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My partners in this project were Crystal and Rachel. We worked together to complete this assignment and collaborated via email. I enjoyed this project. I opted to use Microsoft Publisher to do the print ad because I just find Microsoft products much more user friendly, at least right now, than Adobe. I know it is mainly because I am just familiar with the Microsoft products because I use them daily. Adobe, not so much. Maybe in the future I will learn to use some of them better. That will be my goal!

Business Card

After spending HOURS downloading the InDesign program (oh how I wish for DSL service in ALL of Buna), reading through the instructions and trying to maneuver my way through the instructions, I opted to go to Word and create my business card. It took me just a little while and I made changes, played with background colors, etc. I am much more familiar and so much less frustratable when using Word. Although some of these things were new to me within Word, I still felt so much more inside my comfort zone than working with InDesign. I think it is probably an awesome program - IF you have time to learn how to manipulate it and get familiar with it before creating something. I think I 'freaked' myself out over this one because the last assignment seemed so difficult. This course is definitely expanding my mind! I sent the copy of my business card to my classmates and professor Friday night after posting my blog the first time without a picture of my project. After realizing that the Word document I was sending might not show the same fonts I used, I took a screen shot using Jing and uploaded it that way. Thanks for Jing! I sent this out again to all and was then able to put my business card here in my blog.

Systems Approach Model for Designing Instruction

http://www.gse.pku.edu.cn/jxsj/materials2/Dick%20&%20Carey.htm

The information found at this site was brief but descriptive as well. The key terms were a very good idea and will be a good reference tool to use while working on our project for Instructional Design. I also like the Elements of Dick & Carey as this looks to be a step-by-step process that can also be used to work on our project. All in all, this was short and to the point. The key terms and elements were most of the article as well as the highlights.

A Brief History of Instructional Design

This article gives a 'time-line' of Instructional Design. The author states that the early contributors to ID were Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato. Then it was added to by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. The history then skips until the 1920's with a mention of Thorndyke. It appears that the military really took advantage of this information and used it to train soldiers during WWII. In the 1950's, Skinner emerged with his book the Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching talking about basic behaviorist principles. Next we move on to Benjamin Bloom and I think every teacher is very familiar with Bloom's Taxonomy. In the 60's, Robert Glaser introduced the concept of "instructional design" although his idea was more directly linked to individualized instruction. Also during this time several other ideas emerged, computer-assisted instruction and performance objectives. The 60's and 70's were remarkable in that an almost complete overhaul of the education system was needed. The 80's brought many different instructional models and with the 90's came even more technology accented models and ideas.

This is a good overview of the history of ID and how it has evolved into what it is or presumed to be today. It is brief but gives one a good idea of the evolution of this idea and concept.

Why ID? The Benefits of Instructional Design Models

I think that as teachers, we may understand Instructional Design better than some. We already follow a design (as mentioned in the article) for instruction by using our curriculum, goals, objectives, etc. in our lesson planning. In one of the textbooks I have used, there is the 5E model of instruction. This is a prime example of a model that can be followed and implemented in most every subject. I agree with the article that Instructional Design is not a step by step process necessarily. There are steps that must be repeated along the way sometimes and as teachers we often have to revisit certain objectives before our students master them. We also evaluate along the way, sometimes after each step. I agree with the article in the conclusion that ID models can aid individuals as well as teams when designing any type of instruction. The team/individual just needs to find a model that works well with the material they are teaching or using.

Logo.....

Ok. I think I accomplished at least 2 of the 3 mediums - web and print. Will revisit the video medium after posting. I created a logo for Casey's baseball team. Their team name is the Storm. The SJCLL stands for South Jasper County Little League which is the league here in Buna. The Storm is a pre-T-Ball team. I chose a lightning bolt because it reminds me of a storm and looked better than the tornado I also looked at. It is black because that is what their color is. I chose blue for the SJCLL because Buna's go-to color is 'Buna Blue' - we all have to bleed that around here...lol...I chose orange for the "Storm" because it was the opposite on the color wheel from blue. I did some twisting of the font in the word storm to make it look like a storm. Well, at least that was what I was going for anyway.

