Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Video Podcast

Video Podcast on Assistive Technology

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Open Source Eportfolio

Summary of Article #3

While portfolios have been present for quite some time, technology is advancing every day. The traditional portfolio has evolved into the e-portfolio which involves independent learning and promotes academic success. The article made several points on e-portfolios in regards to student centered learning, competence oriented, and multimedia-oriented. One advantage to E-portfolios is that it enables students to be in total control of their work. The students are able to constantly strengthen their weaknesses while doing a reflection of their work. The insertion of media into their work adds another dimension of learning for the students. Although the student is ultimately responsible for the work in his or her portfolio, teachers are not relieved of their responsibilities which are to ensure that the student’s portfolios contain the necessary information that aligns with the professional profile. The scope of work in regards to the objectives, content, and format of the portfolios must be defined as boundaries to serve as a guide for students.

Another advantage to E-portfolios is what is known as competence-oriented. Since the foundation of the competencies pertain to practical situations, professional practice is often linked to what students are trained on which enables the students to use the portfolio to show his or her competence.

Multimedia-oriented material allows students to demonstrate their competencies through an array of forms that deviate from the more traditional methods such as written accounts. Today, multimedia consists of utilizing a variety of materials such as drawings, photographs, illustrations, video materials, and much more.

In summary, the use of E-portfolios in student –centered learning enables students to stay up to date with the vastly changing world of technology by incorporating both competence-oriented and multimedia-oriented material. I can see how electronic portfolios will soon be one of the main tools for preparing students for the professional world.





Reflections:

This video really illistrates what eportfolios are alll about. It shows how kids can scaffold thier work using mind maps and the flexability of mind maps. I found both the article and this video to be an eye opener. I can see how eportfolios can make students learning limitless as well as responsible. I was amazed at how students are able to track thier learning through thier reflections. All of this is done and the teachers is still the main player because eportfolios allow the teacher to provide constructive feedback to the students. This is going to be an excellent tool for students to use. I think high school students will benifit tremendously because I think e portfolios will soon be a stepping stone for entering colleges.

Question:

How can we use eportfolios for assessment?

Saturday, February 20, 2010

A Wilder World – Youth, Privacy, and Social Networking Technologies

A Wilder World – Youth, Privacy, and Social Networking Technologies

This article discusses how a bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives with the intention to protect our children from online predators, can have an adverse effect by simultaneously blocking all social networking technologies utilized by recipients of universal service support through schools and libraries. In order to ensure that the goals of technologists in the roles of higher education align with the mission of academic research which requires an environment to grow and develop, in addition to the mission of academic teaching which holds those in higher education accountable for promoting ethical thinking while incorporating the use of new technology amongst all constituents, technologists need to step up to the plate by taking a leading role in discussions around this law and other laws that are similar (Miltrano, 2006).

For instance, Facebook, Myspace.com, and Twitter just to name a few are some of the newer technologies that have derived from the antiquated forms of networking technology which included applications like the dating services, multiplayer games and bulletin boards (Miltrano, 2006). The benefit to this new technology was that it provided people with an option to network with other people outside of their own community whether it was for social communication, business networking, or just as a hobby. Although there have been some isolated incidents that have occurred where the use of this technology led to malicious acts, this same technology has also helped other groups from social networking groups, to political parties to flourish.


In summary, there is a fine line between the benefits of social networking technology as it pertains to using this form of technology in the collegiate setting or on the social level of communicating because both are equally important. Unfortunately, there will always be predators out there that look at every possible way to misuse this technology or develop new technology for their own malicious intent. Since this is a known fact, the focus of the federal government should be channeled towards promoting the appropriate use of technology as opposed to taking measures to ban technology. After all, technology is the wave of the future.





Reflection:

As a school teacher, I have always wondered why our technology department blocked social networking sites until I read this article.I was amazed to find all the loop holes that are involved with social networking technologies. Being a long time facebook user, this article really open my eyes to the safety issues of using a social networking site such as facebook. The video that I choosed gives several great tips on how to be safe while using social networking technologies.


Question:

What can we as educators do to get schools and universities to turn social networking technoligies into academic tools of success?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Enabling as Accessible Web 2.0

Summary:

This article discusses the use of new technologies and tools being developed to help enable accessibility for Web 2.0. As our world is starting to become more driven by computers, the disable must not be looked over. Web 2.0 is creating ways of accessibilities for the disable. Accessible Rich Internet Applications are being developed. They provide more semantic information about web components. ARIA also can enable accessibility through keyboard navigation, input focus, dynamic updates and semantic metadata. One of the main ideas of ARIA is to add the semantic data into the HTML and XHTML so the browser xan interpret this semantic data and provide it to the assistive technology via accessibility API of the platform. In spite all of this, there is still the need to make Web 2.0 accessible to all users. The enhancement of the accessibility APIs, and their adoption by browsers and assistive technologies will allow all users access to Web2.0 paradigms.




Reflections:

With the No Child Left Behind Act, we as educators must constantly find ways to ensure that No child is left behind. This video shows what AT is. It also gives several different examples of how assistive technologies can be used with students who have disabilities. I think this video is a must see for all educators.

Question:

Why should we have assistive technology at all school?