Just some fun miscellaneous info for anyone interested in Pirates!
sitting
11 years ago
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Introducing SAVING A FILE
Hi there... follow the link below to help you learn about SAVING files in WORD.
Hope you enjoy!
http://screencast.com/t/YAUVSRMjj
Hope you enjoy!
http://screencast.com/t/YAUVSRMjj
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Halloween Whodunit Mystery
Have fun watching this strange woman tell a Halloween story!! on a YouTube Video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5s4y9Q83TU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5s4y9Q83TU
Monday, October 19, 2009
FYI... 2 years
Have just realized I've been in Prescott - 2 yrs today. Kinda neat to look back and see all that I've accomplished in that time. Makes one very grateful! I find it intriguing to see "what changes" develop over a period of time. Hey, look at me I"m blogging!! Never thought I'd see that!
Doing it FOR FUN!
Hey, came across this URL and it is really neat. Just goes to show how people will change their behavior if they can be happy about it. Makes one think more about how to do things with humor...!
This is an interesting study...! I'm all for Fun anyway!
Take 2mins to watch these videos by Volkswagen, espousing the value of fun in influencing user behaviour: http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/en/ (Go on, it’ll be fun.)
This is an interesting study...! I'm all for Fun anyway!
Take 2mins to watch these videos by Volkswagen, espousing the value of fun in influencing user behaviour: http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/en/ (Go on, it’ll be fun.)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Looking at a Social Network Site
I chose to look at LunarStorm… it turns out it’s a Swedish site. There is not a lot of info on it in Wikipedia … (it’s only a “stub*see below) although they do define it as “a commercial, advertisement financed Swedish social networking website for teenagers” and it says it is operated by a company called LunarWorks.
Supposedly the website has 1.2 million members (another source said only 26,000) and the demographics say that 70% of them are in the 12-17 age bracket. Although other information suggests that they are targeting their advertisements towards young adults (up to 24 or so) and older teenagers.
This site apparently was started around 1996 and was then called Style Place (StajlPlejs in Swedish). It reopened / relaunched in January 1, 2000 with the official name of Lunarstorm.
Although some information says it’s one of the top 50,000 sites in the world (Alexa), there are also articles that say there were such a high number of user complaints, that it was actually closed down in both Denmark and Britain around July 2007.
I found an interesting article entitled “Typology of On Line Communities” http://www.learnloop.org/olc/typologyOLC.pdf and it defines Lunarstorm as having been “designed for people to make new friends or stay in contact with each other”. From what else I can gather it also was designed to SELL products to the users!
So it sounds like the kids like it… some of the reviews mentioned it having “hot girls” on it, but the complaints and shutdowns may belay that it is really a place you would want your children going to.
Then, I also found an interesting site where a researcher (AnnBritt Enochson)(great quick video clip) had studied entries in Lunarstorm’s “guest book” (the major way entries are made) and she followed 15 children in a small village and her findings / conclusions were very interesting. Mainly that this was a VERY important social connection and development factor for them – even more so than personal time in school as they now didn’t even meet as often after school. She stated that 80% of Swedish teenagers / children were members of this site! So the social interaction must be what’s making it so popular.
Site URL: http://www.seminar.net/current-issue/tweens-on-the-internet-communication-in-virtual-guest-books
The article did mention that there were some other global & national communities (unnamed) competing with LunarStore (in 2007) but LunarStorm seemed to be leaving the biggest mark. It sounds like Facebook or MySpace would most likely be one its biggest competitors except that with Lunarstorm being set up for Swedish children I imagine that only the English speakers gravitate towards the others, with the majority staying with Lunarstorm. I bet they may even have accounts at both.
No I wouldn’t use this myself, now… as I’m nowhere NEAR the demographics… but I’d also be sure to have it checked out a bit further if any of my children wanted to use it. I’m not sure I would have used it even if I were younger as like face to face meetings. However, I have had a German “pen pal” for over 40yrs and I can imagine that if this had been available when we started it would have been a lot of fun.
*STUB: An article marked as such, is too short to provide more than rudimentary information about a subject .
Supposedly the website has 1.2 million members (another source said only 26,000) and the demographics say that 70% of them are in the 12-17 age bracket. Although other information suggests that they are targeting their advertisements towards young adults (up to 24 or so) and older teenagers.
This site apparently was started around 1996 and was then called Style Place (StajlPlejs in Swedish). It reopened / relaunched in January 1, 2000 with the official name of Lunarstorm.
