At the top of my blog, there is a beautiful image of a honeybee that I found within the public domain via the state library on North Carolina. The honeybee is the state insect of North Carolina. Unfortunately, throughout the United States, honeybees are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Honeybees can be credited with pollinating more than $14 billion worth of agricultural crops every year throughout the United States. “Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food,” said Zac Browning, vice president of the American Beekeeping Federation. In the U.S., Bee losses are ranging from 30 to 60 percent on the West Coast, with some beekeepers on the East Coast and in Texas reporting losses of more than 70 percent. A loss of up to 20 percent in the off season is considered to be normal by beekeepers. The exact reason for the steep declines in honeybee populations is unknown. Investigators are exploring theories including viruses, fungus and poor bee nutrition. Another hypothesis is that the use of a group of pesticides are somehow affecting bees’ innate ability to find their way back home.
To read a complete article from the NY Times on this issue visit the following.
New York Times. Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27bees.html?ex=1330232400&en=3aaa0148837b8977&ei=5088
Honeybee
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Internet and Other Long Distance Learning Tools
I recently read a chapter out of the text Integrating Educational Technology Into Teaching that discussed distance learning and use of the internet in the classroom. I was disappointed to see that the chapter summed up the effectiveness of distance learning as comparable to face-to-face education. The text clearly states that distance learning classrooms have a higher drop out rate than face-to-face classrooms. I guess in this case effective learning is based on assessment scores, but isn't attendance and commitment much more important. If a higher rate of students drop out due to lack of emotional connection doesn't that make distance learning less effective than face-to-face learning. It disturbs me that assessment in education is so often based on regurgitation of information. There is a big difference between a student learning about something and a student learning from something. I would argue that distance learning fails students in learning from something.
Part of schooling is learning how to socialize, form relationships and collaborate. While opportunities for collaboration do exists on the internet, it has been suggested that too much time on a computer directly impacts an indiviuals interpersonal skills. I would argue that in this world of technology and information overload, that educators should encourage our students to take a deep breathe, slow down, comtemplate ideas, master skills, get dirty, and learn by asking face-to-face questions and working with others face-to-face.
Simply Presenting information, cutting and pasting, googling, is not educating. Hands on activities that allow students to learn from mistakes and feel what they are doing physically and emotionally is education.
I also fear that pushing technology is our schools will only widen the gap between the have's and the have nots.
By no means do I feel that technology should be nixed from our schools, basic computer and technological skills are important. Technology can provide a great way to present informtaion with students when used apropriately and sparingly and the internet can expose students to other cultures in creative ways. But this push to integrate technology regularly into all classes is not only expensive, but is encouraging disconnect from reality and the notion that answers come with a click of a button.I definitely hesitate to embrace the computer age and cater to the way in which it is altering how we teach, obtain information, learn and communicate.
Part of schooling is learning how to socialize, form relationships and collaborate. While opportunities for collaboration do exists on the internet, it has been suggested that too much time on a computer directly impacts an indiviuals interpersonal skills. I would argue that in this world of technology and information overload, that educators should encourage our students to take a deep breathe, slow down, comtemplate ideas, master skills, get dirty, and learn by asking face-to-face questions and working with others face-to-face.
Simply Presenting information, cutting and pasting, googling, is not educating. Hands on activities that allow students to learn from mistakes and feel what they are doing physically and emotionally is education.
I also fear that pushing technology is our schools will only widen the gap between the have's and the have nots.
By no means do I feel that technology should be nixed from our schools, basic computer and technological skills are important. Technology can provide a great way to present informtaion with students when used apropriately and sparingly and the internet can expose students to other cultures in creative ways. But this push to integrate technology regularly into all classes is not only expensive, but is encouraging disconnect from reality and the notion that answers come with a click of a button.I definitely hesitate to embrace the computer age and cater to the way in which it is altering how we teach, obtain information, learn and communicate.
Monday, October 8, 2007
I-Pods for Professional Development
I recently joined We Are Teachers Imagine Community on Ning.com and found a link to a great post written by Lucie deLaBruere in July, 2007 that offers great suggestions for easy ways to keep up on technology in education and other relevant information.
Lucie suggests utilizing your I-Pod and podcasts for professional development.
What is a podcast? A podcast is digital media file that is distrubuted over the internet via syndication feeds. For more info visit Wikipedia.
