ISTE 2008 Standards
1.Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

I have found that abot every psychologist believes that a child will learn what he/she want to learn. Under guidance I would let my students make most of the choices about their curriculum. As long as certain criteria are included the students will have the freedom to choose subject, style, expectations, rubric, etc. The student would be involved in each of the dicisions about the lesson. The Internet would be central to each lesson and the students would have to delegate assignments to each other to accomplish their tasks. At certain points and at the end of each lesson the students would have to enter a reflection on their personal blog.

Something that I would like to learn to become a better educator is sign language. I tried years ago at OSU to take sign language instead of a foreign language. They at that time wouldn't let me because it wasn't considered a foreign language. I have found out lately that sign language is acceptable now as a foreign language. Since I am heading in Special Education, sign language would be a better tool for me instead of French. I may have students that are disabled in speech or hearing and sign language would be a great asset.

Education Strategy

I have found my Wiki an interesting tool and have thought about using it in my classroom as a remedial strategy. Students that have finished work, need to practice, or have earned computer time can visit the class Wiki. Different pages could be set up for different curriculums and one page could even be a games page. Each page would have approved links to outside sources relevant to the curriculum. There could be message boards and extra credit prompts.

Responses to Instruction Design Assignment

Once I figured out how to use print screen I had no problem. It took me hours and once I learned how I felt kind of slow. Putting together a set of instructions on how to perform a function with a new program was fun and interesting. The feedback I recieved at class helped me see some weaknesses and gave me a couple of terrific suggestions. Both of which I did. One was to add the shortcut icon at the beginning of the tutorial and the other was to add another step to the instructions. Doing something is easier than telling someone else how to do it.

Can one person make a difference?

I'm an optimist and believe that one person can make a difference. With all the ways that we can communicate around the world a person can influence and make a difference somewhere else. By just blogging farming stuff in Oklahoma could start a relationship with a farmer from China and through their mutual friendship learn from each other. Different people have different ways and who is to say which is better. It's not so much which is better but that there are two techniques now. To change the world you would need alot of influence, time and energy. You would need to sell your idea to the world. It is easier today to reach and teach people than at any other time in history because of the Inernt.

Biggest Problems using Tech with Kids?

Even with supervision a child might see porn. Pornography and predation by perverts and con artists are why children need supervision when Internetting.

Below are several website about safety issues and children of all ages. You'll even find a contract that will list the specific rules about who, what, how, and when to use the Internet.

1.
easy computer tips: practical computer advice
This page is full of links about child safety and the Internet.

Http://www.easycomputertips.com/article-howtokeepkidssafeontheweb.html

2.
10 Commandments for Kids Online
This is a contract. That is all this website is. It lists 10 rules about the computer and the Internet and provides spaces for the child and the parent to sign.

http://komando.com/kids/commandments.aspx

3.
safekids.co.uk
This website is extensive. There are links to about anything you need to knnw about children and safety. You can find information about child seat installation, pets, child abduction, Internet, health, development, allergies, a huge library of videos and much, much more. I'm not kidding, there is some information here.

http://www.safekids.co.uk/ChildrenInternetParentalAdvice.html

So many tools so little time

About the question, "So many tools that do the same thing....I found myself asking.....do we have too many things going on at once....are there problems with overlap... are we dividing our effort?" Probably so, but if you don't have diversification and overlap you'll end up with stagnation. This "too many things going on at once" is just each guy trying to make a better product and becoming rich and successful. There is the problem of having enough time to learn new programs. Usually most of us learn to use a program and tend to stick with it.

Website Review

This website has to do with students with disabilities.

National Dissemination Center for Children and Disabilities

NICHCY offers brief, but detailed fact sheets on specific disabilities. Each fact sheet defines the disability, describs its characteristics, and offers tips for parents and teachers.

You can also access additional information about resources on the specific disability in print or video and disability organizations that can offer more information and assistance.

This list is in alphabetical order by disability, except that you'll find Other Health Impairment (OHI) listed last. OHI is last in the list because ther are numerous health-related disabilities that fall under that category, including diabetes and Touretts Syndrome. That's where you'll find these two disabilities discussed, as well as heart conditions, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, and sickle cell anemia.

http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Specific/Pages/Default.aspx

I still havn't figured out where we are to post our answers to the questions. I tried to submit my response to the snow day and tech.. I figure I am trying to put it where it doesn't go. Well anyway, it'll work out. I also find that my submissions for the websites are probably wrong. I'll need fix them. Good about a Wiki is it can be repaired. Off to more homework.

