EDT 510: Grants!

After browsing the GetEdFunding.com grant listings, I have decided that the grant that would best fit my idea is SCA Grants (Sony Corporation of America). This grant focuses on groups who demonstrate need as well as the area of education (and the strengthening of education).

This grant provides many opportunities for educational technology funding. My main idea behind this grant is to obtain a classroom set of tablets with literacy and math applications installed to improve the learning experience for the students in my classroom. Seeing as Sony is well known for its electronics, I thought this grant idea would mesh well with Sony's main manufacturing details.

The application process for this grant does not have a formal procedure, rather it begins with a written request proposal. The request should include a description of the institution requesting funds, history of support from Sony, amount being requested and a description of the purpose of the grant/funds. Once the initial request is received by Sony, additional information may be requested, or a letter of decline will be mailed.

EDT 510: Curriculum Screencast

EDT 510- Choosing a Course Development Tool

Moodle:

I decided to choose Moodle because it is a tool I have not used before.  In addition, since the population in my class is very young, I thought this would be the best possible option for providing a guided on-line learning environment, which is easy to use.  My students need very concrete and direct instructions on how to complete tasks.  This course development tool appears to be the easiest way to present a concise and concrete virtual learning experience.

Using Moodle, I will create "Day" blocks, which the students will need to complete in order to go to the next "day".  Each block will include links or projects the students will need to complete in order to receive credit for the day.  Moodle will help me to ensure that all my students are completing the necessary components of the curriculum project.  Basically, I will use Moodle to resemble a Webquest type of learning project.  Each day, as the day before is completed, a new set of tasks will become available.

iPad App Review

Hello all!  Sorry for the late post of this assignment-- I was out of town for a wedding since Wednesday and didn't realize I would not have internet access.

Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe Interactive Game

Made by: Lakeshore

Review of Application:

This application provides students an opportunity to learn in a game format.  Students can play in groups of 2 or more, as it is a 2 person game.  Each player gets to answer a question on the tic-tac-toe board.  If they get the question correct, their symbol shows up on the game board, if they get the question wrong, the question is still up for grabs.  Students play until they get a tic-tac-toe (or 3 in a row).  One issue with this application is that it does not read the questions and clues to the students.  Often, I have found myself reading the questions for the students until they begin to associate the words.  An additional downfall is that the questions repeat every 3 (or so) games.  Overall, I really enjoy this app as it keeps the attention of my students, they enjoy playing the game (and even ask to play it!), and they are learning while having fun and being engaged!  I would give this application 4 out of 5 stars due to the 2 downfalls I listed above.

Screenshots of Application:

Related Links:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phonics-tic-tac-toe-interactive/id465184366?mt=8

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/mobile_apps/mobileApps.jsp

EDT 510 step 2

Above is a flow chart created for the next step of the project for EDT 510.  This project is requiring us as educators/students to create a unit plan that is based on technology.  Since I currently work in a school which has very low level readers, I decided to make a unit plan based on literacy skills.  Many of the "activities" which will assist with learning are games on the internet.  While I did not include all activities, as some are not computer based, I made sure to include the activities which involve technology.  In addition, I would like to incorporate the iPad 2 and literacy apps into my learning project.

EDT 510: Concept Map for Project

The above is the concept map I created using Inspiration 9 free trial.  I originally tried to utilize cmap; however, I really struggled with trying to use it.  I have used Inspiration in the past for other education classes and really enjoyed it.  I was not so fond of it this time around... Perhaps because I had already created my outline in Mircrosoft Word first.  I find that it is easier to make your outline in Inspiration and then click on the diagram button, rather than try to make your concept map on your own when you have already written an outline.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what we need to do for this project moving forward... There was not much information in the syllabus and this week's instructions simply stated that I should answer the questions posted....

