Group members: Rob, Ryan, Yumi and Brianna
Our tool was Picassa Web album. Picassa is a site in which people can upload photos and then share their album with others. Notable features include the ability to:
- remove red eye
- crop pictures
- straighten pictures
- auto contrast
- auto color
Picassa can be used for productivity to provide students with visuals outside (or inside) of class. Having the ability to log on to a created album allows students to see pictures/illustrations/images of important course content. Having the opportunity to review images that were seen in class can reinforce the material and provide further visual aid in the learning process. In terms of personal productivity, Picassa would be useful for Language Arts in the classroom because I could create a sense of community; I envision myself as a teacher providing options for students to express their meaning in multiple ways. Some students may opt to write a traditional essay to express their thoughts while others may create an art project of some sort. Taking a picture and uploading their work to Picassa would allow all students to see the creativity of their peers, allows individual students to take pride in their work (if they are comfortable with it being uploaded), and sets an example of various methods in which meaning can be conveyed.
From a teaching standpoint, I can see how Picassa would be a useful tool for students to see visuals of important course content. However, as a current student, it would be nice to be able to add to other’s albums. When Rob created our album, he was able to upload a photo and send us a link. However, we were not able to contribute to the album nor were we able to be involved in the creation process as only one user at a time can create the album (to my knowledge). In this sense, the creation of the album was an active learning activity for Rob as he was designated to create the album, but a passive learning experience for me as I had to be invited to view the album and only learned how to create an album by creating a separate album.
My learning curve was all over the place with this project. I had used Picassa before and knew how to create an album, but I had no idea how to share an album. Prior to this course I had a close friend live in Nicaragua and upload her pictures to Picassa then email us her pictures, which was great. Working on this as a group did have it's frustrations and limitations though as we were unclear as to whether only Rob could add photos or whether we could all contribute to the created album. In the sense that the collaboration portion was not possible, Picassa was frustrating. However, once I created my own album I realized that the program itself was very straightforward and easy. I wish I had been able to contribute to the Picassa album. However, since it only allows one creator (Rob), I instead contributed to our group by writing our process on the google docs document that Ryan created.
Our google document link
Our picassa album link
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Second post : Blog usage in school
One way I know I will use a blog is to increase parent involvement. Creating a blog that contains a syllabus, course expectations, due dates, class activities, etc. gives parents the ability to read the blog and have a better understanding as to how their child spent their class time. Outreach and accountability can then be performed by the parents in ensuring that their students are indeed completing their homework because there will be an online link to due dates for assignments. Ideally, if parents are in the know as to how much work their child has and when it is due, they can monitor that homework is being completed.
The blog not only serves the parent in terms of staying connected, but will also be useful for students should they misplace their syllabus. Access to assignments can then be accessed through the hard copy that is passed out in class, or from a home/school/library computer. If students were completing their assignment and had a question, posting a comment would send me an email and give me an opportunity to respond; in this sense the student has access to my help both inside the classroom and out.
Encouraging students to check the blog frequently also gives students the opportunity to respond to their peer's questions. If I did not respond in a timely manner, perhaps another student could provide insight into the question. This element of helping one another provides a further extension of the classroom community and builds relationships between students.
Although the following article is short, the interviewed professor makes a great point that learning through blogs removes the "spatial constraints" of the classroom. Students have the ability to get comfortable in their environment, review information at their own pace, and have time to reflect on the material that was discussed in class. I think it is also notable that this article was written in 2006; evidently blogging has been utilized in the classrooms as an effective teaching method for the last five years, which was new information to me.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301348.html
The blog not only serves the parent in terms of staying connected, but will also be useful for students should they misplace their syllabus. Access to assignments can then be accessed through the hard copy that is passed out in class, or from a home/school/library computer. If students were completing their assignment and had a question, posting a comment would send me an email and give me an opportunity to respond; in this sense the student has access to my help both inside the classroom and out.
Encouraging students to check the blog frequently also gives students the opportunity to respond to their peer's questions. If I did not respond in a timely manner, perhaps another student could provide insight into the question. This element of helping one another provides a further extension of the classroom community and builds relationships between students.
Although the following article is short, the interviewed professor makes a great point that learning through blogs removes the "spatial constraints" of the classroom. Students have the ability to get comfortable in their environment, review information at their own pace, and have time to reflect on the material that was discussed in class. I think it is also notable that this article was written in 2006; evidently blogging has been utilized in the classrooms as an effective teaching method for the last five years, which was new information to me.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301348.html
First post
Welcome to my blog!
I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2007 with a BA in Family and Human Services. After graduating I moved home and worked at Nordstrom for six months in order to save money. I then moved to Germany for a program called "Camp Adventure" through the University of Northern Iowa. I was placed on an American military base working with children and given the opportunity to travel on weekends. I roomed with two other college girls, both of which were attending UNI. We made it to 9 different countries; the experience was incredible.
After moving back to the States I began a job with the Department of Human Services as a Self Sufficiency social worker (basically processing food stamp applications, interviewing clients and determining their benefits). The fit was not the best as I was stationed at a closed facility, in a cubicle with little interaction with others. I re-evaluated my goals and after a lot of reflecting decided that teaching would be a good fit - I wanted to make a difference, be around others and had always enjoyed reading and writing. Perhaps I could pass my enthusiasm on to a group of students. I left my job with the state and returned to Nordstrom full time in order to cover upcoming school expenses. I began taking courses at Portland State and earned a second BA in English over the course of a year and some change. I'm hoping to teach English at the high school level... So here I am!
Outside of school I spend my time working out (running is beginning to grow on me), hanging out with our pound hound, Horton, and just spending time with friends and family in general. One of my favorite things to do includes going out to the movies, especially the drive-in at Newberg. I'm also getting married on October 2nd, so it's looking like it will be a busy year. :)
I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2007 with a BA in Family and Human Services. After graduating I moved home and worked at Nordstrom for six months in order to save money. I then moved to Germany for a program called "Camp Adventure" through the University of Northern Iowa. I was placed on an American military base working with children and given the opportunity to travel on weekends. I roomed with two other college girls, both of which were attending UNI. We made it to 9 different countries; the experience was incredible.
After moving back to the States I began a job with the Department of Human Services as a Self Sufficiency social worker (basically processing food stamp applications, interviewing clients and determining their benefits). The fit was not the best as I was stationed at a closed facility, in a cubicle with little interaction with others. I re-evaluated my goals and after a lot of reflecting decided that teaching would be a good fit - I wanted to make a difference, be around others and had always enjoyed reading and writing. Perhaps I could pass my enthusiasm on to a group of students. I left my job with the state and returned to Nordstrom full time in order to cover upcoming school expenses. I began taking courses at Portland State and earned a second BA in English over the course of a year and some change. I'm hoping to teach English at the high school level... So here I am!
Outside of school I spend my time working out (running is beginning to grow on me), hanging out with our pound hound, Horton, and just spending time with friends and family in general. One of my favorite things to do includes going out to the movies, especially the drive-in at Newberg. I'm also getting married on October 2nd, so it's looking like it will be a busy year. :)
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