PBL Video Link

I completed my PBL presentation on Photosynthesis. The web 2.0 technologies I used were Facebook (Social Networking site), Prezi, and Videos. I hope you enjoy the presentation and gives you some ideas for your own classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBtDeCIFAmc

Dixon's Review on Amazon.Com

Facebook is the most popular social networking site currently on the internet. Dixons explains some detailed information in the Facebook chapter of The Innovative School Leaders Guide to Social Media. This chapter is not only for the novice user of Facebook, but it also is very helpful to those that have quite a handle on the social media site. From post and pictures, to scheduling events. This guide is essential to those that want to understand the functions and usages of Facebook. Not only is the different aspects of Facebook explained in the chapter but it gives specific examples of how to incorporate Facebook into the school system. This guide also gives you the advantages of using Facebook within your class, school, or a business standpoint. It explains that everytime someone views a page or ad Facebook tracks this information. From a standpoint of advertising Facebook is cost effective and gets the job done much faster and cheaper than regular advertisements on television, radio, and billboards. As a school leader this chapter explains all the benefits of using Facebook that definitely outweigh the cons. Dixon does a great job of pointing out the easy ways to use Facebook for your school.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/ALX7T1RT3WARL?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_thx_pdp

Amazon Book Review

Hands down! This is a great add to your literature library of resources for teachers. I am a computer savvy teacher and I have been known to incorporate technology into my lesson but Richardson's book gives you excellent ideas on how to incorporate technology into education. From helping you be a better teacher in your management of paperwork and communication Richardson gives A+ ideas on how to make blogs that keep you organized and in touch with students and parents in this technological age. He even gives easy and simple ideas on how to create and manage school websites. This book gives countless ideas on how to engage students into activities through technology. Many areas are catching on to technology but Education is slow to adapt but it is inevitable. Our students are using many technology tools but without proper guidance while many teachers have no clue about Facebook, podcast, and blogs. The tools in this book are easy ways to use within a classroom and will help close the gap. Richardson shares with educators a few tools that can be used in the education that will connect technology with education. The tools are Weblogs, Wikis, Really Simple Syndication (RSS), Aggregators, Social Bookmarking, Online Photo Galleries, Audio/Video Casting, Twitter, and Social Networking Sites. This is a book that will help all teachers increase their technology knowledge in the schools and classroom.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/ALX7T1RT3WARL?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_thx_pdp

Project Based Lesson

It was simple and easy for me to decide what Web 2.0 tool to use for the project based lesson for our class assignment. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to use Prezi. It was a very easy decision for me because when I was first introduced to the tooI I was hooked. It was new and exciting for me to explore, learn, and use the techology tool. I quickly decided to teach my students the tool and substitute Prezi in place of a powerpoint for an end of the year assignment I was just about to give my students. The lesson for my project based lesson focus on photosynthesis in the subject of Science. The standards want students to be able to investigate and describe the processes that enable plants to use certain elements to process food for themselves. Also, according to the state standards students have to be able to provide evidence from research to explain how plants can use the food they make. Students will be comparing and contrasting how humans and plants make and use food. Students will be critically thinking throughout this lesson as well as collaborating on ideas for the Venn Diagram and the Prezi presentation. This lesson will enhance communication skills and hold students responsible for their learning and classwork. I created a rubric in for the Prezi presentation to as a way of assessing the student’s assignments.

Crowd Accelerated Innovation

What in the world is Crowd Accelerated Innovation? I kept asking myself as I looked at the assignment over and over again. "I hope this isn't some boring article about some boring idea." To my surprise reading Chris Anderson's article on Crowd Accelerated Innovation was quite interesting. He immediately pulled me in when he talked about dancing and the 6 year old boy who mastered the dance moves on the video. I was hooked. I kept thinking, "what does this have to do with Crowd Accelerated Innovation and what is it anyway?" After reading some more the question was answered in the article. It is exactly what it means. A new idea or method being quickly spread by people. Aha! Ok, now I get it. The first thing that came to mind is Youtube. When I was growing up and wanted to learn the latest dances and I tuned into videos on a daily basis. I watched, and practiced. When I mastered some 80's moves I went to a school dance or party and showed my stuff. Crowd Accelerated Innovation is nothing new. It just the format in which people learn the new ideas. We have the internet now and it gives people access to many different ideas, skills, and methods to practice, learn and show. That is exactly what happened in the youtube videos posted by Dr. Umpstead on the technology vs non technology lessons. I watched the videos thinking focused on the fact that I had completed the assignment and was truly looking for the end result to be that technology lesson plans proved that they engage, show improvement in practice, and higher test scores. The video on spelling didn't give me the expectations I was looking for but it did agree with the overall big idea that I was left with when I completed the assignment. When I completed the assignment I concluded that by intergrading technology with the knowledge of skills teacher bring to the table is a winning combination. I also saw the students proudly say that it wasn't best use of technology for the skill being taught but it made learning fun, and engaging. So in this case when there is a crowd (people with a common interest) and a light (Youtube videos, Internet, School) and desire (test scores, comments on a blog, survey from a class) we have accomplished Crowd Accelerated Innovation.

PB WORKs

Here is the PB works site for my the group assignment.
http://edu653group1.pbworks.com

Group members are: Cari Tester, Eric Johnson, and Adrion Walker

Colbert on Editing Wikipedia

I have actually seen the Colbert video on Wikipedia which is quite hilarious I might say. I viewed it again and I do not hold the same opinion about Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a good site to use for research and find out information that you would have not known otherwise. Even still, I would always check additional sources to verify that the information is correct. I believe that the editing process of Wikipedia is still left up to any and everyone. I do believe that it does hold some accountability to originators editing a page. I think individuals are notified of changes and they can correct them or leave them. It is still left up to individuals that may not hold an account anymore or care that much to correct the information. I still don't feel comfortable with the information being absolutely true. I really had no idea of what source to edit with incorrect information. I happen to be watching The Voice. A new television show similar to American Idol. One of the guest were R & B singer Monica. I looked up the page for Monica edited the work place of Monica's mother from Delta Air Line to Delta Airport. I checked back a few hours later and the error was corrected back to Delta Air Line. Obviously, someone was notified of the change and corrected the information quickly. I was happy to know that the information was corrected but what if I needed that information during the time the information was incorrect? I'm just not sure about everyone being able to add and edit information. Even myself.