Artificial Leaf, DC Power Supplied Homes, LED lights, Solar Panels

After looking more and more into the idea of the Artifical Leaf by Dr. Daniel Nocera the concept of cheaper energy may become a reality when his patents are approved. I've been doing research on using a DC power supply in place of some AC power in a home to save money. Next year during home school I'm hoping to implement this idea with my 2 sons. With the recent up grades in LED lighting and Solar Panels a DC powered home is becoming a reality.

Here is an article covering the basics of using already existing camping and car style DC systems in your home.

http://inexpensivehomebuilding.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-to-make-12v-dc-power-system-easy-as.html

This Blog covers some of the advantages and disadvantages of using DC power.

http://chrisgammell.com/2008/06/12/can-dc-power-an-entire-home/

Existing LED lights that replace the Floresent bulbs in your home are expensive because each one requires a converter to convert AC < DC in each bulb. Here is an example of existing DC power source in your home using a phone line 40 -70V.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-get-free-electricity-from-phone-jack-127041/

USB cables and your computer can already distinguish the amount of power needed to operate different devices so why not use them in your home. Here is a USB fridge.-

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-usb-mini-fridge-159116/view/

I hope to add more as I research more.

Interactive Learning and Survival- Little Fox's Webinar

This webinar by Edutopia focuses on the brain and why basically entertainment always wins over boring educational material. It's all about "Making Learning Stick!" That's what it's all about. We need to rethink and involve our students in education not just read about it. Stimulating Curiosity and Discovery is the key.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZnfFD1maU&feature=relmfu

After getting a few more phone calls this week about 4 more children I maybe getting to raise because my sister's a drug addict it made me really think. After growing up myself as a welfare child with parents addicted to drugs this week reminded me how hard it is to focus on learning when the world around you is so dangerous and falling apart. "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."(James 4:14b) I can remember all the bad things why not the good sometimes.

Edutopia my Professional Organizations

Edutopia by George Lucas is my choice. Not just because he made Star Wars the greatest movie ever made! :) I picked it because it incorporates Active Play, Vygotsky's "Zone of Proximal Development", Scaffolding, Piaget's "Play as Assimilation", Social Play and Creative Play and Learning at all ages. (Frost) I've already begun using this site to learn more about how people learn. One example is there article on how NASA is turning it's technology inward towards education with STEM. With the motivation of the Space Race of the 1960's NASA is finally getting the hint we need to focus on here in order to learn more about space and science. Learning should be as fun and entertaining as going on an adventure. To explore and discover as during the "Age of Discovery" with ships and The New World. As teachers we must move outside the just the face-to-face education and embrace learning as a skill not just something a classroom only activity.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-online-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron

Skype, gmail chat, Elluminate with Amy and Peaches

Me, Peaches, and Amy were finally able to link up and Skype online. We discussed everything from what our favorite technology was, the final unit project, and computer technology in general. Not to mention we talked for almost 30 minute covering our careers and use of technology. None of us had a webcam but all 3 of us had pictures on Skype. I took a screen shot that I will delete later. I'm never one much on displaying personal info and at 1st was a little skeptical about Skyping.

In the end though I had a good time and it was really nice to actually talk to fellow students. It give the class the personal touch. I kind of wish we would have done this at the beginning of the course rather than the end. :( This might be one of the 1st classes where I can honestly say I"m going to miss my online companions. Soldiers in the trenches who survived this class! I learned a lot thought and I hope to use a lot of the technology from this class in the near future. Overall this online Skype session made me really miss going to a classroom to learn and getting to know the people a little better.

I set up an Elluminate session also but no one showed. :( I really like the technology that Elluminate program but for the amount I'll be using it I'll just stick with the 30 day trial for now. I posted a powerpoint presentation and really, really like that I was able to display my desktop. I have to figure out how to do that on xfire, gmail or some other free program. I know I pinch pennies and make them scream.

Cyberbulling

Cyber Bullys come in all shapes and sizes. After playing online multiplayer shooter games I've encountered a number of cyber bullys that do everything from try to track down your physical address to ping your IP address and try to hack your firewall. All this just over games online. I cannot imagine the amount of cyberbulling that goes on in place like school with access to facebook and other social networking sites now available. I know in the gaming PC community crashing servers, hacking, and hurassing PVP(Player vs. Player) type games can get pretty bad. The key point is never share personal information and utilize different gaming accounts to prevent cyberbulling. I read a few articles on cyberbullys on the web. Here is one that caught my attention about how we focus so much on getting the newest best technology but fail to realize what dangers it puts us in. The Aricle is called "Parents spending more on technology but forgetting safety." We teach our kids about being safe crossing the street but give them a cell phone and are shocked to hear they are getting illegal images, annoying phone calls, and taking pictures of things they shouldn't. In this article it says "33% of parents closely monitor their kid’s use of the internet and one quarter of parents admitting they haven’t spoken to their kids recently about who they should share their mobile number with."(Cyberbullyforum) Another article I glanced at was Psychology of Cyberspace. I hope to read it more extensively when I find the time. This article is about the ego and cyberspace and social interaction. I know a lot of use base our social standing in our comminity and it directly impacts our ego. This can be used for good and bad. Good to encourage learning, communication and understanding. The bad to attack and anti-socialize others. I hope to write more on it later after I find the time to read some of its article in depth.

Week 11- Evaluating my Own Blogs

Beautifu Posts, Perfect in every way, Should be a Journalist! "Do I get an A?" Just Kidding while reading through the Rubics Assignment I'm beginning to think grades are not as important as skills.

I noticed I usually write about ideas and concepts but I don't always complete the idea. I don't always summarize what I've written about to give the readers closure. I could also include More Open ended questions to get the reader to think about the ideas I'm writing about more. I have noticed a change in my posts over time. My more recent posts do focus more on a complete idea rather than just random thoughts. My composition has improved. I've started to use a lot more picture references, videos, and support for my writings.

