Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Journal 8: Virtual Worlds (NETS-T 5)
Bigenho, Chris (April, 2009). Mining for Gold. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36, Retrieved April 15, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/
A virtual world is a computer simulated virtual 3D environment that operates over the internet where users can manipulate, inhabit, and interact with other users via an avatar (a visual representation of the user). The virtual environments can either depict real world environments or be purely fantasy based. These virtual worlds are most often used in the context of gaming, but they do not require the elements of a game. That is why virtual worlds are an intriguing and inviting educational tool for 21st century teachers.
Before beginning this assignment, I knew very little about virtual worlds and could not even imagine how these computer-based simulations could be incorporated into an educational environment. Now, I have begun to understand the ways in which virtual worlds can broaden the educational and technological activities available to students. Virtual worlds can be used for many different educational purposes.
One of the really cool virtual worlds that I discovered on Web 2.0 was Quest Atlantis which is a safe educational world for students where they can maneuver through pre-determined quests or quests that are set up by their classroom teacher. Through Quest Atlantis students and teachers are able to collaborate with their peers on “quests,” which consist of science, humanities, life skills, and other themes.
Another way that Second Life can be used is for holding virtual office hours, and for meeting other technologically savvy educators. There are also a multitude of in-world learning resources such as virtual museums and simulations. I found that there are many different ways to get involved in second life, but SimTeach Second Life Wiki and Second Life in Education Wiki are two great places to start.
A virtual world is a computer simulated virtual 3D environment that operates over the internet where users can manipulate, inhabit, and interact with other users via an avatar (a visual representation of the user). The virtual environments can either depict real world environments or be purely fantasy based. These virtual worlds are most often used in the context of gaming, but they do not require the elements of a game. That is why virtual worlds are an intriguing and inviting educational tool for 21st century teachers.
Before beginning this assignment, I knew very little about virtual worlds and could not even imagine how these computer-based simulations could be incorporated into an educational environment. Now, I have begun to understand the ways in which virtual worlds can broaden the educational and technological activities available to students. Virtual worlds can be used for many different educational purposes.
One of the really cool virtual worlds that I discovered on Web 2.0 was Quest Atlantis which is a safe educational world for students where they can maneuver through pre-determined quests or quests that are set up by their classroom teacher. Through Quest Atlantis students and teachers are able to collaborate with their peers on “quests,” which consist of science, humanities, life skills, and other themes.
Another way that Second Life can be used is for holding virtual office hours, and for meeting other technologically savvy educators. There are also a multitude of in-world learning resources such as virtual museums and simulations. I found that there are many different ways to get involved in second life, but SimTeach Second Life Wiki and Second Life in Education Wiki are two great places to start.
Journal 7: Mining for Gold (NETS-T 5)
Imagine not having to surf the internet to find information or entertainment that you like. Imagine that information coming to you instead of you having to search for it. Real Simple Syndication (RSS) has made this possible by allowing internet users to subscribe to blogs, podcasts, wikis, social networks, bookmarking sites, television programs, and many other interesting tools found on the internet.
RSS uses an HTML feed known as XML and an aggregator to track each subscribed page. All the information that you subscribe to is brought to you through an internet hosted reader or a client-based aggregator. When using the internet hosted reader, you can reach your feeds from any computer that is internet accessible. The client-based aggregators are integrated in operating systems and can be accessed only from your personal computer. Since RSS is a great tool to utilize in the classroom, the internet hosted reader might be a better choice for teachers.
Teachers can use RSS feeds in many different ways to simplify and organize their workload. Teachers can subscribe to blogs (including student blogs) and social bookmarks or feed content to HTML pages, all of which allows information to be readily accessible to both student and teacher. The ease at which RSS can be used makes is a powerful technological tool for the classroom.
Question 1: How do you currently use RSS and how will you in the future?
I have been using RSS for a while without actually knowing that I was using this type of technology. I have an iGoogle account and a delicious account as well. I would like to definitely use some of Bigenho's ideas about incorporating RSS technology into the classroom. I would definitely like to have my students write in blogs and I would use RSS to subscribe to those blogs as a way of saving time and energy. I would also like to have my students use social bookmarking and use RSS to make their tags accessible to the whole class.
Question 2: How important do you think it is for teachers to know about this type of technology?
I think that it is extremely important for teachers to know about this technology because it is a powerful resource that can make life simpler and more organized. I think that teachers need all the help that they can get in this area because they are already busy enough with planning and scheduling etc. that any extra bit of help goes a long way. RSS is a positive form of technology that can be a very helpful resource for not only teachers, but anyone who uses the internet as a source of information or entertainment.
RSS uses an HTML feed known as XML and an aggregator to track each subscribed page. All the information that you subscribe to is brought to you through an internet hosted reader or a client-based aggregator. When using the internet hosted reader, you can reach your feeds from any computer that is internet accessible. The client-based aggregators are integrated in operating systems and can be accessed only from your personal computer. Since RSS is a great tool to utilize in the classroom, the internet hosted reader might be a better choice for teachers.
Teachers can use RSS feeds in many different ways to simplify and organize their workload. Teachers can subscribe to blogs (including student blogs) and social bookmarks or feed content to HTML pages, all of which allows information to be readily accessible to both student and teacher. The ease at which RSS can be used makes is a powerful technological tool for the classroom.
Question 1: How do you currently use RSS and how will you in the future?
