Activity Log

Submitted project 1 for approval
worked on other 2 projects
listened to podcast for session 7
created session 7 blog
read classmates blogs
responded to classmates blogs

Activity Log

Submitted project 1 for approval
worked on other 2 projects
listened to podcast for session 7
created session 7 blog
read classmates blogs
responded to classmates blogs

Session 7

Ed Norman is alive and well in my district. We have a network that has such strict firewalls that it is nearly impossible to find any really good web sites. If there is a particular website that I need for a lesson, I need to give it to my administrator and wait for them to send it to IT, by the time I get clearance, I have already completed the lesson. So many times, I just skip the website and find one that may not be as good, but I have access to right away. It's a shame the restrictions we have within an educational setting. I understand the concern of misuse of the Internet, but as a professional I believe I deserve a little more leeway. As a teacher who uses the computers regularly in my classroom, I think that it is my responsibility to train my students well as far as acceptable us and monitor their usage. I know many teachers do not want to be bothered with this task, so they don't mind the endless firewalls. I do believe that firewalls are important, but when you use it to the extreme, it becomes a
nuisance.
I can not say that my site's IT guy is considered an Ed Norman, he is the exact opposite. He does whatever he can to help install the software that I need within my classroom.
My Ed Norman would possibly my administrators. They know what is needed for our students to be successful with technology in the classroom, but technology is not the focus. Therefore money is not allocated to enhance it. This is what I find to be my biggest problem. I can find time to have the software installed, be trained on it, and then train my students, but I do not have the funds necessary to purchase the programs.

Activity Log

Made several attempts to attach project 1 and send to Dr. Newberry
Registered for EdTech
Listened to Session 6 podcast
Create session 6 blog
Read and comment on classmates blogs

Session # 6

After listening to the session 6 podcast it didn't take me very long to think about the barriers that exist within my classroom. In my classroom I have access to 5 computers which is the norm for the upper grade classes at my site. My 5 computers are equipped with Microsoft Office and a Renaissance Program that my district adopted. For any other software programs that I want installed, I have to wait for approval from the district. This may take weeks before I get a response and even longer to be installed once approved. If I have a problem with my computers and or printer, its normally my job to fix it, my site does not have a techie to fix those problems, we have to wait until the district tech comes by (which is once a week if we are lucky). The hardware problems aren't so hard to fix if they are minor, but I don't have the time during school hours to sit and work on them. This is a problem for many teachers at my site. Most of them don't dare to attempt to fix their computer or printer problems on their own and don't like waiting for the district tech guy to come around so they don't bother with the computers at all. It seems to be more of a burden to them than it is worth.
All of our computers are linked to a network that is not always working properly which discourages many teachers at my site form even trying something new with technology. They figure why bother if the server is always down anyways. Which brings me to another barrier. With our server on the fritz so often, how can we use the technology that we have? I can use PowerPoint with the LCD projector, but if I try to print or link to the Internet, I have no connection. And when the server is down, I do not have access to many things that I have saved in my teacher folder.
The next barrier that I would have to point out is the lack of time I have for computers in the classroom. I try to have my students on the computers every day, but with 5 computers ( I'm not complaining because its more than many teachers seem to have) I can't get everyone on equally. And when my students are on the computer they are missing valuable instruction, and I can't limit the computers to those who are proficient in academics because that would definitely be unfair.
Another barrier that I have found at my school is the lack of training and support our teachers get in technology. We do get patted on the back for using it within our classroom, but those who don't have the training or background in technology have no where to start from. They are told they should be letting the students use the computers, but for what? If they don't know how the software programs work than how can they benefit their students?

It seems that there are many barriers at my site when it comes to technology. For some reason I don't really let it bother me. I just do what I need to do. If I have a printer problem, I stay late and fix it, If I need to have a software program installed, I harass my administrator until it gets done. My students use the computers regularly and I find time to catch them up on the other stuff usually at lunch time. I have made friends with my district tech guy, so when there is a problem I can't fix, I usually call him directly which doesn't always please my administrators, but hey, if there's something that needs fixing, why should me and my students have to wait?

