Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Week 1: Exercise # 3...7 1/2 Habits

I have heard of the 7 1/2 habits of successful people before, so this wasn't new to me. However, getting a reminder is always a great thing. The habits that spoke most to me included teaching others (after all, isn't that everyone's goal no matter their profession!). I believe that the greatest thing you can do for someone else is to help them on their way and teaching others falls right into this category. I think using technology and having a toolbox that you are filling go hand-in-hand. After all, the majority of my new tools are technology-driven because this is what my students know and enjoy. In order to keep them moving in the right direction, I have to have their attention. The easiest way to do this is by using what they know--technology!

Any comments?

Thanks,
Laura

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Overall--Workforce Development

The end of Workforce Development has left me sad because the journey to get to the end was rich with so much information about what we should be doing to educate our children. I've discovered that a lot of the standardized testing that we do doesn't mean a thing to our students once we send them out into the real world. If this is the only form of assessment that you provide for your students, you are leaving them poorer beyond a shadow of a doubt. I hear how students aren't prepared when they start their first job, and even though I thought I had an idea why, this course really opened my eyes as to why so many of our young people fail at their first position or struggle immensely and believe they can't do it. I understand that it's often just easier to tell them how to do it or what to do, but doing that is giving them a large disadvantage because they aren't learning how to do it on their own. This is where change needs to happen...

Even though I honestly tried to be "outside of the box" with assessments before this class, taking this class has pushed me even more towards using performance-based assessments and learning more about what my students know and think. I've asked "What would you do?" and "What do you think?" and "Why?" more in the last eight weeks than I have since August. If anything, that shows that I agree with what I have learned.

I used many of the videos that were shown in class with my colleagues and even used two with my students. For me, this was the greatest resource that I could see transferring into my teaching. A lot of the articles were good; however, I struggle to use them in my class because of the technical language of some and others would be over my students' heads. I did use some researching time to find some articles that will fit into my reading classes without leaving my students stumped.

I have used webquests in my classes before; however, I really like the concept of the QuickQuest because it's designed for a lot shorter time in the classroom. In fact, I created a WebQuest during this course titled "Life After College." During that webquest, students had to figure out where they were going to college and what degree they were going to earn. After graduating, their job was to figure out how to live and if they could afford to live by figuring out rent, insurance, taxes, student loan payments, utilities, car payments, etc. I was surprised to see that many of my students thought they would start off with a job paying them $4,000-5,000 a month! Then I have surprised to learn about the number of students that didn't realize that they had more expenses than income and weren't concerned about it...Overall, I believe this webquest opened every person's eyes to what life is really like as an adult and as a student. If you want to learn more, go to the Life After College link in the section below and visit my webquest.

Timing for me was rolling along smoothly until we had a personal tragedy in my family that rocked us all back a little bit. Thankfully, I have been able to get back on track without losing too much time. I stayed the course so well because the resources and assignments held great value to me. I could always see the end product and understand why the process was going the way that it was. Thanks for that!

I wouldn't recommend any changes to this class at all, and I would recommend it highly to others: check out Workforce Development through the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Becky knows how to keep it moving!

Thanks!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Disability QuickQuest

Laura Meyer
DISABILITIES

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Your family has been offered a year-long stay at the vacation location of your dreams. The catch is that your family has to take care of the house and property where you will be living during that time and return it to the owner in the shape in which you found it. During that time, your family will have to find jobs, go to school, pay taxes, and work cooperatively with your neighbors. The landowner is willing to help resolve all of these issues for your guarantee that the property will be taken care of as the owner would.

Your parents see this as a wonderful opportunity to live in the city of your dreams while making money to pay off the remaining mortgage of your current home. This monetary situation is a big deal as you will be going to college in two years and can’t attend without some monetary assistance. Your parents see this as a win-win situation.

The problem is that your older brother has special needs and has his own life in your current city. You don’t think it’s acceptable to spend a year away from him; however, he doesn’t want to leave his home, his job, and his friends. He can’t stay in the city without your family.

How will you make this situation work for all members of your family? Research your new home to discover how to make this situation work. Remember to include how your dream location can assist your brother in finding a new job and new friends.

Thinking about the following questions will help you determine some of the important things you should be thinking about while researching your new home.

1. Where is your family moving? Provide at least five basic facts about your new home.

USA Cities: http://www.usacities.com/
Going to this site allows you to discover a multitude of information about individual US cities including homes, schools, jobs, etc.

Use the Disability Resources in the box below to answer the following questions and use the Comprehensive Systems website to help with some of the questions as well.

Comprehensive Systems: www.comp-systems.org/
Comprehensive Systems is one of the largest programs to help those with disabilities find a job, find transportation, housing, and make new friends.

