For my WebQuest I worked with Shara Israelsen and Amy Jeppson. I really liked the WebQuest format and I think this is such a great resource for students to use.
Here is the link to view the plan http://questgarden.com/71/92/5/081027081536/index.htm
Monday, November 24, 2008
Weekly Reflection--Whitney Anderson
I have never used computer tutorials and I found that they were o.k. I liked the math one a lot better than the reading one because reading is a more open ended process.
a. Discuss the potential benefits of the computer tutors.
These programs are nice because they are very accessible and the student can work on their own. They can also move at a pace that is comfortable to them. It helps cut back on having to hire extra help to come in as a tutor. Students can be tutored at any time and it is very adaptable to their needs.
b. Are there any concerns or weaknesses?
You can never replace the knowledge of a human being. On the reading tutorial when I typed in my answers they would just correct it with whatever they had typed in. As a student this could be come frustrating and de-motivational because they can't really check the students work. All the computer can do is tell the student that they are wrong. In the math one you only got one extra try before they gave you the answer. In real life students may need 3 or 4 chances to get the answer right. I think that these tutorials are good but a real person working with a child is the most beneficial.
c. How would you better design those tutors?
I would try to find a way that the students can ask more questions, some kind of interactive feedback. Students should also be given more chances to get the correct answer with hints and more instruction given to them. It would be awesome if the computer could track what the student writes for the answer and then either accepts or doesn't accept it.
a. Discuss the potential benefits of the computer tutors.
These programs are nice because they are very accessible and the student can work on their own. They can also move at a pace that is comfortable to them. It helps cut back on having to hire extra help to come in as a tutor. Students can be tutored at any time and it is very adaptable to their needs.
b. Are there any concerns or weaknesses?
You can never replace the knowledge of a human being. On the reading tutorial when I typed in my answers they would just correct it with whatever they had typed in. As a student this could be come frustrating and de-motivational because they can't really check the students work. All the computer can do is tell the student that they are wrong. In the math one you only got one extra try before they gave you the answer. In real life students may need 3 or 4 chances to get the answer right. I think that these tutorials are good but a real person working with a child is the most beneficial.
c. How would you better design those tutors?
I would try to find a way that the students can ask more questions, some kind of interactive feedback. Students should also be given more chances to get the correct answer with hints and more instruction given to them. It would be awesome if the computer could track what the student writes for the answer and then either accepts or doesn't accept it.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Weekly Reflection--Whitney Anderson
During this class session we learned the basics of the Instructional Architect (IA) program. Professor Tom Caswell was kind enough to come and share what he knew about the program. IA has about the same purpose as WebQuests, it is designed to provide students with online experience and present websites in an organized manner to help students learn. While they have about the same purpose they are executed in different ways. I really like that IA is free to all teachers and that you are able to take projects that other teachers have done and adapt them to you and your needs. Many times we find great ideas but we need to tweak it to fit our situation or our teaching style. It was also really easy to pick a layout and format the lesson exactly the way you wanted, it allowed for a bit more creativity. Yet having less structure can really vary the quality of the projects. I also really enjoyed how it had the resources that you could search right through the program. The web has limitless information sources available but these programs are wonderful in narrowing down the information to provide a quality experience for our students.
Learning about these wonderful tools makes me wish that they would have been utilized in my practicum and even during my own schooling. Really the only experience the children in my practicum had was using a computer once maybe twice a week and most of this was spent at one site dictated by the adults. Programs like IA and WebQuest not only give the students control over their learning it gives them necessary technology skills. Teachers cannot afford to overlook this generation and their needs. I plan on incorporating both of these helpful resources and tools into my teaching.
Learning about these wonderful tools makes me wish that they would have been utilized in my practicum and even during my own schooling. Really the only experience the children in my practicum had was using a computer once maybe twice a week and most of this was spent at one site dictated by the adults. Programs like IA and WebQuest not only give the students control over their learning it gives them necessary technology skills. Teachers cannot afford to overlook this generation and their needs. I plan on incorporating both of these helpful resources and tools into my teaching.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Weekly Reflection--Whitney Anderson
Today in class we did a geometric scavenger search using digital cameras. This activity is very appropriate for students because it was fun, engaging, and meaningful. It helps students to apply their learning into a real world context. Shapes are all around us and should not just be studied out of a textbook. This activity helps them to find shapes in their immediate surroundings. It also gives them practice using cameras and learning about how to download, edit, and place them in a program. Comiclife was a very fun program that I think the students would just love. It was very user friendly and a great way to present their final work. I remember one day I was walking around campus and I saw a class from the Edith Bowen Elementary school out doing this exact activity. The students were having a blast finding an assortment of shapes. I never used a digital camera in school but I think that it would have been very fun and useful if I would have had the opportunity too. This activity was easy and wouldn't take a lot of preparation. We need to give the students opportunities to use these programs and to help them to see how technology can enhance their own projects and work. The digital camera can be utilized in many different types of projects and useful in helping students create their own images. It also gives them skills that they can use in personal use so that they will understand how to upload their own personal pictures. Overall I really enjoyed today's activity and will definitely incorporate the use of digital cameras into my future classroom and throughout my student teaching.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Weekly Reflection--Whitney Anderson