As I reflect back on my 1st post about "SimulationEducation - Hands on Approach to Learning" I'm approaching a half circle. The thought of creating a Hands on Approach to learning by facilitating is becoming an tangable Idea. I lay awake at night as my mind races though how to reach students, how to engage them and utilize there full potential. How to reach children suffering from ADHD, Social Anziety's, and Learning Disabilities. I'm develping the weapons to fight this War against illiteracy, poverty, and "this person is a lost cause" concept.

Through Webquests I've learned how to focus on creativity to challenge students. I've learned to use games to teach and strengthen skills. Someday I still hope to make them. I've learned to use co-operative documents using PBworks. I've even gotten a 1st hand glimps of one being used in an acually classroom my 6th grade son is in. They are using items I'm learning about in this class to teach. He is now in AP Reading and AP Math based on these concepts. I hope to teach him using Podcasts and Vodcasts a new concept I had never done before this class.

I've come across teacher that are working on the same ideas and through there creations and examples I hope to make my own. The Flipped Classroom is one area I'll be revisiting. The concept of using the classroom to syncronizing online learning at home. I'm currently looking over the idea of creating a Rubics. I love the idea of using a Rubics rather than grades. Rubics focus more on the skills learned, kind of a "G0 or NO GO" concept the Army uses.

I know my writings are not as creative or narrative as some in this classroom's blogs I've read. I need to work on that. I've learned a lot so far focusing on skill rather than grades. I hope to learn more even beyond this class or blogs I've written. If I use blogs I'll make them internal in my classroom and not public.

Robotic Legos Teach Elementary School Students STEM Skills

Robotic Legos Teach Elementary School Students STEM Skills

In order to motivate students you must create a learning environment they can understand and want to be a part of. What better way than using toys, especially Legos. Lego's have come a long way from just using them like blocks.

Lego's by Age
For ages Preschool to 8th I recommend using Lego Education website. It provides Legos in prepackaged sets to teach primarily robotics and a lot more.

Beginning with Robotics
LEGO® Education WeDo

Intermediate
LEGO® Education

Advanced
LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education
Mindstorm site

Here is some Ideas about the Intermediate set used to teach Physics and gear ratios. Here is some ways to Use this set to teach renewable energy. If you click on select curriculum you can gear different aspects of the project to fit different age groups. Legos are perfect for teaching engineering.

Legos for Mathmatics
Legos are excellent for teaching math concepts like addition, subtraction, fractions, geometry, and many more. In an article called LEGO Math Activities By Teri Ann Berg Olsen she points out 22 Lesson Ideas you can use to teach math with Legos. She didn't even go into using Lego's to teach Scale Modeling, Perimeter, or Area. WierdRichard is a great site to look over for math subject ideas with Legos

Youtube like Legos are great for Learning. If there are still any doubts just sit down with a set of Lego's for 15 minutes and before you know it your creativity and creations will turn into hours of learning. The problem is you may find yourself forgetting about your other duties or goals.

Podcasts and Vodcast?

I've never tried to watch or download a podcast until today. I had a really hard time trying to figure out how to download the podcast and vodcast to my mp3 player from the NOVA site. Very Very Frustrating but I think I have finally figured it out. I went to the Nova Podcast site and was able to stream the podcasts easily to watch on my PC using my yahoo account on directly on the website. My Question was How Do I Download It!!

Downloading (Subscribing to Podcasts)

First let me point out that I do not have an Ianything - no Ipad, Ipod, ect... so to the best of my knowledge itunes will not work with my cheap mp3 players by ematic. Itunes uses a different codeing besides mp3, mp4, acc.

So I had to track down a Podcatcher. I looked them all up in wikipedia and finally decided on Doppler. Now I installed the Doppler program. Next I opened it and went to the Nova site and followed these directions. It appears you have to right click on the xml then subscribe. You do this by Right Clicking on xml and select Copy Short Cut. Then click the add in Doppler to add the Podcast subscription you want. (Whew what a Pain!) After 4 hours I'm still trying to download only what I want. It will download everything in the subscription. ugh.

Ok Now I opened the Doppler files that it downloaded. Right clicked opened the containing folder then dragged that .mp3 player fomated file into my ematic MP3 player.

Why is it so hard to just download a MP3 file using podcasting. Podcasting is like a television program that you set your DVR to record but it will record all episodes not just the one you want. Wouldn't it just be easier to just list the mp3 files seperate and let you download them individually.

Well after all that it finally worked I was able to lisen to an MP3 from Nova about Electrical Blackouts. While Podcasting is interesting it just seems to be a complex way of giving people MP3 or MP4's(Video) they dont really need. It's a forced subscription in my opinion. I will be tracking down the MP4 and 3 I like and downloading them but as for having a subscription to a channel.... I'll try to prevent it.

After thoughts after cooling down.

Some advantage I see is that now I can download MP4's and other files to watch or lisen to on my MP3 player or my Laptop to broadcast in a Classroom.

If I could find a subscription or create a subsciption for my classroom I could send them videos each time they loaded the program using Doppler.




(Update) As I was about to run out the door I notice a file on my PC called NOVA so I put it into my removable harddrive so I could take it with me to work. I got a change to look it over on break and wow Podcasting is perfect for On-the-Go educational material. That site downloaded 15 videos that I can watch anywhere. I can see whole lessons being put on video and Podcasted or Vodcasted. I normally have to copy and past everything to a word document and print it out to look at it later when I don't have internet access but this podcasting could be the key to overcoming that.

(Update 2)
The University of North Colorado has launched a Vodcasting site. This site took me to Flipped Class Network a Vodcast Educational site. Appearently the concept of having students learn at home and apply at school has been around for a while.

Trying to Make Sense of it all (Not part of the Course for my own Understanding)

So much information to digest and I'm reaching a point of frustration. Will this ASSURE model change to something else in a few years? Frustrated with how Lessons seem to be so complex on creating.

