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."
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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."
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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!
