Tapped In Questions:
By the way, sorry I just left Second Life on Tuesday, I couldn't find anyone, and I tried to transport to where you guys were, but it was going so slow, and I don't think I ever got there. So, I got to frustrated and logged off and went to bed because I was sick.
1. What is the value to me and my students for using virtual reality? I think there is a lot of value for myself along with my students for using virtual reality. From reading about virtual reality on line, I learned that it not only has to do with things like video games (which I am not interested in, but my students are) but it also has to do with education. For example (I think you mentioned this in class) you can take students on virtual field trips. That would be so great for my students, because some of them have never even been out of San Jose, and they are missing so much! They can actually go and see the world from their desk. Virtual field trips can be educational, or they can just be informational (like if they have never been to the beach or to the snow), my students need both!! Virtual reality can also work great for classes like science because you can get 3D objects, and students can actually disect things, and learn in a more hands on way, which my students need again. Plus, it seems like my students know how to interact more with a computer than they do with real human beings. This virtual stuff is pretty cool, I just had no idea that there was so much out there. Now I need to find some virtual stuff for math and language arts. It seems like there is a lot of stuff for science, history, social studies, art.
2. What types of VR would be appropriate for my student population?
I think that the virtual field trips would definately be appropriate for my student population. Also, the educational virtual reality in 3D for science, history, social studies, math would be beneficial to my students because it is more hands on, and they can actually see a picture in 3D. This would definately be appropriate for my students because it would help them understand the curriculum they are learning. As noted by one of the articles, this might also be beneficial to my students with ADD, because it might grab thier attention, and help them to understand the curriculum. Of course, if you are not paying attention, you will not learn, so maybe VR can help them focus and increase learning.
3. How can VR provide me students with enhanced access to:
a. functioning in the community?
VR is very concrete, and shows images that are very real. Because VR is so concrete, students can see images as they would really be, enhancing learning. For example, if a student needed to learn how to ride a bus, they can use VR to learn without having to actually go out in the community first. They can learn through VR because it is so real, then have the confidence to actually go out in the community to ride the bus. One of the articles mentioned that students with learning disabilities learn in very concrete ways, so VR would be perfect to help students learn because it is so concrete. Students can even learn how to go grocery shopping from home.
b. the curriculum?
Again, because VR is so concrete, students are able to grasp the idea that is being taught. Somewhere I read, (I can't remember) also mentioned that VR might help keep students focused in the learning environment. I have many students with short attention spans, and am constantly looking for ways to keep my students focused; this can be one of the ways. It is so hard to learn when you are not paying attention, so it is so important to keep students focused on the lesson you are teaching. VR can help with this, especially with the curriculum, that they might think is "boring." VR also offers more hands on activities, which is great for curriculum becasue many students need hands on activities to fully understand what they are trying to learn.
c. communication with peers?
VR can help teach sign language in a more concrete way, increaseing learning for communication. Also, as in the Second Life, you can communicate with peers from your home, even if they are thousands of miles away. That is pretty cool. Students can ask questions about an assignment they need to complete, or about a test they need to study for through VR. In another article, VR can help students who have a phobia of public speaking. I actually never thought of that, but it is true, if you are not standing in front of people, it does make it easier to speak, ask questions, or give your opinion. Many of my students hate giving presentations, or asking questions in front of a class, so VR might help them communicate with peers. One thing I worry about is that someday, they probably will have to communicate with real people, so I do think it is important to practice with real people, not just on VR. For students who have communication difficulties though, this would be an excellent way for them to be able to communicate with their peers, family, and anyone else they might want to commuincate with.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
week 12
4/22/08
speech to text-word-settings, have to have good articulate speech. Tools-speech-active, can click dictation, and all you have to do is talk. the more you configure microphone, the more accurate it is. Recomend headphone microphone. headphones-cyber acoustics.
Next week: virtual reality. Don't meet here next weeek. Class will be virtually.
tappedin.org--log in as a guest
Reflection: What do you plan on doing after this semester to continue to support your internet presence?
Although creating this website has given me many headaches, I want to keep it going for my classes for the rest of this year and years to come. It was difficult to get this website started, but I think I got the hang of it, so it won't be that difficult to keep up. (I hope). My concerns about having assignments on the internet for my students to complete are great. I have a feeling that since it is very difficult to get my students to even turn in homework from a worksheet, that they won't do an internet assignment. Even now, I have to be careful in the assignements I givout because it it at all "too hard," they won't do it, especcially if it has anything to do with writing. I guess I need to try, though, to see if maybe this might be different. Maybe it will because I know that many of my students love to be on computers (probably not for academic reasons) so maybe this can work.
speech to text-word-settings, have to have good articulate speech. Tools-speech-active, can click dictation, and all you have to do is talk. the more you configure microphone, the more accurate it is. Recomend headphone microphone. headphones-cyber acoustics.
Next week: virtual reality. Don't meet here next weeek. Class will be virtually.
tappedin.org--log in as a guest
Reflection: What do you plan on doing after this semester to continue to support your internet presence?