Analyze Learners and Learning Theory
Using my Information Processing Habits(Mind Styles) of Concrete Random(trial and error) (p89) and Concrete Sequential(Hands on, Direct) I'm trying to digest everything we have learned so far. I understand that not all people learn the same way or we each have Multiple Intelligences(p89 Gradner). In order to understand how our students learn we should give them Entry Tests or assign prerequisites. We also need to know what Motivates our students. Keller's ARCS Model address Attention, Revelance, Confidence, and Satisfaction and seems to agree with Maslow's Hiarchey of Needs. Keller even mentions Maslow's Hiarchey under Revelance in Needs Matching. Learning Theory can be broken into 4 Different Theory Category's-Behaviorism(Stimulus-Response),Cognitivism(Learners process, store, and retrieve information for later use), Constructivism(Connectivism or Social Constructive)(learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current/past knowledge, social interactions, and motivation affect the construction).


My question is now How do we assess students and find this information out? I understand we can look over there previous classes they have taken but that does not tell use how the student learns and what works best. I've found a few sites like NC and Idpride.net . I wonder how Learning styles match up with Leadership styles?


Standards and Objectives (Working)
I understand that each State has it's own Standards for each grade level like NC State Standards at LearnNC.org . To my understanding States are still working on this NET-S or standards for technology for use by students. I'm trying to use Burner's Discovery Learning, reflection, and Conectivism which is how I assumilate new knowledge and campare it with what I have previously learned to achieve understanding. I'm still trying to get use to this Lesson Plan Concept and including Bloombergs Taxonomy and State Standards. I'm learning from the perspecitive of a soldier using Soldier's Common Tasks being like the State Standards. The difference being the Soldier's Tasks are set Lesson Plans and Standards Combined where as Teachers the Standards are set but the Lesson Plans must be created based on the Teacher.

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/cnm/cresource.htm

Select Strategies, Technology, Media and Material (Working)

-Dramatic Play Kits for All Ages(Idea)

Utilize Technology, Media, Materials

Require Learner Participation

Evaluate and Revise (AAR After Action Review)

Voki Test


Best Educational Games-
Uncharted Waters
Scribblenots
Professor Layton
Civilization
Top Secret(RPG)
Math- Design and Build Items(Haven't found a game yet)

Databases the Evil of the Microsoft World

I hate Microsoft Access with a passion. I understand how to use it and have used it in a classroom enviroment but it system of searching is to complex and not user friendly. It is like comparing Windows to DOS. In DOS you had to type specific commands and if you miss just one letter or symbol you got the message "Error". The same with Access. If you don't know how to use it and put in just the wrong piece of information in your search.... the wrong information appears. Very Frustrating!

I read through the article "introductions for third and fourth grade to databases"
just to see how a teacher could introduce Access to younger students. I have to disagree with her. I don't see how student caught on to Access in under 10 minutes unless the program was made so that students couldn't type anything wrong. After doing Access for a month in one of my computer classes I still cannot always get the information I want. I will use Databases in my classroom but it will be more like Delicious or some other form of user friendly specifically designed databases not Access.

Spreadsheets making Data into something Tangable

Integration of using Spreadsheets in the classroom is a must. I remember life before speadsheets and having to collect data, calculate data, and then trying to show others research using graphs, charts, and accounting using ledgers and books. Spreadsheets make data manipulation and calculation much easier. It may take some work initially learning to use tools like Microsoft Excel but in the end it's worth it. I understand students get frustrated at just making spreadsheets on information they only use once. I've had to create spreadsheets using tons of information that took hours just to post the document and then start all over again for the next project. My statistics class was the worst! A simple page of 5 questions you had to answer could take days to finish. Looking back I don't think this was the best way to be introduced to how to use Spreadsheets.

Spreadsheets should be an on going assignment using the same spreadsheet but adding to it. I loved my Physics class were we used speadsheets to collect data then manipulated the data into multiple graphs representing different senarios and probabilities. Spreadsheets should be taught more in school since in the business world they are used daily. At work we use a spreadsheet template everyday then compile the data on those templates into a montly report showing productivity. In my classroom I will ensure students learn to create spreadsheet templates and compile data and utilize that data all through the year. Spreadsheets can be a great teaching tool since they can be used to compile vasts amount of data and turn it into something everyone can understand.

Word Processing as a Teaching Tool

How I would integrate Word Processing into the classroom. The Greatest thing about Word Processing is that it is a canvas for the painting of ideas. It's realitively free and open for creation for any student. All you have to do is inspire them to create.

Word Processing now can be used not for just creating essays but can be a tool to create a masterpiece of information and artistic design. One plan of mine is small project can be started at the beginning of the year, lets say a journal, on a subject. Students can add to it daily, weekly, monthly, during directed working periods or during free time if they are creating something they enjoy. One Paragraph per day can add up to be 180 paragraphs over a school year or at 4 paragraphs a page that turns into a 45 page paper single spaced.

The coolest thing about word processing now it that you can add pictures, graphs, equations, color, design, codes, and much more. No longer are students restricted to just writing on paper and pasting things together... now they can copy and paste them using a word processing program to create an idea or thought into something tangable. This is also the downfall of word processing.

With word processing being so easy to copy and paste students must be taught not abuse the power of word processing. Word processing can be an instument of good teaching the NET-S of Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, and Research and Information Fluency but most importantly we must emphasis - Digital Citizenship. Most importantly "advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology"(NET-S) must be empasized. It makes me sick of hearing students and professionals deliberatly plagerizing and having others do there work using the power of word processing. Giving references or Give credit where credit is do is easy and helpful on explaining yourself and ideas to others. Delibertly having someone do your work is just wrong. Without teaching Digital Citizenship and respecting others work students can learn the evils of technology instead of the good.

