Journal #6: Virtual Worlds

Second Life? Post by Lucy Gray

A virtual world is a computer-simulated environment where users can “interact, play, learn, do business and communicate in an online environment.” This means that users create avatars, or virtual representations of themselves, and then interact with each other through everything from text and graphical icons to visual gesture and sound. The most common forum for virtual worlds are MMOPG’s (or massively multiplayer online role playing games.)

Virtual worlds are also growing as an educational tool. In the discussion board on Classroom 2.0 one of the users mentioned how she uses Second Life () in a variety of ways; like to hold office hours for the college students in her online class and to meet fellow educators from around the country and the world. These virtual worlds can also be used to create museums where students can explore the Louvre from thousands of miles away or teachers can set up their own aerospace and science museums. Another example of the global applications of this technology is the project being done in the Modesto School District. One of the users discusses how students who are studying Japanese are collaborating with Japanese students who are studying English to set up a virtual community.

One of the teachers also talked about how he had used a virtual setting to create a 3-D model of an eyeball with labeled and interactive parts that the students could explore. This teacher also had a number of interesting ideas of what could be done with virtual spaces including building a virtual Peaquod and haveing the students “go in search of Moby Dick” or build an internal combustion engine to “demonstrate how the parts of it work so they can get up close and personal to see it actually in motion without being burned.” These are just a few of the amazing ideas of what can and is being done with this new technology.

Related links:
http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_world

Journal #4: Distance Learning

Point/Counterpoint: Is Distance Learning Effective? by Jean Kiekel and Diane Stelacio

The article that I read was “Is Distance Learning Effective?” by Jean Kiekel and Diane Stelacio (from the September 2007 issue of Learning and Leading with Technology.) This article has two different takes on whether distance learning (mainly online learning) is an effective learning/teaching tool. The first author (Ms. Kiekel) feels that distance learning is a wonderful tool that allows students to learn in a way that best fits their learning styles (which is especially important for gifted and disabled students.) She also feels that smaller schools and more rural or isolated schools would most benefit from these types of programs because it allows them “to increase the number and depth of courses offered to students without increasing the size of their faculty or school buildings.”
Ms. Stelacio agrees with Ms. Kiekel on most point. Although she does not feel that distance learning is more or less effective then onsite instruction; she does believe that distance learning could be a helpful alternative to give student access to a verity of programs that they might not be able to have at their own school. She also thinks that it gives student to find their best way to learn. On a whole she feels that “online learning is a viable alternative promoting individual growth while expanding the classroom boundaries”.
Overall there dose not seem to be much disagreement between the two authors. They both feel that distance learning is effective, just not necessarily more so that a traditional in school environment.

Questions:
1.) Q: Do you think that distance learning could replace onsite instruction?
A: I think that distance learning could be a great tool for some students, especially in cases where their school does not offer as many different of extracurricular courses, but I do not think that it would ever overtake onsite instruction. The face-to-face interaction between teachers and students is too important and (for the most part) I do not think that too many middle school or high school students have the self dedication to basically work on their own.

2.) Q: who do you think would most benefit from distance learning?
A: I agree with Diane Stelacio in that I think that students who do not have equal access to different programs and classes would benefit most for distance learning. I know friends who went to schools in different areas and did not have access to the same classes that I did (things like the fact that my high school had a number of AP courses but my friend a different district only had three or four available.) I think that it would be a great way to give students access classes that would be very beneficial to their educational advancement.

Journal #3: Blogging

Five Don’ts of Classroom Blogging by Julie Sturgeon

Teacher often think that the worry and bother of trying to manage and oversee a students class blog is not worth the benefits that they bring. This article, “Five Don’ts of Classroom Blogging” by Julie Sturgeon, basically talks about how teachers can avoid five common mistakes and make blogging a success. The first don’t is “Don’t just dive in.” The author talks about how you should make it very clear to the students what you expect of them and what is not permitted (bullying, cursing, ect.) The secont don’t is “Don’t confuse blogging with social networking.” This means that the blog needs to be set up in a strictly educational format; it is not meant for socializing.
Next is “Don’t leap for the freebees.” This means take the time (and maybe a little money) to invest in a forum that will allow you the access and control that you need to oversee the blogs. The author also brought up a good point about how “there is no way to build a cyber-fence around a particular classroom project; students have access to the entire blogging world-and vice versa.” Then the author says “Don’t force a sequential style” (meaning don’t make it so that the bloggs can only be listed in order of when they were posted.) This is so that the students can arrange them in ways that make the most sense or are meaningful to them. And lastly the author says “Don’t leave the blogging to the students.” This means that you have to still be an active participant in the blogging process. You should lead by example and make sure you are knowledgeable enough to lead and teach the students about the process.

