Media and Its influence on...everyone!

So Christmas is just around the corner...And you defiantly would know it if you have been watching television. They are bombarding our tubes with tons of commercials for electronics, clothes, gadgets, toys, the Dog Snuggie and anything else imaginable. Lately I have been noticing these commercials and how influential they could be on adults and kids alike. One particular company I have noticed that really is promoting their products this year is Gap. Their commericals bother me, and I think it is becuase of the message they are conveying to people...I know lots of commercials are like this, but for some reason these Gap commericals are really getting under my skin this year...Here are the two that I am having issues with...Let me know what your opinion is on these commercials.


2,4,6,8 tis the time to liberate...I don't get it..



This one is for kids...I think this one bothers me the most...

photo blog for November 19th

Photo of an interactive 3-D map made for a second grade social studies unit on African countries. Our country was Zambia..

Photo of me holding my tribal mask made to resemble the masks of the Bembe Tribe in Zambia

Using technology to teach Social Studies

I have been thinking about this topic due to my enrollment in a methods of social studies class. As I have been going through the class I have been learning a couple new ways to integrate social studies with technology, and I have some other great ideas that I have learned along the way..

One thing that I have learned recently is that many websites that are social studies related are very interactive for students. I guess I had a misconception that these sites would be mostly information text and that's about it, but I was wrong. There are some really awesome sites out there that will really intrigue students...Some good ones I have worked with recently include a underground railroad virtual tour and also a Ellis Island Virtual tour.


Another good way to learn about teaching geography can come from working with Google Earth. It is a fun, interactive way to get students working with technology and learning about other areas of the world.

Lisa B. talks about integrating technology into a math classroom, which is also great when looking for ways to use technology in your curriculum..

Esther Wojcicki also talks about using technology in the classroom, and how you can get your school on board.

Technology (or lack there of) in area classrooms

During the week of October 19th-23rd, I went out into a Waterloo school for a week for my level three field experience. I was in a fifth grade classroom in a school that is located in a middle-upper class part of Waterloo, Iowa. I was excited to see what kind of technology was being used in the classroom there, and I was unfortunately unpleasantly surprised.. The fifth grade students only used computers for one thing, which was a typing software program that taught them how to correctly use their fingers for typing. The teacher used power points in the classroom as well, but it was used for students to see notes and copy what was written on the power point into their notebooks. After seeing this, I really wanted to work with the students using some kind of technology. I asked the teacher if I could create a webquest on learning about the newspaper. She didn't really like the idea due to the fact that she would have to continue using the webquest while I was not there, so she didn't use my idea. I felt that she was uncomfortable using technology with students and that is why she didn't want to try the webquest. I think that there are many teachers out there that feel the same way as this particular teacher does, and I think that this needs to be addressed and changed.

Other bloggers tend to agree with what I am talking about..The Evolution of Technology in Schools

Oct. 29th blog..

I came across this video while browsing edutopia.org and it reminded me of the classroom that I was put in for my level three field experience a couple weeks ago. The kids in the classroom that I was in did interpretive dances to model different types of cells. The students thrived when they were asked to do this task and they seemed to really learn a lot about the specific cells they were assigned.



Here is another blog about this type of learning in the classroom..integrating dance, music, and art.

This article actually reminded me of something that one of the leaders of Iowa Island mentioned while we were learning about second life last week.

Solving Real World Problems in a Virtual World

Week of Oct 15th blog post

I thought this was interesting and very true...

Reasons to Contribute to Creative Commons on Flickr