Friday, December 09, 2005
Life As A Student Blogger: Enjoying an Enlightening Experience
Now that the semester has come to an end, I am able to say "goodbye" and "good riddance" to my classes this semester; however, I must admit that I will miss this blogging experience. The blog has been a significant contributor to my growth as a student. Thanks to the blog, I was able to establish closer ties with my classmates and mentor as well as augment my technological skills and confidence. Sure there were times when I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown, especially when I couldn't upload a picture or get my post to look right, but I was able to persevere and partake in a life-enhancing experience. During this activity, I looked forward to checking my blog and reading the comments of other students. After checking my e-mail, it was the next thing I did when I turned my computer on. This experience allowed me to develop a genuine appreciation for technology, and I would highly recommend blogs for every teacher. No matter what grade, all students can benefit from the high level of interactivity provided by weblogs. As a matter of fact, my love for blogs runs so deep that I have agreed to assist Dr. Baylen with his students' blogs next semester! (What am I getting myself into?) I would like to thank everyone for enabling this wonderful experience to take place, and I wish everyone the best for years to come. 
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Bad to the Bone
"A. Fraid came to live with my family five years ago in the summer. When we welcomed him to our household, it took some time for him to adjust. Throughout his childhood, he lived on the streets, and he associated with a bad crowd. To accommodate him to our household, we bought him new clothes and toys. After all, he was just a pup. Eventually, he settled into his new home, taking long naps in his cushy bed and enjoying fattening meals of French fries and chicken nuggets. He became a part of the family and was carefree and unconcerned of the hardships he left behind. For quite some time, he lived in peace, that is, until the bad boy and his girl arrived."Click here to find out what happens next...
Above is a passage from my Electronic Book assignment in Dr. Baylen's class. Prior to conducting this activity, Dr. Baylen taught the class how to create quizzes in Microsoft PowerPoint using hyperlinks. We then had the option of either reading a short book, writing a short story, or utilizing a "Jeopardy" PowerPoint template. Following this, we were to create the PowerPoint quiz as Dr. Baylen had instructed us. Those who had chosen the "Jeopardy" template were to create a quiz similar to the game show; however, the questions would be based on the technology articles we read in class. I was so excited when we received this assignment. I knew that I just had to write my own story. The only obstacle, however, was that I had to create my own illustrations. At first I was unsure of how to create vivid pictures that would show up on PowerPoint, but then I thought of my three Chihuahuas, Jackal, Chaos, and Tia. These dogs are pretty popular around the house. I literally went through hundreds of dog pictures, choosing the most memorable photographs I could find. In a way, the daily episodes of these crazy dogs' lives were what inspired this story. Jackal really does love Tia, but she only has eyes for Chaos. I had a great time writing this story, and I hope you enjoy it!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Internet Interaction: Connecting Students with Pen Pals Across the World
Here is the final draft of my classroom activity. I welcome all suggestions or experiences you would like to share to improve this project. A million thanks to everyone who has helped me come this far.Objective:
The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to develop skills in writing and reading as well as more information and respect for other cultures in the world. Studies have shown that students are likely to hone their reading and writing skills while corresponding with their peers. Students look forward to communicating with their diverse peers, being careful to check and edit their work. This activity will also develop proficiency with computer skills, particularly typing and e-mail.
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills:
Prior to conducting this activity, students should be able to express themselves in writing, be able to read for content, and have some knowledge of computers (particularly typing and sending e-mails). Your students' reading abilities will be tested with this project as their foreign peers may write with broken English and unique colloquialisms.
Materials and/or Tools:
Students will need computers with Internet access, computer time in the classroom, a printer and paper to print their letters, and a folder to keep their letters.
Set Up/Context:
This activity is designed for middle school students (grades 6 - 8), but it could certainly be revised to account for any grade level. Cultural awareness should be made apparent to any age group, but the process can be adapted so that it is more challenging for higher-level students and easier for younger children. While this activity can span any length, I would encourage teachers to continue their pen pal interaction throughout the year. Once a week, teachers could devote time for Internet correspondence, having their students use the classroom computer to write their emails. This activity should only take place in the classroom so that teachers can monitor their students.
