Well, this is a very sad moment. The class is just eight weeks long, and this is the final week. I have completed my other assignments, and just have the blog left to do. I had always heard about blogs, but never thought I'd read one, let alone WRITE one. But, this has been so much fun and I have come to love it. I have a friend who has a home-based business and always asked me if I have read the site's Blog! "Yeah, right! As if I have time!" But now, maybe I will.
(Currently, we are experiencing a strong storm with tornado warnings, so I may lose power and need to complete this tomorrow.)
The assignment this week was to look at the different security measures that are in place to prevent malicious software and/or hackers with the computers that I use or the ones my students use. Since I am not in the school system yet, I will state that for the Chamber of Commerce we have Norton. We update it every year and we have a computer genius, who had worked for NASA, on our Board. He trouble-shoots any problems I may have, and also ensures that I am as current as can be on the anti-virus software.
I asked one of my daughters what she has in place for the students at her University. She said that students who use the network of computers that are owned by the University just log on, but have to implement specific passwords. The computers themselves are protected. If students choose to use their own computers/laptops, they must download Sophos at the start of each term. This is provided by the University. They must also use a password to access the University's internet.
When she was participating with a research project last summer at another University in another state, they used McAfee, and then also a specific password.
Years ago when I worked for the U.S Gov't overseas, I received "messages" daily that were from the U.S. Naval ships stating when they would be arriving in port. The ports were both Naples, Italy and Rota, Spain. At different times, different years, I ran the programs for the sailors, such as: Road Races, Ball Tournaments, Tours, Pool Parties, etc. It was very important to have heads up with accurate information-- some of the fleet units that had aircraft carriers carried over 6,000 personnel. However, now for the security measures. The saying "loose lips, sink ships" was still an issue during this particular timeframe. Some of the messages I would receive on my computer where clear and I could read them....while others were scrambled and not decipherable. I would then have to call the "message center" and go pick up the copy of that particular communication. This was meant as a safety precaution, for a "Your Eyes Only" type of moment. Hee, hee, I haven't thought about that for years.
Systems have changed throughout the years and will continue to change. A system is only as strong as its "weakest link". I guess we must all stay alert to potential problems and be aware of incoming correspondance, etc. that may not be as it seems.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
EDOL 533 Week Seven
Well, another week has come and gone, and I'm in the countdown mode to the Raggedy Ann 5K and Festival!! I'm trying to get all my assigments done tonight, because from now until Tuesday will be insane.
This week's focus was educational software. Since I do not have a classroom at the present time, I'm going to reflect on software I have purchased and used with my own children. I group educational software and video games into two completely different categories, though.
My oldest daughter was born in Rota, Spain and then we moved to LaMaddalena, Italy. We didn't have TV, phone, etc., but we took nature walks, played outside, looked at the stars, learned about wildflowers,swam on the isolated archipelago, and read books. When she was ready to begin kindergarten, we moved to the States; to Dahlgren, Virginia. She entered kindergarten reading at a third grade level and writing short stories.....her teachers were blown out of the water. (I laughed to myself the other night when our "chat" class talked about P&Gamble looking for B Students because they were "team players") My oldest daughter has had Duke following her since she was an eleven year old. She has won several awards and scholarships for Kentucky, has a 4.0 GPA at Transylvania University, has started and lead so many groups and organizations; however, SHE is a TEAM player. Everyone who meets her, loves her instantly! The professors can't get over how much of a team player she is in everything she does. At any rate, she never had educational software until she was in third grade and we got a home computer(1997?) Anyhow, she was working it, manipulating it, doing power point presentations by 5th grade, etc..... huge steps ahead of her parents!! Although I never purchased the TV/Video Game systems, I purchased some educational software to try. She loved "playing" such games as the Carmen Sandiego series.
SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 2010
I never got to finish my blog, so I'm going to try to get it done tonight.
By using the Carmen Sandiego educational software, both my daughters were able to use knowledge they knew and work it into critical thinking problems. They both had studied Ancient Egypt. When using the "Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego" software, they were able to take what they knew about mummies, gods, rituals, etc., and use that knowledge to solve the "mystery". When ever they didn't know background information, the software was designed to teach the student the information needed; however, the student needed to use critical thinking to help the solution along.
