Bakin

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again

2009-06-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Okay things are not going well. What the heck. Why is this so friggin hard.Can't give up though. Won't give up. The battle continues...

Away with the Burgers and Dogs

2009-05-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Okay the holiday weekend is over. My company has gone back home and I can finally get back to a regular schedule. I'm putting away the hamburgers and hotdogs and getting back to counting points. Willpower, I need you now!!!

Oh Yes I Can, Oh Yes I Can!

2009-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

It was about last year this time that I vowed to myself that i would shed the extra pounds I had been carrying for sOme time now. I joined Weight Watchers and promised I would not quit until I had reached my goal weight. So why did I lie to myself again. I meant to stay true to my word, but it just didn't happen. So here I am a year later and only two pounds lighter.

I am going to pick myself up and start again. This time I will journal abut my progress. Oh dear God please help me t be successful this time. I can do this. I know I can!!!

FINAL REFLECTION

2008-04-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

I had no idea which game I would investigate for this class. Dr. Dana suggested I investigate Diner Dash. My partner talked to me about the Wii System and peaked my interest in it, and I remembered enjoying the original Mario Brothers when my daughter was in junior high. I found an updated version of it on the Internet. So initially I tried working with all three games. I was an inexperienced gamer,and despite the lack of success I was experiencing, I found myself enjoying the diversion from my everyday routines. I knew my choice had to be narrowed down, but I was never able to decide between Wii Sports and Diner Dash.

I enjoyed playing Diner Dash but I never experienced much success with it. I found it quite addicting, sometimes playing for an hour or two straight. I was determined that I could beat what appeared to be a rather simplistic game. It never happened however. I read blog posts of students in class who spoke of being on a second or third restaurant. I wanted desperately to get to that same level but it didn't happen for me. I wonder if I was hindered by the fact that I have rheumatoid arthritis. Anyway, discouraged after several weeks of trying, I finally turned my attention to the Wii Sport System I had purchased.

I enjoyed using the interactive sports system. Aside from walking my dogs I get very little excercise. Using Wii Sports I got the chance to bowl, play tennis, and play softball using a virtual Mii character I that I created in my own image. I got to play against other Mii characters created in the image of family members and friends. This made our games more personal and enjoyable. When engrossed in competitiveness and socializing, you often forget about the physical rigor you're exerting. We all looked forward to family game nights. I got to participate in sports that I would have never thought of doing in real life. I felt safe participating in these activities in the privacy of my own home. I didn't have to worry about anyone judging my form or ineptness. I even learned to keep score during bowling and tennis matches. And imagine how thrilled I was when I took the fitness test and scored a fitness age of 43, ten years younger than I actually am.

While most video games are said to be contributing to childhood obesity, the Wii Sports System seems to do the opposite. It gets kids up and moving involved in physical activity all while having fun doing it. This is just what students need to combat the sedentary lifestyle of most video game.systems. Many students dislike physical education classes. They may dislike traditional excercises or may be apprehensive about being involved in organized sports. With the continued use of the Wii sports system students can improve hand-eye coordination, flexibility, balance, stamina and endurance and enjoy the time spent doing it.

I read an article about a school in West Virginia that uses the video game Dance Dance Revolution as a part of the Physical Education curriculum to combat obesity and help young people get in shape. This is a great example of where a video game can be infused into the educational curriculum giving students an additional choice of fitness activities to engage in.

Recently while doing research, I read about a gentleman who conducted an experiment to see if he would lose weight after participating in Wii Sports activities everyday for 6 weeks. He lost 9 pounds. He gave me a great idea. I've decided to conduct the same experiment and see how I fare. It's only been two weeks thus far but I'm hoping for good results.

I for one am happy I purchased the Wii System. It's an investment that will give my family and I hours of enjoyment long after Medi 506 has ended. I'm not looking to become the best virtual athelete, just get a little more movement and lots of family bonding time.

The connection between game violence and aggressiveness in the players

2008-03-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

I definitely believe that there is a connection between violence in video games and increased aggressiveness in its players.
Prolonged time spent with certain video games and television viewing can desensitize you so that you become accustomed to violence and killing. The incidents in the amounts and types of violence among youths I feel is the evidence of a connection. Unfortunately the new, more sophisticated games have better graphics and allow players to participate in even more realistic violent acts so I don't see things getting better any time soon.
There has been some research that suggests “video and computer game violence may be even more dangerous than violence shown on television or in films, since the player identifies himself with the characters carrying out the violence. Television can make us spectators of violence; computer games can make us feel like participants. Furthermore, a movie may take a child only a couple of hours to watch, but a child may spend up to 100 hours mastering a typical video game”.

People are DEFINITELY influenced by what they see, read, and do. That is the reason billions of dollars are spent on advertising in such medias as television, radio, and newspapers. For the young and impressionable, these games may blur the distinction between reality and fantasy.