Process/Instructions:
1) Teachers need to create an account with ePALS (this was the server I used to experiment with this activity). Their website is http://www.epals.com. Click on the link "Become a Member." Following this, you have the option of signing up with "ePALS School Mail" or "ePALS Global Network." The Global Network is free, and I found it to be suitable for this activity. From there, select the "Teacher Channel," which will require you to fill out some personal information, but don't worry, ePALS offers a safe, secure privacy policy. Be aware that it may take a day or two for your account to be activated.
2) Once your account has been activated (you will be notified by your ePALS e-mail account), you can then begin searching for other classrooms around the world. On the left hand bar of the welcoming page, there is a link to "Find Classrooms." Once you begin your search, you can narrow your selection to classroom size, age, and country by clicking on "Refine your search." A list of candidates will appear, allowing you to contact the teacher of each class through e-mail. Be sure to pay attention to how long your prospective pen pals have been members of ePALS. If their profile has not been updated for quite sometime, I suggest you look for someone more recent.
3) Once you have an idea of which countries your students would like to converse with, contact your candidates one by one. I suggest you start this activity at the beginning of the year, so that you can give your candidates time to respond. If you do not receive a response within a few weeks, I would suggest you move on.
4) Once you have made contact with a teacher from another country, tell your students which country they will be conversing with. Have your students use the Internet or the library to research the country they will be studying (if some of your students do not have Internet access at home, allow them to use the library or class computer sometime in school). It will help if your students have some knowledge of the country they will be communicating with. Have them answer the following questions (or similar ones):
- What is your impression of this country? What do you know or what have you heard about this country?
- Where is this country located?
- What is the geographical terrain and typical weather of this country?
- What nationality are the people in this country, and what language(s) do they speak?
- How many people live in this country?
- Name something that has occurred in this country's past.
- Name something that is currently happening in this country.
5) Before initiating the pen pal interaction, provide your students with a detailed lecture on Internet safety tips. Your students may not know how to protect their privacy on the Internet. Tell your students that they must never share their full name, birthday, phone number, or address with their pen pal. Also, if their pen pal says something mean or asks for personal information, tell them to ignore it and notify an adult. Your students also need to know that they must never arrange to meet someone they have met on the Internet in person.
6) Once your students have been introduced to their country and learned how to stay safe on the Internet, you may begin the pen pal process. You will need to contact your teacher to determine how you would like your students to correspond (chat, video, audio, postal, but if you conduct a postal interaction make sure you use the school's address, not your own), and you will also need to retain e-mail addresses. Make sure you inform your teacher what you will be doing with your class, and set up a schedule for correspondence - perhaps an e-mail exchange every week or so. Also determine when the both of you would like to end the project. Allow your students to develop a natural friendship with their diverse peers, but try to incorporate topics your students could discuss with their peers. Have your students ask their peers questions, such as "What are you learning about in school," or cultural questions, such as "What is your favorite food?" Since there are probably a limited number of computers in your class, have your students write their e-mails on paper before typing them in class. This way, you can read what they have written, checking for errors or inappropriate language, before they type their letter. For every day of the week, have a handful of students type their e-mails in class. Be sure to check their messages before they submit them, and be with them when they send their e-mails. Your students should maintain correspondence with their peers, even if they have not received a response.
7) Print every e-mail your students receive from their peers and place them in a folder. This way, your students will have a record of every interaction, as well as the information they have gathered from this activity.
8) Finally, at the end of the pen pal interaction, put together a "culture package" filled with American souvenirs and pictures. If you can afford to do this, ship the "culture package" to your friends in the other country.
Outcome:
After this activity, your students should have more information and knowledge about their country of correspondence. This cultural interaction will allow your students to develop more respect for their diverse peers, and hopefully, this will be replicated in their behavior. At the end of this assignment, your students should have a keepsake folder depicting their pen pal interaction composed of their letters as well as those written by their peers.
