Esteemed classmates:
As a teacher, having an accessible website for students and parents to use is very important. In "Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website," Linda Amundson describes five ways to insure that your website is available for everyone.
The five steps are: Organization, Navigation without a mouse, text for images, descriptive links, and using Web validators.
"Organization" encompasses having clear headings, using horizontal lines and graphical elements (secondary to the headings), and consistency between pages. Also, being aware of colors (red and green are indistinguishable for color blind people and should therefore be avoided) and fonts is essential. After all, if your students and parents cannot read your website - why bother?
"Navigation without a mouse" is vital for those who use braille readers or even those who have a broken arm. Roll-overs and dropdown menus are difficult without a mouse and should be limited. Including an access key (assigning letters on the keyboard various functions) allows keyboard users the same opportunities as those with a mouse.
"Text explanations for images" insures that the visual impaired and those using a slower Internet connection can still "see" the graphics. The descriptions should be as if you were describing the image to a friend - not too long, but still informative.
"Using text that makes sense" applies for hyperlinks. Hyperlinks should be expressive - telling what the hyperlink links to, instead of simply saying "press here." They should be included in paragraphs, and if the same description is used multiple times then each should link to the same page.
Finally, "Web validators" evaluate your websites accessibility and tell you where you can improve. This lets you know that your website is accessible.
Ultimately, I feel that some of this article is obvious (like using headers), but I like the points about not needing a mouse and including descriptive text for graphics. It's important for all of your students and parents to be able to equally access your website.
-Lily
Amundson, Linda (2009). Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website.
Learning and Leading With Technology, Volume 37. Retrieved from
http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200911?pg=20&pm=2&fs=1#pg18.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Article #2 Response: Computing in the Clouds by Doug Johnson
Hi Everyone:
This week, I read "Computing in the Clouds" by Doug Johnson, which essentially summarizes "the cloud" and how it can be beneficial for educators. The cloud can be accessed from any computer with access to the Internet, requires no flash drive, and is free of charge. Essentially, the cloud is a file storage facility that requires only the Internet. Johnson argues that students need a Netbook (miniature laptop computer with only access to the Internet and a few related applications) and the cloud to excel at school, which would reduce the cost of computer software (like Word) or textbooks. By "living in the cloud," Johnson found that he needed only slight adjustments from his "normal" computer usage.
One major advantage of using the cloud is that it's free - so anyone can use it, without worrying about money. By using Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word, students and teachers can save money and can access their documents from any computer. In addition, flash drives are unnecessary because students can simply upload or share the URL with teachers instead. Johnson suggests that parents will be willing to pay for a $250 Netbook, since they have to pay for other supplies instead (like a $100 scientific calculator). I, however, do not know if I agree with that statement. Many families, especially in today's economy, cannot afford things like that. I think that it would be better for schools to have a class set of Netbooks that classes can check out, that way students can access their information on their home computers or at the local library. I've worked in high schools with a school set of laptops that teachers could then check out for the class period.
Johnson notes that there are a few issues with working in the cloud. If the Internet crashes or is unavailable, so is the cloud. Also, the security of websites can be a little sketchy, as can the privacy. Privacy is of the up-most priority where students are concerned.
I personally think that working in the cloud would be excellent for many classrooms, I just worry that eventually teachers will shift a majority of lessons and classwork into the cloud, and students will have less hands-on learning. I hope that balance can be found between the online and offline worlds.
One major advantage of using the cloud is that it's free - so anyone can use it, without worrying about money. By using Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word, students and teachers can save money and can access their documents from any computer. In addition, flash drives are unnecessary because students can simply upload or share the URL with teachers instead. Johnson suggests that parents will be willing to pay for a $250 Netbook, since they have to pay for other supplies instead (like a $100 scientific calculator). I, however, do not know if I agree with that statement. Many families, especially in today's economy, cannot afford things like that. I think that it would be better for schools to have a class set of Netbooks that classes can check out, that way students can access their information on their home computers or at the local library. I've worked in high schools with a school set of laptops that teachers could then check out for the class period.
Johnson notes that there are a few issues with working in the cloud. If the Internet crashes or is unavailable, so is the cloud. Also, the security of websites can be a little sketchy, as can the privacy. Privacy is of the up-most priority where students are concerned.
I personally think that working in the cloud would be excellent for many classrooms, I just worry that eventually teachers will shift a majority of lessons and classwork into the cloud, and students will have less hands-on learning. I hope that balance can be found between the online and offline worlds.
Thank you,
Lily
Johnson, Doug (2009). Computing in the Clouds. International Society for Technology in Education, Volume 37. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Computing_in_the_Clouds.aspx
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Is blogging worth the risk?
Hello class!
I personally believe that blogging is worth the risk. After reading the article this week, I found myself aligning with James Maxlow. In particular, his statement that, "We may not be responsible for how others react to our words, but effective communicators anticipate reactions" really resonated with me.
Bloggers have to be aware of the power that words can have; bloggers need to anticipate reactions and be prepared for them. Teachers with blogs need to be certain that their student's privacy is protected, that they take care to have pseudonyms for students or have some system so that parents/students are safe. Part of teaching writing to students includes teaching the responsibility author's have to their writings. Lisa Nielson did not seem as if she had properly anticipated the response of her blog. Furthermore, if she was treated as rudely as she makes it seem, perhaps she should have fought back and stood up for her blog.
Technology is finding a really hard time being accepted in the classroom, which I think Lisa Nielson showed in her writing. However, just because it's challenging does not mean that it shouldn't be integrated into schools. New things often create discontent and administrators might have a hard time adjusting. But, technology needs to be shown responsibly. Teachers that blog can show such responsibility to their students, and students can absorb and use that knowledge in their written work. Blogs and online writings are the things that students will need to know how to write, think critically about, and show caution with; the best teachers to teach this will be the ones that actually participate in that sphere of writing.
I ultimately think that blogging is worth the risk, especially if bloggers think critically about their words.
-Lily
I personally believe that blogging is worth the risk. After reading the article this week, I found myself aligning with James Maxlow. In particular, his statement that, "We may not be responsible for how others react to our words, but effective communicators anticipate reactions" really resonated with me.
Bloggers have to be aware of the power that words can have; bloggers need to anticipate reactions and be prepared for them. Teachers with blogs need to be certain that their student's privacy is protected, that they take care to have pseudonyms for students or have some system so that parents/students are safe. Part of teaching writing to students includes teaching the responsibility author's have to their writings. Lisa Nielson did not seem as if she had properly anticipated the response of her blog. Furthermore, if she was treated as rudely as she makes it seem, perhaps she should have fought back and stood up for her blog.
Technology is finding a really hard time being accepted in the classroom, which I think Lisa Nielson showed in her writing. However, just because it's challenging does not mean that it shouldn't be integrated into schools. New things often create discontent and administrators might have a hard time adjusting. But, technology needs to be shown responsibly. Teachers that blog can show such responsibility to their students, and students can absorb and use that knowledge in their written work. Blogs and online writings are the things that students will need to know how to write, think critically about, and show caution with; the best teachers to teach this will be the ones that actually participate in that sphere of writing.
I ultimately think that blogging is worth the risk, especially if bloggers think critically about their words.
-Lily
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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