Hello!
My students are currently studying plant and animal cells and are now making models to show their learning. Here is a presentation that briefly touches on the organelles of a plant cell. I hope you enjoy!
Plant Cell Organelle Multimodal Presentation
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Digital Media Effects on Conventional Reading and Writing Practices
The first article Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers? By Karp brought up some interesting points. The one point that I noticed in particular was a comment by an English professor at Stanford University. Lundsford, as quoted in Karp (2010) states, “Writing is a plastic art. Writing always changes given the context. It molds itself to the changes” (p. 1). I agree with this quote because even in my short time on Earth, I have heard many different words to describe others, institutions, and emphatic remarks. For example, in the time of my grandparents, the saying “by golly” was used to emphasize a statement or idea. Then the phrase changed to “totally” around the 1980s and now it has changed again to “literally” in the current age. Although the terms have changed, the overall meaning has remained the same. I think that all forms of communication have similar meanings, and just the form or wording has changed. Even with generational ways to describe “cool” changed from “groovy”, to “totally”, to “grungy”, and now “seriously.”
The second article Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading? By Rich also had some interesting points. According to Rich (2008), “Some Web evangelists say children should be evaluated for their proficiency on the Internet just as they are tested on their print reading comprehension,” (p. 2). I thought this was a strong comment because testing is moving to be all online. Just this past year, my students took the WESTEST all online and this was their first experience with a standardized computer based assessment. The students had to become acquainted with the testing feature tools such as an online highlighter and a text blocking tool. I also think that schools are developing aides and software based online to meet some new 21st century goals from the state superintendent. For instance, the weekly tests in Reading class are all taken online, and the math chapter tests are also taken fully online. The skill of Internet navigability and proficiency may be something educators and students see in the very near future as another evaluation to complete during the school year.
As far as my stance toward the subject of digital media Web Evangelist and Traditionalist, I would say I am in the middle. I do believe students need to know how to write correctly, with strongly developed ideas and expressive writing. However, I do see the need to teach digital media communication tools and writing as another form of communication. Rich (2008), states that some children with special needs or other learning difficulties have found using online resources far more comfortable to search and read online, than to search and read through books (p. 1). Additionally, the opportunities that the Internet can provide for students who do not like to read length books is also something to take into serious consideration. Karp (2010) expands digital literacy to include marriages between text and other media in ways that can often help students provide greater depth and texture to what they are trying to communicate (p.1). Even though online sources have become popular sources for information, I also believe books will always be around for students to read, engage, and use as resources. I believe that the true goal in education is to prepare students to become proficient, educated adults that can think, communicate, and discuss their points of view or views of others to develop a full understanding of a topic.
Next, the Ted Talks video by John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!! Describes language as a way to communicate in informal ways and not in formal, written formats. I found it interesting that McWhorter referred to language as always evolving and being a way to communicate. According to the video, formal writing is just a way to document events and not to communicate in informal ways (John McWhorter, n.d.).
In summary, texting can be seen as a benefit or detriment to literacy and depending on your personal experiences and beliefs, you could be a Wen Evangelist who supports new emergent communication methods or you could be a traditionalist who believes texting and informal communication methods are destroying literacy skills.
References:
Karp, J. (2010, January 26). Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers? | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning. Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers?. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://spotlight.macfound.org/featured-stories/entry/does-digital-media-make-us-bad-writers
Rich, M. (2008, July 27). Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?. The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
TEDTalk. (Producer). John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!! [Web Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmvOgW6iV2s
The second article Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading? By Rich also had some interesting points. According to Rich (2008), “Some Web evangelists say children should be evaluated for their proficiency on the Internet just as they are tested on their print reading comprehension,” (p. 2). I thought this was a strong comment because testing is moving to be all online. Just this past year, my students took the WESTEST all online and this was their first experience with a standardized computer based assessment. The students had to become acquainted with the testing feature tools such as an online highlighter and a text blocking tool. I also think that schools are developing aides and software based online to meet some new 21st century goals from the state superintendent. For instance, the weekly tests in Reading class are all taken online, and the math chapter tests are also taken fully online. The skill of Internet navigability and proficiency may be something educators and students see in the very near future as another evaluation to complete during the school year.
As far as my stance toward the subject of digital media Web Evangelist and Traditionalist, I would say I am in the middle. I do believe students need to know how to write correctly, with strongly developed ideas and expressive writing. However, I do see the need to teach digital media communication tools and writing as another form of communication. Rich (2008), states that some children with special needs or other learning difficulties have found using online resources far more comfortable to search and read online, than to search and read through books (p. 1). Additionally, the opportunities that the Internet can provide for students who do not like to read length books is also something to take into serious consideration. Karp (2010) expands digital literacy to include marriages between text and other media in ways that can often help students provide greater depth and texture to what they are trying to communicate (p.1). Even though online sources have become popular sources for information, I also believe books will always be around for students to read, engage, and use as resources. I believe that the true goal in education is to prepare students to become proficient, educated adults that can think, communicate, and discuss their points of view or views of others to develop a full understanding of a topic.
Next, the Ted Talks video by John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!! Describes language as a way to communicate in informal ways and not in formal, written formats. I found it interesting that McWhorter referred to language as always evolving and being a way to communicate. According to the video, formal writing is just a way to document events and not to communicate in informal ways (John McWhorter, n.d.).
In summary, texting can be seen as a benefit or detriment to literacy and depending on your personal experiences and beliefs, you could be a Wen Evangelist who supports new emergent communication methods or you could be a traditionalist who believes texting and informal communication methods are destroying literacy skills.
References:
Karp, J. (2010, January 26). Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers? | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning. Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers?. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://spotlight.macfound.org/featured-stories/entry/does-digital-media-make-us-bad-writers
Rich, M. (2008, July 27). Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?. The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
TEDTalk. (Producer). John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!! [Web Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmvOgW6iV2s
Friday, May 23, 2014
Introductory Post
Hello!
My name is Gina Michalec and I am from Fairmont, West Virginia. I am a public education teacher and an adjunct professor of mathematics.
I am taking EDUC 6809 Teaching in the New Media Age because I am required to take two elective courses for my master's degree. I also chose this course because I thought I could benefit from learning about new media instruction as a way to incorporate new age modern teaching strategies in my public education classroom.
My degree I am earning is in Online Learning. I have taken all course requirements except for my two electives and the final two courses, EDUC 6395 Action Research and ONLR 6806 Online Course Development Practicum. I will be taking the final two courses in the Fall and graduating in December 2014.
The video linked HERE reflects my definition and understanding of what it means to be literate in the 21st century. Here are two funny comics that show the gap between new technology literacies.
I am taking EDUC 6809 Teaching in the New Media Age because I am required to take two elective courses for my master's degree. I also chose this course because I thought I could benefit from learning about new media instruction as a way to incorporate new age modern teaching strategies in my public education classroom.
My degree I am earning is in Online Learning. I have taken all course requirements except for my two electives and the final two courses, EDUC 6395 Action Research and ONLR 6806 Online Course Development Practicum. I will be taking the final two courses in the Fall and graduating in December 2014.
The video linked HERE reflects my definition and understanding of what it means to be literate in the 21st century. Here are two funny comics that show the gap between new technology literacies.
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