Have the Students in Theater Production 4 divide into groups of 4 and recreate a scene from either a music concert or a theatrical event. Each group will use a minimum of 4 instruments and a maximum of 8 lights 2 must be moving lights. Technology used will be the ETC Gio light board as well as the research of the scene they wish to recreate and the lighting fixtures and the moving lights. The purpose of this assignment is as a final to demonstrate proficiency and understanding of basic lighting and Gio programing.
II 3PR Apply technical knowledge and skills to collaborate and safely create functional scenery, properties, lighting, sound costumes and make-up.
III 2PR Identify and safely apply the appropriate technology to a selected area of technical emphasis.
IV 2PR Collaborate with others to develop a unified design for a production.
I am actually teaching this lesson right now. During the introduction to this assignment and through using exit tickets it became apparent that some review into the types of instruments and the purpose of those were required. This lead to the creation of prezi 1 Lighting instrument Review.
After creating prezi 1 I realized that my students need a review into some of the basic safety of hanging lighting instruments. This caused the creation of Prezi 2. The Prezis allowed me to place them on google drive so that students who missed a class could get caught up.
The final stage of the review was an on line assessments at Classmarker.com. The beauty of this sight is that it allows me to verify comprehension of the review materials so I know if the class is ready to move on to the recreation of the scenes.
http://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=4b3536a9ae659ecf
This is a blog that I hope to continue using after I finish the Educational Technology class I am currently enrolled in. I would like this to be a way for me to connect to present and past students of my Theater production classes as well as the shows we are currently working on.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Growing Up Online
This documentary spends time investigating the aspects of the internet that affect teens and parents alike. The video speaks about a concerned mother that would like to be involved in her student’s online life. Addressed is the teens desire for privacy. Parents lack of involvement in the teens internet lives, including suicide, Autum Edows alternative life. The video really makes you think about what you need to be aware of and conscience of. Fear is not used as a motivator for parents but the story aims to make everyone think about how engrained in the internet.
1. A survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that in 2004, 67 percent of parents said the Internet has been a good thing for their children. However, this number decreased to 59 percent in 2006. In 2012, 69% of parents of online teens said they were concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with some 44% being “very” concerned. Cite some reasons why parental support for their children’s independent internet use is decreasing. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased?
I believe that as teens spend more time on line either gaming or socializing, we are starting to see decreases in several key aspects of human interaction that will have long lasting effects on society as we know it. The first issue that I would think parents should be afraid of it the lack of imagination. Internet kids have so many things on the net that can stimulate or entertain them that they do not need to go outside and invent ways to entertain themselves or others. Children currently do not have the ability to “see” a solution to a problem. These students are more intent on a teacher, parent or some one else telling them the solution than being able to imagine a solution. This is worrying parent because of the founded or unfounded fears that kids will become unable to function or will be come unable to cope with the things that happen in “real’ life.
2. More teachers are using tools to try to detect cheating or deter students’ inclination to cheat. In the program, we see the use of plagiarism-detection tools like Turnitin.com and writing assignments completed during class time to make sure students do their own work and generate their own ideas.
How can we as educators stop students from using material they found online as their own work? Should that be considered cheating, in your opinion?
I am not sure as educators that you can completely eliminate all information that students find on the internet. I believe that turnitin.com is a great start to ensure that a student’s work is theirs. How ever I know that in the theatrical design side of my life that I often use the internet to find materials or ways of solving peculiar problems that arise while building a show. I feel that we should encourage our students to use the internet as a creditable resource and then tech them how to properly site their sources so that credit goes where it belongs.
3. One student claims he "never reads books" but relies on summaries and annotated notes he finds on Web sites. He confesses that he feels guilty about this, stating, "I feel like I kind of cheated it."
In your opinion, should he feel guilty? Why or why not?
I do believe he should feel guilty. He did cheat. The assignment was to read the book Hamlet. He did not read the book. The issue will arise if assessments were written differently and included very subtle questions about symbolism and hidden undertones. These students will not be able to answer these from Spark notes. Students need to understand that as their academic careers move on Spark notes and other short cuts are not the answer.
4. Before the Internet, in order to be seen by the world, you had to be portrayed in some form of mass media, and you had to be famous in some respect -- in the news, in politics or as a celebrity. Now anyone can be seen online by anyone else in the world. Some people have become famous for videos or photos they’ve posted (such as Autumn Edows).