2. Define your sibling’s disability.
3. Describe how the three symptoms of your sibling’s disability affect their life and the lives of those around them.
4.Give examples of how your sibling is/has been discriminated against in society.
5.Calculate how this disability will affect your sibling long term.
6.Demonstrate how disabilities can help and hurt a family.
7.Outline your sibling’s day and what you think the future holds.
8.Examine the struggles your sibling has with their disability and with your family’s expectations.
9.Appraise how society helps aid and hinder someone with disabilities.
10.Select and support a plan that would help make your sibling’s life easier.
11.Create a plan for a place of residence for your sibling.

Disability Resources



LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org
The site deals with learning disabilities and ADHD. It offers the basics on these disabilities as well as idea on how to help students with these issues while supporting the parents and educators of these students.

Learning Disabilities Association of America: www.ldanatl.org
This site includes information on all learning disabilities for those with learning disabilities, their family and friends, educators, and others.

DisabilityInfo.Gov: www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderld=500
This site has a lot of information for those with a disability including employment, education, technology, health, communication, etc.

AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities): www.aapd-dc.org
This site offers information and technical assistance concerning employment, leaderships, education, activities and events, and even a place to lodge complaints about others’ noncompliance.

NICHCY (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities): www.nichcy.org
This site is strictly for those dealing with education as it deals with disability information, IDEA (law that authorizes special education), No Child Left Behind, and research-based practices concerning effective practices.

Medline Plus (Disabilities): www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disabilities.html
www.nod.org
Disabilities affect one in every five people in the United States. This site provides numerous information about the various disabilities including nutrition information and the financial aspect of being disabled.

Homes & Communities U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: www.hud.gov/groups/disabilities.cfm
The Fair Housing rights that exists for all are listed here as well as decribing how this policy works for those that are disabled. Information is also provided about renting or buying homes or vehicles as well as home improvement issues.

Disability Resources on the Internet: www.disabilityresources.org
Disabilities at all ages are covered here as well as providing information for those afflicted at specific ages with these disabilities.

Disability Resource Center: www.access-disability-deaf.neu.edu
The site is created mostly for individuals suffering from various disabilities; however, information is provided for parents and educators. Support services are also provided here as well as rights for the disabled.

Childhood Learning Disabilities: www.learning-disabilities.org
The basics of disabilities are included here as well as how they are caused, identified, diagnosed, and the educational options for the different disabilities. A section is also provided about families and coping.

Learning Disabilities Unplugged: www.learning-disabilities-unplugged.com

National Center for Learning Disabilities: www.ncld.org
This site provides information for all grade levels plus parents and advocates for those with learning disabilities. The site includes several different available programs as well as scholarships and other informational sources that might be needed by those with disabilities or close to those with disabilities.

Other Resources
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
www.speld.org.nz
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/learningdisabilities/learningdisabilites.htm
www.LD.org
www.section508.gov
www.geocities.com/aneecp/distypes.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilities.htm
www.disabilityhelper.com
www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disable.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/default.htm
www.opm.gov/disability

When you have decided on your best case scenario for your family, please send an e-mail to mrs_lmeyer@hotmail.com explaining your choices and the reasoning behind those choices.

To see the Disabilities rubric, click <"http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&module=Rubistar&rubric_id=1559553&">here

QuickQuest

I have created webquests before, but I have to admit that I'm a fan after creating my first QuickQuest. I decided to create my quest about disabilities as my 7th graders were studying this concept. The quest will be used when students are finished reading their disabilities novel. Each novel addressed different disabilities; therefore, different family situation, problems, and solutions were addressed as well. The QuickQuest I created asked my students to put themselves in the shoes of a family member that has to relocate to a new city while making sure their disabled brother is taken care of as well. I expect the quest to push students to new ideas because the majority of my students have no experience with dealing with a disability in any way, shape, or form much less living with a disabled sibling. Check it out at http://web.mac.com/mrs_lmeyer/Mrs._Meyer__N-P/Disabilities.html.

Thanks!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Communication

Hi all,

Today, I'm going to spend a little bit of time talking about communication tools that I have used to provide information or share information with others.
Blogging: http://mrslmeyer.blogspot.com/
I will start with blogs as this is a tool that I use least; however, I can see the validity of blogging as long as the sources are valid. The Polish family history blog that mirrored the Holocaust that I evaluated was amazing. The author had spent a large amount of time and gathered so many resources in one place. The best part about a blog is that you can share information while providing the pros and cons in a conversational manner. Anyone that has an e-mail address (if you pick that option) can view and comment on your blog. In my opinion, this is a very valid use, and I hope to use blogging more personally and for class in the future.
Wikis: http://mrslmeyer.wikispaces.com/
Wikis are extremely valuable when the desire is there to share work between students. As long as students are saving, the information can't get lost or left at home. The administrator of the wiki can decide how to set the area up as well as create multiple pages under one topic. With the wiki, students have to be granted permission to access the page but can make their changes right at the computer on the Internet. I have used wikis for mini-reports so that students have to show me how they find, organize, and create information. So far, my wikis have been siimple and not used very much because of the lack of available computers at my location.
Rollyo: http://rollyo.com/index.html
Rollyo is a great source that I discovered several years ago. Rollyo is a personalized search engine that will only allow a user to look for a topic inside the sites provided. The reason I use Rollyo so much is because I have several students that aren't allowed to do Internet searches on their own--I have to provide the websites for them. Rollyo has saved me so much time, energy, and frustration because of how well it works.

