Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wiki (NETS III,IV,V)

This wiki was created using Wetpaint. I explored different tools and then engaged in a tool of my choice. I created a quiz using the Hot Potatoes application.

Spreadsheet (NETS I,II,III)

This crossword puzzle was created using a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. This crossword puzzle was made to help kindergartners practice their shapes in a fun way. 

IMovie- PSA (NETS I,III,IV)

This movie was created using iMovie. It shows the importance of being tolerant of other races and ethnicities. We used editing skills for this movie.

JCCS Internet Safety (NETS IV)

This document was created using Google Docs. We participated in some lesson plans from a wiki page that dealt with internet safety.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Journal #10 - Let the Kids Do the Work (NETS II,V)

Lawlor, J. (2010). Let the kids do the work. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Let_the_Kids_Do_the_Work.htm

In the article, “Let the Kids Do the Work”, Joseph Lawlor states how if teachers teach students using methods that the students can relate to then the students will do all the work. The author gives an example of how he used a wiki to get students to write a poem and analyze their writing process. The teacher was only expecting the minimum number of responses but was surprised by the amount of feedback he received. This teacher believes that if teachers use tools that are relevant to the students then their job as a teacher will become easier. The students will learn more and soon will be teaching and supporting each other. I will certainly give this idea a try.
How can I use wikis in my classroom?
I can use a wiki page when I want to review a concept with my students. For example, if I teach my students how to write a paragraph I would have them publish their paragraph on the wiki and have students grade each other on the wiki page. The class wiki will be where students show the skills that they learned in the classroom and the teacher can evaluate their understanding.
What subjects can wikis be used in?
I believe wikis can be helpful in all areas. It can be used for math such that students can work on homework problems. A way in which they can be used in English was described in the article. In science students can create their own wiki in which they add and describe different scientific formulas.

Journal #9 - Playing with Skype (NETS I,III,V)

Weller, T.J. (2010). Playing with skype. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25508&DirectListComboInd=

The article, “Playing with Skype” by Travis J. Weller introduces Skype. Skype is an internet communication tool. The only equipment needed to use this tool is an internet connection and a webcam. In this article the author used Skype to bring his music students close to the composers whose music they perform. This engaged students more in their music and what it meant. I think it also informed the community because they were present at the time the Skype connection was made. This is a cool tool that teachers can use in their classroom. Teachers do not have to get famous composers to speak to their students; they can simply connect with other classroom across the world to learn about different cultures. There are several ways in which teachers can use Skype in their classroom.
How can I incorporate this into my classroom?
I can use Skype for Career Day. When it is Career Day students usually are limited to community members and parents but with Skype their options can expand. I could set up Skype to be able to have an astronaut or the captain of a boat speak to the students. Skype can expand the career options of students.
Will Skype me accessible to me?
Skype does not require a lot of technology therefore making it accessible to all teachers. Skype only needs an internet connection which mostly all schools have or can easily get access to. There is also a free trial that teachers can use.

Journal #8 - Navigate the Digital Rapids (NETS IV,V)

Lindsay, J, & Davis, V. (2010). Navigate the digital rapids. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Navigate_the_Digital_Rapids.htm

The article, “Navigate the Digital Rapids”, by Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis is about a network called “Flat Classroom Projects”. These projects are designed to break down the walls of the classroom and expand the learning horizon of students. Students are able to collaborative with other classrooms in their own school or across the country. These projects are safe because they are monitored at all times. Students are taught what is appropriate to incorporate into their projects and what is not. Students are also able to be creative in these projects. They can be creative when it comes to customizing their learning environment. Projects have also been created for parents using Flat Classroom Project. Assigning these types of projects to students helps them become engaged in their learning. These projects also provide students with a skill that they will be able to use throughout their life.
What age level is this appropriate for?
Flat classroom projects are appropriate for all ages. There are activities that are appropriate for all ages included kindergarten. The projects can be adapted.
What is an outcome of this project?
Students can learn about internet safety when engaged in flat classroom projects. The fact that these projects are monitored at all times makes the projects safe. The monitoring allows teachers to teach students what appropriate behavior is and what is not.