In your opinion, should people like Edows, or others who become “ famous” through their online presence, be considered “celebrities?”
Has the ability to create an online persona, and receive worldwide attention for it, affected our cultural values?
Fame depends on your individual definition of fame. Individuals in my generation may define fame as someone who has exhibited bravery or has made several movies that have been box office smashes. Younger generations seem to define fame as something much more fleeting. Someone’s YouTube video goes viral and that individual is famous for a second. The cultural values issue is one that again I believe is defined differently. Older generations would say that cultural values are being affect due to the ease of becoming famous. Younger generations would say that there is no effect at all on cultural values. Theirs are different than our cultural values.
5. Shows like "To Catch a Predator" on Dateline NBC (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10912603/) contribute to parental anxiety about online media. It is obvious that certain elements of programs like “To Catch a Predator,” and even this documentary, will likely increase parents’ fears.
Cite one current event from the past year where a young person has been affected (positively or negatively) by being active online. (find a link to a news story, describe it in your answer to this question, and provide the link as well).
Click here to see an example of what I’m looking for: http://www.startribune.com/nation/254228371.html (Please do some research on your own and find a story other than Rebecca Sedwick's...her story is probably the most famous cyberbullying case to date.)
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/14/17747411-california-case-another-three-part-tragedy-of-rape-cyber-bullying-and-suicide?lite
This is a news story about a 15 year old girl in California that became intoxicated and was apparently raped at a party. The next day the youth found many pictures, posts and emails about the rape. She found out that the boys who raped here where supposed to be her friends. She found all of this information and made a post that her life was ruined where she committed suicide.
6. Teasing, lying, gossiping, threatening, spreading rumors or harassing online (and offline)can severely affect people’s self-concept and self-esteem and have an impact on their emotional state. In the program, we see one girl who describes flirting with boys and then revealing she was just kidding. She explains: "You wouldn’t do that to someone’s face, but online is completely different. ... No one can do anything. You’re at your house, they’re e at their house."
In her quote, this teen is describing Suler’s disinhibition effects. Which one do you think it is, and why?
Dissociative Anonymity is Suler’s disinhibition that this girl is describing. She speaks about the fact she is flirting with these boys and then stating that she is just kidding. She also state that she is at her house and they are at theirs. No one can do anything. She is disassociating herself from the issues or bad things she is saying. She does not see any real consequences to her actions.
7. At the end of the program, Greg decides it’s time for him to "disconnect" by going to the Coast Guard Academy, where he will spend seven weeks without cell phones or the Internet.
Have you ever thought about "disconnecting" from it all?
Do you think it would be easy or difficult for you personally?
What would you enjoy or dislike about disconnecting?
Disconnecting has crossed my mind several times. I face some very hectic times and I have often wondered what would happen if I gave up my phone and the ability to text. I have no huge attachment to the internet except the required email for our district grade book. I could really care less about facebook, or twitter. I am old enough to remember before pagers, cell phone and the internet did not exist outside the educational world. I would love to find out how my family would do with disconnecting. I could see a lessening of stress and anxiety from being out of touch. I would be going home and actually
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Educational Technology
1. As you read the Introduction to the National Education
Technology Plan, what did you determine to be the purpose of the National Education
Technology Plan? How does it affect teachers and students, people like you and
me? (feel free to be critical if you like).
The Introduction to
the National Education Technology Plan states that our education system
needs to close the current gaps and success and failures among the varied
populations of our students. Minority students are not graduating high school
and are not continuing on to college at the same rate as white students. These
gaps must be closed . Students must receive education that will aid them in
succeeding and completing high school and post secondary educations.
These ideas
and requirements are beautiful ideas, however the high stakes assessment idea
is causing a weakening to our education system. Teachers are not teaching what
needs to be covered they are teaching what is on the tests. Teaching the teast
is not aiding our students critical thinking or creative problem solving. We
are teaching them nothing but how to regurgitate answers. This requires
Professors to spend time deprograming students and getting these students to
understand how to go find the answers.
2. As you read the Introduction to the National Education
Technology Plan (NETP), what were the main assumptions under which the plan was developed? (you may copy and paste
the main assumptions, and then answer the question below in your own words)
- Many of the failings
of our education system stem from our failure to engage the hearts and
minds of students.
- What students
need to learn and what we know about how they learn have changed, and
therefore the learning experiences we provide should change.
- How we assess
learning focuses too much on what has been learned after the fact and not
enough on improving learning in the moment.