Evaluation and Feedback:
During correspondence, grade your students based on how involved they were in this assignment. Take a look at their letters. Do they seem interested in their peers? Are they trying to learn more about the culture? At the end of this activity, after reading through the e-mails, try to uncover what your students have learned from this assignment. Using the responses of their peers and the information your students collected at the beginning of this activity, create a test to measure what your students have retained. How well your students perform on this test will indicate what they have gained from their interaction.
Follow Up:
The most appropriate follow up for this assignment would be a student reflection, but prior to having your students write their reflections, arrange time in class so that they can discuss their pen pal experience. Ask your students what they have learned from their peer interaction. What did they enjoy most? What did they enjoy least? What could have been done to make their interaction more enjoyable? How has their interaction changed their first impression of this country? This discussion will prepare your students to write their reflections. You can use the same or similar questions as prompts for their reflections. The reflection will enable you to see how your students have grown in their acceptance of diversity.
7) Print every e-mail your students receive from their peers and place them in a folder. This way, your students will have a record of every interaction, as well as the information they have gathered from this activity.
8) Finally, at the end of the pen pal interaction, put together a "culture package" filled with American souvenirs and pictures. If you can afford to do this, ship the "culture package" to your friends in the other country.
Outcome:
After this activity, your students should have more information and knowledge about their country of correspondence. This cultural interaction will allow your students to develop more respect for their diverse peers, and hopefully, this will be replicated in their behavior. At the end of this assignment, your students should have a keepsake folder depicting their pen pal interaction composed of their letters as well as those written by their peers.
Evaluation and Feedback:
During correspondence, grade your students based on how involved they were in this assignment. Take a look at their letters. Do they seem interested in their peers? Are they trying to learn more about the culture? At the end of this activity, after reading through the e-mails, try to uncover what your students have learned from this assignment. Using the responses of their peers and the information your students collected at the beginning of this activity, create a test to measure what your students have retained. How well your students perform on this test will indicate what they have gained from their interaction.
Follow Up:
The most appropriate follow up for this assignment would be a student reflection, but prior to having your students write their reflections, arrange time in class so that they can discuss their pen pal experience. Ask your students what they have learned from their peer interaction. What did they enjoy most? What did they enjoy least? What could have been done to make their interaction more enjoyable? How has their interaction changed their first impression of this country? This discussion will prepare your students to write their reflections. You can use the same or similar questions as prompts for their reflections. The reflection will enable you to see how your students have grown in their acceptance of diversity.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Fun in the Sun, Our Education is Number One!
"It's that time already! Now that you're done with high school, you must get ready to enter the professional world. As graduation approaches, a final decision must be made: "What do I want to do with my life?" A college education is becoming more valuable to employers, and every year, Florida Gulf Coast University guides students down the path of prosperity. Located in southwest Florida, FGCU opened its doors in 1997, and since then, has been a growing university, providing a variety of undergraduate programs and new opportunities for students of all ages. As you are contemplating which college to attend for your professional studies, we encourage you to take a look at what FGCU has to offer."Click here to continue the tour...
