I believe that students now have access to technology almost everywhere they go. If a student does not have access to a computer or the internet at home, then they can find internet access at a library or community center. Not having a computer at home is no excuse for never learning how to use technology.
Teachers should still be able to implement the use of technology in the classroom and teach their students how to use technology even if those students do not have internet access at home. A teacher would definitely be doing students a disservice if they did not use technology because of access issues for a few students. There are so many ways to enhance learning through technology that it would be to everyone’s disadvantage to fail to implement it during instruction.
Students should learn how to use power point to enhance their presentations. There are many different uses for power point presentations and students will most likely find themselves faced with using it at some point in their careers. There are also many different applications for Excel. Students will need to display data and quickly make formulas to generate new data. It would be excellent if the classes they took in high school built on each other so that students could use the skills they learn in computer classes while they are taking a science or history class.
One of the articles talked about the importance of using technology to promote higher learning. I agree that computers can and should be used to teach higher learning. Students should be able to analyze data and come to their own unique syntheses of information while using technology. I think that the teacher should carefully monitor students’ time on computers so that students are actually using the computers to learn the material.
Students who are disadvantaged in regards to access to technology, should be allowed time to use computers while at school. As the teacher, I would make sure that students know where their local library is and inform them that they can ask a reference librarian for help. I would also make sure that I took some class time to show students how to conduct research on computers and make presentations.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Power Point Presentations
The videos were some of the best items I saw during the presentations. Videos are a great way to capture a viewer’s attention. The videos I saw during the presentations were engaging and relevant to the topic being discussed. Kerri’s video was particularly entertaining. Her entire presentation on classification was eye catching and relatable. Brandon’s music lesson was engaging because he asked the class questions which made it very interactive. Matt’s video matched his presentation well. He did a good job of condensing a large amount of information. James’s video was great! Showing kids how to do basic algebra through the illustration of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships was a great idea. He made me want to take his algebra class. I am sure the kids will enjoy learning math because he makes it fun and relatable. Steven’s jeopardy idea was very engaging and a great way to use power point. This got the entire class directly involved with the material.
Although the presentations were very colorful and interesting, some of the pictures and backgrounds were distracting. James’s presentation was excellent, but the background made the words hard to read. Some presentations had so many pictures that it was difficult to focus on the speaker’s main points. Smart art can be a good way to illustrate concepts, but it works better with certain subjects. Overall, I didn’t feel that smart art was used as effectively as it could have been. For example, Zach’s presentation on lasers could have implemented more smart art to make those abstract concepts familiar to us. Sounds clips also work better for some presentations than for others. If you are not careful, sound clips can distract others while you are presenting. The sound clips would have been most relevant for Brandon’s presentation but they did not work.
Trying to find a sound clip that I could embed in a presentation was the hardest thing for me. I am still not entirely clear on how to embed a sound clip in a presentation. In the future, I will try to find a sound clip that relates more directly to my subject. I would make sure that the information I present next time is more concise and straightforward. I tried to cram too much information into a short amount of time and I don’t think students would retain very much of it. I would also make sure that the presentation was more interactive so I would pose questions to the class to make sure they understood the material.
I like using power point as a lesson presenter. It works well for transitioning smoothly from lecture to videos and it allows you to illustrate concepts using smart art and pictures. I also like the ability to clearly display the most important information for students on the screen. It works well for more visually inclined learners. One of the problems with power point is that students can tune the instructor out while staring at the screen. It is also designed for a lecture format, which can cause students to disengage from what is being taught.
Although the presentations were very colorful and interesting, some of the pictures and backgrounds were distracting. James’s presentation was excellent, but the background made the words hard to read. Some presentations had so many pictures that it was difficult to focus on the speaker’s main points. Smart art can be a good way to illustrate concepts, but it works better with certain subjects. Overall, I didn’t feel that smart art was used as effectively as it could have been. For example, Zach’s presentation on lasers could have implemented more smart art to make those abstract concepts familiar to us. Sounds clips also work better for some presentations than for others. If you are not careful, sound clips can distract others while you are presenting. The sound clips would have been most relevant for Brandon’s presentation but they did not work.
