Podcast Assignment
This podcast is an introduction to a research project about Ellis Island. The podcast is a brief time line on the history of Ellis Island and the experiences of the immigrants coming through Ellis Island. ESL students can listen to the podcast to get an idea of what it was like to be an immigrant coming through Ellis Island, and take notes on some of the major events or people in the podcast. The podcast and the notes they take can be used as an outline to begin their research. This software is especially helpful for more auditory learners as well as reinforcing listening comprehension for ESL students.
Here is a link to my podcast assignment: https://sites.google.com/site/podcastmd400/home
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
MD400
I came into this course without any previous experience using the software that has been presented so far. The blog exercise and being introduced to some of the education blogs has been interesting. I think that Vicki Davis is someone I will continue to read after this course is finished. The 'Teddy Bear' idea is a great lesson in cultural understanding and I think it would go over well in ESL or World Languages classes. Maintaining the blog itself has been easy enough.
With photo shop, I enjoyed learning the different uses it could have in the classroom and as part of a lesson. I admit to being SO frustrated at times while trying to use the different tools. For my picture, I kept it pretty simple but I would like to be able to get more comfortable with it. Storyboard is a great software. I found it very easy to use, simple to figure out on your own and definitely applicable in the classroom at almost any level. As for the articles and readings, I had not been exposed to the ideas of Inquiry Based Learning etc... so it was interesting to read about different methods or approaches that I didn't have exposure to in my academic experiences.The website is still a work in progress so we'll see how what frustration level that brings me.
Overall, the introductions to the software have been totally new for me and it's been a good learning experience. I definitely feel like I am behind in knowing about some of the other educational software like smart board and PowerPoint, so I am looking forward to learning more about those tools.
With photo shop, I enjoyed learning the different uses it could have in the classroom and as part of a lesson. I admit to being SO frustrated at times while trying to use the different tools. For my picture, I kept it pretty simple but I would like to be able to get more comfortable with it. Storyboard is a great software. I found it very easy to use, simple to figure out on your own and definitely applicable in the classroom at almost any level. As for the articles and readings, I had not been exposed to the ideas of Inquiry Based Learning etc... so it was interesting to read about different methods or approaches that I didn't have exposure to in my academic experiences.The website is still a work in progress so we'll see how what frustration level that brings me.
Overall, the introductions to the software have been totally new for me and it's been a good learning experience. I definitely feel like I am behind in knowing about some of the other educational software like smart board and PowerPoint, so I am looking forward to learning more about those tools.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cool Cat Teacher Blog
In reference to what we spoke about in class last week regarding Facebook pictures. There was a blog post that talked about how FB keeps 'deleted' pictures for up to 30 months after the user thinks they have been deleted. The post explains that we expect kids to make mistakes as they are growing up and learning to be more socially aware of their actions, it's a part of the educational process. However, the damage that can be done by making these mistakes in an online setting are more far reaching and long lasting than what might be a schoolyard incident that can be dealt with within the school and moved on from. The post talks about how some 'online indescretions' can impact a persons marketability in the work place or even hurt their chances of getting into some schools or universities. It's very easy for kids to find trouble online these days and the consequences of some of these actions should be a topic of discussion in class to help prevent some of these damaging effects.
Cool Cat Teacher Blog
The most recent post on the 'Cool Cat' blog is about an honoree at the ATEM awards banquet (Maine association for computer and technology educators). His name is Bob Asselin. In general it's always good to read about the people who make the most out of any opportunity and go beyond the norm's of just doing an good job. Those people that are so involved in their field that they are at the forefront of new technologies, methods, and constantly updating their ways of thinking to get the most out of the resources they have available to them. The teacher in this posting, Mr. Asselin is described as someone who approaches his work with kid-like enthusiasm. That type of interest can only be a positive influence on his co-workers and students. If a student is being introduced to a new topic without any prior knowledge of it and it is presented in an engaging way by an excited teacher, then I think there is more of a chance for that student to develop a genuine interest in the topic. It doesn't mean that every student will develop the same desire to learn more about a topic, but I do think that type of enthusiasm will influence the students to research the topic further than they would have with a less enthusiastic presentation. It's also refreshing to see how this teacher is an older person but has taken the time to learn and keep learning about new technologies that can help educators. I think that teachers need to keep up with these new technologies for a couple of reasons. Obviously they can be used as an aid in the classroom. I also think that being exposed to what new types of technology the students have at their disposal can help a teacher be more aware of what types of media are keeping their students' attention, which is a huge benefit in the classroom.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Inquiry Based Learning
I have never used Inquiry based learning in a classroom setting and I don't remember using it much in school. Unfortunately, I had teacher that would sit at their desk and recite notes about dates and names from lesson plans they have had since the 60's.
