From East Lansing to Detroit » CEP 811 assignments

Google versus Zoho

spar10jim — Tue, 01 May 2007 01:48:54 +0000

Just when I think they have invented everything along comes something even newer. From the company that has eliminated the need for a set of encyclopedias comes a product that can eliminate the need for Microsoft Office: Google docs and spreadsheets. With adequate internet access a person can complete a presentation without having to remember to bring a disk or flashdrive. I can start typing a paper in Detroit, take a break (drive to East Lansing) and start where I left off two hours later. Absolutely amazing.

Now this blog is to compare the two leading web based programs, Google and Zoho. Both have the amazing access ability. It is no surprise that Google has developed this online software with their boundless online resources. I am sure Google’s software will only improve, but they have some catching up to do in my opinion to Zoho. I give Zoho the first prize. Zoho Writer contains many of the same familiar. The command bars are very well laid out and easily recognizible. In my opinion easier than Google and easier than MS Word. It can improve if it studies Apple Works…still the best word processor in the industry.

Zoho Sheet beats Google Spreadsheet. The commands are more familiar. It is easier to add colums of numbers, sort names and so forth. It appears to have studied MS Excel to develop its capibilities. That is a smart choice. Apple has the word processor. Microsoft has the spreadsheet.

Zoho Show versus…no equal with Google. Show can easily read and edit any show saved in PowerPoint mode.

I am impressed with the concept. I believe Zoho has the edge in developing online software.

Adventures in Electronic Constructivism

spar10jim — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 02:37:38 +0000

This article by Maureen Brown Yoder is another great example of how we can use the endless resources of the world wide web to construct a project. I can relate to her report about Geroge Washington. I had the privlege of having a set of encyclopedias and National Geographics from 1968 on in my home. My reports were “A+” if I do say so myself. So what? So I knew how to rephrase and footnote articles. Big deal. Instead of a report about the state of Michigan what about imagine if the British never wanted Michigan? What if the Native Americans lived in the Great Lake State and the French just came by to trade some furs and pelts for beads and steel spears? As Yoder mentioned, instead of a report about George Washington, compare Washington to our current President. I am thinking “well that would be fun. The father of our country versus the f#%$ up of our country. Washington lead a war that united our country. Bush is leading a war that has divided our country. Washington never told a lie. Bush is never honest. Washington believed in diplomacy. Bush believes in Dick Cheney.” This could be fun.

In all seriousness, the article inspired me to create some projects. The movies and documentaries about the origional space program prior to 1975 always fascinate me. Considering how little was developed, how few items were tested, how much uncertainty there was for a safe return it amazes me that we made it to the moon. Now compare that to what scientist are going through and are failing at to find a cure for AIDS.

That’s what I like about…webquests

spar10jim — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 00:14:38 +0000

Let me tell you about The Chamber Music Challenge by Dana Warren. The program as written in the description involves 7th-grade students composing original music to be performed by their friends and peers who are in band and orchestra. The audience includes 7-8 graders or 9-12 graders who are good at reading music and have an interest in learning to write music.

I choose this program because it appeared to be the most challenging. I was curious to find out how the author managed to write this for her seventh graders and actually had success. The author herself acknowledges “because of the complexities of scoring for instruments, it should be expected that students will need help throughout this project.” I could not agree more. Asking 12 to 13 years olds to write music is like asking students of the same age group to solve conflicts in the
Middle East forever or asking a science student to explain Einstein’s theories. This is not easy but I am up for the teaching challenge. Those who are reading this review can tell I was skeptical. That is no longer the case. The site is very well organized. There is no evaluation of student progress until the end, but the site assigns appropriate tasks throughout the process. This makes the project work. It gives everybody an assignment they can achieve. The site continues to give additional needed resources to teach about the structure of a musical composition. The details ask to apply math skills and high level thinking about notation. It also teaches about different ranges of instruments and the transposition. It is a well organized lesson allowing students to construct a project and inspire them to learn more.

This project is an excellent way to meet the standards of composing and arranging music as suggested in the Michigan Standards of Arts in Education. I must admit I do not have any lesson plans or units that push this benchmark. Thanks to this project, now I do. This also meets the standard of using technology to problem solve and use tools for decision making as asked for in the Michigan Education Technology Standards for sixth through eighth grades.I believe the site is without any bugs. The pages are animated and colorful. They keep the student’s interest. As I try to find some criticism or ways to improve the site I find this already taken care of. This site demands high level thinking about music and the full attention of the music teacher. It is not a site where the teacher can hold playing tests during the activity. The attention will pay off. I believe it can advance the musical abilities of young musicians.