- We miss a huge
opportunity to improve our entire education system when we gather
student-learning data in silos and fail to integrate the information and
make it broadly available to decision-makers at all levels of our
education system—individual educators, schools, districts, states, and the
federal government.
- Learning depends
on effective teaching, and we need to focus on extended teams of connected
educators with different roles who collaborate within schools and across
time and distance and who use technology resources and tools to augment
human talent.
- Effective
teaching is an outcome of preparing and continually training teachers and
leaders to guide the type of learning we want in our schools.
- Making engaging
learning experiences and resources available to all learners anytime and
anywhere requires state-of-the-art infrastructure, which includes
technology, people, and processes that ensure continuous access.
- Education can
learn much from such industries as business and entertainment about
leveraging technology to continuously improve learning outcomes while
increasing the productivity of our education system at all levels.
- Just as in
health, energy, and defense, the federal government has an important role
to play in funding and coordinating some of the R&D challenges
associated with leveraging technology to ensure the maximum opportunity to
learn.
The
plan also assumes that with technology we can provide engaging and powerful
learning content, resources, and experiences and assessment systems that
measure student learning in more complete, authentic, and meaningful ways. With
technology-based learning and assessment systems, we can improve student
learning and generate data that can be used to continuously improve the
education system at all levels. With technology, we can execute collaborative
teaching strategies combined with professional learning strategies that better
prepare and enhance educators' competencies and expertise over the course of
their careers. With technology, we can redesign and implement processes to
produce better outcomes while achieving ever higher levels of productivity and
efficiency across the education system.
What are some concerns
administrators, educators, or even students might have with these assumptions?
These assumptions are pretty critical of professional
educators. Stating that we do not engage the heart and minds of students maybe
true with some but many of us show our students we care about them and we do
attempt to engage them in conversations as they enter the room. Assessment data does show us weaknesses but
it does not show us why these weaknesses exist. Is this student from a single
parent home? Does this student have to watch siblings because the parent work a
second or third shift for the shift differential?
Administrators should be worried about the team concepts
stated here I love the ideas of team teaching but where does the time come from
for teams to meet and discuss and figure all of this out. Learning from private
industries makes me believe that education should be approached as a business
and not as something about the students and about success in education.
3.
As you read the Executive Summary, the NETP presents a model of learning powered by technology,
with goals and recommendations in five essential areas. ( You may copy and
paste the areas directly from the document and then answer the question below
in your own words).
1.0
Learning: Engage and Empower
All
learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and out
of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical
participants in our globally networked society.
2.0 Assessment: Measure What Matters
Our
education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure
what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement
3.0 Teaching: Prepare and Connect
Professional
educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that
connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences
that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners.
4.0 Infrastructure: Access and Enable
All students
and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning
when and where they need it.
5.0 Productivity: Redesign and Transform
Our
education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take
advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making
more efficient use of time, money, and staff.
What are the “21st century
competencies” - see the section titled “what and how people need to learn”-
listed in the summary? How will technology support the growth of these
competencies?
The 21st century competencies basically state
that across all the disciplines in education, students need to have critical
thinking, problem solving as well as collaboration and finally the ability to
communicate in a multimedia manner.
Technology can enhance and stimulate these competencies by allowing us
to model a lesson and then provide basic information on where to find examples
and answers on line. By making assignments include group work and allowing
students to use computer technology as a means to present their work, we will
enhance student’s use of technology.
While reading the mission statement from the State of Ohio
Educational Technology Plan there was one thing that ran true through both the
state and the federal plans and that is the desire to incorporate community and
business partners in realizing these technology goals. I also noticed that the
state document comments that this document is a living document. The federal
document seemed closed and was not open to any further comment or revision.
While reading Ohio’s Educational Technology Plan on page 8
and comparing it to the Federal plan’s
goals and recommendations, I see very few similarities. The only idea that I see is the fact that
both call for increased quality professional development for teachers. I do
believe that the Ohio plan narrows down the broad guidelines set at the federal
level. Examples of this would be the
federal call for the infrastructure and access and enabling, the Ohio plan
calls for teachers and students having access to the internet but it goes on to
call for distance learning for students. I believe that this shows that Ohio
went further with the federal guide lines.
