I thought tonight's class was a lot of fun. I like the convenience grading software provides. I can see how it could save a tremendous amount of time and the program seemed very easy to navigate. There were things about the program I would change ie: I would have more options in the gradebooks like making parts available rather than all or nothing.
I also enjoying playing with Kidspiration. I really like how it's so visual and colorful and it's super easy to change things around. I also really like how with the click of a button you can go from a visual, pictoral view, to a verbal outline view. I think kids would have a very easy time adjusting from using this program to applying the writing concepts to actual paper.
25 November, 2008
17 November, 2008
Safety Issues
I think one of the most prevalent safety issues regarding children and the Internet are online networking sites like myspace and facebook. I have nothing against either of these (I have accounts with both, hehe) but I think children/young adults don't fully comprehend how important it is to be careful with these kinds of sites. I think kids have no clue the effect posting pics and becoming friends with strangers can have on their lives. I think children should be informed and kept accountable with sites like these so as to prevent predators.
I also think that, in general, children's Internet usage should be monitored. It's way too easy to come across information, pictures, etc that children should not see. To deter this, I think kids should be monitored and be taught proper usage/search habits.
Also, this may seem kind of silly, but it seems to me like there is an alarming amount of time spent online by kids. In my opinion, there are far better things to be doing with your time than sitting on your bum in front of a computer. So, even though it's not a "safety" issue, I think it's an Internet issue that needs to be addressed. Even if kids are playing educational games, it's still better for them to be out and about playing and using their imaginations. I think that when you look at Internet usage long-term, it could easily become a health issue for kids because they're inactive for long periods of time daily.
I also think that, in general, children's Internet usage should be monitored. It's way too easy to come across information, pictures, etc that children should not see. To deter this, I think kids should be monitored and be taught proper usage/search habits.
Also, this may seem kind of silly, but it seems to me like there is an alarming amount of time spent online by kids. In my opinion, there are far better things to be doing with your time than sitting on your bum in front of a computer. So, even though it's not a "safety" issue, I think it's an Internet issue that needs to be addressed. Even if kids are playing educational games, it's still better for them to be out and about playing and using their imaginations. I think that when you look at Internet usage long-term, it could easily become a health issue for kids because they're inactive for long periods of time daily.
04 November, 2008
Project Plan
For my technology project, I would like to create a fairly specific website. If using this in a real classroom, I would have it as a link on my class website, but for this particular project, I will make it a site of it's own. This site will be the central point for a combination of Holiday activities. First of all, it will be a planning site for our Holiday party. I will have links to wiki's where parents can sign up for the area they would like to volunteer in for the class party (ie: decorations, snacks, etc), and wiki's where kids can sign up for areas they would like to help in as well (ie: set up, clean up, etc). During the party, of course there would be games, so I would have a few polls where kids could vote on which games they would most like to play or crafts they would like to make. I would incorporate the winning ideas into the party.
The second part of the Holiday activity would be a Holiday project for the kids. I would give them options on what they would like to do for their project, but let them know that the project must be uploaded onto the class website. So, they could create their own Christmas carol, record it, and post it to, or they could create a Holiday skit and make a video, or they could write about a Holiday memory they have, or write a Holiday poem. Each of these things would need to be uploaded onto the site. I would give the kids the option of working individually or in groups, but in a group there couldn't be any more than four children.
The final phase of the website would come in during the Holiday party. The parents and kids would have all completed the tasks they agreed to do on the wiki's and we would have played our games and made our crafts, but the party's finale would be showing and/or playing each of the kids' Holiday projects they had posted. In this way, the kids can see what the other students were able to accomplish, and the parents would be super impressed with their children's learning.
The second part of the Holiday activity would be a Holiday project for the kids. I would give them options on what they would like to do for their project, but let them know that the project must be uploaded onto the class website. So, they could create their own Christmas carol, record it, and post it to, or they could create a Holiday skit and make a video, or they could write about a Holiday memory they have, or write a Holiday poem. Each of these things would need to be uploaded onto the site. I would give the kids the option of working individually or in groups, but in a group there couldn't be any more than four children.
The final phase of the website would come in during the Holiday party. The parents and kids would have all completed the tasks they agreed to do on the wiki's and we would have played our games and made our crafts, but the party's finale would be showing and/or playing each of the kids' Holiday projects they had posted. In this way, the kids can see what the other students were able to accomplish, and the parents would be super impressed with their children's learning.
Shortcuts?
I've been sitting at my desk for about a half hour now, trying to come up with tricks I use in Microsoft Office programs that you might not know about, however, I'm just going to have to be honest...I just know how to do what I need to get done. I have no clue what kinds of shortcuts there may be, or options you can manipulate, etc. I know how to type, and I know how to use spell check, and then how to print. That's all you really need, right? But, in order to feel like I've completed this assignment, I'll make a list of the few features I use, but am fairly confident every five year old in America knows!
*ctrl + p to print
*ctrl + c to copy text
*ctrl + v to paste text
*shift and then arrows to highlight text
*ctrl + arrows to jump cursor by word sections
I'm guessing that tonight in class I'm going to become informed on all kinds of quick little shortcuts that I can use to expedite and improve my Office abilities.
*ctrl + p to print
*ctrl + c to copy text
*ctrl + v to paste text
*shift and then arrows to highlight text
*ctrl + arrows to jump cursor by word sections
I'm guessing that tonight in class I'm going to become informed on all kinds of quick little shortcuts that I can use to expedite and improve my Office abilities.
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