MULTIMEDIA

Multimedia has definitely made it's way into our lives for good! Whether it's videos, films, music, video games, animation, still images and much more, rarely (if ever) a day goes by that we don't encounter it. I think that this is a great opportunity for us as teachers. Because entertainment is so strongly associated with multimedia, incorporating it in the classroom is a great strategy to make learning fun and interactive for the students. I also think that by incorporating multimedia tools that students use in their everyday lives, we are bridging the gap between school life and personal life.



VOYAGE VIRTUEL

1. French as a Second Language

2. Grade 12

3. http://www.cortland.edu/flteach/civ/Voyage/voyage.htm

4. ‘Voyage Virtuel’ presents a map of France with the locations of 68 cities and regions. If you click on the city, it opens up a page with pictures and a description of that city. Some have just a couple of pictures with captions whereas others go into great detail describing the culture, landscape, history, cuisine, etc. There are also links at the bottom of the page that provide you with even more information

5. I would split the class up into pairs (one group of three if necessary) and have them use this tool to explore the cultural differences and similarities between the cities of France. The groups would be responsible for finding 3 things that are unique to each city and 3 similarities between all 5 cities they explored. The groups would then use the new information they’ve collected to explore 3 differences and 3 similarities between French and Canadian culture.

6. First of all, each team is to share a computer and take turns searching and recording information. I would have a worksheet for the students to use for recording the information. I would also have one that I did on my own to use as an example in case some students are having difficulties. I would also use heterogeneous pairs so that the students who are comfortable on the computer can help those who aren’t. Everyone would have a French/English dictionary on hand in the event that they encounter vocabulary they are not familiar with (they are free to use online dictionaries but they must also have one on hand).

GLO: (Culture)
Students will use their knowledge of different Francophone cultures and their own culture to be able to interact appropriately within these cultures

SLO:
Students will reflect upon the way of life of individuals or groups from various Francophone cultures as a means of developing an appreciation of these cultures.

ICT Outcomes:
C5 – Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry.
1.1 – Share information collected from electronic sources to add to a group task.

C7 - Students will use electronic research techniques to construct personal knowledge and meaning.
1.2 - Summarize data by picking key words from gathered information and by using jottings, point form or retelling

Internet Safety

There are many approaches to protecting our students from the dangers on the Internet. Anyone who has ever used the Internet knows how easy it is to stumble across inappropriate sights. One way to protect our students from this is to be honest about the dangers with them. Let them know that the Internet is a great tool, but one that comes with dangers as well. Let them know that if they come across a site that they feel is inappropriate or that makes them feel uncomfortable, that they should close the window or go get an adult, be it a teacher or parent. Filters are a great tool but things have a way of creeping through.

We also need to educate our students about the dangers associated with chat rooms and related online tools (facebook, myspace, etc). Personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, pictures and financial information should never be placed online where multiple parties can see them. Students should also be wary and question the motives of people they meet online and who want to meet face to face. Dangerous people will often pose as youths and gain the trust of kids in order to coax them into meeting in real life. It is a sad reality and we need to make our students aware!

Pros and Cons of Discussion Boards

Some of the pros in regards to discussion boards are: They create a sense of community between the members of a thread, for people who have easy access to computers it serves as a convenient form of communication and it provides people who aren't comfortable expressing themselves face to face with the opportunity to do just that.
Some of the cons are: Not everyone has access to computers at all times and if being used as a classroom tool, it is easy for the discussion to get off topic.

5 ways that discussion boards could enhance the classroom are:
1) They extend the learning atmosphere of the classroom so that it reaches beyond the school.
2) Provides the shyer students with an opportunity to express themselves.
3) Repeated use of discussion boards will help students develop a sense of technological independence.
4) Useful links may be shared via the discussion threads.
5) If regularly checked, feedback to questions or concerns may be very quick.

Basic Needs of Humans and Animals

I would intergate this concept map into a second grade Science class. I would start by having the students outline 5 basic needs of humans and animals (food, water, oxygen, shelter and space) with examples of each. Using humans and 2 examples of local animals (owls and rabbits in this case), we would explore their specific needs while remembering that they branch out from the same 5 major needs. This concept map will help the students organize the material in a way that makes sense, and they will also recognize that humans and animals share the same basic needs.

The ICT outcome that corresponds with this lesson is:
C5 Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry.

