Serious Gaming: 'Learn Math or Die Trying' By Linda L. Briggs
T.H.E. Journal - Sept. 2007
The article deals with integrating available technology, in this case for mathematics, and using it within a classroom setting to help students grasp specific concepts. It goes on to talk about how successful the implementation of the program within the Forsyth School district has been. It also talks, briefly, about the stigma that "games" have amongst educators. Once educators can get past the stigma, they see how useful and effective utilizing technology can be in the classroom. the interviewee of the article put's it in simple terms "technology and students fit together naturally, this is their world." Without advancement in technology those students that have trouble with mathematics would be relegated to doing worksheets and never grasping the actual concept, or they may not do the work at all.
Questions:
1) If technology like this is so effective, then why is it not in every school across the country?
I think the answer to that question has to do with available funding for the schools and districts. In an era where No Child Left Behind is so important, I would think lawmakers and educators alike would want anything in the classroom that can give a students a chance to succeed. The reality is that not every school and district can have what they want, and that is plaquing all schools.
2) Given that this technology is succesful, how can it be used for other subject areas?
I think there is software out there that provides a similar interactive experience for students while stressing key concepts in a particular subject. i think they are not utilized as much because they are not reliable or experience to many difficuties with adhering to facts rather than opinion. I thin that the designers of the math game will provide a game on a similar platform for another subject area, giving students the same experience and information that they have delivered with Dimenxian.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Journal #3
"A War of Words" By Jim Paterson
The article speaks of combating plagiarism and gives an idea of how to solve the problem rather than pointing fingers at students that do plagiarize. One way of helping to stop plagiarism is to actually teach students how to utilize research and organize it to be used within a paper. As the example given in the article at Blattman Elementary School. The other way suggests uploading all student workinto a database and allow a computer to determine if a student has plagiarized based upon a comparison of works already stored in that database. I think the latter is more of a scare tactic rather than a resolution to the ongoing problem.
Question:
1) What is the incentive for a student to produce a quality paper if they are already prejudged as having plagiarized?
I don't think there is any incentive for students to do quality work. If a student knows that their work will be put under a microscope without it even being read, I think they will do nothing different, because they know they are going to fail anyway. But it may make the student work a bit harder to find information that is more obscure to include into a paper.
2) If teaching students how to do research is successful, then why not teach all students how to do research?
I think many teachers believe that all students know how to do research, paraphrase and cite information from texts and websites. When in reality most do not. Many students nowadays are writing essays in elementary school and are having to cite examples from text. However, students are not taught how to do this. They may end up in high school before they are actually taught how to cite works in a paper. By then it is too late and they struggle with the concept and end up plagiarizing, because it is all they know how to do.
The article speaks of combating plagiarism and gives an idea of how to solve the problem rather than pointing fingers at students that do plagiarize. One way of helping to stop plagiarism is to actually teach students how to utilize research and organize it to be used within a paper. As the example given in the article at Blattman Elementary School. The other way suggests uploading all student workinto a database and allow a computer to determine if a student has plagiarized based upon a comparison of works already stored in that database. I think the latter is more of a scare tactic rather than a resolution to the ongoing problem.
Question:
1) What is the incentive for a student to produce a quality paper if they are already prejudged as having plagiarized?
I don't think there is any incentive for students to do quality work. If a student knows that their work will be put under a microscope without it even being read, I think they will do nothing different, because they know they are going to fail anyway. But it may make the student work a bit harder to find information that is more obscure to include into a paper.
2) If teaching students how to do research is successful, then why not teach all students how to do research?
I think many teachers believe that all students know how to do research, paraphrase and cite information from texts and websites. When in reality most do not. Many students nowadays are writing essays in elementary school and are having to cite examples from text. However, students are not taught how to do this. They may end up in high school before they are actually taught how to cite works in a paper. By then it is too late and they struggle with the concept and end up plagiarizing, because it is all they know how to do.
Journal #2
"Bloggers Cafe - Making Your Presence Known" By Tim Lauer
Learning and Leading with Technology - Aug. 2007
This article talks about the use of micro-blogging and live streaming within the teacheing profession and how it is revolutionizing staff development. In particular it focuses on two websites that help make this possible, Twitter and Jaiku. Both of these sites allow users to display in real time what is happening via the internet at any moment. They also allow users to file share with friends and other users. Jaiku in particular "provides a whole picture of what a person does online." This can be helpful in identifying a persons computer usage and tracking them throughout the internet. It goes on to talk about how school districts are now using these sites to help promote staff development by sending a few people to an out of state conference and sending a feed back to the school, via the internet, so that all staff can benefit from information at the conference. The coolest part of the article, in my opinion, is that these websites also allow for video feeds to be sent wirelessly to cellphones as well.
Questions:
1)Would school districts object to using these websites within a classroom setting?
I think school districts would have a hard time objecting to utilizing one of these two websites within a classroom. I think that the benefit of staff development and educational data sharing far outweighs any negatives, since keeping teachers on the forefront of technology and educational issues is so great. i think by using this sites teachers will be able to share experiences, and "best practices" amongst each other, making all teachers across the country better.
2)What benefits are there if a teacher would use one of these two sites in the classroom?
I think teachers should use these sites in their classroom. No longer can the students use the excuse i wasn't at school, or I was sick that day for no completing their homework. Teachers could literally show students via the wbsite what was taught in class via a video stream. Teachers can then hold the student responsible for work that was completed in class. It can also allow students who didn't understand the activity to review the lesson at home with their parents. This would give the students an additional opportunity for review as well as answer any questions they may have.
Learning and Leading with Technology - Aug. 2007
This article talks about the use of micro-blogging and live streaming within the teacheing profession and how it is revolutionizing staff development. In particular it focuses on two websites that help make this possible, Twitter and Jaiku. Both of these sites allow users to display in real time what is happening via the internet at any moment. They also allow users to file share with friends and other users. Jaiku in particular "provides a whole picture of what a person does online." This can be helpful in identifying a persons computer usage and tracking them throughout the internet. It goes on to talk about how school districts are now using these sites to help promote staff development by sending a few people to an out of state conference and sending a feed back to the school, via the internet, so that all staff can benefit from information at the conference. The coolest part of the article, in my opinion, is that these websites also allow for video feeds to be sent wirelessly to cellphones as well.
Questions:
1)Would school districts object to using these websites within a classroom setting?
I think school districts would have a hard time objecting to utilizing one of these two websites within a classroom. I think that the benefit of staff development and educational data sharing far outweighs any negatives, since keeping teachers on the forefront of technology and educational issues is so great. i think by using this sites teachers will be able to share experiences, and "best practices" amongst each other, making all teachers across the country better.
2)What benefits are there if a teacher would use one of these two sites in the classroom?
I think teachers should use these sites in their classroom. No longer can the students use the excuse i wasn't at school, or I was sick that day for no completing their homework. Teachers could literally show students via the wbsite what was taught in class via a video stream. Teachers can then hold the student responsible for work that was completed in class. It can also allow students who didn't understand the activity to review the lesson at home with their parents. This would give the students an additional opportunity for review as well as answer any questions they may have.
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