tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15458621336525077172024-03-05T09:38:59.418-08:00Bristol's BlogBristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-59168304257975107182009-04-22T19:04:00.000-07:002009-04-24T10:12:03.921-07:00I.E.P.: Rosetta Stone Software<div><strong>Rosetta Stone</strong> is a software program designed to teach a specific language to non-speakers of that language. Students set up their own profile and can chose between a number of activities that include reading, writing, speaking, and listening components. (I have determined that the Recommended Program would work best for my students.) This is an immersion program and at no time do students hear their native language.<br /><br />Each level is divided into four units and each unit has a <strong>Core Lesson</strong> and a number of additional activities. Vocabulary and grammar are introduced through a series of questions associated with images. If students answers correctly, they progress. If they answer incorrectly, they have to answer again. At the end of each unit is a <strong>Milestone</strong>. A Milestone is a staged conversation in which students have to provide the correct responses based on the images seen and what the other people, represented by pictures, say to them. This allows students to practice the language in a realistic setting.<br /><br />The current question everyone asks foreign language teachers is, <strong>“Does Rosetta Stone software work?”</strong> This question has been posed to me many times this year and up until now I did not have a good answer. I did not learn how to speak Spanish in this way so I did not know. However, that excuse did not work well when my Superintendent approached me at the last Parent Teacher conferences, his son is in my Spanish II class, and asked if the district should invest in the software. After stumbling over my words, and possibly making an idiot of myself, I became determined to find out what the hoopla was all about and if it could benefit my teaching.<br /><br />To figure out if it could be helpful I decided to open the one copy of Rosetta Stone purchased by my district at the beginning of the year. I started by<strong> reading the instructions</strong> and the literature provided in the package, then I posted the question on Teacher.Net (the online chat form I used this semester for Spanish teachers) but did not get any responses, I also <strong>read reviews</strong> by others online, and finally I <strong>set up a profile for myself</strong>. I started at the beginning of Level 1 and skipped around looking to see what I could use. I am still not sure if this program is all it claims, but most reviews are good and I would be curious to try a different language out for myself. Already being fluent in Spanish it is hard to know what I would learn if I were not.<br /><br />I think that this software could be <strong>incredibly useful</strong> in my classroom as a supplemental activity. I would not use this on a daily basis but it would make for an excellent <strong>emergency sub plan</strong>, a great way to <strong>review information</strong> before a test, and an engaging way to <strong>introduce</strong> <strong>new vocabulary.</strong> There are examples of each of these lesson plans at this <a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhgrrdcq_14dqxhnscj">link</a>. I would spread out the lesson plans posted throughout Spanish I and Spanish II and no two lessons would take place within the same unit. </div><div>What I like best about the program in a classroom setting is that students <strong>can move through the lesson at their own pace</strong> and there are enough supplemental activities to keep the faster students busy while the slower learners progress. I also really like how it <strong>tests each student individually on pronunciation</strong>. We do numerous speaking activities in class in large and small group form, but it is difficult to catch every slip up every time and the more often students say a word the wrong way the more likely they are to remember it that way. The program also <strong>gives students feedback</strong> after every exercise and provides them with a progress report at the end of each Core Lesson and supplemental activity. I believe that when learning a language students need constant feedback and an individualized computer program can accomplish this more efficiently than I can.<br /><a style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px" href="http://www.rosettastone.com/us_assets/images/spanish-latin-america-level1-2.jpg" rel="facebox nofollow" name="image" jquery1240592606562="10"></a><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328306395941962274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTD7xQ35Cms5PTuJ3eXg-n5NkKxKJ-nHOSrCXcOXBKMZxzjuH7-UPiUbuoh0ZPonZ7XpsZHCX3dHRmbCrLcTP5JjazkWsmhl8ybW5dj3HQLaFEDmKkk-41ATdzGdDvrPqeyoYLWSmWvL6/s320/spanish-latin-america-level1-2%5B2%5D.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Overall, I like Rosetta Stone for my classroom and I am going to discuss the program with the Superintendent in the near future</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left">image used from Rosetta Stone at <a href="http://www.rosettastone.com/homeschool/">this</a> URL.