While looking at Ohio’s State Technology Plan’s
“measurements of success” I find one huge barrier to success in measuring the
progress in meeting these goals. There are no provisions for funding these
indicators. How can a district with a low tax base come up with enough money to
higher or train educators to be AP teachers? How can these lower income
districts find funding to purchase the equipment for teachers to integrate
technology into their curriculum? While duel credit classes for high school
students is a great idea but these classes require HGT teachers and how do
these schools afford these highly qualified teachers or teachers with a masters
degree in their subject area? The third
hurdle to cross is how does a secondary school offer credit for a class that is
taught off campus a post secondary school? I mean how does a high school give
credit for a curriculum that is outside their control or oversight? How can they be sure that the student
actually took a class of merit and not under water basket weaving? Finally the
last hurdle to all of this is that these are yet another unfunded mandate by
the state. Examples of these are such as all day kindergarten, the measuring of
a students body mass index and we can go on and on. Ohio has many great ideas,
but someone needs to truly change school funding so that all district are some
how funded equally so these mandates are possible.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
ORC Lesson Plan
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/plan_producers_overview.html
This lesson is aimed at grades 9-12 in Theater. Students will be expected to do research into musical theater and develope an interest in the professional life of Mel Brooks. Accomplishing this lesson will require students to research Mel Brooks, varying aspects of technical theater. Grades will be figured as the students turn in one of three final projects. The projects will consist of a written and performed skit, or a scenic design, lighting design, or a costume design.
This lesson aligns with several strands of the Ohio Common Core Standards for Theater or Drama.
These Strands include:
The us of skills from other disciplines is addressed be the reading of the show as well as the writing of the skit. Standard 2p is addressed by the fact that a group of students have to work together in order to come up with a unified script for the skit. The final standard 2pr from tier 4 requires the collaboration among students so they may come up with a unified and cohesive design for a show they have written. I believe that this assignment would be very engaging to most students.
The implementation of this lesson in class will involve showing the students a video presentation of a Broadway musical. This requires a screen and either a computer able to play a DVD or a DVD player attached to a projector. One of the challenges would be the permission slips that would be required in order for students to see The Producers. I would also need to check out a laptop cart or an ipad cart for the students to be able to do the research for writing the script as well as doing the scene, lighting, costume designs. Over all I believe that this lesson would be engaging and enticing to the students.
This lesson is aimed at grades 9-12 in Theater. Students will be expected to do research into musical theater and develope an interest in the professional life of Mel Brooks. Accomplishing this lesson will require students to research Mel Brooks, varying aspects of technical theater. Grades will be figured as the students turn in one of three final projects. The projects will consist of a written and performed skit, or a scenic design, lighting design, or a costume design.
This lesson aligns with several strands of the Ohio Common Core Standards for Theater or Drama.
These Strands include:
The us of skills from other disciplines is addressed be the reading of the show as well as the writing of the skit. Standard 2p is addressed by the fact that a group of students have to work together in order to come up with a unified script for the skit. The final standard 2pr from tier 4 requires the collaboration among students so they may come up with a unified and cohesive design for a show they have written. I believe that this assignment would be very engaging to most students.
The implementation of this lesson in class will involve showing the students a video presentation of a Broadway musical. This requires a screen and either a computer able to play a DVD or a DVD player attached to a projector. One of the challenges would be the permission slips that would be required in order for students to see The Producers. I would also need to check out a laptop cart or an ipad cart for the students to be able to do the research for writing the script as well as doing the scene, lighting, costume designs. Over all I believe that this lesson would be engaging and enticing to the students.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Pinterest In The Classroom
I learned during my usage of Pinterest that Pinterest is very image based. I personally was not able to figure out how to post text into Pinterest. I wanted to show everyone the rules that are posted in our shop that my students are expected to follow daily.
I really do not see myself using Pinterest after this class. I am currently not able to see any real purpose for Pinterest in my classroom environment. I will always keep an open mind and keep what I have learned in case I can devise a reason to use this.
Pinterest allows you to search for graphic information and allows you to share it either publicly or privately to many people for free. The one big draw back i found is that you do not seem to be able to post text or a pdf to Pinterest. This prevents you from sharing important documents with you classes.
I found Pinterest easy to use and fun for sharing images of items that you are using or would like to use in your career. I found the assignment interesting and educational. I was excited about the chance to use Pinterest. I again was disappointed in the inability to post pdfs or text.
I really do not see myself using Pinterest after this class. I am currently not able to see any real purpose for Pinterest in my classroom environment. I will always keep an open mind and keep what I have learned in case I can devise a reason to use this.