I feel that I probably did learn from this assignment although I will have to give my brain time to unwind from ALL the information I read and trying to put Photoshop CS4 instructions into my Photoshop Elements program. After HOURS of working on this (thank goodness I am on spring break and could devote the time), trying to download Photoshop CS4 (still downloading, by the way since about 6pm) I finally tried again with my program. I pulled out my Adobe for Dummies book I bought last summer to help with web design to find out more info. on layers which were giving me fits. FINALLY it all seemed to come together.

According to the rubric, I would give my self meets expectations on most everything and a few exceeds. Quite honestly, I am glad this is over. I really hope the rest of the assignments are not as difficult as this one has been for me.

Instructional Design - www.elearnspace.org

The link above is a link to one of the articles for this assignment. The first article, found at www.elearnspace.org/articles/instructionaldesign.htm, gives several 'definitions' of the term Instructional Design. I found these 'meanings' to be interesting in that this is not a term associated only within education but reaches every where something may be 'learned'. An Instructional Designer is probably someone who is employed with a corporation that offers on the job training. It is also a term used by those who create textbooks and a myriad of others. There are quite a few ID models that are used by various groups. Not unlike other models that are used. Some people like one more than another or use a variety of the models or just stick with one. One of the textbooks I have used in my classroom uses an instructional model that I am reminded of by ADDIE.

The role the Instructional Designer plays in integrating technology with learning is a very important. The ever changing world of technology as well as education must come together in order for students to achieve the success needed in the world as we see it today and most definitely in the future.

Adobe - Visual Design

I really enjoyed reading the overview of this 'course' created by Adobe. I enjoy using their programs often and I have found them very user friendly. Now to have the opportunity to go through some of these same programs with step-by-step guides...wow! I have muddled through some of the software and I really liked it. I just rarely take the time to read an instruction manual because I am so excited about trying it out. I can't wait to work on the projects described in this course. My only question is will we have the opportunity to do the second set of projects in the future?

Adobe seems to be one of the front runners with their software and aiming it towards education. Everything is always so user friendly and pretty easy to manipulate. The ability to use the programs separately or together is also a very important feature.

EDLD 5368 (Instructional Design) November Learning Assignment

I learn something new every time I visit www.novemberlearning.com. I did score better on the Information Literacy Quiz than last time. I am 'moderately savvy'. The information about reading a website is also very useful. If you know a handful of extensions, sometimes you can narrow down a search or find a more valid result to your search.

I used my school's domain name to examine the remainder of the topics. I went to www.easywhois.com and typed in bunaisd.net to find the publisher of our district web site and it also gives a good deal of additional information that might one day prove to be useful or for other sites even. At www.archive.org, I also used bunaisd.net and found that our first website was built in 2001. It shows a 10 year history of the web address, how many pages were added and the dates they were added. You can also click on them and view them. It is really neat to see how much it is different (or maybe the same). Www.altavista.com is the site to visit to see how many other sites are linked to your web site and who they are. You can also visit these sites to see where your site is mentioned.

I think a combination of these with a few web addresses to visit would make for an interesting scavenger hunt for elementary and maybe even junior high or high school students. You could preview the sites and ask for them to go specific places and answer questions. It would also teach the students about valuable searching.

