BP2_Schoology

Schoology: I am awaiting confirmation or verification, so I am not able to use the Trial Run course. However, in the limited options I do have, I will start using this right away. Currently we are using WebCT which is also a CMS, I believe. There are a lot of bugs and it is cumbersome and daunting. Some students can't get on, some can't upload, and it is just terrible. With this, I see a lot of possibilities. I can't wait to further explore.

Busuu: This site looks amazing. I will be able to start using this as well as a couple other sites to help my students learn. This site reminds me of a very popular and very expensive program that is rather static and linear. This appears to be customizable. 

When I originally started this process, I was under the impression that I needed to create some of these games/websites myself. I know that is pretty "high and mighty" of me to think that no one else thought of this before me. However it is a GREAT relief to know that there are others out there that think like I do. That there are a plethora of unique and amazing Web 2.0 tools that I can incorporate into my classroom. What a time saver!!!

A previous teacher colleague of mine stated that the biggest "rip-off teachers" are the foreign language teachers. I like to think of us not as "rip-offs" or "thieves" but as highly skilled researchers! With these tools we...I...will be able to engage and motivate my 2nd language learners. 

BP1_Welcome to my thoughts

Well it is the beginning of Month 4 of my journey to integration.

I found a great website already. http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/mattarnetoj/502/conceptmap.html I'll have to check it out more, but it looks interesting at a quick glance.

Do you think that a charter school with only games (i.e. hands on equipment, video games, board games, etc) as the curriculum would be a viable opportunity for students? What would be some of the drawbacks to this type of system? Would this type of school be able to produce well-educated students?

What does it mean to be well-educated? Is there some room in that definition for creativity? Is it possible to have a well-educate student who can not pass a standardized test? Likewise, it is possible to have a proficient student who is not well-educated?

Do games have a legitimate place in education? Do games help with student understanding and learning? Are these latter two things mutually exclusive? Or are they symbiotic?

Mutually exclusive like each lense on a pair of eyeglasses.



My hopes for this CBR journey is to figure out how my ideal World of Warcraft environment can have a place in a rigorous educational setting. Are there other Web 2.0 tools out there that can help create a learning environment like WoW where social learning can take place on a personalized level. Education without borders. Education completely individualized. Isn't that really what NCLB is all about?

Hmmm I really want to get on that soap box next, but ya'll will have to wait for another session of "Thoughts".

The conundrum of the day.