In the video podcast ""Growth" vs. "Fixed" Minds," Carol Dwech discusses the two mindsets held by students. These two mindsets are growth and fixed. The student with a fixed mindset believes that basic intelligence is a fixed trade. Before attempting an assignment, the student is overly worried about if he/she will look smart compared to other students. These students will also choose activities based solely on if their intelligence will be shown. The second mindset, growth, involves increasing a student's intellectual skill and applying it to their studies. These students believe that intelligence is something that is developed through studing, passion, and education.
Dwech conducted an experiment where a group of students attended an eight session workshop. Half of the students were sent to the workshop that discussed study skills and growth while the other half were sent to a workshop that only covered study skills. The students who attended the first workshop learned that the brain is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and also that they ccan sharpen their skills by practicing. The students in the second group learned about study skills but were not motivated to put the skills they learned into action. The students who learned both growth and study skills saw a rebound in grades, while the others students' grades continued to decline. The teachers of these students could easily pick out the students that attended the growth workshops and those who did not. This experiment was also used to determine if the growth mindset could influence the effectiveness of race car drivers.
I feel that this podcast challenges me to actively motivate my students when I am in the classroom. Many teachers simply require that students memorize the material taught and do not stress the importance of application and critical thinking. This will ultimately help the student increase their intelligence and develop a desire to build on their newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WGBH Podcasts
I watched the video podcast 'What is a Planet?". The video was a short excerpt from the Nova scienceNOW episode titled "10th Planet". In the video, the definition of a planet is discussed. Up until August 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognized nine planets in our solar system. Now, however, more and more astronomers are challenging this tally. Many believe that there may actually be 10-12 planets in the solar system. One of these astronomers is Mike Brown of CalTech. He along with his colleagues discovered a 10th "planet", which they named UB313. This caused an uproar in the astronomical community since there was no solid definition of the term "planet". Many astronomers disagreed upon the factors that should be met in order for a body to be deemed a planet. After much debate, the IAU came up with four standards that would determine if a heavenly body could be called a planet. A planet must be a body that orbits around a star, be round in shape, have a mass that exerts gravity, a have cleared its neighborhood. These standards caused the 9th planet, Pluto, to be downgraded to a dwarf planet. Neptune is also in danger of being downgraded since it has not cleared its neighborhood. As more research is done on the planets, the statutes that qualify a body as a planet will continue to change.
I feel that these educational podcasts could be very helpful to me in my classroom. When textbooks are published, they contain information that is viable up until the publication date. When dealing with subjects such as science, it is possible for certain theories to develop and change in a short period of time. These podcasts will allow me to stay updated with current events and in turn incorporate this knowledge into my lessons.
I also believe that the podcasts will serve as learning tools for my students. It is much easier for a student to understand a concept if they are able to see it applied to real life. Educational programs like Nova take the material printed in textbooks and presents it in a fashion that catches the attention of students. The videos can help the students visualize what they are learning and also encourage the students to ask questions and perhaps desire to learn more on the subject.
I feel that these educational podcasts could be very helpful to me in my classroom. When textbooks are published, they contain information that is viable up until the publication date. When dealing with subjects such as science, it is possible for certain theories to develop and change in a short period of time. These podcasts will allow me to stay updated with current events and in turn incorporate this knowledge into my lessons.
I also believe that the podcasts will serve as learning tools for my students. It is much easier for a student to understand a concept if they are able to see it applied to real life. Educational programs like Nova take the material printed in textbooks and presents it in a fashion that catches the attention of students. The videos can help the students visualize what they are learning and also encourage the students to ask questions and perhaps desire to learn more on the subject.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
iTunes Podcasts
The Edible Schoolyard
The Edible Schoolyard is a class of 6th graders in Berkley, CA. These students do not sit at their desks all day, but rather help take care of a vegetable garden located next to the classroom. During first period, the students plant, harvest, and eat the organic vegetables they grow. Besides the garden, the students also spend time in the learning lab and kitchen located inside the school. For these students, gardening is at the center of everything they are taught. Their teacher uses the students' experience in the garden to relate concepts in social studies, math, science, and other subjects. The students learn the basics of ecology and also how to work together for group projects. These activities also help the students develop a sense of community. Alice Waters originated the idea for the Edible Schoolyard as an idea on how to improve school lunches. She feels that this program can help students better understand what they are learning in class and apply the principles to real-world situations.
