Variations to "traditional" education have been occuring for years. Charter schools and home schooling are no longer as outside of the norm. I don't see why a virtual school environment would be any less effective than being in a classroom. Similar to other alternatives, I don't think that virtual schools are for every student. I certainly don't agree that it enhances communication as the article states.
I have taken several on-line classes here at UML, but as the difficulty of the classes increased, the more I needed to be in the classroom to get assistance. For Introduction to Programming with C part 1, I was able to complete the class on-line. When it came to the second have of the class, part 2, I failed. So in my case, a virtual school didn't meet the needs for two different classes with the same teacher.
I do think that a virtual classroom is a good opportunity for some students. If there is a child who is often sick, instead of missing school, they could have a virtual alternative for those times when they cannot travel to the classroom.
Another situation that may benefit from a virtual classroom is a teen parent or someone who needs to work to support a family. Many of these students need to leave school and have no alternative to a GED due to the time of day for the traditional High School classes. If they could have a virtual school environment that can be attended at alternative times, it may decrease the drop out rate.
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/plan/2004/site/documents/Hassel-Terrell-VirtualSchools.pdf
I think that students that are self motivated can receive just as good, if not better education in a virtual school than in a traditional environment.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Binary America: Split in Two By a Digital Divide (Wk 7)
I can't put the internet in the same category as a human needing water. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read!!
I have a problem worrying about people that can't afford the internet. When the television was first introduced, not everyone had one. If you wanted to see the news, you went to the movies. When cable first came to our town, not everyone could afford it or wanted it. Cable gave us MTV to see videos that went with your favorite song or CNN for the latest news. Throughout history, there are many examples of the latest technology not being available to those who cannot afford it.
The internet can be accessed for free at the local library. This past summer, I went on vacation in a rural part of Maine & had no internet access where I was staying. Needing to check e-mail, I was able to drive to the library and sit in my car to access the wireless connection on my work laptop. I also could have waited until the library opened and utilized their computers.
I have to ask the question, will having the internet help Marcella Morris to obtain a better life? Will it give her more money in her bank account? I think taking her kids to the library would do more for her than free internet access at home.
Why free internet? Why not free cell phones, free cable, free school?? Better yet, why not free food for those who are less fortunate. Do you know how many people are hungry in the United States.
The internet can not replace food and water.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072201278.html
I have a problem worrying about people that can't afford the internet. When the television was first introduced, not everyone had one. If you wanted to see the news, you went to the movies. When cable first came to our town, not everyone could afford it or wanted it. Cable gave us MTV to see videos that went with your favorite song or CNN for the latest news. Throughout history, there are many examples of the latest technology not being available to those who cannot afford it.
The internet can be accessed for free at the local library. This past summer, I went on vacation in a rural part of Maine & had no internet access where I was staying. Needing to check e-mail, I was able to drive to the library and sit in my car to access the wireless connection on my work laptop. I also could have waited until the library opened and utilized their computers.
I have to ask the question, will having the internet help Marcella Morris to obtain a better life? Will it give her more money in her bank account? I think taking her kids to the library would do more for her than free internet access at home.
Why free internet? Why not free cell phones, free cable, free school?? Better yet, why not free food for those who are less fortunate. Do you know how many people are hungry in the United States.
The internet can not replace food and water.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072201278.html
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Internet Media for Education - Embedded YouTube (Wk 6-2)
Create a blog entry that contains an embedded YouTube video that describes a particular topic related to education.
A lot of our blog entries are related to using the internet in education. I found several YouTube videos that show how schools are utilizing the internet in their daily environment.
In Dorchester, MA, the Lilla G. Fredrick Pilot Middle School is utilizing Google Apps for eductation and sharing information within the administration.
This video shows another video of a teacher just starting to utilize Google Apps with his Grade 9 class for posting homework, sharing information for group projects, and utilizing the spreadsheet applications.
Below are videos of students feedback on utilizing Google Apps at school.
A lot of our blog entries are related to using the internet in education. I found several YouTube videos that show how schools are utilizing the internet in their daily environment.
In Dorchester, MA, the Lilla G. Fredrick Pilot Middle School is utilizing Google Apps for eductation and sharing information within the administration.