1. What form(s) did you like/dislike? Why?
The forms that I liked included the critical evaluation of a website on the elementary school level and the midlink magazine web page evaluation form. These two forms allowed more flexibility in evaluating the page. The critical evaluation page allowed you to write a whole paragraph assessing the pros/cons of the website. The midlink one allows you to use a scale rather than a yes or no type answering. The one that I did not really like was the regular website evaluation form from bv299. I felt that it was lacking in information about the site and didn't really help you evaluate the quality of the site. The www.cyberguide ratings was fair I wish that instead of a yes and no type question format it would be more on a scale but the questions helped you to see the quality of the website.
2. Were there any hidden secrets about a website you discovered by using an evaluation form?
One of the things I learned was about the www.altavista.com where you can find how websites link to others. This can give you more of an idea of what type of website you are looking at. The other thing I learned more about is just how to find how current the page is and who the author is.
3. What is the value of using a web site evaluation process?
By using the evalution process it helps you focus on things that you may not have considered before. It helps you really narrow in on the use and credibility of the information. Many things like how it links to other websites, if it has a way to get back to the main page, when it was created and updated, etc. It is always easier when you have something to follow rather than just trying to come up with something yourself. It can also help keep everyone on the same page, you could have many different people evaluate a site but the standard form would keep some consistency.
4. Are there times you would/would not use a formal evaluation?
As long as the form is effective in evaluating I feel that it is a very beneficial to use. I would use it in most instances especially if a principle asked me to check out certain sites. It is also useful for personal use to help me narrow in on what information I want to get out of a site. I probably would not use a formal evaluation if I was in a rush to get something done and didn't have a lot of time to sit down and fill out a form. Also there are times when you go to a website and from first impression you can tell if the content will be appropriate or not appropriate. If you can immediately see that something is inappropriate there would be no reason to use the evaluation. In most instances though I think it is very beneficial.
The forms that I liked included the critical evaluation of a website on the elementary school level and the midlink magazine web page evaluation form. These two forms allowed more flexibility in evaluating the page. The critical evaluation page allowed you to write a whole paragraph assessing the pros/cons of the website. The midlink one allows you to use a scale rather than a yes or no type answering. The one that I did not really like was the regular website evaluation form from bv299. I felt that it was lacking in information about the site and didn't really help you evaluate the quality of the site. The www.cyberguide ratings was fair I wish that instead of a yes and no type question format it would be more on a scale but the questions helped you to see the quality of the website.
2. Were there any hidden secrets about a website you discovered by using an evaluation form?
One of the things I learned was about the www.altavista.com where you can find how websites link to others. This can give you more of an idea of what type of website you are looking at. The other thing I learned more about is just how to find how current the page is and who the author is.
3. What is the value of using a web site evaluation process?
By using the evalution process it helps you focus on things that you may not have considered before. It helps you really narrow in on the use and credibility of the information. Many things like how it links to other websites, if it has a way to get back to the main page, when it was created and updated, etc. It is always easier when you have something to follow rather than just trying to come up with something yourself. It can also help keep everyone on the same page, you could have many different people evaluate a site but the standard form would keep some consistency.
4. Are there times you would/would not use a formal evaluation?
As long as the form is effective in evaluating I feel that it is a very beneficial to use. I would use it in most instances especially if a principle asked me to check out certain sites. It is also useful for personal use to help me narrow in on what information I want to get out of a site. I probably would not use a formal evaluation if I was in a rush to get something done and didn't have a lot of time to sit down and fill out a form. Also there are times when you go to a website and from first impression you can tell if the content will be appropriate or not appropriate. If you can immediately see that something is inappropriate there would be no reason to use the evaluation. In most instances though I think it is very beneficial.
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