Pinterest allows you to search for graphic information and allows you to share it either publicly or privately to many people for free. The one big draw back i found is that you do not seem to be able to post text or a pdf to Pinterest. This prevents you from sharing important documents with you classes.
I found Pinterest easy to use and fun for sharing images of items that you are using or would like to use in your career. I found the assignment interesting and educational. I was excited about the chance to use Pinterest. I again was disappointed in the inability to post pdfs or text.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Khan/Koller Review
While reading and listening to Khan, I found the information very useful and interesting. teaching the fine arts makes using Kahn's site somewhat of a mute point for me. However, I found many of our teachers in the core subjects are actively using Kahn Academy with their students. I would love to find content on Kahn where I could send my students to investigate a topic. This would allow me to flip my classroom. I discovered that many of the videos were easy to follow and the concepts were explained very effectively.
I believe that Kahn has hit the nail on the head by stating that credentialing will become a thing of the past. This elimination will occur with knowledge assessments much like teachers having to pass the praxis. These test do not care where you received your education as long as you can show that you have the knowledge for the profession. This removal of the importance of where you go to school will aid many students who cannot afford to attend the major universities. These students will now be able to attend modest cost universities and still have the ability to get quality jobs by demonstrating the mastery of the information.
Koller has many of the same basic ideas as Kahn but Coursera went a little further. I found the course work in Coursera in the humanities to be very interesting. I would love to study literature from a professor at Stamford.
I was not able to find a definitive answer to whether Columbus State accepts Coursera Credit how ever they are not listed as a partner institution. I do however feel strongly that the Coursera classes were more challenging than other online classes i have taken. I was not as intimidated by the class but was excited by the names of the professors teaching, because I was on my own learning pace. There where very few actual dead lines.This was a prime example of master style learning. I
I believe that the MOOCs style of online classes will be a revolution to the education environment. This revolution will occur by tearing down the boarders and barriers so that everyone can be entitiled to an education.
I believe that Kahn has hit the nail on the head by stating that credentialing will become a thing of the past. This elimination will occur with knowledge assessments much like teachers having to pass the praxis. These test do not care where you received your education as long as you can show that you have the knowledge for the profession. This removal of the importance of where you go to school will aid many students who cannot afford to attend the major universities. These students will now be able to attend modest cost universities and still have the ability to get quality jobs by demonstrating the mastery of the information.
Koller has many of the same basic ideas as Kahn but Coursera went a little further. I found the course work in Coursera in the humanities to be very interesting. I would love to study literature from a professor at Stamford.
I was not able to find a definitive answer to whether Columbus State accepts Coursera Credit how ever they are not listed as a partner institution. I do however feel strongly that the Coursera classes were more challenging than other online classes i have taken. I was not as intimidated by the class but was excited by the names of the professors teaching, because I was on my own learning pace. There where very few actual dead lines.This was a prime example of master style learning. I
I believe that the MOOCs style of online classes will be a revolution to the education environment. This revolution will occur by tearing down the boarders and barriers so that everyone can be entitiled to an education.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Ohio DL schools
The Connections Academy looked to be my choice if I was going to send my child or recommend an online school for a student. educators have faced many students who have moved to the brick and mortar high school after spending several years as either a home schooled student or as a student from an online academy. I have personally witnessed these students have a very rough time make the social adjustments allowing the students to fit in with their peers. Many of these students seem to become social outcasts and become disconnected from the school society. Connections Academy has the required on line virtual classroom environment where students get to interact with teachers and classmates through the live web classes. While the asynchronous concept supporting anytime anyplace learning is the crux of the learning environment, I feel that the live interaction would help to alleviate some of the social stigma associated with online education. I found the website to be very easy to navigate and the FAQ section was very informative. http://www.connectionsacademy.com/curriculum/high-school/free-online-learning.aspx
The flip side to this is the Ohio Virtual Academy. I found the site hard to navigate and the FAQ section was not informative at all. There was no discussion of virtual classroom interaction and it seemed that this on line school let you swing. Teachers did not seem to be available in any sort of personal manner. I found the website very hard to navigate and I believe that the lack of social interaction might leave a child to being somewhat socially inept. I am sure that other class members will have differing opinions but I do believe that the Connections Academy would be my first choice.
