WEEK+5

WEEK 5

This weeks class was a bit of an 'off' class for me. During lunch, I started to not feel well and this feeling carried on into class. I ended up having to leave class around 2pm (during break) as I had been sick to my stomach and had the flu. Therefore, I missed the tutorial on Markbook and also was not able to assist with the development of the rubric, which I believe is for our final project or to evaluate our wiki.

I have taken it upon myself to do some research on Markbook. In addition, when we are back on campus in technology class, I will explore the program to try and gain some experience with it. I have not heard of Markbook before and am not aware of anyone who does use it. I asked my Dad, who is an elementary school teacher, if he has used Markbook and he informed me that he doesn't use it, nor does he know of any other teachers who use it. I will be volunteering at Carleton Place High School, which is my practicum school on Tuesday, February 16, so I will be canvass some of the teachers to find out if they are using Markbook.

I have included two links before where I found information about Markbook. According to Asyluminc.com, the following are some of the features with using Markbook: On the Asyluminc.com website, there is a really good tutorial about Markbook and what applications/uses it has in the classroom (basically highlighting the key points I addressed above). I believe that Markbook can be used on computers (desktop and laptop), in addition to being on hand-held palm devices so that information can be entered at anytime. [] []
 * Markbook can prepare class lists
 * Record and analyze student/class attendance
 * Create seating charts with student photos
 * It can build report card comments
 * It can generate paper and email copies of report cards
 * It can export and import important reporting data
 * It can track loanded textbook and materials
 * Access student and parent phone numbers and email addresses
 * It can record notes from the teacher
 * It shows student age and birthday
 * Teachers can view student timetables and where the students' locker is located


 * SMARTBOARDS** - brought to you by SMART Technologies, Inc. []

As stated on the SMART Technologies webiste: "Our interactive whiteboards are known around the world for their ability to help teachers create lessons that engage students of all ages and learning styles. Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the interactive whiteboard lets you control applications by touching the screen with your finger or writing with the pen tool. The new Touch Recognition feature enables the board to recognize the difference between a finger and a pen, and even allows you to erase digital ink with the palm of your hand. So, you can pick up a pen, and then write, erase and use your finger as a mouse without having to select another tool."

Features of using SMARTBoards Interactive Whiteboard
 * There are different models available, each having different features
 * Can be used for whole-class, small group, or individual work
 * It has interactive software that can engage all students
 * Lessons can be taught from the SMARTBoard
 * The Internet can be accessed
 * Lessons and software can be accessed and downloaded
 * According to the SMART Technology website, using an interactive whiteboard can engage all students of different learning style
 * Visual learners can easily see colorful, movable images and diagrams that the interactive whiteboard displays, even from the back o the classroom
 * Auditory learners can be immersed in a complete multimedia experience using optional USB speakers or SMART Audio
 * Kinesthetic learners can interact and explore by moving letters, numbers, words and pictures with the touch of a finger


 * Our group chose to complete our assignment on technology in the classroom. The question we had to address was: **Will the use of technology in schools improve education?**
 * One critera for the assignment was that each group had to design a website. I immediately contacted my brother and asked for his assistance since he is much more technologically advanced than me. Kevin (my brother) set up a free site and took me through a tour of how to insert text, change font and font size, how to insert photos and new pages, and so on. Kevin provided me with the support I needed during the process of building this website as I had never done this before. I got the hang out it quite quickly; however, I still had many questions along the way.
 * Designing a website was a great learning opportunity because this was a first for me, and I learned a lot about the time it takes, for a beginner at least, to make a website presentable and functional. I learned a little bit of scripting, like how to bold and change the font size for instance. I tried to add a little humor to the website and our class presentation of our website and the information we found on the subject, by, when introducing the topic of the concs of technology in the classroom, I inserted a picture of Alcatraz, followed by the caption: "If you want to view more techucation cons, you should have your bags packed and an airline ticket booked, as you will be on your way to a 5-star resort ... Alcatraz!" Yes, my sense of humor may be dry, however, I wanted to make my peers, and those who would check out the website, smile and have a little chuckle.
 * I was really impressed with the final product I had developed for my group and I think they were surprised and impressed as well!
 * The link for my website is below. The "History of Techucation" may pop up forst (I don't know why) but you can select home to view our main page!

