Weekly Update

I have a very exciting and productive meeting with Carol on Tuesday. She thought the Google Form was very easy to create. I showed her other ways she could use Google Forms, such as exporting to Excel. We were both so excited that we went off topic and I showed her how I use Google calender and Picasa to share photos. She said these would be very useful to her with her organizations she helps with outside of school. She and I were both very busy and not able to do much with our second goal, which is creating a digital story. So we decided that she would learn how to use Windows Photo Story on her own and start on that project this week. Instead of creating a instruction sheet, I am going to create a digital story about myself and a template that the education professors could use.

Week 2 Post 6818

Because of our busy schedules, I was not able to meet with Carol in person this week. In my absence, she provided me with some ideas of how we could meet every other week. So what I did for this week is create a document explaining how to create a Google Form. I included screen shots and step by step directions so that it could be used after I was not there to help her. Then I told her that we could even use Google chat to communicate when I cannot meet her in person. I really like how she got the ball rolling, which helped me think of other ways I could help her.

Final Post 6809

What an inspirational speech! The speaker’s main argument is that tests don’t prove how much knowledge a student learns and doesn’t prove the ability of the teachers and the schools. The speaker stated that tests don’t lead to education—they just look good. I completely agree with the speaker. Some students are not the best test takers. Students should not be penalized for this, just like they are because of No Child Left Behind. There are other ways to assess what the students have learned. Teachers are more concerned and pressured that their students get good scores on standardized tests to meet the annual yearly progress. Teachers are not focusing on the skills and interests of their students—if they did, the students would be more excited and interested in their own learning. Teachers need to harness these skills and use all available resources. By harnessing the specialized skills of our students, we will help our students to be more confident in the classroom and in their everyday lives outside of the classroom. Teachers need to teach their students how to be innovators and entrepreneurs, not just employees and consumers. Education should be personalized and strength based, where students make authentic and real products. So how does this speech relate to the course book “Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking out”? The future generations are surrounded by technology in their everyday lives. They are developing skills by blogging, tweeting, and gaming that could be used in the workplace. These are the skills we need to harness. From this point on, technology will be the forefront of many corporations and are students need to be taught how to use these skills.

Final Post 6816

The work of the forester in Indonesia is a perfect example of a type of research done in the workplace. The team of scientists located a problem and researched the problems it was and could cause and solutions to fix the problem. What is impressive about this forester is how he incorporated the research of students from around the world to solve the crisis of deforestation around the world. The students were able collect data from their area and share it with real scientists! A perfect example of how new literacies can be used in the classroom. The research of the students is authentic and relevant and of course aligns with content standards. Students can get a real connection to the content they are learning.

Webquest Artifact

Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.

Week 9 Reading 6809

1. How do educators in youth media programs differ from the orientation of classroom teachers in terms of preparing students for using digital media for work related purposes?

Youth media program educators’ main responsibility is to teach students how to use various technologies primarily in their everyday lives to prepare them for life outside of the classroom.  A classroom teacher’s primary responsibility is to teach the content for a specific grade and subject mandated by the state. Using technology in the classroom is on the back-burner for some if not most classroom educators. 

2. With some important exceptions, how are lower income youth marginalized from using digital media in ways that might provide them with economic empowerment?

Our economy and is generated and maintained by the use of digital media.  Corporations rely on technology to run their businesses more effectively and efficiently and require their employees to be able to use these technologies.  Students that are from lower income families can not afford these technologies and therefore are not as familiar with how to use them compared to students who come from high income families that have easy access to these technologies.  Should these students be handicapped because of their parents’ income?  All students should learn to use technology in the classroom where it is free to all.    

3. In 2005 the CEO of IBM announced that if we wanted know what business leadership looks like in the 21 century look at what is going on in MMORPG's. After reading Box 7.4 does this make sense? Are you impressed by the levels of commitment and collaboration it takes players to be successful in these games? Do you have new respect for gamers?