The flip side to this is the Ohio Virtual Academy. I found the site hard to navigate and the FAQ section was not informative at all. There was no discussion of virtual classroom interaction and it seemed that this on line school let you swing. Teachers did not seem to be available in any sort of personal manner. I found the website very hard to navigate and I believe that the lack of social interaction might leave a child to being somewhat socially inept. I am sure that other class members will have differing opinions but I do believe that the Connections Academy would be my first choice.
Assistive Technology for hearing impairment.
I chose this impairment since it is one close to home. I have a daughter that has been classified as someone with multiple disabilities. Brittany suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was three years. This has been, on its own a hurdle for her advancement through the education system, then to add in her hearing impairment. There were times we thought she had reached the pinnacle in her personal development. Through the use of assistive technology she continued to amaze us. Brittany goes through every day of her life with the largest and most beautiful smile on here face despite the fact that she has issues hearing what is said to her by her employer as well as the bus drivers who transport her. During her time in school, she faced hard ships due to her inability to process instructions from teachers due to her inability to hear. Many of us take for granted the ability to hear and process sounds and the meanings of those sounds. I can only imagine what it would be like if I lost my hearing.
The assistive technology that seemed to make a huge difference in Brittany's educational achievement was the arrival of the smart boards. Smart boards first arrived on the scene in 1991. https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/ The Boards are touch sensitive screens over white boards that link to computers or laptops and even now to tablets that allow teachers to differentiate lessons to specific types of students White boards allow teachers to project presi presentations as well as direct web links and to show videos. These boards also allow a teacher, using special pens or pucks to draw on the board to further clarify points during the lessons. White boards also allow the student to save the lesson and drawings on their personal tablets or laptops for future review. Smart boards made a difference for hearing impaired students because the learning environment went from a write concepts on the board and then erase it to move on, to one with pages and the ability for students to save the entire lesson. The inability to process language was minimized through the new technology.
The second technology that made an improvement on my daughter's educational advancement was the inclusion of sound amplification systems in the class room. This allows for amplification of video, computer as well as the teacher's voice through overhead speakers or into ports for headphones at the desks. These systems are very cost effective as well as showing the improvement in standardized testing scores. Using the sound amplification systems allows for the the voice of the teacher, through a wireless lavaliere microphone, to be amplified approximately 8db to 10db above ambient room noise levels. This will aid impaired students to better process spoken concepts in the class room One link that I found to be very basic but informative was http://www.hear-more.com/classsuggestions.htm .
Watching students today at the high school level wearing mp3 players and the such with headphones in so loud that I can hear the music as they pass in the hallways means that there will be a huge need for advancements in assistive technology for students with hearing impairment. I believe many of these advancements will come in the basic cost of these current technologies. Society has witnessed the costs dropping on computers, cell phones and televisions through out the years as manufacturing has improved. Education will see the inhibitive costs for smart boards as well as sound field amplification systems improve. These devices will become common place in the classroom which will serve to aid in the elimination of hearing impairment as a stumbling stone to education.
References:
https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/
http://www.ehow.com/about_5101358_smart-boards-used-classroom.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_Board_interactive_whiteboard
http://www.schoolsoundfield.co.uk/catalogue/12/School-Soundfield
http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/research/international_research/australia/proof_research_creating_enhanced_learning_environments.pdf
The assistive technology that seemed to make a huge difference in Brittany's educational achievement was the arrival of the smart boards. Smart boards first arrived on the scene in 1991. https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/ The Boards are touch sensitive screens over white boards that link to computers or laptops and even now to tablets that allow teachers to differentiate lessons to specific types of students White boards allow teachers to project presi presentations as well as direct web links and to show videos. These boards also allow a teacher, using special pens or pucks to draw on the board to further clarify points during the lessons. White boards also allow the student to save the lesson and drawings on their personal tablets or laptops for future review. Smart boards made a difference for hearing impaired students because the learning environment went from a write concepts on the board and then erase it to move on, to one with pages and the ability for students to save the entire lesson. The inability to process language was minimized through the new technology.
The second technology that made an improvement on my daughter's educational advancement was the inclusion of sound amplification systems in the class room. This allows for amplification of video, computer as well as the teacher's voice through overhead speakers or into ports for headphones at the desks. These systems are very cost effective as well as showing the improvement in standardized testing scores. Using the sound amplification systems allows for the the voice of the teacher, through a wireless lavaliere microphone, to be amplified approximately 8db to 10db above ambient room noise levels. This will aid impaired students to better process spoken concepts in the class room One link that I found to be very basic but informative was http://www.hear-more.com/classsuggestions.htm .
