Rose, I miss you!

Perogin, originally uploaded by wsigele.

Ah Perogin!

The smell as it comes out of the oven. The taste as you burn the roof of your mouth because you can't wait a second for it to cool. Rose used to make these for us for special occasions. She'd also make some which were large rolls kind of like calzones for my dad. She never had a recipe to follow other than the one in her head and they turned out perfect each and every time. One by one she taught the Zoot's and the Sigele's how to make these yummy dough balls become a brisket lover's heavenly appetizer. Thank you Shari for taking the time to make these for us on the 24th for our Chanumus party. These are (were) a lovely tribute to our loving Rose whom I miss dearly.

Cliché

I have been around the discussion of "Digital Immigrants vs. Digital Natives" for a couple of years now and I have to say I'm not a fan of the term. Maybe I feel this way because I'm not a 'Native' in the terms which Marc Prensky states in his article  because I myself just turned 45. I didn't have video games in my child hood, heck, I didn't even have cable until I was living on my own 'cause it didn't exist when I lived at home. Yet, of the ninteen people in my Ed Tech class, I am the one who is looked at for technology assistance. I am the one who has been integrating technology into classrooms for the past six years. I am also the one with an online community/network in Plurk (like Twitter) which connects me to over 250 educators around the globe who are also integrating technology into classrooms either as teachers, administrators or students themselves.
I agree that perople sho understand technology look at the world and education with a different mindset, a different view then people who don't understand or are afraid of technology do. I'm not so certain it is because we have been or have not been brought up within a digital world which makes us different. I thinkit is how we approach technology and how open we are to change in general which makes us different.
I  highly reccommend the book (and website) Brain Rules by John Medina. In 12 chapters it speaks about how the brain responds to how we live, sleep, move, work, etc. Specifically, chapter 4 which focuses on Attention. He states, and I quote, "The brain is not capable of multi-tasking. We can talk and breathe, but when it comes to higher level tasks, we just can’t do it." Supposedly, multi-tasking is what Digital Natives are wired to be able to do. Hmmm...
Read, then get back to me and let me know what you think.

Webquests

I'm learning much more about webquests then I knew! I LOVE learning especially when I can see how it will open doors (or windows) in the mind! I asked my PLN (Professional Learning Network) if they had any they would share and since they did I thought I would give them some pomp and circumstance for their generosity!

Weather Webquest
Webquests to Web 2.0
A Web Hunt (a little different than a webquest, usually a given topic with a a set of questions to be answered by using Internet resources)
I wish I had found this one sooner: Seeking to Understand Multiple Intelligence Theory Better Ironically it is from someone at the University where I received my Bachelor Degree.
Here is a webquest about Web 2.0
WOW! A webquest for defining what type of digital eportfolio is correct for 'you'
Assistive Technology is amazing and here is a webquest for it!

Higher Level Thinking

How can technology help develop higher order thinking and problem solving skills?

This is the question I've been asked to answer by reading the following articles:
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial011.shtml and http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic69.htm

Before I even look at these articles, I can say I believe technology assists in many ways to help achieve higher order thinking and problem solving skills. technology engages all the senses, ok well maybe not smell unless your computer is smoking, and maybe not taste unless you lick your screen clean


But seriously, you can touch, hear, and see information and data in multiple ways almost instantly on a computer and then you can manipulate that information and data in multiple ways. You no longer need to stare at a piece of paper and memorize in order to regurgitate information. You can watch videos, listen to songs, stories, or lectures and you can play games which also often assist in learning by repetition but in an engaging and fun way. WHY do some people think learning should not be enjoyable?

By processing so many learning styles (all of which are engaging) you utilize more senses and the information sticks more easily. Not only does it stick, but once it does stick, you can then be reflective regarding it. Once reflection takes place, you can do something with the information you've learned; write about it, talk about it, think more about it, and you can form questions through thought and through discussion. Once you know, think, question, discuss, and contemplate, then you can move forward in some direction with new understanding of this information. You can evolve what you know into a new purpose by creating something from it. I've basically described Bloom's Taxonomy in my own words. Relating Bloom's Taxonomy to technology and the idea that digital age equipment becomes part of the process. Questioning and discussing via social forums (Twitter, Plurk, Blogs, FaceBook, etc.)  and eventually creating via online sites (VoiceThread, Xtranormal, Wikis, Podcasts, etc.) become the way to evolve your knowledge and thus share with the online community. This keeps the momentum going and the knowledge is thus ever evolving.

**I should point out that technology is not JUST computers. It is Interactive White Boards, cameras (still or video), phones, GPS, MP3 players, etc. It is any piece of equipment which has a microchip and allows you to connect, explore, develop and grow.

Now that I've given MY opinion I'm going to read the articles mentioned above and see if I'm on target or if I need to adjust my views.

Well hey now...I was spot on! I have some links I would like to post here re: Bloom's Taxonomy. Some were linked to in one of the articles. The others I acquired from my Plurk and Twitter PLN.
http://faculty.ccconline.org/index.php?title=Blooms_Taxonomy_Tutorial_FLASH
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html
http://visualblooms.wikispaces.com/
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%27s+and+ICT+tools
and my favorite:
http://www.byrdseed.com/differentiator/

Time to go read more articles and write more papers!
~Wendy

Notes for 1st class of EdTech

Why are student's interested in technology? Why does it belong in a classroom?

* Knowledge based - 'Digital Native'
* It is their social life
* Engaging
* Project based
* Student interaction both in and out of the classroom
*Parent interaction/communication
*Collaboration w/parents, other students, each other
*Teachers become the facilitator
* Self-directed education/knowledge
*Access to knowledge
*Problem solving/decision making skills - Critical Thinking Skills
*Global world - multi-cultural
*Creativity - right brained - Daniel Pink
*Limitless (unlike a textbook)

The Teacher GUIDES and FACILITATES these 21st Century skills

2 communication skills needed:
1. Personal
2. Digital

Relationship between teacher and student is the most important! Technology

Watched 'Pay_Attention.mov' (Still moving after the many times I've seen it!)


'Just because you can, does not me you should but it does mean you could'...M. Lowrance

What IS Technology Integration?
*Visual Learning
*Envision what xyz looks like
*Using technology in every aspect of education
*'End of day' summary
*Infused within the philosophy of the school

Where else in the world doe we live by subjects (math, english, etc)?

Technocentric learning - Technology without petogogy/curriculum in pointless.

SuperTeacherTools.com
We broke out into groups (jigsaw) of  3 and 'researched a topic:Jigsaw Project
Constructivism
Performance Assessment
Social and Emotional Learning
Higher Order Thinking Skills
Integrated Studies
Project Learning


HOW to Integrate Technology?
*

Note...end of course assignment-Personal Philosophy Concerning Technology