Trying to find a sound clip that I could embed in a presentation was the hardest thing for me. I am still not entirely clear on how to embed a sound clip in a presentation. In the future, I will try to find a sound clip that relates more directly to my subject. I would make sure that the information I present next time is more concise and straightforward. I tried to cram too much information into a short amount of time and I don’t think students would retain very much of it. I would also make sure that the presentation was more interactive so I would pose questions to the class to make sure they understood the material.
I like using power point as a lesson presenter. It works well for transitioning smoothly from lecture to videos and it allows you to illustrate concepts using smart art and pictures. I also like the ability to clearly display the most important information for students on the screen. It works well for more visually inclined learners. One of the problems with power point is that students can tune the instructor out while staring at the screen. It is also designed for a lecture format, which can cause students to disengage from what is being taught.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Is Educational Technology Shortening Students' Attention Spans?
After reading this article, I tend to believe that technology does not shorten students' attention spans. It does, however, instill in students a sense of instant gratification and can make them impatient when waiting for results. For instance, if you were to examine a group of students listening to lectures fifty years ago and examine students listening to lectures today, the results would be remarkably similar in my opinion. Our attention spans have not changed because of technology, but our demand for quick, concise information has.
David Marcovitz states: "We teach them facts and reward them with digital candy and then wonder why they can't sit still to learn without that candy." This statement assumes that technology is being used as a reward rather than a tool for learning. Digital technology, when used properly, can be an excellent aid for helping students grasp concepts or browse multiple sources of data in a short period of time.
While I agree with Marcovitz that we could not expect students to sit through three hours of debate like people did during the Lincoln Douglass debates, I doubt that anyone who sat through those debates were hanging on every word brimming with excitement. That does not mean, however, that we should ignore great lessons from history. We should help our students develop skills that will allow them to browse through pages of seemingly boring material so that they can decipher the most important information. This is why I disagree with John Son's assertion that we should move to an entirely digital format with bookless libraries. As a historian, I cannot imagine a more powerful way to convey message and emotion than having students touch and read a diary or letter written by someone moments before they died.
David Marcovitz states: "We teach them facts and reward them with digital candy and then wonder why they can't sit still to learn without that candy." This statement assumes that technology is being used as a reward rather than a tool for learning. Digital technology, when used properly, can be an excellent aid for helping students grasp concepts or browse multiple sources of data in a short period of time.
While I agree with Marcovitz that we could not expect students to sit through three hours of debate like people did during the Lincoln Douglass debates, I doubt that anyone who sat through those debates were hanging on every word brimming with excitement. That does not mean, however, that we should ignore great lessons from history. We should help our students develop skills that will allow them to browse through pages of seemingly boring material so that they can decipher the most important information. This is why I disagree with John Son's assertion that we should move to an entirely digital format with bookless libraries. As a historian, I cannot imagine a more powerful way to convey message and emotion than having students touch and read a diary or letter written by someone moments before they died.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that occurs online. Students can inflict emotional harm on each other through malicious online messages. When I was in high school I frequented several sites where insults were hurled anonymously from different online users. I was never personally involved in these activities but I did have friends who sent insulting messages to each other over instant messaging.
One of the biggest challenges schools face when it comes to cyberbullying is how to regulate it. It is very difficult to find out who sent a message online because they can remain anonymous. Schools are also faced with the legal dillemma of how to enforce rules against cyberbullying. Cyberbullying often takes place on home computers so schools are faced with the question of how much authority they have to intervene in those situations.
Students that are being cyberbullied will show emotional signs. They are often depressed or distant. If you notice a sudden change in behavior it is quite possible that a student is being bullied. Schools have a responsibility to care for the emotional well being of students. If that means intervening in bullying that was initiated off campus but the effects continue on campus then school officials should intervene. Bullying in any form should never be tollerated.
I will have a zero tollerance policy of cyberbullying and any other form of bullying in my classroom. Students need to know that their actions can hurt others in ways they hadn't anticipated. My policy will be pre-emptive so that students know what I expect of them and it will be reactive because I will hold them to those expectations. I will address issues of common courtesty and respect to the whole class and when those expectations are not met by individuals, I will address them individually. I think rules against cyberbullying should be school-wide, but I will do my part to address cyberbullying in my classroom.