</div>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-47829273370291717362009-04-04T15:44:00.000-07:002009-04-23T15:04:04.203-07:00Social Networking Spanish StyleThe web- based community that I participated in this semester was <strong><a href="http://teachers.net/mentors/spanish/posts.html">Teachers.Net </a>a Spanish Teachers Chatboard</strong>. On a number of occasions I<strong> sought the advice of others</strong> in the units that I was planning. In particular other teachers helped me to understand more fully the differences between the words “por” and “para” both of which technically mean “for” and on the differences in the schedules between Latin America, Spain, and the United States. I took the ideas that they offered and adapted them to fit the needs of my class.<br /><br />In addition, <strong>I responded to posts</strong> when I felt like I had strong contributions to make. I advised a teacher about how to create Spanish Sub Plans for non-Spanish speaking subsitutes (I knew of a good book) and this in turn started an email correspondence between us.<br /><br />However, <strong>more helpful</strong> to me than participating in the chatboard <strong>was reading the posts</strong> of the other teachers. I made it a point to visit the site at least once a week and I spent hours pouring over posts and looking at the recommendations of others in my profession. There are constant debates about <strong>grammar and vocabulary rules</strong> that I had frequently wondered about but had no one to talk to about them. Also, other teachers <strong>provided me with other links</strong> to look at and the reflexive power point I am using in my Teacher Work Sample came from this site. <strong>I also have joined <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=spanish+teachers">Yahoo Groups for Spanish Teachers</a></strong><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=spanish+teachers"> </a>based on a recommendation from this site and used an awesome and highly esteemed video from YouTube on the day before Valentines Day to have my students practice listening to Spanish vocabulary they know.<br /><br />This assignment is over now but <strong>I plan on continuing to use this and other sites</strong> I found through Teacher.Net’s forum in years to come.Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-27253689185011558862009-04-04T15:29:00.000-07:002009-04-23T14:57:25.616-07:00Spanish Resources Online<strong>My Favorite Resources:</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.iteachspanish2.com/la_comida.html">Online Resources for Teachers of Spanish </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/languages/spanish/">Teach-nology<br /></a><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi">Google Image Search<br /></a><br /><br /><strong>The three resources above are just a few examples</strong> of the websites I have used this year to improve upon my teaching abilities. Whenever I feel stuck or confused I take to the web. These websites are just examples of what is out there that I have accessed and have become important references for me.<br /><br /><strong>Online Resources for Teachers of Spanish</strong> is a site created by an individual teacher that lists units she teaches in Spanish I. Each of the pages attached to this site have been created by this teacher and <strong>outline ideas for activities</strong> that she uses in her classroom. I originally found this website when looking for help on a unit about food and I used her idea about having students create a menu. Since that time I have gone back to her website on other occasions and I look forward to incorporating more of her ideas next year.<br /><br /><strong>Teach-nology</strong> is a database that I use when looking for help on many of the units I teach. It lists 56 different websites for <strong>Spanish lesson plans</strong> many of which I have accessed this year and found to be very helpful. One great activity I found that my students absolutely loved was on how to teach colors. Each student is given a slip of each color that is taught and they must put them in order on their desk as you recite colors. You recite colors more and more quickly as they progress.<br /><br /><strong>Google Image Search</strong> is not much a secret nor is it specific to teaching Spanish but I had to include it on my list as it is the website I use most frequently. <strong>It is incredible</strong>. Whenever I teach new verbs I find pictures that represent the verb and have my students identify large images in the front of the classroom and then create flashcards using these images. We then use the flashcards in a number of activities. I would be a much poorer teacher if Google Image Search did not exist, as students frequently point out my inability to draw. I also recently used Google images to create an immersion lesson plan about animals. I could go on and on. I love it!Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-7559997593905820442009-03-13T21:22:00.000-07:002009-03-13T21:24:35.292-07:00Explanation of Spanish Grammar Rule- Digital StoryI really had a lot of fun making this digital story, which explains how one category of irregular verbs works in the preterit tense of Spanish. My fear, however, is that without having a lesson based on how these irregular verbs work, and a general understanding of Spanish, you will not be able to understand it very well. I do think that it could be used as an anticipatory set for the lesson on how this class of irregular verbs works. <br /><br />While I enjoyed the entire process of making the story map, writing the script, and creating the illustrations, I was frustrated by the technology and I am still not completely satisfied with my final product. When I uploaded the narration Windows Movie Maker did not want to accept the file format and it took me a number of hours and numerous phone calls to my technological savvy friends to get it figured out. Then I noticed that the recording device I used picked up all sorts of background noise. I have since lost my voice due to illness and cannot fix it at this point. I see why the final 20% of production takes 80% of the preparation time.<br /><br />Please check out my video <a href="http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=a422960c5dcce9837f46">here</a>, my story map (which ended up getting a bit twisted) and script <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dhgrrdcq_9c8tzzbf7&revision=_latest">here</a>, and my rubric <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dhgrrdcq_8f8zvdjhs&revision=_latest">here.</a><br /><br />I hope you enjoy it.Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-16560459310279721982009-01-27T21:10:00.000-08:002009-01-27T21:12:38.387-08:00Article Assessment # 5<strong>The Overdominance of Computers by Lowell W. Monke</strong><br /><br />In this article, The Overdominance of Computers, Monke makes a compelling argument about the use of computers in the classroom. He outlines how teachers need to help students develop responsibility and compassion before setting them loose with technology. Without these key components, students can easily abuse technology and create great injuries to individuals and society. He argues that even though we live in a highly motorized world, we do not teach six year olds to drive. Instead, we concentrate on raising responsible children that will someday bring this outlook into the driving world. In much the same way, at a young age kids need to be encouraged to explore the world around them and interact in person with other individuals. Only after students have explored the world surrounding them and have developed a sense of themselves in relation to the world, should they be encouraged to use technology.<br /><br /><ul><li>Computers are powerful tools and can be used for both good and evil.</li><li>Students need to develop ethical discipline in order to resist the temptations presented by technology.</li><li>Kids need authentic experiences rather than the symbolic reality provided by technology in order to become complete, well-functioning adults.</li><li>One study shows that the use of technology overall has lowered the test scores of students.</li><li>Face-to-face interactions are one of the most important keys to reading-readiness.</li><li>The current generation experiences 30% less of face-to-face interactions than previous generations.</li><li>Computer time must be balanced with other activities in school.</li><li>In order to fix the mess that we have made of the world future generations will not need only technical skills but will need to be ethical, responsible adults.</li><li>After students develop responsibility and ethics it is important to introduce technology into the classroom in order to prepare students for the technological world we live in. </li><li>By high school digital technology must be prominent within the classroom.</li></ul><p>I think that this article makes some great points and that educators should keep in mind exploration of the real world and human interaction when teaching. While incredibly important at an elementary school level, these things must be remembered even at the high school level. I get frustrated when my students are hesitant to interact with each other face to face but instead ignore the people around them in order to maintain text-message conversations with others. Technology is important and it does have a place in the classroom, but I think that other mediums need to not be forgotten. </p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-36171142585915658932009-01-20T12:09:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:12:21.299-08:00Article Assessment #4<strong>Assistive Technologies for Reading:</strong> Text-reader programs, word-prediction software, and other aids empower youth with learning disabilities.<br />by Ted S. Hasselbring and Margaret E. Bausch<br /><br />In this article Hasselbring and Bausch outline how new technologies can assist students with special needs in the classroom and help them to find success at school. They argue that as more and more special education students are incorporated into the traditional classroom support must be provided to them, and that technology provides a likely solution. They outline the technologies that are available and how they might assist in a myriad of ways from reading selected text aloud to students to providing the necessary background information to kids before they read the material individually. The information and success rates they cite come from Kentucky where the majority of schools have adopted such technologies and have had pleasing results.