Lucie de LaBruere's blog provides several links to sites that provide quality podcasts, relevant to education. She recommends starting with these resources and creating play lists to listen to. She then recommends the following:
1. Carry a small notebook: Jot down notes as you listen to play lists, write down the titles that may be worth listening to again or sharing.
2. Share: Collaborate with colleagues and share play lists.
3. Talk: Share what you think about what you listened to in person or in a blog.
4. Expand: Don't just listen to education related podcasts, expand your horizons this is a great way to develop professionally and personally.
By utilizing I-pods, you can listen to professional development material anywhere. Many teachers find it difficult, to focus on professional development during the leisurely summer months. With this technology, you can listen to things such as; Steve Hargadon's interview with Tim O'Reily, Science Friday on NPR, EPN pedagogical concepts, or National Geographic while you are relaxing beach side, painting the house, doing yard work, or on a long drive.
I think this is an innovative way in which to use simple technology as an educator and professional in general. The resources provided on this blog were helpful and practical. I have an I-Pod, but have yet to utilize podcasts. I will definitely use this technique to help me stay up to date as an educator.
Lucie suggests utilizing your I-Pod and podcasts for professional development.
What is a podcast? A podcast is digital media file that is distrubuted over the internet via syndication feeds. For more info visit Wikipedia.
Lucie de LaBruere's blog provides several links to sites that provide quality podcasts, relevant to education. She recommends starting with these resources and creating play lists to listen to. She then recommends the following:
1. Carry a small notebook: Jot down notes as you listen to play lists, write down the titles that may be worth listening to again or sharing.
2. Share: Collaborate with colleagues and share play lists.
3. Talk: Share what you think about what you listened to in person or in a blog.
4. Expand: Don't just listen to education related podcasts, expand your horizons this is a great way to develop professionally and personally.
By utilizing I-pods, you can listen to professional development material anywhere. Many teachers find it difficult, to focus on professional development during the leisurely summer months. With this technology, you can listen to things such as; Steve Hargadon's interview with Tim O'Reily, Science Friday on NPR, EPN pedagogical concepts, or National Geographic while you are relaxing beach side, painting the house, doing yard work, or on a long drive.
I think this is an innovative way in which to use simple technology as an educator and professional in general. The resources provided on this blog were helpful and practical. I have an I-Pod, but have yet to utilize podcasts. I will definitely use this technique to help me stay up to date as an educator.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
The Amazing Lyrebird
The Superb Lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae, is a passerine bird found in Austarlia. The males courtship display consists of song and dance on an open platform of scratched earth. Lyre Birds have an amazing ability to mimic sounds. View clips from David Attenborough's series, The Life if Birds, which is posted as a video side bar on this blog, to learn more about this amazing bird and it's mimic capabilities.
Scratch
I visited Scratch, a free software available online and created at MIT. This program was pretty cool. I see a lot of potential for use of Scratch in any content area and at just about any grade level (3rd-12th). This program offers an elementary programming language that can be used to create games and animations. Scratch would not be applicable for drill and practice or as a tutorial, but it would be great for creating simple simulations and animations to supplement a lecture, or encouraging kids to create their own graphics and animations to reinforce reading and lecture. Uses of this program in science could be to create an animation or game of the food web using Scratch or create an animation on Meiosis using Scratch. A creative teacher may also be able to come up with a way to use this program for kids to practice problem solving through a game or simulation. The way in which Scratch is organized makes it easy for students and teachers to use and creativity is the only limiting factor.
When using Scratch you can search their database of "sprites" & sounds or you can draw or record your own. By piecing together the Scratch "language" you can make sprite 1 turn 90 degrees when it encounters sprite 2 and you can make sprite 1 move 10 spaces when the space bar is pressed. The combinations are endless and applications are many.
The game I started to create is aimed to show the variety of obstacles wildlife face, especially when living amongst humans. The game involves a squirrel who is trying to make it across town to his tree, along the way he encounters a cat, dog, car, curious child, and bird of prey.
Scratch is free and easy to download and can be a fun activity for anyone 8 years old and up.
When using Scratch you can search their database of "sprites" & sounds or you can draw or record your own. By piecing together the Scratch "language" you can make sprite 1 turn 90 degrees when it encounters sprite 2 and you can make sprite 1 move 10 spaces when the space bar is pressed. The combinations are endless and applications are many.
The game I started to create is aimed to show the variety of obstacles wildlife face, especially when living amongst humans. The game involves a squirrel who is trying to make it across town to his tree, along the way he encounters a cat, dog, car, curious child, and bird of prey.