Above is an excerpt from my digital gallery assignment in Dr. Baylen's class. On our first day of class, Dr. Baylen divided his students into small groups and provided each group with a digital camera. We then searched the campus for any landmarks, animals, or examples of student life that would make a good snapshot; however, this was only the beginning of the project. Following this, we were to create a twenty-page Florida Gulf Coast University brochure intended to attract graduating high school students from all over the country. At times, it was difficult for me to conjure up ideas, but I found an effective aide. To conduct this assignment, I utilized FGCU's online campus tour and uncovered various tidbits of school facts. For example, I was able to learn that FGCU has over six thousand students! I didn't realize how much our school has grown since I became a student. Needless to say, this was an enormous task, but in the end, it familiarized me with my peers and managed to teach me more about my school.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Conducting the Correspondence
I have finally started to put the final touches on my project idea - from now on known as "Interacting on the Internet." (Fanfare) This project is designed for older students, preferably middle school Social Studies students, and it is intended to boost cultural interaction, reading and writing capabilities, as well as computer skills. Students will be conducting all of their pen pal interactions through e-mail. Thus, it will be important for teachers to allocate time for computer use, especially if some students do not have access to computers at home. As I mentioned before, I will be using ePALS, an online tool connecting students across the world, to conduct this activity. As a matter of fact, I have been testing ePALS for a little over a week, and I have already met three people: Sally, a teacher in Florida, Robert, a student from China, and Lahcen, a teacher from Morocco. Therefore, I can attest to the effectiveness and ease of ePALS. To initiate this project, it is important for teachers to register with ePALS. Once the account has been activiated (this may take some time), teachers may need to search for a prospective country and initiate contact if they do not already receive an invitation from another teacher. From there, I believe it is important for teachers to find some way to bestow their students with information regarding the country of interest, prior to conducting the pen pal interaction. Following, teachers should oversee letters, making sure to provide prompts and suggestions for students. Of course, I believe it is vital for teachers to allow their students to develop a natural friendship with their peers. Approaching the end of this assignment, I think it would be great if teachers could put together a "culture package" filled with American souvenirs and pictures, shipping it (for a pretty penny) to their new friends. This project will not only help students develop their reading, writing, and computer skills, they will also develop a newfound appreciation for their diverse peers. Please let me know if there are any adjustments that can be made to improve this activity, and I thank everyone who has helped me put this idea together. Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The Influence of Technology
"In his old age, my father has been unable to motivate himself to adjust to the advancements of society. After all, he does not believe it is necessary for people to accommodate technology. Unlike my generation, the Net Generation, my father's life does not revolve around the computer or the Internet. Unfortunately, this has caused my father to miss out on the opportunities the Internet has to offer, such as differing opinions on current events and additional information on various subjects. Since I have been able to use the Internet for school projects, I have been exposed to these valuable resources. I have learned how to accept diverse perspectives. My father, on the other hand, has a difficult time tolerating difference. At times, I have been able to change his mind with my input, which has been generated from exposure to a variety of viewpoints on the Internet. Hopefully, I will be able to guide my father towards acceptance with my knowledge of diversity."
Click here to read more...
Above is a passage from my Kiosk project in Dr. Baylen's class. After compiling my Technology Autobiography and my father's Technology Biography, I was able to create a Kiosk presentation detailing our unique experiences with technology as well as the influence it has had on us. While comparing our differences in technology, I was able to perceive the benefits of the advancement of technology. Back in my father's day, the world was small. Communication was slow, and in America, there was not a clear window to the rest of the world. As a result, my father grew up sheltered and confined to his own society and beliefs. Now, technology has made us capable of conversing within minutes across the world. These advancements have enabled me to view different perspectives, and I have learned to accept this diversity. In the end, I believe technology has been enlightening for the people of the world, permitting efficiency and globalization. Unfortunately, I believe technology has also been demanding on us, and our lives seem to be more occupied and complex than our parent's lives in the past.
Click here to read more...
Above is a passage from my Kiosk project in Dr. Baylen's class. After compiling my Technology Autobiography and my father's Technology Biography, I was able to create a Kiosk presentation detailing our unique experiences with technology as well as the influence it has had on us. While comparing our differences in technology, I was able to perceive the benefits of the advancement of technology. Back in my father's day, the world was small. Communication was slow, and in America, there was not a clear window to the rest of the world. As a result, my father grew up sheltered and confined to his own society and beliefs. Now, technology has made us capable of conversing within minutes across the world. These advancements have enabled me to view different perspectives, and I have learned to accept this diversity. In the end, I believe technology has been enlightening for the people of the world, permitting efficiency and globalization. Unfortunately, I believe technology has also been demanding on us, and our lives seem to be more occupied and complex than our parent's lives in the past.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Progressing with the Pen Pal Project
