1) As I mentioned prior my vision has started to see a change. I am wanting to involve technology into my music classrooms in such a way that the technology can enhance and even change how rehearsals and home practice sessions are conducted. Of course to do that I need parent support. Most of what I have learned in here has been answering questions in my own mind about how I reach and gain support from the parents to help implement some of these changes in music education within my classrooms. Building a website, using blogs, publisher programs or even PowerPoint presentations would at this time be used by me to reach the parents and hopefully get them involved and into the classroom to a degree.
2) I have already begun working on proposals and request from my administrators to allow me access and use of some technologies. I want to add laptops with mic setups into my room. I want overhead projectors that can display what is on the laptop. I need certain software programs to even make these things useful. I am already planning to use the technology to change how in class and at home rehearsals are conducted. I am looking for more positive and tangible feedback for me and my students to hopefully combat some of the problems I am experiencing now.
3) I think the biggest message I received was that technology will not eliminate the need of an instructor. It will simply change the role of the instructor and how the instructor teaches. Of course, not all technologies will change education or how education is carried out either. Perhaps, in large part to the reluctance to accept new technologies into the classroom. I did like fax buddy ideas. That was unique. And I also thought the use of technology to get students to talk and engage with students from other countries was incredible in the sense of seeing other perspectives. But I think the part where parents were able to become more engaged in the classrooms meant most to me. That is my current concern for developing the music program at my school. But the message was clear. It can be done. Now find a way to make it happen.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
My Blog For 2/13
I teach a technology course at the junior high level. It has been fairly easy for me to relate and find ways to integrate much of what we have discussed in class so far into this particular class setting. However, I am also the Band and Music Director for my school. Thinking to myself how to integrate technology into such a classic and traditional type of instructional setting has been challenging.
Recently, I have come across software that I am currently building a proposal around for presentation to my Administrative supervisors that I believe will completely change the way Music is taught. Without going into too much detail the software will allow a student to study music and allow me the director access to all their practice sessions whether at home or school. Also, the technology involved will practically rule me out once the student learns how to appropriately use it to improve their individual skill. The options and power are near limitless and a complete new approach to music education.
Of course this has changed my vision a bit. And now I find myself trying to find ways to get parents more involved and active in the music education of their children. After the last class session discussing different methods of producing creative and visually stimulating documents, I have decided that this will be my means to an end. Working in tandem with the Band Booster Club utilizing programs like Publisher and Word will allow me and this organization to access the attention of the student and parent in a more appealing way. Parents need summer information and in session information about what is expected for their child. Also, new band parents need a legitimate no washed down list of information about what to expect with their child beginning a band experience and education. These programs can be easily utilized for that purpose.
If they are used as effectively as I believe they can be, my school district could see a measurable increase in parent involvement in the band program. It would be great to see how these small products could allow me the ability to capture the attention of the parent to see the band booster grow from a current 4 set or parent attendance to a 10, 20 or 30 parent attendence.
In any case I think I will probably be viewing my vision for technology within the educational system in a new direction.
Recently, I have come across software that I am currently building a proposal around for presentation to my Administrative supervisors that I believe will completely change the way Music is taught. Without going into too much detail the software will allow a student to study music and allow me the director access to all their practice sessions whether at home or school. Also, the technology involved will practically rule me out once the student learns how to appropriately use it to improve their individual skill. The options and power are near limitless and a complete new approach to music education.
Of course this has changed my vision a bit. And now I find myself trying to find ways to get parents more involved and active in the music education of their children. After the last class session discussing different methods of producing creative and visually stimulating documents, I have decided that this will be my means to an end. Working in tandem with the Band Booster Club utilizing programs like Publisher and Word will allow me and this organization to access the attention of the student and parent in a more appealing way. Parents need summer information and in session information about what is expected for their child. Also, new band parents need a legitimate no washed down list of information about what to expect with their child beginning a band experience and education. These programs can be easily utilized for that purpose.
If they are used as effectively as I believe they can be, my school district could see a measurable increase in parent involvement in the band program. It would be great to see how these small products could allow me the ability to capture the attention of the parent to see the band booster grow from a current 4 set or parent attendance to a 10, 20 or 30 parent attendence.
In any case I think I will probably be viewing my vision for technology within the educational system in a new direction.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
My Vision 2/6
The activities over the past two class sessions has been extremely enlightening. Never before have I felt quite as empowered as I do now with the confidence to use the Internet with such speed and confidence.
The activities of finding out the validity and purpose behind a website had a big impact on me. I was in fact trying to think about all the information I have used and taken for granted in the past just by doing searches. It is nice to finally understand more about how the search engines work and how best to use them to my advantage. The RSS and Delicious activities were equally as impressive. Combine both activities and suddenly you have an up to date resource site of valid and respected websites at your disposal for day to day use.
