Think Aloud

Angeline,thinkaloud from JadeAngeline8

Double Entry # 12

Chapter 6: Analyzing Students' Multimodal Texts: The Product and the Process

1. Why do educators need to be careful about  terms like "Digital Native"?
It is generalizing the entire generation as a single, "homogenous" group.

2. What outcome occurs when young people are encouraged to transform their understanding of particular topics by designing a multimodal text?
Creating and designing multimodal text brings about "positive and enhanced" outcomes. Creativity in this way boosts and enhances learning.

3. You may skip the section titled "Context for the Project".

4. What was the goal of the project in terms of product?
The students would create a multimodal project for comparison at the beginning of the two year study, and at the end would be used for comparison.

5. What was the goal of the project in terms of process?
The goal of was to expand on the understanding of how multimodal texts are created, especially when students were working in pairs.

6. How were the participants fro the study selected?
115 Students from 14 secondary schools who were all studying the same subject, Study of Society and the Environment, were selected and they were studied for two years. After the two year observation was complete, the data and output of the students were reviewed, and the 10 students were chosen who best represented the group as a whole.

7.  Describe the task students engage is for the purpose of this study?
The first task required students to evaluate possible solutions in response to the threats to the environment of plastic bags. The second task was the same, but with global warming as the threat.

8. Explain how the researchers compared the student created multimodal texts?
The texts were compared based on three criteria; design, content, and cohesion.

9. What differences in Jenny's PowerPoint presentation do you find the most interesting?
I thought it was very interesting that the way she presented her argument it was such a change. She was able to tell the reader/viewer, without a doubt what her opinion on the matter was.

10. How is working together on a computer unlike working together using a pencil and paper?
There is a large time difference. It is faster to do reaseach online and to type and word things is more of a conflict I think. However in their reaserch time for the computer to respond was a large problem.

11. What was interesting about student's behavior as they collaborated on a task at the computer?
There was quite a bit of off-topic discussion, but with this one pair, most of the off-topic discussion took place while waiting on the computer to respond.

12. What can teacher learn about designing learning activities that involve the creation of multimodal texts from this study?
They can learn that when designing these type of activities, it is important to lay them out so that the students are learning the skills that the teacher wants them to learn. With so many choices for multimodal projects, it's important that students are spending their time making decisions important to the lesson.

13. According the the conclusion of this study, what do student need to learn in order to successful complete a multimodal text construction?
Students need to have traditional educational skills, such as spelling, sentence construction, analysis, synthesis, organization of ideas, summation, time management skills, and being able to stay on task and need to develop critical, evaluative and editorial skills.

14. Are you surprised by the conclusions drawn in this study?
I am definitely not surprised by the results.

Value

Was the page worth visiting? Does the site offer anything informative, substantial, or insightful? Is the site free of spelling and grammatical errors?

This site was worth visiting because it is informative, substantial and insightful. It uses a good quantity and quality government facts that I had very looked into before.  It is very well written without spelling and grammatical errors. 

Coverage

Is your topic being addressed? Is the information basic and cursory or detailed and scholarly? Explain the major argument being made.
The topic is being addressed the convicts are receiving poor heath care , the information is detailed and scholarly. She uses facts based on the law and government documentation. 

Currency

When was the information on the page originally written? Has the site been kept up-to-date?

This information was posted on July 21 2012 and has not been updated sense. however her facts are still up to date and valid. 

Questions

• What is the author's / speaker's socio-political position? With what social, political, or professional groups is the speaker identified?

The speaker identifies with a professional group because she keeps herself out of it. She is thinking of the people in Jail. 

• Does the speaker have anything to gain personally from delivering the message?

Not that I can find from the information given and the research I have tried to do on her. 

• Who is paying for the message? Where does the message appear? What is the bias of the medium? Who stands to gain?

The Washington Post's website pays for and displays the message. The bias seems to be toward the inmates. They are the ones standing to gain.

• What sources does the speaker use, and how credible are they? Does the speaker cite statistics? If so, how were the data gathered, who gathered the data, and are the data being presented fully?

