The article I read for this assignment looked at the social practices and the role of literacy in children's online gaming practices. It was a case study involving kids aged 5-11 playing Club Penguin. The researcher found that literacy was used to 'develop online social cohesion'. These kids use these virtual worlds to connect with current peers and make new acquaintances. She describes literacy as an important social practice. Many of our social norms are used in these online worlds (personal space between players, social rituals and social order). While some of our social norms are not translated into this environment - she offers the example that it is a regular practice to ignore another player by walking away when they are talking or even to tell them to go away. She describes this as online 'disinhibition' where the use of an avitar creates a sense of anonymity. This social practice was accepted in this world.
She describes the way social, economic and cultural capital impacts the player's membership and that at times this online social placement mirrors a child's life outside club penguin. These kids were creating and maintaining a social order within the game. For example, those with more money will become members and will be able to accessorize their penguin creating an economic discrepancy within the game. She describes ways kids use literacy to work together as a group to accomplish a task. She noted that literacy was an essential element of making connections with others. The implication of using literacy to maintain friendships and create social cohesion has academic impact. Teachers may use online worlds such as Club Penguin to encourage authentic literacy. Marsh, Jackie (2011). Young children's literacy practices in a virtual world: Establishing an online interaction order. Reading Research Quarterly. (46)2. 101-118.
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I have limited experience with using technology for assessment. Our students take their state tests on the computer, but I am not involved since I teach first and second grades.
Personally, I remember taking my DMV and Food Handler's driving test on the computer (I only remembered this after talking to others in this class). I love the website FreeRice, which is an adaptable computerized test. It gets more and more difficult if you answer correctly. If you answer a few questions incorrectly it will move to a lower level and begin asking easier questions. This process is motivating (like a game!) It is wonderful that even young children or English Language Learners can use it without getting frustrated because it will remain at their current level. It lets you know the correct answer when you miss a word and it also repeats words you have missed so you can learn and practice - getting better and better. Most importantly, the rice bowl gets more and more full for every answer you get correct. This represents real food that will be going to an impoverished region. For this assignment, we were required to sign up for a virtual world to explore. I signed up for Second Life because of the educational opportunities. I was looking forward to sitting in a lecture at Stanford and learning from other elementary teachers. I signed in and created an Avitar shaped as a unicorn. I had a very difficult time moving through the world. I found myself walking into walls, trees and signs. I attempted to fly, but couldn't see anything because I never figured out how to look down.
You can choose a destination, but cannot search for one. I spent time searching through the choices displayed and didn't see anything educational. I ended up in a fairyland. Wandering... I left Second Life and did a google search for ITSE and other colleges in Second Life and was able to 'transport' in that way. I was still having a difficult time maneuvering and there was no one there to learn from. I visited ITSE (fell into the ocean) and then went to Oregon Community Colleges island. I was alone, wandering and didn't see anything about lectures. At this point I signed out. I will not be returning unless I have a guide who can help me find something interesting to learn! To answer your questions: These worlds were beautiful! Each place had background music (the fairy land was my favorite). Anyone can join for free although there are lots of things you can purchase! There were many signs reminding users about expected rules and ways to report inappropriate behavior. There were moderators available if needed. I couldn't tell what kind of people used the site. I didn't interact with anyone and since I was in the orientation and new places no one else was talking either. Everyone was just standing around. I can't see using it in the classroom at this time and I do not see this website as being useful in my professional or personal life. Now I can say I tried it though! Families, We have been reading a book called The Water Hole by Graeme Base. It looks like a simple counting book at first, but if you are familiar with Graeme Base's other books you know it has layers of interesting pictures, facts and puzzles. While studying this book, we have learned about endangered animals from around the world, habitats of different animals, how to use a map to find out where these animals live, famous geographical landmarks and water conservation. This is also a fun puzzle book (there are hidden animals to find) and the more we look at it, the more we discover! I encourage you to check this one out at the library or you can purchase the paperback on Amazon by clicking here: The first animal in the book to visit the waterhole is the Black Rhino. These rhinos live in Africa. If you zoom in to the marker on this map, you will see Mt. Kilimanjaro that is drawn on this page of the book. Another of our favorite animals in this book is the colorful Toucan of Costa Rica. Next, the book took us to the Bamboo forest of China We saw 7 Pandas trying to drink out of the waterhole Did you notice the Wall of China on this page of the book? What have you heard about this wall? Learn more here: We saw 9 Tortoises in the Galapagos Islands. In Austrailia there were 10 Kangaroos trying to quench their thirst. Graeme Base drew the famous Ayers Rock on this page of the book. Thank you for joining me on this tour around the world. It is amazing what we can learn from a simple picture book!
