Sure, curriculum webs sound wonderful. Before you jump into anything there are many things to think about. As the teacher it is important to understand that you are the most important resource for the curriculum web because you are the one that knows how to use it. Some things you need to think about:
How many computers will I have?
How many ability levels do I need to accommodate?
How is my classroom laid out?
Do I have to use the computer lab or are there computers in my classroom?
Am I connected to the Internet?
When thinking about how I am going to use my curriculum web I am a bit overwhelmed. The factors that effect my success are so many that it worries me my students will not gain all they are able to from the curriculum web. For this reason, there are things to consider before I begin.
- Find out who has internet access at their homes
- Practice the curriculum web tasks myself to see if they work properly
- Make sure my students have the necessary computer skills
- Prepare my students for working with the curriculum web
- Have any important materials that need to be handed out ready
It will also be important to question and poll my students to see how the curriculum web is work and how they feel about using it.
I think a curriculum web can be highly successful in my classroom if it is presented properly. I hope to work very hard on preparing the website in order to allow for easy access and navigating for my students.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Podcasts
We now know technology is starting to take over. Radio broadcasting is now old news and the now there are PODCASTS. With the craze of iPods, podcasts means "iPod" + "broadcast" combined. It is a great way for teachers to bring technology into the classroom. It is also useful for students to create them in order to help each other in school.
There are many different types of podcasts, including radio programs, blogs, interviews, news reports and educational podcasts. They can be audio or visual (vidcasts).
I like the idea of using podcasts in my classroom in order to catch students up that might have been absent or are having difficulty understanding a topic. It is a great way to have students hear a new voice or see something explained in a different way.
Podcasts however only accommodate to the audio and visual learners. Also, I do not have computers in my classroom and in order to use computers I have to schedule time in the computer lab. So the access to the podcasts would be a major obstacle for me in school. I love the idea of have students use them, however, for me it might be too time consuming, unless it is required to be done at home.
I'll try and think more creatively on how I can incorporate these into my teaching practice and have it effective for the students.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What makes an effective website?
Who ever thought creating a website would be so intricate! The steps of designing a website seem easy enough:
1. pick your audience
2. chose a theme
3. decide the sections
4. design the look
Easy as pie! Not so much. Each step entails a lot of thinking and planning. It is important to always consider who your audience will be and make it easy for them to navigate your page. Also, the less text the better. People don't like to read a lot on the computer so it is beneficial to use pictures and break up the paragraphs when necessary.
Do your research! The materials you use and the information you need should be thought out before you begin. Once the information is gathered, chucking is used to group the information into coherent pieces on the different pages. When all of the information is chunked it will be easier to plan the navigation for the site.
Is that it? For the most part. But there's a bunch of planning to do before you can actually put your website together. If this is not done, your website will not be as effective as it can be.
On that note, I better get started. This could take a while.....
1. pick your audience
2. chose a theme
3. decide the sections
4. design the look
Easy as pie! Not so much. Each step entails a lot of thinking and planning. It is important to always consider who your audience will be and make it easy for them to navigate your page. Also, the less text the better. People don't like to read a lot on the computer so it is beneficial to use pictures and break up the paragraphs when necessary.
Do your research! The materials you use and the information you need should be thought out before you begin. Once the information is gathered, chucking is used to group the information into coherent pieces on the different pages. When all of the information is chunked it will be easier to plan the navigation for the site.
Is that it? For the most part. But there's a bunch of planning to do before you can actually put your website together. If this is not done, your website will not be as effective as it can be.
On that note, I better get started. This could take a while.....
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Webquests
What is the value of webquests in education?
Until the presentation tonight I did not understand the difference between a curriculum web and a webquest. Little did I know a webquest is simply a feature under the umbrella of a curriculum web.
All webquests need to contain seven different elements in order to be complete:
1. Introduction - sets up the problem and contains an essential question
2. Task - what is to be done
3. Process - step by step guide that breaks up the task
4. Evaluation - a rubric of the assignment
5. Credits - copyrights and acknowledgements
6. Conclusion
7. Teaching Guide - resource and information for fellow teachers
Webquests can be very effective and valuable in education. Teachers can make webquests involving activities for students to complete, projects, clips, and videos. This is a great way to keep students engaged in learning and helps to differentiate activities for them as well. Students can work at their own pace and feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work.
I plan on using my webquest with my students and allow them to explore the possibilities of the internet. It will be a great way to get them excited about their learning.
Until the presentation tonight I did not understand the difference between a curriculum web and a webquest. Little did I know a webquest is simply a feature under the umbrella of a curriculum web.
All webquests need to contain seven different elements in order to be complete:
1. Introduction - sets up the problem and contains an essential question
2. Task - what is to be done
3. Process - step by step guide that breaks up the task
4. Evaluation - a rubric of the assignment
5. Credits - copyrights and acknowledgements
6. Conclusion
7. Teaching Guide - resource and information for fellow teachers
Webquests can be very effective and valuable in education. Teachers can make webquests involving activities for students to complete, projects, clips, and videos. This is a great way to keep students engaged in learning and helps to differentiate activities for them as well. Students can work at their own pace and feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work.
I plan on using my webquest with my students and allow them to explore the possibilities of the internet. It will be a great way to get them excited about their learning.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Planning Instruction and Assessment
How are instruction and assessment related? How will you assess your students' learning?
Instruction and assessment are very different than what they used to be. Teachers used to stand in front of the class, students would copy notes, and they would have a test at the end of a unit. Now, it is much more involved and creative. There are so many more resources now that teachers can utilize.
A curriculum web is one way that has changed instruction and assessment. Students, and teachers, are now able to use the web as a resource. Learner activities are a great way to assess your students' understanding of a topic. They are great forms of assessment for teachers that allow for learning while begin formally and informally assessed. Students are also able to self-assess as a tool to check their own work.
With technology becoming more integrated into the classrooms, teachers and students are now able to utilize this as a means of instruction, as well as assessment. Learner activities offer a variety of purposes, including instruction, practice, and assessment.
Currently, I use a variety of forms of assessment:
- traditional tests and quizzes
- projects
- workshops
- constant questioning in class
I know I will look more into utilizing the internet in my instruction and would love to develop new types of assessment as well.
Instruction and assessment are very different than what they used to be. Teachers used to stand in front of the class, students would copy notes, and they would have a test at the end of a unit. Now, it is much more involved and creative. There are so many more resources now that teachers can utilize.
A curriculum web is one way that has changed instruction and assessment. Students, and teachers, are now able to use the web as a resource. Learner activities are a great way to assess your students' understanding of a topic. They are great forms of assessment for teachers that allow for learning while begin formally and informally assessed. Students are also able to self-assess as a tool to check their own work.
With technology becoming more integrated into the classrooms, teachers and students are now able to utilize this as a means of instruction, as well as assessment. Learner activities offer a variety of purposes, including instruction, practice, and assessment.
Currently, I use a variety of forms of assessment:
- traditional tests and quizzes
- projects
- workshops
- constant questioning in class
I know I will look more into utilizing the internet in my instruction and would love to develop new types of assessment as well.
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