Ann's Blog

Thank you CTER

2008-12-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

As I work on my final project for CTER,I would like to thank all the teachers and fellow CTER students for all that I have learned. I can't believe the amount of information and new ideas that I have learned. Please believe that one can teach an old dog new tricks. I am living proof of that statement. I wish everyone well and thank you again for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me.

Technology Conference

2008-11-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

Last week I attended the "Best Practices in Technology" Conference. Like Jillian's Blog, I agree that technology is always inspiring.
There were two feature presenters and a series of breakout speakers.The main speaker was Rem Jackson, who talked about best practices. His link http://www.toppractices.com/library/speaker-rem-jackson-president-and-ceo-top-practices.cfmk .His focus was mostly on the future. He emphasized the potential of technology but was a little science fictional in that he suggested that by 2029 most individuals will be implanted with chips so the computer as we know it won't exist. Maybe it will happen. It seems strange.There was also 19 reasons why change doesn't happen in K-12 Education. There also was a fee. I guess a drawback is that everything seems to have a price.

The other speaker was Rich Halverson, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spoke of how games can be a positive experience in learning. Exploring digital learning should be a goal of teachers. He shared the link http://www.digitallearning.macfound.org/. Gaming is a way to reach students and improve learning. The main idea is not to be afraid of gaming and its use in the classroom.

In the breakout sections, gaming was a big theme. World of Warcraft game should be used at the high school level. A keyboarding game, Typing of the Dead, (which is a free download) can be used to make learning the keyboarding skill fun. My principal wants me to try it with the junior high. A math game http://www.dimensionm.com/ was suggested. The speaker, a teacher in a Catholic school in the Chicago area, praised it use and how excited the students were using this program.

A strong appeal for the use of games to enhance learning was made at this conference. I like the idea but I am sure some administrators were leery. If these games can reach students when other ways of instruction can't, I believe that educators and administrators have to be open to the possibilities of their use. Like Jillian's idea that Technology is always inspiring, I think the use of technology games can be too.

My Journey with Technology

2008-11-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

When I was a child, technology was almost like science fiction to me. I was raised in a mostly tech free world. I attended grade school,high school, and college with out ever using a computer or seeing a dvd recording. I come from an era of television with only 4 or 5 stations and only one television in the house. I can remember when color television was introduced and the excitement that it caused.

When I went through my training to become a teacher, technology was rarely mentioned. It was mostly referred to as the AV department, which was always kept under lock and key. As I began my teaching, I taught for many years with using the only tech available- films in cannisters that needed to be threaded just right into the projector, and film strips with record players.

As technology evolved, it was mostly up to the individual teacher to introduce it into their classroom. My first computer was a Commodore 64 that I bought at a toy store and brought it to my clasroom for free time. Our school eventually purchased Apple computers with the floppy disks. Carmen San Diego and Oregon trail were used daily.Eventually the school was given PC's but until a few years ago, it was mostly make due with what was donated or bought by the individual teachers.

Today, I teach entirely different than I was taught to teach. I can't imagine life without technology. I try to stress with my students how lucky they are to grow up in the age of technology that is so available. I guess because I was raised with so little technology that the wonder of todays technology still amazes me. I think our students are amazed also. Computers always seem to get their attention. The possibilities for the learning enviroment are endless.

When I think of how my journey in technology began-dial phone,transistor radio, record player,cameras (the odor of burning lights for a flashpicture) black and white television- and where my journey is now-internet, laptops with wireless connection, digital cameras and videos,cell phones,etc.- I realize how far technology has come. The technology journey in education is slower than many have thought but the potential for great things is there. Who could imagine attending college on a computer? My own lifetime journey in technology has brought wonderful changes. Just think what wonderful changes will occur in our students future. I hope they will enjoy and appreciate their journey in technology.

How to tie a shoe with one hand

2008-10-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

My instructional video is about tying a shoe with one hand. My husband,Rick, was born without the use of his left hand. Like all children, he wanted to learn how to tie his shoe and not rely on others. The traditional shoe tying methods, using both hands, was not possible for him. He eventually figured out a way to tie his shoe with one hand. My instructional video explains his method of tying a shoe with only one hand.

