Last class!!

(I wrote this several days ago, but my internet access hasn't been working, so I'm just posting now)

Well, its over. I keep saying it, but I really can't believe how fast the time went. Overall, I really enjoyed the class. While I already have some of the skills that were covered in the class, like PowerPoint and Excel, I come away with new tools and techniques that will enhance both my teaching and my student's learning experience. First of all, I will definitely make a website for each class. I had learned html years ago and had a personal webpage, but for lack of practice, I mostly forgot it. Now I've learned about web-page editors (is that what they're called?) like Netscape Composer. I'll be able to easily create websites that will allow me to effectively communicate with my students and their parents. I'll also include a Hotlist on each webpage for students that either need help with the material or want to learn more about a topic. Next year, one of my new classes will be to serve as a mentor for projects students completing research projects and entering the Intel and other competetions. Part of my role is assisting, editing and offering advice on the extensive writng that these students must do. This brings me to the second way that I will use technology in my teaching. I will use the "track changes" tool in Word. This will keep everything organized and allow me to focus on my students' work. I've been trying to come up with a way to incorporate "blogging" into my classes, and I keep coming back to my original idea: my AP Biology students don't have time to get together for study groups especially since Bronx Science students come from all over the 5 boroughs. I want to make an online study blog- almost like message boards- where students can help each other with academic questions. Most of my classes have little time in the calendar for projects like CultureQuest and WebQuests. However, at the beginning of the year last year, I did have my regents biology students complete group projects and presentations about different environmental issues. The WebQuest that I created for this class, with a little refinement, could replace that project and I am definitely considering it for next year. Next year another new class that I will be teaching is Genetics. This is going to be MY class- no set curriculum and no big standardized test at the end. This is going to give me the flexibility that I don't have in my other classes. I think that I will end up using all of the techniques I learned in ESC 529- especially digital stories since the students that enroll in this class tend to be the "arty" type. Finally, although I have already had students use PowerPoint for presentations in my AP Biology class and I plan to use this techniques in all of my classes. The most important skill in science is being able to effectively communicate scientific findings. It doesn't matter if the most amazing research has been performed if no one knows about it. PowerPoint is the tool that REAL scientists use for both formal and informal talks. I will use PowerPoint in AP Biology as I did last year- for student presentations after the AP Exam, I will use it in Genetics for students to present their group projects (I am planning on assigning several), and I will use it in Regents Biology for individual "extra-credit" assignments on material that I do not cover in class and usually have students learn at home on their own.

Lastly, I'd like to say how much I've enjoyed my classmates. I've learned so much from all of you especially all of you sensitive English teachers. My best to everyone.

Allison

Almost done

I can't believe that the course is almost over. I also hope that I can remember everything for September. Today I walked around the room a bit to see what everyone else was doing for their CultureQuests and Digital stories and I was very impressed. Everyone is very creative and I look forward to next week to see everyone else's work.

Poetry and Drawing

Tonight we wrote poetry and painted- not something one might expect in a technology class. I was very impressed by everyone's poems- there are some very talented people in this class!
Here's my poem:
Bunny Bunny
Your black eyes stare
Your whiskers twitch
Bunny Bunny
I bet your fur is soft and warm
If I were you, I’d hop away

AS for class, I'm not happy with my CultureQuest--- okay, we're being ordered to leave!

I am feeling a little bit better about the class and the work load seems a bit more manageable. I’m very glad that we were able to work on some of our work tonight. I keep typing word and erasing them. I don't know what to write tonight, so I guess I'll keep it really short and go home to my daughter.

My first Web Page

Well, actually it's my third. I did one for an internet course that I took about 10 years ago and another for my research group's homepage on the company intranet, also about 10 years ago. I used html and I've forgotten all of it since then. Creating a page with composer was really easy and useful- my AP has "encouraged" all of the teachers in the department to create web-sites for our courses. This is now something that I can easily do.

Halfway done

This class is moving at the speed of light. I can't believe that it's halfway over already. I'm learning about so many different resources to use in my classroom and I hope that I'll be able to remember them for next year. I'm almost wishing that the teaching year hadn't ended already so that I could incorporate some into my lessons.

Session 4

My overwhelming feeling right now is exhaustion. This class is so long after a full day of work. I am also feeling a little sad because I miss my daughter. I usually spend every afternoon with her and even though her daddy is with her, I think that it’s throwing my entire family off.
As for the class… I realized tonight that it’s been about 10 years since I was in a learning situation with people outside of the field of science. It’s interesting to hear the way people in the humanities and social sciences think. My undergraduate background is anthropology and I used to be very good at approaching problems in a non-clinical way. I think that I’ve lost some of those skills and I hope that I may regain them a little through my interactions with my classmates.

Overwhelmed

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. This class is a lot of work and I'm a little worried about completing it all and fulfilling my obligations at work and to my family.
I've chosen a topic for my digital story and for the power point presentation for next session, but I still haven't thought of a topic for my webquest. This is the project that I am most worried about because I anticipate it occupying more time than I can devote to it. I am a perfectionist by nature and I am not sure if I can create a webquest that I'll be satisfied with.