Secondly, there are a large number of children in the U.S. that are reported as clinically obese. Lack of exercise because of too much time spent in front of the TV, computer screen, or with a hand-held video game is likely contributing to the problem. Parents and guardians should limiting the time spent playing such games and encourage spending time with other activities such as studying, interacting with others, and playing creatively to assure that their children become well rounded individuals.

Diner Dash 2

2008-03-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Diner Dash 2.... Oh Lord, Somebody just help me get through Diner Dash 1. I read someone's post in class who mentioned that using a mouse makes things much easier. Really??? Is that my problem? I'll attach a mouse to my laptop TODAY! I hope to God I will be able to report that it made a difference for me. Otherwise I'll know that it's me and I just suck at gaming.

Video Games Entering the Classroom

2008-03-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Differentiating instruction has been stressed in my school for the last several years. Many teachers realized why it was important; to address the different needs and learning styles of our students, but truthfully, moving away from whole group instruction continues to pose a challenge for many.
Games can be used as one method to address students varying learning styles. Students will be afforded the opportunity to learn material and demonstrate that learning in new and innovative ways.

The article tells us that educators everywhere are beginning to look for ways that games can be infused into the classroom curriculum. Research has shown that games do encourage learning because they are motivating for many students. They are fun, engaging, and help students develop critical thinking skills. '

We must be careful however to do our homework prior to incorporating games into our lesson plans. Squire tells us that playing games will not appeal to everyone and there is no one game that will give everyone the same learning experience. Some students have a learning style that allows them to thrive in the traditional educational setting whereas others will fair better with more hands-on activities. His experiment showed that 25 % of the students loved playing games and another quarter opted to participate in the traditional reading groups.

Since not all students can or want to learn in the same way, we must continue to provide a multitude of ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge. I think that “gaming” should definitely be added to our repertoire of teaching strategies as an alternative for the average, struggling, or gifted student.

Is Identity Play Benefical or Harmful?

2008-03-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

I think there are both positive and negative aspects to identity play in video games. Through "identity play' students have the opportunity to develop characters in their own image and make decisions and judgements based upon their existing morals and values. Students learn problem solving skills working both individually and in cooperative settings.

Students playing video games are willing to be challenged with a range of difficulty levels, continually seeking strategies to improve their performance and not quitting even after failed attempts. Gee reminds us that mastering a video games requires committment in terms of time, effort, and active engagement, as does learning new content in an academic setting. True mastery is achieved through much practice. Many students are willing to put in hours and hours of practice time to master a video game. Many of these same students may resist learning in school. Gee attributes this to the fact that video games are compelling and school is not. This reinforces the fact that students must be motivated by us (their teachers) to want to achieve success both in and out of school. We ultimately want them to attack their schoolwork with the same level of enthusiasm and persistence that they do their video games.

Video games are harmful when used to demoralize or teach hatred for certain groups of people. It's great if identity play affords you the opportunity to see things from another's perspective, but many misconceptions or racist views are compounded either intentionally or unintentionally through the design of many popular games.

New Literacies: Research and Social Practice

2008-03-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

The authors defined “new literacies” as those identifiable forms of textual practice that have a degree of social significance and are chronologically recent. Included among them are email, online chat spaces, instant messaging, Fan Fiction, Manga, and Weblogs. These new literacies are reading and writing communication tools that should be used both in and out of the classroom to enhance student learning. While many of todays students are already competent with the newest technologies, the teachers responsible for expanding their knowledge are not. There are still many teachers (at least in my building) that will tell you they have heard of blogs but are not really sure what they are or how to develop one. I personally have never visited an online chat room and I'm not a fan of instant messaging. Lankshear and Knobel suggest that educators experience these new technologies from the inside as participants in order to fully understand what students are experiencing. I agree that this is important. There was a time when I was totally computer illiterate and my students had to take my hand and walk me through each and every computer function. I then became determined to learn as much about technology as my 7th graders. No, I'm not there yet, but this baby boomer has come a long way. As educators it is indeed our responsibility to stay abreast of current technologies and incorporate them into our curriculums so that we maximize our students potential.

What am I Doing Wrong

2008-03-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, after spending the last week obsessed with Diner Dash, I am totally frustrated that I have not moved off level 5. I hate admitting to this, especially after reading blogs about the success many people are experiencing with the game. I finally googled Diner Dash tips yesterday. There was lots of good information and tips given to help me improve my game. It's Saturday and my house is begging for my attention, but I am determined that today will be the day I move on to the next level.

Getting my game on....