It's that time again... Here's my second installment on my classroom activity. After reading through everyone's comments, I've decided to narrow my project idea to the pen pal activity. I think Meredith's comment was the determining factor in this decision. "Social interaction is very important in children's lives, even if it is through mail with a pen pal. For some students, that might be the only friend they make all year." It is a reality that middle school students endure hard times. As a matter of fact, the middle school was developed as a transitional institution to ease progression into high school. I believe this activity might help my students learn more about another culture while also upholding their self-esteem as they look forward to conversing with a friend overseas. When I was this age, I always wanted to make friends in another country and learn more about the world outside America. Daniela, our mentor, has also helped me to generate several ideas for this project. She provided a website to stimulate ideas, and it certainly helped. For one, I thought I should also try to use the Internet in an effort to locate more pen pal ideas, and I discovered perhaps the perfect website for this project. It is called ePALS, and it is an Internet based pen pal website. This site seems reliable, enabling teachers to connect their students across the world. I registered with ePALS as an aspiring teacher, and I hope to find out more about their services. Has anyone ever had a pen pal? If so, I would like to know about your thoughts on the experience.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Distant Memories of Technology
"As I interview my father, Carl R. Baker, he lounges by the dinner table, snacking on a bag of potato chips. He's a peculiar, witty old man, and there is nothing he loves more than talking about his past. As I ask him what types of technological devices he encountered when he was my age, he sits back and takes a long breath. Before I know it, he's asking me to repeat the same question all over again. "I'm sorry, but you know I have a bad memory," he defends. "Let's see... When I was young, I remember listening to classical music on my father's record player and radio system. I also enjoyed driving my car because it was easier and faster to get around town than pedaling on a bicycle." He tells me that he adjusted easily to these technological advancements, unlike his sister who pulled in front of a blaring fire truck in a state of panic. When I ask him about owning a TV, he says "We couldn't have a television in Milton, Pennsylvania. Believe it or not, I lived without a TV! There were a lot of hills that surrounded the town and prevented us from getting a signal."Click here to read more...
Above is an excerpt from my "18 going on 80" interview. After completing my Technology Biography, my next assignment in Dr. Baylen's class was to interview someone 60 or older about their past technology experiences. For this project, I could not think of anyone more perfect than my father, Carl. This may sound unbelievable, but yes, I am 20 years old and my father is 70. As a matter of fact, one of the challenges of conducting this assignment was remaining patient as my father tried to recollect past memories.
Needless to say, I was a "surprise" for my family. As you can see, my father and I are on entirely different wavelengths - he's several generations ahead of me! That is why conducting this assignment was very important to me. Not only did I gather more insight as to how considerably American society has advanced, I was also bestowed the opportunity to converse with my father. As sad as it may sound, I rarely communicate with my father these days due to my preoccupation with school. Being able to speak with him and learn more about my past - my history - will enable me to have pleasant memories of my father when he is gone...
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Weaving a Project on the Web
One of our main assignments for this blog is to create a classroom activity relevant to our studies at Florida Gulf Coast University and applicable to technology. For me, this will involve teaching Social Sciences to older students. Since my strengths are History and Psychology, I am seeking to develop a task that involves one of these subjects; however, I have no idea where to begin. Since I am still learning about teaching and education, I don't know much about curriculum or how to formulate a lesson plan. I've been doing some research on the Internet in an attempt to see the types of activities teachers have organized for their students, but I have a difficult time understanding their directions and the intended result - what their students would learn from the assignment. I am also unsure of how complicated this assignment should be and how I should incorporate technology in the Social Sciences.
When I try to think of a Social Studies activity I could develop, I think of having my students write a paper and do research, but isn't this boring? Some of the more creative ideas I've thought of are: 1) Organize a pen pal interaction in another country or state, 2) Create a fundraiser for people in other parts of the world that are in need, such as Louisiana or our troops in Iraq. With both of these assignments, I could have my students do research on the Internet regarding the specific area. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
When I try to think of a Social Studies activity I could develop, I think of having my students write a paper and do research, but isn't this boring? Some of the more creative ideas I've thought of are: 1) Organize a pen pal interaction in another country or state, 2) Create a fundraiser for people in other parts of the world that are in need, such as Louisiana or our troops in Iraq. With both of these assignments, I could have my students do research on the Internet regarding the specific area. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
Beginnings in Technology
"As a child, the most significant encounter with technology that I can recall is my experience playing video games with my older brother. When my brother bought a Nintendo in the 1980's, I was only three years old. Our first video game was Super Mario Brothers, and we played it until our eyes were sore from staring at the television for too long. Though I was just a small child, I quickly learned how to control the characters, and eventually, I became absorbed by the desire to squash the Goomba and keep Mario alive. With all of the different and challenging video games that are on the shelves today, it's hard to believe that I was amused by the two-dimensional characters and simple game play."