Questions:
1.) Q: What would you do to make sure that the students understood your expectations and what is acceptable in their blog?

A: I like the idea of having the students sign a “Conduct Contract.” Not only do you need to discuss what they can and can not do but I think that it is a good idea to have it in writing for the students to look back on; and if there is some sort of issue tat you need to address with a student you can use it as a reference. I also think that it is important for students to understand that a classroom blog is like an extension of school; all of the school rules apply an if they break any of those rules they are subject to the schools punishment.

2.) Q: What do you think would be the best way to find the resources to set up a blog if the free blog spots are not acceptable?

A: The article mentions places like “Class Blogmeister” that you can use. If you have to subscribe to a service you can always talk to the school and see if you can apply the expense to the math or science budget (or whatever subject you teach.) You could also try to set up a donation drive (recycle cans, bake sale, car wash, ect.)

Journal #2: Speaking Math

Journal #2
Speaking Math: Using Chat in the Multicultural Math Classroom" by Janet Graham and Ted Hodgson

This article is about using online discussion tools in multicultural math classes to allow students to discuss math concepts and vocabulary. As the article says the “goal is to encourage students to use mathematical vocabulary to co-construct meaning…and interpret relevant portions of their textbook or lecture notes in terms that make sense to them.”
The article then goes on to give an example of a math chat where student discuss a concept they are covering in class. It shows how the students start by giving basic definitions of the word, but as the discussion goes on you can see how they start to gain a better grasp of what they are talking about. They also begin to talk about the information in terms of broader concepts and applicability. In order to show the benefits of using this technique the authors compared the performance of students in a standard class structure and one that uses a combination of the standard structure and online discussion. The study found that students in the combination class showed a better “use and recognition of math vocabulary terms.”
I like that this article showcases a new and innovative way to help students gain a better understanding and grasp of the concepts. As the article states, this technique will also help English language learners and students who might need more time to compose their thoughts to articulate their responses. I also think that, in times like these where the internet and online technology is often such a large part of the students’ life; incorporating these type of techniques (that they enjoy and can relate to) are a great way to give students another way to show and expand their knowledge.

Questions:
1.) Q: How do you think that you could use this in your class setting?
A: In the article they were teaching about math concepts and terms. I want to teach science and I think that you could do something like; instead of just assigning the students to look up definitions of terms and copy them down, you could assign them a group of words and have them discuss what they mean and their application to the subject that you are learning.

2.) Q: Who do you think will most benefit from this technology tool?
A: This would be the most beneficial to students who need more time to gather and then express their thoughts (like second language learners and learning disabled students.) this would give them the extra time that they need to formulate what they are going to say and it takes some of the stress of having to come up with the answers on the spot in the classroom.

Journal #1: Social Networking

Journal #1
Social Networking for the K-12 Set by Jim Klein

The article, Social Networking for the K-12 Set by Jim Klein, talks about the new web based document sharing and discussion forum called “learning landscapes” (or SUSD Teacher and Student Community sites.) This is basically a project that uses online tools and websites to make social networking tools (ie: blogs, podcast, document sharing, discussion boards, ect.) available to students and teacher so that they can better “communicate, collaborate, learn, share, and grow not only among themselves, but with the community at large.”
The article goes on to discuss some of the ways that this system has been used in schools across the country. The article also talks about the different benefits of this system. Not only is it a great way to improve communication on a number of different levels, but it also establishes a sense of community and has been shown to improve test scores and student achievement.
I found this interesting because I think that the internet and web based applications are the next step in education and they can be a great tool to extend the classroom. I also think that it is a great idea to make a place where everyone has equal access to the programs. While most people have things like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (or similar programs) on their home computer; not everyone has access to video or podcasting software. You would also be able to communicate and interact with fellow students or teacher, not only in your own school district, but throughout the country and even the world.

Questions:
1.) Q: How do you see yourself using these “learning landscapes” in your classroom?
A: I think that this would be a great extension of the classroom discussion. From what I have seen in my observations, the pace of a regular classroom session seems so frantic (especially in a middle school setting) that there does not seem to be nearly enough time for the students to digest and really discuss what they are studying and learning. You could use this to set up something like a discussion board so that the students could share their ideas or to help expand on something that they really found interesting or that they just did not quite get.

2.) Q: What do you think would be your biggest challenge in using this social networking?
A: I think that my biggest challenge would be finding a way to really set up a community that would be truly beneficial to the students. I think that you need to find a way to make it an online community that is truly engaging and interesting for the students, not just another assignment that they had to do. One way that I think that you could do this would be to get some input from the student, ask them what they would be interested in setting up.