Library of Congress: Teaching with Primary Sources lesson

The lesson that I found interesting was the Veterans History Project. With Veterans Day coming up, I have found that this lesson offers a variety of resources that I could use in my classroom to teach the students about the importance of Veterans and what these individuals have done for our country. The purpose of this lesson is to talk about oral histories, which are important primary sources to use in the classroom. The lesson asks the students read different oral histories and create timelines in order to discuss the impact of the war on these individuals. Next, the students have a variety of activities to choose from including writing a letter to a veteran or comparing two veterans and how their stories may or may not correlate. This lesson also provides videos and pictures from veterans that could be shown to the students while they are working on their activities. Great lesson ideas!

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/veterans/

Opinion: The Paperless Classroom

The overall concept of the class is intriguing and makes for interesting conversation each Friday with my students. However, at this current time I feel that it is difficult to try to incorporate what I have learned into my classroom. Not all of my students have the resources to participate in classrooms that involve social tech media. If I were to ask of my students to use Weebly, Twitter, Second Life, or to blog about latitude and longitude I would not get %100 participation. If it were possible to use social media in my school, I would be more than willing to teach in this way. Besides the lack of ability to use social media, I believe this class should state the types of prerequisites that are necessary to fully participate in the class. For example, a working internet connection as well as a computer with the appropriate type of requirements; otherwise, it becomes difficult to participate in each activity. When I first signed up for this class, I was under the assumption that I was going to learn how to teach in Baltimore City without using paper. However, that was not the case. Although, I cannot use any of these social media applications at my school, I have still found some of them useful at home.

Problems with Second Life

http://elearningweekly.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/so-really-who-is-using-second-life-for-elearning/

After reading and writing about the previous two articles, I decided to find an article the focused on some of the negatives about Second Life. In this article, it talks about some of the benefits of using Second Life; however, its main focus is on the problems that surround Second Life. For starters, the article talks about the use of aliases. I agree with this statement because if people are using Second Life as a tool for meetings and discussion, why not have their real names? I understand that having an alias allows individuals to express themselves creatively; however, it could potentially pose problems. The article then talks about the fact that when Second Life goes down for maintenance, how are people supposed to use it for meetings or in some cases a teaching tool. The article continues to discuss issues with the large amounts of distractions within Second Life and the lack of support for using the program. As for all programs, there will be problems. I believe that since Second Life has a variety of things within it, this can cause it to be unstable in some aspects. I enjoyed reading this article because it showed that we cannot and should not completely depend on computers as a source due to their lack of reliability.

Using Second Life as a Teaching Tool

http://www.campustechnology.com/Articles/2009/02/18/Real-Life-Teaching-in-a-Virtual-World.aspx?Page=1

It is interesting to read that major industries such as cruise lines and shoe manufactures tried to use Second Life as a source for providing revenue, but ultimately failed due to a lack of exposure. However, education has been able to soar because of the large amounts of people interested in furthering their knowledge in this field of work. One interesting point I read in the article is how certain colleges use Second Life to create a 3D image of their campus as a tool for recruitment. This allows their name to get out to the public and provide a clear perspective of what that specific college has to offer. The article stated that it is also a great way for colleges to receive money from potential donors. As the article continues, it illustrates how some teachers use Second Life as a secondary teaching tool to the normal classroom environment. This method allows for individuals to share their ideas more openly. Using Second Life as a teaching tool can open up new possibility for the classroom as well as for students to learn outside of the box.

Second Life in Education

http://secondlifegrid.net/slfe/education-use-virtual-world

After reading this article, I have found that Second Life can be an excellent tool for use on college campuses around the world. Second Life allows individuals to connect with other students from around the world to discuss topics of interest. It can be a way of presenting projects to communities as well as a program for reaching out to those in need of support. The article also goes on to talk about how not only are post-secondary students engaged in Second Life, but it is being used throughout all grade levels as a way of engaging students in the active world. The article illustrates the benefits of using Second Life so that teachers can utilize this program to a prime teaching tool.

Voices from the Past: Using Avatars

After reading the article on the issue of avatars and authenticity, I truly believe that the idea of re-incarnated someone who has past and placing them into a video game (for example) can be taken as morally wrong. These individuals led their lives a certain way and now as an avatar it is as if someone else is living their life for them. Who gives them the right to do this? And why is it allowed? I can understand when people are still alive and are created into an avatar, but in this regard, these individuals have a say about how their character is created as well as perceived. The idea behind avatars is definitely interesting; however, an avatar cannot exist (at least at this time) without the mind of a human being. Therefore, when a person creates an avatar using someone who is no longer living, who is in charge of what that avatar does and says? This could stand to be a very controversial issue in the future especially with the recent death of Michael Jackson.

