Project 3

Checkout my 3rd project on my webpage. There are 2 parts:

1. a Podcast of what I did
2. a PowerPoint of the pictures that were sent from different mobile devices

Special thanks to all those who participated in this project. You helped out tremendously :)

Session 5

Wow...the future of mobile devices for learning is endless. After reading and hearing what Dr. Newberry had to say about the direction of technology, it makes me think of all the new gadgets that will be available in the next 20 years. It's amazing how much we already have and how quickly those devices boomed. I can't even imagine what they are thinking up next.

Some application that had to do with face recognition would be wonderful. There has been too many times where I beat around the bush, trying to figure out who they are. I think the next big step is to figure out how we can communicate globally, without it costing an arm and a leg. I would love to build better relationships with my family outside of the country, rather than through an e-mail or facebook. How cool would it be to somehow do some type of hologram, beaming from one place to another. We could be sitting and observing how classrooms in other countries are functioning. Sounds impossible...but who knows.

It's true that the prices are going to always be an issue, but they have been quite reasonable. The latest technology is going to be pricy the first time around, but after some time the prices will drop. Funny thing is by that time, something new will be out again. It's a neverending cycle of buying technology. We want the latest and greatest devices. But who can resist the idea of ubiquitous learning devices.

Well, I am finally a part of the mobile device world. I got my Blackberry, and communicating has been so convenient through all the different applications. I still have a lot to learn about it through SMEs and website help. Compared to the iPhone, I still like the iPhone better...maybe because I've actually been using my husband's iPhone longer than I've had this phone. Give me a few weeks and I'll be able to do a better comparison.

It's been fun learning about mobile devices with everyone. Be on the lookout for the next post on my 3rd project. I put this idea of mobile devices in education to a test...and it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

Enjoy the rest of your summer :)

Session 4

Well, as of right now, I don't have the best mobile device to consume anything, so I use my husband's iPhone for now. Some of the major content I use on his phone is to read sport's news, movie listings, GPS, and games. I know, not the best applications to use for education. I haven't really created anything either. But, I do want to do reading passages through an enhanced podcast so students can practice at home or in the car.

I think I need to get a better mobile device first before I can really put things to work. I am getting the Blackberry Curve and will explore its potential features. I'll get back to you and share what I am using with that :)

Project 2 (podcast)

Check out our podcast discussing the pros and cons using handheld mobile devices. It is on my webpage. Click on the link below :)

http://web.me.com/heididacio/Instructional_Technology/ETEC_676D.html

Annotated Bibliography

My annotated bibliography can be found on my website.

If anyone is still wanting to volunteer for my 3rd project, I will just need your cell phone number. E-mail me at dacioh@csusb.edu if you have any questions. Thanks :)

Project 3 Volunteers

ETEC 676D: looking for volunteers to participate in my 3rd project

I need volunteers to take pictures with their cell phones of different geometric shapes and send it to my e-mail. Then take a short online survey about the process. Here’s what you need to do…

• Send me an e-mail with your name and cell phone number.
• Be on the lookout for a text message (ETEC 676D will be the subject) of the assignment.
• Complete the assignment, by taking pictures with your cell phone and e-mailing it, and then take a survey online.

That’s about it. I will e-mail you the address for the survey.

Thanks so much and I hope you will be able to get a first hand experience of using mobile devices in education!

Heidi Dacio
dacioh@csusb.edu or heididacio@mac.com

Proposal for 3rd Project

Here is my proposal for my optional project. If you are interested in participating, I would deeply appreciate it. Be on the lookout for an e-mail and blog asking for volunteers.

http://web.me.com/heididacio/Instructional_Technology/ETEC_676D.html

Proposal for 2nd Project

Check out my website to see our project proposal. Our project will be done with an enhanced podcast. Check below :)

http://web.me.com/heididacio/Instructional_Technology/ETEC_676D.html

Session 3 (applications)

What a fun topic to look through and see what is out there. This is exactly what educators need to see and choose from. Knowing that the applications are already available, it is just a matter of choosing and adapting them to the classroom needs. Here are some applications I viewed that caught my attention:

1. TWITTER - Although I am not a follower, I can see the benefits of how it could be used in education. If discussion needs to occur between group members, or the teacher and the class, twitter is a way to hold this discussion. I think the downfall to this is that anyone can be a follower, and you wouldn't be able to control who is participating in the discussion. But what a quick and easy way to share what you are thinking in a moment's time.

