Hackers Beware!

My last blog for my first class at UC. I honestly thought Dr. Goldberg would have had us to write a blog on what we have learned these last eight weeks. Umm...well, if she did ask that, my answer would be a lot! If ya have been reading my blogs; and especially the one where I told you about my computer history, then you know I would be learning a lot. However, this is not what my blog is about. It is hackers beware.
I sub at school and have for the last nine years. I have been using the school computer for maybe the last five years. It is wonderful to use and I communicate with the teachers I sub. They even email me asking for me to sub. I honestly don't know what kind of protection that our tech gurus have on our systems. It did enter my mind to shoot them an email, but that simply escaped my mind until I am sitting in bed typing this up. In the years that I have been using the school computers, I have not heard of any major issues. Yes, the systems have been down, but that might have lasted half-a-day.
I do know they take the AUP seriously. Many students have had their privileges taken away. My concern with the older students on the computer is that they are able to change the proxy. I learned about this within the last year. This enables them to get on Facebook, MySpace, and any other site that is blocked from school. Another area of concern, and this is a fact, I know of some teachers who sign on for students. NO WAY will I ever do that. The kids have asked me and I am not willing to be called out and have to go in front of the tech judge. I am smarter than that. Not sure what on earth those teachers are thinking about. My guess, they aren't thinking.
I have heard that our tech guys have called a teacher before and told them that computer "five" is looking at ZXY site. The teacher comes over and tells little "Johnny" to get off and if he is caught again he will not have computer privileges.
Pop-ups are blocked and there are many sites that are blocked. (If you don't change the proxy). I have not heard of any teacher's computer being hacked or having any malicious Mal ware. So far so good that I can tell.
Concerns I have are:  A) If the students are able to change the proxy settings and get to blocked sites, then wouldn't that rise the potential for a virus? Yes, and it looks like the school would be able to block changing the proxy. B) If they are able to tell that little "Johnny" is on a blocked site and they call his teacher; why can't they tell when the proxy is changed and call the teacher? I have asked other teachers these exact questions and I get "I don't know". Interesting

IXL for my students and me!

IXL is what I am most familiar with as I substitute at my district. The kids love this site and so do the teachers. IXL is a math program that a Pre-K class can use and you can move on up in the grades as well. My son is in the 6^th grade and every nine weeks his math teacher has her class to master around ten skills. She divides this up every two or three weeks.

IXL assesses your student’s understanding as they practice. A teacher receives a generated detailed report on each student. This enables the teacher to gain insight of the student’s ability and problem areas that need to be addressed. This software also provides information towards the progress of the state standards. You select your state and you can gain this information. Here is a link to IXl http://www.ixl.com  I have mostly used this with 1^st, 5^th, and 6^th graders.

One particular student in 1^st grade is really hyper and has difficulty staying on task and following directions. However, the teacher said to have “Johnny” use IXL and he will be fine. I allowed him to be one of the first students to gain computer privileges and I was amazed. He was focused and doing a great job at mastering his skills. Now, Johnny can’t always do all of his work on the computer, but when he does, he stays focused and this excites him to want to succeed.

IXL is also designed that students can practice math problems, look at the reports to see what they have completed or not, and it shows them their awards. This is something that most students are excited about-mastering their math skills. There is a time clock and a smart score so that they can see their success. One bummer thing, according to my son, is when you make a mistake you have to do more problems.

Overall, I believe IXL is stimulating for students and teachers. With me not being a teacher, it is difficult to know what I would do different. I am excited about the future of me teaching so that I can look into the success stories of my students and IXL. I believe that if I am teaching a younger grade, I will still want to implement IXL. For instance, in first grade they can learn online about addition word problems with sums to 10, estimating, money, and time. Using this software will help to break up the teaching process with my students and really help students like Johnny to be engaged in math.

 

Web quest on File Management

Post your thoughts here for your WebQuest discussion.  Remember to comment to others.