Eliot, The Waste Land

Alliteration:

LJBrug roots rain #JHUSM
PsircEkim Summer suprised. #JHUSM
heidishenk little life, winter kept us warm, forgetful snow feeding #JHUSM
teacherben mixing memory #JHUSM

He ends the poem in this manner as a way of showing the clash between the many different cultures that fought during World War I. However, he uses the phrase "Shantih, shantih, shantih" to describe a oneness of cultures after the clash has concluded. He wants to signify the concept of peace for the world. When he mentions "Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata", he is also compelling each culture to practice self-control and compassion for others.

Many Apps, Many Possibilities

After exploring each one of the many apps available, I have found the YouTube and Google provide the best teaching tools for students. I especially enjoy using Google Earth in the classroom to show the students different locations around the world. The students have expressed excitement when using Google Earth because they are able to see what an area actually looks like. I have found the using YouTube in the classroom also allows the students to step back from reading the textbook and learn new information by watching videos related to the content. Each one of the apps available online provide new ways of teaching the students without necessarily using paper. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to use a majority of the apps within the confines of the school due to the firewalls that have been created. Therefore, if I find information about a specific app, I need to download that information and then bring in a personal computer to show the students. Other than that, I believe I will be using these apps for help teach my students.

What is the purpose of Second Life?

I have only just begun my exploration of this social networking device known as Second Life and I have to tell you I do not see the significance of it or how it relates in any way to teaching. First of all, the program is extremely slow regardless of which computer I am using at the time. I am not even able to edit my person without the program freezing multiple times. Don't get me wrong, I am up for trying it out, but the majority of the people on it are asking the same questions: How do you change your appearance? and what is the purpose of this network? Also, one question I have is how will this program help me to teach my students without using paper. Last time I checked, my school has been so fire-walled and blocked that it is completely impossible to even search Google for a map of the world. I understand the importance of socially networking with other people to gain new ideas and perspectives about teaching; however, I think it can be more easily done using Twitter.

Google Apps for Education

The lesson that I choose to was "Spring Sojourn: A Lesson in Civil Rights History and Geography". Great lesson! It utilizes Google Earth to track the journey of 150 people taking a journey through both history and geography. This lesson illustrates the strength and courage of those for fought for Civil Rights. The activities in this lesson include presentations about events with the Civil Rights Movement as well as provide students a hands-on activity (in this case, traveling to different cities throughout the south). Even though it would be difficult to allow my students to travel throughout the south, it is possible to simulate this journey by using Google Earth. Using the website, www.sojournproject.com, allows students to learn about the different cities along the way. This is a really great lesson. I will try and use it in my classroom to each my students about the Civil Rights Movement.

Using Twitter

Since I started using Twitter, I have found it useful for reaching other teachers and learning what they have to say. However, it has been difficult keeping up-to-date with Twitter on a daily basis. Since I cannot use Twitter at school, I am only able to tweet when I get home. However, my entire life does not revolve around Twitter; so I have trouble remembering to tweet. On a happier note, Twitter has opened my eyes to the idea of sharing ideas around the world. This type of communication has brought about new ways of thinking. Besides tweeting myself, I read what other fellow twitterers are saying and gain a greater understanding of the education world. I will continue to use Twitter and grow from the experience.

Obama's Address to the Students

Great speech! I thought he did an excellent job speaking directly to students and explaining the need for everyone to succeed. Our students today are our future. As teachers, administrators and parents, we need to ensure that our students are receiving the best education possible. One thing that Obama said that I completely agree with is "You can't let your failures define you, you have to let your failures teach you." With this in mind, it is important to stress to our students that failing does not mean you are not smart, it just means that you need to keep trying and to try harder. I believe that we, as a nation, are on the right path, but it is going to take everyone working together to succeed.

Twitter for Beginners

In this article, Josh Catone gives five steps for beginners on how to properly use Twitter. First of all, it is important to find people you know. Next, find people with like-minded ideas. Third, find people who live in your area. Fourth, in order to use twitter effectively, get a desktop client or mobile client to keep up with the many twitterers. Finally, it is important to learn the twitter jargon. By reading this article, first time twitterers can easily learn the effectiveness of twitter.

Did You Know? Video

This video sparked tons of thought provoking ideas about where the world is headed. After watching the video in class, I went home and watched it at least two more times. What are the possibilities of the future? This question can be both thrilling and scary. I am not entirely sure what to make of each specific part of the video but one part that really caught my attention was when it talked about the fact that students are learning to solve problems that have not even arisen yet.

The Paperless Classroom

This class seems to be very interesting. However, with the amount of information being thrown around it is a little confusing. I hope that future sessions will provide more information about how to use the different social networks appropriately.