Comments for Mrs. Simonsen.com http://www.mrssimonsen.com Lakeville Community Schools Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:45:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Three things to remember… by Christina Giardini http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=39&cpage=1#comment-35 Christina Giardini Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:45:13 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=39#comment-35 I think you are very right about having to be patient when using technology. As you said, technology does not always work the way we anticipate. How many times have you been in the middle of doing something on a computer and it starts doing things you don’t want it to do? Sometimes technology really does have a mind of its own, which can be problematic when one is depending on it for something important, such as typing and saving a paper or, in our case, teaching lessons. It is important to remember that it can have faults, but in the long run it will have many potential positives that will outweigh the negatives. I think you are very right about having to be patient when using technology. As you said, technology does not always work the way we anticipate. How many times have you been in the middle of doing something on a computer and it starts doing things you don’t want it to do? Sometimes technology really does have a mind of its own, which can be problematic when one is depending on it for something important, such as typing and saving a paper or, in our case, teaching lessons. It is important to remember that it can have faults, but in the long run it will have many potential positives that will outweigh the negatives.

]]> Comment on Student E-Mail by Stewart MacLean http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=27&cpage=1#comment-34 Stewart MacLean Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:57:00 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=27#comment-34 I agree with you about the dangers of student e-mail and chat. Especially in hormone prone High Schoolers :) There are alternatives to Blackboard though if you are still interested in student emails. My school uses http://gaggle.net/ Overall, I’ve come to like Gaggle. While its interface is slow and alloying at times, its administrator features are great. While it can’t scan an email for contextually created insults, it can filter out basic threats and inappropriate language. If the filter flags an email, it automatically forwards it to an administrator. On the topic in general, I do like having the ability to email a student. Last year, I used my Gaggle account to send out monthly emails individualized to each class. I didn’t get much feedback from them on if they even read it; however I did notice that specific due dates and various materials were forgotten less. I agree with you about the dangers of student e-mail and chat. Especially in hormone prone High Schoolers :)

There are alternatives to Blackboard though if you are still interested in student emails. My school uses http://gaggle.net/
Overall, I’ve come to like Gaggle. While its interface is slow and alloying at times, its administrator features are great. While it can’t scan an email for contextually created insults, it can filter out basic threats and inappropriate language. If the filter flags an email, it automatically forwards it to an administrator.

On the topic in general, I do like having the ability to email a student. Last year, I used my Gaggle account to send out monthly emails individualized to each class. I didn’t get much feedback from them on if they even read it; however I did notice that specific due dates and various materials were forgotten less.

]]> Comment on Facebook and Twitter by neicy927 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-33 neicy927 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:41:33 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35#comment-33 Facebook and Twitter have both fused themselves – possibly permanently – into all of our lives. Major companies, institutions, colleges and universities, churches, groups, organizations and the like have all created pages to connect with their various audiences. It was only a matter of time before individual educators would see the benefits of posting information in one if not both of these places. The Central Michigan University Blackboard is also connected to Facebook (yes, I’ve added the link to my personal page). I beleive this is a great place to share, exchange, update and present information. the only couple of drawbacks I can see futuristically are the fact that Facebook is threatening to charge for it’s services and there are many viruses that are beginning to attach themselves to the application. Facebook and Twitter have both fused themselves – possibly permanently – into all of our lives. Major companies, institutions, colleges and universities, churches, groups, organizations and the like have all created pages to connect with their various audiences. It was only a matter of time before individual educators would see the benefits of posting information in one if not both of these places. The Central Michigan University Blackboard is also connected to Facebook (yes, I’ve added the link to my personal page).
I beleive this is a great place to share, exchange, update and present information. the only couple of drawbacks I can see futuristically are the fact that Facebook is threatening to charge for it’s services and there are many viruses that are beginning to attach themselves to the application.

]]> Comment on Cell Phones by Dianne http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-31 Dianne Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:27:45 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31#comment-31 These are valid points. Cell phones are a major distraction and do not belong in the classroom. I am not saying that students should not have cell phones. I think they are certainly important at certain times but they do not belong behind the wheel while driving or in the classroom while learning should be taking place. They have their own time and place. These are valid points. Cell phones are a major distraction and do not belong in the classroom. I am not saying that students should not have cell phones. I think they are certainly important at certain times but they do not belong behind the wheel while driving or in the classroom while learning should be taking place. They have their own time and place.

