Adam Schovanec

Pecha Kucha Presentation- Misconceptions About the Muslim World

2010-04-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

This week I created a Pecha Kucha presentation entitled "Misconceptions About the Muslim World." I choose to do a presentation on this topic because of all the negative perceptions most people in the Western world have regarding Muslims today in the wake of the 9-11 attacks. It's my hope that by addressing some of the major myths regarding the religion, people will take steps to realize that followers of the Islam faith are predominately like ourselves and should be treated with respect and love like any other human being. Enjoy!

My First Attempt At Screencasting

2010-03-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

My first screencast which demonstartes how to embed videos and video links directly into a blog post using the Blogger program. Check it out!

Starting A Second Life Isn't As Easy It Seems...

2010-03-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

This week's video was entitled Orientation In Second Life and goes through the process of discussing the ardourous work certain groups of individuals have put into creating orientation material to assist new users of the game Second Life. In short, Second Life is an online social networking game that allows people to navigate a virtual world using a personal avatar. Apparantly, several universities and organizations have identified the game as a great means for e-learning and have thusly taken on the daunting task of making the game more welcoming for new users. Unsuprisingly, these charitable groups are finding the task far more dificult than previously imagined. Users generally don't care to go through detailed orientation processes to play what amounts to nothing more than an MMORPG much in the same vein of World of Warcraft and Everquest.

I feel for these generous individuals who are so set on making Second Life an inviting game for everyone; however, I can't honestly say that I feel the game is worth all their efforts. In essence, the game is nothing more than an online game where users are seeking a means for escaping the hardships of the real world. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with doing this (so long it's done in moderation), but I wouldn't go so far as to call the experience enlightening or even a great means for social networking. Several other applications and programs exist that can accomplish both of these goals in a much more effective manner. This being said, I'm sure Second Life is a great game for many people across the world; I just wouldn't go so far as to ascribe high ideals regarding its potential as increasing the world's knowledge of electronic matters when its esssentially nothing more than a video game.

At the risk of sounding old-fashioned, I really don't see incredible potential for games like Second Life within the elementary-level classroom. Something like Second Life would, in my mind, detract from the potential learning experiences that can be achieved through electronic means. If students want to get on the game and socialize in their own free time, great; however, I wouldn't attempt to use it as an educational tool out of fear that it would serve as a great distraction in the long run. Much like video games in general, Second Life seems like a great way to spend free time and relax from the rigors of a busy day; just don't attempt to tell me it's an amazing educational tool when there are literally hundreds of more worthwhile programs out there with solid educational purposes.

Analyzing A Class Response Survey

2010-03-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

This week I created a Google document survey asking participants about their personal travel experiences. The link to the survey is here.

So far the results indicate that my fellow classmates have either not traveled very much or that they have primarily gone to tropical locations in the south. Those who have traveled in the past spent most of their time at the beach and had a great time doing so. As far as future travel plans go, everyone indicated a different area in the world and a desire to further their experiences in life.

This little activity was very interesting and something that I'll probably try again with my own students or their parents some day.

The Temptations of Modern Technology

2010-03-03T08:58:00.000-08:00

This week we watched another video called Digital Youth Portrait: Sam that demonstrates how a young teenage girl uses technology in her daily lifestyle.

Sam is your typical teenage girl. She goes to school and uses technology in seemingly every aspect of her life. Most of it was standard and to be expected (e.g.- texting); however, her fascination with MMORPGs like World of Warcraft surprised me. All the people I know who play those types of games generally the reclusive, nerdy types and are mostly guys. In this regard, Sam is an anomaly. Even more so, I found it interesting that she uses it as method for online collaboration with others (even if it's for strictly pleasure purposes). In addition to all this, the girl uses technology to suppliment some of her school assignments by adding visual flair not possible with antiquited methods.

I found all this interesting because Sam serves as a pretty good representative of how adolescents today seemlessly integrate technology into most facets of their lives. In many ways this is great because it gives them far more options and possibilites than previous generations had using non-technical means. On the other hand, students like Sam have unwittingly become slaves to the technology they love. For example, MMORPG's have gone a long ways towards isolating people and cutting them off from regular (normal) social contexts. The use of texting has in many ways deminished the abilty of youths to communicate effectively in an oral manner. Ultimately, technology puts the world at a student's fingertips, but this gift comes with the temptations and risks that could lead to a generation of people who lack common social skills.

I would like to make use of social collaboration a part of my classroom curriculum someday; however, I want to do so in a manner that doesn't completely replace normal face-to-face interaction. It's all too easy to be drawn into online games and to lose context with the real world as a result. This will be a balancing act that I and future educators will have to deal with on an increasing basis. It will be our jobs to encourage the use of technology while ensuring that our students don't become completely dependent on it.