2008-02-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

Prior to purchasing the Wii system I was playing the Super Mario flash game and loving it. The challenge of trying to move through the various levels was quite addicting. I did feel a little behind the times however. I'm sure everyone else have long since moved on from the Super Mario Brothers. Even though, I was really proud of myself for making it to level 2 (which took me hours). My daughter's boyfriend came over and within what seemed like mere minutes, he was up to a level 9. So much for thinking I was all that!!!

I then moved on to the Wii system. I totally enjoyed bowling, playing tennis, and baseball. When I took the fitness test and my fitness age was 43, I was once again thrilled with myself. You see, my actual age is much higher. I'm enjoying the Wii system because it has me off the couch, up and moving.

I wanted to also investigate Diner Dash. I decided to check it out today since we had an unexpected day off. I was able to play a free demo version for an hour. When my 60 minutes were up, I just had to have more playtime. I made it to a level 5 after several hours. I'm taking a break right now. I really had to drag myself away.

Am I going through a mid life crisis I'm loving these games. Now I have to make up my mind just which one I'll concentrate on for our class project.

My Learning Style Preference

2008-02-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on myself as a learner I must admit that I have retained many of the characteristics that I held as a young student. When attempting to learn something new I like to take a hands- on approach. I seldom retain information from a lecture alone. I find it easiest if I can touch, manipulate and experience a procedure for myself. When given a set of directions I find them meaningless unless I have the opportunity to go through the motions. I don't want someone to show me what to do. I want to be the one that actually does it as you walk me through the process. I will retain the information much better if I am doing it myself. I can be a passenger in a car going to the same destination ten times, but I wont pay attention or retain the directions until I actually have to drive to said destination myself.

I like being a part of cooperative group settings because I can bounce ideas off of others and get confirmation that my own ideas are on the right track. I was the kid that always looked for affirmation from the teacher that my work was being done correctly. I hate to admit it but I still have traits of that characteristic today.

I consider myself an organized and practical person. I am most comfortable with routines. My preference is following a set of procedures that are consistently done in an ordered way.

With Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory my strengths seem to fall in the areas of spatial intelligence and logical mathematical intelligence. Someone with logical mathematical intelligence needs order, likes math and problem solving, likes to make lists and likes to win. That’s me. Someone with spatial intelligence likes art activities, likes movies, slides, and photographs, and daydreams frequently. That’s so me!

I Got It!

2008-02-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to get a hold of a Wii System. My daughter called me very excited one day. She was passing a Toys R Us store and saw a large sign outside saying "We have the Wii System in stock". She called to see if I wanted her to purchase it for me. "Absolutely" was my reply! I just had to see what all the hype was about. A long line had formed, but she was able to get one this time.

My daughter and her boyfriend dropped the system off to us and we spent the rest of the evening bowling, boxing, playing baseball, pool, and ping pong. We had a blast! We actually planned a game night for this Sunday with the four of us again. They're bringing the wine.

Retraction

2008-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

It was brought to my attention that my previous blog contained a grave error that needs to be corrected immediately. My daughter was reading my blog and became quite agitated. "What could be so wrong" I thought. Why was she suddenly asking me, "what kind of mother are you???" The mistake I made. I listed her age as 27 instead of 26 as it should be. Bad mommy...bad mommy!!!!!!

Gaming

2008-02-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I left class today ready to start on this new adventure...gaming. I've been trying to decide whether I would use a free computer based game or whether I would go out and buy one of the popular game systems of today that I know absolutely nothing about. I feel at such a disadvantage because I don't have school age children and I am not a classroom teacher. My neices and nephews are in other states and my daughter is 27 years old. I can vaughly remember playing Pac Man with her when she was in middle school.

This wonderful daughter of mine told me that I should get the Wii system. She said it is recommended for older people in senior citizen homes to keep them active and mobile (What the heck is she trying to say???)

Anyway, I decided to go to Best Buy and check this Wii system out. My husband promised me it would get some use after this class is over and wouldn't simply sit around and collect dust like my treadmill, Gazelle, and other gadgets we just had to have. After playing with the display model at Best Buy we actually got excited about this new toy. We picked out several games we would buy to go along with the new system. Excited, we called a salesperson over for help because we were unable to find the system ourselves. He told us they had just sold out of their latest shipment that had arrived.

No Problem! Onward to the next closest Best Buy. No luck there! They were out too. We then decided we would go to Target by our home. The salesperson at Target told us they had gotten a surprise shipment in yesterday and they were all gone today. What the French Toast!!!

My husband tells me to calm down because we'll find it. Now I was feeling as though I just had to have it. We go to Walmart. They tell us they don't have it and don't know when they'll be getting it. You've got to be kidding me! I'm reminded of years past when I couldn't get a hold of the Cabbage Patch doll my daughter desperately had to have.

My husband and I decide to go home and order the system online. We feel we might be better off there, but no, Best Buy online Wii systems are sold out as well.
Dave checks out Amazon.com and EBay and of course the prices are through the roof.
This morning I could have cared less about the Wii system and now I probally won't rest until I get my very own (at a reasonable price of course).