Video Review & Critique - EDLD 5363 - Assignment 6

I watched several videos from this site. They were all very good. I can see why they had so many runner-ups! The three I chose to 'critique' are below. My suggestion is to watch these videos for yourself and see what you think. I am just amazed at what students can do when they have the tools necessary for success at their disposal!

http://videocontest.21centuryconnections.com/Clip.aspx?key=454F2AE03088C6F5
Make Me a Digital Learner
I enjoyed this video. It did a great compare/contrast of learning with and without technology. The video was created with text, images, and music. Students and teachers created an impressionable work that accomplished the goal that was set forth.

http://videocontest.21centuryconnections.com/Clip.aspx?key=5AE0E7E96F47A6D9
21st Century Tools
This video is very appropriate for elementary students. It is cute, warm and funny. It presents the message that students want and yearn for more technology in the classroom!

http://videocontest.21centuryconnections.com/Clip.aspx?key=9CAD469859BDC568
Your Future…..Fearful or Hopeful
This video has an interesting theme and is also unique in the way the students portray their fears and hopes. When they are talking about the things that they are fearful of, (not knowing enough technology for the future) they talk about their ideas at a table and the film is in color. They show examples of what they said they were fearful of, it is in black and white. They show the hopeful/positive things having to do with learning technology and their future in color. I liked the way they used text as well as video with audio. They also had appropriate music. Overall I would say this is a good video.

Edutopia Video Review

Mary Scroggs Elementary School: A Wired Education -
http://www.edutopia.org/mary-scroggs-elementary-school

This video touched a personal place in my heart – being an elementary teacher. The students broadcast the morning announcements every day. Students from all grade levels are permitted to try out and participate. The 5th grade students are the ‘film crew’ and stage crew. Each classroom has 4-5 computers for student use. The school also has several wireless laptop carts for student/classroom use. They use students that have more experience using computers as tutors to those students that do not have as much experience. They allow students that are low socio-economic to be able to have a computer to use at home and help them to have low fees for internet access. Each teacher has their own office and telephone. The video states that the teachers feel more like professionals because they have this for their use. They also use this to have more effective parent communication.

As an elementary teacher that has access to only one computer in my classroom and no mobile laptop cart, this sounds like a dream. Several years ago I was fortunate enough to be in a district that had a tremendous amount of technology available – wireless laptop carts, Alphasmarts, and Danas just to name a few! I wish I had known then what I know now about technology integration! I only wish I had an ‘inth’ of this to work with now. I am lucky in that I do have a data projector, a document camera, and a desktop computer. I realize that some teachers do not have this much to work with. My class starts a biweekly ‘required’ rotation in the computer lab this Friday. I can’t wait until we complete the ‘required’ activities and I can start using some of my own ideas in technology with my students. The downside of this is that they may only get to go every two weeks. I think to myself, what can I accomplish going only once every two weeks? I guess this is better than no lab time at all.

The only negative I can think of that might possibly be affected by having this much opportunity for technology use and integration is test scores. Will they be affected? I want to believe that scores would only increase with the types of project learning that generally goes with technology integration. The highest hurdle to overcome would be to convince administration and board members that this would be an effective way of teaching the whole student and not just teaching how to pass a test.

Tech.Coor. Chap. 6 Budget and Planning

It was interesting to get the 'take' on the Tech. Coor.'s responsibilities. I feel that my district employs the concept that 'simply placing (minimal) technology tools in the classroom leads to exciting results and improved student learning' as stated on pg. 125. I have one desktop computer that I am the primary user of because it has access to my grade book and student records. I have one laptop that I let students use and they primarily use it to take Accelerated Reader tests on. I also use it in class as tool such that we 'journaled' science notes during class. When we were doing class research, students took turns using it as well as my desktop in a pinch to find out information about their topic. I have a projector and document camera in order to project images on the wall. That is the limit of the technology that has been assigned to me in my classroom. I also feel that my district lacks not only valuable but ongoing staff development. I am sure the service center offers some technology courses but when you teach a grade that has TAKS, you cannot afford too many days away from your students. The days you can afford are usually for training in your subject area. I am not sure if this is just lack of insight on the administrations part or lack of funds. There may also be a lack of interest in different types of technology. There are many very experienced teachers that just have not jumped on the technology train yet. I think I will plan on trying to find out what the technology budget at my district and my school looks like in the very near future.