When we first got the software, my youngest was in Kindergarten. She knew her older sister loved "Carmen", but she was too young to work it alone. We would do the problem solving together. I don't recall there being any problems or things I would do differently, but that was MANY years ago. However, I do remember they stressed about their "battery power/charge" that let them fly around the world would get low at times. I think I recall that stressing them. But they soon learned how to keep that "charge" higher.
I can definitely see myself using that software or something very similar in the classroom if we were to study world history--that was our curriculum for 4th grade and 6th grade in Florida.
This week's focus was educational software. Since I do not have a classroom at the present time, I'm going to reflect on software I have purchased and used with my own children. I group educational software and video games into two completely different categories, though.
My oldest daughter was born in Rota, Spain and then we moved to LaMaddalena, Italy. We didn't have TV, phone, etc., but we took nature walks, played outside, looked at the stars, learned about wildflowers,swam on the isolated archipelago, and read books. When she was ready to begin kindergarten, we moved to the States; to Dahlgren, Virginia. She entered kindergarten reading at a third grade level and writing short stories.....her teachers were blown out of the water. (I laughed to myself the other night when our "chat" class talked about P&Gamble looking for B Students because they were "team players") My oldest daughter has had Duke following her since she was an eleven year old. She has won several awards and scholarships for Kentucky, has a 4.0 GPA at Transylvania University, has started and lead so many groups and organizations; however, SHE is a TEAM player. Everyone who meets her, loves her instantly! The professors can't get over how much of a team player she is in everything she does. At any rate, she never had educational software until she was in third grade and we got a home computer(1997?) Anyhow, she was working it, manipulating it, doing power point presentations by 5th grade, etc..... huge steps ahead of her parents!! Although I never purchased the TV/Video Game systems, I purchased some educational software to try. She loved "playing" such games as the Carmen Sandiego series.
SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 2010
I never got to finish my blog, so I'm going to try to get it done tonight.
By using the Carmen Sandiego educational software, both my daughters were able to use knowledge they knew and work it into critical thinking problems. They both had studied Ancient Egypt. When using the "Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego" software, they were able to take what they knew about mummies, gods, rituals, etc., and use that knowledge to solve the "mystery". When ever they didn't know background information, the software was designed to teach the student the information needed; however, the student needed to use critical thinking to help the solution along.
When we first got the software, my youngest was in Kindergarten. She knew her older sister loved "Carmen", but she was too young to work it alone. We would do the problem solving together. I don't recall there being any problems or things I would do differently, but that was MANY years ago. However, I do remember they stressed about their "battery power/charge" that let them fly around the world would get low at times. I think I recall that stressing them. But they soon learned how to keep that "charge" higher.
I can definitely see myself using that software or something very similar in the classroom if we were to study world history--that was our curriculum for 4th grade and 6th grade in Florida.
Monday, April 12, 2010
EDOL 533 Week Six
Yikes! Let's look back and see what I have done or learned this week. This week was horrendous!! The sheep and llamas needed to be shorn--we do it with hand clippers instead of electric. We also do it ourselves instead of hiring a pro. Last year I tried the "hiring route" and couldn't believe how roughly they were handled. We only let the "pro" do two before stopping him and asking him to leave. The horses are shedding out and are also needing their hooves trimmed. Planked fencing is needing painted. The fields are doing fine, but the lawn is needing mowed a couple times a week already! All the flowers, trees, and bushes are in bloom with the promise of fruit later this summer. One daughter is waiting to hear results of her Governor's School for the Arts scholarship audition, and the other is getting ready to head out to the research forest in NH for a field study this summer.
Over the weekend, I checked out a theatre north of here that was for sale, but decided not to over-extend myself! We've put so much of ourselves into the theatre in this town, I'm not sure I have the finances nor the energy to do it all again!
This week I have daughters test driving vehicles; I have a Festival and 5K that I am in charge of this weekend---people come from all over our country to attend/collect any thing that has to do with Raggedy Ann. Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce sounds like a fancy title.....but it really is just a fancy way to say it's entirely your problem and program! Chamber Director and Tourism.....just one person....yup! Doesn't make sense, but that's the way it works.