Student Wikis- the Path of Self-Guided Learning

2010-02-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

This week's topic dealt with the issue of wikis and digital learning portals. As such we watched the video Parallel Play or Collaboration–Leveraging the Wiki Platform for High Quality Work to learn about how a teacher can use wikis with their students. The cool notion about this approach is that it allows students to research and share information in a manner that can be accomplished in and outside the classroom while being open to everyone. Pictures, videos, and links can be added with little effort and can be used to extrapolate information that simply can't be achieved through usual classroom presentations. Not only that, but student s are far more likely to put high quality into their wikis because they deal with information that is important to them and it doesn't require them to openly present in front of their peers (no public speaking). In the end, wikis are a great way to lead students down a path of self-guided learning.

Just like any other person, I had a plethora of interests and hobbies while growing up. I loved sharing information about these topics, but didn't neccesarily want to get up in front of an entire classroom to about them. Likewise, there were certain topics that simply didn't translate well into the classroom. I would have loved to have had a means to share with the world, but such technology simply didn't exist at the time. In addition to all this, I would have become a much more profecient researcher and writer at an earlier age had I undertaken this approach.

With all that being said, I'll definitly look into using wikis as part of my classroom curriculum. Honestly, what better way is there to encourage writing and research in elementary school students? This would be fun and informative for these youngsters as well as for myself and could easily be used in conjunction with concuurent class curriculum. With a list of each individual student's wiki accompanied by a centralized class wiki, it would simple to track the work being done and to give feedback as neccesary. I'll continue to look into this subject until I have a firm grasp as how to properly impliment in my classroom someday.

VoiceThread Project- Ushering In the Digital Age

2010-02-17T09:51:00.000-08:00

This is my first voice thread presentation entitled Ushering In the Digital Age. It provides a brief discussion on the history of computers. Most of the information was adapted from the website Computer Science Lab. Enjoy!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

2010-02-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

This week's video was The Wizard of Apps by Joyce Valenza.

I have to admit that my first impressions of this video were a little bit on the iffy side. The whole Wizard of Oz aspects of the video were rather contrived and goofy (despite being well done); however, the informational aspects quickly won me over. The sheer amount of websites Valenza covers is overwhelming. She also gave a lot of good information that anyone using the web today should know. As such, this video could prove beneficial to educators, students, and the public as a whole.

I was aware of many of the websites that were mentioned in this video and have used several of them to assist me with my studies through the years. Some others, notably those used for research, were completely new to me. I can't imagine researching and writing papers today without the assistance of the Internet. I know how to use other resources like libraries and live interviews, but more often than not such methods are time consuming and impractical. Used correctly, the Internet can facilitate and emulate all these old methods from the comforts of one's home.

I think it's very important that students today learn how many of these apps can assist them with their academic endeavors. It's impractical and irrational for instructors to instruct their students to ignore these valuable tools in lieu of more traditional research methods (e.g.- going to the library). Instructors should spend more time learning how to use technology to improve the research process as opposed to wasting time teaching archaic learning strategies that are quickly losing purpose in the digital age. This is why this class and the its associated lessons are so valuable to future instructors like myself. I for one will definitely make technology an important part of my classroom.

Ironically, many of the sites Valenca mentioned have already been explored in our T4T class. On the other hand, there were many other web sites that I felt compelled to check out for the first time as the video played. These included Pipl.com and FindingDulcinea.com. Pipl really didn't blow me away, but FindingDulcinea turned out to be another story. Right off the bat, users are inundated with loads of storys dealing covering a broad spectrum of topics. Even more importantly, this site has a great search function for researching topics. After playing around on the site for a short while, I added the website's news feed to my Google Reader account and saved the site to my website favorites list. I'll definitly be using the site for future research writing purposes.

Ushering in the Digital Age

2010-02-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

Picture #1 Picture #2 Picture #3 Picture #4 Picture #5

DIgital Citizenship Through the Eyes of Students

2010-02-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

Digiteens: Digital Citizenship by Digital Teenagers

This video was comprised of a series of short clips that were created by students in regards to the consequences associated with being a digital citizen in the modern world. It was fascinating to see how these young people decided to tackle issues that were virtually nonexistant a decade or two ago. Issues like virtual identity theft, texting while driving, and digital footprints simply didn't exist for prior generations and it's only now that the implications are being felt. It makes sense that students should explore these concepts because they are the most likely to be affected by them. It's all the more powerful when students speak out to their fellow peers because they can relate far better than they can when adults attempt to carry the message.

I grew up just as the technological boom really begin to affect the general public. This means that I've spent most of my life surrounded by technology and am quite familiar with the associated risks that come with its use. Personally, I've never been burned in the manner that these students speak of; however, that is largely because I've been prudent in my actions through the years. This is all the more reason why it will be important that I carry these students' messages to my own students some day. As a teacher, I will do my utmost to protect my students so that they can spend less time worrying about potential pitfalls and instead spend more time learning to better themselves and the world.