The author cites government documents such as the 8th amendment and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and they are all linked in the article; no statistics were cited. 

• How does the speaker present arguments? Is the message one-sided, or does it include alternative points of view? Does the speaker fairly present alternative arguments? Does the speaker ignore obviously conflicting arguments?

The speaker presents the argument professionally giving both sides of view but mostly using facts from our government documentation. She seems to touch base on both sides of the argument but being toward the inmate. 

• If the message includes alternative points of view, how are those views characterized? Does the speaker use positive words and images to describe his/her point of view and negative words and images to describe other points of view? Does the speaker ascribe positive motivations to his/her point of view and negative motivations to alternative points of view?

She does view both sides of the article but is looking at the poor health care for the inmates in jail. She uses a tone that is negative on how the inmates are being treated health wise. 

Accuracy

I trust this information because she sights who and where she gets her information from and it isn't all opinion based however she is leaning toward the side of the convicts. It also backs up what I already know on the situation of health care in prisons.

Evaluating Web Pages Worksheet

Evaluating Web Pages Worksheet

Title of web page Washington Post
URL of the web page http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/privatized-prison-health-care-scrutinized/2012/07/21/gJQAgsp70W_story.html
What can you tell about this web page from the URL? It is a cretible new source
Authority
Is there an author of the document or web page? If yes, who is the author?	Yes Kimberly Leonard,
Are his/her affiliations and qualifications given? If yes, list them.	No
Is contact information provided (address, phone number, email)?	Yes
Who is the publisher or sponsoring organization for this web page?	The Washington Post
Accuracy
Do you trust the information given on the web page? Is it reliable and valid?	Yes it is mostly quotes and veiews of both sides
Does the web page document its sources? In other words, does it tell you where the information comes from?	yes
How does the information on the web page compare with what you already know?	It is correct to what I already know.
Currency
Does the web page tell you when it was created and last revised?	July 21, 2012
Are there outdated (dead) links?                                   No
Coverage
What is the depth and breadth of the information on the web page?	She talks in detail about the rights of the Convicts.
Does it contain original information or just links to other sources?	Yes
Does the information have real value? Explain.	Yes, It goes into detail.
Objectivity
What is the web page's purpose or intent? Why was it created? It is a news page to give people facts about what is going on in the United States.
• inform/facts/data • explain • persuade • sell/advertise • share/disclose • other
Is the information biased? Is it designed to sway opinion? From whose perspective is it given? She is for the convicts having heath care. An outsiders

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/24/free-market-tooth-fairies.html

Authority

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/privatized-prison-health-care-scrutinized/2012/07/21/gJQAgsp70W_story.html
It is a News article was written by Kimberly Leonard she is a Journalist for The Washington Post. She uses a lot of sighted research from both sides of the argument but is on the side of the convicts and it is possible to email her but their is no information on her on the page. 

Double Journal entry #11

Why are networks better than hierarchies?

Networks are better because they adapt quickly and are much more flexible than hierarchies

What is a nation state and how is it being threatened?
 
     The new world economy and demographic forces are causing the economic and environmental systems to overflow the geographic borders of the nation-states. This causes the political system to weaken.

How is civil society gaining legitimacy over government agencies? Give an example of a NGO (Non-Government Agency) whose goals and services you think are beneficial to solving global problems.

Civil society, including non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, religious organizations, and unions, is becoming more powerful by the minute. One reason is because of its use of new technologies. Technology is making it easier to form, run, and recruit new members for civil society groups. The grassroots feel of these types of groups are make them seem more personal than governments. One example of an NGO is the Wikimedia Foundation. The Wikimedia Foundation is responsible for Wikipedia, and was ranked #1 in The Global Journal's Top 100 Best NGOs.

How can business be a helpful global enforcer?

Large global corporations have both the knowledge and the money to invest in research and concepts and charities to help the world. They also have the advantage over governments in that they are global, and governments are not. They can extend their hands much further than governments can.

What can too much economic and social change lead to?

