As you may know, I have students send most of their projects to me in email format.
I think I totally forgot to mention why I have them do this. No, it is not easier to read, nor is it easier to grade or anything. No the primary reason I have them send it to me is so I can check for plagiarism.
With todays technology, students easily cut and paste, change a few words here and there, perhaps change a few sentences around and present it as their own.
Well, as soon as I gave them a writing assignment and also gave them the sites on which they should look for information, I knew there were going to be some students who would use the cut, copy, change technique. Enter www.plagiarismdetect.com . This is the easiest website to check for plagiarism and it is totally free. What you do is you sign up, select a text that someone has submitted to you via email (this is key) copy and paste it in this website, hit the button and voila, it'll tell you exactly what is copied etc. It gives you a percentage too. There are 2 modes, one which does a cursory glance and one which does a more indepth search.
Give it a try. it's free!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Week 9 - Thing 23
Yay Last Thing!
I must say I was a little weary about this and decided I would do this to learn about one or two things that could be of interest. Initially, I wasn't going to take this course for credit and already regretted taking on yet one more thing. Hadn't I learned in the Navy that Navy means "Never Again Volunteer Yourself?" Hah! But then I found out I was 2 units shy of the next pay scale and knowing that 1 class at csun would run around $1000 and this one was $200, the math was easy.
So I started doing this thing and to my surprise, I actually learned stuff. How arrogant can one get to think one knows it all?
There are many little things that I learned, many things I knew but had forgotten or dismissed and also a lot of stuff I knew existed but had never used or bothered to look at for fear it I would be obliged to use it.
1) For me the most exiting find was the Zoho suite of programs. My students will now be able to send me math questions without problems.
2) I think SLL 2.0 is an excellent way for people who are not as computer literate (note I didn't say computer illiterate:) as others to quickly get a feel of what is out there.
3) There weren't that many surprises or take aways for me although I thoroughly enjoyed this course.
4) If there was something that could be changed in this program it would probably be this: Initially, I felt there was an awful lot of stuff to do, see and link to etc. If I felt that, I am sure people who are not are tech-savvy as me would have some issues. It takes some education and time to weed out the real information from the garbage information. Perhaps this course should be divided in two parts. The first part is to get to know all the stuff and the second part would be about libraries. Then I would definitely see others take this course. The library stuff, while interesting didn't really apply to me.
5) I found the discovery interesting and diverse and if given the opportunity would probably participate.
6) Interesting and novel approach of getting teachers interested in how students are already using the web.
I must say I was a little weary about this and decided I would do this to learn about one or two things that could be of interest. Initially, I wasn't going to take this course for credit and already regretted taking on yet one more thing. Hadn't I learned in the Navy that Navy means "Never Again Volunteer Yourself?" Hah! But then I found out I was 2 units shy of the next pay scale and knowing that 1 class at csun would run around $1000 and this one was $200, the math was easy.
So I started doing this thing and to my surprise, I actually learned stuff. How arrogant can one get to think one knows it all?
There are many little things that I learned, many things I knew but had forgotten or dismissed and also a lot of stuff I knew existed but had never used or bothered to look at for fear it I would be obliged to use it.
1) For me the most exiting find was the Zoho suite of programs. My students will now be able to send me math questions without problems.
2) I think SLL 2.0 is an excellent way for people who are not as computer literate (note I didn't say computer illiterate:) as others to quickly get a feel of what is out there.
3) There weren't that many surprises or take aways for me although I thoroughly enjoyed this course.
4) If there was something that could be changed in this program it would probably be this: Initially, I felt there was an awful lot of stuff to do, see and link to etc. If I felt that, I am sure people who are not are tech-savvy as me would have some issues. It takes some education and time to weed out the real information from the garbage information. Perhaps this course should be divided in two parts. The first part is to get to know all the stuff and the second part would be about libraries. Then I would definitely see others take this course. The library stuff, while interesting didn't really apply to me.
5) I found the discovery interesting and diverse and if given the opportunity would probably participate.