Back in the Saddle Again...

2008-02-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Hi,
I'm one of the East Orange teachers taking this course through the ITQP program. I am working on my Masters +32 in order to have a higher pension when I retire (okay I'm honest). I will be eligible in 2 years.

I was a math teacher for many years but now I am the school's Design Coach for the America's Choice Whole School Reform Model. Another goal of mine is to familiarize myself with content areas other than math.

I'm so very excited to be here. I took the READ 600 course with Dr. Dana last year. I can think back to the first day of class where I sat wondering how someone who was technologically illiterate like myself would ever get through the course. I not only made it through, but I learned a great deal along the way. Here I sit again, knowing absolutely nothing about gaming, and once again a tad nervous, but very excited as well. By the end of this course I'm confident I will be a lot better versed about gaming than I am today(2/2/08). Well, we'll see...

Summer Course

2007-06-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to taking a summer course with Dr. Dana. I hope the powers that be will get it together before it's too late.

Bad Day

2007-04-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a really, really, bad day!

Reflection: READ 600

2007-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

I had heard of MySpace and YouTube, although I had never been on either site. Blogging, Podcast, Facebook, and Flicker were terms that had no meaning for me a couple of months ago. Today a smile came across my face when the saleswoman in Borders asked me what was blogging. I had asked for the section that carried books on the subject. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug, as I was now able to stand there and explain to her what blogging is. Who’da thought! I can now in relative competence speak on each of the new literacies that I’ve learned about in the last couple of months. I am really excited about what I’ve learned, and look forward to continued investigations of these topics.
This experience was not easy because it took me out of my comfort zone, but boy am I grateful. I needed to have my eyes opened to exactly how much I was lagging behind in the world of technology. I knew there was a lot out there that I didn’t know, but I figured I was making out just fine and would continue to do so. That was so far from the truth. There is another world that have been opened up to me in both my personal and professional life. I plan to take some additional technology classes. I must keep learning and growing!
I am doing my research paper on "Using Blogging as an Instructional Tool". I have learned so much and can't wait to begin implementing some of the strategies in my own school. My school had been sited twice by the state for failing to infuse technology into the curriculum. The state monitors said that although they saw computers in many of the classrooms, they saw very little student use. I shared my ideas for incorporating blogs into our reading and writing instruction with my administers last week. They now want me to share these ideas with the teachers at the grade level team meetings. It is my hope to get others as excited about this project as I am.
I have gotten so much more out of this course than I ever thought I would. Originally I was simply interested in getting an additional 3 credits that would help me reach my goal of Masters + 32. The fact that the East Orange Board of Education was paying for the class only sweetened the pot for me. Yes, there were times when I asked myself "What the heck have you gotten into"??? I remember my confusion after reading the first couple of articles about the "new literacies" and trying to distinguish between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Researching Hopkin Green Frog drove home the power of the internet for me. All I can say now is "I've come a long way baby". I am very grateful to Dr. Dana putting me on a new path towards becoming computer literate. I thank you very much.

I Did It

2007-04-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I made another milestone. I finished one of my Masters classes on Thursday evening. I have therefore finally arrived at Masters+ (plus 15). Hooray, another payhike!!! I'm so proud of myself. Four years ago I thought I was too old to go back to school and look at me now. My next challenge is to try and pass this Read 600 class. God help me...

YouTube

2007-03-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

I actually enjoyed visiting the YouTube site. I was able to view all types of videos. I viewed performances from my favorite music artists, dance skits, college step shows, politicians speeches, cute animal videos, and many other things. There were some clips which I found offensive, but I simply clicked them off just as fast as I clicked them on. I definately understand the attraction for young people. It is a great means for expressing oneself in a creative fashion. Now that I see what this site is about I can honestlt say that I will definately visit it again.

Hopkin Green Frog

2007-03-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

I sat at my computer, cup in hand, prepared to get into something really deep, namely researching Hopkin Green Frog. I figured it had something to do with "new literacies" knowing Dr. Dana, but just what, I had no idea. I asked both my husband and my daughter if they had ever heard of Hopkin Green Frog before I started my research but they both replied no. Prior to this class, I had always thought of my husband as my computer tech genius. I was pretty computer illiterate and went to my husband with all my technology questions. Lately I have been discovering that we are both out of touch with many of the new literacies. I have been the one exposing my husband to such things as blogging, MySpace, Facebook and You Tube. Although he had heard of these things from his students, he too just felt that it was something that the kids were into. I am now passing on to him how important it is for us to stay abreast of the things that the young people are into.
Anyway, about Hopkin Green Frog... I must say I am once again amazed by the power of the Internet. I found out that Hopkin Green Frog started out as a hand drawn flyer that was hung in various places in a Seattle in 2004. It was initially thought that a child had lost a pet frog. The flyer included a name, address, and phone number. The flyer was later scanned to the Internet and it's interest and circulation widened. The interest and curiousity that was generated caused some from the internet community to research the frog and its owner. It was discovered that the frog's owner was a 16 year old autistic teen named Terry, and the frog was a free toy that had been included with a McDonald's Happy meal. Surprise, surprise, surprise!!! I didn't see that coming! It has since become a very successful meme. A web site called Lostfrog.org was set up in November of 2004. It hosts blog posts, discussion forums, and archives of photoshopped images of the lost frog. The sucess and huge popularity of this meme is contributed to its simplicity and ease of which we can remember its content, as well as our relatability and compassion for a child and a lost pet.

