When I first began this experience, I was going to find 23 ways to not use the computer and the Internet in my teaching. I have been converted! There are many ideas that are floating through my head and I have written them all down to think about which one I want to start with first. I believe that I will start small, with a wiki and a blog, and move up from there..
Outside of school, I am presently trying to convince my parents to access the Internet at their home in Florida. We would be able to share pictures and events much easier. Presently, they aren't completely convinced but I have gotten my sister converted so I will at least I will be able to share things with her.
Additionally, when I looked at the other web 2.0 sites in the directory, I was amazed. I will definitely be using some of them for things like planning trips, purchasing items and reading book/movie reviews. I enjoy hearing what other people think.
My big "take-away" is that I need to at least be knowledgeable about technology so that I may be able to stay current with my students. Although I still believe that there are some topics that need to be taught the old school way, there are some that will definitely benefit with the help of technology. I will also be badgering the librarians at our school to have more programs like this for us to us!!!
Thanks for the great experience!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
thing 22
As I said in my previous post, I think Wikis will be a great addition to my teaching. I have set up my wiki (http://docapchem.wikispaces.com/) and I look forward to trying it with my AP kids and their problem sets/labs/class notes... If it works out really well, I may have my Level 2 chemistry students do it as a way to work on homework and study for tests.
I think a wiki differs from a blog because you can make corrections onto the wiki where a blog, you can only comment. No one will want to read the comments but they will look for changes in a wiki. (at least, I think my students would like the wiki idea better than the blog.) I believe that a wiki is much more interactive while a blog is less so...
I still haven't been able to log on to the 23 things wiki and add my ideas but I think that I will be able to do that shortly (Maureen said that she needed a couple of days to figure out the problem.) Whatever happens, I really like wikis and I hope to use them in more of my classes.
I think a wiki differs from a blog because you can make corrections onto the wiki where a blog, you can only comment. No one will want to read the comments but they will look for changes in a wiki. (at least, I think my students would like the wiki idea better than the blog.) I believe that a wiki is much more interactive while a blog is less so...
I still haven't been able to log on to the 23 things wiki and add my ideas but I think that I will be able to do that shortly (Maureen said that she needed a couple of days to figure out the problem.) Whatever happens, I really like wikis and I hope to use them in more of my classes.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
thing 21 - life of a wiki
Originally, I only thought of using wikis as another way to solve problems outside of the classroom. These would be more long term assignments that would be handed in by students in a week or more. That is, until I hit upon Mr. Bontront's grade 12 chemistry wiki.
Mr. Bontront had students assigned to groups and each group had to produce a wiki on a subject of their choice. The students could all work on the wiki at their own pace and there was very little class time set used except to set each group up with a wiki on his main account.
When the presentations were due, Mr. Bontront asked in another wiki whether or not the students would want to do this experience again. A large majority of the students said that they would do this again!... It certainly must have been a good experience for them if they were willing to do it again. The other part of this site that I like was that all the students posted additional information that was needed in their presentation on the comment page. So, the teacher got to see the amount of participation of each student. If there were several messages that stated something like: "student X, we are waiting for you part," then I would be able to talk to student x and find out what was the reason for the lack of participation.
The biggest hurdle that I could see would be a student not having a computer at home to work on the wiki. That would mean that the student would have to use school time in the library or the computer lab. While I don't necessarily think this is bad, it will just mean that students will need to be more concerned with time management.
Probably the best part of doing these projects as a wiki is that I can check on progress as the project goes on. I can also determine the amount of effort each group has put into the project. This also means that there should be less requests for "additional time" due to illness, family situations, etc.
Mr. Bontront had students assigned to groups and each group had to produce a wiki on a subject of their choice. The students could all work on the wiki at their own pace and there was very little class time set used except to set each group up with a wiki on his main account.