]]> Comment on Google Wave by Josie http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=24&cpage=1#comment-30 Josie Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:09:06 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=24#comment-30 Wow, never thought about it like that-chatting on blackboard. Leave it to the young minds to figure out everything. They are not afraid of trying out anything. Being that this was unusual for this student, I hope that his punishment was not too harsh. I think both side learned something new and the student who did that can be credited for the lesson taught. Could’ve been a lot worst. I learned something from this as well. Thanks Wow, never thought about it like that-chatting on blackboard. Leave it to the young minds to figure out everything. They are not afraid of trying out anything. Being that this was unusual for this student, I hope that his punishment was not too harsh. I think both side learned something new and the student who did that can be credited for the lesson taught. Could’ve been a lot worst. I learned something from this as well. Thanks

]]> Comment on Cell Phones by jcsimonsen http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-29 jcsimonsen Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:05:20 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31#comment-29 You make a good point. We need to look for long term solutions rather than short term ones. You make a good point. We need to look for long term solutions rather than short term ones.

]]> Comment on Facebook and Twitter by jcsimonsen http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-28 jcsimonsen Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:04:41 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35#comment-28 Thank you for the compliment to him. I'll relay that. He is a great inspiration to me when it comes to technology. Thank you for the compliment to him. I’ll relay that. He is a great inspiration to me when it comes to technology.

]]> Comment on Facebook and Twitter by s.heffelbower http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-27 s.heffelbower Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:12:42 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=35#comment-27 What an awesome site he has established to both help his students and hold them accountable at the same time. I am always looking for new ways to combat the “I forgot” and “I didn't have it” excuses. I too am both excited and skeptical of how technology plays out in our classrooms. He appears to have found a way to harness many of the mediums we tend to fear. I would be interested in how he prevents online vandalism, as that is the biggest risk we take when we give students the opportunity to participate in such communities. Thanks for sharing. I think this is where we are headed in education and he is clearly embracing these changes. What an awesome site he has established to both help his students and hold them accountable at the same time. I am always looking for new ways to combat the “I forgot” and “I didn’t have it” excuses. I too am both excited and skeptical of how technology plays out in our classrooms. He appears to have found a way to harness many of the mediums we tend to fear. I would be interested in how he prevents online vandalism, as that is the biggest risk we take when we give students the opportunity to participate in such communities. Thanks for sharing. I think this is where we are headed in education and he is clearly embracing these changes.

]]> Comment on Cell Phones by s.heffelbower http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-26 s.heffelbower Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:34:47 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31#comment-26 The key to this debate, as well as the one over i-Pods, is one of delayed gratification. There is a time and a place for texting and it is neither behind the driver's seat nor in a desk chair. We somehow have to teach students why they cannot use their cell phones during class. Until they actually have an appreciation of the negative effects of using cell phones at inappropriate times, teenagers are going to continue to fight for what they see as their right to use their cell phones all the time. While we wait for this epiphany, I think the only solution is for schools to be very clear about expectations and consequences with both students and parents and follow through with them. The key to this debate, as well as the one over i-Pods, is one of delayed gratification. There is a time and a place for texting and it is neither behind the driver’s seat nor in a desk chair. We somehow have to teach students why they cannot use their cell phones during class. Until they actually have an appreciation of the negative effects of using cell phones at inappropriate times, teenagers are going to continue to fight for what they see as their right to use their cell phones all the time. While we wait for this epiphany, I think the only solution is for schools to be very clear about expectations and consequences with both students and parents and follow through with them.

]]> Comment on Cell Phones by jcsimonsen http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-25 jcsimonsen Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:38:08 +0000 http://www.mrssimonsen.com/?p=31#comment-25 Julie~ I agree that the cell phone is a good communication tool. You're right, we all need to work together on this issue. Thank you for supporting discipline even when it's inconvenient. We need more parents like you! :) Julie~

I agree that the cell phone is a good communication tool. You’re right, we all need to work together on this issue. Thank you for supporting discipline even when it’s inconvenient. We need more parents like you! :)

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