week 2 class recap

Okay, besides the fact that I am beyond annoyed with Blogger right now because I typed up 500 words and it wouldn't publish it, let me copy it, let me save it, or anything I will re-blog about last class. My only option was to delete and retype. This makes me resistant to mandated blogs but I obviously have no choice but to retype the entire thing. It might be more abrasive this time because i am irritated but you'll survive.

This class was all about photos real or hoax? We, as a class, we through wayyyyyyyy more photos than necessary and determined if they were real or not. This activity was fun but I think 5 or 6 photos is enough, we certainly don't need to waste time looking through an hours worth of Internet photos but we did. We then watched as a Photoshop picture came together and after that was done we finally were allowed to get our hands dirty and start on our assignments. We merged three separate photos into one and posted in on Flickr. I found Photoshop to be what I expected, functional with more buttons than I needed and not quiet enough options to the few functions I used most often. For example the lasso functions would be far more  user friendly if you could un-click your last point to re-position it more accurately instead of having to re-outline the entire thing. As for classroom use, I don't think it's for me. I might employ it to create things for my classroom but only if they aren't too time consuming and I can't find a different resource. As for student use, its fun to play with but necessarily a functional teaching tool. I can see having part of an assignment be to create some sort of visual representation but the Photoshop part would be purely superficial and wouldn't meet any CCSS. I can only envision the use of this application in Health but still the actual Photoshop part wouldn't be academic. The assignment would quickly become how to use and manipulate Photoshop and I know this is unreasonable with all the demands placed on teachers and student learning. I mean we cant even celebrate Halloween, why would we waste time playing on Photoshop?

I can see the need to help children decipher an interpret the images they are bombarded with but it is unreasonable to think that the kids in the classroom have never realized that pictures can be fake and that media and people lie to get their way. Children are perceptive and insightful to society and the way people behave around them. Parents also use commercials and the Internet as teaching opportunities to talk about the different ways media tries to influence people and help their children to understand and make choices based on this information. I think this can be supplemented in the classroom but not worth a lesson plan solely on real or hoax online photos.

As for Photoshop, I am likely to not ever use it again or I could end up doctoring every photo I take from here on out, but not likely. I appreciate the chance to experience it though and every should go and play around a little bit.

April 3. 2012 ED421 Class Recap

Tuesday was the first time ED 421 met for the Spring '12 term. We were introduced to a couple of new things that were allowed to create, explore, and play with. 

Firstly we create this blog, which I am finding out I just might more than like blogging. The use of a blog is so versatile the possibilities are endless. Besides the fact that you can write about whatever you want with a real live audience to read your work, you can format and manipulate many features helping the user become more computer literate. In the classroom a blog can be powerful. Sometimes teachers plant great ideas or point out some apparent wrong doing and students rise in an uproar with the need to do something. A blog is a great way to share concerns, opinions, and big ideas with a real audience that can produce actual outcomes. This is empowering and has a magnificent effect on students work. In my experience, more time is spent on sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and punctuate. More drafts are made and more people work in collaboration   when there is a real audience outside of the teacher to read your written work.

Secondly we explored BigHugeLabs.com which is a site that lists many other sites that mostly have to do with photos but not entirely. I personally investigated a make-your-own-jigsaw webpage called Jigsaw. It very quickly made any photo into a puzzle but it cost about $30. Most of the sites wanted a username and password and cost money to receive the product. Additionally you could do things like create motivational posters, create color palettes from your photos or check to sunrise/sunset time of any location in the world to name a few. I am sure this website can be used in the classroom considering there are so many options for taking a single photo and create tons of fun stuff.

Lastly we played on the SmartBoard. I haven't had a chance to play around with one yet and I was excited to get my hands on it. I, unfortunately, noticed some issues for easy use. I am so used to a touch screen that I kept trying to scroll by touching a dragging but that only highlighted the text. Because I am right handed I want to stand on the right side of the board so I can write (because it is a white board) but then when you need to scroll down the page you have to walk to the left side and drag the handle down, with cords from the computer in the way, it became tedious and a danger. I imagine there are a thousands other things you can do on the SmartBoard and I am willing to try it for them but the computer can be just as effective when you have it projected on the wall for the purpose we used it for. 

Until Next Week,

Jessica

Web2.0

Web2.0 The Web Application Index is an interesting experiences. With a members and a blog tab accompanying the directory, you know there's more to this site than meets the eye. After a minute you discover to many tags you can use to filter the many websites to your preferences.

On Web2.0 I immediately filtered the sites with tag of 'kids' and one of the first sites was Farmville. Farmville is a fun game but it is real time so you get sucked into going to your 'crops' before they wither so you can harvest them. I wouldn't have this in my classroom but I do play it myself on Facebook (level 81). I have found, however, that the crops look accurate. Never would I have realized pineapples grow from the ground like artichokes if I hadn't of grown them on my virtual farm.