It can lead to a backlash caused by too many people being left behind in the economic change.

What Global Issue concerns you the most? Why?

I believe that the inconsistency in new technologies across the globe is troubling. The fact that here in the United States we have access to the internet, and cell phones, and good food and clean water and medicine and hospital care, and that some people in the United States don't have any of those things, is disturbing.

Double Entry Journal #10

Chapter #3: Students, the Net Generation, and Digital Natives 1. What is the fundamental problem with the discourses around children's use of technology?  Prensky believes it fails to reflect the diversity and complexity to be found in real lives, and can have real impacts on the way these views are taken up and embedded in policy. 2. What is meant by the term "moral panic"? Link to an image, online article, cartoon, or some other resource that depicts the "moral panic" associated with young people's use of digital technologies. The term "moral panic"describes conditions in which an identified group in society is portrayed as a threat to social values and norms ie. digital natives. 3. How do you feel about engaging in more "collaborative learning" during your education at Fairmont State? I think that engaging in collaborative learning can be a good thing if it is done in a setting where all the students care. In a lot of cases not all students do and it is more on the ones that do. It has many good effects and gets the information across if done well  4. Do you think Universities should move to a more free-market based privatization business model? Why?  Yes, because although I like face to face interaction some people just do not show for class and that is a very sad truth.  5. According to the author what is wrong with Prenskey's revised position on his definition of "digital native"? Do you agree with this authors criticism of Prenskey's view of the role technology plays in the education of young people? Prenskey's revised position on digital natives suggests that digital enhancement is essential, however, it moves beyond a straightforward divide between immigrants and natives, digital enhancement must be accepted to succeed. No, because he doesn't look at the advancing technology. 6. What are the characteristics of Millennial? Are you a Millennial?The characteristics of a Millennial include: digital and technologically affluent, part of long-term processes rooted in human history, biology, and culture and to have core values that include community, technology, and affluence. Yes, I feel that I am a millennial because I am becoming more digitally and technologically knowledgeable. 7. Do you think there is such a thing as the "Net Generation"? Why? Why not? Yes, because we grew up with the technolgy, I honestly wouldn't know what to do without it. 8. What is meant by the term "networked individualism"? Castells describes the social form taken by the network society as networked individualism.  The concept allows for sociability through diverse geographical locations through networks that have weak ties.  9. How would you feel about Fairmont State discontinuing the use of Blackboard and Webmail to using Gmail and Google tools? I would love it because Blackboard sucks and web mail isn't usable on some tablets. 10. Why does the term "Digital Native" persist despite lack of empirical evidence of age related difference due to rapid increase of digital technologies? The term "Digital Native" persists because stereotyping is needed in order to reduce complexity and to apply simplified rules of thumb.  11. Who societal sector seems to be benefiting the most from the social construction of a "Digital Native" generation?  The commercial and market interests are benefiting from selling technology based items to the Digital Natives so that they can keep up with their the Net Generation, and the Net Generation is constantly looking for digital upgrades.  12. Which argument about "digital natives" needs to be discarded and which one needs to be explored? Why?

 The idea that technology simply determines the outlook of an entire generation should be discarded; and the idea that the variety among young people and the patterns that arise in relation to their use of technologies need to be explored. 

Double Entry Journal #9

1. Why is inflation less of a concern in the new world economy?

It is not a problem because a less inflation-prone environment has been created by technological revolutions in the past and present.  Economies are able to predict and combat inflation much easier than before.

2.What is the difference between a negative feedback economy and a positive feedback economy?

Negative feedback is whenever equilibrium is restored at a lower level of demand.  Positive feedback is when additional capacity becomes available so quickly and inexpensively that traditional supply restraints become unimportant.

3. Give an example of how new technologies can provide developing countries with an opportunity to catch-up with modern economies?

I think being able to combat and predict inflation would definitely help development of developing countries.

4. What is one prediction the author made concerning the new economy that appears to be true?

Everything is so interconnected.  If there is a problem in one spot, it ripples to the next and the next.....