Reading

2007-03-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

I love reading novels in my spare time. My spare time includes winter, spring, and summer breaks. I can't seem to find time for recreational reading at any other point in the school year. There always seems to be something more pressing to do. When I do read, I want to read for entertainment purposes only. If a book doesn't peak my interest in the first 50 -100 pages, I usually put it down never to return to it again.
I used to read newspapers daily, but I stopped because the news seemed to get more and more depressing. Now I pick and choose the articles I want to read from the Internet.
I have a hard time concentrating on some technical and educational books or journals. I find myself doing more skimming than anything. I often have to read many of the passages over and over again.
I have been out of the classroom for two years. Prior to that I was a mathematics teacher. I have never taught Reading or Language Arts. There was a time when I thought it was possible for a student to be a poor reader and still excel in mathematics. I no longer think this is true. Students in todays math classes are required to do a lot more than basic computation. It is necessary for students to be proficient with reading and writing in order to express thier mathematical thinking processes when answering open ended questions. When I return to teaching math next year I do realize that teaching reading must become everyone's job, and not just that of the ELA teachers.

The Matrix

2007-03-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

I have never been a fan of Science Fiction movies or books. I think that is why I had such a hard time understanding or appreciating this movie as many others did. I definately gained a much better understanding of what the movie was all about after I Googled the Matrix and read numerous reviews and interpretations of it. I have to admit that all of the religious overtones completely escaped me during my first veiwing of it however. I'm glad, because I know I would have been so caught up in how the movie contradicted many of my personal religious beliefs, that I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on anything else.

Hardest assignment yet!

2007-03-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

My friend told me she would loan me her copy of the Matrix, but she kept forgeting to bring it to school. I had to finally go to Blockbuster last night to rent it. I picked up a copy of the Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, and Little Miss Sunshine. I had dificulty watching all three.Oh yeah, I hated all three as well. I fell asleep trying to watch Little Miss Sunshine last night. I awoke at 6:30 a.m. and decided to pop in the Matrix DVD. It was just what I needed to put me back to sleep. When I awoke again, I decided it was not the best idea to try and watch this movie in bed, after all, it was my homework assignment. I got up and went downstairs to the family room to pop in the DVD. I tried to watch it again to no avail. This time I decided it might be more fun to walk the dog instead. When I returned I gave myself a good talking to. I was going to get through this movie whether I wanted to or not! I finally made it, sorta! I did a little housework and then at my husbands urging I settled in to watch Matrix Reloaded. Wow, I must have been really tired. I fell asleep again!!! I woke up about 15 minutes ago. I think I'll start researching online. I can't take another sitting of Matrix movie watching. Forgive me DR. D.

Myspace Page

2007-02-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

My 25 year old daughter sat watching me shaking her head in disbelief that her mom was creating a myspace page. Looking over some of the pages that her friends had set up, I too felt that I was stepping out of my element. This is for young people, not me, I thought. I could be wrong, but I can't see myself visiting a myspace page beyond the conclusion of this class.
I was able to set the page up but not without a lot of dificulty however. I had a hard time trying to include background paper, pictures, and music. I eventually had to ask my daughter for some assisstance. She stopped laughing long enough to give me a hand. Now that my page is set up I am curious to see what comes next. Will I start new friendships or possibly rekindle old ones? Time will tell.

Vacation is finally here

2007-02-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

I need this week off desperately. Please help me pray that it goes by ever so slowly...

Anime-Inspired FanFictions

2007-02-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

This weeks readings once again referred to something altogether new to me, "Anime-inspired Fanfictions". I began reading the article and immediately asked myself "Just what are Fanfictions"? I shortly discovered that this is a form of writing where someone makes up a story or cartoon that is connected to Japanese animation. This form of writing gives students the opportunity to express their crativity through both a written and artistic means.
The girls highlighted in the article, Rhiannon and Eileen, referred to their fanfic writings as simply dreams or ideas that happened to pop into their heads. They considered these writings to be better pieces of literary works than those they produced in their formal class settings. I suppose this was because their level of interest was higher and they veiwed these writings as fun creative ways to keep themselves entertained.
I found it interesting that the girls often shared their writings with friends and family, but seldom with their teachers. I imagine they didn't feel that their teachers would have proper appreciation for their writings. It makes you wonder how often our students hold back things from us because of fear of ridicule.
I think that introducing Fanfiction to our students could be a catalyst to help peek interest in a new form of literary writing as well as improve upon existing literary skills.

