It is no secret that this generation of students have been raised with a computer in front of them. Most kids these days can perform typical tasks on a computer such as accessing the web and using it properly to aid them. It is also no secret that our world will only move forward in the discovery of technology and depend on it more and more for every day needs. For this reason, engaging students by using technology is a wonderful idea. A new and trendy current teachers are doing so is by encouraging their students to blog.
Blogging has been around for quite some time now. Today, many people including journalist, teachers, and even people at home are blogging on a regular basis. Blogs have no limits or expectations and are not always written in a professional manner. The idea of a blog is get your thoughts out in a conversational sort of way in hopes of engaging another reader. Schools are now using the idea of blogs to their advantage by encouraging students to write their thoughts on particular subjects, or just as a tool to help with creativity.
A high school teacher in Connecticut, Frank LaBanca, incorporates blogging into his classrooms by having students use it to apply science research. This often challenges his students with short writing assignments which are designed to help them with critical thinking and using technology. One concern with blogging in this fashion is that the student's work will not be original. For that reason, LaBanca requires his students to use multiple sources which in return also helps the students to learn how to research.
Bill MacKenty, a computer science teacher in Massachusetts, said he enjoys the idea of blogging because "It's not about...who you are, or the color of your skin--it's about what you have to say. There's something utterly beautiful and noble about that." This sense of equality has motivated many other schools to use blogging as well.
In my opinion, blogging is a great way to encourage students to use computers and familiarize themselves with technology in a positive way. Too many kids these days simply log online to use popular trendy websites such as Myspace or Facebook. Hopefully by using computers for positive assignments in the classroom will inspire students to do the same outside of the classroom. I also think this is a great way to get students to get their feelings out in a creative way. When I was in middle school I can remember having a journal that I had to write in every week. Nothing great ever came of it besides the teacher reading it and giving me a grade. By utilizing blogging, students are able to communicate with one another and share ideas and thoughts.
I would like to see more research done on how safe this new trend is. Do schools put a limit on what students can say or reveal about themselves? I would like to know if teachers read over the blogs before they are posted to check for personal information which might help an internet predator to find the students. Using the blogs in a high school environment would probably be safe, but young kids do not always think about the consequences simply because they are not aware of them. For that reason I would like to see a sort of instructional speech given to the children to insure that they are being safe online as well as learning.
Article: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=36898&page=1
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Virtual Field Trips
With the current state of our economy, many schools have been given a low budget for the rising gas expenses which prevents traditional physical field trips from taking place. High gas prices have also resulted in many families struggling to put food on the table, afford school supplies, or even fill up their own gas tanks to make it to work. As a result, the high costs of field trips per each student becomes a burden for those particular parents to work into their budgets. Given those dilemmas, many schools have had to resort to other ways of giving students the opportunity to experience places that enrich their education. Virtual field trips are a relatively new and inexpensive way for students to visit places that would otherwise be out of the question.
This day in age, the majority of children grow up with a computer in front of them. Many young elementary aged children know more about computers than some of the adult and elderly population. Given this advantage, virtual field trips are a unique way to connect students to educational experiences which help to further their knowledge of a particular topic. The methods used to conduct virtual field trips vary from state to state and some are more advanced than others. For instance, students in California connect to their virtual field trips via a live, two way video conference which enables them to ask questions and get involved. Other schools who have just recently begun introducing the idea of virtual field trips use general websites that allow teachers to chose video topics that correspond with the curriculum. Due to the rising demand in virtual field trips, some companies have risen to the occasion by developing websites devoted to these virtual field trips. The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration is one example of an organization which provides virtual field trips that satisfy national standards and skills set by the board of education. Another popular program devoted to virtual field trips is Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students, otherwise known as PORTS. PORTS is exclusively available in California and strives to help students be able to visit many of the national parks in California, for free, that they would not otherwise have access to.
