http://www.zardec.net.au/keith/visual.htm
http://www.zardec.net.au/keith/index.html
These were a couple of site I found that give some really great ideas of how to incorporate technology into the classroom. The digital camera ideas are awesome. He has some ideas that I hadn't ever considered. If you are going to be a classroom teacher you could ask family and friends to donate their old digital cameras when they upgrade. For the classroom purposes most older cameras still offer enough functions to serve their purpose and you have nothing invested so if they become damaged you are out very little. Taking photos is something most kids love to do and it makes them look at the world through a different perspective. I have these sites bookmarked on my computer and plan to find a way to use at least one of the ideas in my second grade reading class yet this year. If I get it done before class ends I will post the results of the project.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
In my search for information on ethics and morals in advertising I found several lectures and even one video on a workshop for lawyers to teach them how to eithically make profound claims about how they are the best have won the most cases in their commercials.
But a lot of what I found were the banned ads, the first one has runs on the premise of inuendo, which is of course inappropriate but I still found to be amusing. The second one was so over the top I was amazed anyone even made it to where it had to be banned. The message is an important one but they turned it into a big joke. It is supposed to be funny but missed the mark and hit stupidity instead. There one also one for eyeglasses that I couldn't even bring my self to add here. That one made me wonder why anyone would even agree to act in the commercial.
I found one comment under the videos to be especially appropriate: We skip the ads when we watch TV shows and then look for the to watch on youtube. it is a good point. We all hate commercials but then watch the superbowl just to see the commercials or the following day we look for them on the internet. We search for certain ones to watch or to show our friends. But over allin my search for information on the morals and ethics in advertising, I found more satire on the topic than actual information. Interesting.
March 14, aha moment
My husband and I were watching television the other night and a commercial came on and the guy was on the couch, he has a cold and he is whining becasue he can't reach the remote. My husband looks up and says why do they always make men act so helpless when they are sick? He was annoyed by the commercial and how it portrayed men. This brought me back to our conversations after we watched Killing me Softly. Many thought that men were not as bothered or harmed as much by their portrayal in the media as women. I believe they are. The image of them being helpless or stupid sends a negative message and creates a negative stereotype. I don't know if this started so that woman could be made to look stronger and break the stereo type that they are the weaker sex. I would ask how does going in the opposite direction and to an extreme to make a point any better than the stereo type that already existed. It is almost as if the stupid male has taken the place of the dumb blonde.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
UP!! In real life!
This is just awesome, I had to post it.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20040371-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20040371-1.html
Monday, March 7, 2011
children's creativity
There seems to be the idea out there that children are losing their creativity. I can see where this may be true with some children when they are so over scheduled that they don't ever have a chance to be a kid.
When I came home from class tonight I found my daughters drawings and paintings on the table and the living room looked like a tornado had gone through. She was in the bathtub with a clear plastic bucket over her head pretending to be a spaceman going into outer space, because it was dark outside and you can see outerspace. She is a funny kid and is very creative. I love to watch her play and listen to her as she is making her dolls talk. I wish I could video tape it but everytime I get the camera out she turns into super ham and I can't just get her playing.
I believe if we give kids toys that allow them to be creative, like blocks, dolls, trucks, and art supplies they will use that creative spirit that is in all children. But if we schedule every minute of their day and never allow them to make a mess than we stifle that natural creativity. Video games and such are OK and can be very educational but we need to mix in the toys that require kids to think on their own.
When I came home from class tonight I found my daughters drawings and paintings on the table and the living room looked like a tornado had gone through. She was in the bathtub with a clear plastic bucket over her head pretending to be a spaceman going into outer space, because it was dark outside and you can see outerspace. She is a funny kid and is very creative. I love to watch her play and listen to her as she is making her dolls talk. I wish I could video tape it but everytime I get the camera out she turns into super ham and I can't just get her playing.
I believe if we give kids toys that allow them to be creative, like blocks, dolls, trucks, and art supplies they will use that creative spirit that is in all children. But if we schedule every minute of their day and never allow them to make a mess than we stifle that natural creativity. Video games and such are OK and can be very educational but we need to mix in the toys that require kids to think on their own.
Cool way to teach a mini lesson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIGqBb3iZPo
This guy does some really cool little science and engineering lessons on videos. He explains them in terms that make sense and then shows you at the same time. The visuals make the video awesome. I have learned some very interesting little tidbits of science from The Engineer Guy.
This guy does some really cool little science and engineering lessons on videos. He explains them in terms that make sense and then shows you at the same time. The visuals make the video awesome. I have learned some very interesting little tidbits of science from The Engineer Guy.
March 7, 2011 AHA Moment
Last week I had the unique opportunity to be on the other side of hiring a teacher. I was reading and sorting resumes and cover letters and was amazed at the difference in quality of the 9 applicants. My major AHA moment came when someone help up a cover letter that had no paragraph breaks on the entire page of the letter. He commented, "I don't even want to attempt to read this, I am tempted to just put it aside and not even look at it." I had to agree it was very difficult to read but it also ended up being one of our top choices to interview. If we had been looking at a pile of 100 or more applicants I am sure this person would have just been put aside and not even considered.
That old saying of first impressions is so true. When I went home that evening I went through my cover letter with a fine toothed comb to find any errors at all, because every little error was noticed on these letters and resumes. I also made sure that my cover letter gave a good impression of the kind of teacher that I am and not just a repeat of the same information that is on my resume.
The comments made by others and my own thoughts as I read through these application materials was an eye opener. I will be reviewing all of my application materials to be sure that they are all current, proper format, no mistakes and not only my letter and resume but all of my packet materials. I was in awe of the impact of this first visual impression on how we made our decisions on who to interview. We did read through all nine but I am sure if we had been looking at a bigger pool of applicants some very fine people would have been passed over because of how they presented them selves on paper.
Next week I will be sitting on the other side of the interview table and I am looking forward to what I can learn to help me the next time I am in the hot seat. This is an awesome experience and I hope it will help me in my own job search. Now I am off to ask for updated letters of reference from my principal and superintendent.
That old saying of first impressions is so true. When I went home that evening I went through my cover letter with a fine toothed comb to find any errors at all, because every little error was noticed on these letters and resumes. I also made sure that my cover letter gave a good impression of the kind of teacher that I am and not just a repeat of the same information that is on my resume.
The comments made by others and my own thoughts as I read through these application materials was an eye opener. I will be reviewing all of my application materials to be sure that they are all current, proper format, no mistakes and not only my letter and resume but all of my packet materials. I was in awe of the impact of this first visual impression on how we made our decisions on who to interview. We did read through all nine but I am sure if we had been looking at a bigger pool of applicants some very fine people would have been passed over because of how they presented them selves on paper.
Next week I will be sitting on the other side of the interview table and I am looking forward to what I can learn to help me the next time I am in the hot seat. This is an awesome experience and I hope it will help me in my own job search. Now I am off to ask for updated letters of reference from my principal and superintendent.
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