Activity log

This week:
Finished project 1
Worked on project 2
Downloaded session 5 podcast
created session 5 blog
responded to classmates' blogs

Session 5

Within my classroom, I have 5 student computers, 1 laptop,and 1 LCD projector and screen. I try to incorporate PowerPoint into my classroom regularly as my best practice. I don't exactly remember when or where I learned about PowerPoint. I know I took a class earlier in my college life on technology and PowerPoint was one of the software programs we used. But I remember already being familiar with the program all ready. Perhaps I used it in high school or I came across it at home and began playing around with it. I am quite proficient when it comes to PowerPoint. I enjoy all of the components and create presentations regularly. Most of my presentations are basic so that it doesn't take away from what I am trying to address. I think that by using my LCD projector and PowerPoint I am able to capture my students attention for a little longer than if I presented on the white board.
I think a lot of teachers do not incorporate powerpoint or any other type of technology in their classrooms because they are just not familiar with the program. I think if a training were to be made assessable to teachers, many would definitely want to learn about it. Another reason teachers may not use powerpoint in their classrooms may be because they do not have an LCD projector and it may make no sense to them to create something they could not share with their class.

Session 5

Within my classroom, I have 5 student computers, 1 laptop,and 1 LCD projector and screen. I try to incorporate PowerPoint into my classroom regularly as my best practice. I don't exactly remember when or where I learned about PowerPoint. I know I took a class earlier in my college life on technology and PowerPoint was one of the software programs we used. But I remember already being familiar with the program all ready. Perhaps I used it in high school or I came across it at home and began playing around with it. I am quite proficient when it comes to PowerPoint. I enjoy all of the components and create presentations regularly. Most of my presentations are basic so that it doesn't take away from what I am trying to address. I think that by using my LCD projector and PowerPoint I am able to capture my students attention for a little longer than if I presented on the white board.
I think a lot of teachers do not incorporate powerpoint or any other type of technology in their classrooms because they are just not familiar with the program. I think if a training were to be made assessable to teachers, many would definitely want to learn about it. Another reason teachers may not use powerpoint in their classrooms may be because they do not have an LCD projector and it may make no sense to them to create something they could not share with their class.

Activity Log:

This week I began my project 1. I went to www.Getty.edu to copy some artwork that would be displayed at the museum and pasted them into my powerpoint. I also went to Google and looked up artwork on Monet, Gauguin, and Cezanne. There were so many different portraits, that I decided to limit my powerpoints to one artist each. I then copied and pasted several different portraits onto my slides. I manipulated several slides and enhanced the transitions.

I bought a microphone to use in my 3rd project and looked into websites that create podcast.

I commented on my classmates blogs for this week.

I watched the session 4 podcast and created my blog.

session 4

I would say that I am an early adapter in the diffusion of technology. I am one of the leaders at my site when it comes to technology. I have developed several different lesson on powerpoint that I use within my classroom and I try to use my LCD projector daily in class whether it is showing the class how to Google search for research, or for playing brain pop, or study island. I use my computer dialy to create projects, to keep track of my grading, to teach my students a new concept within a program like word, excel, or powerpoint. I really enjoy using technology at school, but at home I'm probably not so efficient. At school, I am called to troubleshoot many problems my colleagues have with technology. I am the first person my administrators go to when they have a technology question for our site. I have trained teachers in the past on how to use certain software. I am also my school site representative for our district's technology committee. I always enjoying sharing ideas at work. But at home, my technology usage is limited. I usually go on line to search the web for information pertaining to school, or to create some type of presentation. I'm not one for MP3 Players, IPOD's, or any other digital device. My daughter has an IPOD, and I'm clueless as to how it works. My husband has a Sirius Satellite Radio for his car, and I think its pointless. I'm ok with old fashioned technology when it comes to being at home. Whenever the computer is on the fritz, I have my husband check on it. Maybe its a time thing, or maybe I'm just burned out on technology by the time I get home and I just want to be a mom. But its funny to realize that I am two very different people when it comes to technology.