This completely makes since.  Sometimes more than one person is needed to get the job done.  I was surprised that at one point in the game 36 players were needed to kill Tiamat the dragon.  I have a new respect for the people that play Final Fantasy XI.  They are dedicated to what they enjoy doing, which is a great trait to have. 

4. How do school need to change to become learning environments that cultivate the same kind of enthusiasm and commitment from young people like NeoPets did for Eddie? How can digital media play a role in the creation of these kinds of environments?

I believe all students need to understand the time=money state of mind.  Students love playing interactive games such as neo pets and learn crucial life skills without knowing it.  These learning environments could start out with social interaction in the classroom but then evolve into personal environments. 

Final Webquest 6809

https://sites.google.com/site/amyphillips4876webquest/home

Sources 6816

Haller, M. (2012, May 15). How video games help you at sports. Men's Health News, Retrieved from http://news.menshealth.com/how-video-games-help-you-at-sports/2012/05/15/

Dobnik, V. (2004, April 07). Surgeons may err less by playing video games. MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/surgeons-may-err-less-playing-video-games/

Roach, J. (2003, May 28). Video games boost visual skills, study finds. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html

Doll, A. (2009, February 20). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/do-videogames-improve-hand-eye-coordination-more-than-2610434.html

Are video games a waste of time?. (2012, April 4). Retrieved from http://www.techjournal.org/tag/hand-eye-coordination/

Reid, S. (2009, February 20). Do video games help hand eye coordination?. Retrieved from http://www.artipot.com/articles/288181/do-video-games-help-hand-eye-coordination.htm

hours of playing video games can change brain for the better, research finds read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/06/hours-playing-video-games-can-change-brain-for-better-research-finds/

Kardaras, E. (2008, January 07). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1742

Hand and eye coordination, reflexes and precision - tgog [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQGm7Gz5YIU

Nintendo's flash focus offers a new vision for video games. (2007, Oct 15). PR Newswire, pp. n/a. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/453352199?accountid=10797

Video games test astronauts' memories. (1996, Jun 27). Pantagraph, pp. A.3-A.3. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/252210536?accountid=10797

Sarah roshko: Video games and relearning motor skills [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzTZSQGbHsI

Dexteria fine motor skill development ipad app [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqvtvBn3hzU

7 Articles for Annotated Bibliography 6816

Butcher, G., & Dunbar, K. (2012, May). Video games: harmful or helpful? Learning & Leading with Technology, 39(7), 6+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA289621358&v=2.1&u=fairmt&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w

Pre-surgery workout videos. (2010). Veterinary Economics, 51(2), 12-12. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/274299038?accountid=10797

Hand-eye coordination: video games and laparoscopic surgery. (2005). Nature Clinical Practice Urology, 2(6), 268. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA183392138&v=2.1&u=fairmt&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

MacDonald, M.. (2008, March). VIDEO game CENTRAL. National Geographic Kids,(378), 8.  Retrieved July 10, 2012, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1466160651).

Terrell, Kenneth. (December 26, 2005 ). Bone Up at Video Game U. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, Retrieved from www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic

Nintendo's flash focus offers a new vision for video games. (2007, Oct 15). PR Newswire, pp. n/a. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/453352199?accountid=10797

Brianna RaberGrade 7.  (2007, March 7). Part 2 Pros and cons of video games. Sun Journal,p. A5.  Retrieved July 10, 2012, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1228610501).

Evaluative Annotated Bibliography 6816

My research question is " Can playing video games improve hand-eye coordination?"

The keywords that I will be using to locate information are:  video games and hand-eye coordination and video games and motor skills. 

I got the idea from the case study I wrote about my nephew. 

WebQuest Revisions 6809

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I would change the color scheme and graphics and add an assessment that involves digital media.  I would like to change the colors and pictures so that it reflects the topic.  I would add pictures that relate to each task (show Newton's Laws).  For the assessment, I would have students make a video about what they learned.  They would use Animoto.  They would have a picture and text explaining what they learned about each of Newton's Laws and a couple of pictures about their egg drop and how they could improve it.  Another addition I would like to make to this WebQuest is to have each student create a blog account and make an entry about each of the tasks.  They would write what they observed and learned then they could comment on each others blog. 

