Monday, April 18, 2011

La Quinceañera


This is the most important party offered to a fifteen year-old girl who is coming into maturity in most Latin American Countries. However, this video only shows part of the customs in Mexico as part of the Hispanic world.

Friday, December 17, 2010

My Tech-Reflection

It has been a very fruitful journey in which I started from scratch in the world of "online" education; even though I had studied Electronics but never employing so much technology as Doctor Watwood always asked us to do so. As a matter of fact at the very beginning I just did everything because I had to. But Know after experimenting all required tools for our posts. I am really enjoying what I am doing, and want to explore more. It was a very challenging course. Moreover, since Doctor Watwood asked me to pay more attention to my post time; I would say, I did not like it at first. However, after reflecting upon my performance, I made arrangements and I improved my time management and the quality of my posts as well.
Please listen to the following song and notice that I learned to never stop believing in myself and to take the risk of improving my learning styles at once.
Let me tell you. I worked hard as it is mentioned in the song message.



On the other hand, Cyberbullying research helped me understand technology use in a different way because it is a threat to ruin lives worldwide and instantly.



Learning about technology at schools was an adventure. Nevertheless, researching about "Audacity" has been one of the best experiences in this field. The reason: because it is what I could produce. Now, I am going to show you a video about how to use this tool.So, that we can incorporate it in the classroom. Please Notice that I do not want to repeat mine; Therefore, this one is a different one and hopefully it helps us understand its dimensions better.



Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I will continue learning and improving myself both as a teacher and as a high tech person. Thanks a bunch.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Peace Valley Elementary School -Tech Plan 2010-2013

Dear Doctor Watwood and colleagues,

Sashoi Hinds, Arlene Rose Wright and I worked diligently on the following Power Point Presentation with a clear goal, not only for our technology perception at schools in the U.S.A. but also with a wholesome intent of implementing and ameliorating the application of IT at schools worldwide. WE pursue an ideal of becoming skillful with the "Telecommunication" world through the Internet in the hands of Teachers, youngsters, and other members of the new global virtual community, immersed in advanced electronic devices, and their employment in the classroom as a great companion of the new learners.

Will we be able to apprehend and improve the technology plans in the field of education?
We do not know now. But, we have to keep seeking the best ways to educate our children.
Please enjoy this Technology Plan in a peaceful valley.
We want to thank you all for your invigorating comments.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Emerging Issues

Electronics has advanced way too much for better or worse. For instance the following IPhone can be used to communicate good ideas or to stalk someone due to the access to Google earth, address, documents to go on a test, regular classwork, or even the class you are at, television, videos or movies. Moreover, private information that can be downloaded while talking in the classroom in a simple atmosphere that is supposed to be conducive to learning, wholesome learning. However, you never know who is in the classroom attending your classes.


Therefore, we need to connect the classroom to the world. But to keep in mind the risks of doing it. So, it is at the same time very relevant to block sites because some students may not use these resources correctly or we may fall into encouraging youngsters in the world of Cyberbullying, slandering or misinforming ourselves,and others as well.


So my message is: Let's use as much technology as possible. Do not let negative minds hinder you of the wonderful world that awaits us. Let's become very interactive, motivating teachers who enjoy every class session we perform.
Look at the following video I found about: "Top ten tips for using technology in the classroom" Nevertheless, I am quite sure most of you have more and better techniques. And I am going to learn them as I visit your blog posts.
Have a great vacation folks.

Anyway, look at the following video, ask yourself as many questions as possible and post your conclusions. So I can learn more and become a better high tech teacher. Then I will feed you with my new experiences using all your comments. Thanks a bunch!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Whose Responsibility is it?

We all need to be responsible at school when performing any act. Moreover, when modeling conduct to students. One important component in our daily teaching life is the Internet. Who is responsible for its use?
Every School does have its own policies. As a matter of fact Charles B. Aycock in Wayne County does have its policies that are in harmony with the States requirements. Central Office controls these requirements and policies.In addition to this, at Charles B. Aycock, we ask every parent and student to sign a contract to perform excellent behavior when using the Internet at school. Teachers are required to do so. Please take a look at this video that presents some vital information about responsibility. But in the end the one who has the most responsibility when using the Internet in the classroom, computer lab or library, specially with the students, is the teacher.



On the other hand, we need to ask ourselves if using the Internet at school is safe, keeping in mind that the responsibility is ours because kids are always kids, beings who are being educated now. The adult one is the teacher and we will be expected to act accordingly in order to keep our positions at schools. Therefore, we need to be very careful what to research and where because our school has to be clean at all times. Immaculate! So, teachers are the ones that can be changed, not the school. It is the "Institution" and it has to prevail

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Teacher Development Courses and the Internet in the Classroom

Central Office team at Wayne County Public Schools is always trying to create new courses for teachers in order to help us learn more about technology in the classroom. Hence, we may take as many courses as soon as  they are published on the Central Office Website. So, The first question is:
What is instructional Technology?
Then we are encouraged to take as many courses as possible either at the Technology Instruction Center or at School where a 10 or 30-hour course is offered periodically. In addition to these courses, we have to take technology courses at our school Media Center twice a month. Therefore, The following information is taken from Wayne County Website to show the process to get engaged in technology education that is going to be useful in the classroom in the long run.

