NORMAN

How would you use RSS & Google Reader with students and parents?

For class applications, I would let students/parents use their Google Reader Accounts to subscribe to my BlogSpot site that will feed them with updates on class lectures, content summaries, lesson plans, newsletters, video embeds as additional classroom resources.

How about for your professional development?

Having to receive updated and real-time information from sources of interest in just one place (Google Reader), I will have the advantage of keeping myself relevant and current with any information pertaining to my professional and my personal interests. This where the common cliche is realized: “Knowledge is Power”!

I will just have to exercising proper speed reading techniques and to purposefully select what essential feeds to read in order to really benefit from this technology.

What type of RSS feeds you searched for?

I searched RSS feeds that pertains to Math, Science, Photography, Music, Technology, Blogs, Videos, News, Sports and others…

What is your favorite and the most interesting feed you found?

My favorite and most interesting feed is that from TECHNOLOGY. It’s amazing the myriads of technology innovations are presented in every minute!

What was easy to do with RSS? What was difficult with RSS?

The easiest thing to do with RSS was subscribing it from a site that has RSS feed capability. RSS subscription was difficult from sites that do not have feed capability or are capable but did not have any RSS link. I discovered that I will add the extension ?alt=rss to the URLS of blogs from BlogSpot.com.

How would you use Blogs and Wikis in the classroom? Individually or Together?

INDIVIDUALLY:  I use Blogs in the classroom as a tool to engage my students in critical thinking. After each Science chapter, I post in my blogs certain essential questions which my students will answer.

I will be using Wikis for a class collaborative project. My students will work in assigned groups to make a research paper. In it, they will place text, still images, video, and voice recordings that will highlight their group work.

TOGETHER: There is no conflict between blogs and wikis. They can complement each other. I can use both of them in my class whereby my students will use wikis as a workshop for creating projects through collaboration with their peers. They will use blogs as a tool that records their learning growth.

Why does WEB 2.0 matter in education/the classroom?

WEB 2.0 is an essential tool in today’s classroom. Successful and effective learning would only be achieve when students are given classroom activities that are relevant in their life experiences. Students will find their classes engaging and fun. They will discover that their lessons are useful and relevant. They will gain self-confidence knowing that their active participation resulted to new discoveries, to meaningful exchange of ideas and to amazing projects borne from collaboration.

WEB 2.0

I would define Web 2.0 as a technology tool that empowers anyone who has the access to the internet to obtain, create and share knowledge… whatever, whenever, and wherever!

What are the most challenging, the easiest, and the most important habits for you?

MOST CHALLENGING: #6 USE TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR OWN ADVANTAGE is my most challenging habit. The challenge comes from QUANTITY and QUALITY of technology applications.

QUANTITY: With the rapid advancement of technology, the internet offers us considerable number of hardware and software resources for educational applications. As a result, this creates a complex job of evaluating and choosing the appropriate tool for classroom applications. Practically, I cannot use everything there is even if I want to. I have to consider my students’ resources and ability. I have to get the cooperation of parents to trust their children that they will use these tools to good use. I have to make sure that these tools can be supported in my school’s technology infrastructure. I have to keep myself updated with current advances of technology in order to be relevant. There are just so much I can do and just so much I can afford to attend to all these things. I need have to focus in attending to my students’ needs.

QUALITY: To fully integrate technology in the classroom, I need to know how to use it well to be able to achieve successful learning. Technology is just a tool. It is good only when it achieves the intended educational goals. This requires certain degree of creativity and adaptability. The challenge comes in fusing the curriculum standards with technology. My students should not get lost in the intended objectives, again technology is just a means and not an end.

THE EASIEST: #1 BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND is my the most easiest habit to follow.

At this stage in my life, I am ABSOLUTELY convinced that LEARNING NEVER ENDS. I had so many unpleasant experiences that kept my feet on the ground. I learned that happiness lies in self-actualization and that knowledge is power. Hence, it is my personal commitment to search for new knowledge and skill.

MOST IMPORTANT HABIT: #2 ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR OWN LEARNING is, for me, the most important habit.

