Sunday, April 5, 2009

Why use Multimedia in the Classroom?

This is the second and final ASSURE lesson plan for ED451. When I saw the topic multimedia, I thought “Gettysburg Address.” I do not know why. However, I played with that idea and decided to use. My initial idea was to show the students a documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg. It was a bloody three-day battle, where the Confederates led by General Robert E. Lee lost. This was a major blow to the Confederates morale, eventually leading to the surrender (“Battle of Gettysburg” paras. 1-6). But, these three-days still remained fresh in history. It is memorable in two regards. First, the battle was significant because it showed a turning point in the Civil War. Second, Abraham Lincoln was not critical of the Confederates in his great speech. I wanted students to understand this. The best way is to immerse them in it.

Following the documentary, I would have the students do further research including another view of the battle. The purpose of the research is to have alternative views from soldiers on the battlefield. It is to get a better idea of the emotional speech of Abraham Lincoln and the importance of the battle. Using this knowledge, I wanted the students to create a skit or produce a presentation of a unique perspective of the battle.

Compared to the last lesson plan, I have added a rubric and more information of what I will do. I tried to make this as student-centered as possible. The sad part about all of this is that I will never know if this will be effective. I can only assume that it will be. Perhaps when I become a teacher, I can try to implement this and see how it goes. I did a mock trial, which I pretended to be a substitute. It gave me a better idea of how to improve on the lesson plan. Also, I took a look at several Assure lesson plans (something I did not do last time). This gave me a better idea of how to make a little more comprehensive lesson plan.

Finally, what part of the NET*T standard does this fulfill? I took a look at the standards, and I was surprised. If covered that following standard:

2. A.design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced

instructional strategies to support the diverseneeds of learners.

2.B. apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning

environments and experiences.

2.E. plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.

3.A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student

technology standards.

3.B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of

students.

3.C. apply technology to develop students’ higher order skills and creativity.

4.A. apply technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment

techniques. (ISTE, NETS for Teachers 2000)

Many see history as the same as the Latin language, useless. Why study history? I was hoping that this lesson focused on this way of thinking. I want the students to be excited about history. I believe this is the best way. Students have to understand that history is not only the key to our past, but our culture. It is our identity of who we are and where we come from. I hope to be that teacher who will help nurture that in students.


Resources:

Battle of Gettysburg. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg.

NETS for Teachers 2000. Retrieved March 20, 2009, from ISTE: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2000Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2000.htm.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Presentation Rubric

Resources

Video
Bussler, Mark (2004). Civil War Minutes: Gettysburg and Stories of Valor. [DVD]. Inecom Entertainment Company.

APA Citation Style
http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citapa.htm

How NOT to use PowerPoint!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=cagxPlVqrtM

Rubric
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Learner Evaluation

Students will be graded as group. Evaluation will be assesed by the rubric.
The Rubric will covers PowerPoint presentations, video presentations, oral presentations and group participation. Go to Rubric

Teacher use the reflection paper to check if the student has grasp an understanding of the battle


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Sequence of Activities

First week

The teacher will show a documentary of the Civil War battle at Gettysburg (Civil War Minutes: Gettysburg and Stories of Valor)
The teacher will discuss and explain the significance of the battle and why it was fought
The students will write a one-page reflection paper about the battle

Second week

The students are assigned to groups (each group should have four members)
Assignment overview sheet is given out to each student
The students will be given time to brainstorm and decide whether they want to perform a video skit or do a PowerPoint presentation

Third week

Computer lab time and library time for research. During this time the students should research websites and clips on the handouts for additional information.
Students should have a good idea by this time what they want to do.
The Teacher will show the "do's" and "don'ts" of PowerPoint presentations ("How NOT to use PowerPoint!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=cagxPlVqrtM)
The Teacher will provide assistance on uploading video, sound, picture etc.
This is the final day to tie together loose ends. Students will have the opportunity to perfect their materials.
They should also take the time to do a dry-run through their presentations.

Forth week (presentation)

Each group will have an hour to present their PowerPoint or video.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

List of materials and equipment needed for the lesson

A computer for each student, projector, screen, prepared handouts that gives brief overview of assignment, websites relating to the Battle of Gettysburg (sound and video clips, and letters from soldiers on the field), other Internet resources, and evaluation rubric. Other equipment includes CD and DVD player.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Objectives for the Lesson

1) In groups of 4, Students will produce skits or presenations based on the battle of Gettysburg

2) If students use Powerpoint, the students will apply their knowledge of using the program by creating a presentation about specific battles fought with little difficulties.

3) If students use video, the students will create a skit and showcase the video in-class using any media (through internet or by dvd or vcd player.)