I hope the above information is helpful to you if you are looking for tools to use while working with technology personally and professionally. Each of the above tools provides the opportunity for students to participate in their own learning as well.

Thanks,
Laura M.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Clusty and Rollyo

Laura Meyer
Module 6

When I started my search, I decided to start with Clusty because I had never even heard of it. I am impressed with the media aspect of this source. I marked it to come back to on future searches for information for my classes. I then continued on with Rollyo which is a personalized search engine that seems to be a well-kept secret. I use Rollyo with my students because it helps keep my students in a contained area where the resources have been checked already and are safe. Many schools are going to be policy where teachers have to provide the sites for students to go to, and Rollyo is the tool teachers need to provide this service to all without having to look up a new resource for the student.

I used http://clusty.com/ to find my sources.
I created my search engine at http://rollyo.com using the title Disabilities.
Terms: disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disability, disability help

I provided annotations for several sources below. Then, for the sake of time, I included other sources I included in my Rollyo but did not annotate every source.

Clusty provided the most accurate resources for me; however, I created the search engine in Rollyo to provide that guidance for my students. I plan on using these sources with a webquest for my students. Time provided the least amount of useful information for me because I wasn’t looking for specific situations or people. It’s a good source, but I needed to start off on a more general level.

LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org
The site deals with learning disabilities and ADHD. It offers the basics on these disabilities as well as idea on how to help students with these issues while supporting the parents and educators of these students.

Learning Disabilities Association of America: www.ldanatl.org
This site includes information on all learning disabilities for those with learning disabilities, their family and friends, educators, and others.

DisabilityInfo.Gov: www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderld=500
This site has a lot of information for those with a disability including employment, education, technology, health, communication, etc.

AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities): www.aapd-dc.org
This site offers information and technical assistance concerning employment, leaderships, education, activities and events, and even a place to lodge complaints about others’ noncompliance.

NICHCY (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities): www.nichcy.org
This site is strictly for those dealing with education as it deals with disability information, IDEA (law that authorizes special education), No Child Left Behind, and research-based practices concerning effective practices.

Medline Plus (Disabilities): www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disabilities.html
www.nod.org
Disabilities affect one in every five people in the United States. This site provides numerous information about the various disabilities including nutrition information and the financial aspect of being disabled.

Homes & Communities U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: www.hud.gov/groups/disabilities.cfm
The Fair Housing rights that exists for all are listed here as well as decribing how this policy works for those that are disabled. Information is also provided about renting or buying homes or vehicles as well as home improvement issues.

Disability Resources on the Internet: www.disabilityresources.org
Disabilities at all ages are covered here as well as providing information for those afflicted at specific ages with these disabilities.

Disability Resource Center: www.access-disability-deaf.neu.edu
The site is created mostly for individuals suffering from various disabilities; however, information is provided for parents and educators. Support services are also provided here as well as rights for the disabled.

Childhood Learning Disabilities: www.learning-disabilities.org
The basics of disabilities are included here as well as how they are caused, identified, diagnosed, and the educational options for the different disabilities. A section is also provided about families and coping.

Learning Disabilities Unplugged: www.learning-disabilities-unplugged.com

National Center for Learning Disabilities: www.ncld.org
This site provides information for all grade levels plus parents and advocates for those with learning disabilities. The site includes several different available programs as well as scholarships and other informational sources that might be needed by those with disabilities or close to those with disabilities.

www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
www.speld.org.nz
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/learningdisabilities/learningdisabilites.htm
www.LD.org
www.section508.gov
www.geocities.com/aneecp/distypes.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilities.htm
www.disabilityhelper.com
www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disable.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/default.htm
www.opm.gov/disability

Monday, March 10, 2008

Bloom's Taxonomy and the Big 6 TM

I have used Bloom’s Taxonomy for several years whereas the Big 6TM is a fairly new concept for me. The main relationship I see between Bloom’s Taxonomy and the Big6TM is the upward movement of the questioning that is used. The student starts on an upward spiral that doesn’t stop until they reach the top level of their thinking. This, to me, is what has always been the best part about Bloom’s and now the Big 6TM as well. Bloom’s and the Big6TM are used as organizers; however, this is why they are so valuable. The majority of teachers know the types of questions to ask to get students thinking more; however, it can be hard to go from A to D without some assistance. Both of these models provide the assistance that educators have been looking for. The Big 6TM provides the organizer that I need to make sure my lessons provide every step of the way while Bloom’s Taxonomy provide the language that my students need every step of the way.