Comments for 123VC! Jazz Readings http://123vcreading.wordpress.com ...from Missouri, Michigan, New York, and Texas workshop participants Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Day 3 Readings Berrien RESA by Ricardo Marin http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/day-3-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-555 Ricardo Marin Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:34:10 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=339#comment-555 Great Info. This is a great way to have a national conversation over local problems. Great Info. This is a great way to have a national conversation over local problems.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Laurie http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-552 Laurie Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:03:59 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-552 Angie- I totally agree with hearing co-workers say, "I can't handle adding one more thing to what I do." It actually really bothers me because to me, the more we learn and try, the better prepared we are to teach. The students are motivated to learn when they see that we are excited to teach and be with them. Also, the more we learn about technology, the easier it is to manage our curriculum. If others would just give tech. a chance, they may see that they would like it and not feel so stressed! I am also new with the Twitter and would like to learn some of the common "tweets! Angie- I totally agree with hearing co-workers say, “I can’t handle adding one more thing to what I do.” It actually really bothers me because to me, the more we learn and try, the better prepared we are to teach. The students are motivated to learn when they see that we are excited to teach and be with them. Also, the more we learn about technology, the easier it is to manage our curriculum. If others would just give tech. a chance, they may see that they would like it and not feel so stressed! I am also new with the Twitter and would like to learn some of the common “tweets!

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Laurie http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-551 Laurie Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:41:56 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-551 Middle School Videoconferencing Fosters Global Citizenship by Jody Howard-Kennedy "Incorporating an awareness of global issues into the curriculum and developing innovative resources and strategies encourage an understanding of world issues and interdependence..." This is part of a statement by Mike Griffith, and I think this sums up the big idea behind videoconferencing. Human interaction is a basic need and introducing students world issues is a way to bring us back to what is important in life. Our world has so many forms of technology and it seems that sometimes it feels that it can take away from human interactions, and videoconferencing seems to be a way to give it back in a productive manner. VC offers the opportunity to prepare each student for a life of being a responsible, contributing citizen of this world. Middle School Videoconferencing Fosters Global Citizenship
by Jody Howard-Kennedy

“Incorporating an awareness of global issues into the curriculum and developing innovative resources and strategies encourage an understanding of world issues and interdependence…” This is part of a statement by Mike Griffith, and I think this sums up the big idea behind videoconferencing. Human interaction is a basic need and introducing students world issues is a way to bring us back to what is important in life. Our world has so many forms of technology and it seems that sometimes it feels that it can take away from human interactions, and videoconferencing seems to be a way to give it back in a productive manner. VC offers the opportunity to prepare each student for a life of being a responsible, contributing citizen of this world.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Angie http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-550 Angie Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:11:52 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-550 So true! The vc gives immediate and real-world feedback on the effectiveness of our communication, and that's so valuable. Kids don't have the opportunity to really evaluate their ability to communicate w/ strangers very often, because most of their communication is with people they know and feel comfortable with. Really, kids in schools are pretty sheltered. I love that the vc gives them a taste of what it's like when total strangers invite them to discourse. So true! The vc gives immediate and real-world feedback on the effectiveness of our communication, and that’s so valuable. Kids don’t have the opportunity to really evaluate their ability to communicate w/ strangers very often, because most of their communication is with people they know and feel comfortable with. Really, kids in schools are pretty sheltered. I love that the vc gives them a taste of what it’s like when total strangers invite them to discourse.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Rachele http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-549 Rachele Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:04:45 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-549 I too was glad to be introduced to twitter this week. You keep hearing about it on the tv and I've been wondering about how it all works. I agree, initially teachers put on the brakes to new technology, but the more they are exposed to it and see it being used the more receptive they are to it. I too was glad to be introduced to twitter this week. You keep hearing about it on the tv and I’ve been wondering about how it all works. I agree, initially teachers put on the brakes to new technology, but the more they are exposed to it and see it being used the more receptive they are to it.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Angie http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-548 Angie Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:03:09 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-548 I don't think most people in our area realize just how famous Janine is in the circle of vc experts nationwide. We are so lucky to have her here; she has connections to people and places that are far beyond the reach of the average RESA when it comes to vc's. I love that she is a realist, she understands and appreciates the challenges of the classroom teacher, and she is practical in trying to address them. Janine, you rock! :-) I don’t think most people in our area realize just how famous Janine is in the circle of vc experts nationwide. We are so lucky to have her here; she has connections to people and places that are far beyond the reach of the average RESA when it comes to vc’s. I love that she is a realist, she understands and appreciates the challenges of the classroom teacher, and she is practical in trying to address them. Janine, you rock! :-)