6) Interesting and novel approach of getting teachers interested in how students are already using the web.
Week 9 - Thing 22
Ebooks and Audio Ebooks.
I love books and when I get into a book, somehow I will find the time, often to the exclusion of other tasks that need done, to finish the book as soon as I can.
This has has some side effects. Firstly, like I mentioned nothing gets done; my eyes start hurting from reading too much. Secondly, I tend get irritable with anyone or anything knowingly or unknowingly preventing me from returning to my book. I hate when a book is finished but also glad it is as I can resume "normal" life. This sometimes leads me not starting a new book because I know the Mr. Hyde it can turn me into.
Ebooks have been around for a long time now and I've listened to a few of them but for some reason could not get into them. I've tried them on a plane, in a car, at home at night etc but for me it doesn't come close to my own interpretation of the voices. Additionally, I find the voices a distraction to the sound of the silence which comes with reading a book. I think Ebooks are fantastic for vision impaired people and applaud those who take the time out to read books into a microphone.
I love books and when I get into a book, somehow I will find the time, often to the exclusion of other tasks that need done, to finish the book as soon as I can.
This has has some side effects. Firstly, like I mentioned nothing gets done; my eyes start hurting from reading too much. Secondly, I tend get irritable with anyone or anything knowingly or unknowingly preventing me from returning to my book. I hate when a book is finished but also glad it is as I can resume "normal" life. This sometimes leads me not starting a new book because I know the Mr. Hyde it can turn me into.
Ebooks have been around for a long time now and I've listened to a few of them but for some reason could not get into them. I've tried them on a plane, in a car, at home at night etc but for me it doesn't come close to my own interpretation of the voices. Additionally, I find the voices a distraction to the sound of the silence which comes with reading a book. I think Ebooks are fantastic for vision impaired people and applaud those who take the time out to read books into a microphone.
Week 9 - Thing 21
Podcasts:
I totally understand the concept of podcasting; how it works, what it does, who uses it etc. I get it, yet I don't get it. I don't see how podcasting would make my life easier, I don't see how I can use podcasting in my classroom.
I looked at some of the examples given and then looked at the definition of podcasting and invariably thought yeah this is cool, but it's not podcasting.
Maybe I am wrong. Here's an example from SLL: Create a tour of the school for new students. This is an excellent job for an activities / leadership class.
I looked at that and then thought, why would I make an audio tour when I, with the same, less even, effort could make a video and post it on youtube?
Currently I post my class notes online. For now, they're pretty much my lesson plans but they indeed help students who missed a class to go back and see what happened that day. I would like to have students "listen" to that but with algebra or mathematics this is pretty hard. A video accompanied with sound of me explaining a concepts would be much more useful right?
So while I get podcasting and that it is small audio files transferred to your listening device through your aggregator, I don't get how I could use it in class.
Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
Please note that I understand and use PodCasts for music files from a recipients perspective.
I totally understand the concept of podcasting; how it works, what it does, who uses it etc. I get it, yet I don't get it. I don't see how podcasting would make my life easier, I don't see how I can use podcasting in my classroom.
I looked at some of the examples given and then looked at the definition of podcasting and invariably thought yeah this is cool, but it's not podcasting.
Maybe I am wrong. Here's an example from SLL: Create a tour of the school for new students. This is an excellent job for an activities / leadership class.
I looked at that and then thought, why would I make an audio tour when I, with the same, less even, effort could make a video and post it on youtube?
Currently I post my class notes online. For now, they're pretty much my lesson plans but they indeed help students who missed a class to go back and see what happened that day. I would like to have students "listen" to that but with algebra or mathematics this is pretty hard. A video accompanied with sound of me explaining a concepts would be much more useful right?
So while I get podcasting and that it is small audio files transferred to your listening device through your aggregator, I don't get how I could use it in class.
Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
Please note that I understand and use PodCasts for music files from a recipients perspective.
Week 9 - Thing 20
Youtube. This is one of the tools in this class I am most familiar with I guess. My kids, those in my class and those at home, always want me to look at this or that video and have done so forever. Sure there's a lot of junk out there but if students really want to be creative, they can post video online for others to see.