“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

JFK’s famous speech may have been intended for the political arena. However, it can also be relevant in education. I am the master of my learning. I must take responsibility of my knowledge in order to be competitive, to be relevant, and to be effective. This is the habit that would ensure effective teaching and learning success.

The tandem of Mr. Billy Martin and Mrs. Ann Martin made good presentation for their theme, “10 Great Technology Projects for your Classroom”.

They showed how the Hong Kong Academy has developed a system that established a collaborative teachers-integrator relationship. This provided a project driven framework for K-8 teachers to integrate technology in their teaching environment. This system worked as follows: the Tech-Staff develop skills and databases; then, the Teacher with the Integrator plan the Project, determine the skills and input the project information; next, the student participates in the project which upon its completion the teacher and integrator review and reflect on it; then, the Tech Staff updates and generates the progress report.

The 10 actual projects of students were then presented. They were great projects. They showed students’ computer skills are up to the challenge. They highlighted the creativity of students when guided properly.

I do not have to wait for the system to be established because it just merely incorporated all the elements necessary to make up the database and guidelines for student projects and their assessments. In my classroom, I can already let my students create projects akin to what the Martin’s have presented as long as I have a clear rubric and guidelines. Technology-integrated projects are easy to do when students are motivated and are allowed to explore their creativity.

The presentation showed me proof that students can do exemplary subjects when their teachers believe in them. I got the impression that Billy and Ann made every effort to show to their students their encouragement and support. Thus, they prove that it is essential for a teacher to trust the ability of their students. The latter will simply respond to how the teachers view them.

Moreover, Billy and Ann showed how an effective team presentation is. They assigned themselves of particular topics. Each of them spoke when it was their turn. There was no unnecessary interjection from either of them. They showed their depth of knowledge for computers. They exuded confidence and pride of their work. They truly were concern to educating the youth beyond any self-serving reasons.

I applaud those who place education above self-serving motives. Teaching is not a profession but a vocation.

MP3s and Podcasts are technological innovations that have sweeping educational impact. Their efficient use in the classroom depends on the creativity and persistence of teachers and on the motivation and commitment of students.

Ms. Anna McFadden teamed up with Ms. Barrie Jo Price to suggest the valuable use of MP3s and PodCasts in today’s education. MP3 is an audio format which compressed the WAV audio file into reasonable sizes that can be stored up to large numbers in any memory storage. This will enable any audio recording to be digitally uploaded in the computer and into the web as PODCASTS. There are good-priced MP3 players that can record and replay audio using a simple microphone set up. Hence, a class lecture or a class report uploaded to the web can be accessed anywhere and anytime. This is very valuable to students whereby they can review the lecture if they are absent or if they need to revisit some points that they did not understand during the actual discussion. Isn’t this a class TO-GO?

Ms. McFadden suggests that podcasting can take into many forms aside from class lecture. It can be recording of a guest lecturer or a reaction to current social issue. It can be a recording of word pronunciation guide for a foreign language class. For Biology, it can be a recording of lab activities or safety procedures to accompany handouts.

Podcasting can benefit my classroom teaching. I can create a podcasts for science experiments or for science fair project documentations. It can be utilized as a question and answer forum that deals with practical answers to common math problems.

This technological tool may enhance learning but it has prerequisites. However, there should be a good support by the school administration for it demands monetary implications (like buying MP3 recorders, establishing internet access, and creating maintaining stable website). After these are taken care of, there are still teachers to be trained on how to use these equipments to produce the appropriate podcast material that does not infringe copyright laws.

I found the presentation interesting because it involves innovation. The theme and purpose were conveyed well. Ms. McFadden and Ms. Price showed enthusiasm in their topic. Though they are not strictly IT experts, they know how to use technology to achieve optimum learning environment.

However, for a simple topic such as podcasting, I did not think that they have to team up for the presentation. Especially, since both of them likes to talk, the delivery was not as smooth. While one of them was talking, the other distractingly interjected. I understood their thrill for this technology but it did not make a professional delivery.