One of the biggest challenges schools face when it comes to cyberbullying is how to regulate it. It is very difficult to find out who sent a message online because they can remain anonymous. Schools are also faced with the legal dillemma of how to enforce rules against cyberbullying. Cyberbullying often takes place on home computers so schools are faced with the question of how much authority they have to intervene in those situations.
Students that are being cyberbullied will show emotional signs. They are often depressed or distant. If you notice a sudden change in behavior it is quite possible that a student is being bullied. Schools have a responsibility to care for the emotional well being of students. If that means intervening in bullying that was initiated off campus but the effects continue on campus then school officials should intervene. Bullying in any form should never be tollerated.
I will have a zero tollerance policy of cyberbullying and any other form of bullying in my classroom. Students need to know that their actions can hurt others in ways they hadn't anticipated. My policy will be pre-emptive so that students know what I expect of them and it will be reactive because I will hold them to those expectations. I will address issues of common courtesty and respect to the whole class and when those expectations are not met by individuals, I will address them individually. I think rules against cyberbullying should be school-wide, but I will do my part to address cyberbullying in my classroom.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Social Networking
After doing the Google search about myself, I did not find anything that worried me. Since I have already taught for two years, I was already aware that my personal information is available online. I have been careful to make sure that nothing emberassing about me can be found online. Some of the information I found on pipl.com was outdated and innacurate.
Here is the link to the information I found on pipl.com:
http://www.spokeo.com/search?q=Kevin%20Burk,%20West%20Linn,%20OR&g=name_pipl_scd_city01#:1065708067
When I did a Google search I found several people with my name that have questionable backgrounds but hopefully that will not reflect poorly on me in any way.
I have not had a reason to change any of my facebook pictures yet. There are no pictures of me drinking or doing anything regretable. I have always been aware that information on facebook could come back to haunt me. I also have not participated in many questionable activities that would damage my reputation.
I think teachers should be held to community standards. They are essentially role models for young kids. It is reasonable to expect teachers to behave in a responsible way and emulate good character that our children should exhibit as well. A teacher's speech should be taken into account in any setting. It is unfortunate when a teacher publishes a strong opinion online and gets fired for it, but that teacher should exercise good judgment at all times.
The most interesting story I read in the article was about the art teacher who was photographed in the nude. She was protected under the first amendment and the photographs were artistic. In that case I would have to agree with the teacher that she should not face reprocussions for that act. Clearly a professional's character should not come into question when they are furthering the profession of art.
I plan on continuing my healthy lifestyle. I have nothing to be ashamed of because I choose not to participate in lude or emberassing activities. I will, however, be selective in whom I let have access to my facebook page. I will also make sure that I word everything carefully in my blogs and on my website.
Here is the link to the information I found on pipl.com:
http://www.spokeo.com/search?q=Kevin%20Burk,%20West%20Linn,%20OR&g=name_pipl_scd_city01#:1065708067
When I did a Google search I found several people with my name that have questionable backgrounds but hopefully that will not reflect poorly on me in any way.
I have not had a reason to change any of my facebook pictures yet. There are no pictures of me drinking or doing anything regretable. I have always been aware that information on facebook could come back to haunt me. I also have not participated in many questionable activities that would damage my reputation.
I think teachers should be held to community standards. They are essentially role models for young kids. It is reasonable to expect teachers to behave in a responsible way and emulate good character that our children should exhibit as well. A teacher's speech should be taken into account in any setting. It is unfortunate when a teacher publishes a strong opinion online and gets fired for it, but that teacher should exercise good judgment at all times.
The most interesting story I read in the article was about the art teacher who was photographed in the nude. She was protected under the first amendment and the photographs were artistic. In that case I would have to agree with the teacher that she should not face reprocussions for that act. Clearly a professional's character should not come into question when they are furthering the profession of art.
