Journal Entry #8

Technology in Ethiopian Schools:  Connecting Children from Various Cultures

By Judit Szente

      This article describes the integration of technology as a vehicle to improve education in Ethiopia.   The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiated the project with the leadership of Dr. James L. Hoot from the University at Buffalo in 2000.

     The project enables students to be trained on and use computers to enhance their educational experience.   Other than the multitude of benefits that can be had with the use of technology, the project had two other main objectives.  The first objective was to provide students with access to the business world through technology.  The other objective was using some hands on applications to participate with businesses in the production of things such as; business cards, brochures and wedding invitations.

     In an otherwise extremely disadvantaged area of the world students are being taught and trained on the invaluable tools of technology.  With this new areas of the world and society are being introduced to the students.

 How were cross-cultural collaborations initiated with this project?

     Students were invited to document their lives, cultures and customs using multimedia projects.  They used PowerPoint demonstrations, digital video and photography.  As the project continued the presentations were presented at the King Center Charter School and the students at the school in the United States too created similar presentations to share with students in Ethiopia.  This created a cross-cultural learning experience for students from both countries while teaching the marvels of technology.

 What are the future plans for this project in Ethiopia?

     Plans are in the works for students to share their projects on the Web, which would enable the public to have access to the projects.  Also project heads would like to include the sharing of academic learning’s; such as math, social studies and geography.

 

 

Journal Entry #7

Tech Camp Unleashes Creativity and Collaboration


By Joe Bardin

     This article discusses a one-week camp for K-12 grade teachers that immerses them into the world of technology and its uses in the classroom.  The camp enables teachers to have some hands-on experience as well have access to facilitators for questions and discussions. 

     The article speaks to the use of iMovie, Podcasts, and WebPages in the trainings offered at the Tech Camp.  The author emphasizes the potential for learning in the classroom using the above-mentioned programs.  The instructors in the camp encourage the teachers to let their students be creative in their use of technology.  By letting the students explore using their knowledge of technology it allows for them to think outside of the box.

     One teacher spoke to the learning process and ever changing applications in technology.  “I saw that the Trainers worked by trial and error too, which showed me not to be intimidated by what I didn’t know. Tech Camp released my inhibitions to ask for help and gave me the confidence to have kids experiment as well”, (Tech Camp Unleashes Creativity and Collaboration, June/July 2008). 

     The article uses several specific examples of how teachers are using different applications in the classroom and how they enhance the learning process of their students.

 How concepts are taught to 1^st Graders by using iMovie to make a film about fire safety?

Besides the obvious, of learning about fire safety the children were responsible for much of the script writing and acting.  Such a project exercises a range of fundamental skills: writing, public speaking, teamwork, and creative collaboration.

 How does one teacher use technology to help bridge a language gap with her students?

Podcasts are used an example of how technology is useful to English Language Learners.  Such students do not often hear themselves speak fully until they do a recording and then play it back. The playback gives an audible demonstration of how important it is to slow down and enunciate properly.  With this, there are plenty of room for creativity and fun as well. Audio effects lend for creativity in making voices sound distorted, either very high pitched or altered.

Journal Entry #6

Mapping Student Minds
Ariel Owen

This article discusses the use of mapping tools in the classroom. This author and educator uses mapping as a visual and tactile tool to enhance students’ understanding of data in a science class. The author, Owen, suggests that with this tool students not only gather and examine the data but they are directly involved in mapping the relationships and cause and effect of each piece of gathered information.
This tool enables students who are visual and tactile learners to see what their discoveries mean, how they are related and how they play a role in the overall picture or lesson. As a visual and tactic learner myself, I would have benefited from such a program in school. I feel that with this particular tool it is possible for students to have a hands on experience in their learning. Not only can students see their data using mapping but they can also use it to determine what evidence or data is less necessary in their study. The author reports that often his students will have an overly complicated map because they have a difficult time narrowing down the number of factors. This process ultimately helps students see how the factors that don’t apply are not useful and eliminate them from their diagram.

When can mapping be best applied to curriculum?
Mapping can best be used when there is measurable data or a cause and effect relationship in the data and lesson. When there are concrete results to be mapped students have the opportunity to enter in the findings and determine what those findings have in common and how they are interrelated.

What are some difficulties that students have when mapping?
As mentioned above, many students will “over-map” their findings. They will enter too many factors, many of which are unrelated or irrelevant, making the map more confusing. The author, Owen (2002), reports that this may be due to several reasons, whether it be, “pride in authorship, a fear of throwing away something important, or just an inability to let go of visible factors”. The author notes that this refining process is often a very difficult step for students.

