Reflection for EDT525 Tech Tools in Edu

Ellen L Freeman
EDT525
July 2008
Final Reflection

EDT525 was my first introduction to the field of technology AND education.  Looking back it feels like a sampler type of class, which is perfect for beginners.  One of my favorite finds during class was listservs.  Although I get multiple ACTEM emails a week, I really look to ACTEM as a place to help stay aware of technology in schools and learn about new technologies, too.  And, when I grow up and get a “real” job (LOL) I will look to it for support purposes, as well.
I really appreciated you letting me research the web accessibility issue and allowing me document my learning in a podcast.  I found out while researching web accessibility that it’s a vast field.  It was hard to consolidate the vast quantity of information enough to get a beginner’s handle on it.  I wanted it to make sense for listeners and make their time worthwhile.
While looking back in my notes about the deep web, I have written a bunch of website address’s that I didn’t want to forget (and I remember saving more, maybe on my PortaPortal…I’ll have to visit there and transfer sites to del.icio.us).  For example, multilingual-matters.net is a site where I could go to explore language and culture issues from an education perspective.  After clicking here and there you’ll find a page that allows you to look at numerous abstracts.
I feel like copyright and fair use is another area that we only touched on.  I learned there’s a lot of copyright information available online should I need it in the future.  That’s a great feeling when you know you don’t know what you might need to know in a future career setting!
The virtual sampler was another favorite lesson!  It seems like it shouldn’t take so long to complete, but there’s so many cool sites I just wanted to look at them all.  This was a lesson I HAD to print out to save!  If I have a minor complaint it is that BlackBoard opens everything in its own browser window, so when you want to save to PortaPortal or del.icio.us, it adds an extra step. –I want it ALL and FAST please ☺
The vocabulary and history component was excellent.  It gave me ideas for teaching both and the importance.  If technology is SO important to education, then including historical context and proper vocabulary is vital to fully understand the tools we are using—and the tools we expect our students to use!
For the WebQuest assignment I produced one of my best and favorite projects.  I feel excited about using it in the future with home schooling families and, since Unity College has asked me to prepare a workshop, I think that I’ll do one on blogging and use the WebQuest.  I may want to make changes to make it higher-ed appropriate, but I think the layout would serve the function.

 

EDT 525 Reflections – Fall 2005

EDT 525
Reflections
Ellen L. Freeman
Fall 2005 & Summer 2006

Class 1

LISTSERVS

Reference Webopedia.com

An automatic mailing list server developed by Eric Thomas for BITNET in 1986. When e-mail is addressed to a LISTSERV mailing list, it is automatically broadcast to everyone on the list. The result is similar to a newsgroup or forum, except that the messages are transmitted as e-mail and are therefore available only to individuals on the list.  LISTSERV is currently a commercial product marketed by L-Soft International. Although LISTSERV refers to a specific mailing list server, the term is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to any mailing list server. Another popular mailing list server is Majordomo, which is freeware.

It took a little patience and figuring out by trial and error to get myself signed up for my first listserv, but after that it was smooth sailing.  I joined ACTEM and have received well over 260 emails in 5 weeks time.  I joined and have received a few emails from educatetheeducators and edutech, both online at topica.com.  I also belong to the extracredit listserv at listserv.ed.gov.

I have learned the most from ACTEM, both in regards to understanding how listservs work and what the use is and from the posts themselves.  I even found an old (1981) high school friend posting to the listserv from the Saco school district and I found out about a hoax that went out about Bangor Savings Bank passwords—MY bank!  I’ve noted with interest:

Backup programs: Retrospec for MAC, Decimus at http://www.decimus.net/synk/ for MAC, and BackupPC (GPL) on Linux for PC.  Palm OS tips, several District Technology Plans, which I will keep electronically for future reference.

EXTRACREDIT is a list of updates on how No Child Left Behind is improving education for all children…. this is a good one to belong to (for me) because I have never had experience with Learning Results or No Child Left Behind.

On Educatetheeducator I learned about Smartboards and other unknown classroom tools.  This was a listserv for beginners and it was really great to watch teachers helping each other out in an excited and professional manner.

Listservs were where I saw and felt the most camaraderie among teachers and IT Tech directors as a profession.  People are generally good and well mannered, although there was the occasional release of steam, most of the folks were really looking to contribute.  When I land a position of my own in the IT edu field, joining listservs will be one of the first tools I establish for myself—free and user-friendly!

NEWSGROUPS

Reference
Lever-Duffy, Judy.  Teaching and Learning with Technology.  Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2003.

A newsgroup is a public conference dedicated to a specific topic.

Reference Webopedia.com

Same as forum, an on-line discussion group. On the Internet, there are literally thousands of newsgroups covering every conceivable interest. To view and post messages to a newsgroup, you need a newsreader, a program that runs on your computer and connects you to a news server on the Internet.

Reference
Lever-Duffy, Judy.  Teaching and Learning with Technology.  Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2003.

I looked at a variety of newsgroups at http://tile.net/news/.

BLOGS

Reference  Webopedia.com

(n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.
(v.) To author a Web log.
Other forms: Blogger (a person who blogs)

 

EDT 560 Reflection-Spring 2007

EDT 560 Reflection
February 8, 2007

Ellen Freeman
Spring 2007

As part of my e-portfolio, I will be including a WebQuest I developed last Fall with the help of Rhonda Barker, a friend who teaches in Yarmouth. It was part of a unit about Shakespeare, the era he lived in, how women were treated during different eras throughout history, and her students would end the unit with a reading of Taming of the Shrew.  This WebQuest was specifically about Women’s Place in History.