"As advancements in technology are shaping society, I believe technology will have a central role in people's lives. Already, technology exists in many aspects of society; for example, we have technological medical supplies for home-use, various technological gadgets for entertainment, and technological devices for professionals in almost every field. As technological advancements continue to expand in the future, I believe a technologically literate person will become capable of utilizing technology in a variety of settings and have the ability to grasp new ideas quickly. I also believe that it will be advantageous for people to become technologically literate at a younger age in an effort to quickly adjust to new technological developments."
"As advancements in technology are shaping society, I believe technology will have a central role in people's lives. Already, technology exists in many aspects of society; for example, we have technological medical supplies for home-use, various technological gadgets for entertainment, and technological devices for professionals in almost every field. As technological advancements continue to expand in the future, I believe a technologically literate person will become capable of utilizing technology in a variety of settings and have the ability to grasp new ideas quickly. I also believe that it will be advantageous for people to become technologically literate at a younger age in an effort to quickly adjust to new technological developments."
Click here to read more...
Above is an excerpt from my Technology Autobiography, the first assignment in Dr. Baylen's course. For this assignment, I was required to answer a series of questions regarding my experiences and feelings towards technology. At first, it was difficult for me to compose a technology autobiography. While I had some experience with computers, I believed that I lacked adequate computer skills. For quite a while, I sat in front of my computer, recalling my most memorable experiences with technology: video games. As I composed this assignment, I became aware of the dramatic advancements technology has undergone since the 1980's, especially with video games. When I was a little girl, I remember my brother and I would always comment on the graphics every time a new video game came out. "Look at that, it has 16-bit graphics now!" It eventually got to the point where we didn't have anything more to say. "Oh, you can hook-up to the Internet now? That's nice, I guess." Fortunately, advancements in technology have not been limited to video games. As I wrote in my autobiography, I realized that technology has become more and more capable of enabling human achievement. With all of the advancements we have encountered in twenty years, imagine how far we'll come during the next twenty!
Above is an excerpt from my Technology Autobiography, the first assignment in Dr. Baylen's course. For this assignment, I was required to answer a series of questions regarding my experiences and feelings towards technology. At first, it was difficult for me to compose a technology autobiography. While I had some experience with computers, I believed that I lacked adequate computer skills. For quite a while, I sat in front of my computer, recalling my most memorable experiences with technology: video games. As I composed this assignment, I became aware of the dramatic advancements technology has undergone since the 1980's, especially with video games. When I was a little girl, I remember my brother and I would always comment on the graphics every time a new video game came out. "Look at that, it has 16-bit graphics now!" It eventually got to the point where we didn't have anything more to say. "Oh, you can hook-up to the Internet now? That's nice, I guess." Fortunately, advancements in technology have not been limited to video games. As I wrote in my autobiography, I realized that technology has become more and more capable of enabling human achievement. With all of the advancements we have encountered in twenty years, imagine how far we'll come during the next twenty!
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Beginning Blog Blunders
I have a confession to make. When our professor first assigned us this blog project, I was not looking forward to it. I am always telling myself that I don't know anything about computers, when in reality, I seem to know enough to survive in a computers class. So far, I've been trying my best to figure out how this blog thing works but to no avail. I'm having a hard time understanding the Help section. Help! Just kidding... I'm sure I'll manage somehow. I just don't really have computer common sense. It took me a while to figure out the code section, especially since I wanted to post more links on our blog. When I first saw the code, I didn't even imagine I could tamper with it. I thought it was for the head honcho. Unfortunately, I have to learn the coding in order to learn how to do anything on this blog. The code has all the answers... As you can see I'm experimenting with this post. I tried uploading a picture from my computer. Right now, this is how I feel, frazzled from trying to decript the code and understand this blog. 