Journal Entry #5

Can You Hear Me Now?
Sherry Turkle

This article was very interesting to me because it reminded me of how dependent I really am on technology. Without stopping to think about the myriad of technological devices we all use from day to day one can forget just how enthralled they are with their gadgets and gizmos.
I don't always stop to think about the cell phone always being within arm reach, or the GPS system for which I have become embarrassingly dependent upon, or the commonplace of daily conversations with family and friends being interrupted by emails and phone calls. With all of the options we have now, as Turkle explains, we have the world and all of its inhabitants within a click of a button or mouse. If ever I am having a debate or discussion the facts can be "Googled" or if I have a question about anything I can "Ask Jeeves". There is very little left to the contemplation or imagination anymore. If you have a friend across the world, without much thought given, except to calculate the time zones, you can Skype them and have a real time conversation.
All of these technologies have created a very impatient society - a society that has access to just about whatever their imagination can invent. How much contemplation do we really do anymore? What would life look like, even to the "technologically disadvantaged"?

How does our technological society affect children and teenagers according to Turkle?
According to the author, Turkle, cell phones void a sense of independence in children and teenagers. When once a teen had the moment of true freedom from their parents they now have cell phones and their parents are just a "speed dial" away. If ever they have a dilemma or question, all they need to do is call and the help is on the other line.

How are people becoming more alienated?
With access to each other, information, and entertainment at our fingertips we are becoming less and less dependent on each other. Everywhere you turn people are obsessed with their Blackberries, email, Facebook pages, and GPS. Where conversation used to be of value people are now turning to various technological tools for entertainment, connection to other people and in some cases living multiple existences. People are buried in their computers often missing out on human conversation and interaction therefore becoming more and more alienated.

Journal Entry #4

Moderating the Ethics for the Classroom Instructional Blog
Patricia Duebel, Ph.D.
This essay was of particular interest to me because it is essentially a “how to” of creating a class blog. The author spoke about her particular feelings on blogging in the classroom and how it can be used effectively to create an online class environment to enhance the learning process.
The author explains how to many the upkeep of a classroom blog may be intimidating and an intricate process. She also considers the negative aspects of a blog if used inappropriately. However, for the most part, the author supports the use of such technology to enhance the communication among students in a unique way. She speaks to the students that do not necessarily speak up in classroom discussions and how a blog “discussion” may encourage the quieter students to participate.
Of all the technologies that I have been introduced to in recent weeks, I feel that a classroom blog may be one of the ways I will adapt my new found knowledge to the classroom environment. I think it is a fantastic way to communicate curriculum, current events, assignments, discussion and expectations of a class with students, parents and other teachers.

What is a hazard of using blogging as an educational tool?
One downfall of using a blog for student and parent communication is that a blog is a public domain. Although there are effective ways to ensure the privacy and protection of students, there is always the possibility of breach of privacy.

Why should guidelines be established when using a classroom blog?
Guidelines are important in establishing a blog for classroom use. Making sure that thoughts posted on blogs by students, parents and other teachers are relevant to the subject matter, appropriate and well thought out requires that rules are established and maintained by all participants. As the author of this article suggests; at what point does the instructor allow complete freedom of speech? Or do the teacher and other participants have the right to delete comments or edit communication posted by others? I think a good solution to this question is to have a student based discussion on respecting others and “digital citizenship” and ultimately allow the class to establish the guidelines for which they are expected to follow.

Journal Entry #3

Too cool for school? No way!
Mishra, P., & Koehler, M.

In this article, TPACK is introduced as the knowledge educators must possess about technologies and how it relates to the current pedagogy and content parameters. This commentary speaks to the importance of educators maintaining a fluent understanding of technology so that they may in turn, successfully use technology in the classroom as effective teaching tools.
The article mentions the importance of having a strong knowledge base so that educators are able to “repurpose” technologies. The original purpose of technology, in most cases, is not to teach multiple subject matter. Therefore, it is important that with awareness of technology, educators can then use it to teach in a classroom setting. In order to successfully “repurpose” anything one must have a fluent understanding of the original.
The article mentions three examples of how technologies can be repurposed to best suit the student’s learning. The examples given go beyond the use of Internet, search engines, Smart Boards and digital textbooks. The creative examples mentioned are; mircoblogging, visual searching, and music DJ software. These examples are forms of technology that may not, at first glance, be an effective way to teach any subject matter, however, the authors of this article explain how each can be used in different ways to teach various subjects in an imaginative way.

What are the educational benefits of music DJ software?
The article uses an example of applying the rhythmic and melodic nature of DJ software to teach students about mathematical concepts. This is a very creative way to use technologies in a way that is unexpected and in a way that will certainly capture the attention of students.

What is visual searching?
As another example given in this article of an inventive way to use technology in the classroom, visual searching was revealed. This is a technique of searching that enables students to see how the use of words and the combination of words originated. Many phrases and single words have a long history of development. Using this type of search students discover a map or outline of this development.

Myah