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 * An Issue of cyberbullying ...**
 * Just over a week ago, a group of grade 9 girls decided to attend a Valentines dance at the Catholic High School in town (they attend the public high school where I did my placement and continue to volunteer - it is also the high school I attended).
 * One of the girls had to too much to drink and was caught at the dance. From what I have heard, the girl who was caught and kicked out informed her Mom of who else was drinking, and they informed the school. As a result, the girls who had attended the dance and had been drinking were suspended; two students received a one-day suspension and then others received a three-day suspension.
 * I have known one of the girls that received a three-day suspension since the day she was born. She is like a little sister to me. She and I have been Facebook friends for over two years.
 * One day when I was on Facebook, I noticed that my friends screen name was out of character, so I inquired by going to her page and reading the different posts that she and others had made. At that point, all that had been posted was name of the girl who had 'ratted' them out and got them suspended, and how they were done being friends with her.
 * So, the girls who received a three-day suspension were not permitted to return to school until Friday (Feb. 19). I was informed Thursday night that some posts had been made about getting back at the girl who had ratted on them ... the comments were rather disturbing. One student, a male student who didn't attend the dance, was egging the girls on to get back at the girl who had ratted them out. Then, one of the girls who received a three-day suspsenion (not my friend) had said that she was going to go after this girl (the rat) on Friday. Another post she made stated that she was going to make her more than cry, that she was going to knock her out. Another student said she would bring the video camera and laugh and cheer while this girl would fight the one who ratted them out.
 * I honestly didn't know what to do about this situation. This student had threatened to harm another student, it was basically premeditated and other students were encourgaging this. So, I decided that the best thing I could do was to inform my associate teacher of what had been said on Facebook about how this girl was going to beat up the one that had ratted on them. I didn't know if this girl had made this threat/comment just for something to say or if she was actually serious. I didn't want something to happen and have not said something and feel terrible because I had read it and not done anything about it. So, I emailed my associate, expressed my concern, and asked is she could pass it along to the vice-principal or principal so something could be done to avoid this situation from happening. The vice-principal acted on the email right away and spoke with the student who made the threat. I also spoke with the vice-principal as she wanted to ensure I had seen this and not heard it through the rumor mill. At that point in time, I got onto Facebook to print out the threat (which is what I should have done in the first place), but the student had already deleted it from her page. The vice-principal informed me the student will be getting a one-day suspension for the threat she made on Facebook as they are taking this very seriously. I printed off a copy of the comments a group of students had made: "Yeah, like I was yelling in her face and made her cry infront of everyone! And I was baout to punch her in the face until the art teacher came down and stopped me! But ... I'm going after her on Friday :)" So, I will be meeting with the vice-principal on Monday morning to provide her with a copy of this.
 * After all of this, I don't know if I did the right thing. As I said earlier, I don't know if this girl was writing it just as something to write, but I didn't want to chance it as I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I wasn't out to get anyone in trouble, I was just trying to protect the student from being harmed. I think that if the student had seen the posts written about her and the threat that was made to knock her in, that she might be afraid of coming to school and no one should be afraid to come to school.
 * One of this things that I am concerned with is that in the post she made threatening to knock this girl out, she didn't say her name. However, the girl who was the 'rat' had been named earlier in the thread of comments and the entire post by all of the students was about this one girl and how they use to be friends and that this girl and her mom are snitches. So, I know the comment had been made in reference to the snitch, and other students, in grade 12, who had seen the post knew that the comments and threat was about the snitch, as they had informed me about it Thursday night at our co-ed soccer. So, deep down inside, I hope I did the right thing by reporting it.
 * All of this has made me second guess having a Facebook account. I have my settings set to private so only those that I authorize can look at my profile (I think!), but what if someone copied a picture of mine and photoshopped stuff and reposted it ... how would I feel? With having my friend in grade 9 on my Facebook friends list, I don't want to see what other students are commenting about other students or staff. I think this has just put everything into perspective.
 * I will post a summary of my discussion with the vice-principal on Monday (I am seeing her Monday morning).


 * I am glad I have this wiki, as this allowed me to write about my feelings surrouding this issue and to reflect on my thoughts and feelings. Thank you!