There are many people and kids too who have taken some idea and enhanced it one way or the other and all of a sudden hundreds, thousands and even millions of people have seen it. So too it was with the original Numa video which, according to a BBC article dated November 27, 2006, has been seen over 700,000,000 times worldwide.
Not that that particular video is or was one of my favorites, I like to mention it because one could argue that this was one of the videos that made youtube so popular. I had seen it many times before in emails, blogs and forums etc but when it became available on youtube, this thing just exploded. I remember then wanting to buy stock in YouTube when they became an IPO. I kick my self now!
With respect to the classroom, I had students do a video project last year but my instructions were not clear enough. Whereas I did have the permission of most all students' parents for their children to participate in the project, there were too few who actually took it seriously and came up with a decent project. This year I would definitely have better rules and guidelines for the students to follow. I also have more examples of thing which could be done. See the video below :)
There are many people and kids too who have taken some idea and enhanced it one way or the other and all of a sudden hundreds, thousands and even millions of people have seen it. So too it was with the original Numa video which, according to a BBC article dated November 27, 2006, has been seen over 700,000,000 times worldwide.
Not that that particular video is or was one of my favorites, I like to mention it because one could argue that this was one of the videos that made youtube so popular. I had seen it many times before in emails, blogs and forums etc but when it became available on youtube, this thing just exploded. I remember then wanting to buy stock in YouTube when they became an IPO. I kick my self now!
With respect to the classroom, I had students do a video project last year but my instructions were not clear enough. Whereas I did have the permission of most all students' parents for their children to participate in the project, there were too few who actually took it seriously and came up with a decent project. This year I would definitely have better rules and guidelines for the students to follow. I also have more examples of thing which could be done. See the video below :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Week 8 - Thing 19
The Library Thing
Hmm.. interesting. Both my wife and I are avid readers when we're not in school ourselves and we tend to keep the hardcovers we buy while storing the soft covers. We have accumulated several thousand books over the years and I think it would be an interesting thing to actually catalog.
But that's where it would end. For me it would be an interesting excersize but would I go on library thing and see what other people thought about some book or other? I am not sure yet. I like to go to book stores and see what's new and I check online to see if some of my own authors have released or are about to release a new book. Then, I rarely look at people's comments good or bad to determine if I should buy a book or not. I'd buy it, read it and put it in my library (read book case).
Yet I can see where as previously I wouldn't comment on books to others as most would not be interested in having my views or tastes pushed in their faces to actually post a comment or two in this library thing. It is quite different when people are actually looking for others' opinions.
I don't know about this yet for my purposes. When I get more time to read and I run out of obvious books I want to read, I may make a more informed choice and to help me make this I might just use this feature!
Hmm.. interesting. Both my wife and I are avid readers when we're not in school ourselves and we tend to keep the hardcovers we buy while storing the soft covers. We have accumulated several thousand books over the years and I think it would be an interesting thing to actually catalog.
But that's where it would end. For me it would be an interesting excersize but would I go on library thing and see what other people thought about some book or other? I am not sure yet. I like to go to book stores and see what's new and I check online to see if some of my own authors have released or are about to release a new book. Then, I rarely look at people's comments good or bad to determine if I should buy a book or not. I'd buy it, read it and put it in my library (read book case).
Yet I can see where as previously I wouldn't comment on books to others as most would not be interested in having my views or tastes pushed in their faces to actually post a comment or two in this library thing. It is quite different when people are actually looking for others' opinions.
I don't know about this yet for my purposes. When I get more time to read and I run out of obvious books I want to read, I may make a more informed choice and to help me make this I might just use this feature!
Week 8 - Thing 18
Warning * Warning * Long Post * Warning * Warning (ok so most others were long too!)
Open source programs are programs that are free and people can add and modify the source code to their liking for the benefit of others.
There used to be a time when such programs were like "eh, nice but I'll stick to the real programs!"