Google Reader was very easy to use! I signed up for feeds from:
* Jane Yolen (Children's book author) * A Year of Reading (great book suggestions for students) * Read, Write, Think (teaching suggestions) * Daily Five and Cafe * Brain Based Learning (Eric Jensen) * WOU news * Our computer class website * and a few friend's websites as well Some websites posted every day or several times a day. Others have only posted once since I signed up. I check it twice a week. I think I would check it more if I were not so busy with Graduate work. I will continue adding more RSS feeds to my google reader as time goes on! I have even showed this neat tool to my husband and helped him set his up too! Should Social Media be banned from schools?
No: As I teach first and second graders, I am not well versed in the benefits and drawbacks of using social media in the classroom with older students. I can see how it would be very distracting to teens who are used to constantly being connected. This can divide their attention from classwork. However, I have heard there are many, many educational uses for social media. It is disappointing that teachers are not able to access all that is available to them and share these resources with students. I have had the frustrating experience of attempting to show a YouTube video to my students and being blocked. After spending time at home searching for the perfect tool, I was unable to use it. I think teachers at least should have access to these tools. For those that are uncomfortable, perhaps there are password protected social media sites that could utilize the benefits of this networking and collaboration while providing the protection and monitoring of teachers. The following link leads you to an article describing 100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom. It points to such activities as creating facebook pages for literary characters, Twitter treasure hunt, collaborate with students around the world and with student's parents as well. http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/ Here is the link to my Prezi. The topic is the digital divide (social supports). I enjoyed creating the prezi It was a little difficult to figure out how to zoom in on only the parts I wanted, and I had to re-do the paths a few times, but I think next time will be much easier. I see myself using this both in the classroom and I am considering using it during my thesis defense as well! Thank you for showing us this tool (and for giving us the opportunity and time to work with it.)
http://prezi.com/lj_z6i311upp/technology/?auth_key=d9cdf86bf55fd68bb5e9eb42248203680eab2b7c I strongly believe professional development plays an important role in the life of a teacher. I think we all need to take personal responsibility to always challenge our current thinking, understand the new research findings and learn more effective ways of reaching our students. We cannot rely solely on generic district in-services to meet our specific needs. I spend a lot of money on professional development each year. I pay to subscribe to several websites that post articles by experts in the field. I pay for membership to the International Reading Association and purchase both of their journals. In this way, I keep up on the current research findings as well as getting practical ideas for use in my classroom. I am always purchasing and reading a professional text of some sort. During the year I also participate in a professional book club. We have read books on math problem solving, using mentor texts to teach writing, reading comprehension, creating larning communities, supporting ELL students, bullying, poverty and the brain and many other topics. My students know what I am reading about and I talk about the things I am learning with them. I have been lucky to have very supportive principals who try to find money for us to go to several conferences most years. Depending on the current funding situation, they have even paid for our hotel room and flights. Other times we have paid for our own. The teachers at my school look for great conferences or workshops and bring them to the administration rather than waiting for someone to offer. For professional development, I have been to California on numerous occasions, Lake Tahoe, Reno and even San Antonio, Texas. We will often go see the authors we have been reading to learn more about the issues we have been discussing as a school. For me, professional development never takes a backseat. It is what keeps me interested, and supports my teaching. I have heard that we never have to teach alone - we have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of those who write about their practice. I feel supported and comforted by their insights, information, and research. Teaching is such a huge responsibility and thankfully I never have to do it alone. I think the advantages of technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Students are exposed so many more things, they are able connect with others and learn things much more quickly than they were able to in the past. We are able to organize huge amounts of information and have experiences that would not be possible without technology. Students have grown up in this technological world and are engaged by the experiences offered. It captures and holds their attention. This increases motivation and then, in turn, academic progress. That being said, we must be careful to protect our students from the increased access to information and to other people. In the past, parents were the gate-keepers for information and regulated what their children were exposed to. Mary Pipher, in her book The Shelter of Each Other, reminds us that before T.V. the adult and child worlds were separated by the ability to read. Now, due to not only TV, but the internet as well, children have access to the same information as adults. We need to explicitly teach our students and children about how to analyze information for reliability as well as teach internet safety. It is when children are most vulnerable (impulsive, trusting pre-teens) that they are more likely to spend massive amounts of time on the internet fostering 'relationships' with strangers. There is also the huge issue of technology failure! It happens to the best of us, and can turn a great lesson into a waste of time. Being prepared with an alternative plan is necessary, and more time, money and effort needs to be put into teacher education regarding the tools we have available. I think that if we are cognizant of the need to maintain basic skills and foundational understandings, these will not be lost. This takes a concentrated effort on the part of teachers. We must continue to teach handwriting, math computation, spelling and other skills regardless of the tools available to perform these tasks quickly. Being thoughtful, prepared with alternatives, explicit in teaching safety and aware of the need to teach basic skills can negate many of the current concerns regarding the use of technology. The benefits outweigh these negatives. Technology has improved our lives and ability to educate our students in countless ways. |
Holly SimsHello! I am a WOU graduate student and I teach 1st & 2nd grade. I have been teaching at IES for 14 years. I have a husband and 6 year old daughter that keep me very busy as well! ArchivesCategories
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