Well, now to the assignments and WebQuests. I enjoyed looking at the different ones that the others from EDOL 533 had found and recommended; but I also enjoyed looking at different ones trying to figure out what was out there, and what to try to do one on. My sister-in-law is a teacher in MD, and her nephew from her sister's side is a 5th grade student in NJ. They talk frequently about webquests they are doing. My sister-in-law had some great sites and recommendations for me to try.
I had finally decided to do a WebQuest called "Survival!" Explanation--- War has stopped all forms of transportation. Food, etc are not to be shipped in to places. People are going to need to be self-sustaining. They are going to need to know how to purify water-if they can even get access to it. They will need to learn to cook, grow a garden, spin, weave, etc. I want children to understand that we have gotten so far away from being self-sustaining. If there is no power/electricity/heat, etc., people need to know how to take care of themselves. Americans have become spoiled and extremely lazy when it comes to working for the basics needs. After living overseas for 35 years, I was shocked by my neighbors lack of survival skills when I finally returned home and had to endure an icestorm. This was in Virginia in 1994 and young people (early 20s-40s)didn't know how to cope; older ones could
(50s-70s), but younger ones went crazy! My kids grew up overseas. When they were little, they knew--- when the electricity went out which was daily---to stay in one spot and I'd bring light to them. Once, in VA, when we were at a friend's house for supper and the electricity went out, their family started to panic and children to scream. We all remained calm and I went to go find their candles. I knew then that I wanted my kids to never get so caught up with luxury, that they as human beings didn't know how to cope.
Trying to put the WebQuest together was a challenge. First, I couldn't get access to the free trial period page. The main QuestGarden page would pull up, but when I clicked on Free Trial, it would say "page unavailable/expired". I think on Saturday, I was finally able to register for the 30 day trial period. Second, I needed to update to Internet Explorer 7. I did this at my office's computer after first checking with the technology person on my Board of Directors to see if they minded. I had heard/read so much on the negative faults with Explorer 8 that I decided to stick with 7. I liked that the templates were provided...that helped. However, I am still in the process of doing it. I WILL complete it!! I wanted to do it, because I want to see it through and know HOW to do it. With my crazy week, it has just taken longer than I had wanted.
Over the weekend, I checked out a theatre north of here that was for sale, but decided not to over-extend myself! We've put so much of ourselves into the theatre in this town, I'm not sure I have the finances nor the energy to do it all again!
This week I have daughters test driving vehicles; I have a Festival and 5K that I am in charge of this weekend---people come from all over our country to attend/collect any thing that has to do with Raggedy Ann. Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce sounds like a fancy title.....but it really is just a fancy way to say it's entirely your problem and program! Chamber Director and Tourism.....just one person....yup! Doesn't make sense, but that's the way it works.
Well, now to the assignments and WebQuests. I enjoyed looking at the different ones that the others from EDOL 533 had found and recommended; but I also enjoyed looking at different ones trying to figure out what was out there, and what to try to do one on. My sister-in-law is a teacher in MD, and her nephew from her sister's side is a 5th grade student in NJ. They talk frequently about webquests they are doing. My sister-in-law had some great sites and recommendations for me to try.
I had finally decided to do a WebQuest called "Survival!" Explanation--- War has stopped all forms of transportation. Food, etc are not to be shipped in to places. People are going to need to be self-sustaining. They are going to need to know how to purify water-if they can even get access to it. They will need to learn to cook, grow a garden, spin, weave, etc. I want children to understand that we have gotten so far away from being self-sustaining. If there is no power/electricity/heat, etc., people need to know how to take care of themselves. Americans have become spoiled and extremely lazy when it comes to working for the basics needs. After living overseas for 35 years, I was shocked by my neighbors lack of survival skills when I finally returned home and had to endure an icestorm. This was in Virginia in 1994 and young people (early 20s-40s)didn't know how to cope; older ones could
(50s-70s), but younger ones went crazy! My kids grew up overseas. When they were little, they knew--- when the electricity went out which was daily---to stay in one spot and I'd bring light to them. Once, in VA, when we were at a friend's house for supper and the electricity went out, their family started to panic and children to scream. We all remained calm and I went to go find their candles. I knew then that I wanted my kids to never get so caught up with luxury, that they as human beings didn't know how to cope.
