Web 2.0 Application: A Critique of Backpack

Backpack is a Web 2.0 Application that allows users to form an Intranet of information between a large group of members. Find out how it can be used in your classroom by reading our critique:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmkv3mb_0d4ms2jdg

Project #3: Flickr activity on ancient Greece

For my third project, I chose to do a Flickr activity. The activity is intended to be an introduction to a unit on ancient Greece. Students see several images of pottery, architecture, and sculpture before beginning their studies. They are asked to examine the images with the goal of forming hypotheses about ancient Greek culture and daily life. As the unit progresses, students will supposedly refer back to this activity to confirm or challenge their original hypotheses. Below, I've listed the SOL covered. The current setting requires an invitation to view the activity, so please let me know (es7ft@virginia.edu) if you would like to be sent a link to see the project.

SOL 3.1: The student will explain how the contributions of ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the present world in terms of architecture, government (direct and representative democracy), and sports.

Technology Autobiography

Technology and I have a history of ambivalence. I have always recognized its value in the world of education, and as an educator, I acknowledge the need to implement it in my lessons. However, I feel I have a weak knowledge base about technology, and I am even fearful of using it. I know how to operate a word processor and Powerpoint. Excel sheet formulas begin to confuse me, and I would be lost in an effort to create a webpage or digital movie. (Though I did complete the two latter tasks several years ago, I would stumble greatly when revisiting them.) My lack of knowledge with the programs has naturally developed into my fear of using them. As disempowering as it may seem, I'd rather refer to others' expertise on computers and other systems before attempting to fix a problem or experiment with something on my own.

That said, it is needless to say that my teaching experiences have seen technological implementations quite sparingly. I have presented images in Powerpoint for the sake of efficiency and I've created some form of webquests to direct my instruction. I'd like to make a greater effort to employ the available systems in the classroom, and I've enrolled in EDLF 545 to aid in my own education. I am excited about the opportunity to learn the necessary skills and to be able to immediately apply them in a classroom (as opposed to the EDLF 345 course where actual teaching with technology was a missing factor). Keeping this in mind, I must say that I generally feel that technology should be used as a tool to improve instruction in a real way. I am opposed to the bells and whistles that brighten lessons but do not add to learning. Likewise, I am excited to plan my technology lessons accordingly.