Enhancing the Educational Experience Through Project-Based Learning

2010-02-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

This week's Edutopia video is called Project Learning: An Overview.

This video discusses the concept of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and how it's being used in classrooms today. I love this concept because it focuses on teaching students through practical application projects as opposed to simply relying on textbooks and lectures to facilitate the learning process. This gives meaning to wha's being taught and challenges the students to solve problems on their own. In the long run, students will gain much more from this student-centered approach and will enjoy the process far more than traditional methods.

Time and time again, I've been told that my learning style is very much within the realm of the kinesthetic. This means that I've always been a hands-on learner who gained more through the actual act of doing something as opposed to simply being told about it. Simply put, projects much like those shown in this video were my bread and butter growing up. I've no doubt that most people will agree with me that there are definitive advantages to be gained from giving autonomy to students concerning their education.

As a teacher I'll definitly be the type who makes heavy use of PBL to teach my students. I feel that giving them certain freedoms and choices in regards to what they learn will greatly enhance the overall process. Given the right tools and guidance, students will exceed our wildest expectations. Everyone wins in this process- the students learn and retain knowledge that can't be obtained through passive education and I as the teacher will have the satisfaction that comes from helping these young people develop into functional adults.

Exploring Gender Roles Through A Student's Digital Perspective

2010-01-28T06:18:00.000-08:00

Slaves of Stereotypes? The Modern World and Gender by Alix Rowe

This is a very well crafted video created by a student at the International School of the Americas in San Antonio. It artistically discusses the ideas of gender roles and the resulting discrimination that comes of it. While the message was nothing new, the means by which the student details the issue is very interesting. By using smooth transitions accompanied by an appropriate soundtrack, the entire video was remniscent of the many stylistic movie intros that have been done through the years. The social advocacy of the video is also a great aspect for consideration. All in all, the artist who created this video has a lot of potential in the realm of film-making and I wish him luck in all his future endeavors.

Sharing the Gift of Technology

2010-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

This week's video was Digital Youth Project: Luis which deals with how digital technology is shared between students, their families, and the community they live in.

The student in this video really impressed me in ways that the previous students did not. Here is a young man who grew up in a house where his parents were immigrants and lacked the education most of us take for granted. As a result, Luis was thrust into the difficult position of family interpreter and cultural guide. This great responsibilty, however, instilled the desire to share his life experiences and knowledge with others.

This is a great example of how we as people possess knowledge and skills that someone else in the world could stand to benefit from. Simply put, everyone can be a teacher who helps others. It's admirable that Luis took the lessons that he learned as a student and then proceeded to pass this information on to his parents and those who were less priviliged than he. Obviously, this idea holds great appeal to me as a future teacher of young minds. I love to teach others about those things in my life that drive me. It's my hopes that these people will then do the same for others and continue the process.

I continually look for means to improve myself and in doing so, hope to improve those around me. The new technology and programs that this class introduces to me is invaluable for its potential as future lesson plans. Much like Luis, I want to take my valuable years of education and share it with the next generation. Ultimately, what better way is there for applying one's knowledge to better the world?

The Electronic Omnipresence of Modern Society

2010-01-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

This is for the video Digital Youth Project: Nafiza.

In this video, a 12th grade girl named Nafiza talks about how electronics permeates every facet of her life. Gadgets like phones, media players, video games, and the like are always present in our society. These, in turn, have a massive effect on how we live our lives. Nafiza serves as a perfect example of how we have been socially constructed to depend on this wonderful technology.

This video appealed to me because I, like most people, have come to accept electronics as an integral part of my life. My iPhone goes with me just about everywhere and is capable of many different functions that go beyond simply making phone calls. As far as I can tell, a day doesn't go by that I don't make use of an electronic gadget.

Considering how most students today are connected to the electronic world just as much as Nafiza and myself, it makes sense to integrate these gadgets into the classroom. This will draw in the students and give them something to rally around. Modernization of the classroom is essential these days and a lot of the process can be accomplished with minimal cost or effort. Social networking through the Internet rarely requires more than a computer with an internet connection. This trend will undoubtedly continue in the future which means teachers need to know how electronics supplement classic teaching strategies.

Optimum Integration- How to Use Technology In Every Subject Area

2010-01-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching A Peek for a Week – Inside a Kiwi Junior Classroom which is a great video that demonstrates how to integrate technology in multiple subject areas.

What was really cool about this video was the creative ways the teacher chose to use technology in her classroom. She used multiple different types of technology and some associated applications to greatly bolster her lesson plans. Even more impressive was the fact that she also found ways to integrate the technology into virtually every subject area being taught.