<br /><ul><li>44 percent of students with learning disabilities spend 80 percent or more of their school day in inclusive classrooms</li><li>These students are expected to perform grade-level work but are not given specialized support.</li><li>As many as 8 of 10 students with learning disabilities have reading problems that are so significant that they cannot read and understand grade-level material without help.</li><li>Text reading software helps these students by reading text aloud and provides them the opportunity to follow along at the same time. </li><li>Students using this software are more likely to go over the information more times than when teachers read aloud to them. </li><li>Word prediction, another feature of the program, predicts what word the student is writing and gives them several options to choose from which helps to speed up the writing process.</li><li>This program also reads back what students have written allowing them to self-correct their work.</li><li>These soft wares provide students who have difficulty reading and writing an equal opportunity to succeed in school.</li><li>Computerized reading training exercises have also proved highly effective in teaching students how to read independently.</li><li>One study reported that after using these programs 18% of students did not require further intervention after one year in the program.</li></ul><p>These technologies sound amazing. I can see how they could be used in every subject taught in school. However, I do think that they present their own concerns. It is important to remember when using such technologies that each student must be individually evaluated to find out exactly what they need and how their needs can best be met by the program. It would be incredibly easy to make this technology available for everyone or to over-compensate for student difficulties with these types of programs. I think that if students can benefit from reading training programs that should be the key focus. The other technologies, which help students adapt, should only be used to help students until they are able to do it themselves, or in extreme cases. I wish I had these programs in my health class right now!</p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-37738842461576074772008-11-29T18:09:00.000-08:002008-12-02T21:17:57.885-08:00Educational PhilosophyIn creating a movie that outlines my educational philosophy I was able to identify what is important too the education of my students . I took this philosophy and paired it with pictures of student work that I thought exemplified their accomplishments. Using MovieMaker I developed an audio/visual representation of my thoughts. Please read my Philosophy Statement below or watch the video at this <a href="http://www.teachertube.com/upload_success.php?viewkey=a81a8f9eebb545107c4b&upload=yes">link</a>.<br /><br />Philosophy Statement:<br />It is my philosophy that the classroom is not only a place to study the content area being taught, but an environment in which students are free to explore their individual capabilities and interests. As a high school Spanish teacher it is my job to help my students become active learners as we explore the distinct cultures and vocabulary of Spanish speaking regions. Students must be encouraged to, and supported in, taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from their errors. Laughter and a sense of comfort are key components to student achievement and success. If teachers are successful at building a trusting relationship with their students, there is no end to what can be accomplished together. Each student must be an equal participant and actively work to broaden their world view and communication abilities.Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-68820093235717972612008-11-18T11:24:00.000-08:002008-11-18T11:28:22.810-08:00Article Assesment 3- Tools for the Mind<strong>Overview:</strong><br /><br />“Tools for the Mind” is about the shift away from technology use in the classroom as NCLB continues to dominate the educational front. However, rather than focus her energies on complaining about this change, Mary Burns, explains how this might be beneficial to school in the long-term as teachers have not been using technology to support higher levels of learning. She suggests that as teachers we need to not concentrate our efforts on using word processors and power point programs for presentation but to increase the understanding of our students and improve the way they evaluate information and consider new information.<br /><br /><strong>Reference Points:</strong><br /><br />1) NCLB has taken priority relegating technology in the classroom to the back burner.<br />2) Burns thinks this movement might be beneficial in the long-run as it will give us the time to re-think how we use technology in the classroom.<br />3) Eureka moments using technology are not common enough as most teachers use computers as a way to present information not gain a better understanding.<br />4) Not all programs are instructionally equal.