5. Why is excessive trust in free-market economies promoted by free-market fundamentalists a cause for concern?

There are no regulations, not ways to control the economy.

6. Read and Link to a Website that provides information about regulation and markets. Based on the information provided in the website, what is your position on markets and regulations? Then list two questions you have about markets and regulation.

http://www.policymic.com/debates/3924/government-regulations-help-markets-work-better
I think that regulation is important..  It's important to have rules in a market.

1. What major effect do regulations have on the economy?
2.  How strict are certain regulations?

7. What is the cause of the crisis of complexity in the new world economy?

Population increase. 

Double Entry Journal #8

1.     What was the term “Digital Native” meant to be used as?

The “Digital Native” was intended to be a metaphor for describing the differences that many people observed, around the turn of the twenty-first century, between the attitudes of younger and older people regarding digital technology (Thomas).

2.     According to the author what are the characteristics associated with Digital Natives?

Digital Natives have more comfort with digital technology, their beliefs in its ease, its usefulness, and its being generally benign, and about their seeing technology as a fun “partner” that they can master, without much effort, if they are shown or choose to (Thomas).

3.     Do you consider yourself a Digital Native?

I do, however I tend to be slightly behind some of my peers. 

4.     What is Digital Wisdom?

Digital wisdom is a two fold concept, referring both to wisdom of digital technology to access cognitive power beyond our innate capacity and to wisdom in the prudent use of technology to enhance our capabilities (Thomas).

5.     How does the author define “wisdom”?

The author defines “wisdom” as the ability to find practical, creative, contextually appropriate, and emotionally satisfying solutions to complicated human problems (Thomas).

6.     How can technology enhance our Wisdom? Give three examples from the chapter? 

It gives us a source of information outside of our own minds. 

1.)   Enhancing Our Access to Data

2.)   Enhancing Our Insight into Others

3.)   Enhancing Our Access to Alternate perspective

7.     What concerns did Socrates have about the technology of writing?

In Plato’s The Phaedrus, Socrates objected to writing on the basis that it undermines the memory, that writing would diminish ones memory (Thomas).   

8.     How can teachers practice Digital Wisdom?

By using it everyday with their students. 

9.     The author states that he is “…opposed to those who claim the unenhanced mind and unaided thinking are somehow superior to the enhanced mind.” Are you? Why or why not?

No I am not. I am Not at all superior to anything   

Resources:

News Article on Technology Tradeoff

Above is a link to a news article that analyzes the effects of the Internet on the human mind. I felt it appropriate sense I was speaking of the tradeoff that technology poses in peoples everyday life.

Thomas, M. (2011). Deconstructing the Digital Natives. New York: Routledge.

Skype Review

I loved the Skype talk with the kids. I feel it showed our class that you have to go with it when technology doesn't want to work. I loved the students talking to us because you could tell it was them and not the teachers feeding them information. Their advise is helpful because they are the consumer they know what helps them and what they like to do and what makes their favorite teachers their favorites.

I would use this in my class room and I would also use  Skype ideas because they are very interesting ideas.

Magazine cover

The test of a good teacher is not how many questions he can ask his pupils that they will answer readily, but how many questions he inspires them to ask him which he finds it hard to answer. 
-Alice Wellington Rollins

Photo and Questions

1. Is the lockness monster real?
2. Is this a mammal?
3. Where did the lockness monster rumor start?
4. What would this thing eat?
5. Who took this photo?

Action Obama

Photo in the Washington Post Tuesday June 15, 2010

Caption: 

White House: Obama ready to seize claims process.

 Article Title: White House: Obama ready to seize claims process.

People	Objects	Activities
Obama	American Flag	Walking
VP workers	Ocean	Smiling
	Ship	Talking

3 Infered things.

He figured out how to fix the oil spill. 

He is working with the Navy.

He did something good for his election. 

Questions it drought up to me.

Did he fix the oil spill?

Which picture gives you more confidence in the presidents leadership abilities? Why?

This picture because he is taking charge and listening to the other people to figure out how to fix the problem.

