Beyond Words

I think that it is crazy that the beginning of changing styles of communicating was started in the time of Socrates and Plato (Beyond Words). Even though that was so long ago, it plays so well into the world that we live in today. I wonder what they would think if they saw the world as it is now? They were pushing for the use of the written word, and now we are pushing for the technology of word beyond what is written.

With the way that education and technology has advanced over the years, it is required for students to have quite an extensive knowledge to succeed in school. They have to use technology for almost every part of their day. A great way for students to express their knowledge and use technology is by digital story telling (Beyond Words). Students are able to communicate and express their ideas in more creative ways then just a pen and paper. They are able to use different images, sound, voiceovers, videos, etc. to help make their idea more interesting. It encourages students to become more involved in the activity. It is also better than just a normal slide show (Beyond words).

The author has the goal of keeping their audience entertained from beginning to end (Beyond Words). Teachers can use this technology to ensure that their students are gaining full understanding of each topic discussed and presented. Information should be showing, not telling the audience (Beyond Words).

I could definitely use digital story telling in the classroom. We could go over things that they would not normally be able to have access to. SUch as things in other countries, digitial field trips, etc. I think that the best way I could use it as well would be a nice change from the normal lecture or power point! It will keep the students interests.

Overall, I believe that digital story telling can be a gateway into the future for students and technology. It is amazing how far we have come since Socrates and Plato. I wonder what the future will think of us?

Adobe Photoshop

Constructing Learning

Technology is such a huge part of the world now. I can look back and remember a time when my family did not even own a computer. Also, in the classroom, the most technology that we had was an overhead projector and playing "The Oregon Trail" on the computer. I believe that technology is such an important factor in the classroom. It is a part of everyday world and students need to learn how to use it. There are also many benefits for teachers as well. You can have much better communication with the students and parents at all times. Another thing that is good is time. It is much quicker to do something on the computer then by hand. It is also much easier to stay organized. Everything that you need is in one spot. It can make life much less stressful in the classroom. Something cool that I like about technology in the classroom is having the access to things that you normally wouldn't be able to do. As a class, you can take a virtual fieldtrip anywhere in the world. How else would kids be able to see those things? Technology in the classroom is a must. I am sure that sometime not too far from now, technology will have overtaken everything.

One Eyed Invader in the Bedroom

I was a child that had a TV in my bedroom. I was allowed to pretty much watch what I wanted. My parents were very open with me and trusting. I never had a desire to want to watch anything really bad. This article was interesting to me because it made me think of my own childhood and my parents. Did they make a mistake by allowing myself and my brothers to have a TV in our bedrooms? Being an adult now, and an adult that is pursuing a career working with children, I can see both sides to this debate.

I have survived a childhood with a TV in my bedroom. Ironically enough, I no longer have one in my bedroom. To be quite honest, it was a hard adjustment to make. I got used to the quiet hum of the voices on the TV to help me drift to sleep. The silence was eerie and made it hard to relax (especially because I live alone). But, I was able to do it! When I was a kid, I loved having a TV in my room. It gave me my freedom to watch the shows that I loved, even when the rest of my family didn't like it. I also would watch shows in the morning while I was getting ready and it helped me start the day. I had my parents trust and never gave them a reason to not. This included me having a TV in my room. I knew it was a priviledge, but most of my friends had one as well.

I do see that it could be a bad thing. Kids could be watching inappopriate things. They also could be staying up very late and not sleeping and that could affect their school work. Parents are not able to see exactly what they are doing and the regulate the use as much when it is in their room. It is a hard thing to break the habit of as well.

I think that TV in the room depends on the kids that have it. As long as they are able to control themselves and are honest with their parents about those things and have limitations, I don't see it being an awful thing.

10 Tips for Evaluating and Using information from the internet

1. Make sure it is a nationally recognized website and trusted organzaton. (I Read it on the Internet, it Must be True)

2. It is relevant and unbiased. (I Read it on the Internet, it Must be True)

3. Make sure that it is relevant to your topic. (I Read it on the Internet, it Must be True)

4. Consider the author and publisher. (Evaluating Information Found on the Internet)

5. Point of view. (Evaluating Information Found on the Internet)

6. Distinguish difference of propaganda. (Evaluating Information Found on the Internet)

7. Pre-screened information appropriate for age level. (Seek Strategically)

8. How current the article is. (Evaluating Information Found on the Internet)

9. Educational Journals and Magazines are good for reliable information, but they are not always free. (What's not on the Web)

10. Subscription databases are good for information. (What's not on the Web)