Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
W4_Reading
The week #4 reading was focused more on the software that I’ll be using for my action research then the articles supporting the ideas of my AR project. Most of my reading this week has been instruction-based information on how to advance my skills in Google sketch up. The basic skills that I know only scratch the surface of this software. A positive move for me with my project but has pushed my literature review back a few days. This just reinforces how diligent I need to be with my time management and how I need to follow a strict timeline. This post is the end of the beginning. It has jump-started my research in the area of web 2.0 software and open source software. It has me looking at classroom instruction and how it can be modified to increase student engagement in their schoolwork. As I just stated this is only part "A" of the whole alphabet for me to explore. Please stop back as there is much more for me to share!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
W3_Reading
The reading that I've done this month to support my action research has made me look at my current curriculum differently. I am looking to make connections with open source design software and how it can improve student engagement in their schoolwork. My investigation started with the software Google sketch up from the Google Corporation. In the past year I had been exposed to this software and how it can be incorporated in the Technology Education curriculum.
So at this point most of the reading that I have done has been surrounded by this topic. As I dig deeper I find myself looking at open source software in education and the negatives and positives. Also the perception of administration on open source software and its adoption into the educational environment. Going even further into my research I find myself looking at Web 2.0 applications and how their impact on education has affected student learning in and out of the classroom.
There is evidence in all of these areas that connect directly to my action research. It is my charge to link these common threads to support my beliefs or questions. Will open source software improve student’s engagement in their schoolwork? The answers lie ahead of me as I conduct my action research as I analyze and assess my students during this process.
“I believe with Dewey, Montessori, and Piaget that children learn by doing and by thinking about what they do. And so fundamental ingredients of educational innovation must be better things to do and better ways to think about oneself doing these things (Papert 1980).” (Clements, D.H. 1997)
Clements, D. (1997). Effective Use of Computers with Young Children. Retrieved from ERIC database.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
PE2_LightUp
The Google SketchUp plugin give users photo realistic power to this already amazing tool. I have just started understanding some of the things this plugin can do. Check out this intro to Light Up:
I really am learning about how to use Google SketchUp to produce prototypes of common everyday things but this plugin when I found it had to be included. It takes your cartoonish design to photo realistic designs. Once I get a better handle on this I will share some of my sample products. But for now chipping away at the many layers of the basic Google Sketchup program. More to come. . .
I really am learning about how to use Google SketchUp to produce prototypes of common everyday things but this plugin when I found it had to be included. It takes your cartoonish design to photo realistic designs. Once I get a better handle on this I will share some of my sample products. But for now chipping away at the many layers of the basic Google Sketchup program. More to come. . .
PE1_Google SketchUp
Goolge SketchUp is an open source design software for creating 2-D and 3-D graphics. I have used this software in the past and understand some of the basic principles of creating 2-D drawings. Recently I've been exploring the 3-D component of the software. As I'm interested in incorporating this into my curriculum I find that I need to invest more time in understanding this program. In the previous year I have developed a floor plan for a house in Google sketch up. Now I am taking those basic skills and applying them to create prototypes of common everyday items. This may seem as an easy transition but up to this point I have found nothing easy about this. So as I invest my time in learning more about this software and understanding how to utilize it to develop this type of product I will feel confident in sharing this with my students. As part of my action research project I want to look at open source design software and how it can engage students in their schoolwork. I am looking at putting a spin on an innovation unit I cover with my sixth grade students. The unit will allow the students to discover Google sketch up and how to analyze how today's products are constantly being improved. I have realized very quickly that this is a new arena for me and I really need to know more. So I've started with learning the basics about Google sketch up once again and exploring the more advanced features that this software has to offer. I have viewed several tutorials and instructional videos to increase my understanding.
Here is a video of whats new:
Over the next 10 days I plan to create some sample drawings for my lessons in this unit. During my research I have also been exposed to the world of Google sketchup plug-ins. These extensions allow Google sketchup to adventure into domains that I never knew existed. Between the basic videos of Google sketchup and tutorials in its plug-ins I feel I have a lot of ground to cover before I can present this to my class. I say this with complete confidence because I did a test with a small group of six graders in the past 30 days at the beginning of the school year. I introduced what I was planning on doing and how I was going to incorporate this into their lesson and allowed students to learn along with me as I explore the transition from simple 2-D floor plans into 3-D prototype designs. It was truly a learning experience for both parties. It has resulted in my quest for learning more about Google sketchup and how I can apply it to my curriculum. It has also helped me to develop my action research project. I have found that I can learn just as much from my students as I can from other sources. So stay tuned as I explore the world of Google sketch up and it's 3-D warehouse.
Here is a video of whats new:
Over the next 10 days I plan to create some sample drawings for my lessons in this unit. During my research I have also been exposed to the world of Google sketchup plug-ins. These extensions allow Google sketchup to adventure into domains that I never knew existed. Between the basic videos of Google sketchup and tutorials in its plug-ins I feel I have a lot of ground to cover before I can present this to my class. I say this with complete confidence because I did a test with a small group of six graders in the past 30 days at the beginning of the school year. I introduced what I was planning on doing and how I was going to incorporate this into their lesson and allowed students to learn along with me as I explore the transition from simple 2-D floor plans into 3-D prototype designs. It was truly a learning experience for both parties. It has resulted in my quest for learning more about Google sketchup and how I can apply it to my curriculum. It has also helped me to develop my action research project. I have found that I can learn just as much from my students as I can from other sources. So stay tuned as I explore the world of Google sketch up and it's 3-D warehouse.
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