I feel that this podcast opened my eyes to the different resources I can use to teach important concepts to my students. For some students, sitting at a desk is not a efficient way for them to learn. By incorporating hands-on activities, students are able to fully understand the concept being taught and also how they can apply it to their day to day lives. This will ultimately allow the student to retain the information learned and not forget it as soon as they are tested on it.
A Night in the Global Village
The Global Village is located on the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR. It is headed by the Global Gateway Program, which is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and creating sustainable development in impoverished countries. This group donates livestock to these countries and develops programs to raise awareness on these issues. Students who come to the Global Village are randomly placed in groups and spend the night in the village. Each group is assigned to a particular structure that reflects those found in Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, the Appalachians, and refugee camps. During the night, the students discuss issues like sanitation and poverty. Some of the groups are given a bucket of supplies while others must find food and water on their own. Some of the children are made to appear pregnant or missing a limb in order to represent the various physical hardships faced by those in that situation. The groups are also given chores to complete and must learn to barter with the other groups for supplies, food, and water.
I thought that this podcast was very informative an challenging. As teachers, we are expected to educate our students on many different subjects, even uncomfortable ones like poverty. This podcast is a great tool to begin class discussions on different countries and the economic hardships that occur there. Hopefully this could motivate the students to want to learn more about these places and get involved. From these conversations class and school projects could immerge, like a coin drive to help organizations that are dedicated to ending poverty. I feel this is a very important subject that students should be educated about early on.
The Edible Schoolyard is a class of 6th graders in Berkley, CA. These students do not sit at their desks all day, but rather help take care of a vegetable garden located next to the classroom. During first period, the students plant, harvest, and eat the organic vegetables they grow. Besides the garden, the students also spend time in the learning lab and kitchen located inside the school. For these students, gardening is at the center of everything they are taught. Their teacher uses the students' experience in the garden to relate concepts in social studies, math, science, and other subjects. The students learn the basics of ecology and also how to work together for group projects. These activities also help the students develop a sense of community. Alice Waters originated the idea for the Edible Schoolyard as an idea on how to improve school lunches. She feels that this program can help students better understand what they are learning in class and apply the principles to real-world situations.
I feel that this podcast opened my eyes to the different resources I can use to teach important concepts to my students. For some students, sitting at a desk is not a efficient way for them to learn. By incorporating hands-on activities, students are able to fully understand the concept being taught and also how they can apply it to their day to day lives. This will ultimately allow the student to retain the information learned and not forget it as soon as they are tested on it.
A Night in the Global Village
The Global Village is located on the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR. It is headed by the Global Gateway Program, which is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and creating sustainable development in impoverished countries. This group donates livestock to these countries and develops programs to raise awareness on these issues. Students who come to the Global Village are randomly placed in groups and spend the night in the village. Each group is assigned to a particular structure that reflects those found in Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, the Appalachians, and refugee camps. During the night, the students discuss issues like sanitation and poverty. Some of the groups are given a bucket of supplies while others must find food and water on their own. Some of the children are made to appear pregnant or missing a limb in order to represent the various physical hardships faced by those in that situation. The groups are also given chores to complete and must learn to barter with the other groups for supplies, food, and water.
I thought that this podcast was very informative an challenging. As teachers, we are expected to educate our students on many different subjects, even uncomfortable ones like poverty. This podcast is a great tool to begin class discussions on different countries and the economic hardships that occur there. Hopefully this could motivate the students to want to learn more about these places and get involved. From these conversations class and school projects could immerge, like a coin drive to help organizations that are dedicated to ending poverty. I feel this is a very important subject that students should be educated about early on.
Alabama Virtual Library and Accessibility for All
Alabama Virtual Library
The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is an online database that connects students, teachers, and Alabama citizens to various educational resources. The database contains articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers. These articles are categorized by their subject and assigned to specific search engines. For example, a journal article on Shakespeare could be found under one of the literary search engines. Another feature of the AVL is the citation feature. Every entry has citation information that is required for writing research papers. The articles also contain publishing information so that the articles can be found in paper form if necessary.
