July 19, 2007

Wow, I can't believe how much I have learned in such a short period of time. From the first day when I could not even log in until today, I have learned something new every day from all of you.
I would really recommend assistive learning training for any teacher at any level. it will help you analyze your students' needs and help you better prepare lessons that are accessible to all of them.
I would like to use blogs with my students as a new way of doing interactive journals. I will have to work with the technology department at school to make this possible.
Enjoy you summer.

Wednesday July 18, 2006

More interesting discussions today. I wonder how freedom of the press and speech are being influenced by technology or how the freedoms are being limited? How can schools limit what you say on a blog if it is not slanderous? Are standards different for teachers?

I have used Inspiration with some students with learning disabilities and found it very helpful. Many of these students are much more willing to use the technology rather than a pencil and paper. they like the graphic quality. It makes it easier to move on the the outline section and begin writing.

Tuesday

Smart boards
I really prefer the rear projection boards to the front projection Smart boards. In a classroom with special education students there might be a danger of students, or teachers, tripping over cords or knocking the board and then having to reorient the board. A rear projection board might be worth the investment. Another solution would be mounting the projector on the ceiling.
I was also interested in the technology that Anne mentioned in class where the students have a wireless device to answer projected questions. I like that the data can be saved, analyzed and used for reteaching.

John Edwards blog

I just visited the John Edwards Web site. I was looking at his blog. They have two types of entries. The first is a home blog. People can post and vote on the entry which should go on the Web site. The second kind is a diary entry in which anyone can post.
Not only are there blogs, but now sites are using various kinds of blogs.
Nancy

July 16, 2007

I enjoyed all of the discussions we had in class today about technology in the news. The most upsetting was the article about a family that was so engrossed in playing video games that their children were starving. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/15/ncomputers115.xml It is just so hard for me to imagine how a person could get so involved with on line gaming that their children were allowed to stave. I heard a report on NPR that said addicts sometimes strengthen their addiction when there is an endorphin release. Maybe these parents were having and emotional connection made to the game. I still wonder how a connection to a game could be stronger than the connection to the welfare of their own children.
After talking about distance learning I checked the SUNY NP catalog for online courses taking place in the fall. I was surprised that there were none listed at the graduate level.

The emerging technology presentations have been very interesting. I didn't know anything about open and closed source programs. I wonder what kinds of programs will be created in the future that would be open source if there is no financial benefit for the creators. I want to do more reading about electronic voting as a result of what Vincent was saying. Here are some links:
www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2004/09/65031
www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/us/12vote.html?ex=1184299200&en=1e8247d7622f5eab&ei=5070
www.diebold.com/dieboldes

itpolicy.princeton.edu/voting/

NYSCATE survey

I just received a link to a survey from NYSCATE, NYS computers and technology in education. They are planning a conference for downstate NY and they are looking for input.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AkNe8nYYcCcXlTuKjIOdyA_3d_3d.
Nancy

New technologies

Today I began researching a new technology called the iCommunicator for my emerging tchnology PowerPoint presentation. http://www.myicommunicator.com/aboutus.shtml
The iCommunicator is a tool that was developed to increase literacy for the Deaf and facilitate communication between hearing and Deaf individuals. I have reviewed the website and links provided by the manufacturer and this looks, on the surface, to be the most amazing machine since sliced bread. It has even been featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This seems too good to be true so I thought about its use in a classroom and read some blogs to see what real users are saying.
I think this product has real advantages and disadvantages . I will be talking more about these in my presentation so I will keep you guessing as to what they are.

I was glad to here that some classmates posted information on their blogs regarding APA format since I have never used that before. I even misheard what it was originally, I thought I I heard, ABA. I would have been lost looking for that.

I have also begun thinking about what I will do for the lesson plan. I think I may teach how to do an interactive story in PowerPoint ( that may take too long to do in one hour) or well, I'm still thinking.
Enjoy your weekend.