 

53302_Perkins_lesson6_WebQuest

 

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Perkins, Ann

4/6/2011

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I looked at several Web Quest for elementary education. I substitute now and have never used one in the classroom. I viewed many from different websites and had trouble with opening up a few of the links. The one I decided to share with our class is at the site http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/forest/forest.htm. This is about Deciduous Forest. North Carolina is in the biome known temperate deciduous zone. Students will be learning about natural elements of their environment. I think this Web Quest is great for 3 to 5 grade. As far as location, you could easily use this as a guide and change it to your location. This would be Kentucky for me. I might even want to specify a particular location. Example, The Daniel Boone National Forest in Eastern Kentucky.  I felt the Web Quest was well organized and easy to follow. I think this is important for students to understand what is expected of them and that way they can spend more time working on the task instead of trying to determine what is being requested.


Web Quest are very interesting to say the least. I completed my first web quest last fall in a tech class at Asbury University. If you are following my blogs, I blogged on the 6th about my tech history, you will know that I am not tech savvy. This last nine months have been a learning experience and very positive.
I used a different site for the web quest at Asbury and tried to look for it again, but could not find it. The site Asbury had us to us was not as user friendly as Questgarden. I found Questgarden to be difficult at first, but that was because I was not familiar with the site. Once I got moving around I was more comfortable. I loved how the links where already there and where able to move. The site sets this up and you don't have to spend the extra time. That was great for me, because I knew it would work!!!
I thought about a subject and one that might seem simple to you is file management. Reading my blog in my history, you will discover that I had never save ANYTHING!! Actually, I had never sent an attachment until I went to Asbury in the fall of 2010. You might be thinking, "where on earth has this girl been?". Well, I have been in my own little world that only included very little email and a lot of Facebook. When I sub, I used to get someone to help me with tech issues. Now, I am sorta kinda a pro. lol  I think file management is very important and I believe that my students need to know how to save their documents, videos, and pictures for a future use. Also, a jump drive is a valuable tool and it is important that students know how to save onto a jump drive and how to transfer information to another computer.
I felt my subject was an easy one for me, because it hit so close to home with me. I had my students research Christopher Columbus. The web quest starts when they are ready to type their finished research. My students are to type it in a word document and name and save it. Once they do they will learn how to retrieve it to a jump drive and save. Then the students will learn how to take the jump drive and transfer to another computer. I also will have the students to tell me the process. I provided some video sites and material to read so that they can learn file management.
I thought the only difficult thing was the timing. It just took more time, because I was not familiar with making a web quest. However, if I made another one today, it would be much easier for me. I can see where a web quest will be something that teachers would use and use frequently.
Here is the URL for my web quest and I hope you enjoy and learn!
http://questgarden.com/123/59/1/110409171614/

My History of Technology

Many of you, and it looks like I have one follower lol, may not know where I stand with technology or should I say the lack of. I graduated high school in 1983. I will never forget the computer that sat in our chemistry class when I was a junior. I walked around it thinking that it was dropped off by aliens. I also remember saying and I quote, " I will NEVER use one of those things." Yes, that is exactly what I thought. Then I enter into a CAD class at Western Kentucky University. The professor told us to put our hand on the mouse. He said it is not the mouse you think. Well,,, I pretty much liked that class. I mean, ya can't go wrong drawing a straight line on the computer.  I graduated in 1987 and other than that class, I never touched a computer. I could Micro Fish--there that is something that the young people don't have a clue about. "Small little fish?"

My husband bought a computer off of a friend in about...1997ish. He was so amazed at everything you could do. I remember looking up the soap operas Passions and All My Children, but thought that was too much trouble and decided watching them everyday was better than updates on the computer.

I bought our first "new" family computer from Dell in 2001. I was selling Mary Kay and my director said to go online. Honestly, that was the biggest waste of money, Computer and Mary Kay. Great product though. Really, the computer was not a waste, it was the people trying to use it. I was always calling and talking to someone in India because of Dell or Earthlink. Now, have you ever done that and tried so hard to talk to someone from another country? It made me sound even more of a hick than I really am. Ya know, people from Kentucky can talk pretty hickey. I just gave up trying to use a computer. I mean really, when and why was I EVER going to need to use a computer? Really?

Enter into my life spring of 2010. Before, I have been subbing and had a school email, a Facebook account, and a roadrunner email address. If I had lessons that required some sort of technology, I called on a student. Back to spring...I was praying hard and asking for direction as to where I should go career wise. I had some serious talks with God. It was wonderful, because it was not the prayers like...Dear God please if You get me out of this traffic jam I will never...? I was really praying to God and I asked for Him to show me patience and to give me the knowledge to know when He was telling me something. HE DID. I am almost crying as I type this. God answers prayers. He opened and closed doors. One of the doors that opened was Asbury University.

