Information
| Communication | Curriculum
| Policy | Evaluation
Summing
It Up | Back to assignment page
C&I 335 has been a good experience for me. The class provided a good balance between prior and new knowledge. I was able to learn more without becoming completely overwhelmed -- most of the time. I also know that there is a lot more to learn, and I am glad that there are seven more classes to give me the opportunity to do so.
Information technologies: In my school district, I have been one of the leaders in technology. Other teachers and even administers have turned to me to solve problems and to teach new technologies. Through C&I335's communications, I was introduced to many new information technology. (My colleagues would be shocked to see how much more there is for me to learn.) The knowledge of my fellow CTER students has proven that to me. I enjoy how we can all share our own expertise. I am looking forward to the time when, I can try out more of the technology that I have been reading about. One topic that I am particularly interested is Java script, applets, etc.
Communication technologies: Before C&I 335, the only [computer] communication technology I was familiar with was email. I had always avoided chat rooms because of kidnapping horror stories, etc. Now I see the usefulness of chat rooms and the WebBoard. Because of our initial August meeting, WebBoard has given us the chance to get to know each other better. I can feel a "bond" forming among CTER student. The dialog that we generated was very informative, supportive, and interesting. Feedback has been wonderful. I only wish I had had more time to respond to more people's postings and projects. Using WebBoard was better than having class several times a day! I don't remember having many live class discussions this interesting, thorough, or participated in. I enjoyed the audio chats and am anxious to try some more. It would be great if we could all join in an audio chat and not have to worry about competing for air time. The delay in audio to our computers was something that I had to get used to. After having heard about CU See Me, I am very interested in trying it out. (The cam might become a Christmas idea for Mom!)
Curriculum:
I feel that I my Rock WebQuest was a great
opportunity to fit technology into the curriculum. C&I 335 made
me take the time to research some of the awesome resources on the Internet.
Because my classroom has recently been connected to the Internet, I now
feel I can further enrich my students education with technology.
WebBoard and sharing assignments has also shown me how I can better fit
technology into my curriculum. For example, I was able to immediately
use George's Space WebQuest in my classroom. My students were very
excited. Some had never been on the Internet before. By using
George's directed lesson, my students were able to easily research topics
important to our space chapter. Friday afternoon (December 3) we
even tried to watch the Mars Polar Lander live on the Internet in the room.
Unfortunately we were dismissed at 3:00 before any signals had been received.
During the week that my students have had access to the Web has brought one big question to mind that I hope we can discuss in the future: What happens when a student is not given parent permission to use the Internet - even for educational purposes?
Policy:
Even though I was relieved to have have
the extra week to work on my WebQuest, I was disappointed to miss out on
the thorough research and discussions on WebBoard. I do not care
for the AUP in my district. Only fourth through eighth graders receive
an AUP to sign. I feel that the wording is too difficult for students
to understand as well as for many of their parents. I would like
to find the time to do the research for a better AUP for the district.
Our tech committee has also mentioned the need several times, but it has
always been moved to a less important priority. I hope that in a
future class AUPs will be covered in depth.
Before our assignment on access, I had not given much thought to there being a problem for people to use technology, other than from lack of funds. The assignment seemed to be a worthwhile one for many of us. I now look at web pages in a new way. I also try to be more careful when I design my own pages. (Learning how to create ALT text was great!) The more people that can benefit, the better. My new knowledge of access had given me more concerns about money issues. Special needs cost money too. My school district can't even get computers for our new LD/BD room. How can schools provide the funds for all special needs?
Another concern that I have about policy is copyright. I am very proud of the work that I put into my Rock WebQuest. I created it in hopes that many classrooms other than my own will be able to put it to good use, but what happens with the copyright now that it is on the Internet. What is going to stop someone from claiming it and putting it on another server?
Evaluation:
It is important for students to use technology
to prepare themselves for the future. Sometimes I don't believe that
my district is doing this. It is important to watch the use of technology
carefully, it should not be used just a toy but as a tool. Learning
more about the effectiveness of technology is another of the many topics
in which I am interested.
Evaluation was one of the areas in which I had trouble with my WebQuest. I am pleased with the rubric for HyperStudio and the self evaluation sheets, but I still have not provided ways for a teacher to evaluate every aspect of the unit. A simple checklist does not seem like enough when it includes all web site evaluations, drawings, and other summaries that could also be evaluated separately. I am worried though that I have already provided too many ways to evaluate. Where should I draw the line? Should I provide a lot and let the individual teacher choose the appropriate evaluation tools for the class?
Evaluation of web sites has become an important issue for me. Students should have a meaningful experience on the Internet. I am trying to provide the teachers in my building a "Site of the Day" to give them constructive educational sites for their students to use. I am hoping to subtlety keep them away from Pokemon and WWF, etc. sites. I am looking over pages ahead of time and writing a short note about each. This task has taken a lot of time because I can't seem to keep it to one site. (It has become more of a "page of sites of the day.") What I really need to do is to combine CTER ideas and create a mini workshop on credibility, etc. to present to my co-teachers.
Summing
It Up:
C&I 335 has been a wonderful introduction
to the CTER program. I have appreciated the flexibility that Chip
gave us in our assignments. Thanks for sticking around long enough
for me to take one more of your Inquiry classes. I have always enjoyed
them. I am looking forward to seeing what the future CTER classes
have to offer.