Watching students today at the high school level wearing mp3 players and the such with headphones in so loud that I can hear the music as they pass in the hallways means that there will be a huge need for advancements in assistive technology for students with hearing impairment. I believe many of these advancements will come in the basic cost of these current technologies. Society has witnessed the costs dropping on computers, cell phones and televisions through out the years as manufacturing has improved. Education will see the inhibitive costs for smart boards as well as sound field amplification systems improve. These devices will become common place in the classroom which will serve to aid in the elimination of hearing impairment as a stumbling stone to education.
References:
https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/
http://www.ehow.com/about_5101358_smart-boards-used-classroom.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_Board_interactive_whiteboard
http://www.schoolsoundfield.co.uk/catalogue/12/School-Soundfield
http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/research/international_research/australia/proof_research_creating_enhanced_learning_environments.pdf
Peer Blog Review
What is the name of the blog you reviewed?
I had the pleasure of reviewing the blog for Lauren Coffaro called An Apple A Day. This blog may be reached by using the link here. http://www.anappleadaytech.blogspot.com/
Is the style of the writing in the blog you reviewed suited to the blogger’s intended audience? In other words, is the writing professional enough for a teaching blog?
I found Lauren's writing style to be very easy to read as well as very informative. I was touched by her post about here daughter in the corn maze as well the quote from Waldo Emerson. I may actually end up borrowing this as a signature in my school email account. Her over all style is very professional and I feel that it is written in a manner that third graders should be able to grasp the concepts presented in her blog.
Are the colors/fonts appropriate? Are there things that are distracting about the blog that need to be changed (ie. Pictures/images too large or too small, hard-to-read font, distracting backgrounds, etc). Are Vokis in the right place (they should be only on the sidebar)
The general aesthetics in Lauren's blog are very pleasing. The only issue I found was in the review of my blog. The Color of the text was showing on my computer as grey. I was not able to see here post about my blog. That is the only thing that i found even remotely displeasing in here blog. This was only limited to one post.
Is the spacing and layout easy to navigate? Are there “repeats” of posts? Does the flow and direction of the blog make sense?
Apple A day was extremely easy to navigate and I found the flow to keep me wanting to move further back through her blog. reading this blog i also found that I really liked the personal touches she had included. I feel like I got to know one of my class mates a little bit. The writing was very well done. I could not find any deficiencies in her writing.
What is your overall impression of the blog? (Include any suggestions you may have for improvement. If you have any questions or additional comments, please include them here).
Suggestions and impressions are just one person's opinion. I suggest that anyone following my blog should go check out Lauren Coffaro's blog An Apple A Day for yourself. I really enjoyed reading this blog. I found the links to be very informative and helpful and I found myself book marking a couple of those. However as I stated a little earlier i would change the color of the responses to the questions for the review of my blog hard to read. I would like a color change there. I also might consider making the symballo inserts just a little smaller. These inserts drew my eye a little bit. I had to pull myself back into her blog. I know that i personally will keep checking back in on this blog.
I had the pleasure of reviewing the blog for Lauren Coffaro called An Apple A Day. This blog may be reached by using the link here. http://www.anappleadaytech.blogspot.com/
Is the style of the writing in the blog you reviewed suited to the blogger’s intended audience? In other words, is the writing professional enough for a teaching blog?
I found Lauren's writing style to be very easy to read as well as very informative. I was touched by her post about here daughter in the corn maze as well the quote from Waldo Emerson. I may actually end up borrowing this as a signature in my school email account. Her over all style is very professional and I feel that it is written in a manner that third graders should be able to grasp the concepts presented in her blog.
Are the colors/fonts appropriate? Are there things that are distracting about the blog that need to be changed (ie. Pictures/images too large or too small, hard-to-read font, distracting backgrounds, etc). Are Vokis in the right place (they should be only on the sidebar)
The general aesthetics in Lauren's blog are very pleasing. The only issue I found was in the review of my blog. The Color of the text was showing on my computer as grey. I was not able to see here post about my blog. That is the only thing that i found even remotely displeasing in here blog. This was only limited to one post.
Is the spacing and layout easy to navigate? Are there “repeats” of posts? Does the flow and direction of the blog make sense?
Apple A day was extremely easy to navigate and I found the flow to keep me wanting to move further back through her blog. reading this blog i also found that I really liked the personal touches she had included. I feel like I got to know one of my class mates a little bit. The writing was very well done. I could not find any deficiencies in her writing.
