Final Survey

I completed the course survey and course evaluation.

Technology Integration Project

I would use this project in my classroom as a way to teach culture.  I can't very well take my entire class to Paris, so by using Google Earth I can show them important monuments as well as give them history of those monuments.  France, especially Paris, is built on history and the buildings reflect France's rich historical tradition.  Plus, Paris is just a beautiful city and through Google Earth, students will be able to appreciate French culture even more.  Students would also be able to create their own virtual tours which would give them a chance to learn about different places in the world.  

This project reflects the pedagogy and content of what I will be teaching in a few ways.  First, all the directions and most of the information is in French and focuses on French culture.  Students will be exposed to the French language, especially being able to follow directions correctly.  Some of the Wikipedia articles they are asked to read are also in French so they will need to practice their reading skills.  Pedagogically, this project is effective because it is very visual.  Students will be engaged in learning as they are able to use different viewpoints within Google Earth, see 3D representations of buildings, and see photographs of a different place in the world.  Rather than just lecturing about the Arc de Triomphe and the Palais de l'Elysée, students will get to see it and hopefully become more curious about Paris and French in general. 

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PLE Wk #7: Internet Safety Assignment

Reading:

For my 5th article, I read "Changing Technology, Changing Classrooms" in the Spring 2007 Version of the McKay Today Magazine. I thought the readings were very interesting and so applicable to today's world. The prophets and apostles truly are in-tune with the realities of today. I particularly liked Elder Bednar's talk about what is truly reality and by become absorbed in activities that muddle what reality is, we are hindering our body's progression. I also liked Elder Packer's talk about making sure those medias in which we participate are only of the wholesome and uplifting nature. Technology, the Internet, and media can be very useful. But when used inappropriately, they can also be very harmful.

As I become a teacher and parent in the future, I will certainly take the things I have learned and try to teach those children who surround me about the benefits as well as the drawbacks of technology. By showing what kinds of technologies are appropriate and uplifting, hopefully those who I teach will see that technology doesn't always have to consist of violence and gore, but it can be educational as well. But the children will see the things I do more than hear what I say, so I have to make sure that I provide a good example for them in the right ways to use the Internet and media.

From reading these articles, I think by applying the knowledge personally hopefully others will see what impact it has on my life and apply it to their own. If I decide that I won't participate in harmful media, others may do the same... or they might not. Doing is always more powerful than saying.

Watching:

I watched the ikeepsafe video and watched the entire Frontline documentary. I also looked at the Internet Safety Podcast. I thought the Frontline documentary was really interesting and I think that all students should watch it in order to learn about the realities of the Internet and how to be protected while using the Internet. In my future teaching, I will make sure that students are only given websites that are appropriate for learning. I also want to inform students about the dangers of technology.

Doing:
I shared the Frontline documentary Growing up Online with my mother, who is an elementary school teacher, and my sister who just finished her sophomore year of high school. I think this was a valuable experience because it showed my sister, who spends an incredible amount of time online, some of the negative impacts it can have. It also showed my mother some more of the realities of the Internet as it can apply to to her students. Even though she interacts with mostly elementary school students, even children in her classroom have facebook-- a program which can open her students up to the danger of the internet. I thought it was a very good documentary.

PLE Wk #6

For my content-specific integration project, I'm going to use Google Earth to create a virtual tour of places around Paris, whether they be buildings, streets, gardens, etc. I have not decided which buildings I am going to use, but they will fit into the same theme. The text will include directions as well as physical descriptions of the places, both of which fall under Standard 3 of the Utah Core Curriculum. Students will be able to do this project as well. Not only does it expose them to French culture as they learn about different places, it helps them practice describing things and giving directions.

Video Communication PLE Week 5

This first image is a screen shot of my synchronous communication with my little sister using Google video chat.  The second image is using tokbox for asynchronous communication.  I liked using Google video chat more because it is just so much faster.  You don't have to wait for them to record a video and then send it to you.... you can just talk to the other person like you would talk to them in person.  I think Google video chat and other programs like it would be very helpful in the classroom because they would allow students to interact with people who can provide valuable information but may not be able to physically be in the same room.  Interviews with experts or native French speakers would be great for student in a French classroom.

Synchronous Video Communication

Asychronous Video Communication