<br />5) If we want to reach the higher cognitive levels with our students we must look at technology differently.<br />6) The internet is not just a digital textbook and students must be taught how to evaluate information for validity.<br />7) The majority of teachers use technology (81%) for electronic presentations while only a few (6%) use spreadsheets.<br />8) Spreadsheet use, databases, and collaboration in content areas over the internet are some ways we can increase student understanding.<br />9) One reason that teachers have not done this is because long-term professional development programs have not been implemented in many districts to train teachers how to integrate these tools into their curriculum.<br />10) Teachers need to expand the ways they use technology in their classroom.<br /><br /><strong>Reflection:</strong><br /><br />I think that Mary Burns makes some important points in her article. It is easy as a teacher to write-off technology because I don’t feel as though I understand it well enough to teach it. However, students do understand how to use many of these tools and if given the chance they can use interesting programs to find the deeper meaning behind numerous subjects. The long-term professional development programs she discusses could be very beneficial in this way.<br /><br />It seems to me that the majority of teachers do not have enough spare time during their day to find ways to incorporate new technologies into their current curriculum. To make a real impact in this area, teachers need to be shown what it can do. As a first year teacher this year, the task seems daunting. However, as I progress through my career I will be able to build on what I already have set in place and use more of these tools in my classroom.Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-75141444913761461352008-11-11T11:43:00.001-08:002008-11-23T17:55:15.082-08:00Energy Conservation Project Video PresentationIt was interesting to have to video tape myself giving a presentation of my Energy Conservation Project. What I found is that my apartment really would need better lighting if I were to teach there on a regular basis. I also decided that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. On a more serious note, however, here is a list of my strengths and weaknesses.<br /><br /><strong>Strengths:<br /></strong><br /><blockquote></blockquote><ul><li>I stay on topic most of the time.</li><li>I maintain a casual atmosphere while giving important information</li><li>I address the topic in a logical manner</li><li>My voice is loud enough and my words are easily understandable</li></ul><p><strong>Weaknesses:</strong></p><ul><li>I think that I move my feet too much while presenting</li><li>Some of my hand gestures are overkill</li><li>My voice kind of shakes due to nerves</li><li>I presented something that didn’t correspond with one of the slides by mistake</li><li>I turn around to look at the slide behind me too often</li></ul><p>In general, I think that my presentation was okay. In the future, I should have <strong>note cards</strong> when presenting information for three reasons. 1) It might <strong>cut down on the hand movement</strong>. 2) This strategy would make it more likely that I <strong>don’t present the wrong information on the wrong slide</strong>. 3) I <strong>won’t have to turn around</strong> to look at the information I am presenting anymore. It might also help with nerves but in reality, I am not nervous in front of my class. A video camera is a different situation though.</p><p><br /><strong>Other notes:</strong> I should invest in a better digital camera so that I could have done this in one recording rather than three. If you would like to see my presentation the links are below.<br /><a href="http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=46f9de9957a2c1a2f83b">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=772ecfb4c19b36de4e68">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=18d689a1d5aeb38db390">Part 3</a></p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-58969297324411463542008-11-04T14:04:00.000-08:002008-11-23T18:10:08.903-08:00Warm-up Activity Paper Consumption<ul><li>The results of my energy conservation project, <strong>Warm-up Activity Paper Consumption</strong> in the Annette Island School District, were incredibly surprising. What I learned through this activity is that my class can make a <strong>significant impact</strong> on the amount of paper we as a district are using if I provide previously used paper for the assignment. However, the surprising fact is that if all the teachers that start their classes with a warm-up activity adopt this strategy, over the course of <strong>a year we could save 59,584 sheets of paper</strong>. This is of course assuming the kids will use the previously used paper provided by the teacher. It is ridiculous but my kids, the same ones who complained about my destroying the environment with the assignment, are now often too lazy to stand up and grab a sheet of paper.