Woo Hoo!

Ok, so I am officially in the program at Cal State San Marcos. I will be in the part time program so I can go to school and work at the same time. This will take a little longer but its the best option for me. I am so excited to
be continuing on this journey.

Web 2.0 Wiki on Wordles- NETS 3 & 5

This wiki was created using Wetpaint, which is a great site that allows you to create and design wikis on a given topic. On my page, I discussed wordles which are word cloudsthat you can create with words of your choice. On my page, I have an example of a wordle for our technology class. I have also added a youtube video that I found that showed how to create the wordles.

Presentation on Character Education- NET 1

This powerpoint presentation was created collaboratively using Google Docs for my foundations of teaching class. It describes character education and some of the applications in schools today. To see some useful links for character education, click on character in my delicious tags to the right.

Character Education in Our Schools

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Copyright Paper- NETS 4

This paper was created collaboratively using Google Docs to discuss the implications of copyright laws in regards to teachers. It is based upon the website, Fair Use Harbor, that is a tutorial for educators regarding copyright rules and laws.

Fair Use Harbor

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iMovie Software Proficiency- Nets 3

This quickTime movie was created using iMovie. This movie is designed to be a public service announcement about Cal State San Marcos. By creating this movie, I learned the editing tools that are needed to create longer videos. I was able to use both video clips that I edited and modified and still frames. I added titles, screen effects, and transitions to the movie.

School Diversity Powerpoint Presentation - Nets 1

This powerpoint presentation was created collaboratively using Google Docs for my diversity class at CSUSM.

School Diversity Project

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Journal 10 Should Your Students be your "Friends"?

To facebook or not to facebook- that is the question. Should teachers use social networking sites such as facebook? If they do use these sites, should they become "friends" with their students on these sites? There are two different thought processes regarding this issue. On one hand, many teachers believe that using facebook sets them up for potential issues with the teacher- student boundaries. By becoming "friends" with their students, these teachers could be creating situations where uncomfortable information about themselves becomes available to their students or conversations with students might cross the line when the line between teachers and students become blurred.
Other teachers feel differently. They feel that by using facebook and being "friends" with their students, teachers can show their students responsible and correct internet usage. These teachers felt that the students benefited from having positive role models online.
I was walking through the library at my son’s school when one of the more popular teachers came walking through. He is one of the fourth grade teachers and is very outgoing and exuberant. All the students enjoy being in his class. He is always telling jokes and giving high fives as he walks through the campus. Another mother and her son were walking through the library at the same time. They stopped this teacher to discuss his facebook page and the new pictures that he had posted of his daughters. This teacher seemed to have the right idea in his usage and posting on these sites. I think at the younger age it is probably easier to be “friends” with the students and still maintain that boundary. With the high school students, I think teachers need to be especially careful since this can be the age when students start to develop crushes on their teachers.

1. Could use of facebook be educationally advantageous?
If a teacher used facebook, they could also use it to allow students to post questions about homework assignments or initiate discussions about topics from class.

2. Would I use facebook with my students?
Right now, I don't think I will interact with my students on social networking sites. I think there are some advantages to them, but I have seen some of the negative effects of these sites in my personal life, so I don't think I will utilize them with my students.


Fingal, Diana (2009, May). Should your students be your "friends?". Learning and Leading, 36, Retrieved April 29, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200905/

Journal 9 The kids are all right

Is all the time that children spend on the internet value added for their lives? According to one study it is. The study argues that students are gaining from the immense amount of time that is spent on social networking sites like myspace and facebook or on surfing the internet on topics of interest. Teachers need to recognize that time and find ways to utilize and incorporate that into the classroom. Many of the students are involved in non traditional groups online that can still add value to classroom settings or by encouraging the student's pursuit of knowledge a teacher can encourage learning, albeit in a non traditional way.
Another thing is that teachers need to recognize and encourage students' knowledge of technology and their ease in its use. Teachers who are not as comfortable with the internet and the technology that is available could set up lesson plans for students to build wikis or blogs that are student run. With the help of another teacher or even a student, these are easy to set up and now the teacher is encouraging learning and knowledge seeking in settings that the students feel more comfortable in. A lot of students would feel more comfortable writing a 2500 word blog instead of a 2500 word paper essay. It is the same thing but in a different format. As a teacher, you may need to set the grammar parameters for the assignment, but allow the students some creativity. By giving students some leeway and allowing them some freedom in a media that they excel in, a teacher might find that more is achieved in the long run.

1. What is an example of how a teacher could incorporate a student's computer usage into the classroom?
Many students today are amazingly well versed in using programs like photo shop or other photo editing and graphic design programs. Allowing the students to embrace this technology instead of a traditional art form for a project would be a great example.

2. If a teacher is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the technology world, what are some of the resources available to them?
Teachers need to become engaged in technology. Students expect their teachers to understand it. When a teacher doesn't, the students may see that teacher as out of touch. There are so many great sites on the internet that make the learning process easy and fun. Search youtube for a video on how to perform a task on the internet and a hundred different videos will probably pop up. Atomic Learning is a great site that provides easy and uncomplicated directions and tutorials on using many of the common computer applications that exist today. Have another faculty member help you learn. You may find that they can help you with technology and you can help them with cool science lessons or art ideas. Every teacher has their strengths. You don't need to become an expert, just become competent and learn how to find the answers when you have a question.

John K. Waters, "The Kids Are All Right," T.H.E. Journal, 3/1/2009, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24104