GameClassroom caught my eye immediately after Farmville. This site didn't ask for a log in and password (thank God) but I did have to download a new version of the Adobe Flashplayer. The first game I chose at random was one that I played for a little while. It's a simple addition game but when you consider this game on the grade level specific Kindergrarten page, it might be difficult. You shoot the bullet ball with a number on it at another ball with a different number on it to make a different number. You focus on one sum the whole time with the ability to chose from the numbers 4-15. The fourth grade page had exciting categories like technology and problem solving. The Magic Library is a typing game featuring falling letters of varying speeds which causes the typist to react quickly thus honing their typing skills.
I am really surprised with this website. The next time my nephew comes over I am going to direct him to these games instead of some of the other ones he likes playing. I think this particular website is designed for teachers and parents to use as a teaching tool. I can see myself using this as a special activity for students who have earned the time to play on it therefore making it more desirable. Overall it is fun and exciting with many options for every student be entertained while learning.

TogetherVille an Online Neighborhoods for Kids was a site I found under the tag 'community'. It's a social networking community that parents establish for the kids where their neighborhood consists of real life, already established friends and family.... Or so that what it says. After trying to go to the page to investigate further, it apparently is no longer in service but it offers alternative safe sites that are all Disney brand.

Freezly.com is the website for all those coupon clipping, free sample hunting people out there. It list by category all the free stuff on the Internet. As a couponer, I love this. I often check Target.com samples and Shop4freebies.com to scoop up any free sample I can and this website directs me to all the other sites out there as well and lines them up neatly. I could use this to collect free items for my future classroom and students.

Overall Web2.0 is pretty cool but not necessarily reasonable when Google is already my preferred browser and does pretty much the same thing with a different sort of accuracy.

12 Things in 2012

In life, everyone has things they want to accomplish and expect to do before they die. I have never made a bucket list but at the beginning of 2012 I decided to make a list of 12 things I want to complete, accomplish or try before 2012 is over. Here is my list and I must say that many things are on their way or have at least been started.

1. Make a quilt: I started one as my New Years resolution, and by start I mean: bought stuff and cut a couple of squares out. That is why I am making it number one. I ALWAYS make a resolution and keep it, so here I go ;)

2. Volunteer for the homeless: This year I have noticed an exceptionally high amount of homeless people on the streets of Salem and Keizer. I feel the need to help heavy in my heart. Therefore, I would love to take my couponing and turn some of the inventory into homeless persons 'kits' with sample size personal hygiene products and what not in it. I will bake pies and take them to the mission for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I will serve food at least twice at a facility. I would like to try and do a food drive (if anyone is interested, we can collaborate and it can be one of your 12 too!), the mission has some great stuff for holding one and I think it is soooo doable!

3. Reduce my carbon foot print: I'm thinking I will try carpooling and using the cars less often in general. My biggest hope is to reduce my garbage output. I read an article about a family of three who produced only one bag of garbage in the whole year. I wish I was this capable and motivated but I think more realistically I will kick the recycling up a notch by using my red container and composting ALL my compostable food to the worms, not just when I feel like it. I will also look into exactly what can be put in each bin and how to dispose of it in that bin (no labels, clean, etc.) and actively distribute the garbage properly.

4. Stop saving clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, purses, etc for 'speacial' occasions and then never wearing them! My mantra is 'JUST WEAR IT' and I intend to follow through 100% and have already started doing so. I've been sporting some pretty fancy pants (and shoes)  lately :)

5. Maintain GPA: At present I have the amazing GPA of 3.89 and I would like to keep it that way. If it weren't for that drawing class I got a C in, I would have a 4.0, but that's besides the point.. I am going into the Education Program at Western next term and I will maintain straight A's until graduation in June 2013. This one is a given for me, but is worth writing down and sharing I think.

6. Credit Cards at $300 or less by the end or through the year: In other words; I will stop using them so much. I have four: two Visa's and two store cards: Victoria's Secret and Old Navy. Some have higher limits than others and they are all border maxed always! The buck stops here(snicker)! I will pay higher monthly amounts until they are at $300 dollars and then I will maintain a balance of no more than $300 on each for the year (and longer hopefully).

7. Follow through with the mending basket: I have things that I buy and think 'I'll hem them' and then I never wear them because they are too long and I never hemmed them. I have a basket with clothes that need various mending and I will mend them all and keep the basket empty throughout the year.. This includes making that apron from that kit I bought and making my bedroom curtain that I bought the fabric for last year.

8. Book List: Here is a list of books I have and need to finish reading or start all together: Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice (finish), Three Cups of Tea (finish), the True Blood series (like 9 books or something), and Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half. I will also read any books I buy versus making a pile lol.

9. Finish my V.C. Andrews collection:  V.C. Andrews is a much loved author of mine and I have been reading and collecting her novels forever! I think I have 69 of the 74 books or something along those lines. The remaining books I need are titled: Flowers in the Attic, If There Be Thorns, Twisted Roots, Into the Woods, Hidden Leaves, Broken Wings, and the newest Cloudburst series I haven't even seen in stores yet. I am always on the look out for these novels and some are hard to find, so if you come across one I would love you forever if you grabbed it for me and I will reimburse you ;)

10. Organize my craft and linen closets: They are out of control, nuff said!

11. Replace my desk: This also means making my 'den' a more functional office/sewing space/kids room. I want an L shaped desk with drawers and they are hard to find for a decent price!

12. Start Learning another Language: I already 'know' sign language and would love to learn Spanish amongst others, so Spanish is on my list. J's putting it on his list too so we can learn together!