Activating your School: Movement-Oriented Learning
By Pete Rognli
This article describes Elton Hills Elementary school and the new form of teaching they have established. This school wants to keep students moving in the classroom. They take the different assignments and use technology keep students on their toes. “Students work on laptops at standing desks, or they can crouch on the floor. Or they can sit, squat, kneel, or stand anywhere that suits the lesson. All this technology in the classroom is designed to do one thing: keep students moving.” It is important that students experience physical education at an early age, this is a great way to keep students healthy without taking time away from in class learning. Jerry Williams, superintendent, says that having the parents on board with this new program is key because they need to “reinforce what took place during the school day.” By bringing the parents in, they can be sure that students are getting the appropriate nutrients in their lunch to go along with this healthy learning environment. Teachers use wireless internet to help in this program along with podcasts different mobile technologies. Students love this new method and equipment they are able to use. I feel this form of teaching will help many students academically and in terms of their health. This form of teaching is called “School of the future”, the elementary school is promoting this new way of teaching as much as possible because they have seen such positive changes in their students, faculty and parents. This “school of the future began in 2005 with the office of the future concept project from Rochester’s Mayo clinic….Levine wondered if the NEAT office concept could be applied to the classroom” With help from the Mayo clinic, Rochester school district, local health clubs, and Apple computers, the concept was implemented and worked wonders! Students had podcasted lessons while walking and many more great activities to be used during physical activity. This system is amazing and great tool to be used in the classroom, technology truly is a great thing to use in all aspects of teaching.
What can teachers do to try and incorporate this into the classroom?
Teacher can visit health clubs and ask about costs and possible donations of bikes, treadmills…anything they can get their hands on to be brought into the classroom. Most health clubs would love to help and a lot of the times donate as much as they can to promote this concept in the classroom.
Does this mean students will be exercising at a difficult pace or can they work out moderately while learning?
Students are only required to keep movement, vigorous movement is not necessary. Just by walking while learning helps keep a healthy lifestyle. It burns calories and prevents obesity, it will not get a student in top shape but it will keep them safe and healthy.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Journal 8
Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
This article explains the advantages and experiences of virtual schooling. Virtual schooling is offered through digital communication technologies and is very well established in the K-12 education. It is most popular in the high school level. In the 2005-06 school year, the number of students enrolled in virtual schooling increased by an amazing 100% from the previous year. “The national educational technology plan emphasizes the potential of VS to individually personalize schooling and help schools respond to No Child Left Behind legislation. Recommendations included providing every student with access to e-learning opportunities and every teacher with access to e-learning training.” This is a great way for students to take classes and experience something new. Every student learns differently and I know I do so well with virtual learning rather than in class learning. In the virtual classroom, there is a teacher and groups of students who are distributed among two or more distant schools. They all communicate by using email, video conferencing, and a learning management system. “At each remote school, an on-site facilitator liaises with administrators and parents to support students in each school, and an instructional technology coordinator supports students’ technical needs.” There are so many different tools to be used in technology and I feel this one is a great accomplishment. At CSUSM we use Webct in many of the classes offered which happens to be one of the technologies that create a series of activities that reflect high quality teaching.
What is a huge benefit Virtual schooling provides?
Virtual schooling is an amazing system that can be used in cases where a normal classroom is not accessible. “For example, Florida Virtual schooling provided free course enrollment to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina-including students in Louisiana.” This is a great tool when disasters occur. Students are still able to maintain an education when things go bad.
Is virtual schooling a requirement or an option?
In 2006 virtual schooling actually became a requirement, “Michigan became the first state to require an online learning experience for high school graduation. The goal is to introduce high school students to the benefits of VS so that they will be more likely to seek out online learning experiences throughout their lives.”
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser
This article explains the advantages and experiences of virtual schooling. Virtual schooling is offered through digital communication technologies and is very well established in the K-12 education. It is most popular in the high school level. In the 2005-06 school year, the number of students enrolled in virtual schooling increased by an amazing 100% from the previous year. “The national educational technology plan emphasizes the potential of VS to individually personalize schooling and help schools respond to No Child Left Behind legislation. Recommendations included providing every student with access to e-learning opportunities and every teacher with access to e-learning training.” This is a great way for students to take classes and experience something new. Every student learns differently and I know I do so well with virtual learning rather than in class learning. In the virtual classroom, there is a teacher and groups of students who are distributed among two or more distant schools. They all communicate by using email, video conferencing, and a learning management system. “At each remote school, an on-site facilitator liaises with administrators and parents to support students in each school, and an instructional technology coordinator supports students’ technical needs.” There are so many different tools to be used in technology and I feel this one is a great accomplishment. At CSUSM we use Webct in many of the classes offered which happens to be one of the technologies that create a series of activities that reflect high quality teaching.