Paddy's Journey

2008-10-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is my Digital Story of my youngest son, Paddy, and his journey with Juvenile Diabetes. Paddy was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 6. This is the first video that I have ever made. I hope you enjoy the video.The journey of life can throw many curves but also many joys. I join the hope that one day a cure will be found and Paddy's journey will be a great one.

2008-09-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Yesterday my school was placed on lockdown. There was a hostage situation two blocks away from the school.From the computer lab, I saw the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, news helicopters hovering over,police activity and swat teams arriving. All this was happening two blocks away. Schools are supposed to be a safe place to protect from the violence occuring in the real world. Yesterday had a surreal quality, almost like being part of a movie but it was reality.The students did not realize the danger outside.Keep the children occupied and safe.The class came into the lab.We started Type to Learn program."F,J,spacebar" the program kept repeating. The students created cartoons from Charolette Web site. The school was creating a safe atmosphere in the middle of the chaos around us.Finally the message comes that the situation is now safe, but a sense of sadness as we learn the outcome of the hostage situation. A father takes the life of his young daughter,critically wounds his young son, and kills himself. The news says it was "domestic issue". Two blocks away there is death taking place as we are teaching the children technology skills to prepare for a better future.It seems unreal and we are shaken.Hopefully,the children will survive the outside world and make use of their skills. It will be a day many won't forget.

About My Life

2008-08-29T17:05:00.000-07:00

I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in History. After working in business for a year, I decided to go back to school to be certified to teach. I completed my teaching certification at St. Xavier's University and I have been teaching ever since. I love working with children.To see a child discovering the world around them is a wonderful adventure. Teaching is a job in which you learn something new everyday.

My husband,Rick, is also a teacher.We have been married for 25 years and have three sons.My family will have 5 graduations this spring.I will finish my CTER program in December.My husband will graduate with his Masters in Administration.My oldest son will graduate with his Masters from Loyola.My middle son with his B.A. from Eastern Illinois.My youngest will graduate from grammar school. Spring will be a busy time for us.

Next summer, I hope to travel to Ireland with my family.We enjoy traveling there and hope we will be able to do so.I have enjoyed the CTER program and have learned much from my classmates.It has been a great experience.

The Future of Learning

2008-08-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe the future of learning can be related to the theme of the present presidential campaign-"Change". By taking the wealth of knowledge that has been acquired throughout history and enhancing this knowledge with technology,educators can create a tremendous environment for learning in the future.

In my own lifetime,changes in the learning environment have been many.I am the product of the non -computer,non-video, non-text educational system. From Kindergarten (there was no such thing a Pre-school) through my college years, I never used a computer or viewed a video in the classroom.My earliest computer memory as a child was from a Doris Day movie. The computer was portrayed as a huge monstrous card feeding machine.Needless to say the monstrous image of the computer has changed to be become a basic necessity of life and education.

When I first began teaching, there were no computers in the classroom. I remember how happy the school secretary was to trade in the manual typewriter for an electric model.The first computer I used in the class room was a Commodore 64 that I purchased at Toys' r 'Us. From there I progressed to an Apple computer with the big floppy disks.Oregon Trail and the adventures of Carmen San Diego were the class favorites.The software choices were limited as was the use of technology in schools.Videos were beta which was a step up from the big reel movie machines and film strips used in my early teaching days.

Looking back, I am amazed how technology has progressed.Technology can only enhance the future of learning. Today's students are fortunate to be part of the advances in technology.Being able to access knowledge with the touch of a finger is a wonderful gift. As educators,we need to guide our students in using the Internet to expand their learning potential. As we were taught not to judge a book by its' cover, students have to be guided to use the web wisely.To give students the skills to critically analyse material on the web should be important component of future learning.

Educators need the "Change" technology can give.Future student success depends on successful implementation of technology. Is this an easy task for educators? No, but it is a necessary task. It is up to educators to become advocates for technology in the classroom.So much has changed since I became a teacher. The future of learning in schools is to be open to change and use the opportunities given to students with the wonders of technology. I have changed the way that I was taught to teach. I can't imagine my classroom without technology. Teachers owe it to their students to keep up with change.Teacher knowledge combined with technology is a winning combination.This winning combination can create a positive environment for future learning and a brighter future for our children. One can only hope.