This video shows another video of a teacher just starting to utilize Google Apps with his Grade 9 class for posting homework, sharing information for group projects, and utilizing the spreadsheet applications.
Below are videos of students feedback on utilizing Google Apps at school.
Internet Media for Education - YouTube Links (Wk6-1)
The links in this blog show how we can use the internet, specifically YouTube.com, toward education. Education is not limited to academics. There are many areas where people are looking for additional knowledge or "education".
As a volleyball coach, I have looked to YouTube.com to find instructional videos that can help me with drills to teach kids specific skills. Organized volleyball is very different that picnic volleyball. I have used videos like this to show my husband what is involved in playing volleyball.
I have a child making her First Communion this year. As the kids grow, they don't want to sit with Mom and learn religion. Utilizing the computer, I can show them a video about saying the Rosary.
My sister has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which is an algergy to Gluten. Getting educated on Celiac disease has been a challenge for the family. I am able to give links to family & friends to see education videos that they can view on their own time and fast forward through the areas that do not pertain to us. In the video you find with this link, there is a section on Celiac in pediatric. With this video, unlike in person, you can forward through this area.
As a volleyball coach, I have looked to YouTube.com to find instructional videos that can help me with drills to teach kids specific skills. Organized volleyball is very different that picnic volleyball. I have used videos like this to show my husband what is involved in playing volleyball.
I have a child making her First Communion this year. As the kids grow, they don't want to sit with Mom and learn religion. Utilizing the computer, I can show them a video about saying the Rosary.
My sister has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which is an algergy to Gluten. Getting educated on Celiac disease has been a challenge for the family. I am able to give links to family & friends to see education videos that they can view on their own time and fast forward through the areas that do not pertain to us. In the video you find with this link, there is a section on Celiac in pediatric. With this video, unlike in person, you can forward through this area.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Kids and computers (Wk 5)
As we read articles and write blogs about the Internet and education, I became curious about the computer class that my kids take at school.
I asked my 10 year-old what she was working on in computers. She said that they were working on graphs. I asked if they were using Excel. She stared at me like I was crazy. She said the file is just there, they click on it and it opens. I tried to explain to her that files have extensions, like xls, that tell the computer what program to open the file with. Her response, “You must know a lot about computers.”
Curious about the curriculum, I went onto the junior high web site where my daughter will be going into the 5th grade there next year. I found the presentation used for the transition from 4th to 5th grade.
In 5th & 6th grade, children will get an e-mail account, with parent’s permission, and keep an on-line calendar. Each teacher will keep the homework assignments on-line. If your child is home sick, they can still keep up with their homework assignments.
The document also talks about the technology available in the middle school;
*COWs (Computers on Wheels) wireless networked computers – Laptop computers that can be wheeled to classrooms for a variety of learning purposes.
*Mini-clusters of computers have been put in many classrooms for student use.
*The Lecture Hall – equipped with a computer and overhead projection unit, DVD and cable TV hookup, and interactive Smartboard is signed out by teachers for class lessons.
*The library and some classrooms have had interactive whiteboards installed.
*More classrooms will have similar interactive technology installed.
With all this technology available, students in Grade 5 make a PowerPoint presentation about their endangered animal research and present their findings to classmates and parents.
my daughter completed our conversation by asking me how I liked computers when I was in school. I told her I took typing and it was a worth wild class because I use that skill everyday just as she will use her computer class.
I asked my 10 year-old what she was working on in computers. She said that they were working on graphs. I asked if they were using Excel. She stared at me like I was crazy. She said the file is just there, they click on it and it opens. I tried to explain to her that files have extensions, like xls, that tell the computer what program to open the file with. Her response, “You must know a lot about computers.”
Curious about the curriculum, I went onto the junior high web site where my daughter will be going into the 5th grade there next year. I found the presentation used for the transition from 4th to 5th grade.
In 5th & 6th grade, children will get an e-mail account, with parent’s permission, and keep an on-line calendar. Each teacher will keep the homework assignments on-line. If your child is home sick, they can still keep up with their homework assignments.
The document also talks about the technology available in the middle school;
*COWs (Computers on Wheels) wireless networked computers – Laptop computers that can be wheeled to classrooms for a variety of learning purposes.