My initial reaction to virtual field trips was that they take away the hands on aspect of learning. With budget cuts happening all over the country many students are already experiencing a lack of hands on activities due to high numbers of students per classroom. I was immediately concerned that students might not retain as much information as they would if they were at the actual destination. Another concern I had was that unless the virtual field trips were a live, two way feed, such as they are in California classrooms, that they would be very similar to educational films that have been used for decades, such as Bill Nye. It is no secret that watching something, whether it be on a television or a computer, does not have the same lasting effect as witnessing it in person. However, after reading this article the advantages of virtual field trips became apparent. For one, students can visit places that they would otherwise not be able to, such as volcanoes and expensive state parks. Also, physical field trips are often times cut short due to problem students and/or time restrictions. By taking virtual field trips, students are able to see more of the attractions and do not have to worry about one student ruining the trip for the rest of them.
Before I am completely convinced that virtual field trips should be the way of the future, I would like to see further research done to make sure that students really do take away as much knowledge and understanding as they would during a physical field trip. In page one of this article it was mentioned that "students took a physical field trip to a zoo, but filmed video and streamed it back to students who weren't able to go, so they still had the chance to see the animals up close". My concern here is that the students that had the opportunity to visit the zoo retained more information than the students that simply sat in their seats and watched it on a computer or projector. This article also states that schools in England use similar technology for similar purposes. I would like to know how successful those schools overseas have been using these methods.
Virtual field trips are still a relatively new way of educating students. As with any newly proposed way of learning, questions and concerns are likely to arise. I believe that more evidence needs to be shown that students who experience physical field trips and those who experience virtual field trips both benefit the same. Either way, if school budgets completely eliminate the opportunity for physical field trips, than virtual field trips are a great and creative new option for students and teachers to experience places together.
Article Link: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=54518&page=1
This day in age, the majority of children grow up with a computer in front of them. Many young elementary aged children know more about computers than some of the adult and elderly population. Given this advantage, virtual field trips are a unique way to connect students to educational experiences which help to further their knowledge of a particular topic. The methods used to conduct virtual field trips vary from state to state and some are more advanced than others. For instance, students in California connect to their virtual field trips via a live, two way video conference which enables them to ask questions and get involved. Other schools who have just recently begun introducing the idea of virtual field trips use general websites that allow teachers to chose video topics that correspond with the curriculum. Due to the rising demand in virtual field trips, some companies have risen to the occasion by developing websites devoted to these virtual field trips. The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration is one example of an organization which provides virtual field trips that satisfy national standards and skills set by the board of education. Another popular program devoted to virtual field trips is Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students, otherwise known as PORTS. PORTS is exclusively available in California and strives to help students be able to visit many of the national parks in California, for free, that they would not otherwise have access to.
My initial reaction to virtual field trips was that they take away the hands on aspect of learning. With budget cuts happening all over the country many students are already experiencing a lack of hands on activities due to high numbers of students per classroom. I was immediately concerned that students might not retain as much information as they would if they were at the actual destination. Another concern I had was that unless the virtual field trips were a live, two way feed, such as they are in California classrooms, that they would be very similar to educational films that have been used for decades, such as Bill Nye. It is no secret that watching something, whether it be on a television or a computer, does not have the same lasting effect as witnessing it in person. However, after reading this article the advantages of virtual field trips became apparent. For one, students can visit places that they would otherwise not be able to, such as volcanoes and expensive state parks. Also, physical field trips are often times cut short due to problem students and/or time restrictions. By taking virtual field trips, students are able to see more of the attractions and do not have to worry about one student ruining the trip for the rest of them.
Before I am completely convinced that virtual field trips should be the way of the future, I would like to see further research done to make sure that students really do take away as much knowledge and understanding as they would during a physical field trip. In page one of this article it was mentioned that "students took a physical field trip to a zoo, but filmed video and streamed it back to students who weren't able to go, so they still had the chance to see the animals up close". My concern here is that the students that had the opportunity to visit the zoo retained more information than the students that simply sat in their seats and watched it on a computer or projector. This article also states that schools in England use similar technology for similar purposes. I would like to know how successful those schools overseas have been using these methods.
Virtual field trips are still a relatively new way of educating students. As with any newly proposed way of learning, questions and concerns are likely to arise. I believe that more evidence needs to be shown that students who experience physical field trips and those who experience virtual field trips both benefit the same. Either way, if school budgets completely eliminate the opportunity for physical field trips, than virtual field trips are a great and creative new option for students and teachers to experience places together.
Article Link: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=54518&page=1
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