Well I panicked for nothing. I skipped class last night because of a snow storm that wasn't very bad. A good thing about it was the chance to use Skype, so in a way I was in class. It was a unique experience and I was exptremely glad to be able to listen and watch class. For some reason my computer was running a little slow and I was unable to talk to you. The mute button on my end didn't seem to make a difference. I truly appreciated the opportunity to monitor the class, hear the lecture and listen to the videos. A student at home sick or laid up for any reason could attend class via Skype. To make it work smother you could assign a particular student to attend to the connection and help the person on Skype to be heard or adjust the camera. (maybe a remote controlled camera) I could only see the bottom 1/4 of the screen, the wall and floor but I could hear very well. I think that everyone in my class should stay home and attend class via Skype.

An opinion/argument

After visiting the website www.webquest.org I found it hard to actually decide. The site had file sharing and it has different applications for communication. It’s just that these communication strands are found separately from their content and the interaction is limited even though you can upload or download files. Webquest might be a 1.2 but I don’t think it is a 2.0.

Hey everyone, its another beautiful day and I am going to be busy. In a little bit I'll begin my homework again and try to get my argument up about the Webquest site. I will need to do my 5153 class first. There is one article to correct (APA) and another to write and post, once that is done I'll work on 5513. Has anyone ever needed to do a Saturday class? I meet this Saturday for a 5573 class. Sounds strange until you here the logic. My progessor is pregnant and she is due in April so she wants to have some Sat. classes so we can avoid several class times in April. Sounds OK to me. I can work with it. Back later.

Good Morning, I was up early to finish an article review that was due by 8:00 AM. Finally got around to updating my blog. Life has been a bit dull around hear. My wife and I took my Father out for steaks last night at the Texas Roadhousse. The steaks have to be tender for him to eat one anymore and they were. Dad cleaned his plate. It probably wasn't the best night to take him out, with the ice and all because he isn't very agile anymore. It's a sad thing to watch your parents begin to fail both mentally and physically. My Mother lived in a Nursing Home for several years becausse of Alxheimers and mental problems. She would disappear and end up brought home by friends from the other side of town. Mom would go on a walk and get lost. She was beginning to live in her memories and would forget which house she was actually living in. My parents lived in this little town (Perry) forever and are known by all. I was born and raised there until I graduated and moved away. We lost Mom this last summer and it was with mixed feelings. Her last few years were so bad, she was practically impossible to understand and you never knew if she even recognized you. I miss my Mom.

Advice: Spend time with your family....quality, loving time.

Have I been busy? Of course. Man has the homework buried me. Not much time to post or read much of anyone elses blogs. I'll be back. Off to write an article review.

I got up early to thaw out my Wife's car, she had to work today. It took about an hour to get rid of the snow and ice from her car and to open the end of the driveway. When the city truck cleaning the streets went by it just pushed a huge pile at the end of my drive. My wife would've gotten stuck in that. My neighbor hired someone with a machine to scrape his drive clear. Looks nice but I have more time than money so I'll do the labor. Life is good and I must do other things. Be back later.

I've got a little cabin fever, been rotating between TV, homework and reading. It has been snowing all day and is way to nasty outside to go anywhere. When I put my dogs out they run around with an attitude of delight, they are so much fun to watch. I never leave them out for long, they run in when they are ready. Time to read a case study on Autism and write a review, its for my EDSP 5153 class.

Back later.

Good morning, I just got a beutiful blanket of ice an snow last night. I expect to get about 2-3 more inches of snow on top of the ice. It will make for a very bad next couple of days. Thank goodness I can stay at home. I will do some homework and some chores. I need to do the dishes and work on my treasure hunt. Enjoy the weather and I'll be back in a little while.

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I'm back trying to get my address and figure out what following is. I wonder if I can leave my blog running but minimized. Hmmm.

Hello

I have just created my first blog. This is all very new to me. I have heard of these but havn't had the time to find or read any. Thanks to a class on technology I am now entering the 21st Century. As I learn how to blog and make connections to others I may actually enjoy making conversation online. I am of the older generation and prefer face to face interaction but I can appreciate the new technology, how it can be used and especially for education.