I plan on continuing my healthy lifestyle. I have nothing to be ashamed of because I choose not to participate in lude or emberassing activities. I will, however, be selective in whom I let have access to my facebook page. I will also make sure that I word everything carefully in my blogs and on my website.
Friday, July 16, 2010
I consider myself a digital native when it comes to technology. My family purchased our first computer when I was ten years old. Ever since I was in elementary school, I typed my papers on computers. Every school I have been in had a typing class or some other type of class specifically designed to increase my proficiency with technology. I took three years of computer programming in high school and I even met my wife online.
Unfortunately, my high school classes only made minimal use of technology. I went to a private school that did not have adequate funding for new technological devices. I also encountered a number of "digital immigrants" when I was in college. My history professors did not employ computers or digital media in the classroom, they simply lectured the entire time. I can identify with students who have an "engage me or enrage me" attitude because of my experience in college. I agree with Prensky when he states that "kid's long-term engagement in a game depends much less on what they see than on what they do and learn." We should engage our students by making sure the content and structure of our teaching is there and then focus on making it pretty.
I started teaching at the same high school I graduated from and, much to my dismay I was not able to integrate technology as much as I wanted to. I made powerpoint presentations and had students go to the computer lab on occasion, but I lacked the resources to find information wherever I wanted to whenever I wanted to. I am a firm believer that technology can greatly enhance learning when utilized properly.
I can identify with digital immigrants because I love learning from books, especially the old dusty ones. Primary sources are indispensible when studying history. They can convey meaning that a student will never get from searching the internet. While I agree with Prensky that "our digital immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language, are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language", I think our new "digital native" generation can learn valuable things from those instructors. There is nothing like holding a letter from a martyr and reading it aloud while being conscious of the fact that the author died moments after the letter was written. Technology is an incredibly useful tool but, as educators, we must never forget that our job is to convey feeling as well as meaning... no computer can do that.
In the future I plan to use websites and blogs to keep my students up-to-date on class information and give them access to helpful online resources. Although I am a firm believer in learning from the past, I do not think we should allow the past to inhibit our progress in the future. If technology is used in a manner that promotes learning, I see no problem with integrating it in the classroom.
Unfortunately, my high school classes only made minimal use of technology. I went to a private school that did not have adequate funding for new technological devices. I also encountered a number of "digital immigrants" when I was in college. My history professors did not employ computers or digital media in the classroom, they simply lectured the entire time. I can identify with students who have an "engage me or enrage me" attitude because of my experience in college. I agree with Prensky when he states that "kid's long-term engagement in a game depends much less on what they see than on what they do and learn." We should engage our students by making sure the content and structure of our teaching is there and then focus on making it pretty.
I started teaching at the same high school I graduated from and, much to my dismay I was not able to integrate technology as much as I wanted to. I made powerpoint presentations and had students go to the computer lab on occasion, but I lacked the resources to find information wherever I wanted to whenever I wanted to. I am a firm believer that technology can greatly enhance learning when utilized properly.
I can identify with digital immigrants because I love learning from books, especially the old dusty ones. Primary sources are indispensible when studying history. They can convey meaning that a student will never get from searching the internet. While I agree with Prensky that "our digital immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language, are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language", I think our new "digital native" generation can learn valuable things from those instructors. There is nothing like holding a letter from a martyr and reading it aloud while being conscious of the fact that the author died moments after the letter was written. Technology is an incredibly useful tool but, as educators, we must never forget that our job is to convey feeling as well as meaning... no computer can do that.
In the future I plan to use websites and blogs to keep my students up-to-date on class information and give them access to helpful online resources. Although I am a firm believer in learning from the past, I do not think we should allow the past to inhibit our progress in the future. If technology is used in a manner that promotes learning, I see no problem with integrating it in the classroom.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Introduction
My name is Kevin Burk. I am currently attending Concordia University for a Masters of Arts in Teaching. I have a bachelor's degree in History and a Minor in Biblical Studies. I have already taught Social Studies for grades 8-12 in a private school and I am looking forward to teaching history in public schools after I complete my Masters degree. My wife and I have a yellow lab and my parents have a rottweiler/collie mix. Those two dogs would be my favorite animals however, I also like snakes and reptiles.
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