Journal #7 - The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips (NETS I,V)

Zanetis, J. (2010). The Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25443&DirectListComboInd=D

The article “The Beginner’s Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips” by Jan Zanetis is about using Virtual Field Trips in the classroom. These field trips “are conducted virtually, over the internet and/or videoconferencing equipment”. Though the equipment needed for this tool is expensive there are several ways to get access. Some districts already have the equipment. If districts do not have the equipment there are grants that teachers can apply for to get the equipment. Virtual field trips are a great new innovated way to take inexpensive trips. There are virtual field trips for all subject areas. The purpose of these field trips is to make far away places closer to students this way students are not confided to places that are in their surroundings. The learning barriers of students are knocked down.
How can I incorporate Virtual Field Trips into my classroom?
I think I could use VFTs when introducing a lesson. Instead of boring students with a lecture about the day’s lesson I would take them on a Virtual Field Trip where they will learn the basics of the subject.
Why is this important?
This is important to know because it gives us teachers a tool that we can use to engage students. It is also important because it is an alternative to field trips that are expensive to participate in.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Inspiration (NETS II,III)

This graphic organizer was created using the application Inspiration. 

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Journal #6 - Collaborative Documents (NETS IV,V)

The tool that I followed on the website of Classroom 2.0 was Collaborative Documents. The types of collaborative documents I read about were Wiki and Google Docs. Wiki is server software that allows people to edit web pages as well as create them. Wikis are usually used when creating a web page for an organization in which several people need to coordinated a program or company. The other tool that was part of collaborative documents was Google Docs. Goggle Docs is a web-based program in which people can create a document using a Word-like program. Using this program people can edit and format the document like they would on the non web-based Word processing program.


When I was reading the responses to this forum I found out the pros and cons of these two programs. The pros of the Wiki are that information can be posted very easily on the web. It is easy to create and edit. Another pro is that revisions are stored. The cons are that only one person at a time can edit the work and there is not much security. The pros of Google Docs are that the information is constantly being saved which allows several editors to edit at once. There was only one con mentioned for Google Docs and it was that it is hard to identify revisions.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

NETS Indicators PowerPoint Presentation (NETS II,III)

This presentation was created using Microsoft PowerPoint. It demonstrates some of my ideas on how to incorporate the NETS for students profiles into a Pre-K-2nd grade classroom.   NETS Indicators PowerPoint Presentation
View more presentations from tc03vfonseca.

NETS Collaborative PowerPoint Rubric (NETS II)

This rubric was created using Rcampus.com. It was created collaborative to score our PowerPoint presentations.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Social Bookmarking (NETS I, IV)

1. The exhibit that I chose focused on the influenza epidemic of 1918. The purpose of this exhibit is to show the importance of this epidemic in American history and how it was omitted from history. In this page I learned that the influenza took more lives than World War I. This archive shows pictures of public workers wearing face masks to protect themselves from the disease. This archive also contains letters that were sent to the families of soldiers who died from the epidemic. It is important that we use primary sources such as the National Archives so we get accurate information on events. Another reason it is important is because most of the time primary sources have more information that others do not have.


2. The student groups that experience achievement gaps are the following:

• Racial and ethnic minorities

• English language learners

• Students with disabilities

• Boys/girls

• Students from low-income families
The three areas in which I believe fit my teaching style are determining the diverse groups served by my school, networking with other schools about their developing and implementing culturally competent systems, and networking with parents, families and other community groups. I think that determining what different groups are served by my school is important because if I am aware of the groups that I can attend to their needs. Knowing what groups I am surrounded by will help me design my curriculum. I will be able to tailor of teaching styles to benefit the diverse groups. The other technique is to network with other schools. I think this is important because I might not know much about a certain group but someone in another school might have more experience with that particular group. I believe in the saying “two heads are better than one”. I can learn from others and they can learn from me. The third technique is networking with people in the community. Getting people from the community to be involved in the school makes programs better. They are better because they are influenced by people who are concerned about the students affected by achievement gaps. Also getting to know the people in your community makes you more accessible and I think that a great teacher is one that is accessible to the community.

3. My score on the “Are You a Cyberbully?” was a 9 which means that I am “cyber risky”. Though I have not done things that are too dangerous they can lead to it. I need to watch what I do.
One of the articles that I read talked about the different types of bullies. I learned that there is more than one type of cyber bully and that they each require a special way of dealing with. What I learned from this article is that I can not expect to disciple all of my students the same way. They are all unique so I have to know how to approach them. This applies to their learning as well. Another article that I read was the one that talked about awareness programs. I think this article is relevant to my future teaching job because it taught me that I do not have to wait for something to happen before I do something about it. This website had a lot of helpful information.