Class Blog Assignment- MS Word (Mana from Heaven)

Microsoft Word (Stop Changing Your Layout!)

I remember when our High School got its first computer lab. That was in 1988. The internet for practical purposes did not exist outside of colleges, the military, and they were still talking about Telenet and CompuServe. I started to learn to type on a type writer and worked with some of the first IBM computers used in our classrooms. Our Computer Lab teacher had a terrible time keeping us kids from smuggling in games and playing them on the servers when she wasn't looking. In the 1987 we had a small lab where we learned to write programs using DOS. It took hours just to make a picture on the screen using command lines like "go to" and "run". Now I can't keep up with the changes on MS Word because the format changes every 3 years it seems like.

I laughed when Mrs. Keesee wrote "think of one instance of a time when you wanted to do something in Microsoft Office and could not figure out how to accomplish it?" Just when I can figure out how to do anything without MS word they changing the format and where all the buttons are placed! I really enjoy the new things like charts, pictures, equations, and spell/grammar check (Greatest Invention Since Sliced Bread!). Without MS word and word processing my teachers would still be telling me, "Butch what is this.... It looks like Chicken Scratch!" My handwriting is terrible an archeologist put it in a museum next to a mummy. I still print everything because my cursive has been known to cause temporary blindness. Luckily MS word came up with this wonderful Invention and even created a help button that has always looked like a question mark or said Help.

PS- Want to talk about frustration...posting from MS Word with hyperlinks to here seems impossible.

Kerpoof Eval Website Online Tool for Teaching (Working)

After looking over the site Kerpoof and letting my son play on it for the last 20 minutes I have to give Kerpoof 5 stars out of 5 stars! The site allows you to make books, movies, pictures, and more. My son was hooked after I sat with him and let him explore it for 10 minutes. We tried the Storybook and Movie maker. It allows younger and older students to use there imagination to make what ever they can imagine. We made a collaborative project about a 2 cats talking and farting.

This program can be used in all Bloomerberg's Taxonimys. From Knowledge and comprehension to synthesize and evaluation this program if used in the right ways can be used to make it all. As a teacher you can use it to make topics interesting and funny to allowing students be creative and make there own. It can be used to cover all the NET-S if incorporated properly and creatively and works well on individuel and collaborative projects. I will be using this program in my classroom!

I have looked over what a few others have made and its not exactly easy to search for items. Someone needs to set a delicious style of bookmarking. Here is an example of a movie someone made. I wish I could post my sons but I guess movies must be reviewed before made available to the public.

20 minutes by my son from sitting down to finished product-
http://www.kerpoof.com/#view?s=2gs11abOmgo3dMg7-c-1a6cb1

Panda vs Rabbit- I'm estimating about 1hr to 2 hrs to make this movie-
http://www.kerpoof.com/#/view?s=g3739x65e201-0196b7-x6

Save me- about 3-4hours to make if the person who made it just started-
http://www.kerpoof.com/#/view?s=f507b706d311-baafe3-x2

http://www.kerpoof.com/

"You will also complete the related Blog Assignment 2 in which you will provide a written review of your chosen web-based application. Be sure to explain how you think you might be able to incorporate the tool into your unit plan. You should discuss the extent to which the program can be used to enhance your students' cognitive and/or social abilities, address different learning styles and abilities, and provide a developmentally appropriate use of technology." (Gayla S. Keesee)

Eggheads Weather Observation and Forcasting

http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/
This Game is Free and Online. I played it for about 15 minutes and it's great for learning and having fun. I wish they had a more indepth program that encompassed more weather data but they do have the following links to information-
Weather Glossary
Fahrenheit to Celsius &
Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter
Interesting People in Weather
Weather Class Lesson Plans

Not quite as good as NASA's weather videos or some of NOAA's information but close. This is a good game for about 4th grade and up.



PS- Here is the Blackboard free link I'll be setting one up soon. (Not a requirement for this class but I'm dieing to make one!)
https://www.coursesites.com/webapps/Bb-sites-course-creation-BBLEARN/pages/learn.html

Week 6 Blog #1 NET-S?

Assignment-
"Choose one of the NETS for Students and relate it to what you learned this week and how you could implement it in your classroom. Be specific and cite examples. Be sure to title your blog post to represent the topic/NETS*S you chose..."

I think I understand that NET-S is(pages 106-107 compared to the ISTE website) and I've been to the NET-S wiki even but I wish it was more indepth and I'm not buying the 3 books. I've tried signing up on the ITSE website but it won't let me and If they are trying to sell it why would I wan't to buy it? Anyway enough griping the 6 NET-S is http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx
NET-T
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Under the NET-S ISTE site the 1st Concept in NET-S is "
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. "

I would like to say Using Powerpoint in the Classroom is one of the best parts of children demonstrating creative thinking, constructing knowledge using technology. I'm not talking about teachers making powerpoint but those little rug-monsters making Powerpoint. I've only seen my kids in middle school do it but I think we strongly underestimate grades 4 and 5 in computer applications. I showed my son in the 4th grade how to make a powerpoint slide and he went to it like it was a video game. I wish I could show you what he made but it's late, he has the flu, and I have to get up at 0500 to go to work and it would take to long to download into Powerpoint sharing.

Here is a site of at least one person that would agree with me-
http://www.suite101.com/content/create-simple-power-point-presentations-a60525
It tells how to teach kids to use powerpoint. I'm sure If I searched longer I could find a great site that gave and actual Lesson Plan for Powerpoint for 4th Graders. That will have to done later.

The NET-S just seem too simple kind of like a Mission Statement for a company but no meat or examples until I found these (Learning Standards being adopted for teaching Technology like it's English, Math, ect...


I found a great website I think that has the same concept at NET-S but as Standards. http://www.learnnc.org/scos/
It's under the Computer and Technology Skills.