Open source software has come a long way and Zoho writer is an excellent example as to what collaborative effort can accomplish. Zoho writer is a free, browser based text editor with many of the capabilities of Microsoft Word.
As a math teacher I've grappled with different ways to have my students submit questions to me online in either a blog, a forum or even in an online blackboard/classroom setting. The biggest problem being that students have a hard time posing the question mathematically correct and, more importantly, readable.
So the student might want help with solving equations for a certain variable. Now how is s/he going to ask this question if s/he can't even type it without going through some serious extended learning?
Word has a rudimentary add on called "MS Equation Editor" however it is a pain in the butt to learn and operate, let alone teach. Furthermore, it comes standard on the Windows version but not on the Mac version. Still, it is fancy enough for me to easily write a test or a quiz and it looks good. I've always looked for ways to make this available to my students so they could submit questions either through emails, blogs etc but also so they could use it on vocab projects and the like. My search is over!
The Zoho writer has an easy to use equation editor anyone can use with very limited training. Take a look at this example
Took me like 2 seconds to write. What this editor does is actually create an image on the fly. But unlike the MS word equation editor, it actually shows you the LaTex code.
Now you may ask what is LaTex. This is the code that allows you to type a regular string of characters and it changes to what you see in the image. For instance, for the above image, I would have to type \frac{ \sqrt{2x+4}-23}{4x+2}=14 in a LaTex editor to do that.
I can see you ask now, so how is this helpful? Well, I like online quiz programs such as can be found at Quia.com to get my students extra help before test time. The problem was always to create readable math quizzes took a lot of extra effort because all the questions needed to be hand entered using LaTex in the scripted format above. Now, with this Zoho, I can just copy and paste it and my quizzes should take a 10th of the time to do them.
Now, Zoho has other applications such as a spread sheet, a presentation program, a calendar, a planner and, now also a database program. All for free.
I've looked at the modules and I am impressed with the depth of the program. The question then is, is it as good as Microsoft Word? It depends entirely what your skill is and what your needs are. If you use Word as a glorified typewriter and create basic documents with general graphichs, fonts, perhaps some publishing then absolutely yes. If you're a medium user and use Word to integrate with other modular software from MS then maybe but if you're a heavy user and I don't consider myself one at all then probably not. This would mean if you're an integrator/designer/software engineer etc.
So is there a disadvantage to this program? What happens if the power goes off? I actually managed to crash my internet in the middle of writing this entry and thought "OK this is a reason I might not use it!" but to my surprise and delight, it actually saved it by itself and when I reopened the program my untitled document was there completely intact! Wow, even the mac version of Word doesn't have that. (After all Macs don't Crash right? LMAO, ya right!)
Long story short, give it a try. You might like it!
Open source programs are programs that are free and people can add and modify the source code to their liking for the benefit of others.
There used to be a time when such programs were like "eh, nice but I'll stick to the real programs!"
Open source software has come a long way and Zoho writer is an excellent example as to what collaborative effort can accomplish. Zoho writer is a free, browser based text editor with many of the capabilities of Microsoft Word.
As a math teacher I've grappled with different ways to have my students submit questions to me online in either a blog, a forum or even in an online blackboard/classroom setting. The biggest problem being that students have a hard time posing the question mathematically correct and, more importantly, readable.
So the student might want help with solving equations for a certain variable. Now how is s/he going to ask this question if s/he can't even type it without going through some serious extended learning?
Word has a rudimentary add on called "MS Equation Editor" however it is a pain in the butt to learn and operate, let alone teach. Furthermore, it comes standard on the Windows version but not on the Mac version. Still, it is fancy enough for me to easily write a test or a quiz and it looks good. I've always looked for ways to make this available to my students so they could submit questions either through emails, blogs etc but also so they could use it on vocab projects and the like. My search is over!
The Zoho writer has an easy to use equation editor anyone can use with very limited training. Take a look at this example
Took me like 2 seconds to write. What this editor does is actually create an image on the fly. But unlike the MS word equation editor, it actually shows you the LaTex code.
