IT 521 Final Projects

project #1: Moodle Course (30 points)

http://moodle521.occ.utk.edu/course/view.php?id=389

This is the art history course. I chose to create my Moodle course as one of the projects because I was an art teacher in a secondary school in South Korea so I would like to create a web course to assist my off-line class. I pretended that this course is for the students in the 11th grade.
This is 10 weeks course. I tried to include most activities such as glossaries, journal assignments, forums, quizzes, hot potato quizzes, and so on. I also tried to compose each week's classes differently.
Above all, I really like HotPotato quiz maker. Compared to the Moodle quiz maker, Hotpotato was much easier to use for users who can deal with HTML sources. I could export my quizzes as a HTML file and then change the codes as I want; for example, inserting images or changing layouts.
The disadvantages of HotPotato software are its limited use. I could create just limited number of quizzes in a file, if I want to make more quizzes, I should register and pay for the service or create several files and then link them to each file. Addition to that, I could not create quizzes directly on the moodle website but should download the software on my computer, make, and then upload the files on the moodle. Nevertheless, I think Hotpotato is a great tool for teachers.
It took very long time to create this course. The hardest thing was that I had to correct all the resources on the web and then recompose them as I wanted to. Although I was an art teacher, all the resources in this course are new because I just had resources in Korean. Moreover, it also took a long time to search and add pictures to fit in each week's activities because pictures are very important to the art class. But, I enjoyed while using Moodle and it was a helpful time for me.

Project #2: Webliographer (20 points)

http://webliographer.com/art_education

This webliographer is for art teachers. I put 124 URL which can help art teachers on this webliographer. It includes the websites which are concentrated in the art class such as artists, museums, art history, glossary, and lesson plans. Also, it has general information for teachers such as educational articles, teacher's communities, and web tools.
While working this project, the most difficult thing was to collect 124 worthy websites. I usually used Google for searching them, but many of the websites I found were useless. I had to select carefully good websites among a lot of websites. So, this project took much longer time than my thought. However, through this project I could know lots of useful websites for my teaching job so that I will be able to use these resources when I come back to the school.

Project #3: Portable Apps (5 points)

https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgv98kjq_3gtxzcdd5

Project #4: Blog (5 points)

http://ssony97.blogspot.com

The main purpose of my blog is to document my works in IT521. Because I will not be able to see my postings on Moodle course after finishing this semester, I wanted to save the sources in another web space. Addition to that, I posted some interesting articles about education, and wrote my opinions after using some educational applications. But, I did not activate this blog but use just as my resource storage. So, I count 5 points worth.

HotPotato Quiz Maker compared to Moodle's

I tried to use HotPotato software to create some quizzes for my moodle course project weeks ago. I could download the software and get information from this URL: http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com

I really like the HotPotato quiz maker. I have used a quiz maker in Moodle. Compared to Moodle quiz maker, Hotpotato is much easier to use. And I can export my quiz as a HTML file and then change the code as I want; for example, inserting images or changing layouts.
There are 5 kinds of quiz such as mixed up sentences or words, multiple questions, mix-match quiz maker and so on.
One disadvantage of HotPotato software is that it’s limited use. You can create limited number of quizzes, if you want to make more quizzes, you should register and pay for the service.

Classroom 2.0

Classroom 2.0 (http://www.classroom20.com)

I found a good web site for teachers.

Classroom2.0 is a website for on-line social networking. This site is for people who are interested in Web2.0, collaborative study on the web, and technologies in education.
All members can open a discussion forum and talk about a topic with other members. I looked up a forum named “10 Things Every Teacher Should Know About Technology” in the section “Help or Feedback Needed”. Members have actively shared their opinions about technologies in education and agreed or disagreed with other opinions. It looked not only useful but also fun.

There are some small interest groups. I joined two groups as a member, “Developing Digital Skills @ School” and “E-Learning and Online Teaching”. In these groups, the members share information and discuss their topics in forums. Also, the members can send e-mail to all group members.