Week 8 Reading 6809

1. What impressed you most about young people's engagement with creative production?

I was really impressed about the case study of Jacob.  This teenager moved to a bad area and faced many difficulties.  The program leaders noticed his interest in web design and used Jacob in an after school program.  His interest spawned from MySpace.  I think there are several under-privileged children who have a love and talent for technology.  They just need some guidance and encouragement to harness their skills. 

2. What concerns do you have about young people posting content online? 

Teenagers and young adults post anything and everything online.  They post pictures, videos, and every thought they have throughout the day.  I like the fact that there are many resources available to teens and young adults to help express who they are, but many make posts that are inappropriate and give them a bad reputation.  They post provocative pictures and create posts they can give readers the wrong impression.  They need to be taught the Do’s and Don’t s of posting online, starting at an early age. 

3. Do you think most school policy toward student use of the Internet is reactionary or a necessary evil?

I think that school’s internet policy is a necessary evil.  Students need to be blocked from inappropriate content.  However, I think that some websites, such as YouTube, should not be blocked.  Watching videos can help visual learners make a connection to what they are learning.  But teachers should keep a close eye on what their students are searching for.  Of course, I think this process should start in the home; parents need to keep a close eye on what their children are viewing online. 

4. How might teachers' capitalize on student's interest in creative production with digital media?

Using digital media is an excellent way for students to be creative to show what they learned.  The first activity that comes to mind is using iMovie on the iPad.  Young and older students are fascinated with iPads.  Some are privileged to have an iPad at home, but many students don’t.  By using iMovie, students can post images and music on the application to report on any topic of their choice.  The students would be engaged, which makes the teachers’ job easier. 

5.  Link to an online lesson plan, article, blog post video or podcast that is an example of student engagement in creative production with digital media for school related purposes.

Living and Learning withNew Media:  Summary of Findings from theDigital Youth Project

This article includes the following sections:  Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out. 

Reflection to Case Studies 6809

After reading some of my peers case studies, I noticed a couple of trends.  Most of the older teenagers spent more time on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  But these older teenagers were still interested in some of the games as some other the younger kids in the case studies.  I also noticed that these children all had several technology devices, regardless of income. 

One concept that most of us recognized is the importance of teachers harnessing these skills and interests of children and using it to our advantage in the classroom.  Students enjoy using these technologies and spend a lot of their time using them, so it is safe to assume that they would enjoy using them in the classroom.  Regardless of the amount of time children use media in the classroom and at home, using technology in the classroom, even for ten minutes, can engage students and help keep their interest when they are learning something new. 

Week 7 Reading 6816

1. What surprises you about the strategies digital age students use as they conduct research for course assignments?

The information presented in this reading didn’t really surprise me, but concerned me.  Throughout the article, the author mentions that students do not use all of the available resources available to them.  Students go for efficiency first, then thoroughness. 

2. How accurately do the findings from this study reflect your own research strategies?

This article very accurately reflects how I did research in college.  I primarily used Google to “cherry-pick” the information I needed.  I only used online resources and tried to do the least amount of work possible. 

3. This study provides a detailed description of the parameters of research assignments typical required for academia. How does it differ from the kinds of research people do in the workplace?

When students conduct research and write research papers, they are focused on a very specific topic; therefore, many students find researching for information very frustrating.  When people do research in the workplace, the topic may have different degrees of how specific it is, but generally they are more educated on the topic and have more experience so it is easier to locate the information they are looking for.

4. Do you think the recommendations to improve research process for college students will better prepare students for the world outside of school?

I think that the recommendations to improve research process for college students will better prepare them for the outside world.  Students need to learn that there may be multiple people and resources they can use to help them understand a situation or problem.  We live in a world with ever-changing technology, but we shouldn’t forget about the things of the past.  A book can sometimes give us the information we need just as good as the internet can.