I believe they are the same as this site http://www.sd281.k12.id.us/curriculum/Subject%20Areas/inform%20lit%20committee/ilit/nets/netsstd.htm

Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.

Week 6 Blog 2 advantages and disadvantages of incorporating mobile computing devices

After going through the Week 6 Module on Hardware:Beyond Computers I was pretty amazed at some of the technology's and a little skeptical on others. I know were suppose to be discussing Mobile Computing Devices like Ipod(An overprice POS if you ask me). I personally see many of these devices as want-to-be laptops. They do less than laptops and are not designed to be upgraded. Bad choice if you ask me. I just did a quick search to compare prices of Laptops vs Ipods vs Ipad vs Kindel. Here are the Results-

Laptop- Acer New with more than enough HD, RAM, and Processor- $248
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Aspire-One-10.1-AOD255E-Netbook-PC-with-Intel-Atom-N455-Processor-Windows-7-Starter/15739065

Ipod- about $209 dollars not expandable except with 8gb slot
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=ipod&search_constraint=0&tab_value=Online&ic=48_0&ref=244741+4294074289&search_sort=4&selected_items=+

Ipad-$499
http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Kindel 6" -$139 cheapest
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Y27P3M

Sorry but the New Laptop win! If they really wanted to make something for education thats portable they need to make a Laptop like the Nintendo DSi with a Nerf Case. Portable, practically indestructable, trackable with Wifi if Lowjacked, you can type on the DSi, pictures, communicate, record data, and with the right software surf the web. But our society is based on the consumer concept that you have to throw something away to buy something new. Stupid.

Anyways loved the Whiteboards, Personal Response system/mouse mischief(this has some major potential!), GPS (I'll be doing landnav in my classroom), and using your printer creatively. Creative printing is probably the most under looked at easy to use resource that could be making schools money. That and creating a WIFI center around schools. Instead we get studid fundraiser where our kids sell us junk. Why not let google set up an internet cafes in or next to our schools or set up libraries like a Barnes and Nobles.


http://www.edutopia.org/tips-protect-laptop-computers-theft

8 of 8 Identifying Lesson Topics (working)

8)Identifying Lesson Topics
How should teachers identify lesson topics to include in instruction?

Pages 12 through 16 cover how curriculums are made.

Taking a break after working all day trying to catch up, spending some time with the kids, going to school full time, working 40+ hours, raising 4 kids and doing foster care is about to break me. Now with having to create a curriculum for my son because they are overcrowded, underfunded, and don't know what a nurse is... is just too much. 1 Nurse for every 3 schools how stupid.

7 of 8 Meeting the Needs of All Students

7)Meeting the Needs of All Students
What should guide teachers' planning in order to meet the needs of all students?

Student's learning and overall well being. I find this to be funny in light of No child left behind and teachers teaching to the standardized test to ensure kids pass no matter what. LOL! It's so funny it makes me sad. So much for learning just make sure they pass the test. My son was the top reader in 2nd and 3rd grade. Within the Top 2 in the entire grade level. This year instead of focusing on learning the teacher is focusing on ensuring all kids will pass the test. I've watched my son cry at least 2 days a week after he leaves school. He has gone from loving to go to school to HATING it with a passion. Yesterday I disenrolled him and were going back to enjoying learning! Needs of the students are something in the past now schools focus on needs of funding no matter what.

6 of 8 Instructional Cycle (Working)

I'm beginning to think these were all do on one post.
6)Instructional Cycle
Describe three stages of the instructional cycle.


Stage 1: Intended Instructional Outcomes
Stage 2: Planning
Stage 3: Assessment

5 of 8 Components of Good Assessment (working)

5)Components of Good Assessment
Name three components of a good assessment.

Individual-referenced- Individually based test where the student is compare with himself for grown in knowledge and understanding.

Norm-referenced- Individually base test where the student is compared with a group using standardized test.

Criterion-referenced - Student is evaluated gains performance with an objective. Project based learning.

4 of 8 Adapting Instruction (working)

4)Adapting Instruction
Adapting instruction is important. Discuss two reasons why.

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/cnm/cnm_08.html

Children and Adults with learning disabilities or psychological imparements need to have instructions and lessons adapted more to fit thier needs. Some examples are children in wheelchairs, ADHD children, social anxiety and children with traumatic events.

3 of 8 Information-Processing Model

3)Information-Processing Model
Describe the information-processing model of learning.

The lesson pointed specifically to "why they struggle to learn and remember."
This phase is called primary knowledge phase at work. It's learning in the short term part of the memory center of the brain then making connections to move them into long term memory cells. The lesson says - we organize information into categories, then we must repeat the information, and then group the information
organizing information into easily recognizable categories (e.g., all proper names are nouns), repeating the information (i.e., in-class recitations), and grouping the information.

I call these memorization techniques. I've learned the best way to remeber things is by pictures and creating a emotional moment. Pictures, emotions and smell are the fastest way to recall memory. This is basically grouping made easy. You brain release chemicals that re-enforce memory linked to emotional events(tragic or uplifting) and smell. Pictures can be used to group items to reenforce memory.



http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/strategy.html

http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress.html
Memory-
http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/memorization.html

2 of 8 Learning Characteristics

2)Learning Characteristics
Which student learning characteristics should teachers identify before developing instruction? Why is this important?

Below are some listed on the page but how you get them is not!
It's important because not everyone has the same frame of reference for learning. Some people remeber numbers better, some cultures emphasize social learning more, as well as grade level is important. I've found some psychology testing that narrows down assestment about "who am I" and "what are my strenghts and weaknesses"-

http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mmdi/questionnaire/ - good site

http://www.yourpersonality.net/ - ok mostly love crap


Background knowledge and experience
Learning styles (i.e., visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile)
Academic strengths
Academic improvement areas
Responsiveness to instruction and correction
Social and interpersonal behaviors
Interests
Talents
Home language and any second language issues
Cultural, community, and religious factors

1 of 8 Content Standards

Here is what everyone in this class seems to be trying to figure out on the blogs that happened week4. In Week 4 we were to post 8 blogs about the 8 different items in this Iris-(I just realized it when MissusC(Danielle) posted thanks Danielle Yeah for Peer learning)
http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/cnm/cresource.htm
We are now into week 5 with the EVALUATING WEB RESOURCES and SOCIAL BOOKMARKING using the Delicious website. And about to move into week 6(2/14-2/20).