I found a lot of this fascinating because the teacher was able to take traditional subject areas and was able to expand upon them with simple technological additions. This appeals to me because I always was the type of student who benefited from any kind of visual and kinesthetic adaptions to teaching styles. As such, this teaching style would have kept me more focused and would have likely made me a better student at the time.

Any opportunity to play on a computer at a young age works as a great means for preparing students for proficiency with technology. Likewise, this kind of approach breaks up the monotony of normal class sessions and keeps the students interested. I definitly will keep these varied ideas in mind and see what I can do with them when I have my own class in the near future.

Two Weeks In- What's Happening In T4T Now...

2010-01-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

Well, thus marks the end of week two and I have to say that this class is turning out to be quite diferent than what I previously expected it to be. Instead of simply sitting around and being lectured on how to use standard classroom equipment (projectors, Smart boards, etc.), we're being pushed to use new online social programs that have widespread classroom applications. I like this approach and am curious what the following weeks have in store for us.

As for this week, I've created an account with Diigo (check it out here) and have begun exploring social groups tied to it. I also made a few comments on my fellow classmates blogs: Kara's Blog and T4TJDM. Even more fun than that, however, was the opportunity to comment on blog posts done by a group of 5th/6th grade students in Victoria, Australia: Gold Panning and Japan. I hope the kids actually see that their work has been recognized by someone here on the other side of the planet. Hopefully this will encourage them in their studies and foster an increased interest in historyand world culture.

That's it for now. More to follow later....

Blogging Is Childs' Play (and Is A Useful Teaching Tool to Boot)

2010-01-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching We Like Our Blogging Buddies: The Write Stuff with Blogging Mentors. This was a cool video because it demonstrates how a relatively new technological phenomenon such as blogging can be used with young children to teach and reinforce new skills. As demonstrated by this video, blogging is a great way to give children an active means for practicing their new writing skills while also allowing multiple people to see the work of these kids and give constructive feedback at the same time. This is truly a great new tool for giving real life context to the things taught in the classroom.

Blogging is essentially a new form of the age-old practice of pen pals which I did as a kid. The major difference herein being that blogging allows for much quicker response time between the parties involved. Likewise, I would have loved the fact that multiple people besides my pen pal would have been able to view my responses and given me valuable feedback. Finally, blogging provides a more permanent form of communication than postal mail; I would love to see my old letters today, but none of them survived through the years so I'm left with nothing beyond my memories of the experience.

I definitely will keep this video in mind when I become a certified teacher. What better way is there for teachers to enhance their lesson plans while giving their students ample opportunity to work with modern, computer-based programs. Aside from the obvious lesson plan modifications this program offers, I see this as a great means for teaching children how to use social networking tools that weren't available in my childhood. This would also be a good means for teaching kids the implications of online activity and the risks contained therein. I would use this as a segue into the subject of digital footprints, identity protection, and the like. All in all, there is a myriad of subject areas that this technology can be used to enhance student learning and I hope to capitalize on it someday.

Kids Who Know Technology Better Than You Do

2010-01-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

We, as a class, just watched Digital Generation Project Youth Portrait: Cameron and all I can say is, "Wow!" Here's a 6th grader who knows more about technology than not only myself, but just about everyone else around. This is truly a techno-guru in the making.

This video is great because it shows that technology is something that can be mastered by anyone at any age bracket. This child effectively uses technology to create documents that he uses to educate himself and his classmates all at the same time. This video also demonstrates how important it is for teachers to be prepared for the likelihood that their own students may possess incredible gifts regarding technology use that go far beyond their own individual abilities. These kids are a valuable resource and should be encouraged constantly.

This video holds some relevance for me because I was always pretty good with technology as I was growing up. I never was quite as good as Cameron, but I was hardly a slouch either. Even today, I still help my father constantly with any computer-based problems that he and his business happen to be dealing with at any given moment. I constantly strive to improve my computer skills so that I can continue to help others with their technology woes.

All in all, I'd like to use technology in my classroom to foster further creativity and understanding among my students. Likewise, I'd like to encourage the students to learn from the experiences and use the knowledge in their own lives outside the classroom setting. It would be pleasure to learn new things from the children just as they are learning new things from me. Ultimately, both technology and children are the future so it makes sense to bring them together and to encourage the harmony that results. This alone could make a great future for the world as a whole.

Meet the Student...

2010-01-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hi! My name is Adam Schovanec. I'm a 26 year old Elementary Education major at the University of Central Oklahoma. This will actually be my third college degree because I have already earned a Bachelors and Masters in Business Administration. With any luck, I'd like to teach 3rd to 5th grade classes at a public school somewhere here in Edmond, Oklahoma. I've always wanted to teach children; teaching is a very common occupation within my family so it's only natural that it would hold a great deal of appeal for me.

More to come....