Asbury has a program where if you have a BS degree or 60 hours or more, you can go to school to earn a Licensure in Elementary Education. Hey, I had the BS degree and so I got in no problem. I loved it there. However, my first class was Tech for Ed. I walked out of that first night thinking, "OMGosh, what am I going to do" and my new friends could tell. I looked at them and said, "I will be fine". I was fine, even though I had never sent an attachment before. Yes, never! I learned a lot from that class and did very well. I also had a Human Growth class, an English, and Math class. I earned a 4.0! Never have I ever earned a 4.0 When I was at WKU...I kinda liked beer and bourbon and was told to just get a 2.0 and you will be fine. I did better than a 2.0, but not a 4.0.

I was subbing in January and an aid came in with a student. The aid was one of my kids I had while subbing. He told me about this program. I talked with several principals about their opinion hiring a person with a masters or not having a masters. All said, it depends on the slots giving and the right fit. Master never plays into it. I got excepted conditionally. I had to pass the praxis ll and then be evaluated after my fourth class. See, remember I told you I did better than a 2.0, well I had like a 2.34 and a 4.0 at Asbury. The 4.0 got me into UC. Praxis ll,,,consumed my life. I read and practiced for a month. I took it on my 46th birthday in March and I passed!I felt like the smartest person that walked on earth. Then reality hit me as in school, being a wife, mother, daughter, working, cooking, and the list goes on.

I am doing well in both of my classes. I have a Tech class and a special ed class.I manage my time well and learning a lot!!! Heard the research class can be a pain, but I feel great about school and I love doing well and learning. Going back is so different in your 40's then at 18. Honestly, I don't think I have had a beer or any bourbon since I started. Oops, I  forgot that I am marinating a tenderloin in bourbon. Does that count?

If you seriously read this blah blog entry, please tell me. It is just that we are on spring break and I had the desire to talk to my "Dear Blog". Enjoy your week!!! For me, I am calling Tech at UC. I told Dr. G that I could not bring up comments made to my discussions. She said to contact UC's tech. Dr. G is awesome. She has inspired me to dive into this computer even more. Have ya checked out some of the tutorials on myeducationkit?

Head Spinning...I am not the Exorcist, Just Not the Techy Savvy One!

What have I learned this week? Well…if you could look at me now you would see my head is spinning. No, I am not the exorcist! However, don’t ask my teenage daughter. She might have other thoughts. I never knew I was blogging before and during this class. Yes, I know I am blogging on BlogSpot, but micro blogging? Seriously, I had no clue. I Facebook and I post. According to my husband, I am the professional micro blogger on FB. By the way, I am Ann-Margret Perkins on FB.

I also watched a tutorial from the myeducationkit. You see, I am not tech savvy. I graduated college in 1987 from Western Kentucky University. Last fall, I was enrolled in the APS (adult program studies) at Asbury University. This is designed for working adults who have at least 60 hours of college credit. You can go back to college to earn your degree in elementary education. Wilmore is close to Harrodsburg, so I trucked over every Monday night. My first course was Tech for Ed. I about died. I left that first night praying, “God, we had some big talks and this is the direction I am to go, but REALLY?” I learned more in four weeks than I could have learned all year. I got an A, but I spent hours and hours on that one class. I had NEVER sent an attachment until the assignment said so. I just wished I had this book and myeducationkit last fall. I still am not finished with the tutorial, but this has helped me to learn all kinds of tricks that many of you might know.

Okay, on to the real reason for my blog…Communication tools. I only thought of email and blogging, but VoIP? I have never made a voice call, but I am willing to try. I have tried Skype and have only done this once. I tested it out with my minister. Several from our church went to Israel during the summer of 2009. It was awesome. We wanted to Skype back with our congregation, but our time zones did not work out for us. I have met a UC buddy from this class. She and I are in the same boat. This is our first class. We talked about using Skype in the future.

My favorite is blogging. Honestly, I loving this form of communication tool. I am not teaching now and I sub. The form of communication tool I use is email with other teachers. However, I plan to us a blog for my class. If I am teaching upper elementary grades, I plan to have them blogging as well. I understand there are many safety issues involved, but I googled blogging and found a classroom in Arizona that blogs as a class. I thought that might be interesting and I would be able to monitor the classroom blog much easier than 25 individual “blog spots”.

