Lerning the Power of WebQuest

Power of WebQuests
In the above article, the concept of what a WebQuest is is explored. there are three things I learned from the reading. Real WebQuests facilitate meaningful use of the Web for educational ends. The best way to address attention and relevance is to choose a topic that students find compelling and then create an authentic learning task related to it. Once students have focused on a question and an authentic task, they begin the process of acquiring information. the most important thing I learned in my opinion is that students contribute to real world learning.

Transformative Learning: Rethinking what we already know.

Project Based Learning

Project-Based Learning: A Short History
Take a  look at the article above. here are some interesting things I picked up from it.
Three important things I learned from the reading are students use technology as much as professionals, PBL makes the teacher more of a facilitator, and we learn better by experience. But the most important thing I learned is, unlike textbook-driven instruction, problem-based learning puts the student in charge of asking questions and discovering answers.

You can choose the path to discovery.

A WebQuest about WebQuest Worksheet

Your Role

___Efficiency Expert

___Affiliator

___Altitudinist

_x__Technophile

Your Impressions

WebQuest	Strengths	Weaknesses
Gorillas	lots of resources	needs more media
Shakespeare	lots of info	needs more feedback
Earthquake	good info on structure building	more media  more links
Foreign Country	good structure/outline	needs more photos and media
Waves & Sound	colorful  good use of links to get students to read	could have more multimedia

How Diversity Makes Us Smarter

          Diversity provokes thought. When we stop to consider the alternative opinions and views of others, we can help ourselves grow. Diversity leads to the spread of information and innovation.Diversity isn't just about race.Hearing dissent from someone who is different, provokes more thought than if they did look like us. There is social, racial and cultural diversity. People can behave differently when in diverse social groups. They can actually convince themselves to believe that there are issues where there are none, and that in turn can cause conflict. It is important to be respectful and open minded to the perspectives of others.

Reading Instruction for All Readers

 

                Three important ideas/things from the reading today are students who are engaged are better readers, students have varied backgrounds of experience, and it is important to have them read a variety of different texts, but the most important thing I learned from the reading is that there are different ways for formative assessment. One way my UDL book might support reading instruction for all students is to have different types of stories for them to read: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays.

Reading Instruction for All Readers

Creating Digital Authors

Three important ideas/things from the reading today are that students are motivated by using technology, they do not always have access to technology outside of the classroom, and in using technology, their final projects improve by use of experimentation and collaboration.  The most important thing I learned from the reading is that students who use technology in writing use this cyclical and iterative writing processes instead of being so linear. 

Where I am From

I am from mason jars,from Fabreeze and Woodwick

I am from the rolling hills, wild and wonderful

It sounded like cardinals,

I am from the rhododendron bush, the poison ivy, red, itchy and contagious

I’m from the mid-summer camping trips and hot tempers, from Wilson and Joan

I’m from hoarding everything and feeding people when they are not hungry

I am from sit like a lady and don’t bite your fingernails

I’m from the old metal wash basin, full of water, sorrow, and rebirth

I’m from Italy,garlic and seafood.

From the fishing trip where Jessica had to get stitches the scar on her ankle.

I am from where the grass isn't always greener on the other side,

the place I call home.

Teachers are Designers

How it teaching like designing?

Teaching is all about finding new and better ways to help our students remember what we present to them and to maximize their learning experience. It is very much a juggling act. You have to cut and stitch together your own way to teach.

Why is it important for teachers to use Universal Design for Learning? It is important that teachers utilize the UDL because of the diverse student populace. We have to cater to children of different backgrounds, races, and learning styles.


I have always enjoyed free writing. When a teacher assigns an essay based off our interests instead of a specific topic, I feel that it helps me engage with my information. It forces me to explain what I know in a way that others may not. It also helps me present myself in different ways. I feel that this is a useful skill in many aspects in life.

Binary Expression

The personal computer is used to amplify human potential. It is an intellectual laboratory and vehicle for self-expression.. The computer makes it possible for students to learn in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. I agree with this position thoroughly. Computers can accommodate learners of all styles. There are many different types of software available, and more are created every day.

I remember being introduced to computer games like Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego? when I was merely in grade school. Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego is a game where players try to stop the evil villain Carmen before she causes trouble. The game teaches math, history, geography, English and various other subjects in a way that just feels like playing. We wrote our alphabet and learned cursive handwriting, but as I got older, technology was incorporated more and more using these games and the implementation of computer literacy classes where typing became the norm. I also remember having to hand write essays for credit. This was before every child had access to a computer let alone the internet. Now, everything you do has to be typed, or submitted online.