Although some information says it’s one of the top 50,000 sites in the world (Alexa), there are also articles that say there were such a high number of user complaints, that it was actually closed down in both Denmark and Britain around July 2007.
I found an interesting article entitled “Typology of On Line Communities” http://www.learnloop.org/olc/typologyOLC.pdf and it defines Lunarstorm as having been “designed for people to make new friends or stay in contact with each other”. From what else I can gather it also was designed to SELL products to the users!
So it sounds like the kids like it… some of the reviews mentioned it having “hot girls” on it, but the complaints and shutdowns may belay that it is really a place you would want your children going to.
Then, I also found an interesting site where a researcher (AnnBritt Enochson)(great quick video clip) had studied entries in Lunarstorm’s “guest book” (the major way entries are made) and she followed 15 children in a small village and her findings / conclusions were very interesting. Mainly that this was a VERY important social connection and development factor for them – even more so than personal time in school as they now didn’t even meet as often after school. She stated that 80% of Swedish teenagers / children were members of this site! So the social interaction must be what’s making it so popular.
Site URL: http://www.seminar.net/current-issue/tweens-on-the-internet-communication-in-virtual-guest-books
The article did mention that there were some other global & national communities (unnamed) competing with LunarStore (in 2007) but LunarStorm seemed to be leaving the biggest mark. It sounds like Facebook or MySpace would most likely be one its biggest competitors except that with Lunarstorm being set up for Swedish children I imagine that only the English speakers gravitate towards the others, with the majority staying with Lunarstorm. I bet they may even have accounts at both.
No I wouldn’t use this myself, now… as I’m nowhere NEAR the demographics… but I’d also be sure to have it checked out a bit further if any of my children wanted to use it. I’m not sure I would have used it even if I were younger as like face to face meetings. However, I have had a German “pen pal” for over 40yrs and I can imagine that if this had been available when we started it would have been a lot of fun.
*STUB: An article marked as such, is too short to provide more than rudimentary information about a subject .
Friday, October 9, 2009
RE: Steve Hargadon
I liked his point made about how one doesn’t know what social networking sites will work at the time of creation. He mentioned that he had created one that he was sure would work - but it didn’t. We all have such good ideas sometimes, but… when they don’t end up fulfilling our dream they can become more of a stone around our necks if we don’t see that the failure is ok. His mentioning of Shirkey’s comment “failure is free” was really great. I think in today’s world where we are constantly bombarded with the “must do”, must achieve” attitude, that it’s good to be reminded that failure is ok AND sometimes necessary in order to move on. His comment about having to be “willing to move on or morph” is most likely one of the major characteristics that I see is a must in an educator in any subject area. Information in all arenas is constantly being updated, changing so quickly and the “truth” changes with it… we have to be willing to follow along, or lead into the next “truth”.
As for his point about the network needing to fulfill some compelling need – it again seems to cover all bases… No single person can figure out what everyone else’s needs are… sometimes they don’t know what it is either… until “something” clicks… apparently with the wide variety and potentials that these Social Networks have created they seem to fill a void that perhaps has always been there, but just never recognized by the contributors before.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Wiki Creation
Whew, not sure just what I did, but think it worked.. Except for that big black spot that kept appearing in my screen. It seemed to stay on each page. Must figure that one out. Did enjoy doing it and can really see the benefit. Especially since I had to race around trying to find some of the files. It would be great to have them all in one place. I have 3 business emails and 2 computers!
I am already thinking how I can incorporate this into some of my classes. Since most of my students are computer illiterate to begin with, perhaps if not to have the students use it right away, but to make them aware of it for later classes would be great. I think to have them see that they can add to something on the web will give them an interesting sense of contribution. My students are usually older and have an amazing amount of knowledge they could contribute.
I am already thinking how I can incorporate this into some of my classes. Since most of my students are computer illiterate to begin with, perhaps if not to have the students use it right away, but to make them aware of it for later classes would be great. I think to have them see that they can add to something on the web will give them an interesting sense of contribution. My students are usually older and have an amazing amount of knowledge they could contribute.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Teaching Models
The Instructional Design Models I chose to look at were - Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Cognitive Apprenticeship.
1) Similarities: Both tend to look at problems and give the student a method or path to find a realistic solution, with the teachers being more facilitators and mentors once the general information has been given.