Scratch is free and easy to download and can be a fun activity for anyone 8 years old and up.
Great Online Resources for Educators!
The following web pages provide excellent resources for educators. On these sites you will find lesson plans, online courses for teachers & students, articles, essays, a program for creation of web based lessons, overviews of content specific software, and info. about teaching in Colorado.
Learn NC
This North Carolina focused site has resources for teachers, regardless of location. I found a plethora of great lesson plans on this site including plans for teaching:
- Strato-volcano's
- Chemical Equations
- Archaeological Soils
- Density
These plans not only provide a detailed outline of the activities and objectives, but also provide links to the worksheets, lab sheets, charts and notes used in the lesson.
This site also offers Online Courses on a variety of topics including:
- Adolescent Literacy
- Online Collaboration
- How to Teach Online
This site is also a great resource for new teachers as they offer support for new teachers with a variety of essays and articles to answer questions and address feelings and emotions such as loneliness.
This site has been added to my favorites and will be visited many times I'm sure as I develop as an educator.
T.H.E. Journal
This is an online education magazine that offers their articles for free. This site provides current and archived articles on a variety of education related topics such as:
- Wireless Technology
- Professional Development
- Special Needs Students
The extent of articles offered and topics covered by T.H.E. Journal is impressive and the fact that it is free makes it that more exciting! This is a convenient and inexpensive way to stay up to date on current issues, technologies and innovations in education.
Blue WebN'
This site offers links to "Blue Ribbon" learning sites. It is convenient to use as you can search the library of sites by content area, subject area, or grade level. Once you chose your criteria, for example content, the web links are then broken down into sub-categories such as lesson plans, tools, and tutorials.
I found a really fun link to the Miami Museum of Science "Atom's Family" web site. This site has fun and slightly morbid activities for learning about atoms, energy, and light. These activities would be really fun, and appropriate, as Halloween approaches.
Turner Learning
This web page is part of the Educational Division of CNN & Turner Broadcasting.
This page offers CNN Student News as well as activities for the classroom on topics such as identity theft and the crisis in Darfur. Continental Maps are also provided on this page.
I think this web page could be useful when trying to get students to become more aware of current events. Students could look to this site to find a current article about the environment, politics, or human rights and discuss it in class, write a summary or write a journal entry about it. This site is also useful for keeping teacher up to date and providing creative ways to incorporate current events and issues into classroom curriculum.
TrackStar
This resource is super cool! TrackStar provides a simple template for creating interactive web-based lesson for your students. You can create a "Track" simply by entering in the various sites you wish to use and adding annotations. You can also search the TrackStar database and utilize Tracks that other educators have created. I found a great Track about meiosis and mitosis that provides links to animations and quizzes. It is free to create a TrackStar account and the program is simple. This sort of lesson plan template makes integration of technology in the classroom painless and fun.
Tom Snyder Productions
This web page offers overviews of a variety of software packages for purchase and use in the classroom. This page allows you to view software what is applicable to your content area and provides a great overview that tells you the system requirements, ideas for activities to do with the software, and the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) review.
This is a great resource to check out if you are looking for software to use within your content area.
Software Express
This site also offers a great resource for searching software on a particular content area. It provides nice organization and you can easily look through content specific software and see system compatibility and appropriate grade level. This site does offer nice descriptions of the software, but does not provide reviews of the software. Under customer resources you can find links to grant information and demo downloads.
While reviews are not provided on this site, they do offer a plethora of software descriptions and their organization makes use of the site a breeze.
Colorado Department of Education
In a nutshell everything you could ever want to know about teaching in Colorado. This is a must use resource for any educator in the state of Colorado. Information about law and policy, standards, school statistics, licensing, grants and educational technology can all be found on this comprehensive page. You can also view the CDE Calendar to stay current on trainings and conferences.
Learn NC
This North Carolina focused site has resources for teachers, regardless of location. I found a plethora of great lesson plans on this site including plans for teaching:
- Strato-volcano's
- Chemical Equations
- Archaeological Soils
- Density
These plans not only provide a detailed outline of the activities and objectives, but also provide links to the worksheets, lab sheets, charts and notes used in the lesson.
This site also offers Online Courses on a variety of topics including:
- Adolescent Literacy
- Online Collaboration
- How to Teach Online
This site is also a great resource for new teachers as they offer support for new teachers with a variety of essays and articles to answer questions and address feelings and emotions such as loneliness.