The AVL can be very useful in teaching students how to use the internet to do research. Common search engines such as Google present documents that are inaccessible to students. The AVL provides credible sources to students and teach students how to properly do research and document what they find. The most important benefit to teachers is that they have a free educational resource to offer students.
Alabama Virtual Library
Accessibility for All
After viewing Mr. Sullivan's presentation, I realized how important it is for me to become familiar with the technology surrounding accessibility for the blind. It had never occurred to me how important and easy it is to make the material I post on the internet accessible to those with disabilities. As a future teacher, I was very interested in the software available for the blind. Being able to see this software demonstrated made me realize that I need to do more research since it is quite possible that I may have a child with this disability in my classroom. I was very encouraged to know that these resources are available to help me reach my students who simply need a few accommodations.
Mr. Sullivan's Presentation
The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is an online database that connects students, teachers, and Alabama citizens to various educational resources. The database contains articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers. These articles are categorized by their subject and assigned to specific search engines. For example, a journal article on Shakespeare could be found under one of the literary search engines. Another feature of the AVL is the citation feature. Every entry has citation information that is required for writing research papers. The articles also contain publishing information so that the articles can be found in paper form if necessary.
The AVL can be very useful in teaching students how to use the internet to do research. Common search engines such as Google present documents that are inaccessible to students. The AVL provides credible sources to students and teach students how to properly do research and document what they find. The most important benefit to teachers is that they have a free educational resource to offer students.
Alabama Virtual Library
Accessibility for All
After viewing Mr. Sullivan's presentation, I realized how important it is for me to become familiar with the technology surrounding accessibility for the blind. It had never occurred to me how important and easy it is to make the material I post on the internet accessible to those with disabilities. As a future teacher, I was very interested in the software available for the blind. Being able to see this software demonstrated made me realize that I need to do more research since it is quite possible that I may have a child with this disability in my classroom. I was very encouraged to know that these resources are available to help me reach my students who simply need a few accommodations.
Mr. Sullivan's Presentation
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
iTunes Podcasts
The SMARTBoard Lessons podcast is hosted by Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger. In episode 146, Ben and Joan discuss clouds and cloud formations. This is in reference to the use of a program called Wordle. Wordle is a computer program that identifies the most used words in a piece of text. When a word is repeated throughout the text, Wordle gradually increases the size of the word and the creates a word cloud. Joan felt that this was a great program to use in the classroom, but Ben was not very enthusiastic about it. They did however agree that the program could be useful in language arts and writing.
In the KidCast podcast #46, Dan Schmidt broadcasts from Ojai, California. He visited Thatcher High School where they hold a professional development course every summer named the Teach Teachers Collaboration. He spends a lot of time talking to the teachers there and getting their input on the importance and uses of podcasting. Dan also brings up the importance of asking questions. He states that questions are "the heart of academic podcasting." He suggests the Question Game in which the players only speak in questions. He also discusses the use of Bloom's Taxonomy in relation to questioning techniques.
Connect Learning with David Warlick discussed the EduCon 2.0 conference at the Science Leadership Academy. Warlick spoke with Chris Lehmann about the goals of EduCon. Chris Lehmann described the goal of EduCon as an opportunity for educators to "learn from each other." Educators were given the opportunity to have open discussions about technology that can be used in the classroom.
EdTechTalk episode #12 featured Dean Shareski and was hosted by Lorna Constantini. This is a production of the Parents as Partners group. Dean Shareski is a digital learning consultant and supports teachers in different school districts. He uses different technologies to keep in touch with the instructors since the teachers he supports are located in many different locations.
MacBreak Weekly is hosted by Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Scott Bourne, and Alex Lindsay. The hosts discuss news relating to the Mac and everything else Apple. In this episode they discuss Apple stocks, the downfall of the famous iPhone developer, and the rumors surrounding the iBrick. All of the hosts are avid Apple users and are constantly reviewing new technology developed by Apple.
Alex Lindsay and Scott Bourne are the hosts of This Week in Photography. Each week they discuss different techniques and technology involving cameras. In episode 50, Andrew Darlow comes in to discuss how to get the most out of prints. Darlow discusses what inkjet printers produce the best prints. A big concern of many photographers is getting quality prints without spending a fortune on an inkjet printer. The importance of printer width is discussed as this determines the overall quality of the print color.