I believe the personal computer can be used to amplify human potential. Textbooks are only two-dimensional when it comes to learning. A computer can create an entire virtual environment. Swedish neuroscientist, Daphne Bavelier presented research in a video by Ted Talks suggesting that playing video games, in particular, Call of Duty, will improve eyesight. This goes against the theory that playing video games is bad for eyesight. She argued that gamers have better vision because of their ability to distinguish gray-scale and their higher capacity for detail. This supports the idea that computers and technology aid in efficiency, productivity, and creativity.

         Computers are great for every type of learning style. They can facilitate learning for the visual, auditory,

and  kinetic learner, all at one time. Technology helps develop creativity by allowing students to now have
 
access to programs like Powerpoint and Photoshop where they can express their ideas visually. They can 

create original content and then share their creations virtually, all around the globe. Blogging also helps 

students become better writers, even though paper and pen are absent. It allows them to openly share their 

ideas and thoughts with their peers and subject them to critique. Students learn through creativity. When 

students are engaged, they retain information easier. If given the opportunity to be creative, they can find new

and alternate ways to think critically and solve problems. 

Wikipedia vs Textbooks

Three important things from the video today are verifiability, neutrality, and volenteer efforts to maintain Wikipedia. The most important thing I learned today is that for an article or post to remain on Wikipedia, it must be verified as factual and also neutral.
Wounded Textbook Version

Wounded Knee Massacre Wiki Version

If you take a look at the links above, you will notice they are in reference to the Wounded Knee Massacre. Both of these sources have the potential for meaningful learning. They include details of when and why the massacre took place. The textbook version does not have nearly as many details of the event itself, but is more a brief overview. On Wikipedia, one can access a wide variety of interesting details about the particular event. I feel like the information presented on Wikipedia can be viewed as accurate and verified.
There is a controversy about giving Medals of Honor to men who participated in the Massacre at Wounded Knee. Native Americans believe the medals should be revoked as they represent cruelty and dishonor.

I was asked to review the profiles of three editors on Wikipedia. All three editors have a college degree. They are all verified, published, or authenticated in some way. I think they are trustworthy sources. All of them seem well educated and intelligent. I do not trust easily, so I am skeptical, always.

On the Talk page for each editor, the information posted is basically a list of all "transactions" they have made on Wikipedia. This means there is a tracked listing of what you do, edit, and say on Wikipedia. The purpose is to be able to see if each person is a reliable source or not. I feel like Wikipedia can be a great tool and there is a lot of factual information on the site. It is true anyone can post anything, but there are many thousands of people who comb through all entries and point out ones that obviously are erroneous.

I feel like the Wikipedia article on Wounded Knee is trying to stay neutral. In the Eyewitness Accounts section, it is clear that the American soldiers reigned havoc on the Native American people. It shows how badly we killed their people, but perhaps is biased for Native Americans.

I feel like Wikipedia can be a reliable source of information and here are three reasons I believe this.

-Much of Wikipedia isn't edited by just "anyone".

-Popular articles are generally of high standard.

-It is a fast way to spread correct information as well.

Using Wikipedia in the classroom can be beneficial instead of just using textbooks. It is a good way for students to engage with the information. "Revamp our funding mechanisms to let teachers assemble their own curricula from numerous individual sources instead of forcing them to rely on single comprehensive packages from national textbook factories." This gives teachers freedom to modify the material to help their students perform better. Leaving textbooks behind is not such a bad thing.  "Lessons become clearer when I link the topic to an issue that affects them personally. For example, many of my students live in poor, heavily polluted areas, so when we study inter-molecular properties and precipitation reactions, we examine the air and water quality in their neighborhoods." - Geoff Ruth 
[The initial skepticism about Wikipedia was mainly structural: how could you trust an article in an “encyclopedia that anyone can edit?” The growing confidence in the site — certainly when it comes to public health articles — in part reflects the fact that much of Wikipedia is not edited by just “anyone.”] I think that as time goes on and we introduce technology more and more into the classroom, we will find new ways to make sure sites like Wikipedia maintain integrity in the scholarly world. 

Argumentative Essay Draft

The personal computer is used to amplify human potential. It is an intellectual laboratory and vehicle for self-expression. The computer makes it possible for students to learn in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. I agree with this position thoroughly. I remember being introduced to computer games like Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego? when I was merely in grade school. We wrote our alphabet and learned cursive handwriting, but as I got older, technology was incorporated more and more. I also remember having to hand write essays for credit. This was before every child had access to a computer let alone the internet. I believe the personal computer can be used to amplify human potential because of the research a Swiss neuroscientist shared. She presented research suggesting that playing video games, in particular, Call of Duty, will improve eyesight. She argued that gamers have better vision because of their ability to distinguish gray scale and their higher capacity for detail. This supports the idea that computers and technology aid in efficiency, productivity, and creativity. This also weighs against the counter argument that media such as video games is harmful or negatively impacts behavior.

