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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Enriching Technology Part 2

I think that this idea is ready to go as is, however, when we teach them how to use this, we need to emphasize that the Facebook Group is used purely for reminders and getting missed sheets. Perhaps a discussion room could be opened, but we must take care that no teacher plans to use it for some activity that requires everyone's active attention, since as Paul pointed out, facebook is distracting.

I'll start talking to my teachers if they'd like to implement a facebook group and set aside some lunch time to walk them through it.

Hopefully from the ones that agree, I'll start an interest within the school so that more and mroe teachers want one. if there is a big enough demand, we could even hold workshops for teachers explaining the intent, usage and possibilities of Facebook.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Placement

1. I think i would be best at Teaching Teachers and Students to use technology and Software. Despite my "harsh" teaching plan, i never intended to actually read that word for word :P. I have experience talking in front of a group since i'm the Vice President of Anime Club and often manage meetings. Furthermore, I don't mind going through steps until whoever i'm teaching gets the concept

I also think that I would be good at developing lesson plans for teachers using technology. I can easily place myself in the students shoes and think about what sort of things would work and take that into consideration for developing the lesson plans.

I think i would be very bad at finding resources for teachers. Finding academic resources is bad enough when doing projects. The only research i have experience with is finding pirated stuff :P.

2.
Creativity - 4 I can come up with a few good ideas every now and then, but it's never consistent and usually fluke.

Responsibility - 3 I can definitely have somethign done if it's absolute, but i'm often too flexible with myself for less urgent things.

Web Design - 2 I took an HTML class a while ago. I don't remember any of it. The only thing i can contribute is a thorough understanding of good user interface

Developing Action Plans - 7 I am decent at planning a reasonable path of action

Teaching Other People - 8 I feel that I am often successful at teaching concepts that i know because i always take the consideration to my student as to how it must feel to have this information piled on top of them.

Meeting Deadlines - 3 Sadly this is something i should work on. I know it's bad, but I'm working on it

3. I am moderately comfortable leading a group of students. They won't always listen, but I have no qualms about the job

4. I would prefer to work with a partner. It puts enough pressure on me to get stuff done while still having someone to bounce ideas off of. I am also comfortable working alone

5.
History Class
Media
English
Business
Biology

Nothing i don't particularly want to work in.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Enriching Technology.

Enriching Technology.

Idea: Set up Facebook groups for Every teacher.

Subjects : All subjects

Details: Set up a facebook group for every teacher. Facebook groups would be voluntary (or the teacher could make a list of students who have joined and make it mandatory). Updates of tests, quizzes and assignments would appear on the students' newsfeed. Lessons and Handouts could be uploaded to the group for the student to browse at their leisure.

Technology required:
Computers and Internet.

Pros:
- Handouts and Lesson Powerpoints can be uploaded to the group.
- Reminders for Tests and Assignments can be easily seen on the students' newsfeed
- The number one time-waster for most students is facebook. May as well give them an oppurtunity to do somethign a little productive.
- No student can say "I forgot"

Cons
-Not everyone has facebook. However, the handfull that don't can easily set one up.

People required to make this work
-Teachers to manage the group
-IDC Students to teach them how to do stuff/ set it up
-Willing Students

Thursday, October 7, 2010

eInstruction.

We currently use technology primarily in the Math and Science hallways so we can show some great exampels of teachers using powerpoint or the Netbooks to teach. However, in our social sciences departments, its much harder and we can use that as an example as to why we need more money for some technology in the class. It's become a habit for Social Science presentations to never actually occur within the classrom due to the class almost always being moved to the Presentation suite.
We might want to try and use a rap song since replacing words of a rap song is a little bit easier and makes it sound alot more natural and less awkward.

As for what song we should use, i have no idea.

Future Shop

We have many technology oriented initiatives at Mackenzie. For that reason i think we have a good shot at applying for it. Our MaCS program and the fact that were the only school that offers Programming credits at the AP level are just examples. Our video could show however the state of some of the older classrooms where we still need to rely on Overhead Projector and pulldown screen instead of powerpoint presentations.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Staples

I believe our school has an impressive amount of enviromental initiative. SWITCH, the solar panels, Gardening Club and the Environmental Club are all such examples. We should interview a representitive from each of these organisations and use these interviews. Perhaps we could even get a Writerscraft student to write the essay for us. I feel that we are an easy contender for this as we meet every criteria in their checklist.