WordTalk is a free tool that can be downloaded to your computer to help students who have trouble reading and writing. WordTalk, created by Rod Macaulay, is designed to help students in these areas by allowing them to have text highlighted and read out-loud to them.
This technology is not only important in the classroom because it helps students who have trouble reading and writing by allowing them to hear text out-loud, it is also useful in the classroom because it can take the place of teacher assistants. Teacher assistants traditionally read to students out-loud to help them with reading and writing, but many schools can not afford to have a lot of teacher assistants. Overall WordTalk is a valuable technology in the classroom because it is beneficial, free, and easily accessible.
In Dr. Cohn’s Podcast “The Success of a Driven Mindset,” he educates listeners about mindsets of different types of athletes. He discusses the fear driven mindsets of athletes, as well as the success driven mindsets of athletes. His main focus is on the fear driven mindset. Cohn says, “eight to ninety percent of athletes have a fear of failure.” Athletes that have a fear driven mindset he explains are generally the athletes that are perfectionist, work for their success, they are concerned about results, they want to avoid mistakes, and failure.
Since the majority of athletes are fear driven athletes Dr. Cohn gives some ways to turn fear into success. Cohn says first you must determine what the fear is and next you set goals or terms for management of the fear. The biggest thing that Dr. Cohn says these types of athletes must focus on is to focus more on the present and to take one thing at a time. He says, “focusing on the process brings desired results.” Dr. Cohn closes by mention that he has a fourteen day program available on CD to help athletes with their fear of failure. Many may not be aware of a program like this I was not, but it definitely could be helpful to athletes.
In Lani Ritter Hall’s presentation for the K12 Online Conference 2007, he discusses ways to teach students, teachers, and administrators technology integration. Hall’s presentation is about how technology specialist need to be good leaders. He speaks about all the aspects of integrating technology in schools and the criteria and guidelines that technology specialist need to follow.
Some criteria that Hall mentions to help technology integration are managing hardware and environment, administration collaboration and coordination, teacher professional development, and teacher collaboration. According to Hall this criteria can be met if the technology specialist is aware of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as teacher and administration’s strengths and weakness. Another thing that must be considered to meet criteria is to understand the needs of the school and manage priorities. Lastly there must be coordination and collaboration according to Hall.
Lani Ritter Hall says if all of these needs are met then your technology goals can be met. The goals may be met for the school year or if the use of technology is evolving in the school you are in, you can keep reaching for you dream goals especially with ambitions teachers and students.
In Clarence Fisher’s presentation about classroom 2.0 he talks about “redefining what happens in the classroom.” Fisher’s classroom 2.0 is about preparing kids for the future. It is not only about new technologies, but also ways to collaborate with each other.
Collaboration and tools is just one of the most important factors in teaching according to Fisher. The other important factors are pedagogy, relationships to technology, and curriculum and our relationship to it.
Some tools that Clarence fisher uses in his classroom that accomplish his goals are edublogs, podcast, wiki blogs, flicker, and voice threat. These are all familiar tools to me except for voice threat. These are all familiar tools to me except for voice threat. All of these would be helpful in the classroom and Fisher uses them all.
In conclusion Fisher reiterates that the biggest change that is needed is our “attitudes about education.” Classroom 2.0 focuses on good teaching, good use of technology, and everyone working together.
Doc Cop is a free anti-plagiarism tool that was created by Mark McCrohon in 2006. This tool allows teachers to check their student’s work for plagiarism and even their own work for accidental plagiarism. This technology is a fast and effective way to check papers for plagiarism.
Doc Cop allows not only teachers, but anyone with a valid e-mail address to use their system to check for plagiarism. This tool can be used several different ways. A Doc check is one type of check in which checks individual documents up to five at a time, with a 250,000 word maximum each one against the other. Another type of check is a Corpus check which looks at an unlimited number of documents with up to 12,oo0 words each against one another. The last type of check is a Web check, it looks at strings of text up to 550 words against results found on the web.
