Virtual Classroom

Walk, Fly, Teleport to Learning, by Maureen Brown Yoder.

This article discusses how a virtual world works, and how you can integrate it into the classroom. I want to start off by saying that there are virtual worlds out there meant for adults only, so be cautious. 8.2 million children are already using some sort of virtual world, and it keeps growing. MUVE is a technology created to help enforce creative teaching and learning. It is full of content, and teaches social, technical and practical life skills. It is a great technology to keep students engaged and playful through their learning, collaboration and goals. For teachers these world's can provide a place to share resources and learn new skills.

Yoder gives a few great examples of virtual networks that are great and safe for the classroom. Teen Second life is a private network with background checks that are only accessible to teens invited by their teachers or school systems. Global Kids is another network that focuses on communit and global issues. This is a great way to engage the students on how to mix a virtual world with our world, and the real issues that comes along with it. There are also great educational games that can be used for any subject in the classroom.

This is a great assortment of learning opportunities and Yoder said, and I think will be a great attribute to the classroom. I would use this for exploring not only the students capabilities but their social and life skills as well. I could easily incorporate this into my classroom by having the students collaborate and use as a group project, and awareness. A great idea would be to create a world together that is safe, friendly, and helpful to the environment, and use it to help make it a reality. I would love to use this in my classroom to help teach the safety awareness of the internet as well. There are so many virtual world's and games out there today, and many not appropriate for students, and I would like to use this opportunity to teach them how to be safe and stay away for certain sites.

ScienceTech

Digital Science Video Library, by Camilla Gagliolo.

This article is reviewing video compression technology, and it was very informative on how the program works. First of it is based on learning science through the use of technology in the classroom. The video is specially formatted for use with ipods, as well as classroom projectors. I love the fact that it comes with a how-to teachers guide that way there is no communication problems on how it works and to get started. These videos cover a range of science topics including life, earth, and physical science for the elementary level. It also includes health and integrated science for the middle school level. These videos not only display live action and real world science but it is great quality and teaching tools are included. The teaching tools range from quizzes to science vocabulary lessons, what a great visual for the students! Personally I don't like to learn science unless I'm hands-on, this is a very close experience to that, and as Gagliolo says, "bringing learning to life". Another interesting fact about this technology is that I found it wasn't too expensive, and definitely well worth it. If a program can enhance the students learning in anyway, I think it's a great investment!

I would integrate this technology into my classroom because it is a great tool for both the students and I. It will be an easy program to use in value of science because sometimes it's hard to get the message across. If a vocabulary word is able to become a visual picture in a students head, it will engage their learning. I do have to say that every child learns in a different way, although I don't think displaying it visually will do them any harm. I hope to use this, or similar technology in my classroom because I am a visual learner and it will be an easy way for me to communicate.

Creative Technology

Fusing Art and Technology by Allison L. Downey.

This article was especially interesting to me, because I love the fact that students get to integrate the arts through technology. Art is becoming cut left and right at schools, and it is one of the most important classes of all. Instead of cutting it, why not fuse it! This article explains how a seventh grade class living in a poverty community uses art in technology to express themselves. Using Adobe paint shop, the students were assigned a variety of art projects ranging from digital media to graphic design. They were able to take images of themselves and use different techniques to alter them, either by adding paint, doubling an image, or even changing the background. Another great concept these students experienced through this was learning about different cultures, which is another very important concept all students should be learning. This is also a great technology for behavioral problems, because it helps them focus, and it is fun! As Downey states, this technology raises their awareness of and inspires intrest in a variety of careers. Learning art through technology is great because it not only ignites their imagination but it lets them explore their creativity, as Downey explains.

In my classroom I could easily adapt these ideas into any curriculm. I could use paint shop for a history lesson, just as I can with another subject. Art is a very important part of the learning process, because it lets the students learn on thier own level and lets them experience what they are capable of first hand. This technology is a three in one, you get art, technology, and a lesson plan in one software! This is definetly a purchase I will look into as a teacher, or as the seventh grade class did, get a grant to make learning happen!

Great Technology for Special Needs Students

Testing Kurzwell 3000, by Barbra Green and Joan Thormann.

This article includes a study on a software that is helpful for special needs students of all ages. Green and Thormann ask the question of how technology can help students with special needs, and I wondered the same myself. Special needs students experience a large range of learning difficulties, whether it be speech, problems in subjects, or just not being able to pay attention. Graduate students from Lesley University decided to answer this question by taking part of a study using the Kurzwell 3000 software. They tested this software on every age group of students from elementary to adults that had special needs. Right away the graduate students saw an interest from the special needs students, as they jumped at the opportunity to test this software. As all technology it had its benefits as well as downfalls, as the test went on it was prominent that the benefits exceeded. Some benefits of the software include helping with speech disabilities, test taking skills, focus and confidence. A particular aspect that struck my attention was the tool used for writing. The students are able to hear what they write so it is easier for them to pick up on missed spelled words and grammatical errors. What a great use of technology! Some of the problems they found with the software were slim, and I think you can find ways around them, such as expense and distractions. Overall the graduate students were able to agree they preferred Kurzwell 3000 over other software because of its versatility. I agree with them this is a great piece of technology, and I think every teacher should own it who works with special needs students.

The ideas presented would be easily adapted into my future classroom. Although the software may be expensive, I think it would be a great investment knowing that it would help the learning of my students. I don't know for sure if I will be working with special needs students, but I know I will come across someone who does. Even if I never used it for special needs students, I still think it would be great to use as a writing tool because of its great features I listed above. I am glad I read this article so now I can be more familiar of software that is out there, and can benefit teachers of all types of students.

Technology at it's Best

Chatting it Up Online Students Talk to a Favorite Author, By Pamela Livingston.
This article was very enjoyable, it gave great insight to teachers who are new at integrating technology into their classrooms. The article gives a step by step process on how to set up chatting session between students and book authors. This was great news for me, because I now know where to begin in this type of process. Livingston says it is a safe and private use of the Internet, which gives a peace of mind. We as teachers must first come up with a plan to get the children interested and excited, this is achievable by encouraging the students. Once you have a group of students ready to participate you then need to register for the chat. Livingston says it is a good idea to withhold the chat information until it is approved and running so it won't cause any disappointment to the students and I agree. Livingston points out a few great examples on how to prepare for the chat. A reservation of a computer lab is key so the students can chat together. Testing hardware and connection in advanced is also a smart concept to consider, but always, always have a back up plan! Another great way to plan ahead as Livingston discusses is to ask the students in advanced for their questions they want to ask the author, and approving them. I also read that these type of sites do take some getting used to, as all technology does. Reading about the students reactions to this learning process was the highlight of this article. I can tell that the students really got engaged with the information the author was sharing with them, by learning in this new, exciting way. Livingston's note on how this can be a great experience for not only the students, but an opportunity for the staff and teachers to work as a team was encouraging. After reading this article I am now more knowledgeable on the subject matter, as well as excited to use technology as a key tool in the classroom.

I can adapt these new ideas into the class room not only for reading resources, but as a way of learning through personal interaction. Even if I didn't have the equiptment for all students to have their own computer, I could use a projector screen connected to a single computer for all to see and participate in. I am glad the resources are out there so I can reaserch and find technology systems like chatting to use alongside lesson plans, it will be a great learning experience for me and the students alike. My future students will use technology as tool in their learning experience, to recall information and to learn through exploring.
The ISTE NETS for teachers and students includes NETS-4.