I believe I will begin to utilize the bloglines and the Delicious to help me keep a running bookmark site I can use when around and about. Especially between work and home. I do not have the luxury of a work Laptop or personal Laptop. The Delicious would be a wonderful connector between the work I do at home and school. I will be hindered at work with Bloglines though. Blog sites are currently blocked. I will also be far more careful in how quickly I choose to use information from the Internet when teaching in my classes as well. I think this will also help me to combat incorrect statements from students and allow me to figure out just where they got the idea from to begin with.
I expect that my life will be easier as I organize myself and acquaint myself with these new systems and habits. I think I will also begin to petition the school to make admin changes for teachers so that we can begin to use blog sites to keep parents updated on the going ons within the classroom. Being the music program director of my school, all this coupled together could save me tons of time and keep the parents posted on the extra curricular activities as well. One big change I see happening in my classroom would be the teaching of using the Internet and also verifying the information the students find. I think the best and most effective change would be to transfer that knowledge on right now.
The activities of finding out the validity and purpose behind a website had a big impact on me. I was in fact trying to think about all the information I have used and taken for granted in the past just by doing searches. It is nice to finally understand more about how the search engines work and how best to use them to my advantage. The RSS and Delicious activities were equally as impressive. Combine both activities and suddenly you have an up to date resource site of valid and respected websites at your disposal for day to day use.
I believe I will begin to utilize the bloglines and the Delicious to help me keep a running bookmark site I can use when around and about. Especially between work and home. I do not have the luxury of a work Laptop or personal Laptop. The Delicious would be a wonderful connector between the work I do at home and school. I will be hindered at work with Bloglines though. Blog sites are currently blocked. I will also be far more careful in how quickly I choose to use information from the Internet when teaching in my classes as well. I think this will also help me to combat incorrect statements from students and allow me to figure out just where they got the idea from to begin with.
I expect that my life will be easier as I organize myself and acquaint myself with these new systems and habits. I think I will also begin to petition the school to make admin changes for teachers so that we can begin to use blog sites to keep parents updated on the going ons within the classroom. Being the music program director of my school, all this coupled together could save me tons of time and keep the parents posted on the extra curricular activities as well. One big change I see happening in my classroom would be the teaching of using the Internet and also verifying the information the students find. I think the best and most effective change would be to transfer that knowledge on right now.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Technology Skills Development
To develope.
1. Microsoft Outlook. I have never encountered this software. Now I am faced with using to facilitate my work. I feel weak and lost. I am terribly used to using Lotus Notes with prior work experiences.
2. General Internet Savy. Now that I educate students with the use of computers, I find us using the internet quite often. But I need a better understanding of just making sure that what I plan on using for class or what a student plans to utilize is valid. Also, how do I get around some of the firewalls that block legitimate searches. For example, I want to look for a celebrity with the name Brandy... however Brandy is also a liquor thus the search is blocked. How do I know when my students have abused their education process on the internet.
3. Photoshop. Has nothing to do with education. Just interested in using it for personal everyday life. Babies need lots of pictures.
4. Blogs. After hearing how the principal utilized Blogs for his school I am intrigued in learning more about this feature and possibly present this to my administrators as an outreach source.
To Share.
1. Lotus Notes. I have utilized this program for 3 years. If anyone is in a position of using this frequently but unsure of its use I could assist.
2. Gaming Knowledge. There is an online world out there with a language of its own. From chat rooms to chat channels within games themselves. Need direction on entertainment from strategy games to MMORPG's? Feel free to ask.
3. Banking Knowledge and Technology use within the banking system.
This isn't a skill to teach but more a lesson to understanding how finances work with todays technology. For instance laws such as Check 21 and its relationship with the FDIC and your local bank or grocery store. Why is it that the evil banker can seemingly get away with certain things like holds? How does technology affect the consumer in todays market when trying to use a bank. It amazed me when I was a banker at how uneducated 90% of our customers were about how technology was changing the way something as simple as a deposit to their account affected them.
1. Microsoft Outlook. I have never encountered this software. Now I am faced with using to facilitate my work. I feel weak and lost. I am terribly used to using Lotus Notes with prior work experiences.
2. General Internet Savy. Now that I educate students with the use of computers, I find us using the internet quite often. But I need a better understanding of just making sure that what I plan on using for class or what a student plans to utilize is valid. Also, how do I get around some of the firewalls that block legitimate searches. For example, I want to look for a celebrity with the name Brandy... however Brandy is also a liquor thus the search is blocked. How do I know when my students have abused their education process on the internet.