I am excited with this class and I am learning so much. Some of you might be at an advantage and are able to go through this class with ease, because you might be techy, but for me, I am learning the ropes every day and I am enjoying this cyber ride that I am on.

The Perks of PowerPoint

The perks of power point in a classroom are never ending. I admit, as substitute teacher, I would have thought that one might not use a power point as much in an elementary level. Unfortunately, I see usually the seasoned teachers not using technology as often compared to the less experienced teachers. In researching and viewing different information materials, I see that it would be a great benefit to use power point at all grade levels

All students need to be familiar with power point at an early grade. Anything with technology usually engages the students for a longer period of time. After several power points are shown to introduce a lesson plan; I would assign a power point and the students could show the class through technology how to wash their hands, about a recent vacation, or a presentation on the outcome of their spreadsheets. Students need to be exposed early on, because they will be using more technology year- after -year.

They main reason I would start them out early is for them to learn how to develop a presentation. Students need to start to get an eye for design principles. This is hard to do, but the more you practice the easier and more comfortable you are in developing a power point. Students will also realize they need to have a goal in mind and they need to keep to the main topic. They will learn how to develop each slide, number slides, add sounds, develop an organized sequence, and gain experience with word processing. Also, play around with color and shapes.

An example power point that I tested out on my son was Helping Others (A citizenship project). I first thought of ways to help others. World Vision is something that came in mind. Second, I organized my thoughts with Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. After doing some research, I developed a power point to show John why World Vision is important, the great things that are accomplished, and how to get involved.
  

I was most proud of the color and design. Hence, the interior designer in me, but I was mostly impressed with the research that was added to the power point. The reality that 15,000 kids die each day from starvation is unbelievable.  I can’t even think about that as I set here with my tummy full from lunch. I would add more pictures.  I just showed pictures of children, but having a picture of them receiving  the food or services from World Vision would have been more appealing.

John was moved with the information and he suggested that I put sound in the power point. Good point, sound is that interesting element that students might not expect.  I told him that I showed him this to give him an idea of what he might want to select as his project. The power point was also designed to also give him ideas of what to put in his presentation and about how many pages to use.

Is the teacher still being terriorized with technology?

 I have learned many things with lesson three. I did not know that there was a difference between Word Processing and Desktop Publishing. Actually, I thought they were both the same thing. Technology is somewhat new to me. My technology has consisted of Facebook, email, typing papers, and surfing the web. However, the later one has been used the least. Within the last year, I have really exposed myself to the computer and am so impressed with how a computer can make someone’s life much easier.

I enjoyed watching the videos. I am also taking a special education class and watching videos in that class as well. Both classes have opened my eyes to what a computer can do for a teacher and their students. Example, the videos showed the students using the computer by developing graphs and listening to their lessons online. I substitute in a district and I don’t see that as often. However, to defend the district, the teacher might not be leaving me lesson plans that have students to develop a graph. I think the thought of a student making a graph to keep up with their progress is an excellent idea. This lesson can be started at an earlier elementary level.

While I was at Asbury, I had a Human Growth class. I had to do a research project and along with my project, I had to produce a handout. My project was about Electronic Whiteboards and Terrorizing Teachers with Technology, hence, my title above. While I was conducting my research paper, I found that teachers are overwhelmed with electronic whiteboards. I can see that you might feel intimated by this new technology equipment; however, electronic whiteboards are the way of the future for our classrooms. As teachers need to be taught how to use the equipment wisely, but it is up to the teachers to dive in, learn, and use! The last one is important. USE, we have to use what technology we have in our rooms.

The following is my handout I used for my research project. I think it is visually appealing. The look of the frantic woman is a look of terrorized. However, I would not someone to look at the picture of my frantic woman and become scared and not use an electronic whiteboard. Part of my presentation was that you can let technology terrorize you. It is not the technology’s fault, we just have to dig in and learn and use. I think my handout says it best.

Welcome to the Age of Electronic Whiteboards and Terrorizing Teachers with Technology

A SMART board was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications.

A negative- Many teachers don’t know how to use a SMART board and it would take many hours of training.

A positive-Cognitive & Social Developments and Multiple Intelligences are enhanced. Academic improvement

Children are making sense of the world through technology and it is time teachers dive in.