2) Differences: Cognitive Apprenticeship seems to quite often have the lessons set in a sequential order, to give a student practice applying learned techniques or methods, increasing the complexity of the tasks slowly, while PBL is set up to have the students think through realistic problems presented to them and come up with their own solutions after having been given the basic information they will need to solve the problems.
3) My adult audience has multiple backgrounds and needs and it usually runs the gamut from adults wanting to learn the very basic computer skills to those with already basic skills or higher skill levels. There seems to be no major demographic as it can range from retired persons to the staff of an operation business. Motivations range from wanting to just learn e-mail skills to keep in touch with the grandkids to needing to learn skills to find or keep a job. I generally need to find out WHAT the student already knows and proceed from there adjusting the presentation to encompass the least skilled to the highest if all in one class.
I have used both teaching models and have found it important to not only how something works but WHY, so they can then apply that information when they have to think through a newly encountered problem or situation.
1) Similarities: Both tend to look at problems and give the student a method or path to find a realistic solution, with the teachers being more facilitators and mentors once the general information has been given.
2) Differences: Cognitive Apprenticeship seems to quite often have the lessons set in a sequential order, to give a student practice applying learned techniques or methods, increasing the complexity of the tasks slowly, while PBL is set up to have the students think through realistic problems presented to them and come up with their own solutions after having been given the basic information they will need to solve the problems.
3) My adult audience has multiple backgrounds and needs and it usually runs the gamut from adults wanting to learn the very basic computer skills to those with already basic skills or higher skill levels. There seems to be no major demographic as it can range from retired persons to the staff of an operation business. Motivations range from wanting to just learn e-mail skills to keep in touch with the grandkids to needing to learn skills to find or keep a job. I generally need to find out WHAT the student already knows and proceed from there adjusting the presentation to encompass the least skilled to the highest if all in one class.
I have used both teaching models and have found it important to not only how something works but WHY, so they can then apply that information when they have to think through a newly encountered problem or situation.
Comments on Will Richardson's Blog
I found his take on things very interesting and thought provoking while being intrigued at how clearly he stated what he saw as the problems.
I definitely agree with him on “The Acceptable Use Policy” scenario. I loved the way he phrased the Do Use list at the end. It is such an excellent example of how the positive side IS there, but for some reason in today’s world we are having to continually remind people to “look for the good” in things. I wonder if the psychologists have actually found the “scientific reason” as to why, as a human race we tend to always see the darkness first? Perhaps it is just a cultural, or education factor and if so I think we are slowly changing both with the advancement of all the “new age” thinking that now so much more prevalent than before. Let’s hope it bleeds into the formal educational systems! I think once the Web is less daunting to people, their views and attitudes will change so they can look more easily past the “troubles” that are now seen too quickly.
His take comments on how the Obama Speech could be used as a valuable learning tool, no matter what it actually said was really well stated. The comment about schools role narrowing is so true while being so sad. My sons were exposed to the educational system in New Zealand ( a socialist democracy) and while there were som good aspects, I found the lack of creativity in the curriculum and presentations very frustrating. The whole effort in their higher levels seemed to NOT be geared towards helping prepare them for the world by examining and discussing what they would encounter there but were continually focused on having them pass the government designed tests (which the teachers were NOT allowed to make) to determine their abilities and aptitude to enter college.
I definitely agree with him on “The Acceptable Use Policy” scenario. I loved the way he phrased the Do Use list at the end. It is such an excellent example of how the positive side IS there, but for some reason in today’s world we are having to continually remind people to “look for the good” in things. I wonder if the psychologists have actually found the “scientific reason” as to why, as a human race we tend to always see the darkness first? Perhaps it is just a cultural, or education factor and if so I think we are slowly changing both with the advancement of all the “new age” thinking that now so much more prevalent than before. Let’s hope it bleeds into the formal educational systems! I think once the Web is less daunting to people, their views and attitudes will change so they can look more easily past the “troubles” that are now seen too quickly.
His take comments on how the Obama Speech could be used as a valuable learning tool, no matter what it actually said was really well stated. The comment about schools role narrowing is so true while being so sad. My sons were exposed to the educational system in New Zealand ( a socialist democracy) and while there were som good aspects, I found the lack of creativity in the curriculum and presentations very frustrating. The whole effort in their higher levels seemed to NOT be geared towards helping prepare them for the world by examining and discussing what they would encounter there but were continually focused on having them pass the government designed tests (which the teachers were NOT allowed to make) to determine their abilities and aptitude to enter college.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Teaching Philosophy
My Teaching Philosophy
For me, Enthusiasm, Flexibility and Change, have come to be the cornerstones of my teaching philosophy. Not sure I have them all down pat yet, but as with most things it’s an evolving process.
