I have been on computers for as long as I can remember. I can't even remember the names of the Windows OS's I have used before 95 but there were a few. So, naturally Internet Explorer has been a browser I go back to from time to time. At school, the default browser is Explorer so that is what I use. It functions well enough- I don't have any real complaints about it but there isn't anything that exciting either. I have used Netscape, Firefox, Safari on my iPod and the Macs at school, but my browser of preference that I use on my personal computer is Google Chrome. The main reason I like Chrome is probably because I like convenience. If a browser saves me a few clicks then I'm all for it. I like how the web address bar doubles as the google search engine- google is my choice search engine. Also, I enjoy having my bookmarks right at the top of my screen, only one click away. Another feature I enjoy is the one-click way to add new tabs, and the fact that those new tabs open up with screen-shot links to my most frequented sights. There is a lot less menu junk a the top of my screen than with other browsers as well.
Browser add-ons are similar to bookmarks or maybe internet tools. They look like a little icon in Chrome up by the address bar, where you can access the tool in one-click. They let you function and operate within your browsing window using whatever features they include. Before adding Diigo I used no add-ons. Now, I can use Diigo to highlight and comment articles I read, and socially interact with others about them.
The ISTE NETS T standard that discovering Diigo and making use of it's add-on covers best is (1a) "Educational Administrators inspire and lead development and implementation of a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology to promote excellence and support transformation throughout the organization. Educational Administrators inspire and facilitate among all stakeholders a shared vision of purposeful change that maximizes use of digital-age resources to meet and exceed learning goals, support effective instructional practice, and maximize performance of district and school leaders ". Learning how to use Diigo, Web 2.0 and Social Bookmarking is a great way to improve classroom activities to encourage students to be engaged in learning and reading material in the digital-age where old practices are quickly becoming ineffective.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Diigo
Today, I viewed an informational video and read a brief article on Web 2.0, the new social bookmarking and information sharing technologies available over the web. Diigo seems to be a leader among the available programs. My Diigo archive, which I began today, includes articles that I found of interest, importance, or otherwise helpful towards my goals in my professional fields of Business Education and Computer Science Education. This list will be updated every week with new information that I find related. Hopefully I can add some of the other students in my class to my lists so we can collaborate and share ideas.
Answering the questions from the activity sheet:
1. According to the film, 3 steps to get started social bookmarking would be, (1) with Diigo, highlight, annotate, and bookmark the article; (2) add tags; and (3) create lists for your bookmarks so you can "organize, share, and display" your bookmarks.
2. Web 2.0 refers to the new abilities that social information sites are adapting that allow for interaction with the on-screen text and interaction between users within those informational sites.
3. Social bookmarking is interactive. It allows the user to engage in the reading by bookmarking, tagging, commenting, and highlighting text. Different from traditionally bookmarking links or sharking hyperlinks, social bookmarking allows you to share links and organize your bookmarks with a group where all the readers can engage in annotation and highlighting bookmarks or sharing new ones. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 1d: 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments This goal is accomplished by using what is known as Web 2.0 to create a virtual social environment where people can share thoughts and discussions with each other about informational articles.
Answering the questions from the activity sheet:
1. According to the film, 3 steps to get started social bookmarking would be, (1) with Diigo, highlight, annotate, and bookmark the article; (2) add tags; and (3) create lists for your bookmarks so you can "organize, share, and display" your bookmarks.
2. Web 2.0 refers to the new abilities that social information sites are adapting that allow for interaction with the on-screen text and interaction between users within those informational sites.
3. Social bookmarking is interactive. It allows the user to engage in the reading by bookmarking, tagging, commenting, and highlighting text. Different from traditionally bookmarking links or sharking hyperlinks, social bookmarking allows you to share links and organize your bookmarks with a group where all the readers can engage in annotation and highlighting bookmarks or sharing new ones. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 1d: 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments This goal is accomplished by using what is known as Web 2.0 to create a virtual social environment where people can share thoughts and discussions with each other about informational articles.
PicassoHead
Using a free web program, picassohead, I created a self-image of myself using shapes based off of the abstract artwork of Pablo Picasso. Below is the image that I created using the program.