All of the methods of checking plagiarism on Doc Cop are valuable to teachers or any other type of professionals. This free and efficient way of detecting plagiarism is an efficient way of checking papers and a necessary tool in today’s world.
Dr. Betty Siegel’s speech on education covered all aspects of teaching. She spoke about her own life and her stories. These various stories included a story about when she cheated on a spelling test in elementary and how her teacher did not punish her, but told her not to cheat, but work harder because she was a smart girl. This event in her life made her always want to work harder and accomplish great things, but it was not the only event in her life that influenced her. Another story Dr. Siegel told was about how Professor Evans, a professor that influenced her to become a teacher. By sharing these stories Dr. Siegel helped to show how much teachers influence their students.
After sharing some stories about her own life she told several other influential stories that where just about life itself. All of these stories applied to the different aspects of teaching and the things that make up a good teacher. Dr. Siegel also talked a lot about the “heart of education” and how education is a calling. She reminded the audience that teaching is not just a calling, but also a responsibility. The point was also made that being a responsible teacher includes being knowledgeable about many topics, even those that have nothing to do with your field. Dr. Siegel talked about the social responsibility of teachers and toward the closing of her speech Dr Siegel said, “Children are the living messages you send to a tide you will not see again.” The main message that I personally got from Dr. Betty Siegel is that as a teacher you are responsible for teaching children because they will forever be influenced by your teaching.
A new technology called e2Campus allows campuses to to notify large numbers of students quickly and all at one time. This mass notification technology is especially useful during emergency. It is quick, efficient, and can be spread to a large number of students.
Most campuses use e2Campus to communicate with students through cell phones. Today, “over 90% of college students have cell phones.” This is the fastest way to reach students especially in a time of crisis.
Since e2Campus was invented in 2004 it has spread to many campuses across the United States. The e2Campus technology is able to inform students about simple things such as school closures, but it more importantly can inform students during an emergency, which may keep them from harm. This technology will more than like become a necessity for all colleges.
Academic Systems Algebra is a new online computerized way to teach algebra to students at the college level. Western Oklahoma State College has been implementing this new way to teach math. The new program allows the school to offer two of its introductory algebra class to students with the Academic Systems Algebra program.
This program is great for distance learners because it offers visuals for math online. It is not only good for distance learners, but also students who attend school because they are able to to take either one of the algebra classes offered with this program with only one instructor present.At Western Oklahoma State College math instructor Larray Huntzinger said, “the “stacked” class format allows the college to offer more choices to students, keeps classes fuller, and makes better use of faculty.”
Overall the Academic Systems Algebra helps all types of students and professors. The program is a good teaching tool and is accessible for students, as well as professors.
A new website called HippoCampus has been started by The Monterey Institute of Technology. This new website allows college and high school students to get help with general education, credit recovery, assistance with home school, and even offers help with AP education.
HippoCampus is available to all students with out any fee. Gary W. Lopez, executive director of The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education says, “Our mission is to increase access to quality education for everyone. HippoCampus is a big step toward achieving that goal. Individuals in all 50 U.S. states and 91 countries are already taking advantage of the complete course content on HippoCampus.”
Overall HippoCampus is a good resource for teachers and students. It offers help in many areas and is a new way to obtain information.
Teachers in Hutchinson, Kansas are now making their lectures available as podcast. Starting this year Teachers at elementary, middle and high schools in Hutchinson will make their lectures avialable each day through podcast. Teachers are able to record their lectures using digital cameras. Lectures may either be available in audio or video depending on the class or type of lecture.
Since students can download lectures on their iPods if they miss class or do not understand something in class they will have a way to view their lectures. This new way of using technology is especially helpful by covering reading and math skills to meet the “No Child Left Behind” standards.
The Patterson schools will make podcasts available through computers, televisons and iPods. Students will be able to check out iPods to view lectures. This new way of using technology in the classroom will be a valuable source for students in many different ways.