I Get it Now!

2007-02-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

I have a question. Did blogging just become popular since I signed up for the READ 600 course, or was it around all the time with me just tuning it out because I didn’t know what it was? I hear the term every day on television now. On the nightly news they always invite viewers to blog in their thoughts on various topics. Did they always do this??? Where was I?? Even after watching the American Idol show I noticed viewers blogging in their thoughts on who would win this season. Did they do that last season??? What about the season before? I’ve watched them all. Did I just miss that portion?
The other night I even heard someone refer to a podcast. Imagine how proud I was because I actually knew what they were talking about! I am now more determined than ever to cross over from being a “newcomer” to becoming an “insider”. I realize the importance of this on both a personally and professionally scale. I owe it not only to myself, but to the students I service as well!

Snow Day

2007-02-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Oh my God, I needed this snow day so bad! I spent the majority of the day in bed. I've been so tired lately and fighting a head cold for almost two weeks. This was a perfect opportunity to get some much needed rest.

"New Literacies" Chapters 1 and 2

2007-02-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

If asked what it meant to be literate, I would have responded that it is having the ability to read and write. We learned how to do this in school in our reading and writing classes. Nowadays they are called Literacy classes and we have literacy teachers.
As I read the articles about the"new literacies", I now understand literacy to involve so much more than just reading and writing. Richard Lanham says that literacy means having the ability to understand information however it is presented. And as noted in the article we have all types of literacies, oral literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, as well as today's most popular literacy, digital literacy. Literacy is further seperated by what's referred to as conventional literacy and new literacy.

In light of my age I am considered a newcomer to the "new literacies". As a newcomer I lacked basic understanding of precisely what the Internet is and what all it could do for me.When told to infuse tecnology into my curriculum, I did not take full advantage of everything the internet had to offer. I was not literate in this area. I didn't realize just how much I didn't know, or how my ignorance was actually depriving my students from reaching greater heights.
My idea of infusing technology was to have my math students go to web sites that gave them practice problems that they could complete using their laptop. I understand now how this was just a fancier version of a worksheet. I also had them research mathematicians using the internet, but again they were simply using an online encyclopedia.

It is imperative that I catch up and learn as much as I can about the new technologies available to myself and my students. There's a saying "better late than never". I feel it is not too late for this newcomer to leave behind the mindset of a Web 1.0 and branch off to the mindset of a Web 2.0

He's Up for Adoption

2007-02-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

I can no longer sleep through the entire night without a little assisstance. I grew tired of laying awake at night and starring at the ceiling, all while listening to my husband snore and sleep peacefully.This started about a year or two ago. My mom suggested I take a Tylenol PM in the evening. I didn't want to become dependent on any type of sleep aid, but I had to eventually give in.
This was working fine until I got a puppy. Now, my husband or I have to get up once or twice during the night to put him outside for a potty break. I'm starting to get used to this madness however. Everyone tells me it will get better as he gets older.

My husband is away at at a conference right now, so for the first time I have to deal with the puppy and his needs alone. I went to bed early (9:30) so I could get up and get an early start on my assignments. Lance didn't give me any problems about going into his crate for the evening. I think he wore himself out barking at the sound of each car he heard, thinking it might be my husband coming home. Anyway, Lance woke up about 12:30 a.m. I got up, went down stairs, and put him outside. When I brought him back inside and put him back in his crate, he barked continuously for about 45 minutes. Again, I think he was upset because he hadn't seen my husband. Tired and weiry, I gave in and let him out of his crate. Happily, he jumped up onto the foot of my bed and settled in for the night. I then popped another Tylenol PM. That's the last thing I remember until 7:30 a.m.

I panicked when I saw the time because my husband faithfully takes Lance out at 5 a.m. each morning. Lord knows I didn't want him to wake up and have another accident on my off white carpet (Lord why did I get a dog?) I scooped Lance up and ran him outside for his potty break. We made it in time.

I stayed up, fed Lance, and made myself some breakfast. I realized I was still very groggy though (probally from the 12:30 pill). I decided I needed a little more sleep and I would then start my classwork. The dog had been so good over night, I decided to leave him out of his crate once again and allow him to sleep at the foot of my bed while I napped. When I awakened for the second time, I found the little angel was sleeping peacefully. "Okay Lance, you probally have to go to potty" I said to him as I grabbed him. I don't let him walk downstairs because I don't want him to detour before I have a chance to get him outside.