4. Under the “Subject Access” I chose “Health, Physical Education, and Fitness” section. This section has several websites in which I can go to get resources on how to teach my students how to live a healthy life. I chose this because I think that it is important for children to be aware of what is healthy for them and what is not, especially now that the obesity level has gone up. A found a calorie calculator which I thought was very helpful. In this activity you can set up your own activity plan. I think I would be able to have my students create their own plan and have an experiment in which they follow their plan for a month and we document how they felt during that month. In the “Teacher Helpers” section I focused on the “Bulletin Board Ideas”. This page is full of ideas on how to decorate a bulletin board. I would use this in my classroom because I believe that the actually classroom itself influences how much the student will learn. If the classroom is dull and boring the student will not be enthusiastic but if it’s vivid then the student will be eager to learn. This resource will be helpful to me in the future.

5. My top 3 intelligences are the following:
Intrapersonal - 63%
Verbal-Linguistic – 42%
Interpersonal – 31%
I watched the video “Multiple Intelligences Thrive in Smartville”. I learned that if teachers are aware of what kind of intelligence every student has and then implements different teaching styles that will cater to all students then they will perform better no matter the demographics. I also learned that if students are aware of their intelligence then they will have an higher self-esteem because they will now that some children are smarter in some things but they might be not so smart in other things.

6. Grade: 1-2
Subject: Reading and Language Arts
The lesson I chose is named “I am Special”. In this lesson I would read two books to the students and have them guess the theme in both books. The theme would be being yourself and being proud of who you are, do not try to be something else. Reading these books would be the introduction to the lesson about accepting the fact that we are all unique. I think this is a good way to introduce the lesson because it is easier for students to be sympathetic toward animals than to humans. Teaching tolerance in a classroom is an important thing so we should ensure that students understand the importance of it and that they practice tolerance toward each other.

7. Compared with White women, how likely are African American women in the U.S. to die during childbirth due to a lack of access to prenatal care, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality?
The answer was 4 times as likely. I thought that this was just unbelievable that simply because a person does not have the economical support as a white woman an innocent child has to die. That is just outrageous.
According to a study by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, what percentage of physicians report witnessing a colleague giving reduced care or refusing care to lesbian, gay, or bisexual patients?52% have witnessed this. I was not aware of this. This is just a big shocker for me. I knew that they were discriminated but I did not know that it happened in such a huge scale. Don’t physicians have an ethics code? The sexual preference of a person should not influence the medical help a person gets.

8. My score was 90%. It is important to teach out students about netiquette because they might be doing something that can offend a person and they might not even know it. For example, they might be writing in all caps and they might not know that they are:-V (shouting). They should know what is acceptable in cyberspace and in the real world and what is rude.

Journal #4 - Finding Students Who Learn with Media (NETS II, V)

Bull, G. (2010). Finding students who learn with media. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25255&DirectListComboInd=D


The article, “Finding Students Who Learn with Media”, introduces a program called PrimaryAccess MovieMaker. This program allows students to create their own documentaries. The process involved in creating these documentaries is time consuming. The article stated that the process takes about 3 class periods. The process requires students to create an outline, storyboard, and script, then organize all materials and finally edit and add final touches. This documentary assignment is said to produce the same results as a written assessment. The students learn the curriculum and present it in a creative way in which they retain the information for a longer time.
How would I use this program in my classroom?
Even though this program requires a lot of student interaction and it produces results I do not think I would be able to implement it into my classroom. I believe it consumes too much time and the results are the same as other forms of assessment. If I were to use this in my classroom I would use it at the end of the school year.
Should the use of programs such as Primary Access be a part of the curriculum?
I do not think it should just because it does not show a great deal of success. I think that this program should only be used when there is extra time allotted in the curriculum schedule. Otherwise it should not be implemented.