The WebQuest was well received by Rhonda, her students and her peers.  However, several parents had issues with the content area, specifcally the studying of women’s clothing and attire.  Rhonda felt the WebQuest inspired and facilitated open discussion and group work among her students.  They enjoyed using technology and through that medium they felt empowered and a part of their learning experience.

This project met the ISTE standard I-A because I developed the WebQuest using iWeb.  I also had to have an understanding of servers and uploading.  It would also fulfill ISTE standard III due to the fact that I worked with Lesson Plans and an existing unit. Even though some parents questioned the content area, it met ISTE standard VI because it helped students understand how women were treated in society during Shakespeare’s life.  They discovered this by reading about social issues, dress and relationships—these discoveries were made through group work and conversations.

 

EDT 616 Seminar Reflection-Spring 2006

Ellen L. Freeman
EDT 616
Spring 2006

I enjoyed the format of the Seminar class because it was a wide range of varied subject matter – it helped me understand my classmates concerns and/or interests and also, define my own.  Since I am not in the education field, there were times I was surprised by responses, opinions and attitude of teachers who have chosen to study IT.  I expected everyone to love technology and not think of it as a necessary evil.  The complexities of figuring out such is very good experience for me to have.  The class was delivered via ATM so I grew comfortable with the technology, but never quite comfortable with the delivery, mostly my own over the ATM.

I chose to read Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.  It was a little dry, but such an interesting theory after the reading was done.  I’d never thought about history quite like that before and how it could/would/does effect a society or culture as a whole and in comparison to other countries.  I like having a list of suggested readings, too.  For when I have all the time in the world!  Of course, I want to read most of the books on the list.

Our readings of V. Bush, Healy and Wenglinsky covered a wide range of thought and discussion.  I also found the 100-dollar laptop and interesting topic.

Career Path thoughts: I think I would like to be a go between, or maybe a mediator of sorts for technology, administration and teachers.  I wonder if there is such a job…

My topic of choice for my Seminar was A Global View: The Use of Computers & Technology in Schools.  At first I didn’t feel like I was finding enough information, even though I had been in contact with Cynthia a reference librarian at Fogler.  Then, my classmate Edie did a Seminar on Logo and there were several readings included about how Logo was experimented with in other countries.  This gave me the material I needed and allowed me to open up my conversation about other countries use of technology, with some consistency in the readings, for my in class discussion and homework assignment.  I have dreamed living and teaching in another country.  Learning about technology in education in other countries has renewed my hope to do so and given me confidence that I have something to offer.

Research – Reading – Things I wish I’d had time for….
Please note – the following is a list from my notes-some spelling may be off.
Cell – Stephen King
Morality Online
Get back to Palm Pilot
Look up book – something like  Forcing Tech of children by Stoll or Skoull
Bill Joy – Nano technology
www for 20 questions
ethnical issues in school – not just (but esp.) tech
is Sci-Fi an avenue for teaching ethics?
Turnitin.com
How does tracking IP address work?
What are laws of fair use for edu?
Atlantic Monthly – Online dating article
Build a space – read John Dewey
Kidspiration – use for kids, graphic organizer, concept map
How is teacher directing learning …
Artist – depression – the wounded bow
Is focus machine or process/product
IT in S Dakota
Urban – poverty – digital divide
Sheri Turtkle – Psychological aspect of online book life on the screen
2nd self
myspace.com  worldfriends.com
1xquick.com  altavista.com   metasearch.com
www.acedemicinnovations.com/report.html
www.runescape.com
Smart filter  BESS  proxyfilter.com   censorfree.  Zensurfreerk
NEA Today Ready to upgrade
What’s storyboarding
Smartboard site
Versions of Logo
Book Will standards save public edu
Book America’s failing schools
Research ME learning results
Research rubrics
Texas Miracle – standards
Read NCLB
Think about business influence on standards, curriculum, assessment testing
Write a job description for a education technologist or tech integrationist
How does constructivist theory compare to developmental style of teaching
Cosmeo math
Papert The Children’s Machine
www.nconnect.net/~frito
what is moodle

Meeting ISTE Standards & Indicators

II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES. Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:

B. apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.
I met this standard with my Seminar research and presentation.

V. PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice. Teachers:

A. use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.  I took this course via ATM and used email, Internet and BlackBoard technologies to communicate.

B. continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning.  I met this standard by writing a reflection of this course.  I also shared readings with the IT person at the Hutchinson Center and talked with the math professor  and a painting professor there about the use of technology in there course now and what they might want.

VI. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, LEGAL AND HUMAN ISSUES. Teachers understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in Pre K-12 schools and apply that understanding to practice. Teachers:

A. model and teach legal and ethical practice related to technology use.  I met this standard by being part of and responding to Gretchen’s seminar on Online/Internet Use.  My Seminar topic also speaks to this standard, esp. the ethical piece.  I also debated with myself and posted a question on the Ethics discussion board about economics driving technology in schools.
D. promote safe and healthy use of technology resources.  I met this standard by researching and producing a Laptop Safety Brochure for high school/college age students.  The Hutchinson Center has agreed to use it when students borrow laptops from the Hutchinson Center.

Suggested Grade – B

 

More Online Community

Okay, SO—just in case any of “you” are checking in here … here is a new favorite site of mine for online communities — www.goodreads.com add me as a friend !

 

another blog

Hi all–I’ve made a second blog for my family and friends to learn about my son, Kayleb’s, medical special needs …. here’s the address.

http://kaylebskrew.wordpress.com/

 

Day 2 @ Summer Tech Institute

Tim’s class is rad.

 

oh, where oh where to start?

Hi Fellow Technology Lovers,

This blog is designed to log my experiences as a Graduate Student in Instructional Technology. I’m beginning in hindsight, but will be trying to catch up on previous courses. Please respond to my thoughts and ideas….more later.