Red 2.0

I'm glad I am posting this after class, because I ended up going to dinner with Maggie this evening, and something she said totally related to the book: it reminded her a lot of the school play, and how it seemed like the girls in both the book and play were whining about life. This seemed very interesting to me- though I thought the same thing, I never related it to the play.

Now, there were instances in which this "whining" was appropriate, but for the most part, it was just a bunch of girls whining about what they hated in their life. As much as I like reading, I don't like to read non-fiction. I did appreciate the book, but I just needed a plot and one specific character to follow. This book reminded me a lot of a case study, which is exactly what our school play was- Reviving Ophelia.

I totally wouldn't have chosen that play, first of all, because the boy character was a jerk, and second because I don't think the audience likes to hear about a bunch of depressing stories. I totally understand why the book ties into our class, and I did like some of the stories, but for the most part, I just had a hard time paying attention. Again, I'm willing to bet it's because the book is non-fiction.

I like books like Part-Time Indian. =D

NY Times Article

This was really interesting to me. I think it's a great idea to give the students WiFi on the bus, because it allows them to do homework and frees up their time at home to spend with family. It's just way more convienent. If I were a parent, I wouldn't even mind paying a fee to help the school pay for the WiFi, because it's a great resource. Also, it eliminates the fighting on the bus, which has always been a problem (and hazard for the driver).

Of course, not all the students will take advantage of this everyday, and they may play games or IM each other, or update Tweeter statuses, but still, at least they have the opportunity. And, it helps so they don't miss deadlines to turn in assignments.

Webquest

Attached is the link to my webquest.

Questions: 9 Apr 2010

What I have learned about technology in education:

I have learned that technology can be very useful education. There are various instances in which it can be used, such as games, powerpoints, videos, and other things that can be incorporated into the classroom. I think that a lot of the stuff suggested can be very useful to students because they have the resources at their fingertips during presentations, as they are able to use them to look up information, do presentations, or as supplemental information to a lesson that is being taught in class.


What are the major issues to be considered:

I think that a lot of the stuff that's useful for classroom management can be used in the classroom only if it's used wisely- that said, I think that the students need guidance when they use it, because it can be misused. Also, there are millions of ways that students could get around doing their own work and plagerize from other people. Things like sparknotes, wikipedia, etc. should not be used for works cited purposes, but just reference tools. They are also at risk to cheat and find things that may not necessarily lead them to the correct answers they should be finding.

Teaching Resources

Going through the sites was very informative. I like the edutopia site because it was easy to navigate. I like that there are books to use, various sites, such as Apple, allow teacher and student discounts, and I liked the blogs that are on the sites. I think these are some of the most helpful resources, especially because they are informational, or if you are purchasing something for your classroom, it helps teachers make the most of their money. I think the many uses of technology, which isn't just limited to computers, but also includes things like CDs, DVDs, Mp3s, etc. is great to incorporate in the classroom, and I especially like blogs because they show how teachers are using them in their classroom to give other teachers ideas on how to incorporate it in their room. I also like that there are lesson plans out there for people to utilize, especially for new teachers who may feel overwhelmed. I have a few of these bookmarked on my computer at home for personal use, and I remember feeling more at ease while doing a lesson plan project because I had something to base my ideas off of.

5 Feb 2010

I didn't realise all the things one could do in a Word document. The tutorials are very helpful, and I appreciate this knowledge. However, I wish I could figure it out on my Mac. I plan on using it in the classroom as much as possible, because I really hate PC. But that's just a preference. I hope to figure out how to do this at some point. What I really would like is for everyone to just work from Mac. That would make it easier for me. But that is in an ideal world, and frankly, they're too expensive and schools don't have the money for it...

The Lovely Bones

I saw The Lovely Bones last night...

What a waste of my life... SERIOUSLY!! I will never get that 2 hours and 15 minutes back!! I am just that much closer to death, and I wasted it watching some trashy movie... I'm glad someone actually wasted money to produce this film, let alone take time to write the novel it was based off of. No wonder our economy is in jeopardy!!

I have come to the conclusion that, instead of wasting money on stupid crap like The Lovely Bones, everyone should go out and spend money on things that show TALENT! That would include (but is not limited to):

-A Britney Spears album
-A Miley Cyrus album or movie
-Heidi Montag's album

See, possibilites are endless!! These are just 3 of my suggestions.

So, the point is America, let's not waste our time, money, and energy on trash like The Lovely Bones. In a time when our country is in dire need, let's be resourceful and stimulate our economy by spending money on valuable items and support Britney Spears!!