After watching Vicki Olsen video about colonizing the planets

spar10jim — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:14:25 +0000

How would you integrate WebQuests into your classroom? I would train my students to work on their webquest project without me. This way I can rehearse some students and have others work on a project such as composing music which teaches music theory. These are available on webquest. Because of the wide variety of abilities I have little success rehearsing the entire band together, which was more of a problem before coming to
Detroit. Now I can rehearse specific students and allow others to work independently on a meaningful project. Everybody has some success to show for. What instructional strategies did you observe from the video that you feel are important for successful technology integration? Why? I observed problem-based or project based learning. The problem was put in place in that the students have to decide which planet to colonize. Here the questions are in place in that the students must research what is available on the different planets and how does this effect quality of life. It would be more inquiry based if the students were asked to gather information and figure out what life would be like on as an example Mars.What additional instructional strategies do you feel are necessary for using WebQuests in your classroom? Why? Ideally I would like to back away completely and allow the students to construct a project using their own ideas.Compare and contrast this case with your own classrooms. If the question is could it work in my classroom the answer is, yes. I was most impressed with how well prepared Olsen’s students were to discuss the problem. What I need to do is provide the necessary resources so that my students could be prepared at this level…the level where students can negotiate and solve a problem together.

John Bell on two approaches to constructivism

spar10jim — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:44:34 +0000

This is a great lecture to remind us that we are teachers first and computer programmers next. I like using constructivism with computer projects. This is what computers were designed to do which is to collect, calculate and distribute information it has constructed.

Bell discusses two approaches to constrictivism. I do not believe inquiry would be appropriate for my students which are Kindergarten through eighth grade. Possibly someone will respond to the blog and have a suggestion hint hint. I am confortable with project-based approach. I like how some of the structure is in place. It seems to me that an approach like this will have some questions in place to start the project.

Overall I like that this approach arouses curiousity. It forces learning in a positive way. I like the idea of being a facilitator or in my case a referee. I will continue to create projects where this type of learning takes place.

John Bell on teaching strategies for computer learning

spar10jim — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:27:32 +0000

This lecture is a excellent resource for teaching methods applying to learning with a lesson online or with a computer program. It is a good reminder for me to focus on how to make this work. I like his metaphor of teaching where we have to imagine we can only teach using a text book. In other words don’t use the computer as one of the resources, use it as the only resource. Program it well to reach the variety learning styles that make up our classroom. It was an interesting lecture and sets a good tone for this class.

Thoughts on WebQuest

spar10jim — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:38:24 +0000

Teachers, have you ever created a lesson plan that just taught itself? Not only would it satisfy curriculum requirements, but the students also pick up on everything being taught? Have you ever come across those lessons? Well neither have I, but I believe WebQuest assignments can come close.

After reading the article “WebQuest” by Annette Lamb and reviewing some webquest assignments I believe this format is a catalyst to higher level thinking about online learning. Computers have always excelled at constructing information from payroll reports to schedules for entire university campuses. (Now this is mentioned in the article, I remember much of this too.) The problem was since the days of personal computers whether it be an Apple, a Commadore 64 and so forth many of the computers available for education did not allow students to construct a project. Many of the games were just that, games. They were flashy flash cards. Most importantly the outcomes were the same. In to the early 1990’s teachers could begin to construct projects with the help of the world wide web, but many of those assignments became nothing more than “low level scaverger hunts.” That is a quote from the Lamb article and I agree with it.

WebQuest seems to be the best of what learning online can be. It uses computer graphics…always fun, it provides all the resources, allows students to construct a project and use their own creativity. I look forward to contributing a project as well.

Comments about Marc Prensky article

spar10jim — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:30:30 +0000

Timing is everything. Marc Prensky’s article “Listening to the Natives” is the perfect article to begin a course in teaching technology and/or encourage the use of technology in the classrooms. He sites examples of how other countries are using more technology than the US. As an example the use of cell phones to construct projects.

Then like a dropped call the thought, comment or paragraph ends there. Prensky does not explain how, as an example, cell phones are used to create projects. Most of the article explains how we need to collaborate with our students and decide what to teach with them. For lack of better words, well duh! Reaching out to our students so that we can teach them better is what good teachers do with or without a computer.

Prensky shows that he is very knowledgable and sincere. I would be very interested in hearing him speak and read more of his works, but to quote a commicerial of my favorite fast food chain, “where’s the beef?”