1)Content Standards
What are content standards and benchmarks, and how are they used?

Content standards are the final outcome of what your trying to teach. After spending a few hours trying to open the DVD that came with the book(it requires winzip which I no longer have) I was hoping to compare Content Standards and Benchmarking to Education. Looks like I'm falling back on my Military training yet again.

In the Army you have Tasks, Conditions, and Standards. Standards are what you are trying to achieve. One example is in "Common Soldier Task - 081-831-1023 - Perform First Aid to Restore Breathing and/or Pulse" the soldier standards are "Standards: Take appropriate action, in the correct sequence, to restore breathing and, if necessary, the pulse. Continue until the casualty's breathing/pulse returns, a qualified person relieves you, a physician stops you, or you are too tired to continue." His benchmarks are if he is a Go/No-GO for each of the steps he must do to accompish the standard. Benchmarks are the grades a student recieves based on each step he accomplishes.



Tasks in the Army are broken down into skill level tasks. Each task has a name and number for reference. The Common Soldier Task book has a list of classes NCO's must teach there soldiers and the standards they must achieve to pass that block of instruction. Benchmarks are the way to measure what the soldier accomplished based on a Go/No-go status. If a soldier recieves a go he passes that individual task. In the example above one step is "Positioned the casualty" and a list of steps on how to position the casualty is under that step. If the benchmark of Positioning the casualty is correct the soldier recieves a Go and moves on. In education it would be a worksheet on an individual step of a larger Content Standard.

Is there a book like this for education? I'm understanding that is what NET-S is trying to do?

wk 5, Weather ,NOAA'S Cloud Classification National Weather, evaluation

Website Evaluation Checklist

Student Name: Butch Abling Date of Evaluation: 10 Feb 2011
Name of the Website: NOAA’s Cloud ClassificationsNational Weather
URL of the Website: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/clouds_max.htm
Accuracy of the Web Page

1. Can you find the author of the page? Yes

Author Name:
National Weather ServiceSouthern Region Headquarters819 Taylor Street, Room 10A06Fort Worth, TX 76102Webmaster's E-mail: SR-SRH.Webmaster@noaa.gov

2. Can the author be contacted:Yes

Author email: SR-SRH.Webmaster@noaa.gov


3. Do you think this person or institution is qualified to publish this webpage?
X

Why or why not? It's the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


1. Check the domain of the URL, particularly the extension.
Is this a commercial site? No

2. Are there credentials listed for the author(s)? I'm going to assume so since it's a government site.

Purpose of the Web Page - Information about NOAA


1. Read over the information on this website carefully. Can you determine the purpose of this web page? Yes

Why is this web page on-line? To Inform the public about NOAA. Think critically about possible opinions or bias? I think they scientifically research data without bias as best as possible.


Currency of the Web Page

1. Can you find a publishing date? Not of the site

When was it published?
2. When was it updated? -Page last modified: January 5, 2010

3. Are the links working and current? Yes

What do you think about the links? I love them and use them all the time!

Looking at your answers, do you think this website would be a reliable, credible source of information? Yes

Why or Why not?
It’s the NOAA Governement Website

Delicious Blog

It took me a minute to figure out how to use Delicious. I was expecting to add a tool bar at the top of my screen but it didn't. I understand the concept of cloud computing but I'm not big on it yet till they let me create my own work page without adding crap that I don't want to it.

What got me was how to add a tag. I didn't understand the tag concept even after watching the video. I finally figured out that what we have to do is add EDU271 as a tag to the websites we found. When you've found a site you want to add Tag(label) it and you can use that like a Favorite or a better description is a MS Access file. It seems to be an ok resource tool but what I really need is a personalized webpage!

Not the best picture sorry I don't have a lot of time but if you look closely on of the Highlighted TAGs is EDU271. That's how you can find it. Type in EDU271 in your search and you've found all the classes Tags.

Group Collaboration AAR Blog 2

AAR- After Action Report. If I had a group of people like Danielle we would have completed this assignment in 3 days. She took the initiative as assaulted this assignment like there was no tomorrow. She shot out a Rough Draft day 2 and we started working back and forth on drafts from that point on. What killed us is we had decided to back off a little in order to allow the others to jump in and start writing. Group Collaborations must be coordinated quickly in order to give people time to work. The problem comes when people procrastinate and then try to jump in later.

Our teams ultimate problem was 1. How to tackle the assignment 2. Who was in charge 3. How far should we go before we just work without the others.

1. How to tackle the assignment. Since me and Danielle did not want to step on each others toes we were skeptical about rewording and working on the other persons writtings. I guess we could have divided up the document into different areas for each of us but that is to much like an individual assignment. We finally decided just to pass the draft back and forth sometimes working on it at the same time.(I wish PBworks had a free IM!)

2. Who was in charge. The great thing about how we worked was we both were. After we got over the problem of being skeptical about offending the other person and just working as a team the drafting, re-writing, finding error, then re-writing went a lot smoother. I do not think either of us wanted to be in charge. Not because we were afraid but because both of us had been in charge of collaboration way to many times and were leaving that option open for some of the other students to jump in a participate. By the time we decided that they were not going to do it we both just passed the document back and forth making corrections.

3. Without initiative the project is doomed to fail. With initiative and understanding that your all working as a team and not to take things to personal it all works out great. I am sure we could have done better if we had a plan from day one but that would have required initiative from all the members. Overall I think this collaboration went well and those that participated learned a lot.