When we got to the bottom of the steps I was stopped dead in my tracks. There were things everywhere from one end of my living room and dining room to the other. I couldn't believe my eyes. I saw a pair of chewed up shoes, one of my favorite plants torn to shreds, papers ripped to pieces, dirty laundry pulled from the laundry bag that I hadn't taken all the way to the basement, and dog toys everywhere. It was just one large mess!

Oh my God! This devildog must have gotten out of the bedroom while I was napping. This is it! I've had it. I could just hear my husband telling me it was my fault because I left the little pooch unattended though. I don't care. He has to go. Is there anyone out there that wants an adorable little Yorki ??? I can sneak him to you when my husband's not looking. Call me...

Bring on the new learnings Dr. D

2007-02-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

Wow! A blog, a podcast, a discussion board. ..These things are all new to me. My, my, my, how classes in the 21st century have really changed. I am really glad I decided to face my fears head-on and tackle this class that would immerse me into this world of tecnology that I knew so little about. I don't regret it for one minute. I'm simply fascinated (and ready for more).

Week 2, February 3, 2007 Assignment

2007-02-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

Week 2, February 3, 2007 Assignment
Response to Articles

Zero to Six
This article documents the usage of television and other forms of media in children’s lives and an informal comparison on the impact of the child’s life educationally. While no cause relationship can be determined, this article eminates with the thoughts that as the amount of television and entertainment media rises, the impact on educational activities and development such as reading can potentially be negatively impacted, excluding outside factors.
It has long been felt that television and games can negatively impact the educational growth of students. It is important as educators to partner with parents and caregivers to express the importance of quality time in the home and stress the need for educational activities that will foster and stimulate growth of the mind beyond the subjection of television
I personally believe that having access to too much and too many forms of media can be harmful. As children spend less time socializing and interacting with others, and more and more time in isolation in front of a television screen, playing a video game, or punching keys on a computer I feel they run the risk of not reaching their full potential.

What Next? Toddler Netizens
The second article “What Next? Toddler Netizens” discusses the transition in learning styles with the introduction of technology in an entertainment and educational facet. Due to the advances of technology over the years educators have found new ways to creatively introduce technology in the classroom. Teachers have been advised however to review the quality of educational technological tools (i.e. CD ROMs, videos, games) to ensure that they provide students an intellectually challenging stimulation, not just a game for entertainment purposes or mere time fillers. The article also exposes the challenges within modern day educational technology, sharing that many lack cultural diversity and may play upon stereotypical gender roles.
As Information Technology evolves with each new generation, it is important that we stay abreast of current trends, exposing our students to as many technological resources as possible that will aid in academic stimulation and address their various learning styles.

Children Online: Learning in a Virtual Community of Practice
The final article “Children Online: Learning in a Virtual Community of Practice” reveals the learning styles of children as it relates to a similar interest community. Author Angela Thomas demonstrates how an online community created by children, foster learning through role-play, trial & error, as well as social interactions. Ms. Thomas also demonstrates how children, when given the opportunity to expand their knowledge without adult or expert intervention, grow to learn through their interaction with other children, as well as through their cognitive senses. Although the children may view this as simply having fun, online communities allow children their imagination and communication skills.
As an educator I feel this article confirms the need to have stronger student-to-student interactions and peer tutoring in the classroom. This may prove more beneficial to the child’s growth and development. I am aware that children learn best when a variety of different methods and strategies are employed. It is my belief that children can develop a strong will to learn when said learning is paired with fun, interactive, and social activities.

Things have really changed!

2007-02-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

I know I am among the oldest in our Read 600 class, if not the oldest. I am not complaining. I am proud of each of my years. I simply mention this because there are things I will remember from my youth that will seem foreign to some. For example, I can remember watching Black and White television as a young child. It was really a big deal to everyone when programs began to be aired in color. Wow! We had one television in the living room for the entire family, as did most of my friends. Today I have four televions in my home. Television antennas were attached outside to the roof of homes. Then we evolved to rabbit ears inside the home. Today we rely on cable and satellite dishes to transmit signals for our reception. As a youngster, I had just 7 local stations to watch. Imagine! We now have hundreds of regional stations around the world.
We listened to AM radio; don’t think there was FM at that point. We had Record players that played both albums and single 45’s. Again, it was a big deal when 8 track tapes held all our music. We no longer had to worry about stepping on our favorite album and breaking it. It would have been hard for me to imagine a CD that held 22 different songs.
Tape recorders back in the day were reel to reel; unlike the miniature compact digital ones of today that record on microchip. I think word processing on laptop computers with spell check would have been great as well if available to me as a student. Instead we were stuck with large bulky typewriters that needed ink ribbons changed frequently and white out for spelling errors. When we visited the library to get books for reading pleasure, or to get help with schoolwork, we used card catalogs to locate what we needed. Once again the beauty of technology makes this obsolete.