This site has been added to my favorites and will be visited many times I'm sure as I develop as an educator.
T.H.E. Journal
This is an online education magazine that offers their articles for free. This site provides current and archived articles on a variety of education related topics such as:
- Wireless Technology
- Professional Development
- Special Needs Students
The extent of articles offered and topics covered by T.H.E. Journal is impressive and the fact that it is free makes it that more exciting! This is a convenient and inexpensive way to stay up to date on current issues, technologies and innovations in education.
Blue WebN'
This site offers links to "Blue Ribbon" learning sites. It is convenient to use as you can search the library of sites by content area, subject area, or grade level. Once you chose your criteria, for example content, the web links are then broken down into sub-categories such as lesson plans, tools, and tutorials.
I found a really fun link to the Miami Museum of Science "Atom's Family" web site. This site has fun and slightly morbid activities for learning about atoms, energy, and light. These activities would be really fun, and appropriate, as Halloween approaches.
Turner Learning
This web page is part of the Educational Division of CNN & Turner Broadcasting.
This page offers CNN Student News as well as activities for the classroom on topics such as identity theft and the crisis in Darfur. Continental Maps are also provided on this page.
I think this web page could be useful when trying to get students to become more aware of current events. Students could look to this site to find a current article about the environment, politics, or human rights and discuss it in class, write a summary or write a journal entry about it. This site is also useful for keeping teacher up to date and providing creative ways to incorporate current events and issues into classroom curriculum.
TrackStar
This resource is super cool! TrackStar provides a simple template for creating interactive web-based lesson for your students. You can create a "Track" simply by entering in the various sites you wish to use and adding annotations. You can also search the TrackStar database and utilize Tracks that other educators have created. I found a great Track about meiosis and mitosis that provides links to animations and quizzes. It is free to create a TrackStar account and the program is simple. This sort of lesson plan template makes integration of technology in the classroom painless and fun.
Tom Snyder Productions
This web page offers overviews of a variety of software packages for purchase and use in the classroom. This page allows you to view software what is applicable to your content area and provides a great overview that tells you the system requirements, ideas for activities to do with the software, and the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) review.
This is a great resource to check out if you are looking for software to use within your content area.
Software Express
This site also offers a great resource for searching software on a particular content area. It provides nice organization and you can easily look through content specific software and see system compatibility and appropriate grade level. This site does offer nice descriptions of the software, but does not provide reviews of the software. Under customer resources you can find links to grant information and demo downloads.
While reviews are not provided on this site, they do offer a plethora of software descriptions and their organization makes use of the site a breeze.
Colorado Department of Education
In a nutshell everything you could ever want to know about teaching in Colorado. This is a must use resource for any educator in the state of Colorado. Information about law and policy, standards, school statistics, licensing, grants and educational technology can all be found on this comprehensive page. You can also view the CDE Calendar to stay current on trainings and conferences.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Staying on the Right Side of the Law: A Teacher's Guide to Copyright Laws
As new technologies emerge, copyright laws seem to become more and more foggy. The Internet allows for easy, quick download of software, music, video, photos and written work. As a teacher one is ethically and morally obligated to walk the high road and ensure proper use of published works. Wading through the logistics of copyright laws can be overwhelming. The following are some links to websites that offer guidelines for educators as to what is and is not O.K. to duplicate for classroom use.
Resources:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/copyrightlaw.html
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
http://www.cas.usf.edu/english/walker/papers/copyright/ipdummie.html
(provides activities to test your copyright knowledge)
http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/92chap1.html
Did you know.....
....Only T.V. shows that are broadcast to the public can be taped for use in the classroom and those tapes can only be used in the classroom for 10 consecutive days after the tape is made.
....Media is available on the web that bears a Creative Commons copyright, which strips away some of the rights reserved under a typical copyright. By clicking on the Creative Commons logo found on a work, you can easily view permitted and un-permitted use of that work.
....Unless clearly stated otherwise, it is illegal to copy from a workbook and distribute the copies to your class.
Resources:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/copyrightlaw.html
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
http://www.cas.usf.edu/english/walker/papers/copyright/ipdummie.html
(provides activities to test your copyright knowledge)
http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/92chap1.html
Did you know.....
....Only T.V. shows that are broadcast to the public can be taped for use in the classroom and those tapes can only be used in the classroom for 10 consecutive days after the tape is made.