EDT 517

This week, we had to answer a question regarding whether or not we agreed that standard curriculum can be disabling.  I agree that standard curriculum can be disabling; however, as a good teacher and educator, you should be able to make the curriculum lively and engaging in some small way, even if you can only teach scripted programs.  

While I know that many districts require teachers to teach concepts in completely scripted and very uninteresting ways, I have the freedom to teach as I see fit for my students (finally a plus of my job!).  If I want my students to master telling time, and that takes 8 weeks to do, I am permitted to do so, so long as I can justify why I spent so much time on one topic.  Many districts are so focused on "teaching to the test", they often forget that our students do not learn in that manner!  They need realistic, meaningful, hands-on experiences they can relate to and understand in order to learn.  

One benefit of analyzing a curriculum for strengths and weaknesses is that you can find different unique and new ways to teach the same information that will be more meaningful and relatable for the students.  If we continue to teach the same curriculum taught 20 years ago in the same manner it was taught 20 years ago, we are doing a disservice to our students, who are completely embedded in the technology rich world.  A very important, and mentionable challenge related to this is the fact that it takes man-power to review such things, and as a result, many districts do not have the resources to do so.

Horizon Report- Tablet Computing

After reading the Horizon Report, I am most excited for tablet computing.  Tablet computing offers a cost-effective way for school districts to have access to one-to-one technology for their students.  In addition to being able to access the web for research, or quick answers, students have access to tons of applications, which can improve learning.  They can also access textbooks, chapter books, and educational videos.  Tablets provide access to communication for students who are limited in their communication abilities.  In addition, they can be modified to help people with visual impairments use them.  Tablets are light-weight and portable.  Research has shown that tablets make learners active and motivated learners rather than passive learners.

National Education Technology Plan

Well, here I am... after week 1 of my 3rd year of teaching, I am faced with 2 grad classes (both online), which are requiring me to read long articles and "reflect" on them...  I am completely exhausted at this point, so if it doesn't make sense, forgive me :)

Questions:
1.  What options do low income schools have to also gain access to technology to provide their students with necessary educational benefits for the future?

2.  When a new president is elected, will this plan continue, or will a new president put it to the side and focus on other non-education related issues?

3.  Is technology developing and evolving faster than we, as humans and educators, can keep up with it?

After reading and watching the video, I feel that while this plan has great ideas, some of them are not feasible or accessible by people who are in low income areas.  In addition, as I currently work in a low income school, I am finding that many of my students do not have access to something as basic as a computer in their home, let alone a smart phone, or internet access.  This creates an issue when it comes to providing a 21st century to my students.

In addition to working in a low income school, I also work with teachers who have been teaching without technology for 20+ years, who are very reluctant to use or learn about new technology that could benefit our students, but also do not WANT to learn how to use such technology because they "never used it before".  With this being said, programs should be developed to help teachers learn the basics of new technology to assist them in utilizing such things in their classrooms.

In the reading, it states that states and local governments need to work to provide meaningful learning experiences which can involve technology.  When states are barely making ends meet for basic needs, how will the states be able to provide such funds for schools?  Many places in the United States are struggling just to pay their teachers for the jobs they do day in and day out.  In addition, the states and school districts have been closing schools, combining schools, etc., in an effort to reduce budgets.

With a plan that is proposed to be 5 years long, what happens when we do not accomplish all the goals or ideas listed in the plan at the end of 5 years?  Does the government continue funding for this plan that has not yet been accomplished, or is all of the work that was done in those 5 years become useless and forgotten?  In my 3 years with the company I work for, just this year (my 3rd year) did I see new technology being brought into the school, which was not paid for by our school, but rather a grant for educating day students through ACCESS funds.

In my humble opinion, keeping our students and teachers current and up-to-date on new technologies will only be beneficial if we have the training and materials necessary to do so.  If we cannot fund or provide the necessary pieces of equipment to do so, we are doing a disservice to our students by not providing them access to a 21st century education, which they will need to be successful in an ever technology filled world.