When the presentations were due, Mr. Bontront asked in another wiki whether or not the students would want to do this experience again. A large majority of the students said that they would do this again!... It certainly must have been a good experience for them if they were willing to do it again. The other part of this site that I like was that all the students posted additional information that was needed in their presentation on the comment page. So, the teacher got to see the amount of participation of each student. If there were several messages that stated something like: "student X, we are waiting for you part," then I would be able to talk to student x and find out what was the reason for the lack of participation.
The biggest hurdle that I could see would be a student not having a computer at home to work on the wiki. That would mean that the student would have to use school time in the library or the computer lab. While I don't necessarily think this is bad, it will just mean that students will need to be more concerned with time management.
Probably the best part of doing these projects as a wiki is that I can check on progress as the project goes on. I can also determine the amount of effort each group has put into the project. This also means that there should be less requests for "additional time" due to illness, family situations, etc.
Thing 20
I have to admit that I am a bit torn about ebooks. Textbook distributors are now using them so students don't have to take books home to read. They can access their textbook on line. This is a great purpose for students who never bring their books anywhere. They also have additional programs and study guides for students to use that aren't in the textbook.
Then I happened to find one of Antoine Lavoisier's original texts that was made into an ebook. I got to read in his own writing about his discoveries and how he came to realize the law of conservation of mass. Granted, it was a difficult read but I have to admit that it inspired me. To imagine that a man who had very little laboratory equipment, a very small laboratory and a little money could come up with a Law that has rang true for over 100 years. It was fascinating!..
I wasn't able to access the school ebook collection because the website appears to be down. (Sorry, Maureen and Joan) However, I plan to start badgering our librarians to get more of the scientific works on ebooks. It has to be a cheaper alternative and more space saving than trying to obtain the actual book.
Now the torn part... As an avid reader, there is something about holding a book that I enjoy. Maybe it is the smell of the paper and binding or the actual weight of the book in my hands. I am not sure. I do know this... I wouldn't want to take a computer to the beach or on vacation with me... When I am on vacation, I want to get away from electronics, not carry them around. I suppose I could download a book onto my Ipod, if I had one, but that doesn't feel like reading a book to me...
Yes, I know I am old school and it isn't all about me... That having been said, I believe that there is a place for ebooks and a place for a real text... It is up to each person to decide for themselves their own comfort level.
Then I happened to find one of Antoine Lavoisier's original texts that was made into an ebook. I got to read in his own writing about his discoveries and how he came to realize the law of conservation of mass. Granted, it was a difficult read but I have to admit that it inspired me. To imagine that a man who had very little laboratory equipment, a very small laboratory and a little money could come up with a Law that has rang true for over 100 years. It was fascinating!..
I wasn't able to access the school ebook collection because the website appears to be down. (Sorry, Maureen and Joan) However, I plan to start badgering our librarians to get more of the scientific works on ebooks. It has to be a cheaper alternative and more space saving than trying to obtain the actual book.
Now the torn part... As an avid reader, there is something about holding a book that I enjoy. Maybe it is the smell of the paper and binding or the actual weight of the book in my hands. I am not sure. I do know this... I wouldn't want to take a computer to the beach or on vacation with me... When I am on vacation, I want to get away from electronics, not carry them around. I suppose I could download a book onto my Ipod, if I had one, but that doesn't feel like reading a book to me...
Yes, I know I am old school and it isn't all about me... That having been said, I believe that there is a place for ebooks and a place for a real text... It is up to each person to decide for themselves their own comfort level.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
thing 19
I had a great time going through all the different types of search engines that are for just podcasts. EPN got hung up multiple times so I really didn't get a good feel for it. Podcast alley had a lot of great podcasts but I actually did not find much information that I was interested in. Instead, I found this search engine called podcastpickle. I told it exactly what I was looking for and it delivered several sites that were chemistry related. Yahoo podcasts kept giving me an error message when I "clicked" on it so I didn't use it as one of the options.
One of the sites was called "papapodcast."... This teacher from Ontario, Canada will lecture on a variety of chemistry subjects. Usually, a student will email him and tell him where they are having difficulty and he creates a podcast for them and posts it for everyone to use. I subscribed to his podcast because it seems like all students have difficulty with the same topics in chemistry and this could be one way of reinforcing a concept that students are having difficulty with.
