Photostory

Week #8 - Blog discussion on week #5 article

Week #5 Article Effects of Technology on Critical Thinking and Essay Writing Among Gifted Adolescents

After I read this article, I was having a discussion with an ELA teacher.  I was telling her about the study and results, about increased output from students when they were allowed to use computers for writing assignments.  I asked her what she thought about this and I was a little surprised by her answer.  She was opposed to allowing students to use computers for writing.  She justified her response saying kids need to learn to write without all the editing technology available to them on a computer otherwise they won't learn to write correctly.  My question to you is: Do you feel the ELA teacher's response is correct?  Should students be restricted from using editing technology in their writing in order for them to learn how to write correctly?

Second Life

This is me in Costa Rica.

Ways to incorporate Second Life in ELA instruction:

• create a space in Second Life as a class
• explore other destinations in Second Life and make a presentation
• offer virtual homework help sessions

Week #7 - Using the ADDIE Model to Design Second Life Activities for Online Learners

The potential for on-line learning in today's world is limitless. What needs to be addressed is the human component.  People need to feel connected while they interact with others.  The physical proximity offered in a traditional classroom cannot be replicated in on-line courses.  In the digital world, the quest for a viable alternative to this is in the making.  Second Life may be an option.  Some of its' features include a quasi realistic setting, an increased feeling of community, learning on assorted levels, enhanced multimedia capabilities, all of which are offered in a constructivist environment.  Although Second Life is not perfect and has some limitations it does offer one alternative to an enhanced experience for on-line learners.

Week #7-Theories and Practices of Multimodal Education:The Instructional Dynamics of Picture Books and Primary Classrooms

The concept of Multimodality can be summed up as follows : It's so much more than just the words!  With today's digital natives and the new literacies you cannot just focus on the letters, the sounds, and the words.  You must incorporate the entire picture literally into instruction.  Not only the words and the illustrations, but how the words are written, size, font, color.  Also, where the words are written on the page, how the words are written on the page and whose perspective the words are written from.  Meaning and knowledge are gleaned by the student holistically.  Linear is out and varying, integrated, whole is in.

UDL Book Builder

Well...here it is my very first digital book.  I have to say that I really enjoyed doing this assignment.  I think I could have spent another three weeks on it and still not have been completely satisfied with the finished product.  The inspiration for the story came to me from my fifth grader who is currently doing a book report on Fanny Lou Hammer, a civil rights activist.  Since I have always been interested in social justice and diversity I thought it would make a great topic for my digital book.  This assignment would be for a middle school class either seventh or eighth grade.  The assignment would consist of each student creating their own digital book on diversity.   Inside and Out