare them for a better job and future. I also remind them that learning the basics is all they need to know in Elementary. You don't need to go out there and teach them how to build websites for monster corporations. Teach the word, excel, power point, publisher and the rest will just happen as they build their confidence and knowledge of the computer.
Even though we have computers in every classroom, I continue to hear that there are not enough computers and/or the computers that they do have are outdated and not working. This I would say is a proxy barrier. Often times a warning will pop up on the computer (need to update the anti-virus software) and the teacher turns it off and never uses it again. This type of barrier is not helping the teacher nor the student. The teacher can simply ask another teacher to come help them, or ask someone on the tech committee to help them. But they do nothing and that technology is gone to waste. Then when the budget comes out and we are deciding what we need, that teacher will state that they have a broken computer in their room. We go in turn it on, update the software and there- a new computer. I think at my school, teachers would like to have about five computers per room, but for now we have at least three computers per room and a full working computer lab with thirty-four computers.
Lack of time is another huge concern. Teachers and administrators always say that they would love to purchase the newer technologies out there, but who is going to show them how to use it and when in their busy daily schedule are they actually going to have the students using it? We hold about three technology trainings each year where we show teachers how to troubleshoot, use LCD projectors, navigate through PowerPoint and how to create newsletters with Publisher. I would love to hold a training, to show them how to create basic webpages...Again--- time? I tell the teachers, just like you prep for all the subjects that you are teaching, prep a PowerPoint presentation and instead of running off those extra worksheets to give as a review, show them the PowerPoint that you created, and I guarantee that you will have full class participation and each child will walk out of there learning more than they would have with just an extra worksheet. I can see this as an actual barrier, just because we don't have time to show teachers how to use the technology unless they want to learn on their own time. This also covers the issue of training at the sametime. The lack of trainers and the time they need to prepare a lesson for the teachers.
These are all common issues I think you would find at most schools today. You always want what you don't have and then when you have it, you don't know what to do with it.

Activity log:
I am starting to work on and finish my Focus Project one and three. I am still putting together information that I will need to complete Focus Project two. I posted blogs on three peers blogs as well.

Activity for Session 5

Oops, I forgot to include this at the bottom of Session 5.
This week I was very busy...I am in the middle of remodeling my kitchen and entry way to our new home. So it has been a tring week. I have been working on my focus 1 and 3 projects, getting my ideas out there and ready to dive in and do them before the due date. I am also looking forward to the CUE conference, where I will be helping out at the Discovery Channel both.
Thats all for now :)

Session 5

This is an interesting topic, because most of teaching is learning from others and expanding on it to make it your own. I have been lucky to work with the Discovery Channel ( http://www.discoveryeducatornetwork.com/) where we are on a networking system where we can share ideas from teacher to teacher and also from corporate to teacher. Being able to attend the technology conferences that Discovery puts on are another great way to learn new technologies and lessons.
For myself, I use the Discovery network to share my technology ideas with other teachers. There is also a rating system on each input so you can see how successful or not the lesson is. I also host teacher trainings, which again allow me to help teachers see what types of technologies that are out there and how to use them. Dr. Newberry stated it perfectly, people need to see what types of technology they want to use and how it is going to fit into their teachings. There is no point in teaching someone how to use something or giving them a bunch of activities to do with the technology if that is not in their frame of teaching. For me, I am always looking for new and invented ideas in the realm of technology. However, there are some teachers that for them to use an overhead projector is a step up. So it is important to know what you are looking for before you go out and try to learn something that you will never use.

Session 4

While listening to this weeks podcast, I was pondering over which category I would fit under. By the time the podcast was over, I still hadn't made a decision. I think I apply to two categories and or in the middle of two. I would consider myself to be an innovator because I am knowledgeable of the different types of technology, new technologies that are coming out and of course I own all of those accessories like the iPod, cell phone, palm pilot etc. With the help of some of my family members, I am always in the know of new things coming out. My fiancee (which I have mentioned to you all before) is a Network Engineer and works closely with PC technologies. He has taught me to be more of an innovator and explains to me all the new things that are coming out in the world of PC's. On the other hand, my brother-in-law works side by side with Steve Jobs and Chris Waznak from Apple. He is always talking about new ideas that Apple has out in the stores and what products they are coming out with. So needless to say-- we definelty have the PC and MAC commercial going on at the house.
Due to my family influence and personal curiosity, I am always trying new software, technology, programs...you name it. This is why I feel that I fit into this category pretty well.
On the other hand, I am also an early adopter because I am a leader for my school and role model in a sense. I am a member of the school tech committee and this allows me to advise teachers how to use the technology in their classrooms and also be able to run teacher training's to help get them to learn the computers. I feel that because I have a strong sense of how to use the computer, it allows for me to be a good teacher. Often times people are very knowledgeable about the computer, but they don't know how to teach those skills to someone else. That is one of the things I see as one of my strengths. I know how it is to be frustrated and confused, so I know I can explain it in a way that will make sense.
So there you have it, I am an innovator and an early adopter.