<br /></li><li>The other interesting facts I discovered in completing this project are that most of the trees used to make paper come from <strong>environmentally sensitive areas</strong>, not areas that were planted for such purposes. I always assumed that since paper was so disposable, the trees harvested to make paper were <strong>sustainable</strong>. Apparently this is much more of a problem than I ever realized. This is such a problem that the Palo Alto Research Group and Xerox have teamed up to make a printer that uses <strong>disappearing ink</strong>. After 18 hours the ink would disappear and the same sheet of paper could be used multiple times.<br /></li><li>To see my powerpoint regarding this project please visit this <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/guest633b60/energy-conservation-presentation">link</a>. </li><li>To see my spreadsheets regarding this project please visit this <a href="http://docs.google.com/Edit?tab=view&docid=dhgrrdcq_525hk84d7">link</a>.<br /></li></ul>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-24468419164411500202008-10-20T14:12:00.000-07:002008-10-20T14:32:39.510-07:00Article Assessment # 2I. Name: Bristol Whitmore Email: <a href="mailto:bawhitmore@gmail.com">bawhitmore@gmail.com</a> Date:10/20/08<br /><br />Article: "The Educator's Guide to the Read/Write Web" by Will Richardson<br /><br />II. Will Richardson's "The Educator's Guide to the Read/Write Web" outlines five distinct tools now readily availible on the internet that allow students to interact with others from across the world. This article explains these tools which include feeds, social bookmarking, blogs, wikis, and podcasting. It also provides examples for educators which demonstrate how they can be used in a classroom situation. Furthermore, Richardson addresses such issues of what these tools require from us as educators and how to incorporate new types of thinking into our classrooms that allow students to not only accesss information on the web but also assess this informaiton for both usefulness and accuracy.<br /><br /><ul><li>Blogs allow students to publish their work and interact with others online.</li><li>These can be used for original student work and as research tools.</li><li>Wikis allow students to work with a large community to create and edit informaiton online. </li><li>Classrooms can create their own wikis or participate with others in already existing wikis such as Wikipedia.</li><li>Podcasting gives the user access to endless hours of recordings online which can be useful in classroom situations.</li><li>Students use many sources when compiling information. This task can be made much easier as students can subscribe to feeds and recieve up to the minute information regarding such hot topics as Global Warming.</li><li>Social bookmarking allows people to save entire websites and to access those sites saved by other people. </li><li>This is just one more way students can search for knowledge and participate in the global society of learners.</li><li>These new tools can empower students as learners.</li><li>In able to use these sources to their full potential, students must be taught how to elvaluate the information they find.</li><li>Both the accuracy and usefulness of what is found must be determined.</li></ul><p>This article seems incredibley useful to me as an educator. I did not even realize that all of these options were availible online and without the examples that this article mentioned, I would have have been hard pressed to identify their usefulness inside the classroom. Richardson also makes a good point when addressing how we need to empower our students to critically exam what they find, look at the sources, and evaluate the information. Students need to know that everything on the internet is not to be trusted and it is our job as educators to make sure that the information kids are accessing is being evaluated. The internet is only going to grow in its capabilities and our students must know how to access information to succeed in the society we live in today. These are skills that should be taught in the classroom and are easily integrated into all content areas.</p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-86470458709188826212008-10-07T13:13:00.000-07:002008-10-07T13:18:27.429-07:00Energy Conservation Outline:The amount of paper that the United States consumes is incredible. According to Rainforest Maker, a non-profit group dedicated to saving forests,<br /><ul><li>“<strong>Each person</strong> in the United States uses approximately <strong>750 pounds of paper each year</strong>. This equals approximately 187 billion pounds per year.”</li><li>“<strong>Most of the world’s paper supply</strong>, about 71 percent, is not made from timber harvested at tree farms but from <strong>forest-harvested timber</strong>, from regions with <strong>ecologically valuable</strong>, biologically diverse habitat.”</li></ul><p>Both our incredible consumption of paper, and the detrimental effects of logging on the environment, convinced me that to make a difference to the environment I should <strong>minimize</strong> the <strong>amount of paper</strong> used in my Spanish classes. At the moment, the volume of paper passing through my in-box is incredible. Much of this paper is used for practice and has no longevity. So I asked myself,<br /><br /><strong>How much paper can I save by providing previously used paper for the bell assignment?