Now you may ask what is LaTex. This is the code that allows you to type a regular string of characters and it changes to what you see in the image. For instance, for the above image, I would have to type \frac{ \sqrt{2x+4}-23}{4x+2}=14 in a LaTex editor to do that.
I can see you ask now, so how is this helpful? Well, I like online quiz programs such as can be found at Quia.com to get my students extra help before test time. The problem was always to create readable math quizzes took a lot of extra effort because all the questions needed to be hand entered using LaTex in the scripted format above. Now, with this Zoho, I can just copy and paste it and my quizzes should take a 10th of the time to do them.
Now, Zoho has other applications such as a spread sheet, a presentation program, a calendar, a planner and, now also a database program. All for free.
I've looked at the modules and I am impressed with the depth of the program. The question then is, is it as good as Microsoft Word? It depends entirely what your skill is and what your needs are. If you use Word as a glorified typewriter and create basic documents with general graphichs, fonts, perhaps some publishing then absolutely yes. If you're a medium user and use Word to integrate with other modular software from MS then maybe but if you're a heavy user and I don't consider myself one at all then probably not. This would mean if you're an integrator/designer/software engineer etc.
So is there a disadvantage to this program? What happens if the power goes off? I actually managed to crash my internet in the middle of writing this entry and thought "OK this is a reason I might not use it!" but to my surprise and delight, it actually saved it by itself and when I reopened the program my untitled document was there completely intact! Wow, even the mac version of Word doesn't have that. (After all Macs don't Crash right? LMAO, ya right!)
Long story short, give it a try. You might like it!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Week 7 - Thing 16 & 17
Wikis. Wiki's are a great addition to the internet. The most famous of them is of course Wikipedia, the online library that grows and is updated daily. That is of course the advantage and the disadvantage at the same time. Everyone and anyone can make changes and while most of the information requires citations and sources, there are many articles which only reflect the opinion of the contributor. While to some extent this is true also in the case of traditional encyclopedia's, the latter go through a much more rigorous editing process than the wikipedia.
For much of the information, wikipedia suffices but like in all cases, sources need to be verified before accepting information as fact.
I have used wiki's in a school setting at CSUN and I am ambivalent about its use. On the one hand I like the idea of being able to make corrections to someones wiki but on the other hand I hate the idea of messing with someones post just because my view is different. Even though the original author will get a notification of the change and may reverse the change, this can become a lot of work in a hurry if one is a prolific wiki-er. Also, I don't know if I really want to change someone's wiki other than perhaps fix some spelling errors. Conversely, I don't know if I want someone else to change my contributions.
Overall though, I think wiki's can be a lot of fun for many of the reasons posted on the sll2.0 site. for note taking in class, it is wonderful. Students who were not there that day can go there and find info they would not otherwise have. If all students collaborate on this and add/modify/clarify from their own notes, this can be tremendously useful.
As an idea I posted the following :
Idea #59: I see a lot of ideas for language arts, social science and other writing intensive subjects but none for math. As a simple idea, students can share different ways they know how to solve problems. The teacher can give one topic per week and students can add/correct/modify their way of doing things. There are so many students from different backgrounds with so many different ways to solve problems..Having received my own math education in the Netherlands, I can see first hand how things are done differently in different countries. One just as valid as the other. It could help students to see how things are solved using different methods and techniques and if they like one method better than the other, then all power to them!
For much of the information, wikipedia suffices but like in all cases, sources need to be verified before accepting information as fact.
I have used wiki's in a school setting at CSUN and I am ambivalent about its use. On the one hand I like the idea of being able to make corrections to someones wiki but on the other hand I hate the idea of messing with someones post just because my view is different. Even though the original author will get a notification of the change and may reverse the change, this can become a lot of work in a hurry if one is a prolific wiki-er. Also, I don't know if I really want to change someone's wiki other than perhaps fix some spelling errors. Conversely, I don't know if I want someone else to change my contributions.
