Moodle

I just got signed up for a moodle account at my school. I haven't actually used it yet but I think I've got the courage to try! As our textbook said we needed to feel comfortable on our own using this new technology before we try to introduce our students to it. I know there are teachers at my school that already use it so some students will be familiar. I also think the wiki feature on the moodle would be a good method for collaborative work.

Evolution

I've come across several blogs on Edutopia about teaching evolution. Glenn Branch from the National Center for Science Education- Defending the Teaching of Evolution in Public Schools

keeps us up to date on news in the teaching of evolution. As a biology teacher, evolution is a natural explanation or connection in every topic I teach. The separation of church and state has been upheld so far. Darwin Day is approaching and the teaching of evolution is sure to be discussed for on Edutopia- always gets my attention!

Music DNA

This article posted on Read, Write, Web caught my eye because of the DNA and because I love music. This new technology brings liner notes back, the lack of has been a big downside to digital music especially for a person that grew up looking at vinyl albums, covers, liner notes. Sounds cool cause the information about the song, writers, musicians is interesting. You might recognize a drummer's name that also plays on another of your favorite artists. So, I guess for me it makes it more like what's familiar.

Distance learning in science

I read the position statement from the National Science Teachers Association on E-learning. I use to think science always had to be hands on, and how could they possibly learn any science on the computer... Over the years I've found and incorporated many online assignments, virtual labs, interactive tutorials, and online quizzes into all my science classes. Of course not all learning at the high school level should be online but as science technology advances it is impossible to keep up with it in a high school classroom. I learn a great deal from these sites, they have current research and findings that I am able to understand better and thus pass this on to my students. This week I did have one student tell me she didn't feel like she was able to learn from these assignments, I'm glad she told me. Students should get exposed to a variety of learning opportunities, not just one even if it is technology. I'm glad I'm learning more methods to incorporate technology in my science classroom, perhaps some won't work as well as I thought and others may surprise me with their value.

Subscribe, follow, post.....

I'm confused about the terms that I think all do the same thing but perhaps not. They don't all put you on that person's home page, right? If we click on the Follow and click to follow on google, do we click the "public" or "private"? Some of the Wikis can only be viewed if you are invited. As for the delicious account, I think I have that!

RSS

The RSS subscriptions I've made for science websites have been a wealth of information. The read/write/web has information for anyone, not just educators so I haven't really gotten much science education use out of that one. The subscriptions for science websites are sure to come in handy, I need to find some more that are for science lesson plans as well. Practice, I know I need a lot.

Wikis and blogs and webpages

On Edutopia "Harness your students' digital smarts". Wow, what an impressive video! The students did seem so engaged. This makes me want to grasp my use of the blogs and wikis so I actually can use these with my students. I've only tried Google docs, as our textbooks said has wiki features. I need to use it more. Practice practice practice.

Student choices

I read the article on Edutopia "Liven up your lessons by giving students choices". We all get tired of the same old same old and I find the students to be the same. There is a level of keeping things interesting that is a constant challenge but it also keeps me on my toes. Looking at a lesson in a different way does help understanding. I need to be more creative with technology I know, hopefully I will be soon.

Blog questions

As I read through the assignment and how to subscribe, I'm confused. What is the difference between subscribing and following? Is the sites I've joined the same as subscribing to? Where do we get notified about someone posting to their own blogs? Is there a difference in the 2 Posts that are on a blog page, the one with the icon and the one with Post(atom)? So many questions, but perhaps someone knows the answers. I'm a bit clearer on what a blog can do than I was for the first class we took. I'm building up the courage to set up my wiki- I think its cool that its a Hawaiian word, I just feel like I should maybe be playing the ukulele. Thanks to anyone that may see this! Phyl

Cheers to all in 2010

Getting ready for another fun ride.