M2 Reading Response

Are Wikis Worth the Time?

Two responses debate this answer:

YES-Dean Shareski:

Wikipedia might be the best example of how teaching and learning is changing. Wikipedia is the encyclopedia created by you and me. Anyone can add to it, edit it, and even vandalize it. Wikipedia provides a place to contribute as well as consume. The obvious comparison is to printed encyclopedias. These are limited as a container of information.

NO-Carol Ann Winkler:

The free encyclopedia is no bargain for schools. Its content is the ongoing aggregate of a radical authorship policy: anyone at any time can write anything in Wikipedia. The result is a cheap imitation of a scholarly traditional resource. There is no deterrent to publishing bad information. And so by intentional design, the information in Wikipedia is never authoritative.

When using Wikipedia, teachers will need to decide how they use website in the research process. If they allow students to include them in their citations is still up for debate. Time needs to be spent showing student how to deconstruct articles and understand the process of their creation. Nevertheless, students can use Wikipedia to get their ideas about information, then search a legitimate website for accurate information.   Wikipedia proponents think most readers are willing to compare its information with what they already know and will rewrite articles to re­store quality. Young students do not have a knowledge base for such com­parison.

Proponents also argue that students should never accept just one source of information anyway. ­­The Internet versions of scholarly traditional encyclopedia provide the online access, the hyperlinking, the keyword searching, and the continual updating. Students experience free online access to this reliable information after a simple login process. But that’s only if schools show the wisdom of investing in their libraries so they can provide the resources students need.

Winkler, C (2005). Are Wikis Worth the Time? International Society for Technology in Education. 6-7.

SMART Exchange Activities

 Social Studies:

1. Branches of U.S. Government- Grade 6-8

            I plan to implement this activity to reinforcement lesson already taught on the Branches of Government. There is a game and assessment included which will further test the student’s knowledge.

2. Constitution- Grades 6^th-12^th

            I plan to use this activity to briefly introduce the United States Constitution, its principles and compromises.

3. Social Studies Key Words Q10-Grades 4-6

            This interactive response system will be used to learn new vocabulary words related to social studies. I can also use it as an assessment tool.

           

4. Press Your Luck North America Review Game- Grades-4^th -12^th

            I thought this activity could be fun and engaging for students to learn about their continent. They can play and learn at the same time.

M5, Reading Response

5 Considerations For Digital Age Leaders, by Lotta Larson et all.

How can educational leaders keep up with the daily onslaught of information when new literacies rapidly outpace traditional literacies, and access to technology and information expands exponentially?

This article described how Principals and Teacher Leaders have to take personal responsibilities for understanding changes in tech implementation and integration in their buildings and classrooms versus relying on technology support staff. It is up to the building-level staff, district personnel, and educational leaders to move schools into the digital age.

They suggest five considerations:

ü  Visionary leadership

ü  Digital age learning cultural

ü  Systemic Improvement

ü  Excellence in Professional Practice

ü  Digital Citizenship

To further support a digital learning culture, educational leaders must critically assess how much technology students have access to and how often they access it.

To continue improving the organization through the effective and creative use of technology resources, leaders must provide digital age leadership.

Ongoing, consistent, leveled professional development opportunities can users gain the technology skills and confidence needed to teach the new literacies. Lastly, have a open communication board to discuss polices, changes, and legal issues.

Now is the time for educational leaders to focus the conversation on how technology fits within their classrooms to best meet their students’ needs. The author states, “If we want our children to be competitive on a global level in the 21st century, we need to be visibly using and talking about these tools for learning and teaching”. 

M3, Reading Response

Incorporating technology into the curriculum makes learning meaningful and exciting.   

When teaching STEM subjects through technology, students learn in different ways, which build creativity. In the article, Fostering Creativity, and Innovation through Technology, students learn innovative and creative ideas by using a program called Scratch. This interactive tool allows them to design digital programs. Students, as young as nine, are becoming educated in how to create computer games, web design and other programs. This program allows them to relate their knowledge of science and math to meaningful work. It is free software, that can be utilized from any computer. I think this is a great program. From reading the article students seem to enjoy being creative and innovative. Even if it just by copying and editing work to make it their own, they’re being involved in learning. I believe teaching technology to students builds lifelong learners.  

M4

After reading the article, Principals for Web 2.0, Daniel Light shed some interesting technology advice for building relationships between Principals, Teachers, and Students. He offers ten tips on ways principals and technology leaders make the learning environment easier and smoother. I feel it is imperative to incorporate and collaborate technology into the classrooms because this new wave of technology will improve communication and learning and teaching within the learning community.

Communication is a huge piece between staff and when Principals take the initiative its shows support, opens the doors for communication and builds meaningful relationships. Where I work, the Principal communicated a lot via emails and through a new Teacher Evaluation System. This way everyone was informed of weekly events as well as, on the same page. This school also used several programs which produce data driven results.