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Rachele http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-547 Rachele Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:11:25 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-547 "Learning from a Distance Brings it Home" It still amazes me at how far computers in education have come. I took my first videoconference course I think back in 1996 through GVSU at Van Buren ISD & it was so cool to be able to see the other sites, the professor at GVSU, and be able to interact with all of them. At the time, I felt so on top of the world of technology, even though the picture pixelled continuously and if the weather was bad...class over! Now most students have computers at home & can continually connect with their friends and others, check grades, assignments, etc. all online. The possibilities are becoming endless. The idea of taking a "virtual" field trip seemed so bazaar when it first came out, now it seems second nature. There are so many opportunities for kids to link up with, and kids today are so "tuned" into technology through video games, tv, internet, etc., virtual field trips are right up their alley. Even interactive videoconferences add so much to the students understanding of what they have been studying, reading, or learning about. As a culminating activity, or an activity before studying a subject, either way the value of the conference is something they will remember more than anything they will learn from a book. One thing I am interested in getting started would be a collaborative project. The idea they gave about "epals" sounds really cool. I would really like to set something up with another classroom. There was just an article in the newspaper about two elderly ladies, one in the US one in England, that were given an assignment of being penpals in 4th grade & had stayed penpals all their lives. They had just gotten together a month ago & were able to meet for the first time. I would love to set something up like this to help students make connections with other kids. “Learning from a Distance Brings it Home”

It still amazes me at how far computers in education have come. I took my first videoconference course I think back in 1996 through GVSU at Van Buren ISD & it was so cool to be able to see the other sites, the professor at GVSU, and be able to interact with all of them. At the time, I felt so on top of the world of technology, even though the picture pixelled continuously and if the weather was bad…class over! Now most students have computers at home & can continually connect with their friends and others, check grades, assignments, etc. all online. The possibilities are becoming endless.

The idea of taking a “virtual” field trip seemed so bazaar when it first came out, now it seems second nature. There are so many opportunities for kids to link up with, and kids today are so “tuned” into technology through video games, tv, internet, etc., virtual field trips are right up their alley.

Even interactive videoconferences add so much to the students understanding of what they have been studying, reading, or learning about. As a culminating activity, or an activity before studying a subject, either way the value of the conference is something they will remember more than anything they will learn from a book.

One thing I am interested in getting started would be a collaborative project. The idea they gave about “epals” sounds really cool. I would really like to set something up with another classroom. There was just an article in the newspaper about two elderly ladies, one in the US one in England, that were given an assignment of being penpals in 4th grade & had stayed penpals all their lives. They had just gotten together a month ago & were able to meet for the first time. I would love to set something up like this to help students make connections with other kids.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Alyssa http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-546 Alyssa Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:10:14 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-546 I agree that videoconferencing is a way to present life long speaking skills for students. Students, especially the younger ones usually enjoy seeing themselves on camera and it would be valuable for them to see their actions and how they affect their presentations and learning opportunities for others. I agree that videoconferencing is a way to present life long speaking skills for students. Students, especially the younger ones usually enjoy seeing themselves on camera and it would be valuable for them to see their actions and how they affect their presentations and learning opportunities for others.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Melissa http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-545 Melissa Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:09:03 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-545 In this very competitive world students need to understand that we all have opinions and that we need to be open to hear both sides to a problem. When we can do this in society we will be able to begin to solve the world issues possibly without the word weapons and war in the conversation. I feel that with something like videoconferencing our students can continue to learn how to communicate and articulate their ideas and thoughts with students all over the world. I think anytime students can continue to work on problem solving with other students it's a win win situation. Hope you have agreat experience and a great year Shannon. In this very competitive world students need to understand that we all have opinions and that we need to be open to hear both sides to a problem. When we can do this in society we will be able to begin to solve the world issues possibly without the word weapons and war in the conversation. I feel that with something like videoconferencing our students can continue to learn how to communicate and articulate their ideas and thoughts with students all over the world. I think anytime students can continue to work on problem solving with other students it’s a win win situation.
Hope you have agreat experience and a great year Shannon.

]]> Comment on Day 5 Readings Berrien RESA by Sue Baker http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/day-5-readings-berrien-resa/#comment-544 Sue Baker Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:04:16 +0000 http://123vcreading.wordpress.com/?p=344#comment-544 Promoting global awareness and tolerance through the videoconferencing experience would be awesome. Maybe we can share our videoconferencing experiences to know which ones were successful and share what we learned to improve. Promoting global awareness and tolerance through the videoconferencing experience would be awesome. Maybe we can share our videoconferencing experiences to know which ones were successful and share what we learned to improve.

]]>