http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfs8st5b_0cm7gpk

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfs8st5b_0cm7gpk

Stacy Naden suga_bb@yahoo.com
Blatchley Middle School 09/25/07

Being an Anthropologist- Understanding Your School's Technology Culture

What I did for this assignment includes a variety of tasks. I started with the last four questions. I referred to Robert Holt for the answers. He then referred me to some other people who gave me some more answers. I questioned students, the librarian, and other folks. Then I put the assignment aside. More recently I scanned 6 pages from the student hand book. I reviewed other questions completed by fellow M.A.T.er's and realised I had a document that contained the student's technology competencies. I then scanned this document (5 pages) and also formatted all of the documents into JPEGS since I wasn't able to forward them to the rest of the group, the documents were too large. Finally, I reviewed the first set of questions and modified #1 to make sense for my classroom. Lastly, I posted the document in Google docs where I tried to open a new account but just realised today that the account is the same for the blogger. So, I changed my password, and recently realised that this is all connected.
In doing the assignment, I realised the school utilizes technology much more frequently than I would have thought. I have been listening to more of what the students are talking about while working on art projects and I hear things about downloading, just the other day I learned about on-line gaming and that it is an incredibly popular activity for many young kids. All in all, I've learned a lot about the school's technology procedures and capabilities. I've become more aware of tech talk and I think I have a greater understanding of what the kids get excited about and are interested. Cell phones might be the largest thing, but also video games, Internet games, and downloading music. I think many student's have experience with digital cameras and a select few are making videos, music, and art.

Listen to the Natives

Stacy Naden suga_bb@yahoo.com 09/18/07
Listen to the Natives Marc Prensky



This is a very opinionated article about updating our schools. The author thinks that all students have advanced and thrive in the digital era, I disagree. He states that schools need to key into the students' interest in technology, such as cell phones, blogging, instant messaging, and downloading. Rather than prevent the students from accessing these things in the classroom, we need to channel this technological energy and use technology as a learning tool.

• Collaborating with students electronically
• Programming (A key skill for 21st century literacy)
• Net Day (www.netday.org)
• Speak up day and student voice
• Flexible organization (making instruction more adaptive and more effective)
• Student Engagement (outside of school, electronically)
• Digital Tools (I pods, Camera phones, myspace)
• Learning partners (internet connection)

This article is significant to me in preparation to being an art teacher because there are many technology tools I could potentially utilize in an art classroom. For example, digital cameras, scanning, computer design, web page design, video imagery, photoshop, and others. I am even more inspired to develop and plan ways to connect students in the classroom. Although I found some of the language in the article to be very loaded with opinionated language, it was a good resource to be exposed to and was even a little interesting.

I finally figured out how to post a photo! ooof

EPIC 2015

Ha! I thought this video was brilliant. I don't think that the history of google, amazon, friendster, MSN, and the New York Times accurately sums up what largely exists on the internet today.
I think it was a focused attempt to create a convincing outcome- or future. All in all the video implies that technology is the way of the future. The internet is an integral part of the classroom and of the world. It's often difficult to filter factual information from non-factual information. It connects cultures, people, classrooms, continents, etc... Technology is an amazing tool when used effectively.
It's easy to get caught up on the sensational qualities of the internet and technology, such as shopping, networking, random everything. Yet, when used effectively technology can really connect our worlds.
Did I say, when used effectively yet?
Effectively as a learning tool. Teaching technology as a tool for learning and how to access factual information.

Fox Becomes a Better Person

This video would have to be assessed differently than the last one. It seems like fewer students were involved in the making of this one and it would be difficult to assess the whole class in regards to this video. On the other hand, if there were only a small group of students that made this video, then I could see an assessment looking something like this:

The video showed the students' comprehension of a Tlingit story.
The drawings were appropriate for the story and were parallel with the story line.
The video showed students' understanding of Tlingit culture.
Editing techniques learned in class were used in the making of the video.
Background music is relevant to the subject of the video.

School Train

How would I assess this project?
I would probably focus on the quality of the video- did they use a variety of video making techniques?
Did they edit appropriately?
Did they use all of the techniques learned in class, or atleast most of them to create a visually and auditorally stimulating video?
Did the images correlate with the words flashing?
Did it make sense? (Was the metaphor used appropriately throughout the entire video?)
Did it get the point across?
Was the whole group involved?
Did the background music go with the video?

That's as much as I can think of.
I thought the video was really cool, I was incredibly impressed.