Technology helps develop creativity by allowing students to become more graphic. by this, I mean that students now have access to programs like PowerPoint and Photoshop where they can express their ideas visually. They can create original content and then share their creations virtually, globally. I remember when my family bought our first home computer. I was eleven or twelve years old. Much like the television, the home P.C. was only blossoming in popularity. I remember feeling like we were the stars of the block for that moment in time. Now, a computer fits in the palm of your hand. Who would have thought? Technology has encompassed itself inside and around our society. Many of us use tablets, laptops, smartphones and more every single day, and couldn’t imagine life without them. I believe that we will only further incorporate technology in the classroom and the ways you and I have been taught will also one day become outdated and obsolete.

Learning Styles Don't Exist

The way you think about a problem is important in how you learn. Most of what you learn is meaning based. Multiple Intelligence Theory comes out of psychology. It states that individuals have 8 different strengths, different intelligences.

Unless individuals take an active role in learning, the information disappears. If you don't use it, you lose it. Students have a superficial level of knowledge. We cover too much material, too fast. Perhaps we should focus on students unique abilities and traits early on and expand them.

Learning Styles and MI(Multiple Intelligence) Theory do exist. They are common place teaching styles int he classroom. I believe they can be beneficial to students because it is important to give them a variety of ways to receive and process information. I do believe that it is important not to classify students into specific intelligence types or learning styles. Limits and boundaries are not something we want to encourage while teaching. However, I do believe these ideas and theories are helpful because they give a plethora of options to teach the mandatory material. In the future, I could use blogs or self-paced internet research to help with Intrapersonal Intelligence. Music generation software can be used to help all students, especially Rythmic learners. Teleconferencing and other interactive collaboration help Existentialists enhance their philosophical expression and ideals. Using microscopes, probes and GPS, we can help Naturalists expand their ability to read the world around them.
There are many examples of how teachers can use technology for these specific learning styles. I think it is important to keep in mind that all students can and should benefit from all of these styles. They are all relevant to exploring and understanding the world around our students and ourselves.

Our Brain on Video Games

I believe video games can have a positive effect on our brain. You can solve puzzles, riddles, and other problems in the virtual world. This can help us become better critical thinkers and problem solvers. Studies show that action games actually increase attention. Gamers have better vision because they can see small details and can distinguish grey scale better. Learning with games is fluid intelligence and that is what is used to solve problems. There has been studies that show since the 1990s IQ has increased steadily. This is attributed to the introduction of technology.
I used to think that there was not a lot of evidence to support that gaming can be positive for learning, but now I realize that is not true. I used to think all video games had the potential to be negative, but now I don't think that way at all. Games can help with group learning and collaboration. It helps increase fluid intelligence, which is used for problem solving. Gaming is a form of active learning.

Is Texting Making Us Bad Writers?

 I feel like texting is just a different form of language. It is different rules than writing an essay. Written language has only been around for about 80,000-150,000 years. I do not agree with the stance that texting is making us bad writers. I do not think that any form of reading or writing is negative. It gets the brain stimulated, and as such promotes learning. Texting is a way for us to write as we speak. It helps with phonology. You have to have an understanding of how a word is spelled and how it sounds to be able to break it down into an abbreviation. Being bilingual is cognitively beneficial. Texting is an expansion of linguistic abilities. I think that overall, texting is a positive thing and it will help shape language in the future.

Here are some things I found interesting after reading Can Texting Help With Spelling?

• A study in the Australian Journal of Educational Development & Psychology showed that texting improves spelling because it increases these phonological skills.
• A study in the Australian Journal of Educational Development & Psychology showed that texting improves spelling because it increases these phonological skills.
• New technologies—from the printing press to the telegraph to the cell phone—inevitably inspire new spelling, new abbreviations, and new words
• Students change how they spell according to the circumstances and the audience. They know to spell out the word tomorrow in a paper, but when making plans with friends, they go with tom.

My First Post

My name is Sha'Lisa Olivito. I was born and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I am an aspiring High School English teacher. I would like to teach 12th grade or college intro English classes.

I feel like teachers should use technology in the classroom because it can help promote group collaboration, which helps students learn. Teachers can use many forms of technology such as projectors, computers, tablets, and the internet. I believe this quote from Education Needs a Digital Upgrade supports this idea; "The new classroom should teach the huge array of complex skills that come under the heading of digital literacy." I think it is very important to intigrate technology into the classroom.
Education Needs a Digital Upgrade

Take a look at this video showing different ways to use technology in the classroom to teach English.