Classroom2.0 holds "LIVE Conversations" on a daily basis. An expert teaches participants with slides, and participants can see the presenter through a live video camera by WiZiQ software. Also, they can talk to and ask the presenter questions or text other participants via a chat room during the presentation. The topics of these conversations are not only about technologies for teachers but also teaching methods; for example, “Getting ready for real software world”, “Getting started with SAT preparation”, and “Tips for online teaching and learning on WiZiQ”. Each LIVE conversation has a fixed time but members can see the recorded videos and the conversation in a chat room whenever they want.

I joined in a live event, “Advanced Web Search Training for HR, Recruitment and Staffing Professionals”, presented by Bernd Kestler on Friday, October 24, 8:00 to 9:00 AM. In this LIVE conversation, participants introduced themselves, watched the lecture, and questioned and answered each other. Sometimes the presenter wrote and drew on the slide to help the participants understand the topic. It was very interesting. Also, I watched a recorded event titled “Web 2.0 Technologies for Teaching and Learning: Using Wiki"by Ludmila Smirnova who is an associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology. These events were very useful to me. Teachers who do not know about technological tools or software can easily learn to use these tools. Even if they do not understand the presentation, they can ask the presenter or other participants in the chat room.

Additionally, there are more ways to communicate with members and to help teachers learn such as posting blogs and videos. Moreover, there are many resource lists and links for technologies in the classroom so teachers can learn and apply them in their own classroom. This is an example (http://wiki.classroom20.com/Blogging). I recommend to educators Classroom 2.0.

After using "Wimba"

I used "Wimba" for the presentation of my project in one of my classes last week. It was my first experience to use the tool.
Wimba is a tool for on-line classroom. We prepared headsets, and then we could talk and listen to each other on the Wimba website. Because it has a simple navigation, I could use easily though it was my first.
There were some impressive functions. I could raise my hand by checking the button shaped a hand. Also, the instructor showed some web sites on my web browser. He controled the browser on my computer! I didn't need to copy and paste the URL on my browser. It was amazing!
The sound was quite clear. We could chat while talking and listening to others. If you have pc cameras, you can see others. It would be more effective class.

[11/25] Bubblus and Cmap tools

I tried 2 concept mapping software: Bubblus and Cmap tools.

I like the bubble shapes and colorful concept of "Bubblus". It is so easy to use and functionally simple so beginners like me use it easily. You should create your concept map in their web site. It offers your own space to save my concept map in the website and also offers read-only link, HTML embeded code, and HTML or image to export.

This is my concept map using Bubblus: http://bubbl.us/view.php?sid=193703&pw=yaJYoqYlfk282MTBUVk13S1ptemRmUQ


At first, you should downloaded the software for using "Cmap tools". It operates on your local server. "Cmap" offers more complicated functions than "Bubblus". You can insert a background image, link URL, make a note, set more detailed style. When finishing your work, you can export the map to some kinds of files such as HTML or JPG.
I exported it as a HTML file and uploaded to my Volspace.

URL: http://web.utk.edu/~sson/tech521/concept_map_seri.html


I failed to accomplish one concept map with these two different tools.

[11/25] Concep Maps in the Classroom

Lesson plans and examples for using concept maps in the classroom

URL: http://www.inspiration.com/Examples/Inspiration

I found this web page on Google with keywords "concept mapping in the classroom".

This site is the official web site of a concept mapping software named "Inspiration". It is not a freeware but this site offers many useful examples and some lesson plans for using concept mapping in the classroom. There are 6 categories in this web page:

• Language Art
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math
• Thinking and Planning
• Multimedia/Web Site

Each category has 10-20 examples (e.g. http://www.inspiration.com/themes/inspiration/example.php) and lesson plans (e.g. http://www.inspiration.com/LessonPlan/Expository) which also consist of various subjects.