Trying to put the WebQuest together was a challenge. First, I couldn't get access to the free trial period page. The main QuestGarden page would pull up, but when I clicked on Free Trial, it would say "page unavailable/expired". I think on Saturday, I was finally able to register for the 30 day trial period. Second, I needed to update to Internet Explorer 7. I did this at my office's computer after first checking with the technology person on my Board of Directors to see if they minded. I had heard/read so much on the negative faults with Explorer 8 that I decided to stick with 7. I liked that the templates were provided...that helped. However, I am still in the process of doing it. I WILL complete it!! I wanted to do it, because I want to see it through and know HOW to do it. With my crazy week, it has just taken longer than I had wanted.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
EDOL 533 Week Five
This week's assignments were to help us become more familiar with online communication tools and implementing them into the classroom environment. Although I am not currently working in a classroom, I have put thought into which ones I would be interested in using when the time comes.
I think the blog would be compared to the classroom journals, and one I can see my students at any grade using. It would be important to monitor the students and the blogs; however, I can see it as a great learning tool, not only for formatting, but for typing and story progression as well. Journals and creative writing assignments would be a great starting point. The students could not only scan and upload original artwork, but they could also take photos of places from field trips, etc., and upload them as well. Special precautions would be made to ensure photos of students would not be placed on the blog. --(Where we had come from in Florida, I was programed to not put photos of students, Scouts, etc in the paper without forms signed by parents. Now we live in a small town in Kentucky where everyone is either related or very good friends, and the permission for photo use is more relaxed even though I'm not comfortable with it yet.)
I think I would also be interested in using Wikis. I think collaboratively working on certain types of assignments is fun, though challenging. I have not seen group work run smoothly without someone carrying the full load. So, I would have the students first assign themselves specific tasks and then I would grade the project tasks that were completed. I found it interesting to read that wikis could be edited by other readers, etc. I would prepare the students for that possibility happening. The students would be required to make the wiki as factual as possible, but it would also be a great lesson in "don't believe all you read"--as seen with most forms of media. The students would realize that hype is sometimes what attracts readers. "Filtering" would be a great lesson to be incorporated, as well.
Even though I am intrigued by some of the other online communication tools, I think the two mentioned above are the ones I would begin with. Then, as I become more familiar with others, and am able to figure out how best to suit the needs of my students and classroom curriculum, I would implement additional tools where appropriate.
All tools are exciting and when used well, will enhance learning. However, I don't want to lose sight of the "learning mission". Sometimes administrators are so wrapped up with trying new things, the class that year becomes the State's "guinea pigs", and steps in their learning development fall through the cracks. I don't want my students' basic educational needs ever falling through the cracks as I work to expand their skills.
I think the blog would be compared to the classroom journals, and one I can see my students at any grade using. It would be important to monitor the students and the blogs; however, I can see it as a great learning tool, not only for formatting, but for typing and story progression as well. Journals and creative writing assignments would be a great starting point. The students could not only scan and upload original artwork, but they could also take photos of places from field trips, etc., and upload them as well. Special precautions would be made to ensure photos of students would not be placed on the blog. --(Where we had come from in Florida, I was programed to not put photos of students, Scouts, etc in the paper without forms signed by parents. Now we live in a small town in Kentucky where everyone is either related or very good friends, and the permission for photo use is more relaxed even though I'm not comfortable with it yet.)
I think I would also be interested in using Wikis. I think collaboratively working on certain types of assignments is fun, though challenging. I have not seen group work run smoothly without someone carrying the full load. So, I would have the students first assign themselves specific tasks and then I would grade the project tasks that were completed. I found it interesting to read that wikis could be edited by other readers, etc. I would prepare the students for that possibility happening. The students would be required to make the wiki as factual as possible, but it would also be a great lesson in "don't believe all you read"--as seen with most forms of media. The students would realize that hype is sometimes what attracts readers. "Filtering" would be a great lesson to be incorporated, as well.
Even though I am intrigued by some of the other online communication tools, I think the two mentioned above are the ones I would begin with. Then, as I become more familiar with others, and am able to figure out how best to suit the needs of my students and classroom curriculum, I would implement additional tools where appropriate.
All tools are exciting and when used well, will enhance learning. However, I don't want to lose sight of the "learning mission". Sometimes administrators are so wrapped up with trying new things, the class that year becomes the State's "guinea pigs", and steps in their learning development fall through the cracks. I don't want my students' basic educational needs ever falling through the cracks as I work to expand their skills.
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