Assignment 3

Title: Impact of Human Waste Poster Presentation

Grade level: 4


Brief description of activity:
Students will go to the website: http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ngs/index.html?launch=true
Once there, they will click on the ‘Waste and Our World’ heading. They will open that page and watch three videos:

1. 'Waste From Human Activity – Pollution From Human Activity – Result From Human Activity(Recycling: It’s Everybody’s Job)'


2. 'Methods of Disposal-Disposing of Trash'


3. 'Recycling Trash'

Next, students will visit: http://library.thinkquest.org/6076/New%20Pages/KidsDoRecyclePile.html
and: http://library.thinkquest.org/6076/New%20Pages/kdactint.html where they will follow the directions and complete the exercises.
Finally, in groups, the students will create a poster to present to the class on one of the following topics (each group will recieve a different topic):

• Identify and classify the different types of waste that are created by humans


• How different types of waste are recycled and what those products are turned into


• The variety of ways humans dispose of their trash and the impact of those methods


• Activities we can do at home to recycle products


• The advantages and disadvantages of various types of packing in the home and in the environment

GLO:
4–5 Recognize that human activity can lead to the production of wastes, and identify alternatives for the responsible use and disposal of materials.


SLOs:
2. Identify and classify wastes that result from human activity
3. Describe alternative methods of disposal, and identify possible advantages and disadvantages of each.
4. Distinguish between wastes that are readily biodegradable and those that are not.
5. Compare different kinds of packaging, and infer the relative advantages and disadvantages of that packaging. In evaluating different forms of packaging, students should demonstrate the ability to consider a consumer perspective as well as an environmental perspective.
9. Identify ways in which materials can be reused or recycled, including examples of things that the student has done.


ICT outcomes:
C1 - Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
1.1
access and retrieve appropriate information from electronic sources for a specific inquiry
1.2
process information from more than one source to retell what has been discovered
2.1
access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet by using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)

C5 - Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry
1.1
share information collected from electronic sources to add to a group task

Brief rationale: This is an example of good technology integration because the material covered online is relevant and it shows the students some of the options they are given on the internet. In this activity alone they were able to watch videos and do interactive games on the same subject.




References:
Learn Alberta, National Geographic Science Centre, Retrieved Sept 26, 2007 from
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ngs/index.html?launch=true
Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation, Retrieved Sept 26, 2007
http://library.thinkquest.org/6076/New%20Pages/KidsDoRecyclePile.html
Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation, Retrieved Sept 26, 2007 http://library.thinkquest.org/6076/New%20Pages/kdactint.html

Technology Intergration: The Good, the Bad and the Barriers

What is good technology integration and bad technology integration?
Let us explore the good first. If we consider the 'Linking Technology' article, we see that William (the teacher) was really passionate about teaching his students ecology. He and his students would explore the rich diversity of the grounds surrounding the school. That was great, but he wanted to help his students acquire a greater understanding of the subject and it was with the help of Karen, the school's educational technologist, that he realized his goal. He was able to enlarge the amount of resources available to the students through use of the Internet. In their weekly computer class, for example, the students would work to search for online science references and explore ecology simulations.
Bad technology integration would be the use of technology just for the sake of using it. If the lesson becomes too complicated or for example, you end up reading a PowerPoint presentation word for word, you'd be better off distributing a handout.
One of the biggest barriers to technology integration in the classroom is funding. If a school doesn't have a lot of money, chances are they're not going to be able to afford a smart board. Another barrier is the lack of experience a lot of the older teachers have in regards to technology. It evolves very quickly and can be very difficult to keep up with. It would be wonderful if every school could employ an educational technologist, but that is just not the case.

My first blog

Hello, my name is Jordan and welcome to my blog. I was born and raised in Airdrie, AB (right next to Calgary) and I am the second oldest of 5 children. Growing up, I enjoyed a wide variety of activities, many of which included a certain level of mischief. I am presently in the process of becoming a teacher and I am looking very forward to the challenges that lay ahead of me! What can I say about myself that would help all of you get to know me better......hmmm...let me think. I enjoy physical activity of all sorts, in particular soccer and climbing, I play the guitar, I enjoy camping, spending time with friends and family, mini-golf, plane rides, reading, sunshiny days, board games, music, cheese, wine, bread, slurpees, poutine, Jeopardy, word puzzles, concerts, road trips, obstacle courses, trying to walk on my hands, diving boards and I also enjoy entertaining the idea that I am indeed a ninja. Yup, I believe that about sums me up.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about using blogs as an effective educational tool. That was due completely to my inexperience with blogging. I would always hear people talking about their blogs or get a link sent to me which always struck me as being a bit weird because I assumed that blogs were just some sort of journal or diary. I didn't want to feel as if I was snooping through someones private thoughts. As I read through the websites on blogging and discovered the many educational possibilities, it became clear to me that not only is blogging an effective tool, but it is also becoming very necessary in the classrom. It makes relaying information to students a lot easier and is a lot more convenient than trying to reach people through other avenues. It is a great record keeping tool, and it provides students who are less likely to participate in classroom discussion or activities a comfortable and pressure free way to communicate. There are obviously privacy concerns as there is with any program that is used online, but that is another opportunity to help students learn about responsibility.