<br /></strong><br />I will need to find out <strong>how much paper</strong> (in sheets) my 16 students use each week on this assignment. I will also be curious to find out what <strong>percentage of teachers</strong> in my school use bell assignments, and <strong>how many students</strong> attend public high school in Alaska and the United States. With these numbers I should be able to calculate the potential impact of providing previously used paper for this assignment.<br /><br />To answer this question I will<strong> record how much paper</strong> my students use to complete the bell assignment by monitoring what they turn in during a two week time period. I will use these numbers to find an average for how much paper we could save in a one week time period. I will also <strong>survey the staff</strong> to see what percentage of staff members give bell assignments at the beginning of class.</p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-56759031343857261312008-09-16T16:37:00.000-07:002008-09-16T17:28:49.579-07:00Anthro-TechI find that the best way to learn of a new culture is to immerse yourself in it, so fo find out about my school's technology culture <strong>I went underground, disguised myself as a teacher, and listened to the word on the street</strong>. (Okay, that part was easy because I am a teacher and this is stuff I need to know.) In this manner, I found out the following things.<br /><ul><li>Despite the fact that I have only been teaching here for a month, I understand the technology policies as well as most.</li><li>Official policies are scarce.</li><li>New administration means everyone learns together.</li><li>Our technology capabilities are growing.</li><li>Everyone is free to share their input about technology and all advice will be considered.</li><li>We are getting ready to spend lots of money on new technology.</li><li>Ms. Fierst, the High School technology leader, is a great woman to have on my side.</li><li>Jason, the techno guru at my school, will be getting lots of cookies from me this year (thanks for the hint.)</li></ul><p>Right now it seems like things are just getting organized. Hopefully, as a team our school can come together and figure it out. We do use technology frequently as it is, but with some upgrades, we can make it far more applicable to our students.</p><p>To view my Anthro Tech report please visit <a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhgrrdcq_3g2vbmgcs&hl=en">http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhgrrdcq_3g2vbmgcs&hl=en</a></p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-41613457930343778542008-09-16T14:35:00.000-07:002008-09-16T16:33:58.505-07:00Listen to the Natives by Marc PrenskyOverview:<br /><br />Listen to the Natives by Marc Prensky is an insightful look into how best to engage our student's attention through updating our curriculum to include technology at every level of education. It is Prensky's argument that if our students are not engaged, it is because the educational system as currently excluding their input and expertise. He argues that if we use the technology that engages their attention outside of the classroom and give them further involvement in the format of the class we can make what they learn relevant to their lives and harnass their energy. <br /><br />Reference Points:<br /><br /><ol><li>Today's kids are natives of the technology era and are served best by what they know.</li><li>We are the foreigners in their world and must use their abilities to guide us.</li><li>Students are engaged by technology outside of school and if we use this same technology within school they will thrive.</li><li>If they are not engaged it is our problem, not theirs.</li><li>By using today's technology we can connect students where we live to students and adult mentors worldwide.</li><li>Technology can also make the teaching profession easier by connecting us to great teaching strategies that are being employed worldwide. </li><li>Using technology in the classroom can enable us to teach kids the life skills they need to know in school.</li><li>If we don't make these changes school will become outdated and useless.</li><li>Rather than make is against the rules we should encourage students to use technology, such as cell phones, in reasonable ways in class.</li><li>By giving students responsibility in the classroom we are enabling them to be their best.</li></ol><p>Significance:</p><p>Prensky's article is highly relevant to the educational world we are entering. The old methods of teaching are becoming outdated and leave our students feeling excluded from the world of knowledge. If we are going to make lifelong learners out of our students we must follow their lead and plan activities that result in better understanding but that are also engaging to our audience. That being said, Presnky takes things a bit too far in my opinion. While we must help our students grow, this cannot be only in the field of technology. We need to remind our students that simple pleasures still exist and incorporate a dynamic of technology and old school education that keeps kids engaged without losing the more basic wonder that we grew up with. There are two sides to every argument and Prensky recognizes only one extreme. A more balanced view might better serve our students.