Elluminate tool for Illumination

I got to log onto Elluminate this morning and was amazed at some of the things this program does for online classes and collaboration. For example Prof. Keesee was able to bring up her desktop and walk us through how to do things and where to find them. If not for a separate meeting I had to attend this morning, I would have stayed for the entire session. In my opinion this application should be required of students for the 2nd week of training. That or 1 actual classroom class the student must attend.

The Good and the Bad
The voice chat was interesting but has a few drawbacks. 1. Only one person can talk at a time and if that one person doesn't realize they must unclick the mic button no one else can talk. Using some other voice chat applications for gaming I though this would be more up to date but I can see how in a classroom everyone shouting does not go over well.

The chat window was great you could type questions and responses while the teacher was talking. *Pass notes in class behind the teachers back is still possible!!!*

The teachers ability to show her desktop and step by step instructions was AWSUME! This application alone helps a lot. I wish I would have had longer and I'm looking forward to other sessions. It's like live Video you can interact with. The best applications I've seen online after taking 15 or more courses online have been Course Compass using My Math Lab, Blackboard, Video, now PB works and Elluminate. I'm not much on Blogging since it's much like using a Forum and I prefer a Forum. I would actually recommend the Blogging later in the course.

I'm really looking forward to using Elluminate again and hope to play around with the program on my own time some. With all these forms of technology maybe there should be more prerequisites to this course. I really wish I could have stayed longer and preplanned out some of my questions a little better. Elluminate or some prerecorded videos should be at the start of this course as well as many other blackboard courses.

I'll post the link once I can find the recorded event.

CYOA- Choose Your Own Assignment(Adventure) #1

First of all let me point out that CYOA also stands for Choose Your Own Adventure which happens to be one of my favorite book series of all times. I currently own signed copy's of the original works(Adventures of You, 1976) of Edward Packard and RA Montgomery. This book series if it had included math using dice would have been the perfect Across the Curriculum in classroom use books.

Anyways - I'm not completely clear on "Choose one of the reflective prompts provided in the Blog Learning Unit (Week 1) as the basis for your second reflective post this week." It would appear I need to reflect upon week #1 where we initially set up our blogs. I was unable to locate the "reflective prompts provided."

I will say that week one was a lot easier than this week. I wish the modules had specific dates on them it takes some time going back and forth between the modules and figuring out which week is which. I printed out a schedule and labeled them all but that requires access to the document I made(which I have misplace yet again). Not to mention that all 4 classes have different weeks with starts being on Tuesday, Wednesday and the other on Saturday. I understand that labeling the weeks makes perfect sense and it is on the student not the teacher to distinguish whats what. I just need to work out a better system that a print out put on a calender I pack around.

Week 1 did go well with starting the blog and was quite fun. I'm not sure I'll use it with my class since it is open to the net and I prefer blackboard or that new Moodle I'm still trying to find the time to research. I've downloaded the software and so far it looks like I can set it up without being online. That's great since my online time is limited to Internet access when I can get it.
All in all it has been a good experience and I've learned a lot about blogger. I prefer forums or if blogger was able to group us together more effectively. There is just to much information to go through and keep up with.

Week 3 - GROUP COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

I love the PBworks site. I've been amazed at how well it tracks posts and makes collaboration easier if your working on a single document. Making a second page for discussion I was not fond of all it seem to be good for is posting facts. It did make posting information that "might be used" easier so I can see where it has it's purpose. This seemed to deter from the actually work needed. By using the same document page it forces the writer to review and submit there facts more legibly to the group. I looked over a number of Discussion Boards and it appeared to be the same thing, just a lot of facts and link posts waiting for revision. In my opinion I believe the the discussion should take place in the comment area and work done on one page.

I will definitely be using the PBworks page in the fall with my class and I've already set up an account. like the fact that it tracks students individually what they post and you can compare document changes using the history button. Danielle taught me how to use the Star Button to concentrate on the specific pages I'm working on. Overall the collaboration has been going well despite the short time period and trying to get everyone to make changes on the single document. I think with more time lets say 2-3 weeks the collaboration would work out perfectly.

Collaborations should be a month long project. This would give students the time to coordinate more effectively. It takes at least 4-5 days to get everyone linked up online unless you have a classroom environment to prearrange everything. Tracking down the info takes about a 4-5 days then collaboration about a week or more to get a really good product. So far this collaboration has gone better than most class I've had group projects in thanks too the work some of the fellow student's have put in so far.

Moodle 2.0 Release

This Course has got me so excited that I've been trying to create an online teaching course like Blackboard using Freeware.
Looks like someone has beat me to the punch.

Much Like BlackBoard, Moodle is a free source teaching tool online. I'm still researching Moodle but this is what I was trying to make using a forum. I got involved in forum about 4 years ago because of a stupid video game so I joined a video game community. Using a free forum (that a 13 year old started) we modified the game using an Unreal Editor 2.0. I'm no PC wiz but I love to learn. After 20 years in the military and taking loads and loads of online courses I'm just starting to understand Psychological Development of Children and Adults. As Baker said in 1937-"Even Froegel understood that people who think that children are only seeking amusement when they play are committing a grave error, for he proposed that play is the first means of development of the human mind.(Play and Child Development)



Where do the Children Play?


Life is to short for us not to use every resource we can muster to teach the next generation. I'm hoping some of these freeware projects will make learning more fun and memorable. Why stress over school when learning is just playing. I'm hoping Moodle will help us with this.

Here is a link to Moodle administrative page that will help anyone understand it better-



I'm still learning so more to follow later.

