Integrating Websites into the Classroom

For our assignment we are told to look at a website and evaluate that site, I picked:


The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org

My Brief Description:
When I first opened the page I clicked on the search topic "soccer" and the page just looked like a glorified Google search page, I went to find out that the results are filtered for content which is a great feature for students. I then went back to the main page to see that they had 5 other main sections with their own work.

What are two ways the site could be used in the classroom?
As a trusted site with content when a student is researching a paper you can send them to this site with out to many fears of advertising or bad pages, the sections for kids and teens are really well designed and have help with common school related topics.

The second thing I liked is the "ask an ipl2 librarian" feature, which connects the student to a "real" person if they are having problems using this on line library.


How could the site be used to extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom?
I use the University of Oregon's library all the time out of school to look up interesting topics, I could see students learning about this research library and want to use this page for more than just in the classroom, in the teen section they have an area called "Handle Your Finances" which has information on budgeting and finding a job. This site has lots of information that can be used in and out off the classroom with a minimal learning curve. Print Page in IE

Exploring Project-Based Learning Projects

I chose the designing a state-of-the-art high school Project-Based Learning Project found at: http://www.edutopia.org/mountlake-terrace-schools-2050-project


Why did you choose this project as your favorite of the six? Identify specific aspects that appeal to you.

This project combines a lot of standards in one large project, it also add some real world elements in the budgeting of finances.The part I liked the most was the project added competition between the students who are trying to win the 2050 contract. I think adding the competition is very important as I think the students will preform better.

Adding the video at the end also adds important skills in working as a team and preforming as a group, much like a real world project bid I think this is a useful skill for students to learn at an early age and I see it as a skill that is missing even at college level these days.

Which higher-level thinking skills (from Bloom's Taxonomy) does the project utilize?

This PBL project uses comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation which is all of the higher level thinking skills. The math skills is a skill that they need to learn and they are putting that math skill into designing a project which they will need to think outside the box to solve the "problem", then they will need to create a video and sell that knowledge to the other class teams.

What (if anything) about the project could be improved?

I would like to show the students local buildings that use modern technology, for example taking the students to the UofO and looking at the business school and the science building underground. Then I would put tough restrictions on what they can use to design the building using local building code, which could be presented by a local builder or someone from government to keep them thinking even more about what restrictions they may face in real life and think harder about real world restrictions and explore why so many buildings look the same today. Print Page in IE

Student development with telecollaborative projects

How do quality telecollaborative projects develop students’ critical thinking skills (the highest levels on the Bloom’s Taxonomy pyramid)?

Two of the most important thinking skills on Bloom’s Taxonomy pyramid have to do with analysis and synthesis of information. As the chart shows, during analysis, the student distinguishes, classifies, and relates the assumptions, hypotheses, evidence, or structure of a statement or question. During synthesis, the student originates, integrates, and combines ideas into a product, plan or proposal that is new to him or her.  

A big part of these two thinking skills is used when developing collaborative projects, and that is one of the areas best used with the use of technology, specifically internets and intranets. Having an online area where a project is posted allows the different group members to leave information, and use information left by other people without having to spend time digging for it themselves.  

Most universities now have online blackboards where assignments and grades are posted. Since each student has their own pin number, they can judge their progress without other students’ prying eyes.  

It is much easier to classify information and relate differing views or experiments using computers. Using these same programs, such as Excel, the student can then synthesize all of the information into one useable project. With computers, tele-learning and other methods of telecollaboration, getting a group of people together at the same time, poring over information found in many different locations would be a huge mess and big time waster. Using technology also allows results to be posted faster, which in turn keeps students from getting bored or discouraged. Print Page in IE

My Technology Past, Present, and Future

1) TECH PAST:
In the early nineties when I was in high school we had very little technology.  The computer lab had a dos 5.1 based program that tracked typing speeds, and the first Oregon Trail game. At home during this time my family just started using bulletin board systems that used dial up to get text and ascii pictures. My Sophomore year my parents purchased a Pentium 60 for $3000 and all my friends would come over to look at the games it had. The same year we purchased a CD player which was one of the first in my town.

2) TECH PRESENT:
I want to incorporate the use of technology at High School grade level in the sciences. I would like to have the students know how to use Excel to report data and do online research. I would want my students to have advanced layouts in the reports they would hand in.  All of the technology skills are what they need in the working environment. 

3) TECH FUTURE:
The most challenging problem is trying to use technology in the science class room on a budget.  At Willamette High School they only have 2 or 3 rooms "technology enabled", with a standard classroom size of thirty students.  The amount of money required to purchase 30 computers and software would be astounding. Print Page in IE