What is a huge benefit Virtual schooling provides?
Virtual schooling is an amazing system that can be used in cases where a normal classroom is not accessible. “For example, Florida Virtual schooling provided free course enrollment to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina-including students in Louisiana.” This is a great tool when disasters occur. Students are still able to maintain an education when things go bad.
Is virtual schooling a requirement or an option?
In 2006 virtual schooling actually became a requirement, “Michigan became the first state to require an online learning experience for high school graduation. The goal is to introduce high school students to the benefits of VS so that they will be more likely to seek out online learning experiences throughout their lives.”
Journal 7
Internet Safety: A whole School Approach
By Greg Taranto
This article describes the Canonsburg Middle School approach to teaching healthy decision making on the internet. This middle school has educated students through technology education coursework, classroom discussions, assemblies and by giving the students access to the district's Internet Safety Web site. The author of this article, Greg Taranto, was determined to educate students on the proper use of this powerful tool. In 2000 Greg was a middle school science teacher, he gave a presentation to his class regarding internet safety which actually reached a few students. But he wanted to go bigger! When he becaome an administrator he decided to try and reach as many students as possible by sending an important message: Internet safety is important! He implemented this message by requiring all seventh grade students to take two six-week classes called Technology Applications and middle school issues. A week of these classes are dedicated to Internet Safety which covers cyberbullying, protecting personal or private information, handling a threatening or harassing situation, rules for Internet etiquette, and ways to determine the validity of information found on the Internet. The internet is a great tool of students, the amount of information presented via internet is endless. However, so is the amount of inappropriate sites that can easily be accessed by students. By having the correct guidance, students are more likely to use the internet as an education tool.
Are these classes only for students or can parents get involved too?
Parents can also be informed about the dangers on the internet. "Canonsberg Middle school also holds informational meetings with parents on a yearly basis to give a comrehensive presentation on their role in helping develop responsible students" It is very important that parents get involved and realize that this is an issue everyone should be aware of.
Do students get to voice their opinion on what they feel are appropriate sites?
Yes! In the classes students are encouraged to "discuss how the Internet is used in a positive way and also how they might have negative experiences." It seems myspace is a popular site that students love to talk about and defend as a responsible site.
By Greg Taranto
This article describes the Canonsburg Middle School approach to teaching healthy decision making on the internet. This middle school has educated students through technology education coursework, classroom discussions, assemblies and by giving the students access to the district's Internet Safety Web site. The author of this article, Greg Taranto, was determined to educate students on the proper use of this powerful tool. In 2000 Greg was a middle school science teacher, he gave a presentation to his class regarding internet safety which actually reached a few students. But he wanted to go bigger! When he becaome an administrator he decided to try and reach as many students as possible by sending an important message: Internet safety is important! He implemented this message by requiring all seventh grade students to take two six-week classes called Technology Applications and middle school issues. A week of these classes are dedicated to Internet Safety which covers cyberbullying, protecting personal or private information, handling a threatening or harassing situation, rules for Internet etiquette, and ways to determine the validity of information found on the Internet. The internet is a great tool of students, the amount of information presented via internet is endless. However, so is the amount of inappropriate sites that can easily be accessed by students. By having the correct guidance, students are more likely to use the internet as an education tool.
Are these classes only for students or can parents get involved too?
Parents can also be informed about the dangers on the internet. "Canonsberg Middle school also holds informational meetings with parents on a yearly basis to give a comrehensive presentation on their role in helping develop responsible students" It is very important that parents get involved and realize that this is an issue everyone should be aware of.
Do students get to voice their opinion on what they feel are appropriate sites?
Yes! In the classes students are encouraged to "discuss how the Internet is used in a positive way and also how they might have negative experiences." It seems myspace is a popular site that students love to talk about and defend as a responsible site.
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