Group Work Collaboration Week 3

First let me say yes and no to the "Ten guidelines for students doing group work in mathematics" from an online perspective. In a classroom this sounds great since communication happens instantaniously and you can read body language. Online is similiar and some of those ideas work like #'s 1-5 and 8-10 but 6 and 7 DO NOT DO ONLINE! For a math problem maybe but for a group project not splitting up the work will get you fights and late assignments. As for #7 thinking outloud and random writing will get everyone confused. Online you must be specific and clear at all times!

What should the teacher do to prepare the students?
Give them a head's up (warning order) or an upcoming tasking or project. Inform them of Material, tools, and direction of the upcoming project.

How should he/she design the group project?
Based on what information she wants her students to learn. Powerpoint presentations and role playing or acting out projects is an excellent method followed by an After Action Review or Critic of themselves.

How should groups be formed--does it matter?
If it's the 1st few Group Projects let the students decide. After you evaluate who is doing what make those that have not specific jobs - do those jobs. Make them build on weaknesses. "Know your strengths, develope you weaknesses"(FM100-Leadership)

What kind of roles should group members take on?
Group Leader, Brain Storming session of everyone, Draft Team, Resource Gathering Team, Creation Team, Reviewed by all members, then Submitted by the whole team or Group Leader.

How will you monitor group interactions and check for understanding?
Continuiosly! Also in the After Action Review on "How can we do this better next time?" The Facilitator or Teacher must always monitor and ask questions as well as be available to answer questions.

What are ways to successfully close or wrap-up a collaborative process?
Review. Just like in the 5 years olds video we just watched the children reviewed the information they learned to re-enforce what they learned.

What are ways to assess group projects?
I hate Letter Grades to a degree. I was just reading how a University Professor in Indiana has started assigning Experience Points kind of like in a video game for things learned. I like the idea of Grades being % but not A, B, C... . The ABCDF is to broad and if your .5% off IT WILL DRIVE YOU NUTS!
Experience Points for Grades-
http://current.com/1a1oc4c

If you don't believe me think about how many times you've considered purchases based on Cash Back or Reward Points.

What are some tips that would help students accept responsibility and work together to accomplish the task?
Pep-talks, points awarded by position, perks of position like being in charge, access to items like computers or library passes,

What are tips/suggestions for working with others in a group?
Avoid the Drama.... after lisening to Teenagers and people at work for the last couple of days this is #1. Focus on the Project, keep the peace, and avoid personality conflicts.

What are tips/suggestions for getting a group started on the task?
Brainstorm, inform them of parameters like time, cost, access to materials, and backwards planning strategies then let them run with what ever they can come up with as long as it's in the guildlines you provided.

My Teachinhg Philosophy- Hungary as a Hostage (how to copy and past link)

My Teaching Philosophy - "Hungary as a Hostage"
My Teaching philosophy - Feed the Hostage while you have their attention.

My Background about teaching-

I prefer Student-Centered Teaching and the teacher being the facilitator. I believe what we learn can be broken down into simple structures or symbols. In Air Traffic Control we call this "The Newbie Board." Students simple use memorization for the first 3 days of any subject. We create a picture of all the material that will be covered. Pictures are 100 times easier to memorize than words or numbers. Here is an Example. This picture represents everything about what we need to know. We draw this picture about 30 times until we have it memorized. Once it is memorized we can use access the information by drawing it anywhere. Different areas of the picture represent different things we must know like Altitudes, Speeds, and Frequencies. All you have to do is picture that area of the flips in your mind and fill in the blank. This is behaviorism. Step #2 is Cognitive, Constructive, and Connectivism (Social Constructive) based learning. Congnitive are what steps must I follow in order to do a specific task like get airspace. Constructive is the problem solving of how to get an aircraft from point A to point B safely. Social Constructive is when I deploy to a Foreign Country with an Air Traffic Control Team how do all of US work together to develop Controlled Airspace from all our previous experiences into one team that moves and responds like a fluid or as one.


Philosophy

The Teaching Philosophy or Model for a classroom environment must be based on the Need's of the Individual or Group. As a Teacher or Facilitator we must pick which teaching strategy is needed and come up with the appropriate Activity. We must not forget the most important part in this process and that is Keeping it Simple. Everything is wasted if Teachers deviate from structure or routines. If you find a good strategy that is easily understood than keep it. Communication is the hardest part of teaching. The student wants to achieve a goal as instructors we know how to get them to that goal the problem lies in communicating it so be are both on the "same sheet of music". Self motivated learners will consume knowledge extremely rapidly (or like a hungry hostage at a buffet table).

Learning in the Near Future(I'm still trying to figure out how the teacher got her videos in her blogs)-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JTc9HeTh1A&feature=player_detailpage

Hope this works-

Tip of the Day- Copy and Paste into Blogger (Edit Html must be used) http://www.ehow.com/how_5226330_copy-paste-word-blogger-tags.html

I'm just getting the hang of this Html thingy but I hope to figure this out and how to use it- http://www.web-source.net/html_codes_chart.htm

SimulationEducation - Hands on Approach to Learning

I've worked with simulator for Air Traffic Control and when the US Army 1st started implementing Simulators into learning command and control and combat skills. I played around with some of the Battlefield Simulators that were just maps with symbols you could move around representing combat units. Each team (TOC) was located in separate rooms in a building; these TOC's would use radios that communicated individual computer operators that would move the units during a battlefield simulation.

From there I moved onto Air Traffic Control where we started with Magnets on a Chalkboard and eventually moved to ATC Simulators . I use various tools to train young soldiers how to be an Army Air Traffic Controller. I would like to eventually use the skills I have learned to help teach students skills like History, Mathematics, Reading, Writing thru simulated game play. Why should learning be boring? I can put a simple game in my children's hands like Civilization and they learn economics, map reading, and history. Why don't we use game play like it was intended to be used the way Lions teach their young to hunt?

Creating this Blog was easy except I had to sign-up for a Gmail account. I primarily use Microsoft and had a little problem with copy and paste but eventually figured it out. MS and Yahoo really needs to step things up.