Although creating this website has given me many headaches, I want to keep it going for my classes for the rest of this year and years to come. It was difficult to get this website started, but I think I got the hang of it, so it won't be that difficult to keep up. (I hope). My concerns about having assignments on the internet for my students to complete are great. I have a feeling that since it is very difficult to get my students to even turn in homework from a worksheet, that they won't do an internet assignment. Even now, I have to be careful in the assignements I givout because it it at all "too hard," they won't do it, especcially if it has anything to do with writing. I guess I need to try, though, to see if maybe this might be different. Maybe it will because I know that many of my students love to be on computers (probably not for academic reasons) so maybe this can work.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
week 11
4/14/08
Acrobat Pro-can put in a document with forms, drop-downs, with audio, comment pop-ups, video in one document. Audio and video supports. Can also record sound. With acrobat, you can create the documents with audio, pictures, video, all in one document. There are school packages. Look to your district to buy Acrobat Pro.
Tonight--Work night; next week is a work night. Website, wiki, track, blog
Next Assignment-due tonight; can turn it in by tomorrow at 4:00pm.
Tinyurl.com
Wiki's-3 websites she likes:
1. http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/wiki_in_a_k-12_classroom
2. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6277799.html
3. http://www.infinitthinking.org/2008/03/wikis-quick-entry-point-to-world-of-web.html
Reflection: pluses and minuses of having to create something for the internet.
There are many pluses and minuses of having to create something for the internet. One plus is that you can reach many more people with the information that you want to get out since the internet is world wide. Also, the internet is the upcoming source of information for many people, so if your information is there, more people will look at it. Some minuses for creating something for the internet are that it is very time consuming, difficult at first, and can be very frustrating.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
week 10
Tonight: trackstar, trackstar.4teachers.org, title of track has to go in the blank, decide if it's a resource list or a worksheet, if you put a date, it will expire and be gone, if you don't, it will stay forever. Have to have at least 2 websites to start the track. use like a word document. can set it up so you really guide the learner, they have to answer on paper. For the assignment, you have to do 10 websites--part of your assignment 5. all tracks have to be approved. once it is green, it has been approved, and it is published out for general use.
Wikkis--pb wikki
need at least 3 pages, 1st page is your homepage, next is about your wikki, 3rd about your tracks
google: even more, then go over to labs, once you have picked a layout, do not change the layout.
don't pick the pink and green one
homepage: 1st thing people go to, what do you want on your homepage: mission statement? can create for your classroom, can have a website for whatever you want. meta navigation on the bottom-put in the footer. type it in as text. 1st have to create your different web pages. Create all the web pages you want. page for math, language arts. once you create those pages, and you want to edit the page-highlight it. do not label the pages wikki, and trackstar-label it for what it is for. you want to make navigation on a website as easy as possible. Have to create a link for a new page.
on a wikki, unless you lock the page, anyone can change it.
Web page design: there is a rubric: external links go out to wikkis, google blog, and trackstar. interal links are the three pages: homepage, wikki website, track
meta navigation: links to the website.
do some research on wikkis
Need: track, wikki, blog, website
assignment due next week: AT evaluation
mac-speech to text
Reflection: tell 5 things that are the most important (and why) that you will be using on a regular basis from now on.
One thing I will use on a regular basis is word processor. Word is great because I can make up my own worksheets, tests, graphic organizer for my studetns in exactly the way I want. There are so many things that I didn't know Word had to offer, like the drop down boxes for tests/quizzes. Another thing I will use is PowerPoint. Although I missed that class, I still think that PowerPoint is a great teaching tool.
Another thing that I will continue to use is the internet. This class has helped me to become more comfortable browsing the internet, and there are so many great sites out there for teachers. I especially like the free stuff teachers can find for everyday teaching tools to make the curriculum more meaningful and fun for studetns.
Graphic organizers is another thing that I will continue to use in my class. Graphic organizers as help students categorize and connect to any material they are learning, making the learning process much more meaningful for students.
I will aslso use Assistive technology for my studetnts when needed. Assistive technology is so neccesary for many studetns to be successful in the classroom, and it is so important to use AT when a student needs it.
Wikkis--pb wikki
need at least 3 pages, 1st page is your homepage, next is about your wikki, 3rd about your tracks
google: even more, then go over to labs, once you have picked a layout, do not change the layout.
don't pick the pink and green one
homepage: 1st thing people go to, what do you want on your homepage: mission statement? can create for your classroom, can have a website for whatever you want. meta navigation on the bottom-put in the footer. type it in as text. 1st have to create your different web pages. Create all the web pages you want. page for math, language arts. once you create those pages, and you want to edit the page-highlight it. do not label the pages wikki, and trackstar-label it for what it is for. you want to make navigation on a website as easy as possible. Have to create a link for a new page.
on a wikki, unless you lock the page, anyone can change it.