....Media is available on the web that bears a Creative Commons copyright, which strips away some of the rights reserved under a typical copyright. By clicking on the Creative Commons logo found on a work, you can easily view permitted and un-permitted use of that work.
....Unless clearly stated otherwise, it is illegal to copy from a workbook and distribute the copies to your class.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Life Continues to Fascinate
Bombardier beetles store hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide separately. When threatened, these chemicals are squirted through 2 tubes, where they are mixed along with small amounts of catalytic enzymes. At this point, the chemicals undergo a violent “exothermic” reaction. The mixed chemicals reach high temperatures and some of the bad smelling liquid becomes gas and is expelled with a loud pop! This defense is fatal to attacking insects and small animals and is painful to humans.For more information about the bombardier beetle and other amazing insects check out For Love of
Insects by Dr. Thomas Eisner.
Interested in Integrating Technology into The Classroom?
The following websites are great resources for learning about available technologies and their applications in education. All of these sites provide the opportunity for their members to network and explore applicable peer reviewed articles, attend conferences and stay up to date on current trends in Educational Technology.
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE): http://www.aace.org/
This organization focuses on the improvement of learning and teaching at all levels with information technology. This goal is accomplished through publications, conferences and inter-organizational projects. This website also offers a Digital Library with a list of publications and abstracts of relevant peer reviewed articles. For it's members AACE offers discounts on journal subscriptions and conference registration in addition to the many opportunities to network and collaborate.
Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT): http://www.aect.org/default.asp
This organization focuses on the promotion of scholarship in the production and use of technologies in education. Again this organization is non-profit and provides networking opportunities and up to date information about educational technologies. One great resource I found on this page was Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, & Technology . This text is readily available for use in classrooms thanks to Creative Commons
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE):
http://www.iste.org/
This non-profit aims to improve teaching and learning by improving the use of technology in education through leadership, service and guidance. This organization is home to National Education Technology Standards (NETS), Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and National Educational Computing Conference (NECC).
International Test & Evaluation Association (ITEA):
http://www.itea.org/
This non-profit organization works to expand the discussion of technologies in regards to test & evaluation. The members of this organization are involved in the assessment of the effectiveness, reliability & safety of existing technology systems. This is a great resource for learning about which software programs are working well and may easily be incorporated into a classroom, and which programs are more difficult for the user and may do more harm than good in the classroom. This site also provides a "Tech Tips" section, which provides a variety of current topics.
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE): http://www.aace.org/
This organization focuses on the improvement of learning and teaching at all levels with information technology. This goal is accomplished through publications, conferences and inter-organizational projects. This website also offers a Digital Library with a list of publications and abstracts of relevant peer reviewed articles. For it's members AACE offers discounts on journal subscriptions and conference registration in addition to the many opportunities to network and collaborate.
Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT): http://www.aect.org/default.asp
This organization focuses on the promotion of scholarship in the production and use of technologies in education. Again this organization is non-profit and provides networking opportunities and up to date information about educational technologies. One great resource I found on this page was Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, & Technology . This text is readily available for use in classrooms thanks to Creative Commons
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE):
http://www.iste.org/
This non-profit aims to improve teaching and learning by improving the use of technology in education through leadership, service and guidance. This organization is home to National Education Technology Standards (NETS), Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and National Educational Computing Conference (NECC).
International Test & Evaluation Association (ITEA):
http://www.itea.org/
This non-profit organization works to expand the discussion of technologies in regards to test & evaluation. The members of this organization are involved in the assessment of the effectiveness, reliability & safety of existing technology systems. This is a great resource for learning about which software programs are working well and may easily be incorporated into a classroom, and which programs are more difficult for the user and may do more harm than good in the classroom. This site also provides a "Tech Tips" section, which provides a variety of current topics.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Who Am I ?
I have recently received my Teaching License from the State of Colorado and am endorsed in Science. I student taught at Durango High School and instructed classes in Biology and Conceptual Chemistry. I have a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology and have an insatiable interest in all things living. In addition, I love art and creativity. I see the art and beauty in all things living and strive to mesh artistic creativity with science.
My future blogs and links will focus on resources for educators, interesting facts about a variety of organisms and unique ways in which to engage students in the study of Biology, Ecology and Environmental Education.
My future blogs and links will focus on resources for educators, interesting facts about a variety of organisms and unique ways in which to engage students in the study of Biology, Ecology and Environmental Education.
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