Team presenting can be effective only when members have assigned topics to present. And during the delivery, they will just stick to their own topic and not interfere.

“Alohahahahahaha”.  Keynote Address – Part 3: the best among the rest!     Mr. Jim Winter, the actor-teacher, delivered the ideal keynote address. It was not because he has the most appealing theme (humor) but rather he showed what good public speaking should be like.

Sense of Humor has a place in the classroom. Mr. Winter expressed the message that humor can actually benefit learners because it relaxes an individual and it engages the brain. It obviously can reduce stress and create a pleasing environment that is conducive for learning.  When students are allowed to have a reasonable leverage of fun in the classroom, they will learn more. They will not detest the lesson which was taught in a fun way. They will always seek for the teacher who makes them laugh along with his sincerity of teaching them. They will always remember the subject matter that was delivered in “pleasant packages”.

To achieve this, Mr. Winter hinted that teachers should be great improvisers. They have to be IN the moment. They have to subtle. They need to bridge conflict through compromise. They need to see the good of the students and focus on their gifts and talents. It takes a lot of practice and of preparation to provide purposeful humor – filled classroom. He said, “we learn best when we are in a state of moderate arousal”.

Added to the educational advantage, Mr. Winter reminded his listeners that a good sense of humor is related to good health. It lessens the risk to having stress-related illnesses. It makes an individual handle life’s pressure easier. It makes for better relationship. It increases pain tolerance. It improves respiration and breathing. It relaxes the muscles. It reduces anxiety and tension. It is a good coping skill from problems. It reduces negative emotions and it improves the mood. Moreover, he said that humor could improve productivity in the work place. It enhances a good working environment. It reduces absenteeism. It encourages involvement and participation. It also improves morale.

I am an advocate of good sense of humor. I do not believe that stringent classroom discipline spawned from fear could enhance learning. I need to let my students operate in a classroom environment where they can laugh and enjoy the lesson. I can deliver subtle jokes in the most appropriate time within the lesson. I can solicit healthy jokes from my students to ease tension and to drive away sleepiness. I must let students enjoy each other through educational games and purposeful activities.

Mr. Winter exemplified to me how to effectively speak in public. He knew very well his presentation. He was not reading solely to a script. He had good stage presence. He had good eye contact to his audience. He had good voice projection.  He allowed his listeners to get involved. He was effective in presenting his ideas through the Power Point display (few words per frame, large and attractive fonts, and no distracting effects). He dressed well. He showed excitement and confidence.

His presentation was a good example of an effective teaching strategy. Students will never listen to a monotonous teacher. They will not get motivated to follow through a lesson when a teacher is not passionate and not personable. They will be involved in the discussion if there are corresponding enhancements, for example, Power Point Display.

Teachers should be great communicators! Teachers should be good public speakers!

Throw away your globe models, your 2D world maps! Here comes – Google Earth! This is technology at its best. It is an interactive software that can let you navigate the world in just a matter of seconds. It can lead you to specific places never before heard. It gives you an overhead picture of a landscape of whatever country you so choose. You can find restaurants, establishments, buildings, bridges, scenic and historical spots, and landmarks in a jiffy. It has details of documented earthquake occurrences. It is a geographical bible. It is amazing!

I am grateful for Google Earth. Foremost, I am thankful to the engineers, programmers and Google for making this tool available to the public. Besides the above mentioned capabilities, it is free! If there is a proof to convenience of technology other than the remote controller, I put Google Earth top on the list. The technology whiz who envisioned this has sealed the proof that the world is indeed a village. Secondly, I appreciate Mr. Allan Taylor who made the teachers aware of Google Earth’s potential to enhance learning. His excitement affirmed the usefulness of technology in education.

Mr. Taylor advocates Google Earth as an efficient educational tool. Even if the Hotel Shangrila’s inadequate support for internet connectivity, this did not hamper Mr. Taylor to convince his listeners the advantage of this software to teaching Social Studies, Math, Science, and Language. He was hoping that we can be creative in using this technology in our teaching. Indeed, there are a lot of ways to make Google Earth an indispensable resource akin to a dictionary. With the vast amount of information available and the prospect of update and upgrade, this software can change the way students view our world.