It was difficult trying to look at a bunch of shapes that didn't really seem to go together to try to create a picture of myself, or even a picture of anyone else for that matter. It was hard to see it coming together as I was going, so I just placed one object at a time until it came out as something that I felt good about. This activity most closely relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 1a: 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness This goal is accomplished by providing the students with a creative outlet to express our abstract conceptual ideas.
It was difficult trying to look at a bunch of shapes that didn't really seem to go together to try to create a picture of myself, or even a picture of anyone else for that matter. It was hard to see it coming together as I was going, so I just placed one object at a time until it came out as something that I felt good about. This activity most closely relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 1a: 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness This goal is accomplished by providing the students with a creative outlet to express our abstract conceptual ideas.
Resume Revisited
Using a free web-based program, RezScore, I had my current (and recently posted) resume evaluated. My resume received a C- as a score.
The results from RezScore said that instead of making use of an objectives section, I should instead try using a professional headline. Currently, I am a full-time student and full-time mom, so I am not sure I have earned a striking professional headline yet. Maybe one day once I get out of school and into the workforce, I can include a position title or something, but for now, my prospective objectives section is all I can see as fitting for the time being.
The second suggestion form RezScore said that I should not use 1st person language in my resume. After rereading my resume, I noticed I only did that in my objectives section. I should either just delete the objectives part as they suggested earlier, or just change a few words to make it more coherent with the rest of the resume.
The third suggestion doesn't really apply at the moment. The third suggestion was for me to include my current work experience which I don't currently have. I am a student, and in the education section I informed the reader that my education experience is current and provided an expected date of graduation.
RezScore said that my resume was strongest in the Education Industry and rated it 65% towards Education, 30% towards non-profit, and 5% towards customer serviced.
For brevity I received a 75 out of 100, for impact I received a 75 out of 100, and for depth I received a 99 out of 100, resulting in a C- for my overall resume score. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 3d: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning This goal is accomplished by leading us towards the free online tools that help us to analyze and evaluate our learning so that we have a better understanding of how our current resume can be improved.
The results from RezScore said that instead of making use of an objectives section, I should instead try using a professional headline. Currently, I am a full-time student and full-time mom, so I am not sure I have earned a striking professional headline yet. Maybe one day once I get out of school and into the workforce, I can include a position title or something, but for now, my prospective objectives section is all I can see as fitting for the time being.
The second suggestion form RezScore said that I should not use 1st person language in my resume. After rereading my resume, I noticed I only did that in my objectives section. I should either just delete the objectives part as they suggested earlier, or just change a few words to make it more coherent with the rest of the resume.
The third suggestion doesn't really apply at the moment. The third suggestion was for me to include my current work experience which I don't currently have. I am a student, and in the education section I informed the reader that my education experience is current and provided an expected date of graduation.
RezScore said that my resume was strongest in the Education Industry and rated it 65% towards Education, 30% towards non-profit, and 5% towards customer serviced.
For brevity I received a 75 out of 100, for impact I received a 75 out of 100, and for depth I received a 99 out of 100, resulting in a C- for my overall resume score. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 3d: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning This goal is accomplished by leading us towards the free online tools that help us to analyze and evaluate our learning so that we have a better understanding of how our current resume can be improved.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Snipping Tool
Since I am double majoring in Computer Science Education and Business Education, I am focused on learning to teach programs that could be useful to every type of workplace environment. For the snipping tool activity, I am using an example of how the Snipping Tool could come in useful for programs using images- for such classes as graphics or desktop publishing. Lets say you have this image and you wish to include just a portion of the image in the website your are creating. Your choice is to either download it and take it to another program and then perform cropping functions, or you can simply use the snipping tool to take the portion of the image you wish and then just paste the "snip" in the destination folder. Here is my "snip" of the image from the link above.
This activity most closely relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 2a:
2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning
Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic
learning experiences and assessment incorporating
contemporary tools and resources to maximize content
learning in context and to develop the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that
incorporate digital tools and resources to promote
student learning and creativity
This goal is accomplished by introducing us to the snipping tool which allows us to make use of the lesser-known tools available to us to use in our learning and working experiences.