I think this is very useful resources. There are about 100 examples for concept mapping ideas so teachers can apply these diverse ideas to their own classes with not this proprietary software but any other freewares.

[Article] Bilingual school gets more seats

Bilingual school gets more seats
Spanish-only curriculum is in high demand

By Jaime Sarrio • THE TENNESSEAN • November 9, 2008

from http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081109/NEWS04/811090411/-1/RSS05

More students will have a shot next year at going to one of Metro Nashville's most in-demand public schools, where a bilingual education is the main attraction.

In fall 2009, Glendale Elementary School will tweak enrollment rules so that more spots will be open in the school's popular immersion program, which teaches math and science courses completely in Spanish.


The program is the only one of its kind in the state and is in high demand by parents who want their children to have a more global view of the world, said Nicole Rodriguez, who teaches fourth grade at Glendale.

"It's an opportunity you can't get anywhere else, and they see the value of appreciating all cultures, but especially Spanish because it is so widespread," she said.

Rodriguez is originally from Minnesota but taught in Spain and Puerto Rico before landing in Nashville. Like most of the teachers at Glendale, she is fluent in Spanish and tries to work her knowledge of foreign countries into lessons throughout the day.

About 300 of the school's 400 students are enrolled in the immersion program, according to Principal Sue Clark. After this school year, students will not be able to opt out and choose an all-English track, which will create more spots for prospective students.

In short, Glendale will be Metro's Spanish-language magnet school.

Every year, there's a waiting list of 100 for every grade level, and because of high demand, the school hasn't admitted anyone out of zone in three years, Clark said.

Currently, parents zoned to attend Glendale can't choose to attend another Metro elementary school unless they file a transfer and can provide transportation.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081109/NEWS04/811090411/-1/RSS05
Under the new plan, students formally zoned to Glendale will be rerouted to Julia Green or Percy Priest elementaries. They still have first priority if they want to attend Glendale, but they have to apply through the magnet lottery, which closes Dec. 5. Seats that don't fill up with students from the Glendale zone will be available for students in the Hillsboro cluster and then the entire city.

The school admits students in kindergarten and first grade only, because the program is too advanced by second grade, Clark said. After grade four, students can continue with the immersion curriculum at J.T. Moore Middle School.

Districts across the country offer immersion schools in languages such as Spanish, French and German.

Culture, art promoted
Glendale opened five years ago based on a model of immersion schools used in Arlington, Va. It was one of the ideas brought to Nashville by former schools chief Pedro Garcia, who quit in January.

The school building, in the city of Oak Hill, was originally built in 1951 and served as a middle school until it was remodeled and converted into Glendale Elementary.

Inside, the school oozes culture and art. Works inspired by Frida Kahlo and other famous painters hang on the walls; dolls in different shapes, sizes and dress decorate bookshelves.

Clark had a big role in crafting the school's vibe and building the tight-knit community. She doesn't claim to be a language expert, but that doesn't stop her from greeting students in the hallway with a warm "buenas tardes" in her buttery Southern accent.

The idea is that the students will learn through conversation and will have a solid grasp of the language to build on by the time they leave Glendale.

"Nashville is becoming a global city, and we have many international people here that want their children to have a global education," she said. "Lots of parents that come through the school are pregnant. They're already looking."

The school has a large gifted program, and 90 percent of students in 2007 passed state tests in math and language arts.

But Clark acknowledges the format is costly. The school buys an extra set of textbooks in Spanish, which costs $50 to $60 each. The school has a supportive Parent Teacher Organization that helps offset the cost.

Allison Henry has a son in kindergarten and a daughter in third grade.

Her father is from Cuba but she never learned Spanish. Now she is happy her children are getting the chance.

"I am so proud of Metro for having an opportunity for us," she said. "I believe we're in a time when we should be welcoming all. After all, this is America."

Contact Jaime Sarrio at 615-726-5964 or jsarrio@tennessean.com.