Podcast

listen to ‘Global Education 2’ on Audioboo

http://www.globalteacher.org.uk/global_ed.htm

http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/nscentre/GE/GE-Guidelines/GEgs-chap1.pdf

http://plpnetwork.com/2012/05/29/our-skype-adventures-creating-connected-learners-in-the-global-classroom/

Hypermedia Tools For 21st Century Teaching

What does the term "hypermedia" mean? Honestly, this was a concept that I had a hard time grasping and had to look to further resources to help my understanding. What I gathered from the many sources I looked to was that hypermedia is software that allows information stored in various media to be connected. For example, when watching a Youtube video, there are "suggested videos" that are given which relate to the topic of the video that is playing. When a video is uploaded to Youtube, you are asked to provide a few keywords describing what is in the video. This is so that people can search within a related topic rather than only being able to find a video by its exact name. Techopedia describes hypermedia as "Hypermedia allows links to be embedded in multimedia elements like images and videos. You can tell if something is hypermedia by hovering the mouse cursor over the image or video - if the element is hypermedia, the cursor changes, usually into a small hand.

Although the Internet is the best example of the use of hypermedia, there is a lot of software that makes use of both hypermedia and hypertext. A lot of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software like Microsoft Office allow hypermedia and hypertext to be embedded into the documents created. For example, in Microsoft Word, users can add hyperlinks to any word and even add links to pictures. Microsoft PowerPoint has the same feature for hypermedia."
How is this useful within the classroom? Hypermedia can be used within the classroom by both student and teacher. Teachers can use hypermedia tools and programs to facilitate instruction; using software, such as educational games, to present information is a fun way to catch the student's interest. Students can also use hypermedia programs for creating projects and as a means for research in a technological manner. Research has found that students are more enthused about completing a project or paper when hypermedia is involved. Hypermedia programs also benefit students with different intelligences by providing students with the opportunity to learn using diverse tools. When there is the opportunity to learn using different methods, students are more apt to be interested in the assignment because the choice is in their hands. The creation of hypermedia products also allows students to apply higher order thinking skills in their work by challenging them to constantly make decisions and evaluate their progress.

Picture Location

A fun way for teachers to integrate hypermedia into the classroom is through game-based reviews. In middle school, my teacher would use the game Jeopardy to review for an upcoming test. He would hook the game up to a projector and the class would play it as a whole, but it would also be fun to do in groups using one computer per couple of children. Another way to incorporate hypermedia in the classroom is through interactive storybooks. The creation of these storybooks allows children to expand  on literature that they have read or create their own story. Others may read their storybook by clicking on different parts of the page to hear or view parts of the story.

Allie


Hypermedia. 2013. In Techopedia.com. Retrieved November 29th, 2013, from http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3105/hypermedia


Roberson, M. (2010, February 28). Examples of Hypermedia. Retrieved from 
http://roberson.wikispaces.com/Examples of Hypermedia

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Reflection on Articles

As I was reading over the article "Being Comfortable Being A Beginner", I couldn't help but reflect on my own outlook on being a beginner. I tend to stray away from things which challenge me to start a new learning process, mostly out of fear of failure. One major area in my life which I have a fear of starting over is in relation to jobs. I worry that I will not be able to adjust to the new circumstances, and regret my decision to make the transfer. Although in most aspects of life I tend to stick with the well-known, there are definitely some circumstances where I feel as if the jump is worth the risk, such as running. Running is something that is new in my life, and I was very nervous to take up the hobby because of a fear of defeat. Although there was a fear, there was also the thought of "this could be so rewarding". Perhaps this is how I feel about technology integration; I see the benefits that technology can give, but maybe in the back of my mind I am afraid to be a beginner.

After reading "Being Comfortable Being A Beginner", I then read the article "First Steps Toward Becoming A 21st Century Educator". I think that this was the perfect article to back up the first one because the author provided great insight about the tools that are used within 21st century teaching. She described the benefits of the technological tools and how they are helpful towards teaching, which encouraged me to think about taking the leap into fully supporting technology integration. Another thing that I supported within the article was how the author was discussing the benefits that technology gives to a teacher, but did not focus on the students. Although I think that technology has the power to benefit both teacher and student, I do think that it can be more useful within the eyes of a teacher.

Although I do have a pretty good idea on what my opinions are, not only on educational topics but in relation to all things in the world, I am still young and have room for expansion. Since I am only 20, I have not had a lot of the life experiences which form the concrete stances in one's mind. Reading articles, such as these ones, allows me to gain insight from others around the world and mold my idea's into the opinions that I will carry with me.