In the supermarket and department stores our bills were tallied on large adding machines. At that time it was actually necessary for cashiers to be good at math, ready to calculate the correct percentage off and compute the necessary change to return to customers. Often they had to rely on their use of mental math. Fancy computer registers of today seem to do everything for you with just the click of a button. God help the cashiers if the system goes down. By the way, we didn’t have Mega malls back then either.
And who knew that I would be able to take a picture of my new puppy and show it to my sister-in-law living in Oklahoma within the hour? Years ago when we took pictures with the family camera, we had to put them in the shop for developing and had to wait at least a week for them to be returned. Today I get impatient if I double click and the image doesn’t appear on the computer screen fast enough. Imagine!
Finally for years we used tabletop rotary telephones with party lines that serviced up to 3 or 4 homes. If someone told me then that I would be riding in my car talking on a thing called a cell phone I probably would have had him or her committed.
Technology and media has come a long way with many changes that have yet to come. I’m sure I will marvel at the world my grandchildren will be raised in.

Thank-you

2007-02-03T03:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks for reaching out Michelle. I appreciate your efforts to help me. I'm a wreck at this point. I called the tech dept and they told me I may not be in the system yet. Am I the only one experiencing this problem? Is it because of something I did (or didn't do)? Why must things be so difficult!

Heeelp!

2007-02-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

What a headache I have right now. I have tried everything I can think of to access the Blackboard site but I am still unable to get in. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong. I keep receiving a log-in error message. Can anyone help??????????????

I can't believe she's laid off

2007-02-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

I got a phone call at work today from my 25 year old daughter. She was extremely upset. Through tears she told me she had been laid off today from Johnson & Johnson. She was given 60 days notice. She became an intern for J & J after her freshman year in college. She was hired full time immeadiately after her graduation 4 years ago, making a really decent salary. She purchased a townhome at age 23. Like many young people she lived paycheck to paycheck, shopping, vacationing, and enjoying life for the moment (no rainy day fund)! Needless to say she's nervous and I'm very nervous for her.
Her department had been warned that layoffs were coming and to expect them in November. I think she may have been lulled into a false sense of security when November, December, and January came and went.
Fortunately she took some actions towards a Plan B. She signed up for the elementary school and middle school math Praxis exam so that she could prepare to change professions. She said she had tired of "Coporate America" and now wanted to come into teaching through the Alternate Route Program. Fortunately she passed both tests and can now send away for her certificate of eligibility.
I think she'll make a great teacher. I tried to convince her to minor in education when she was in college. She had been surrounded by teachers growing up (myself, her father, my sister, my brother, his wife, and another aunt) and therefore wanted no part of education at that time. Like a good mom I butted out and allowed her to find her own way. I look forward to one day soon welcoming her into the profession. Lord knows I have plenty of things to pass on to her. I'm really, really excited about the future, although getting through the next couple of months may not be a picnic. When there's a will there's a way however...

2007-01-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

I graduated form Kean College of New Jersey in 1979. Degree in hand, I set off to obtain my first teaching job. Mission accomplished, I then set out to be the best teacher I could be. I felt that mission was accomplished as well. Something was missing however. I had never progressed beyond my Bachelor of Arts degree, and quite frankly, I had no desire to!
So when my girlfriend called me and said, “Let’s go and get our Masters degree” my response to her was “you’re out of your mind”! I felt that I had let too many years go by since I had engaged in formal education, I had gotten set in my ways, and I had allowed my brain collect dust. So each day when she called again and again trying to convince me that we could do it, I repeated my same response “no way”! You would have to know my friend Brenda! She is really a persistent pain in the butt, who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer once she sets her mind on something. She called and harassed me every day for weeks until she finally wore me down and I said yes. We both completed a distance learning graduate program with a Masters in the Art of Teaching. Currently, we are both taking additional graduate courses to pursue a supervisor’s certificate. I am at the midway point to obtaining this goal.
When I heard about the Read 600 course I was immediately interested in spite of the fact that I do not have a literacy background. My years in the middle school were spent as a mathematics teacher. I am currently working as a teacher coach responsible for helping my colleagues implement the whole school reform model my district has chosen to implement. Since I work with teachers across all content areas I felt it was important to learn as much as I can about the various subjects.
It still amazes me though, that I went from this person with the mind set to never go back to school again, to one who’s not able to get enough of my continued educational pursuits. With the Read 600 class, I hope to strengthen the limited technical skills I now possess. I also hope to incorporate my newfound knowledge into the language arts literacy curriculum in order to help the students in my school progress academically and take their rightful place in this technological society.

Test Post!

2007-01-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

I am testing this out just to see if I know what the heck I'm doing.