New Tech High

This would be an awesome place to go to high school! A one-to-one ratio of computers to students? At the high school I attended (way back in the 80's), the teachers did not have a desktop in the classroom. I used a typewriter to type the articles for the annual. We had to manually crop pictures with a cropping tool and a grease pencil, set up layouts by hand, you get the picture! Or maybe not, if you have only known software that does all that for you. I vaguely remember taking a BASIC programming class my senior year but that the only option we had. I checked out the application for admission. I liked the essay prompt about the time machine and what you imagine you might be doing in 10 years and how you got there. I would love to read the responses to that one! I really see very few similarities and very many differences. Technology has made major leaps and bounds in the past 20 years! Where might we be in 20 more? I can't wait to experience it.

Tech. Coordinator Chapter 2, Teaching and Learning

It was interesting to read about the different functions of a technology coordinator. I saw some similarities with the way my district runs things and some great ideas as well. Our district utilizes technology training district wide during the first week of inservices right before school starts. This year we got to choose six sessions out of about 12 potential. We actually had some interesting things to choose from that I felt were more appropriate for classroom integration. In the past, there have been sessions that I attended where I walked away feeling that I got nothing out of it because I did not learn anything new. Last year the entire district was required to attend a session about new web pages and we did not even start using the program until February. We had to re-learn what we had forgotten from August.
At the Elem. campus, we have grade level teachers that are responsible for making sure their fellow grade level members keep the updates regular and virus scans run on the classroom computers. The 'tech' person on our campus is the teacher that runs the computer lab. Each student has 30 minutes of computer time at least 3 days a week. They use a reading, math, and typing program on a rotating basis. This teacher has not had any experience teaching in 'regular' classroom.
Our district coordinator is housed at the high school campus and I sometimes feel that things that are planned are geared more towards upper level instead of elementary level. She has had classroom experience at the high school level.
I also can understand where a database of educational software might be extremely helpful to teachers and administrators in choosing the right software. I am not aware that my district has this.
Overall, I guess my district does the best they can considering we are a small district without any major industry to increase our tax base. We are trying to improve and I see little things here and there and teachers that are trying to do things as well.

Web Mastering - Ch 3-6

WOW! That's how this blog must begin. The process of creating a web page is really cool. I just wish I had endless hours to play with it and get to know the software better. Maybe someday soon! There are so many little things that are involved in creating a good page that you never even think of. Here are some specific examples from each chapter that made me think:
Ch. 3
Indent - who thought a simple move away from the edge would be that noticeable?
Background colors - Once I finally found the command to do this, I tried several different backgrounds before I settled on one.
Links - I learned that it is VERY important to know what kind of link you are trying to create.
Layers - They can really make your project interesting.
Ch. 4
Absolutely the most important thing is being organized and naming things correctly. Folders are important for placing your files and images in and not changing the names or your links will not work.
Ch. 5
The difference between print and web was very interesting. The concepts seem to be the opposite of what you think. However, if you actually think about it, it makes sense.
Ch. 6
I never thought that alignment could make such a big difference. I do, however, disagree with one of the examples in the book - pg. 115. I prefer the look of the top page rather than the bottom. To me, that one looks more appealing. This entire chapter is a prime example of how things we think are trivial when just reading about them really have quite an impact on the page when you look at good/bad examples. Repetition, contrast, paragraph vs. break; all of these, when used correctly, make your page look so much more professional.

I have never thought that much about how web pages are made. I have just taken the process for granted. The basic process, when using the Dreamweaver software, that is, is not as complicated as I originally thought it might be. The most frustrating thing is that I am not familiar with the commands and the package as whole. In time, as well as with lots of trial and error, I just might be able to build a nice web page that at least my friends and family will enjoy!

Technology Coordinator

I think that a Technology Coordinator at the district level and the campus level are very similar. Basically, the major difference is that a campus coordinator is assigned to that campus and the needs of that campus specifically. They would 'answer' to the district coordinator. The district coordinator is responsible all technology aspects of the entire district, all campuses as well as administration. In a large district, he/she would supervise campus coordinators, technicians, network administrators, etc.