*Mini-clusters of computers have been put in many classrooms for student use.
*The Lecture Hall – equipped with a computer and overhead projection unit, DVD and cable TV hookup, and interactive Smartboard is signed out by teachers for class lessons.
*The library and some classrooms have had interactive whiteboards installed.
*More classrooms will have similar interactive technology installed.
With all this technology available, students in Grade 5 make a PowerPoint presentation about their endangered animal research and present their findings to classmates and parents.
my daughter completed our conversation by asking me how I liked computers when I was in school. I told her I took typing and it was a worth wild class because I use that skill everyday just as she will use her computer class.
"Who Am We?" (Wk 4-1)
"Programming, he reassured the students, was a cut-and-dried technical activity whose rules were crystal clear." That is the line that stood out the most for me in the article "Who Am We?". As someone who works with software on a daily basis, I know that nothing is crystal clear about programming.
I took a class at UML called Intro to Programming with C. The professor wanted to see your code and assured us at the beginning of the class that he would know if you got a programmer to help you.
Over the years, software is sold to the finance industry with a selling point of "no IT needed". More and more application have a user interface or an add on to a software that allow the user to perform tasks that were previously completed by programmers.
As I continue through the article I think of all the movies where the computers have come to live or try to take over the world. Most recently, the kids movie G-Force showed kitchen appliances coming to life through a computer chip. These appliances were in every kitchen and were being used to take over the world. It made me wonder….
Shall we play a game?
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle.html
I took a class at UML called Intro to Programming with C. The professor wanted to see your code and assured us at the beginning of the class that he would know if you got a programmer to help you.
Over the years, software is sold to the finance industry with a selling point of "no IT needed". More and more application have a user interface or an add on to a software that allow the user to perform tasks that were previously completed by programmers.
As I continue through the article I think of all the movies where the computers have come to live or try to take over the world. Most recently, the kids movie G-Force showed kitchen appliances coming to life through a computer chip. These appliances were in every kitchen and were being used to take over the world. It made me wonder….
Shall we play a game?
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle.html
Effects of Social Networks on Education (Wk 3-1)
I tried to read a bunch of articles on the Effects of Social Networking on Education, but none caught my attention like the Wikipedia article I used in my previous post. I read all about funding challenges and safety challenges which were interesting. But what about dicipine challenges?
If the acceptable use policy on computers has wording related to cyber bullying, the wikipedia article addressed a number of questions that need to be asked if there is a case of cyber bullying;
Did the student use school computers,
networks, or telephone lines to access his website or update it?
Did the student send communications directly to a school computer or directly to a teacher
or administrator?
While at school did the student bring attention to his website?
Have students complained to school staff about harassment resulting from information posted on the website?
Has instructional time been taken-up addressing student or staff concerns
about the website?
Has the website resulted in a loss of authority of the targeted staff member,
or a loss of control in the school?
Has a targeted staff member been unable to do her job because of the emotional
stress created by the website?
Has a student been unable to attend
school because of the emotional stress created by the website?
Although companies can have specific rules about acceptable use policies for use of the company e-mail account, I don't think they ever imagined the type of rules that would go along with a school policy on cyber bullying.
What's next???
http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Social_Networking_-_EPS_415
If the acceptable use policy on computers has wording related to cyber bullying, the wikipedia article addressed a number of questions that need to be asked if there is a case of cyber bullying;
Did the student use school computers,
networks, or telephone lines to access his website or update it?
Did the student send communications directly to a school computer or directly to a teacher
or administrator?
While at school did the student bring attention to his website?
Have students complained to school staff about harassment resulting from information posted on the website?
Has instructional time been taken-up addressing student or staff concerns
about the website?
Has the website resulted in a loss of authority of the targeted staff member,
or a loss of control in the school?
Has a targeted staff member been unable to do her job because of the emotional
stress created by the website?
Has a student been unable to attend
school because of the emotional stress created by the website?
Although companies can have specific rules about acceptable use policies for use of the company e-mail account, I don't think they ever imagined the type of rules that would go along with a school policy on cyber bullying.
What's next???
http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Social_Networking_-_EPS_415
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