3. Photoshop. Has nothing to do with education. Just interested in using it for personal everyday life. Babies need lots of pictures.
4. Blogs. After hearing how the principal utilized Blogs for his school I am intrigued in learning more about this feature and possibly present this to my administrators as an outreach source.
To Share.
1. Lotus Notes. I have utilized this program for 3 years. If anyone is in a position of using this frequently but unsure of its use I could assist.
2. Gaming Knowledge. There is an online world out there with a language of its own. From chat rooms to chat channels within games themselves. Need direction on entertainment from strategy games to MMORPG's? Feel free to ask.
3. Banking Knowledge and Technology use within the banking system.
This isn't a skill to teach but more a lesson to understanding how finances work with todays technology. For instance laws such as Check 21 and its relationship with the FDIC and your local bank or grocery store. Why is it that the evil banker can seemingly get away with certain things like holds? How does technology affect the consumer in todays market when trying to use a bank. It amazed me when I was a banker at how uneducated 90% of our customers were about how technology was changing the way something as simple as a deposit to their account affected them.
Definition of Educational/ Instructional Technology
According to Wikipedia, "Educational technology is the systematic and creative blending of "idea" and "product" technologies with subject-matter content in order to engender and improve teaching and learning processes." Not satisfied with this I continued further. By interesting accident I crossed an article by Alan Januszewski stating the formaly accepted definition of Educational Technology by the AECT Board of Directors. "Educational Technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources."
Reflecting on both definitions I notice a subtle but substantial difference in the two positions. Based on Wikipedia technology essentially improves the teaching and learning process. One could easily infer that it is improving processes already in place. However, the AECT definition takes the stand that education technology should be the driving force to bring new processes and information not originally available to the education process and even create new ideas of facilitating the learning process as a whole.
What does this mean to me? Both are sound definitions but taking two different views of technology utilization. In my view Education Technology is the utilization of all technological resources to improve and excite the learning process and assist in bringing the community into the learning process they support.
Wikipedia (2006) Educational Technology
Retrieved January 31, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology
Januszewski, A. (Jan/Feb2005). The Rational and Decision Making Process. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, Vol. 49 (Issue 1), p45-46. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from Professional Development Collection database.
Reflecting on both definitions I notice a subtle but substantial difference in the two positions. Based on Wikipedia technology essentially improves the teaching and learning process. One could easily infer that it is improving processes already in place. However, the AECT definition takes the stand that education technology should be the driving force to bring new processes and information not originally available to the education process and even create new ideas of facilitating the learning process as a whole.
What does this mean to me? Both are sound definitions but taking two different views of technology utilization. In my view Education Technology is the utilization of all technological resources to improve and excite the learning process and assist in bringing the community into the learning process they support.
Wikipedia (2006) Educational Technology
Retrieved January 31, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology
Januszewski, A. (Jan/Feb2005). The Rational and Decision Making Process. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, Vol. 49 (Issue 1), p45-46. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from Professional Development Collection database.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Purpose and Expectations
I have spent seven years in the restaurant industry. I have spent another three years as a banker. Not a single one of these career paths have made me happy. After going through Undergraduate School working towards a BBA in Management, I regret having not pursued a teacher certification instead. My mother was and educator for thirty years before retiring and always pointed me in a different direction. But now I am a teacher. I have finally put my foot in the door that opens to the future I have always desired.
My purpose in this class is to lay the foundation and set me on the path to finally becoming certified as a teacher. I have always desired to obtain a Certification to teach and to pursue a Masters in the education field with the intent to move into the administrative field of education. Of course right now my main focus is the Certification to teach.
I expect to find new avenues of thought and invotion from this course. I hope to apply what I learn to help educate and communicate the values of technology to my students. I was personally surprised when I began teaching technology to my students and found that the entire school was wireless and each student had assigned laptops. How exciting! At the same time how intimidating. I now find it my responsibility to help guide these students into using this technology ethically and to benefit their well being. I expect to learn not just "technical know how" from this course but new theories and inspiration that I may be able to take back to the class room.
My purpose in this class is to lay the foundation and set me on the path to finally becoming certified as a teacher. I have always desired to obtain a Certification to teach and to pursue a Masters in the education field with the intent to move into the administrative field of education. Of course right now my main focus is the Certification to teach.
I expect to find new avenues of thought and invotion from this course. I hope to apply what I learn to help educate and communicate the values of technology to my students. I was personally surprised when I began teaching technology to my students and found that the entire school was wireless and each student had assigned laptops. How exciting! At the same time how intimidating. I now find it my responsibility to help guide these students into using this technology ethically and to benefit their well being. I expect to learn not just "technical know how" from this course but new theories and inspiration that I may be able to take back to the class room.
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