Allie

Vision of Technology Integration

Technology has become a dominant factor in most people's daily routine, whether it be work related, social, or functional tools. The use of technology is inevitable; however, I am cautious in my beliefs of how much it should be incorporated into a classroom setting. Should we introduce technology to children at a young age in preparation for the future? Or is it best to use traditional methods in education? I think that a balance of both technological and traditional methods should take place in the classroom; we should not rely too heavily on either.

Technology is a powerful resource in many aspects of life, but is it something that we depend on too heavily? Many people would not be able to function properly if technological tools were taken away from them, and this is a thought that scares me. Simple skills that we used to perform using our minds have been replaced by tools such as computers and calculators. What if these tools no longer existed? Before we introduce these technological tools to children, I believe that we need to first teach them how to solve problems mentally. The New Hampshire Education Standards state that by the end of grade four, a student should “demonstrate the capacity to use a variety of basic reference tools, such as dictionaries, maps and globes, encyclopedias, newspapers, and magazines.” (“K-12 Career Development Curriculum Framework”, 2006). Technology should act as a secondary building block in education; it should be an expansion of concepts which the student has already been taught, rather than the main focus. Once a concept has been accomplished mentally, it is then appropriate to introduce the student to incorporating technology.

Most students in present day have grown up using technology, it is how they were raised and what they are used to. Incorporating technology in the classroom can help students to become more interested in learning. The inclusion of something that they are familiar with may help by spiking their interest in participation, rather than learning to use skills which are foreign to them. When a student is knowledgable in a subject or concept, they are more apt to want to further that knowledge. Working with familiar tools also helps the student to feel confident in their work. When a child understands and

is knowledgable on a concept, it is likely that they are going to want to declare that knowledge through the work that they put forth.

Technology provides many benefits to a classroom; through technological tools, students are

able to practice cause and effect, communicate and interact with other students across the world, use

research tools, and work collaboratively. Although it is able to accomplish these things without the use of technology, computers make it easier and more time-efficient. Using technology also gives the students a sense of independence, which can either help or hinder their desire to participate.

It is also important to consider the beneficial aspects that technology plays in regards to children with different learning styles and capacities. “Students posses different kinds of minds and therefore learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways” (Gardner, 1983). Rather than every student receiving information presented in the same way, technology allows each student to gather information based on their own learning style. For example, some students are hands on while others learn through visual aids. Technology has the ability to accommodate to each preferred method by using video, games, reading, and audio.

There are undeniable benefits that technological tools bring within a classroom setting. While I do think that technology has a place within education, I think that it needs to be presented in moderation. We do not want future generations to rely too heavily on technological tools; it is our job to teach and inform students on other methods of accomplishing tasks while still including the incorporation of technology in the classroom.

K-12 Career Development Curriculum Framework. Oct. 2006. Retrieved from

Http://www.education.nh.gov/career/guidance/documents/framework_k12.pdf.

Gardner, Howard. Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic, 1983.

Print.

New Learners of the 21st Century

It is hard for me to determine how much technology I believe should be incorporated into the classroom. There are two complete opposite sides of the spectrum, schools such as Quest to Learn, and schools which are against technology integration. Both seem a little drastic in my eyes, but I am open to learning reason and strategy behind each of the opposites.

During the part of the New Learners of the 21st Century video when Quest to Learn was being discussed, I was a little taken back. Although I knew that schools such as this existed, it was a little mind boggling to see. I appreciate and understand where the teachers and creators of this school are coming from; however, it just seem like it wouldn't feel like a school environment. Perhaps I cannot fully imagine going to a school like this because of my own personal schooling experiences. In grade school, although we used technology sporadically, we stuck with traditional methods. Even attending SNHU online was an adjustment to me; schooling that revolved an online database seemed impersonal, and I was not sure if I could adjust to the new experience. 

One quote that stood out to me within the video, was said by a teacher at Quest to Learn. The teacher stated, "All a video game is, is a set of problems you must solve to win." Although I have always thought of particular games, such as sudoku, in this manner, I had never thought to associate this with all video games. Now as I reflect on this statement, I can appreciate where this teacher is coming from. In order to succeed in video games, you must possess a sense of logic. Within a logical mind, comes the ability for problem solving and common sense. 

Allie

New Learners of the 21st Century. PBS, 2011.

Technology In My Life

I would not consider myself technologically obsessed, but I definitely use technology a substantial amount throughout the day. I begin my day by waking up by an alarm which was set on my cell phone, something in which I could not go without. I also use my cell phone multiple times throughout the day for many different purposes. I don't really use social media websites very often, but I do have a twitter account that I check occasionally.

I suppose most of my technology use comes from watching television. I work in a child care center, so after a long day all I want to do is come home and snuggle on the couch while I watch some television. I also just bought myself a MacBook this weekend so my technology usage is bound to increase.

My Puppy

My two favorite celebrities--Chelsea Handler and Macklemore