In the KidCast podcast #46, Dan Schmidt broadcasts from Ojai, California. He visited Thatcher High School where they hold a professional development course every summer named the Teach Teachers Collaboration. He spends a lot of time talking to the teachers there and getting their input on the importance and uses of podcasting. Dan also brings up the importance of asking questions. He states that questions are "the heart of academic podcasting." He suggests the Question Game in which the players only speak in questions. He also discusses the use of Bloom's Taxonomy in relation to questioning techniques.
Connect Learning with David Warlick discussed the EduCon 2.0 conference at the Science Leadership Academy. Warlick spoke with Chris Lehmann about the goals of EduCon. Chris Lehmann described the goal of EduCon as an opportunity for educators to "learn from each other." Educators were given the opportunity to have open discussions about technology that can be used in the classroom.
EdTechTalk episode #12 featured Dean Shareski and was hosted by Lorna Constantini. This is a production of the Parents as Partners group. Dean Shareski is a digital learning consultant and supports teachers in different school districts. He uses different technologies to keep in touch with the instructors since the teachers he supports are located in many different locations.
MacBreak Weekly is hosted by Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Scott Bourne, and Alex Lindsay. The hosts discuss news relating to the Mac and everything else Apple. In this episode they discuss Apple stocks, the downfall of the famous iPhone developer, and the rumors surrounding the iBrick. All of the hosts are avid Apple users and are constantly reviewing new technology developed by Apple.
Alex Lindsay and Scott Bourne are the hosts of This Week in Photography. Each week they discuss different techniques and technology involving cameras. In episode 50, Andrew Darlow comes in to discuss how to get the most out of prints. Darlow discusses what inkjet printers produce the best prints. A big concern of many photographers is getting quality prints without spending a fortune on an inkjet printer. The importance of printer width is discussed as this determines the overall quality of the print color.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch
In Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture," he brings up many teaching methods that can be useful to everyone, especially those going into education. These methods were produced during Randy Pausch's work with his students at Carnegie Mellon University and other teaching positions.
One teaching method that Randy Pausch stressed was not setting bars. He refers to his Virtual Reality course he developed. He never set a standard for his students, but instead gave his students the freedom to explore and develop their ideas. Pausch was then pleasantly surprised at how his students exceeded his expectations. This shows that by encouraging students and truly making "the sky the limit," students will exceed any level of success an educator can set.
Another teaching method used by Pausch was group work. And entire graduate course Pausch co-directed consisted only of group projects. The members of the groups changed every two weeks along with the project. This allowed the students to interact with each other and learn to work civilly with people they may not know well. Pausch also mentioned the "head fake". This is when a student is able to learn a hard skill while having fun. By making the assignment entertaining, the student is able to better relate to the subject matter and begins to master the subject unknowingly. This is an extremely important teaching technique because it prevents the opportunity for a student to say that they "can't do" a certain task or think that a learning objective is "too hard."
The final teaching method Randy Pausch stressed was to have fun. If a teacher is not enjoying what he/she is doing, it is impossible for a student to hold any enthusiasm about their education. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make learning entertaining, even when the subject matter is difficult and not easy to master. If a teacher conveys a positive attitude, the same can be expected of the class.
One teaching method that Randy Pausch stressed was not setting bars. He refers to his Virtual Reality course he developed. He never set a standard for his students, but instead gave his students the freedom to explore and develop their ideas. Pausch was then pleasantly surprised at how his students exceeded his expectations. This shows that by encouraging students and truly making "the sky the limit," students will exceed any level of success an educator can set.
Another teaching method used by Pausch was group work. And entire graduate course Pausch co-directed consisted only of group projects. The members of the groups changed every two weeks along with the project. This allowed the students to interact with each other and learn to work civilly with people they may not know well. Pausch also mentioned the "head fake". This is when a student is able to learn a hard skill while having fun. By making the assignment entertaining, the student is able to better relate to the subject matter and begins to master the subject unknowingly. This is an extremely important teaching technique because it prevents the opportunity for a student to say that they "can't do" a certain task or think that a learning objective is "too hard."
The final teaching method Randy Pausch stressed was to have fun. If a teacher is not enjoying what he/she is doing, it is impossible for a student to hold any enthusiasm about their education. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make learning entertaining, even when the subject matter is difficult and not easy to master. If a teacher conveys a positive attitude, the same can be expected of the class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