I am certain that Google Earth will thrill students. Being visual savvy, they will appreciate the images and instant direction to specific places in the globe. The permissible details that this will reveal will astound them. I can use this in Science to search different biomes in any point of the globe. I can show them the actual changes brought about by modern society to its ecosystem. I can show them the ocean floor patterns and the recorded earthquake spots. In Math, I can use the longitude and latitude readings to expand their knowledge on coordinates. The altitude measurement could make them understand depth and height differences.

The presentation was straightforward and simple. It was like a show and tell format. Mr. Taylor had just to show his excitement over this software to accomplish his purpose. Again, it was unfortunate that the internet service on that area of the hotel was insufficient. It resulted to poor streaming of the images.

However, I was impressed that even if the enhancements were not readily available still the message was conveyed. This was because Mr. Taylor was visibly enthusiastic and sincerely excited with his presentation. When all else fails, what really makes a teacher be effective is his or her belief. Nothing beats passion!

I bet students will feel the same way as I did. They will get motivated foremost because I believe in what I am sharing to them.

WWW.barbarawilkinson.com  is Barbara Wilkinson and Mindfulness. She is a Psychotherapist who is wholly involved in education.  She is promoting mindfulness in the classrooms to achieve focus and stress reduction among teachers and students. Actually, she is simply reinventing an ancient practice of diverse cultures generically named as, MEDITATION.

She prefaced her presentation with the theme of “healing”. Our human nature is design to heal itself. We have in our system our own doctor, our own therapist. We have a powerful faculty in our mind that would reduce stress, increase our effectiveness and efficiency, and liberate us from depression and negativity. This is all about reconfiguring our way of thinking. She said that, “we are more likely to act ourselves into new ways of thinking, than think ourselves into new ways of acting”. Mindfulness is our mind’s doctor.

She loosely defined mindfulness as connection, a non-judgmental awareness of our being. This allows us to focus on each of our activity which would result into catching ALL that is happening. She illustrated this by letting us listen to music while staring at a series of abstract images. She demonstrated how we can be aware of even the minutest function and reaction of our body when we can focus our mind to an activity which was as simple as chewing a raisin. By drawing all our senses into a concerted attention, we become attuned to the moment. By so doing, we become truly and fully living. Such is mindfulness.

Mindfulness makes us respond to situations with choice rather than to react automatically. We are prepared with options in terms of how to act. She quoted Vicktor Frankl who said that, “freedom is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance”. More often than not, we involve ourselves in activities that we really do not devote our fullest attention. Consequently, we simply surf over the daily demands of our life. Things become so automatic that we actually do not think through them. Thus, our life becomes just a blur, meaningless.

Ms. Wilkinson suggested that we should practice mindfulness every day through meditation. There should be a time in a day (45 minutes) spent in honing our mind to get attune to our senses. We should practice focused breathing. Moreover, we should learn how to put our fullest attention while doing an activity.

Mindfulness, meditation, focus, attention truly are ingredients to a happy and fulfilled life. As a teacher, these are important for me because I am molding personalities. This is a task so delicate. If I am not focused I could not be an effective educator. I could not accomplish my life’s mission and then, I will not be happy. Hence, it is imperative to respond to Ms. Wilkinson’s suggestion.

Personally, I will wake up earlier to have a moment of meditation – focused breathing. I then plan my day to anticipate all the possibilities that require appropriate action and to decide what to do to effectively use my time. In school, I have to give my fullest attention to my teaching and to my dealing with each of my students. I have to fight laziness and procrastination. I will let my students spend at least 10 minutes at the beginning of each day in silence to be able to let them plan their daily tasks.

Ms. Wilkinson did a fine job of stressing the importance of meditation to achieve focus (mindfulness). Such is a powerful healing faculty of the mind that when consistently practice can result to a meaningful existence, thereby, happiness.

To those who find life a bore, FOCUS, MEDITATE, & BE MINDFUL!