" What is Instructional Technology?
Instructional technology is the use of technology to solve educational challenges, both in the classroom and in the distance learning environment.  The purpose of instructional technology is the promotion of learning through tools, environments and skills that can enhance the classroom curriculum.  Technology plays an essential role in the 21st Century goals and objectives of the state curriculum as seen in the graphic below.


21st Century Skills

There is also a link on the left that is called:
In this link we find information about requirements for staff to  obtain credits in technology. Therefore, we are encouraged to visit:
  and register in every course we want or need according to our school division. The following information is about the renewal credits and the link to see the calendar and select the corresponding courses as follows:

"Wayne County Public Schools still requires that all certified staff complete 30 contact hours or 3.0 technology renewal credits.  Technology P
ofessional Development courses have to be led by a qualified instructor, who has obtained prior approval on the course, and must consist of one of the following to count towards renewal credits:
  • Hands-on learning of technology tools (hardware or software) such as Microsoft Office, Scholastic Keys, Internet research or other types of software based products that can be integrated into the classroom curriculum or used for administration purposes.  Also included would be scanners, digital cameras, camcorders, GPS systems, probeware and other technology based hardware.
  • Courses that focus on the integration of technology tools into the core curriculum in order to enhance student learning and encourage use of 21st century skills.
  • Anything not described in the first two instances must have prior approval for technology renewal credits before taking the course."
All courses offered by Wayne County Public Schools are based on standards, goals and objectives set forth in ISTE's NETS for Teachers and NETS for Administrators.

So, we can also see a calendar in which we register for the courses we are eager to take and the confirmation comes via e-mail. After taking every course, we are expected to use more technology in the classroom. Nevertheless, there are many "restrictions" in order to keep a safe syberspace at school. We cannot access any social network and most web pages have a denied access.
However, If we want to use any specific page for teaching purposes, we must apply a form in which explanation about teaching purposes are given and supported.
I do not know any teacher who has obtained a permission to use any of the block pages.
At the moment, all possible pages are under "The Media Center" link. 
Google is permitted and Google Docs as well because that is the one we are using at school. Students are using Google docs at school and home. Now they are able to send homework at a convenient time. 
We research on the web, and create presentations using computers in the library, or in the classroom with a mobile laptop unit. All thumb drives are scanned before we use them at any school computer. The only inconvenience is that we cannot show any posts from any social network for safety reasons. So, look at a video about Google docs, a course I already took at the County Technology Center of Instruction.


Now I am using it at school and every student as well. This is a new way to use the Internet in the classroom without problems with the risks of the most common social networks.






Friday, November 19, 2010

Horizon Report

Horizon Report means Semantic Web, challenges, global audiences, and technologies to watch. Therefore,  the following presentation will help us appreciate challenges that are before us.
Horizion Report
View more presentations from Edward Sargent.
On the other hand the following issues will help us understand some relevant aspects about the Horizon Report: 2010, 2009, 2008.

2010
Critical Challenge
The way students are prepared for their future lives is changing. For instance emerging technologies must be used by students to gain experience in research, problem-solving learning, and creative work with mental flexibility.

Technologies to Watch
There are six technologies in each Horizon Report
1. On the near-term horizon
2. Mid-term horizon
3. Mobile computing
4. Simple augmented reality
5. On the far-term horizon
6. Gesture-based computing
Horizon Project
Emerging technologies are to higher education. Therefore, A wide range of articles,  are published and unpublished on small- to medium-sized businesses. Sometimes on the web sites as well.

Relevance for Teaching, Learning, or Creative Inquiry 
Mobile devices and the Internet are great materials in communication and learning experience through:
a) voice
b) text
c) multimedia
All this takes place in real time and data analysis is held more effectively around University campus.

The most relevant aspects of 2009 Report
  • Semantic-Aware Applications.
  • Smart Objects
  • Cloud Computing
  • Geo-Everything
  • The Personal Web
Critical Challenges:
Information literacy, visual literacy, and technological literacy. The skills involved in writing and research have
changed from those required even a few years ago. Students need to be technologically adept, to be able to collaborate with peers all over the world, to understand basic content and media design, and to understand the relationship between apparent function and underlying code in the applications they use daily.
Horizon Report:
"The project uses qualitative research methods to identify the technologies selected for inclusion in each
annual report, beginning with a survey of the work of other organizations and a review of the literature with
an eye to spotting interesting emerging technologies." 2009 Horizon Report 

The most important aspects of 2008 Report
  • Two technologies placed on the first adoption horizon in this edition, grassroots video and collaboration webs.

Critical Challenges: 
This challenge has evolved over the past year and is a crucial one for teaching and learning. As the gap grows
between new scholarship and old, leadership and innovation are needed at all levels of the academy.
Grassroots Video. Virtually anyone can capture, edit, and share short video clips, using inexpensive equipment (such as a cell phone) and free or nearly free software.

Horizon Project
"The project uses qualitative research methods to identify the technologies selected for inclusion in
each annual report, beginning with a survey of the work of other organizations and a review of the
literature with an eye to spotting interesting emerging technologies. When the cycle starts, little is known,
or even can be known, about the appropriateness or efficacy of many of the emerging technologies for
these purposes, as the Horizon Project expressly focuses on technologies not currently in widespread
use in academe. In a typical year, 75 or more of these technologies may be identified for further
investigation; for the 2008 Report, more than 80 were considered." 2008 Horizon Report.
Grassroots Video. Virtually anyone can capture, edit, and share short video clips, using inexpensive equipment (such as a cell phone) and free or nearly free software.