This activity most closely relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 2a:
2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning
Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic
learning experiences and assessment incorporating
contemporary tools and resources to maximize content
learning in context and to develop the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that
incorporate digital tools and resources to promote
student learning and creativity
This goal is accomplished by introducing us to the snipping tool which allows us to make use of the lesser-known tools available to us to use in our learning and working experiences.
Resume
Originally a Microsoft Word document, my resume was uploaded, converted, and published using Google Docs.
During this activity, I learned how to search through existing templates within Google Docs and how to upload, convert, and publish these documents.
The ISTE NETS T Standard that best fits this activity would be (3a) "Educational Administrators promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources. Educational Administrators allocate time, resources, and access to ensure ongoing professional growth in technology fluency and integration." Learning how to convert files into broadly compatible formats and publishing those files is definitely a strong skill that when combined with activities that use professional documentations, such as resumes, can improve the students professional abilities. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 3a: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations This goal was accomplished by integrating the resume with new digital tools to make the resume more useful and electronically available.
During this activity, I learned how to search through existing templates within Google Docs and how to upload, convert, and publish these documents.
The ISTE NETS T Standard that best fits this activity would be (3a) "Educational Administrators promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources. Educational Administrators allocate time, resources, and access to ensure ongoing professional growth in technology fluency and integration." Learning how to convert files into broadly compatible formats and publishing those files is definitely a strong skill that when combined with activities that use professional documentations, such as resumes, can improve the students professional abilities. This activity relates to the ISTE NETS T Standard 3a: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations This goal was accomplished by integrating the resume with new digital tools to make the resume more useful and electronically available.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Emotional Intelligence
My result from Queendom's Emotional Intelligence Test was a 64/100, or a 64%. This test scored my abilities to identify, perceive, and express emotions. The score report I received stated that while I have basic skills in these areas, there is a great deal of room for improvement.
According to the report "Feelings Count: Emotions and Learning" from Stanford University School of Education teachers can help foster emotional intelligence in their classrooms by providing opportunities to work through different skill sets, such as Self Awareness, Managing Emotions, Self Motivation, Empathy, and Handling Social Relationships (Daniel Goleman, 1995). This article provides a good foundation of background information on these concepts, and gives a lot of ideas and resources to consider when approaching this in your own classroom.
I don't know where I stand on the EQ (Emotional Quotient) vs IQ (Intelligence Quotient) debate. I feel very strongly that given the person's individual goals and personality, any mix of the two could prove to work very well for that person. For example, parenting doesn't necessitate having a high intelligence level, and the higher emotional intelligence level the better. On the other hand, my brother is a theoretical/quantum physicist at WVU. I would hate to see his EQ skills. Common sense and emotions don't come in to play in his life very often, although at times it would probably help him out some... but his extremely high IQ level keeps him satisfied with himself and happy in his work.
Emotional Intelligence affects both teachers and students because every day both are dealing with hundreds of people and hundreds of people's emotions. It would be helpful to have a background in handling situations that are emotionally tough, so that the atmosphere doesn't turn tense and cold. Also, teachers hold an important role in fostering relationships among the students- not to say that they are choosing friends for students- but helping them to learn how to interact with all types of individuals.
Learning personal strengths and weaknesses can help improve your position in a learning environment. Knowing your strengths allows you to help others in those areas. Knowing your weaknesses allows you to seek more help towards mastering those areas. Self-improvement and offering help to others is a crucial part of any learning environment, and is best if engaged by both the teachers and students alike.
According to the report "Feelings Count: Emotions and Learning" from Stanford University School of Education teachers can help foster emotional intelligence in their classrooms by providing opportunities to work through different skill sets, such as Self Awareness, Managing Emotions, Self Motivation, Empathy, and Handling Social Relationships (Daniel Goleman, 1995). This article provides a good foundation of background information on these concepts, and gives a lot of ideas and resources to consider when approaching this in your own classroom.
I don't know where I stand on the EQ (Emotional Quotient) vs IQ (Intelligence Quotient) debate. I feel very strongly that given the person's individual goals and personality, any mix of the two could prove to work very well for that person. For example, parenting doesn't necessitate having a high intelligence level, and the higher emotional intelligence level the better. On the other hand, my brother is a theoretical/quantum physicist at WVU. I would hate to see his EQ skills. Common sense and emotions don't come in to play in his life very often, although at times it would probably help him out some... but his extremely high IQ level keeps him satisfied with himself and happy in his work.
