Enterprising Dan: July 2010

Monday, July 19, 2010

Digital Portfolio

This class was a rejuvenating experience covering many aspects of technology that opened the door of educational opportunities that I have underutilized. Although the class moved at a blistering pace for me because if my work schedule, the class technology projects and reading materials covered were very relevant to the needs of the classroom educational environment. I found the project requirements rewarding, in particular the digital story that capture many aspect of technology (digital images, sound, music and motion), stretching my composition imagination and the creation of my first YouTube video. The Inspiration concept mapping software was very useful too and I plan to incorporate it into my future educational projects. I also enjoyed working on the Non-Linear Microsoft PowerPoint project, I found it to be a good educational tool in the special education environment for visual learners and math lessons. Overall, I like the way all the technology projects became part of the digital portfolio site because it was a rewarding productive way to retain the content in everything I learned in MD 400 Educational Technology class.

Information Problem-Solving Skills

As I research and read about the process of the big6 model on how people solve information problems, I found it intriguing that although I've not used this format formerly, I used the process in my digital story, Shuttle Experience. The strategies incorporated in Big6, six stages, are outlined in a fashion that can be taught from a basic entry level grade and built upon over time because the concept remains the same just the level of technical implementation and or sophistication is increased based on the audience.

The big6 model for information problem-solving offers some very great opportunities for the classroom, because it enhances and expands on the basis of the students education’s reading and writing literary skills into formal information literary knowledge and proficiency research skills. The model incorporates and improves on several other important skill sets; collaboration, effective use of time, natural connection of content to process, peer and self-evaluation, process ownership, research techniques, technology usage and source legitimacy that are needed to in our educational environment today and the future.

Overall, the concept of the big six model incorporates the fundamentals of education with technology to understand how research into our information rich environment is conducted and solved that will give the learner more then just knowledge but wisdom in how to use it effectively. I anticipate utilizing the information Big6 process model tool, sooner rather than later once in the classroom and in my future education.

Information Digital Warehouse of Connecticut

The iCONN site idea, as initiated by then lieutenant governor Jodi Rell, that would enhance and provide information access to a level technology playing field for the school districts throughout the state of Connecticut is excellent. The current site provides a wide range of educational technology and databases that can be applied from pre-school, K-12 and onward. The site incorporates every aspect of education that I inquired about from literacy in second grade to science in 10th grade and technology in the classroom with NASA. The web links to other educational and technological sites provided an expanded unlimited avenue of opportunities to the educator, students, parents, administrators and the general public. I was intrigued by the way iCONN integrated state libraries and municipalities, including the ability of downloading audiobooks.

The one aspect that concerned me was the cost of such technology throughout the state. What I found was the amount of cost savings, estimated $44.6 million 2010, will continue to be incurred by having a statewide licensing purchasing model that can be utilized by each city and school, was also excellent.

The overall idea “equity of information access” for all is bold and appropriate for our statewide community and research abilities. My limited personal observation of schools located with a high population of minorities or non-English speaking students, is that the technology equipment is either older and or is limited in its functioning capacity and availability. That being said, personnel resources to educate students in technology are likewise limited within communities and schools cited, which is a drawback in learning for the student but has great potential opportunities for the educator.

Two web sites explored: Internet4classrooms.com and teaming up with Verizon (corporate partner), Thinkfinity.org & Readwritethink.org.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Digital Story: NASA Shuttle Launch Experience

Check out my journey to the Kennedy Space Center. This story brought back some wonderful memories and reminded me how technology and education have achieved that which seemed impossible.

SOAP in a child point of view

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Unique display of Technology comparison & changes over the last 20 years, that ask the interesting questions.