Overall though, I think wiki's can be a lot of fun for many of the reasons posted on the sll2.0 site. for note taking in class, it is wonderful. Students who were not there that day can go there and find info they would not otherwise have. If all students collaborate on this and add/modify/clarify from their own notes, this can be tremendously useful.
As an idea I posted the following :
Idea #59: I see a lot of ideas for language arts, social science and other writing intensive subjects but none for math. As a simple idea, students can share different ways they know how to solve problems. The teacher can give one topic per week and students can add/correct/modify their way of doing things. There are so many students from different backgrounds with so many different ways to solve problems..Having received my own math education in the Netherlands, I can see first hand how things are done differently in different countries. One just as valid as the other. It could help students to see how things are solved using different methods and techniques and if they like one method better than the other, then all power to them!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Week 6 - Thing 15
Library 2.0 Thoughts
I read the "Away from the “icebergs”" article and found it interesting albeit a bit one sided. I agree that certain aspects of libraries change.
The icebergs we're supposed to avoid are the collection of books someone may at some point want to read.
Such material is indeed space wasting as such can easily be found online.
Another potential iceberg is that currently libraries staff is not adequately trained to help out customers in todays technology. If library 2.0 is to take of, librarians need to be teachers not only in research methods and the like but also in computer technology.
The last iceberg mentioned is the one where the library needs to go to the people rather than force people to come to the library. Having a web presence is where one can search, read, research etc. for free is a must for libraries to survive.
In another article "To a temporary place in time...", Dr. Wendy Schultz claims there is not only library 2.0 but also 3.0 and 4.0. In the last, library 4.0 she states:
"But Library 4.0 will add a new mode, knowledge spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thought. In companies, this may take the form of retreat space for thought leaders, considered an investment in innovation; in public libraries, the luxurious details will require private partners as sponsors providing the sensory treats. Library 4.0 revives the old image of a country house library, and renovates it: from a retreat, a sanctuary, a pampered experience with information—subtle thoughts, fine words, exquisite brandy, smooth coffee, aromatic cigar, smell of leather, rustle of pages—to the dream economy’s library, the LIBRARY: a WiFREE space, a retreat from technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt. You know, the library."
This is how I've always seen libraries, a place to borrow books sure but also a place to study, alone or with friends, primarily to find a place of solitude, a place I knew where everyone understood to be quiet; a special place to hide from the daily hustle and bustle of normal life.
And no matter how advanced the technology, I think even far into the future people will read books as they are today for enjoyment.
I read the "Away from the “icebergs”" article and found it interesting albeit a bit one sided. I agree that certain aspects of libraries change.
The icebergs we're supposed to avoid are the collection of books someone may at some point want to read.
Such material is indeed space wasting as such can easily be found online.
Another potential iceberg is that currently libraries staff is not adequately trained to help out customers in todays technology. If library 2.0 is to take of, librarians need to be teachers not only in research methods and the like but also in computer technology.
The last iceberg mentioned is the one where the library needs to go to the people rather than force people to come to the library. Having a web presence is where one can search, read, research etc. for free is a must for libraries to survive.
In another article "To a temporary place in time...", Dr. Wendy Schultz claims there is not only library 2.0 but also 3.0 and 4.0. In the last, library 4.0 she states:
"But Library 4.0 will add a new mode, knowledge spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thought. In companies, this may take the form of retreat space for thought leaders, considered an investment in innovation; in public libraries, the luxurious details will require private partners as sponsors providing the sensory treats. Library 4.0 revives the old image of a country house library, and renovates it: from a retreat, a sanctuary, a pampered experience with information—subtle thoughts, fine words, exquisite brandy, smooth coffee, aromatic cigar, smell of leather, rustle of pages—to the dream economy’s library, the LIBRARY: a WiFREE space, a retreat from technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt. You know, the library."
This is how I've always seen libraries, a place to borrow books sure but also a place to study, alone or with friends, primarily to find a place of solitude, a place I knew where everyone understood to be quiet; a special place to hide from the daily hustle and bustle of normal life.
And no matter how advanced the technology, I think even far into the future people will read books as they are today for enjoyment.
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