edu422: August 2009

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Journal 9: Science + Technology = Creativity (and Fun)
Citation: Jared Mader & B. Smith, (20099, August). Science+technology=creativity (and fun). Learning & Leading with Technology, 37, Retrieved Aug. 5, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/AugustNo1/L_L_August_2009.htm

Summary: This article, showcases a three phase course of action for science teachers to students to be imaginative and innovative within the field science. The primary phase is to provide students with instruments for instance digital cameras, microphones et al. Allowing students to operate the tools as a means of rationalizing scientific tests and relevant research makes available visual education motivation. Students are also able to demonstrate research visuals within a PowerPoint presentation. Employing electronic tools enable the transition from the out dated poster presentations Phase two is giving students sufficient time to become accustomed with the new technology. The last phase is to support and promote originality and inventiveness. Students can transform a straightforward PowerPoint presentation into a movie using screen casting. And much more. This article incorporates and ties in elements up well for teachers by declaring, “The key to facilitating instruction that elicits these types of assignments is to provide students with the tools, give them the time, and then get out of their way.”

Q & A

What are some ways teachers can use technology to make learning interesting?

There are literally thousands of ways from making a class blog to making movies and so on.

What are some good resources for teachers to learn more?

Websites like the classroom 2.0 community can help teacher with new ideas.

Journal 8: Choosing the Perfect Tools for One to One
Citation: B. Brouterse, J.O. Corn & E.O.Halstead, (2009, August). Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37, Retrieved Aug. 5, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/L_L_August.htm

Summary: This article centers on the issue of as the title suggests, selecting the most compatible appropriate technology equipment in particular, computer processing to get the most out of student education and teacher requirements. The article continuously expresses the significance of this. When a person is thinking about purchasing portable laptops for a school or district the article indicates six basic questions the buyer should consider prior to making the purchase. The primary question deals with purpose, is the piece of equipment single purpose or multipurpose? What operating systems are the administrators, technicians, and teachers accustomed to Windows, Mac, Linux? Is the school intending to establish applications/software by means of Web or CD Rom? Is the school intending to put in files. documents or presentations into a hard drive or Web? Is the equipment well-matched with printers, projectors, microscopes, or digital cameras? How long will the piece of equipment be able to function, deterioration, stability , battery life and virus protection? Finally, applying these six questions, the authors assessed seven products. And their overall findings and conclusions were that buyers should look at the overall quality of the equipment rather than the products price. Because what is initially low cost might end up costing more due to the poor manufacturing of the product and many other factors.

Q & A

What does the term “thin” refer to?
As indicated by the article, “thin” tools are computers associated with a network, they are not transportable.

What does the term “thick” refer to?
As stated in the article, “thick” tools are regular computers or laptops with regular working applications such as, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.