Wiki Question

I would like to copy a picture onto one of my wiki pages, but I don't know how to do that. Can anyone help??

Paper Vs. Computer

After reading several blogs regarding the difficulty of blogging and the course wiki, I now know I am not alone. I do think, however, that I know why I have such a hard time. I like to write everything out on paper. My thought process is not as smooth and it certainly doesn't flow as well if I am typing my first draft instead of writing it on paper. However, with blogs and wikis, it seems such a waste of time to sit down at my desk and write what I want to say on paper, then come to my computer and type the same things here. This is definitely a sign that I am a digital immigrant.

When I was subbing the other day, the seniors were working on brainstorming ideas to put into their college essays. Several of the students had a hard time writing what they wanted to say. They said that it is hard to think on paper and that they prefer to type on the computer. This opened my eyes to how removed I really am from these digital natives!

Podcast

After adjusting the volume settings on the computer within Garage Band, I still can barely hear my recording within Garage Band. I know it's not the borrowed microphone from the library because I can record at any level at home on my PC. I am running out of time that I have available to hit the campus to access a Mac. Between subbing and the baby, I will be lucky if I make it up once more to do the final viewing and saving.

Speaking of saving, when I saved and then reopened my podcast yesterday, some of the audio I had recorded was missing and some was duplicated in the spots where it was missing. I went back through and recorded and shifted things, but I am dreading opening it back up to find that it is changed again. Any ideas about why it did this?

Another question, are we to go through all of Chapter 12 with our podcast? That is, are we supposed to publish and share it on iWeb? Or are we just sharing our podcasts off our copy we create to be handed in?

Thanks for any feedback.

Technology as a Tool

I couldn't agree more with David Sharos's article from the Chicago Tribune titled "Technology: Enabling or Disabling Youth?" While he presents both sides of the issue of whether technology benefits our students or not, one argument that he does seem to stick behind is that technology is a tool. When doing my research for my thesis paper in Spring of 2005 on the effects of technology use in the English classroom, my findings all reflected that technology is only as good as the teacher/user. By incorporating technology into the curriculum, teachers embrace the real world that their students live in. However, teachers must use the technology in an enriching way to benefit the students. Sharos quotes a Director of Education as saying, "The key is about empowering kids. We like to use technology as a tool, not have kids all wrapped up in it as an escape."

During my research, I found that technology use does not always guarantee increased student achievement, for technology needs to be used in the right manner in accommodation with other teaching practices. It is a tool that current and future teachers have in their tool belts that can help motivate and engage their students.

Thank you James!

After visiting James's blog and reading about his "21st century blog," I just had to try the feed thing. I had read about it in Will's book, but I had no plans of actually trying it. But after James commented on how easy and convenient it is, I had to try it. Thank you James. Now it's so easy to see what new information is posted out there without wasting time going to each blog. This new technology stuff is too cool!!!

First Day of Subbing

Today I started a new year of subbing. It was nice to get back into the school and see some familiar faces from my student teaching experience. Today just reinforced how excited I am about getting a teaching job. I can't wait to have my own classroom where I can start the year off with the students. They are so full of energy, and you can't help but get energy from them.

Children Without Books

On pg. 385 of Friedman's "The World is Flat," he states "...this crisis [faltering education] we see in our schools has its root in American homes increasingly devoid of books and printed material, where children turn exclusively to television, computers, and electronic games for entertainment- and see adults around them doing the same." This is such a depressing picture. I was raised with books, and I can't imagine a home without books in which children can get lost in. I couldn't agree more with Friedman in regards to literacy starting in the home. I think it is very important for children to see their parents reading for entertainment.

When thinking further about this, I am disturbed at the prices of books these days. No wonder parents don't have bookshelves full of books. If the parents aren't interested in reading in the first place, the price of the books alone is sure the deter them from buying any.

This, however, is no excuse!! Thank goodness for book sales!!!!