Weekend One - Saturday

Wow... after finishing EDL 571 last October (... or maybe it was September), it has been a while since I have been in a class. My time has been spent on my administrative internship. While that is an entire series of blogs all in itself (which I am sure that you are all keen to read), I will devote this blog to my first day of EDL 518.First of all, let me state how great it is to have Dr. Closen again. He teaches a pretty mean 522, which, if you haven't had it yet, I highly recommend it... well, it's also required for certification so... there's that too! White shirt, coat, tie, golf, and Star Trek aside, I find Dr. Closen's methods of teaching very effective, his assignments meaningful, and his feedback constructive. No, Dr. Closen, I am not brown-nosing, I have just had a few bad experiences with faculty members who were not... you know what, let me stop here while I'm ahead.About the first meeting of class: it was eye-opening already. The activity where we classified technological terms on the "visibility" continuum was very effective in that I believe each of us learned a few new terms that I think is important for each of us to know. From "Happy Slapping" to "Frenemies" to "Sexting," these are things that we all need to be cognoscente of as many of our students are more adept at utilizing technology than we are. It is almost scary.

Go Cubs Go!- Scott

Weekend 1 - Technology Plans

I find it very interesting that in Illinois they are required to have these elaborate technology plans and in Iowa my technology guru says we don't have a plan and don't need one. I understand his point that technology should be incorporated into our everyday lives but I also know in reality it isn't. At least not in my school. I think there should be a happy medium. Somewhere in between a multiple, difficult to read document and no document at all. I think the video raised a good point. Our kids are using all kinds of technology so lets use it to benefit them.

Weekend 1 - Copyrights

I think one thing that I found most interesting (or probably most scary) is the possible copyright violations that are occurring in our schools. I think of the things we have done in groups as a counselor and am sure that I have violated a copyright many times. It is a bit reassuring to know that it usually isn't a legal problem but still concerns me. I hope that I have a clearer understanding now and am in a better position to follow the law. I am sure there will still be issues but as a potential administrator I hope that I have found one area where I can eliminate potential problems.

1st day

I thought it was interesting and scary that teachers could get in trouble for watching a movie in class. In our school we watch movies as a reward for any students that reach certain expectations. When I was watching the gorilla movie, I didn't notice that the gorilla was actually in the movie, but I did notice something walking across the screen. I didn't pay any attention to what it was exactly, but you would think a gorilla would stand out to me.

Tech Plans

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Tech Plans
I didn't know that Illinois e-Plan Technology Plans existed and were required to be in place by school districts. I am glad to see there is a standard template for creating them. They appear to be long and repetitious but I can see the validity and need for having them. Summary and analysis is necessary for creating focus and goals for a school district and the people working within it. The information on copyright laws was interesting but confusing to sort it all out.
Posted by Lisa at 8:42 PM 0 comments

Weekend 1- Saturday

All of the copyright laws and procedures that are in place for schools really opened my eyes! Also, I thought it was good for us to go through the technology plans. It wasn't until this activity that I realized how much was actually included and the time and work it must have taken to put one together. It makes me question how many teachers are aware of the technology plan that is in place within their school/district.

EDL 518 3-14

I have to admit, I had A LOT of ahh-haa moments in class!! #1 - the gorilla??? Sheeze, I know that I can become focused, but to miss that?!?!?!?! #2 - I didn't realize that I have been illegally showing documentaries in my classroom!!!! I guess it seems like an oxymoron to me that we should be educating our children, and the easiest way it seems is with technology, but we are limited by what we can "leagally" copy, show, distribute!! I suppose I could feign ignorance, but will that work?!?!