Darren Kuropatwa- ICT in the class room

I enjoyed the two presentations. It is scary to see how young kids are getting into technology. It is good if we can use the technology in a positive way as a learning tool. But we also can’t control the bad side of it. The student who posted the “one chair and two teachers” has definitely known the “one cup and two girls” video. I was so busy in 2007 finishing my degree I didn’t have time to see the gossip in the utube. But it is sad that our young children are getting exposed to unsuitable stuff on the internet.

I had some negative thoughts about that presentation. Although they talked about how to use all the technology available to improve learning they didn’t talk about the students who don’t own technology. I wonder what those students will be doing while the students who have technology plays with them. I remembered in Aboriginal Methods class we talked about students who can’t afford certain things. If the schools are using technology as a learning tool are the schools going to provide that technology to students who can’t afford them? What happens to “no kid should be left behind” policy?

I admired the computer graphics in the second presentation. They have used MAC system to produce that graphics which was very nice. It reflects Andy Warhol’s art work. I was curious how they made it since I have to teach Andy Warhol’s art in student teaching. The voice recording converting to text will be very useful to kids who have injuries in their hands.

Video games in the class room

I think video games are great in the classroom. It is a good way to slide the subject matter into the curriculum without rejection by students. Video games could be used in all subjects as a learning tool. They could be used as motivators too. I have seen interactive video games that involve physical activities which are really challenging. The players can increase the levels as they go on. These games are new and exciting ways to involve students.

Filtering the internet in schools

Using filtering systems have advantages as well as disadvantages. Porno, sex trade, unwanted articles, unsuitable videos, video games, exposure to strangers will be avoided if the schools use internet blocking. I believe blocking these sites extremely impotent because children should not get exposed to unsuitable things until they are ready for it.

The schools can allow students to go into selected sites or use a system as “moodle” to give limited access to the internet using. Teachers can research and give the students predetermined web sites to use. This is what I do when I ask students to do any researching. I make a list of sites that are suitable and ask students to go to those sites.

I also think we should educate students of what their limits are, and also about trust and respect. The students should know what is expected of them and their role in school. I know it is hard to build fences around an unlimited area that is invisible to us. But as teachers we should try our best.

Distant Learning

Distant learning teaching material in web based Applied Math course 20s is very detailed and simplified. Teachers must have extra time to go through it and delete unwanted sections of it. It is very useful to have a web based course when there is no other help around you. It is advantageous to teachers because they could change it according to differentiated learning.

Second Life

The Avertar program looks unreal to me. Although theoretically I can say it could be useful to demonstrate certain things in class on virtual display. But I do not know how practical it is. The school should have sophisticated facilities, finances and trained teachers who can demonstrate certain subjects.

Although Glen said Medical students use “Second Life” to learn how to listen to the heart beat it is hard to imagine that the program simulates reality. May be we don’t know about the program very well to comment about it.

Shawn Kleebaum

Google Apps

I will take advantage of the e-pal system to communicate with other schools in different areas or provinces. I think it is a wonderful system. The students could improve their reading and writing skills by using this. The best part is there is no cost involved and it is time saving. It is a great way for students to learn about other cultures.

I am impressed with the google apps especially the Picasa. I think I will use it to display art work of students and to share photographs with students and other people around the world. One thing that bothers me is I couldn’t delete the photographs that I didn’t want. As Shawn said I could make pictures not visible to the world but it is not the same as deleting it totally. It does bug me. And the other thing is I did not put pictures on Picasa but I put the pictures on the Blog. I thought I deleted it but to my surprise it has not being deleted it is appearing in the Picasa site. So you have to be very careful when putting pictures on the google sites because you can’t delete them. If some one figures out a way to delete them please let me know.

Link to Shawn's wiki: http://sites.google.com/a/tmsd.mb.ca/google-apps-education

Howard Griffith and Donald Girouard

I was very impressed with the web resources available to teachers on line but at the same time I was disappointed to becuse there were no art resources available. I know the teacher in the Souris school teaches art to students online.

I don’t think “Independent study option” is a way to go with the students. It is very hard to study when you receive a package in the mail. I know by experience that how difficult it is. The size of the package puts you off. You need to be very disciplined and organized to do an online study of this nature.

Teacher methods option is not so bad because students get to call the teacher once or twice a week to sort out the problems regarding his or her studies. Sine the students are with a host school they have a support system. The disadvantages are the youths that are not registered in a school system cannot access these courses.

I think “Web based distant learning system” is a very effective system. The variety of courses they are offering is very advantageous for the students. As Donald said in the lecture, even a students who go on a vacation to another country can easily get the credit he or she wants and full fill their credit requirement. The resources for teaches as, full courses with adjustable lesson plans, professional development sessions, assessment methods are extremely helpful.

I think there are advantages more than disadvantages in the web based learning system. Students in the North, teen parents, and pregnant students, students with disabilities and students who do not have transportation can benefit from this system.

The schools have to have the technology, qualified teachers, finances, parent’s approval etc. to run successful distant learning programs. They will also need matured students with positive attitudes to be successful in this type of learning programs

2 useful sites:
http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/file/view/1-pedagogy_online_learning.pdf
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/index.html

Glen Gatin

Glen Gatin is very knowledgeable and experienced in the program “Second life”. I think the program is good for a computer literate person to do special jobs as Glen described as some one under taking a contract to build a company model on an Island. I do see the advantages as demonstrating chemistry or physics experiment using the program. Although the possibilities look endless, I don’t know whether most of the teachers are prepared to learn it and use it in the class room.

I feel some people can misuse the program. The characters people invent can do any thing as cyber bulling and get away with it. They will have a perfect excuse because it is not real it is just a cartoon character.

This program might be good for RCMP to keep records and retrieve information or some organizations that will use it for special purposes. But I don’t think people will use it for day to day transactions. There are plenty of people in the world who do not purchase latest digital equipment.

Useful link
http://gaming.psu.edu/node/193