In my own personal experience, Inquiry Based Learning relates to hiring practices that I have used in my career in the restaurant business. I always have tended to hire staff based on work experience and 'in the field' history. I have always thought that a person who has actual 'hands on' experience to draw from, is more prepared than someone who knows formulas that may pertain to success in a certain business field. Sometimes, both of these candidates poses the same basic knowledge such as what food-cost should be or where labor-cost should fall. But I have always felt that the person who has real time experience in reaching those goals with the pressures of a fully functioning business and an owner's expectations of making a profit hanging over their head, is more prepared than the person who has read about these goals in a textbook. Somewhat like the example in the article of the 'Earth's Crust' lesson, where the students not only learned the 'What' about the layers of the Earth, but in an Inquiry Learning setting they are encouraged to ask questions about 'How' we know this, which results in dialogue and understanding about the facts and how they came to be known.
I think the most important part of the article was in reference to the problem solving and critical thinking skills that are encouraged in an Inquiry Learning setting. The students will eventually enter a fast paced and constantly changing work place and being able to think on your feet is a skill that will lend itself to better performance than regurgitating facts that have been memorized. The article also mentions that since information is so quickly and readily available to the students, the emphasis should switch to developing these problem solving skills rather than being focused on memorization. I think that a lot of the issues in education today are due to the fact that many people in positions to decide on educational policies, are of an older generation and have a more traditional view of education. I think that in time, there will be a changing of the guard and there can be more of a balance between traditional methods that are still useful and some aspects of Inquiry Based Learning methods.
In my classroom, I think that Inquiry Based Learning would be used as a platform to develop the problem solving skills I mentioned above and emphasizing the dialogue one can create by asking questions. Asking questions helps develop interpersonal and collaborative skills and that is another valuable skill set for any work place. I imagine that in an ESL setting, not every student is preparing to apply to the Harvard's and Yale's of the world so being able to work well with you peers is very important. I think that creating a learning environment that encourages dialogue, and requires students to not only ask questions but to also look deeper to find the answers, will only make them more marketable when they do move on to furthering their education or joining the work force. I've always felt that half of education is learning the facts and the other half is learning how they apply in whatever setting you're in, whether it's a work setting or school setting. That would include having to apply what you know while managing the social and interpersonal aspects of a job or school setting.
In my own personal experience, Inquiry Based Learning relates to hiring practices that I have used in my career in the restaurant business. I always have tended to hire staff based on work experience and 'in the field' history. I have always thought that a person who has actual 'hands on' experience to draw from, is more prepared than someone who knows formulas that may pertain to success in a certain business field. Sometimes, both of these candidates poses the same basic knowledge such as what food-cost should be or where labor-cost should fall. But I have always felt that the person who has real time experience in reaching those goals with the pressures of a fully functioning business and an owner's expectations of making a profit hanging over their head, is more prepared than the person who has read about these goals in a textbook. Somewhat like the example in the article of the 'Earth's Crust' lesson, where the students not only learned the 'What' about the layers of the Earth, but in an Inquiry Learning setting they are encouraged to ask questions about 'How' we know this, which results in dialogue and understanding about the facts and how they came to be known.
I think the most important part of the article was in reference to the problem solving and critical thinking skills that are encouraged in an Inquiry Learning setting. The students will eventually enter a fast paced and constantly changing work place and being able to think on your feet is a skill that will lend itself to better performance than regurgitating facts that have been memorized. The article also mentions that since information is so quickly and readily available to the students, the emphasis should switch to developing these problem solving skills rather than being focused on memorization. I think that a lot of the issues in education today are due to the fact that many people in positions to decide on educational policies, are of an older generation and have a more traditional view of education. I think that in time, there will be a changing of the guard and there can be more of a balance between traditional methods that are still useful and some aspects of Inquiry Based Learning methods.
In my classroom, I think that Inquiry Based Learning would be used as a platform to develop the problem solving skills I mentioned above and emphasizing the dialogue one can create by asking questions. Asking questions helps develop interpersonal and collaborative skills and that is another valuable skill set for any work place. I imagine that in an ESL setting, not every student is preparing to apply to the Harvard's and Yale's of the world so being able to work well with you peers is very important. I think that creating a learning environment that encourages dialogue, and requires students to not only ask questions but to also look deeper to find the answers, will only make them more marketable when they do move on to furthering their education or joining the work force. I've always felt that half of education is learning the facts and the other half is learning how they apply in whatever setting you're in, whether it's a work setting or school setting. That would include having to apply what you know while managing the social and interpersonal aspects of a job or school setting.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Photoshop
This picture could be used as an activity for ESL students to begin sharing information about their country. I think using soccer as a shared common interest would be a good introduction to talking about what some countries or cultures have in common. Each student could take a turn locating their country on the map, talk about their native language and share a couple of customs or traditions they practice. I think that encouraging awareness of other cultures, languages, and customs would help to improve some of the tensions that are found between some ethnic groups.
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