4) Students will write a one-page reflection covering what they thought about the activity and what they thought about the battle.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Prerequisite Teacher Skills

The teacher for this lesson needs to have the ability and time to demonstrate how to create a powerpoint presentation necessary for the assignment. (This includes uploading pictures and videos on the computer and internet.) He or she must also find websites with solidiers letters and sound and/or video clips for the students to utilize. The teacher needs to be knowledgeable in PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Internet searching, and website evaluation. The teacher must also be prepared for any technical problems that may arise.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Learner Analysis

General characteristics & compentencies:

High school students who are familiar with using the Internet and library resources (books, encyclopedias) for basic research. They have some knowledge of how to make a PowerPoint
presentation with several slides. They have been introduced to making video clips using a computer (They can make a dvd or post it on youtube, myspace or facebook). They have also used digital pictures and made photo albums.

Learning Styles:

Multiple learning styles including visual, tactile, and aural.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Multimedia Assure Lesson Plan

Subject:
Social Studies (Focus on American History)

Lesson Content:
Civil War with primary focus on the Battle of Gettysburg

Number of Students:
24

Estimate Lesson Length:
1-month

Summary of the Lesson:

This lesson is intended for high-school students who have taken Early American History. The lesson is intended to give students an idea of the reason and purpose of this battle. The students will watch a documentary and listen clips, and letters written by solidiers who fought during the civil war and the battle of Gettysburg. The students will perform and act out a scene from the battle of Gettysburg. They will use either powerpoint, video, or use any other multimedia available. The activity can be performed in groups.


Summary | Learner Analysis | Prerequisite Teacher Skills|
Objectives for the Lesson | materials & equipment |
Sequence of Activities | Learner Evaluation |
Resources

Thursday, April 2, 2009

All's Well that Ends Well

In this road we call life, we bump into many obstacles. Why? It is to learn from the experience. If everything was easy, what would we learn? Nothing. Life without its challenges is not worth living. It is the will to overcome these road blocks, we call problems, that makes it worthwhile. So, how does this relate to my experience in ED 451 "Audio & Visual Education?" It practically sums up my expectations and my determination.

I have learned that I need to learn more about technology. This class taught me that I was only seeing things "at the tip of the iceberg." There was more than mere surfing the internet, sending e-mails and using digital applications. Dr. Cyrus, the professor of ED451, showed me what was beyond Google and Microsoft applications. She showed the value of a good search engine, web browser and a good platform for education (moodle). She showed us possibilities of these technological tools in and outside a classroom. She showed us the future of education with technology. But, I believe we only scratched the surface of a much deeper world of possibilities.

Like in the Matrix when Morpheus told Neo about the truth, "I can only show you the door. It is you that must open it." I think Dr. Cyrus was Morpheus and Neo is us. I still have a long way before I can be consider a professional, as a educator and in technology. However, I believe I will get there.

Thank-you and I hope you enjoyed the contents of my e-Portfolio!



e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts | Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Tools of Internet Technology (Part 4 of 4)

Artifacts Main | Art I | Art II | Art III | Art IV | Art V | Art VI


This is a website I have used for years. It is a digital internet library. The site contains various journals, newspapers and books. There are some books here that were used as text book at the University of Guam. The material they have is constantly updated and accurate, to a degree. The site even has digital highlighting and citing. Other tools even include a very nice bibliography creator. It includes all the formats that are commonly used (i.e. APA, MLA, etc.). You can bookmark a book or page. You can even put it in a digital bookshelf, so you can read it later. I have used this website for every research paper I have to do. The only catch I have found is that this site is not free. But that shouldn’t stop you from using it. Try it, I believe that any educator will find this site worth looking. Visit the site at http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp .






I have never seen a site that provides a way to post your PowerPoint online before. I was introduced to this site by Dr. Cyrus in my ED451 class at the university. This is very helpful and user friendly. What makes this site more amazing is that you can share your PowerPoint presentation, and it’s free. It is similar to YouTube. The only difference is that it is composed of mostly PowerPoint slides. There site contains other helpful PowerPoint that you can view and probably use in a classroom. Go to the site and find out what I mean http://www.slideshare.net/.


Part1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Go to Standard I


e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Tools of Internet Technology (Part 3 of 4)

Artifacts Main | Art I | Art II | Art III | Art IV | Art V | Art VI



Technology, Entertainment, Design, or TED is a website that has various inspirational speakers. It includes famous directors, presidents and vice presidents. It is not just video clips, but is also inspirational music as well. This section from the about page best describes what this website is about. “Today, TED is therefore best thought of as a global community. It's a community welcoming people from every discipline and culture who have just two things in common: they seek a deeper understanding of the world, and they hope to turn that understanding into a better future for us all” (http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/5). I viewed various videos and found them helpful, especially to future educators.