What is your overall impression of the blog? (Include any suggestions you may have for improvement. If you have any questions or additional comments, please include them here).
Suggestions and impressions are just one person's opinion. I suggest that anyone following my blog should go check out Lauren Coffaro's blog An Apple A Day for yourself. I really enjoyed reading this blog. I found the links to be very informative and helpful and I found myself book marking a couple of those. However as I stated a little earlier i would change the color of the responses to the questions for the review of my blog hard to read. I would like a color change there. I also might consider making the symballo inserts just a little smaller. These inserts drew my eye a little bit. I had to pull myself back into her blog. I know that i personally will keep checking back in on this blog.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
PicMonkey
I enjoyed PicMonkey but I did find it a little hard to use. I was not able to get many of the effects and seemed to be limited in what i could accomplish with the picture. Over all I would continue working with PicMonkey to see what else I could accomplish. Over all i would recommend this program to friends and other teachers
Monday, January 27, 2014
Working with Prezi.
Personally I found Prezi both frustrating and fun. The frustration arose from the hyperlinks and being in full screen mode and not able to see the pages that the hyperlinks opened. I am sure that this is something simple that I am doing incorrectly. The inserting fonts and having to customize the theme to accomplish it was not the way I would have expected the task to be accomplished.
However I found the ease of imbedding images, as well as the ability to search for images on the web to be, to be wonderful and extremely intuitive. The embedding of the youtube video was way too easy. I was expecting issues and did not have any problems
Prezi over all has converted me away from the standard Power Point. I like the fact that no matter what happens or where you are you can get the Prezi with just internet access. I will be using Preze from here on out.
However I found the ease of imbedding images, as well as the ability to search for images on the web to be, to be wonderful and extremely intuitive. The embedding of the youtube video was way too easy. I was expecting issues and did not have any problems
Prezi over all has converted me away from the standard Power Point. I like the fact that no matter what happens or where you are you can get the Prezi with just internet access. I will be using Preze from here on out.
About My Prezi.
I designed this Prezi as an introduction to how I got involved in theatre production and as a way to highlight the things that students will be involved in in series of Theater Production classes 1-4. I would like to see parents and high school students have a brief overview of the program, and the quality of the productions we do here at Pickerington High School Central.
Students need to be proud of the program and the work that many alumni of the program have put in to get the program where it is at this point. If this Prezi achieves nothing else I would like them to come ask questions and investigate the theater production program here.
Students need to be proud of the program and the work that many alumni of the program have put in to get the program where it is at this point. If this Prezi achieves nothing else I would like them to come ask questions and investigate the theater production program here.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Introduction:
My name is Eric Womack. I am 49 years old. I am currently teaching at Pickerington, Ohio at Pickerington High School Central. I teach an awesome 4 part series of Theater Production classes. I was working professionally in theater production for almost 20 years before I started teaching. I find a wonderful sense of adventure and enjoyment in being in the classroom with my students.
When I am not in the classroom I truly enjoy spending time with my family and my dogs. I release stress by just hanging out with the funniest two dogs on the earth. I am amazed at the fact that no matter how bad things are they make me laugh so easily.
I have discovered over the past 9 years of teaching that I truly love teaching and learning from my students. I love designing and building the sets for our department productions, and then teaching and guiding my students to the successful completion of the set. I have refined my teaching style everyday by analyzing the feedback and the understanding the students have from each day's lessons. I ma truely blessed to have learned from and to teach everyone of my students.
My name is Eric Womack. I am 49 years old. I am currently teaching at Pickerington, Ohio at Pickerington High School Central. I teach an awesome 4 part series of Theater Production classes. I was working professionally in theater production for almost 20 years before I started teaching. I find a wonderful sense of adventure and enjoyment in being in the classroom with my students.
When I am not in the classroom I truly enjoy spending time with my family and my dogs. I release stress by just hanging out with the funniest two dogs on the earth. I am amazed at the fact that no matter how bad things are they make me laugh so easily.
I have discovered over the past 9 years of teaching that I truly love teaching and learning from my students. I love designing and building the sets for our department productions, and then teaching and guiding my students to the successful completion of the set. I have refined my teaching style everyday by analyzing the feedback and the understanding the students have from each day's lessons. I ma truely blessed to have learned from and to teach everyone of my students.
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