I truly appreciate not having to recreate work that is already done and done reasonably well!
One of the sites was called "papapodcast."... This teacher from Ontario, Canada will lecture on a variety of chemistry subjects. Usually, a student will email him and tell him where they are having difficulty and he creates a podcast for them and posts it for everyone to use. I subscribed to his podcast because it seems like all students have difficulty with the same topics in chemistry and this could be one way of reinforcing a concept that students are having difficulty with.
I truly appreciate not having to recreate work that is already done and done reasonably well!
Thing 18
I've spent several hours reviewing different Podcasts... I never realized that there were so many of them around. I selected two chemistry podcasts that both discuss fundamental topics in chemistry and make them very easy to explain. I never have the time to do the demonstration that these teachers do because I don't have the time or they don't work out like I hoped. Sometimes, I wish I had four hands when I am doing demonstrations.
The last podcast I selected talks about general science topics over the past week. This will be useful for my students because I want them to stay current with all types of science, not just chemistry. After all, chemistry may not be their favorite topic and I want them to stay inspired with different topics in science. Maybe biology or physics is their preference, therefore, they can listen to current biology and or physics programs that keep them interested.
http://podcast.com/show/4094/chemistry-meaghersclasses/
http://podcast.com/show/56173/Fundamentals-of-Chemistry/
www.sciencemag.org/multimedia/podcast
In general, I like podcasts because they cover information in a way that I haven't thought of or I am uncapable to do based on time limitations. Afterall, this is one way to reach students that I have never thought of before!
The last podcast I selected talks about general science topics over the past week. This will be useful for my students because I want them to stay current with all types of science, not just chemistry. After all, chemistry may not be their favorite topic and I want them to stay inspired with different topics in science. Maybe biology or physics is their preference, therefore, they can listen to current biology and or physics programs that keep them interested.
http://podcast.com/show/4094/chemistry-meaghersclasses/
http://podcast.com/show/56173/Fundamentals-of-Chemistry/
www.sciencemag.org/multimedia/podcast
In general, I like podcasts because they cover information in a way that I haven't thought of or I am uncapable to do based on time limitations. Afterall, this is one way to reach students that I have never thought of before!
Introductory Chemistry Chapter 1 Power Point
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
I have to say that I really like the slide show account. I don't normally use powerpoint slides because:
1. the television in my room is too small for viewing
2. I have difficulty formatting a slide show exactly the way I want it.
3. Students become lazy and want me to print out slides for them rather than taking notes. Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with this but I find that the students don't add things to the printed out slides. Thus, they appear like vegetables in class and there isn't much participation.
4. Creating slides for a topic can be very time consuming.
There are some topics that would be good for this. For example, the introductory chapters of chemistry don't have any math in them. It will be easier for students to participate in this kind of power point because it is basically definitions with demonstrations in class or on screen.
Another good thing about slide show would be that my students could access the slides outside of class if they were absent. They won't get all of the information but it would be a start rather than hearing "What did we do yesterday?"
Introductory Chemistry Chapter 1 Power Point
View more documents from guestf4812e.
I have to say that I really like the slide show account. I don't normally use powerpoint slides because:
1. the television in my room is too small for viewing
2. I have difficulty formatting a slide show exactly the way I want it.
3. Students become lazy and want me to print out slides for them rather than taking notes. Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with this but I find that the students don't add things to the printed out slides. Thus, they appear like vegetables in class and there isn't much participation.
4. Creating slides for a topic can be very time consuming.
There are some topics that would be good for this. For example, the introductory chapters of chemistry don't have any math in them. It will be easier for students to participate in this kind of power point because it is basically definitions with demonstrations in class or on screen.
Another good thing about slide show would be that my students could access the slides outside of class if they were absent. They won't get all of the information but it would be a start rather than hearing "What did we do yesterday?"
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