Web page design: there is a rubric: external links go out to wikkis, google blog, and trackstar. interal links are the three pages: homepage, wikki website, track
meta navigation: links to the website.
do some research on wikkis
Need: track, wikki, blog, website
assignment due next week: AT evaluation
mac-speech to text
Reflection: tell 5 things that are the most important (and why) that you will be using on a regular basis from now on.
One thing I will use on a regular basis is word processor. Word is great because I can make up my own worksheets, tests, graphic organizer for my studetns in exactly the way I want. There are so many things that I didn't know Word had to offer, like the drop down boxes for tests/quizzes. Another thing I will use is PowerPoint. Although I missed that class, I still think that PowerPoint is a great teaching tool.
Another thing that I will continue to use is the internet. This class has helped me to become more comfortable browsing the internet, and there are so many great sites out there for teachers. I especially like the free stuff teachers can find for everyday teaching tools to make the curriculum more meaningful and fun for studetns.
Graphic organizers is another thing that I will continue to use in my class. Graphic organizers as help students categorize and connect to any material they are learning, making the learning process much more meaningful for students.
I will aslso use Assistive technology for my studetnts when needed. Assistive technology is so neccesary for many studetns to be successful in the classroom, and it is so important to use AT when a student needs it.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
week 9
4/1/08
graphic organizer due next week!!!
In word-- 1. highlight text
2. can summarize a document--in tools
3. can do a word count
4. can get reading level--after spell/grammar check, reading level will come you set it properly. tools->options->spelling/grammar--readability statistics.
Dragon naturally speaking--for pc. windows based application. this is for students who have difficulty typing and writing. speech recognition software. speech to text.
Via Voice-speech to text. you talk, and the computer types.
Mac speech-also speech to text.
graphic organizers--enchantedlearning.com
trackstar.4teachers.org--a list of websites. kids log on to track website, and look for a track #. have to have at least 2 websites to make a track.
look at virtual fieldtrips!!!!!!--live web cams!!!!!
tonight-inspiration
slater software--have picture it, pal assessment
sett framework--can find documents on the qiat listserv. pdf file. on buffalo website atto.buffalo.edu
http://www.cdlponline.org/--high interest stories for kids. it reads the stories for you.
track star--email-meg_villa@yahoo.com--password--megjesse304.
Next week: track star, filtered emails, chats, wikkis--pbwikki,
look on qiat listserv!!!!!
make sure that when district purchases curiculum-make sure it comes with assessable material.
teachertube.com
Reflection:
why are graphic organizers preferable to just straight information disemination????
Graphic organizers are better to use than straight information because it helps students organize the important information. It is so important to organize and categorize information because it helps people remember what they have learned. Graphic orgainzers also teach students how to organize and categorize information in thier own way so they can start to organize information that they learn later in life. The brain can remember information much better if the information is categorized. Students can connect better with information that they learn when it is organized. If students learn how to organize information they have learned, they will understand more of the content being taught, and they will be better able to connect the infomation with other things they have learned, making the learning process much more meaningful. The more meaningful the content, the more likely learning will take place. Graphic organizers help tremensously to make content more meaningful, which also creates more access of the information to all students, ensuring that learning will take place.
graphic organizer due next week!!!
In word-- 1. highlight text
2. can summarize a document--in tools
3. can do a word count
4. can get reading level--after spell/grammar check, reading level will come you set it properly. tools->options->spelling/grammar--readability statistics.
Dragon naturally speaking--for pc. windows based application. this is for students who have difficulty typing and writing. speech recognition software. speech to text.
Via Voice-speech to text. you talk, and the computer types.
Mac speech-also speech to text.
graphic organizers--enchantedlearning.com
trackstar.4teachers.org--a list of websites. kids log on to track website, and look for a track #. have to have at least 2 websites to make a track.
look at virtual fieldtrips!!!!!!--live web cams!!!!!
tonight-inspiration
slater software--have picture it, pal assessment
sett framework--can find documents on the qiat listserv. pdf file. on buffalo website atto.buffalo.edu
http://www.cdlponline.org/--high interest stories for kids. it reads the stories for you.
track star--email-meg_villa@yahoo.com--password--megjesse304.
Next week: track star, filtered emails, chats, wikkis--pbwikki,
look on qiat listserv!!!!!
make sure that when district purchases curiculum-make sure it comes with assessable material.
teachertube.com
Reflection:
why are graphic organizers preferable to just straight information disemination????
Graphic organizers are better to use than straight information because it helps students organize the important information. It is so important to organize and categorize information because it helps people remember what they have learned. Graphic orgainzers also teach students how to organize and categorize information in thier own way so they can start to organize information that they learn later in life. The brain can remember information much better if the information is categorized. Students can connect better with information that they learn when it is organized. If students learn how to organize information they have learned, they will understand more of the content being taught, and they will be better able to connect the infomation with other things they have learned, making the learning process much more meaningful. The more meaningful the content, the more likely learning will take place. Graphic organizers help tremensously to make content more meaningful, which also creates more access of the information to all students, ensuring that learning will take place.
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