After looking at the virtual worlds review website I didn't find any tools that really looked useful to me. The whole virtual world seems kind of like a video game and definitely not something I could see myself using in a classroom. It just doesn't seem like kids could learn from programs like this because it would come off as more of a game then an actual learning experience. The second life thing really threw me off as well because it just reminded me of SIMS and I have always thought that SIMS was a very provocative and useless game.
I also don't believe that this virtual reality is safe. I think that it exposes children to an uncontrollable world and who knows what kind of crazy people are hacking their way into these worlds. There is barely enough time for teachers to teach the curriculum that they need to get through let alone teach students a whole new virtual concept that might not even benefit them in any way. I believe that this whole virtual world thing is definitely a fad and has no place in education whatsoever.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
http://newark.osu.edu/jtebben/TebbenPDFs/15021199.pdf
This is a review on a software I found for teaching English to high school students. The software is called Bride Media International and it revolves around Shakespeare and theater based pieces of literature, i.e. the classics and mythology. When I first checked out the software website I thought it looked pretty informational and worth buying, but after reading the review, I began to think otherwise. According to the review the software may benefit students in some areas, but fails to create a true multi-media experience for learners. The review suggests that teachers look for an alternative software to help teach this particular topic. The review also discusses the fact that the software is slow at loading and does not contain enough information on each topic. It seems to me like this software is kind of "half-ass" for lack of a better term. If it doesn't go in depth into each piece of literature then I don't want it in my classroom. Of course I can't just base my whole belief on particular review, but the review seems to be very informational. I guess I would want to know more about if students that have used this software have actually benefited from it and if teachers that have used it have found any good in the product. Other than that I'm pretty convinced that I would avoid this product and try and find an alternative, even though the website for the software looked as professional as it did.
This is a review on a software I found for teaching English to high school students. The software is called Bride Media International and it revolves around Shakespeare and theater based pieces of literature, i.e. the classics and mythology. When I first checked out the software website I thought it looked pretty informational and worth buying, but after reading the review, I began to think otherwise. According to the review the software may benefit students in some areas, but fails to create a true multi-media experience for learners. The review suggests that teachers look for an alternative software to help teach this particular topic. The review also discusses the fact that the software is slow at loading and does not contain enough information on each topic. It seems to me like this software is kind of "half-ass" for lack of a better term. If it doesn't go in depth into each piece of literature then I don't want it in my classroom. Of course I can't just base my whole belief on particular review, but the review seems to be very informational. I guess I would want to know more about if students that have used this software have actually benefited from it and if teachers that have used it have found any good in the product. Other than that I'm pretty convinced that I would avoid this product and try and find an alternative, even though the website for the software looked as professional as it did.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
ed tech comment again!
http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/02/education-technology-got-bum-deal-in.html?showComment=1235666340000#c854055404261520715
ed tech comment!
http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/02/education-technology-got-bum-deal-in.html?showComment=1235666340000#c854055404261520715
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Blog #2 - - Software
The 5 types of software that I believe are most important for students to learn and be able to use are:
1. Word processing software
2. Academic software
3. Presentation software
4. Spreadsheet software
5. Database software
1. I believe that word processing software is a the most important and most useful type of software that students should learn and be taught. This software allows them to create works of all kinds and present them in a formal manner. It is also the most widely known and used software so it can apply to all different types of learning types. I think that this software should begin being taught to students around 3rd or 4th grade and should be a gradual process so students will become experts with this software by the time they reach high school.
2. I believe that academic software is the second most important software that students should learn and be taught because it revolves around a large variety of subjects and learning activities that help students to learn concepts and excel in the classroom. The integrated learning system, drill and practice section, and the reference section of this software are extremely beneficial to students because they allow students to explore all different ways of learning a concept. These applications open students eyes to all sorts of new skills and learning materials that will change and help them to better their grades. This software should also begin being taught to students around the 3rd and 4th grade level due to the fact that games, and practice exercises are helpful and fun for students of younger ages and will help to get them excited about learning. This should also be a gradual learning process as well.
3. Presentation software comes in 3rd for level of importance for me because I believe that the presentation of projects and group/individual work doesn't really begin to affect students until their later years. Although this is the case, I think that these skills that this software provides are very beneficial and worth learning. I also believe that they are necessary for schooling purposes as well as later in life. I think that this software should be taught to students beginning in 6th or 7th grade because of the point I made earlier regarding how most projects and group work don't really begin for students until their later years of schooling.
4. Spreadsheet software would be my 4th choice. It is definitely necessary for students to learn, but I just don't believe that it is AS important as the softwares I listed earlier. Spreadsheets offer organization skills and offer ways to emphasize all kinds of material in a variety of different orders and combinations. I think that it may be more beneficial for teachers rather than students, but students can use this software to organize their work as well. I think that this software should be taught to students around 7th grade, just because of its difficulty level. I, myself didn't learn how to master this software until high school because it was so complicated for me to get the hang of, but once I got it under control I felt much more prepared for college.
5. The final software I believe students should be taught is database software. This software becomes very useful in college and helps students with research as well as storing and organizing information. Because of the easier reality of spreadsheets, databases are not as widely used, but I believe that they will help students greatly in the long run. This software should be taught to students in high school. If it is taught in high school, it will be fresh in students' minds and better prepare them for the college experience and use of databases.
1. Word processing software
2. Academic software
3. Presentation software
4. Spreadsheet software
5. Database software
1. I believe that word processing software is a the most important and most useful type of software that students should learn and be taught. This software allows them to create works of all kinds and present them in a formal manner. It is also the most widely known and used software so it can apply to all different types of learning types. I think that this software should begin being taught to students around 3rd or 4th grade and should be a gradual process so students will become experts with this software by the time they reach high school.
2. I believe that academic software is the second most important software that students should learn and be taught because it revolves around a large variety of subjects and learning activities that help students to learn concepts and excel in the classroom. The integrated learning system, drill and practice section, and the reference section of this software are extremely beneficial to students because they allow students to explore all different ways of learning a concept. These applications open students eyes to all sorts of new skills and learning materials that will change and help them to better their grades. This software should also begin being taught to students around the 3rd and 4th grade level due to the fact that games, and practice exercises are helpful and fun for students of younger ages and will help to get them excited about learning. This should also be a gradual learning process as well.
3. Presentation software comes in 3rd for level of importance for me because I believe that the presentation of projects and group/individual work doesn't really begin to affect students until their later years. Although this is the case, I think that these skills that this software provides are very beneficial and worth learning. I also believe that they are necessary for schooling purposes as well as later in life. I think that this software should be taught to students beginning in 6th or 7th grade because of the point I made earlier regarding how most projects and group work don't really begin for students until their later years of schooling.
4. Spreadsheet software would be my 4th choice. It is definitely necessary for students to learn, but I just don't believe that it is AS important as the softwares I listed earlier. Spreadsheets offer organization skills and offer ways to emphasize all kinds of material in a variety of different orders and combinations. I think that it may be more beneficial for teachers rather than students, but students can use this software to organize their work as well. I think that this software should be taught to students around 7th grade, just because of its difficulty level. I, myself didn't learn how to master this software until high school because it was so complicated for me to get the hang of, but once I got it under control I felt much more prepared for college.
5. The final software I believe students should be taught is database software. This software becomes very useful in college and helps students with research as well as storing and organizing information. Because of the easier reality of spreadsheets, databases are not as widely used, but I believe that they will help students greatly in the long run. This software should be taught to students in high school. If it is taught in high school, it will be fresh in students' minds and better prepare them for the college experience and use of databases.
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