2. POLL ANYWHERE - Very cool!!! This application has a lot of potential. This is a great assessment for teachers to pose questions to the class and get immediate feedback. The results will help to guide instruction, whether reteaching is needed. I wonder if it shows the number or name of the person who answered...and what they answered. That will help to progress monitor individual students.

3. BRAIN TUNER - One of my favorite games to play. Building basic math skills is important and this application helps in building math automaticity and fluency. It averages in your missed problems, so it's not likely to just rush through to reach the fastest time. I really can see primary students using this. This would also be a good recommendation for parents to download if they are the ones that have the iPhone. The kids have not excuse if they are on a long car ride. They can always be practicing math!

4. MY HOMEWORK - This application on the iPhone is a great application to help keep kids (and adults) stay organized. Responsibility is huge for kids, and organization is a key factor in helping them be responsible. I like how you can see what you need to do in a list, day to day, or in calendar form. Especially high school students who have a number of teachers. This application allows them to jot down daily homework, future projects, and keep notes on each. This digital notebook would be quite useful!

5. TYPING CLASS - Everyone needs to learn how to type. It might be a little tough on the iPhone because of the size of the keys, but it helps in getting kids to memorize the keyboard. What an easy application to do when kids finish early with assignments.

Most of the applicaitons I saw useful were from the iPhone. I am definitely inspired by what is out there already. But just thinking, how likely are elementary kids going to have cell phones? It seems like these applications fit better for middle/high school.

Session 2 (ideas for upcoming projects)

I'm finally making some progress. I found an overwhelming amount of articles on mobile devices in education. There are a lot of viewpoints out there, and I am interested in reading what they have to say.

For my required project, I plan to make an enhanced podcast discussing pros and cons of a certain focus area. Hopefully the articles will guide my thinking. I seem to be biased towards the pros since I love technology so much :)

For my optional project, I am creating a doable lesson that would work with mobile devices. I am going to test it out using a few human subjects and evaluate the effectiveness of the assignment. The main thing is finding people that can take pictures with their phones and sending it to my e-mail. Not sure how it is going to work out, but it's worth a try.

Have a good 4th of July everyone :)

Mobile Devices in Education video clip

I found this video clip on someone's blog. It is different perspectives from the UK on mobile devices. I think the clip is from 2007, but it's interesting to see what the different viewpoints are from teachers, students, parents, etc. Caution...heavy British accents!

http://www.phework.com/2007/10/mobile-devices-in-education.html

Session 1 (Experience)

I love the websites that Dr. Newberry posted for us to look at. It brought back many memories.

My biggest memory was going to my cousin's house to use her Apple II computer. My two favorite games were Oregon Trail and the Olympic Decathlon. The joystick for the computer was the best, moving it back and forth real quickly to do a certain event. The graphics then had no affect on me. I was so mesmerized how we could control what was happening on the screen. I went back and played a little bit of Oregon Trail with the website that was posted.

I also had the Palm Pilot but didn't use it to its fullest potential. It was a device that held important dates in the calendar, with some notes on the side.

If the laptop is considered a mobile device, then I've used it a lot for education. My students have also used the laptops for learning.

Here's an article that I found about mobile devices.

Session 1 (Introduction)

Hi everyone for those I have been with in other ETEC classes. For those who don't recognize my name or picture, my name is Heidi Dacio, and I am currently pursuing a masters in Instructional Technology. I am about halfway done with the required classes and have gotten a good start on the thesis (thanks to ETEC 644). My thesis is about building a positive relationship between the home and school. I will be creating a digital presentation (DVD) that addresses expectations on both the teacher's and parent's side. I plan to invite parents to see the presentation at school, and for those who are unable to make it, the DVD will be on loan to watch. So, I have a lot of work ahead of me...but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I am a teacher in the San Bernardino City school district and have taught for 8 years. I was a 5th grade teacher as of about a month ago, but a dagger was thrown my way and the principal moved me down to 1st. That's right...1st grade! Although it is a huge change, I am ready for the challenge and am excited to work with the little guys. It is going to be a busy year!

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what ideas you have for this class. This is definitely a topic of interest for me. I went to a conference this past week, and one of the presenters said something like this...we as educators believe in technology and the power it has to be used in education, but we ban the one piece of technology that these students know how to use most, the cell phone. Instead of banning these devices, let's find effective ways to use it.

I thought that was a good segway to this class, and I am excited to learn more about it. What is the research saying, how are they using it, and what kind of results do they have? I have some ideas on how it could be used for learning!