November Learning

Unfortunately I was unable to watch the entire video presentation of Alan November's. However, what I was able to get through, was very exciting. This was due to computer difficulties, not lack of interest in the speaker or the subject! I so want to be able to watch and listen to it in it's entirety because he has so very many wonderful ideas. It was not a shock that the answers to the questions near the beginning of the presentation were what they were. Sometimes we do feel as though our hands are tied and we cannot do some of the things we want to do or teach our children things they need to know because of restraints our school districts have placed on the Internet. His presentation was enlightening as well as disheartening. Our children have so much opportunity yet they are still far behind some other students with far less than they have.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Technology Integration

Technology integration is necessary for the advancement of our students as well as our schools. Having valuable experiences with technology is paramount for success. In order to achieve successful integration of technology, educators and administrators must be able to effectively evaluate the technology that is being used or that might be used. There are many ways to evaluate software and equipment. Some companies offer free trials so that you can try out their product to see if it will meet the needs of your students/staff. With rising costs of almost everything to do with living as well as teaching, it is imperative that schools purchase technology that they will use and will have an impact on teaching and learning. If a product is not going to be used, why spend the money on it? Also, if you can buy something that will be integrated in various subjects and grade level, it would be much more cost effective.
There are many valuable things that technology can and does bring to education. There are so many ways that students can gain knowledge through using the Internet and collaborating with other students, not only in their school but around the world. There are projects that students can create and participate in and use wiki spaces or blogs to save their information or journal. Some of these sites are free or the cost is minimal.
The main concern is getting educators that are not comfortable with technology to venture out of their comfort zone and try some of these things so that when technology is there to be integrated, it is used and used effectively.

Strategies for Integrating Technology into Teaching - Response

I agree with so much of this section! I believe it is imperative that teachers have the required training in order to integrate technology into their lessons. I think that some districts fall short at this. They have purchased many different software programs and technology items but do not give teachers enough training or support after training to make them feel comfortable using the technology with their students. On a personal level, I have experienced this. There are some programs that I would love to use, but because I do not have enough 'free' time to 'play' with them in order to familiarize myself, I choose not to use them with my students because I don't think I would be doing the program or my students justice by muddling through. My plan for this summer is to MAKE some time to become familiar with several different technology tools so that I can start using them at the beginning of the next school year. I think technology is so valuable to teachers as well as students. It is my responsibility as a teacher to integrate technology into my lessons as much as possible. It can only benefit not only my students but myself as well.

Frank McCourt Lecture

“We can all have 2nd Acts, 3rd Acts…” Dr. Lowery-Moore used this quote from Mr. McCourt in her introduction of him. I found this to be a very poignant statement. He made this statement because he feels that he has had several acts during his lifetime. He was a teacher for 30 years and now a Pulitzer Prize winning author. He wants to let others know that it IS possible to start new chapters in your life at any age.
I enjoyed the comedy in the stories that Mr. McCourt told about his early days teaching. It is so very true that the college you attend does not teach you about the things that sometimes happen in our classrooms. The fighting, the throwing of things, and the myriad of other things that happen even in the most disciplined classroom. I agree that you learn so very much your first year, no, your first day as a teacher than all the field experiences you might have had added together! I found that his experiences were much like every other new teacher, including myself.
Mr. McCourt also told an interesting tale about being a boy growing up in a Catholic school in Limerick, Ireland. He told tales of being a boy and learning things from observing the mistakes of others as well as making his own mistakes. His stories are so full of life and the way he tells them, you can picture yourself there.
As he was closing his lecture, he made what I feel is a very important statement about teachers. As teachers, we must go into a classroom having a sense of humor and be compassionate versus acting like a dictator. In my minimal experience, I have found this to be a difficult task at times. You have to find the right balance between these things in order to be really effective. I have been told by seasoned teachers that it is easier to let up later on than it is to try to reel them in after they have been let loose for too long.