</p>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-56798378660392723162008-09-07T21:48:00.000-07:002008-09-07T22:02:52.515-07:00Futuring 2008<ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">A. How would you “grade” or assess Fox Becomes a Better Person, and School Train?</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not knowing the original criteria set forth by the teacher, I would grade <strong>Fox Becomes a Better Person</strong> and <strong>School Train</strong>, set forth by the criteria I know.<br /><br /><strong>School Train</strong> clearly demonstrates an understanding of what a metaphor is. The use of technology in the portrayal at times is a little over-whelming, but it is easy to understand the connection between a school and a train. The media is obviously not detrimental to<span style="font-family:arial;"> the overall point, and therefore, the students have successfully attained the <strong>requisite goal</strong> of expressing their understanding.</span><br /><br /><strong>Fox Becomes a Better Person</strong> is harder to judge because I have a weaker understanding of the criteria. The <strong>traditional morals</strong> of the Tlingit I believe are present and Hannah shows great intent in her purpose. Hannah <strong>pairs</strong> the traditional manner of storytelling <strong>nicely</strong> with modern technology and respect for today’s society and that of days gone is maintained. I would grade her highly as created her own story with <strong>aspects from today</strong> (ex. the duck’s scooter and his fall-back hobby of watching T.V.) with <strong>traditional values.<br /></strong><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">B. What impacts could the developments portrayed in epic2015 have on your classroom, particularly with respect to things like podcasting?</span><br /></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">epic 2015</span></strong> portrays what might happen as technology continues to <strong>spiral forward</strong>. It predicts that someday soon technology could <strong>sift out information</strong> to suit each individual’s interest. To me this is a scary thought.<br /><br />The concept that technology, once thought to broaden our understanding of the world, could <strong>narrow the view</strong> of information that each sees is frightening. This is a concept that we need to fight against as teachers. We work to <strong>broaden students' viewpoints</strong> as well as their <strong>horizons</strong>. We need to use technology to engage their attention, and put their brains to use in a productive manner. Technology, such as video conferencing, smart boards, google searches, and podcasts can help us to do this, but we need to be aware of what we are doing, and the dangers that may present themselves.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">C. <span style="font-size:130%;">How might you use Sabrina’s piece as a model for something you would do with your own students?</span></span></strong></li></ul><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Sabrina Journey</span></strong> looks at her past to see how she has arrived at her present. She does this by following the outlook of traditional peoples by viewing her life not in a linear fashion, but by following a <strong>circular pattern</strong>. I would use her circular narrative as an example for my students and ask them to…<br /><br />1. Look back<br />2. Examine the positive influences in their stories<br />3. Make goals for their future<br />4. Think about what they are going to positive participants </span></li></ul><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We would plot <strong>their past as they know it</strong>, <strong>their present in relation to their past</strong>, and <strong>their future as they would like to see it evolve</strong>. This is an important concept for the kids I work with as teen pregnancy is a huge issue here. By asking my students to examine the big picture, maybe they will make goals that inspire them to strive for the good of the community in the future.</span><br /></li></ul>Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545862133652507717.post-88963869537035525632008-07-27T16:56:00.001-07:002008-07-27T16:56:53.967-07:00It's Me!I am an Alaskan girl with an adventurous heart. My name is Bristol Whitmore and I was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska. I developed a love of Spanish in High School while participating in a service-learning program in Oaxaca, Mexico. I enjoy traveling and like to explore Spanish-speaking regions but I always happily come home. I am excited this year to be in a new community, experiencing a new culture, and I feel fortunate to be able to bring my love of Spanish home to Alaska and to be able to use my experiences in the outside world to help broaden the prospective of high school students in Metlakatla. I have always wanted to live off the road system and my long dreamed of future has arrived. I am off on a new adventure and I can’t wait to get started!Bristolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03058750528316270005noreply@blogger.com1