Journal #3 - Keeping the Peace (NETS IV,V)

Levinson, M. (2010). Keeping the peace. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25237&DirectListComboInd=D


The article, “Keeping the Peace” discusses a controversial program at Nueva School, a California school. This school started a one-to-one program which means that all students have their own laptop that is provided by the school. These laptops have a built in application called iChat. This application is the controversial part of the one-to-one program. Some parents were concerned with the usage of the application at home. They thought that their children should not be instant messaging. Other parents believed that this application opened new social doors for their students. This concern led the school to have restrictions on the usage of the program. This restrictions were meant to keep that school and parents content.
What is the importance of a one-to-one program?
The importance of a one-to-one program is that all students will have a stable access to a computer. This is important because if students are falling behind they can get extra online help that maybe otherwise they would not have access to. I know that if my school had a one-to-one program I would definitely use it to the benefit of the students who are falling behind.
How are students being protected while using iChat?
The school has a restriction on the iChat application on the laptops. This restriction makes it safe for students to use because only students can instant message with each other.

Journal #2 - Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective (NETS III,V)

Maguth, B., & Elliott, J. (2010). Using podcasts to develop a global perspective. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd=D


In the article “Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective”, we learn about how students can become culturally aware by using technologies such as podcasting. The article gives a specific example of how a school recorded a debate on a current issue and posted the podcast on the school website. I thought that this assignment was an interesting one. Not only did these students learn about other cultures they also learned to think critically. Students had to predict counter arguments and they had to think through the eyes of other people. I think that this skill is very important for children to posses and this activity does a good job of doing that.
How can I implement podcasting into my classroom?
I can use podcasting when introducing a topic in which I know my students will not be very interested in. The role playing involved in a debate such as the way used as an example in the article will surely engage the students. Using podcast will also ensure that I do not give the students a writing assessment on every section.
Will podcasting include all students?
Yes, the process involved in creating a podcast involves all learning styles therefore all students would be included in one way or the other. Students have to plan, research and finally act out the debate.

Journal #1 - Computing in the Clouds (NETS I,V)

Johnson, D. (2009). Compouting in the clouds. Learning and Leading with Teachnology, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/DecemberJanuaryNo4/Computing_in_the_Clouds.htm


The article “Computing in the Clouds” introduces a new way of using technology. In this article we learn about clouds. Clouds are a new way of storing data without the use of a hard drive. A cloud stores all data in a web based program. This program allows use to use a web based word processing program to create basic documents as we would using the Word processing program. Using this system of clouds allows us to save our work in one place and be able to access it in any other computer. We can do this without using a flash drive. Cloud computing is very safe and inexpensive. All you need is a computer or Netbook and an internet connection.
How will cloud computing help me in my lesson planning?
Cloud computing will help me because I will be able to assign more computer based assignments because students will not have to have the same versions of programs as me. They will all be able to use programs such as Google Docs to turn in their papers.
How is this beneficiary for low socioeconomic schools?
Cloud computing is beneficiary because schools do not need to purchase any programs for their students to be able to create documents. It is also helpful because their students do not need to have a computer that has a lot of memory because all documents are stored in a cloud.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Classroom Newsletter (NETS I, III)

This newsletter was created using Microsoft Office for a fictional 2nd grade classroom.
EDU 422 - Newsletter VFG                                                            

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Vanesa Fonseca's Introduction Letter

My name is Vanesa Fonseca. I was born in Indio, CA and I was raised in Mecca, CA which is about 15 minutes away from Indio. Mecca is a very small town so I did my elementary school and middle school years in the same school, Mecca School. For high school I decided that I did not want to go to a high school where I knew everyone so I decided to go to Coachella Valley High School which is in the next city over. Moving was a great experience because I was forced to leave my shyness behind me and make new friends. It was in high school that I became interested in Pre-Columbian dances which led me to learn these exotic dances. After high school in 2008 I came straight to CSUSM. Moving to San Marcos has been an eye opening experience since I had never been away from parents for more than a week. I have adjusted and love CSUSM!
I would say that when it comes to technology I am average. I know how to use the average programs on my PC such as word, excel, and PowerPoint. I currently use Microsoft 07. I have to depend on my technological skills to keep my job. I constantly have to be e-mailing people, scanning and downloading documents. I check my e-mail at least 10 times in each day. I also need to be able to text to stay in the loop. I have to admit that my only source to news is the internet. Technology is a huge part of my daily routine.
The CSUSM/COE Mission Statement is a very important statement to all future teachers. The part that calls my attention is the following statement "we are committed to diversity, educational equity, and social justice". This important because if I as a future teacher recognize that every child deserves the same opportunities then I will be able to create a curriculum set to success and not for failure. This mission statement did play a role in my decision to take part of the College of Education at Cal State San Marcos.