Yet again I was going through the schools online database and found an article about why movies should be integrated into the classroom. The author talks about how movies in the classroom help develop the creativity of a student. Since they don't know how to be creative they have trouble writing. "They are unable to conjure images and storylines out of thin air, so their writing of fiction is often thinly woven and unconvincing." They also state how watching a movie develops grammer. Students are able to retell the story, and pull quotes out which help the to understand grammer.
Overall, it seems as though movies are a good educational tool. They should be integrating into the classroom so long as they are being shown for educational purposes. It is also good for the teacher to follow up after the movie. Talk about the plot, setting, characters, and different thing they liked or did not like. This way you are not just having the students watch a movie, you are having them learn about the movie.
To read the full article click here.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
After discussing our e-books and looking at pictures in the regular picture books, I learned that students need to visually stimulated while they are reading. I never really knew how important this was until I came over and article on the school online database. In this article they talk about how some student who struggle with reading comprehension because they cannot visualize what is happening with the story. The author states, "... these images provide a concrete representation of actions, ideas, time, and space." Later they state, "Many of the low-ability and reluctant readers with whom we have worked do not automatically create images or are unable to do so even with conscious effort."
I found this article interesting because I never realize what an impact pictures can have when it comes to reading. It is also good because now that I know what pictures can do, if I come across a student who is struggling with reading I can try visually stimulating the student and helping them understand what they are reading by simply by enhancing their creativity.
To read the full article click here.
I found this article interesting because I never realize what an impact pictures can have when it comes to reading. It is also good because now that I know what pictures can do, if I come across a student who is struggling with reading I can try visually stimulating the student and helping them understand what they are reading by simply by enhancing their creativity.
To read the full article click here.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Drivers Ed
While talking to a friend about different types of virtual realities, she came up with an idea that would be a neat experience. Instead of during a drives ed course having the students doing a lot of book work, and then throwing them out on the streets without much experience they can have a simulator that shows the student how to drive. It can take them through different courses and settings which allows the students to know how to react to the situations before they actually happen.
One of the greatest problems with this idea is the fact that it would be really expensive to put a simulation like this into a school. Even if they weren't able to do that, but if each district or area of schools came together they could have one centralized some where for everyone to use. This would help student to become better drivers and know how to react while they are drive on the road.
One of the greatest problems with this idea is the fact that it would be really expensive to put a simulation like this into a school. Even if they weren't able to do that, but if each district or area of schools came together they could have one centralized some where for everyone to use. This would help student to become better drivers and know how to react while they are drive on the road.
Metal Detectors
After briefly reading an article about metal detectors in the airports and how those still are not efficient enough, they are coming up with the idea of using a form of x-ray machine to see what people are actually carrying. Instead of walking through a metal detector you will be walking through a scanner that checks to see if you are wearing anything that looks harmful.
So how does this relate to the school system? Where I live, this wouldn't be very important but in Miami and New York where they do check each student before they walk into the school this could be very benficial. Safty is one of the most important thinks that school need to look at. So instead of just checking the student with a metal detector before they walk into school they can use this x-ray machine and see if they have anything that may be harmful to another student or teacher.
So how does this relate to the school system? Where I live, this wouldn't be very important but in Miami and New York where they do check each student before they walk into the school this could be very benficial. Safty is one of the most important thinks that school need to look at. So instead of just checking the student with a metal detector before they walk into school they can use this x-ray machine and see if they have anything that may be harmful to another student or teacher.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Almost Virtual Reality
Today I saw something that was really cool. My boyfriend downloaded this home movie from his playstation 3 which showed a new program that the playstation will be coming out with. It is a program where you can enter this world with a character that you create and customize and the socialize with other people who have a playstation 3 as well. It is basically a world inside of your own world, you can talk and go bowling or to the movies together with your character. It is a way of connecting people together through one system.
This would be an awesome activity if you could have students create a character and then come together in teams and set out in a mission. It would be almost like the students were playing a video game, but so long as it is educational it would be a great learning tool. One idea is to send them on different missions that they must work together as a team in order to accomplish their goal. Then once they are finished the get some sort of a reward either through the computer or by the teacher.
After watching the short clip on what is happening with technology it is just amazing at what people can do and how we can teach our children more efficiently with these programs.
This would be an awesome activity if you could have students create a character and then come together in teams and set out in a mission. It would be almost like the students were playing a video game, but so long as it is educational it would be a great learning tool. One idea is to send them on different missions that they must work together as a team in order to accomplish their goal. Then once they are finished the get some sort of a reward either through the computer or by the teacher.
After watching the short clip on what is happening with technology it is just amazing at what people can do and how we can teach our children more efficiently with these programs.
More on E-books
This past week we were reviewing the e-books we created at home. Dr. Baylen decided it would be a good idea to show the class everyones blogs individually. At first everyone was nervous, but after the first couple of volunteers went it became more of a relaxed, fun atmosphere. It was hilarious watching some of the pictures that were made and the voices behind some of the characters. Others were more serious, yet really good. Overall, I think everyone did a good job on the e-books even though these are just the rough drafts.
One thing that I learned from this experience is to not make your stick girls look like they have a beard, and to give them clothes. A challenge of mine with this project was definately the drawing part of it. I am a terrible drawer, but one thing that I did learn from this experience is that you can have other people help you. I wasn't sure whether or not I could have some one elses voice for a character or if I could have some one else help to draw the pictures. The good news is, is that it was not the final draft and there is still hope! One thing I learned as a person with this project is that it is fun to just relax and let everyone laugh at eachothers stuff, and that everything doesn't always have to be so serious.
One thing that I learned from this experience is to not make your stick girls look like they have a beard, and to give them clothes. A challenge of mine with this project was definately the drawing part of it. I am a terrible drawer, but one thing that I did learn from this experience is that you can have other people help you. I wasn't sure whether or not I could have some one elses voice for a character or if I could have some one else help to draw the pictures. The good news is, is that it was not the final draft and there is still hope! One thing I learned as a person with this project is that it is fun to just relax and let everyone laugh at eachothers stuff, and that everything doesn't always have to be so serious.
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