Emotional Intelligence affects both teachers and students because every day both are dealing with hundreds of people and hundreds of people's emotions. It would be helpful to have a background in handling situations that are emotionally tough, so that the atmosphere doesn't turn tense and cold. Also, teachers hold an important role in fostering relationships among the students- not to say that they are choosing friends for students- but helping them to learn how to interact with all types of individuals.
Learning personal strengths and weaknesses can help improve your position in a learning environment. Knowing your strengths allows you to help others in those areas. Knowing your weaknesses allows you to seek more help towards mastering those areas. Self-improvement and offering help to others is a crucial part of any learning environment, and is best if engaged by both the teachers and students alike.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Locus of Control
Career Diagnostic's Locus of Control survey assesses the way students/teachers view how much they feel they have control in their lives. On a scale from 1-23, the lower the score, the more externalized the individual's since of empowerment is. The higher scoring individuals feel more in control of their lives and what is happening to them and around them. It is supposed to mean that the individuals take a less active role in trying to produce the outcome of situations if they score a lower test score. Also, it means that if your outcome is on the higher end of the scale, you may be unnecessarily blaming yourself for things that were out of your control, causing low self-esteem or other such problems.
I scored a sad 6 on the scale, resulting in "External locus of control." I do not agree with this about myself. While it is true that I do accredit a lot of things (both good and bad) that have happened to me to fate or luck or whatever; however, I am always looking for ways to control the outcomes towards the best possible ends for myself and others whom are involved. I feel like this test result makes me out to be a person who doesn't apply myself and strives to do and be the best I can at all times, and that is just not me. My favorite quote/song is "Que Sera Sera", translated as "What will be will be." So, I do not think that the test misjudged that outlook. Although I do feel slighted because I can work so hard yet still cannot always control the outcomes of life.
Having awareness of this personality characteristic is helpful to students and teachers because it helps to show them that they may not be taking as much control over their actions as they could. I think that being aware of such attitudes can be used to help people improve their position on things, whether it is taking more responsibility for their lives or realizing they are holding too much blame on themselves.
I scored a sad 6 on the scale, resulting in "External locus of control." I do not agree with this about myself. While it is true that I do accredit a lot of things (both good and bad) that have happened to me to fate or luck or whatever; however, I am always looking for ways to control the outcomes towards the best possible ends for myself and others whom are involved. I feel like this test result makes me out to be a person who doesn't apply myself and strives to do and be the best I can at all times, and that is just not me. My favorite quote/song is "Que Sera Sera", translated as "What will be will be." So, I do not think that the test misjudged that outlook. Although I do feel slighted because I can work so hard yet still cannot always control the outcomes of life.
Having awareness of this personality characteristic is helpful to students and teachers because it helps to show them that they may not be taking as much control over their actions as they could. I think that being aware of such attitudes can be used to help people improve their position on things, whether it is taking more responsibility for their lives or realizing they are holding too much blame on themselves.
Hello Everybody!
My name is Trixie Devine, and I'm a Junior at FSU. I am in this course to complete my majors- Business Education and Computer Science Education. I have always felt that teaching and helping others learn is a beautiful thing.
I live in Elkins, WV. I am carrying 18 hours, and commute to classes 3 days a week this semester. At home, I have full-custody of two amazing boys- ages two and three. They have done so much for me in their few short years, and I love them with all my heart. They are my life, everything else is secondary.
If you want to get to know me better, here is a link to my Facebook page. I am a peopley person, I like to help, and I talk too much. :)
Hope everyone has a good semester! I am looking forward to one of my most challenging and stimulating semesters yet!
I live in Elkins, WV. I am carrying 18 hours, and commute to classes 3 days a week this semester. At home, I have full-custody of two amazing boys- ages two and three. They have done so much for me in their few short years, and I love them with all my heart. They are my life, everything else is secondary.
If you want to get to know me better, here is a link to my Facebook page. I am a peopley person, I like to help, and I talk too much. :)
Hope everyone has a good semester! I am looking forward to one of my most challenging and stimulating semesters yet!
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