I believe that one’s philosophy, whether it be for teaching - or for life, has to involve a good portion of these essential elements. Especially in today’s world it is even more evident that the “essentials” of the information we learn today, may not be the “correct” information of tomorrow. Therefore an educator has to be flexible and open to changes and adjust their curriculum and presentation accordingly. Guess that’s why I’m taking this class!
Of course this is coming from someone who’s lived and worked in over 40 locations so far, and I’m still eager to add to that number. I love finding out how and why people learn and do things the way they do!
I’ve had the great delight in teaching the gamut of students from Kindergarten, thru to college students and adults and while they may have a number of learning traits in common quite often it is their differences that stand out and to which I have tried to respond to as a teacher or facilitator.
I remember reading somewhere, that someone said that education would one day evolve into more of being able to find the WHERE of the information, rather than the actual accumulation of the information. That always intrigued me. With today’s ever changing technology advances it looks like we are headed there and yet … helping the student to learn the skills to then “deal with “ the information once they find it. That’s where we come in!
Therefore, I also enjoy the challenge of fostering the critical thinking skills needed to use the information presented to the student while helping the student find that “one thing” that is ultimately important to them, that helps the “light bulb” moment happen. The finding process, the readjusting of what I do and how I do it for each class, especially when the social dynamics of the classes change, is learning process for me also.
Having a student actually “enjoy” the learning process I think is for most of us one of the most satisfying aspects of teaching. Quite often for them to do this, the teacher has to somehow show their own enthusiasm for the subject while also providing the students with the tools they will need to learn more on their own when a teacher isn’t around. I wish I had found Karl Menninger’s quote years ago – he said, “What the teacher is, is more important that what he
teaches.” I think I would have been less rigid in my early days.
For me, Enthusiasm, Flexibility and Change, have come to be the cornerstones of my teaching philosophy. Not sure I have them all down pat yet, but as with most things it’s an evolving process.
I believe that one’s philosophy, whether it be for teaching - or for life, has to involve a good portion of these essential elements. Especially in today’s world it is even more evident that the “essentials” of the information we learn today, may not be the “correct” information of tomorrow. Therefore an educator has to be flexible and open to changes and adjust their curriculum and presentation accordingly. Guess that’s why I’m taking this class!
Of course this is coming from someone who’s lived and worked in over 40 locations so far, and I’m still eager to add to that number. I love finding out how and why people learn and do things the way they do!
I’ve had the great delight in teaching the gamut of students from Kindergarten, thru to college students and adults and while they may have a number of learning traits in common quite often it is their differences that stand out and to which I have tried to respond to as a teacher or facilitator.
I remember reading somewhere, that someone said that education would one day evolve into more of being able to find the WHERE of the information, rather than the actual accumulation of the information. That always intrigued me. With today’s ever changing technology advances it looks like we are headed there and yet … helping the student to learn the skills to then “deal with “ the information once they find it. That’s where we come in!
Therefore, I also enjoy the challenge of fostering the critical thinking skills needed to use the information presented to the student while helping the student find that “one thing” that is ultimately important to them, that helps the “light bulb” moment happen. The finding process, the readjusting of what I do and how I do it for each class, especially when the social dynamics of the classes change, is learning process for me also.
Having a student actually “enjoy” the learning process I think is for most of us one of the most satisfying aspects of teaching. Quite often for them to do this, the teacher has to somehow show their own enthusiasm for the subject while also providing the students with the tools they will need to learn more on their own when a teacher isn’t around. I wish I had found Karl Menninger’s quote years ago – he said, “What the teacher is, is more important that what he
teaches.” I think I would have been less rigid in my early days.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Okay here I go...!
For everyone that can find this! Here's my name info.
J Joyful
O Opportunities are something I see everywhere
A Adventurous
N Night person… getting less so!
B Bashful I’m Not!
A Audacious
U Understanding
M Mum to 2 sons (1 in AZ, 1 in NZ)
J Joyful
O Opportunities are something I see everywhere
A Adventurous
N Night person… getting less so!
B Bashful I’m Not!
A Audacious
U Understanding
M Mum to 2 sons (1 in AZ, 1 in NZ)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
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