Do you think the editors of these news papers have a liberal or conservative bias? Why? How could you find out?

One of each. This is more liberal and the other is more conservative. You could google it because it is all over the internet about who is what party. 

Concerned Obama

Photo in the New York Daily News: Tuesday June 15, 2010.

Caption:

President Barack Obama is briefed on the BP oil spill relief efforts in the Gulf

Article Title: Oil Spill: BP Gulf leak could stain President Obama like Iran Hostage crisis destroyed Jimmy Carter

People	Objects	Activities
Obama	Books	Scowling
	Trees	Staring

3 infered things 

He is deep in thoughts. 

Unhappy with situation. 

He is concerned about his Election.

Question I Had

Is he going to do anything to fix the oil spill?

Double Entry Journal #7

 1. Choose one of the unprecedented stresses on the earth resources and describe how it will negatively effect the quality of life of people living in developing countries and people living in modernized countries.

The world is to small for population increase. 

2. What is the major debate around the future of market-based economies?

That is will be all internet based.

3. How has this technological revolution different the previous technological revolutions and what two factors of production and now more important than capital, labor and raw materials?

Internet banking. Internet games that cost money

4. What new service ideas have you had direct experience with? Drawing on your personal experience what are the benefits and drawbacks of these new service ideas?

I love my internet banking because I dont have a bank in fairmont. 

Double Entry Journal #6

1. Are you a technoloevangelist of a technoloskeptic?

  No I am not a technoloevangelist of a technoloskeptic.
 

2. Why is the term Digital Native problematic?

Because it seperates generations. 

3. What is interactionist pedagogy and how does it differ from the "transmission model" of education?

t's a constructive approach to social interaction and it's different because it's a build up instead of a transfer.

4. List three vocabulary terms you were unfamiliar or unsure of their meaning and provide me with their definitions.

Technoloevangelist- is person who attempts to build a critical mass of support for a given technology in order to establish it as a technical standard in a market that is subject to network effects. Technoloskeptic- is an arsenal of malware-detection technology that is designed to protect our clients from some of the nastiest threats on the internet. 

Luddite-  is any opponent of technological progress.

Thomas, Michael. Deconstructing digital natives: young people, technology, and the new literacies. New York: Routledge, 2011. Print.

A seven-Power Lens on 21st Century Literacy

1.What is semiotics? 

Is the study of signs and pictures in the media.

2. How can teachers capitalize on students preferred literacy behaviors?

Use social media sights to teach them about the happenings in the world 

3. According to this article why is it important for students to learn to analyze the news media? 

It is used to persuader you to think what is going on is correct and that may not always be the case 

4. Copy and Paste a West Virginia CSO that a photo analysis activity might address in a content area.

"4.1.  The West Virginia Board of Education has the responsibility for establishing high quality standards pertaining to all educational standards pertaining to all educational programs (W. Va. Code §18-9A-22).  The content standards and objectives provide a focus for teachers to teach and students to learn those skills and competencies essential for future success in the workplace and further education.  The document includes content standards for music education, an explanation of terms; objectives that reflect rigorous and challenging curriculum; and performance descriptors."

CSO

Ipad Review

Ipad review I reviewed Fruit ninja and Facebook because everyone uses them.

Fruit ninja is a game you take your finger and try to cut the fruit in half without hitting the bombs. It has a few different levels and many different sward types, and back grounds. They are kind of interesting and some are pretty. The game has no real flaws it doesn't freeze but sometimes I have to fight to get it to open on the IPad I don’t know if that is the Ipad I was using or the game itself though. I would use this app as a reward to give them a minute to clear their heads. 

Facebook is a very well-known social media sight the app comes on pretty much on every electronic thing you buy now and days. It has a few flaws because it always changing to compete with twitter and other sights. I had problems getting it to always connect to the web cite, sometimes it would tell me that there is no internet available and sometimes it said it was down for maintenance.  The only reason that bothered me is because my job it to talk to people over Tannerman’s on Facebook about our store and products. I would use this in the class room to teach them grammar and proper email writing tech.