Internet Use in Belgium and Portugal

In Belgium a class of 5 and 6 year olds were partnering with a class of 5 and 6 year olds in Portugal on safer Internet practices. The article was titled "Holding Our Hands." Here they exchanged ideas and took turns adding different things to the site. They came up with a motto that let us know that they were trying in every way to create interesting things for the students to experience on the computer. They feel this will deter them from the other unsafe sites. They sang songs both countries knew in their own languages and posted them for the others to hear. This was a part of the Safe Internet Day observed in 2007.

http://blog.erun.org/SID2007/crossing_borders_sid_2007_competition/power

Internet Use in Great Britain

In Great Britain, Jo Bertrand tells of how things have changed in the teaching world since more schools have started to use the Internet. There was only one computer and it was shared by more than one classroom. Now there may be more than one computer in every classroom. Teachers are now learning things about the computers from students as well as teaching them. Bertrand says that using the computer is better than just using the chalkboard doing the same old things all the time. Jo Bertrand also gives the name of different books and sources to use in the class and on the computer to better help you.

http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistant-primary-summerholiday.htm

On Dr. Pausch's Last Lecture

Mr. Pausch said to play the cards you were dealt. This I think is very important in every students' life. There should never be a time when a students says that they can not do something. There is always a way to overcome every thing that may be called an obstacle or a "brick wall."
I love how he implemented football in his everyday life. Even though he was not able to play in the NFL, he used the football when he was in deep thought about something or trying to figure something out. This should show any student to take what they love the best and use it as an outlet or a way to figure out some tough situations.
He also talked about never giving up on your dreams. I think the example on the job application to Disney was a great one. Even though he did not get the job he wanted when he wanted it, he still ended up getting it later in life. That was another "brick wall that helped show dedication."
I also loved when he said,"the best thing an educator can do is to have someone become self reflective." If a teacher can not help a person to look at themselves and see what they need to do to make themselves better, they are definitely in the wrong profession.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5700431505846055184

Computer use in Classroom

This was from "Virtual Lab" of the Gazette by P.R. Guruprasad. He talks about how children have fallen in love with the computer. So it's good that our systems have incorporated it into the curriculum. This article spoke about science labs. It mentioned how some schools were not able to have a science lab. The one that had them may not have had adequate materials needed to do any lab experiments. This is where the school uses the computer to simulate an actual lab experiment so that the students are able to experience this much needed lesson.

http://www.teachers.net/gazette/SEP08/guruprasad

Computer use in classrooms

This is from "Energy Transfer" by Dan Tenner a teacher in Seneca School in Queens, NY. The children used the computer to experiment with different elements such as water. The water was monitored for temperatures in different containers at different times. The experiment showed the water when it was hot (red) and the water when it was cold (blue). It even shows the cold water being poured into the hot water.
The children used spreadsheets to record the different temperatures and and times. They also used charts and graphs to do so. This was very helpful in bringing the experiment from the books all the way to the computers.

http://www.teachersnetwork.org/ntol

ALEX

ALEX is a program implemented into the school system in 2006. This program helps teachers with online teaching as well as in class. It was initially used mostly by Special Ed and English teachers. It was later adjusted to include Media specialists.
This program was allotted a little over 2 million dollars. There is a meeting every year to see what is needed to improve the program. I see that it is the same thing that you have us doing on our project that we started on this past Thursday.

http://alex.state.al.us

About ACCESS

I am not sure what you want me to talk about on this one. I did find out that Gov. Riley and some other officials worked really hard to get this implemented here in Alabama. We are the first state to have the program in all of our high schools. This program will enable students to be a part of the Advanced Placement program. It will also let them take classes that are not offered at their home school.
I honestly think it's a great idea and am a little jealous. I wish this had been available when I was in high school. It would have helped my classmates and myself tremendously.

http://accessdl.state.al.us/