By now I am sure everyone has heard of wiki, and has used it. Why? I would answer why not. It is a digital encyclopedia and more. Most the information is about 80% accurate. It is moderated and constantly corrected. Yes, there is information that may be bias and very wrong. But how many people go here to look up terms, events, people, or ideas? There are many. If not, this site would not have prospered. It is translated into various different languages, making it one of the most language friendly sites in the internet. So to every educator and teacher, please don’t dissuade people from using it. Tell them that wiki is a good site to give you an idea of where to start. Guide them how to use it. It is a powerful tool when used correctly.


Part1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Go to Standard I


e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Tools of Internet Technology (Part 2 of 4)

Artifacts Main | Art I | Art II | Art III | Art IV | Art V | Art VI



Moodle is an e-learning software for course management. I found out that this is a free and open source platform, so anyone can use it and adapt it to their needs. This is a great way to connect students and teachers with each other. Teachers can virtually give their course material and syllabus digitally to his or her students. It fills the classrooms with less paper. The site can be updated frequently by the teacher. And to top it off, there is a blog and forum portion that can have students and teachers interact. In this age of technology, educators should have an edge to help their students. This is definitely a nice platform that I want to use if and when I become a teacher myself. I had the opportunity to use the University of Guam version of this program. It is a http://campus.uogdistance.com. Unfortunately, this site is limited to professors and students at the UOG.




Google is an amazing search engine (I know some people may disagree). But more than that, it is a helpful toolbox for all your internet, school and work needs. GMAIL is Google's online e-mail application that is very intuitive. It saves previous e-mail address you used and gives you a chance to add them to your contact list. It also stacks the mail so that you can keep track of replies. Google even has a Blog site. Blogger.com is simple yet innovative. You can do you simple blogging, add pictures, video and whatever you please. And if you think that is not enough, Google also offers commonly use office programs. Call Google Docs, it is an office program similar to MS office: word, spreadsheet, power-point, and Visual Basic. Not only that, you can share whatever do with anyone you choose on real-time. It is not as complex as MS Office, but it is free so why complain! I have yet to fully realize what Google has to offer. I learn something new virtually every day.

Part1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Go to Standard I


e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Artifacts

Artifact I Tools of Internet Technology

Artifact II Assure Lesson Plan

Artifact III Assistive Technology

Artifact IV Online Educational Game Rubic

Artifact V The Right Tool, for the Right Job (Reflection of Assure Lesson Plan)

Artifact VI Cyberbullying




e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Teaching Students with a Disability (Part 2 of 2)

Artifacts Main | Art I | Art II | Art III | Art IV | Art V | Art VI


Another factor will be to have other students accept a student with a disability into their classroom. An activity could include an activity that would educate other students, about the students with a disability. It must be an activity that would play into the advantage of the student with a disability. The objective is to display the intelligence of that student with disability. The goal is to show that he or she is no different when it comes to completing the tasks. The method may be different but the answer will be the same. Through such an activity, it will help with the immersion process of all the students. This will also build self-esteem and confidence of students with a disability.

Preferably, these students should be placed in schools and classrooms that could support and accommodate their needs. It is already tough for Guam high school teachers to deal with the problem of lack of materials and books. To compound that problem with students with disability can be very unnerving. Furthermore, is there a budget to accommodate every student with a disability? Most schools on Guam are very handicap unfriendly. On Guam, there is a strong push for teachers in special education. But could GPSS afford these influxes of new teachers? These questions and problems make a difficult situation worst. The bottom-line for helping students with a disability is that it takes money. Money becomes the deciding factor. It takes money, time and patience to deal with these children. Now that society is becoming more and more sensitive to students with disabilities; perhaps future schools and budgets will be more and more compliant to the needs of these kinds of students.

See Video Clip


Part 1 | Part 2

Go to Standard III


e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

Assistive Technology "Enabling Dreams"





Go to Teaching Students with a Disability

Saturday, March 21, 2009

NETS*T STANDARDS

ISTE NETS for Teachers 2000 focus on preservice teacher education and provide a framework for implementing technologies in teaching and learning that has been widely used in universities, state departments of education, and school districts across the nation. At the state level, 48 of the 50 states have used at least one set of standards in their state technology plans, certification, licensure, curriculum plans, assessment plans, or other official state documents.


STANDARD I. Technology Operations and Concepts

STANDARD II. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences

STANDARD III. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum

STANDARD IV. Assessment and Evaluation

STANDARD V. Productivity and Professional Practice

STANDARD VI. Social, Ethical, Legal and Human Issues




e-Portfolio | Introduction | NETS*T | Professional Statement | Artifacts |Conclusion | Credits/Resources

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