I have been using RSS for a while without actually knowing that I was using this type of technology. I have an iGoogle account and a delicious account as well. I would like to definitely use some of Bigenho's ideas about incorporating RSS technology into the classroom. I would definitely like to have my students write in blogs and I would use RSS to subscribe to those blogs as a way of saving time and energy. I would also like to have my students use social bookmarking and use RSS to make their tags accessible to the whole class.
Question 2: How important do you think it is for teachers to know about this type of technology?
I think that it is extremely important for teachers to know about this technology because it is a powerful resource that can make life simpler and more organized. I think that teachers need all the help that they can get in this area because they are already busy enough with planning and scheduling etc. that any extra bit of help goes a long way. RSS is a positive form of technology that can be a very helpful resource for not only teachers, but anyone who uses the internet as a source of information or entertainment.
Journal 6: Grow Your Personal Learning Network (NETS-T 5)
Warlick, David (2009, March/April). Grow Your Personal Learning Network. Learning and Leading With Technology,36, Retrieved March, 12.2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/
A personal learning network is a network of friends, families, peers, and acquaintances that increase our knowledge. These networks have grown immensely since the age of technology. Growing technological resources have allowed information and communication to become more accessible and unique to the individual using that technology. In the article, “Grow Your Personal Learning Network,” David Warlick explains that in order for educators to be successful and stay connected, they need to use these technological resources to manage, create, and/or extend their personal learning networks.
In doing so, educators can become a part of an online community that allows them to find information sources and a wide array of other educational opportunities. These personal learning networks (PLNs) make this information more readily accessible and easier to find.
In the article, Warlick states that there are three main types of PLNs. The first is the personally maintained synchronous connections. In this type of network, a person can communicate with others through enhanced technologies such as instant messaging, chatting, or teleconferencing. The second is the personally and socially maintained semi synchronous connections. This is a collaboration of networked learners who can take part in discussions through forums such as mailing lists, wikis, Google docs, Twitter, etc. The third PLN is the dynamically maintained asynchronous connections. This is a PLN that connects us to the content sources that we choose. It essentially brings information to you versus you having to search for the information. This is done through an RSS aggregator such as Google reader or Page flakes. These personal learning networks are not only important for educators, but also for their students.
Personal learning networks are an important aspect of teaching because it exemplifies the idea of life long learning. One of the most important things that a teacher can model in their classroom is a learning lifestyle. Preparing students for an ever-changing future, especially with technology, means teaching them to teach themselves and pursue a lifestyle that involves continually learning.
Question 1: How will you challenge yourself as an educator to extend your personal learning network?
It is hard for me to make an effort to extend my personal learning networks. It’s not that I’m not interested in the information, it’s that I have a hard time managing all the information. After reading this article I have realized that I can start small and limit the number of blogs that I subscribe to so that it’s not so overwhelming. I can also organize my subscriptions by topic or job function. The most important thing that I can do to challenge myself is to take 15 minutes a day to learn something new and update my PLNs.
Question 2: How will you challenge students to extend their personal learning networks?
I think that I can incorporate many of the learning networks into your lesson plans. I could have my students research a topic on the internet and use the internet as a tool to collaborate on a completed project. I can also have my students spend ten minutes a day using their personal learning networks to find new and interesting information on a certain subject.
A personal learning network is a network of friends, families, peers, and acquaintances that increase our knowledge. These networks have grown immensely since the age of technology. Growing technological resources have allowed information and communication to become more accessible and unique to the individual using that technology. In the article, “Grow Your Personal Learning Network,” David Warlick explains that in order for educators to be successful and stay connected, they need to use these technological resources to manage, create, and/or extend their personal learning networks.
In doing so, educators can become a part of an online community that allows them to find information sources and a wide array of other educational opportunities. These personal learning networks (PLNs) make this information more readily accessible and easier to find.
In the article, Warlick states that there are three main types of PLNs. The first is the personally maintained synchronous connections. In this type of network, a person can communicate with others through enhanced technologies such as instant messaging, chatting, or teleconferencing. The second is the personally and socially maintained semi synchronous connections. This is a collaboration of networked learners who can take part in discussions through forums such as mailing lists, wikis, Google docs, Twitter, etc. The third PLN is the dynamically maintained asynchronous connections. This is a PLN that connects us to the content sources that we choose. It essentially brings information to you versus you having to search for the information. This is done through an RSS aggregator such as Google reader or Page flakes. These personal learning networks are not only important for educators, but also for their students.
Personal learning networks are an important aspect of teaching because it exemplifies the idea of life long learning. One of the most important things that a teacher can model in their classroom is a learning lifestyle. Preparing students for an ever-changing future, especially with technology, means teaching them to teach themselves and pursue a lifestyle that involves continually learning.
Question 1: How will you challenge yourself as an educator to extend your personal learning network?
It is hard for me to make an effort to extend my personal learning networks. It’s not that I’m not interested in the information, it’s that I have a hard time managing all the information. After reading this article I have realized that I can start small and limit the number of blogs that I subscribe to so that it’s not so overwhelming. I can also organize my subscriptions by topic or job function. The most important thing that I can do to challenge myself is to take 15 minutes a day to learn something new and update my PLNs.
Question 2: How will you challenge students to extend their personal learning networks?
I think that I can incorporate many of the learning networks into your lesson plans. I could have my students research a topic on the internet and use the internet as a tool to collaborate on a completed project. I can also have my students spend ten minutes a day using their personal learning networks to find new and interesting information on a certain subject.
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