I have loved working on this project. At the beginning of the project I had a lot of motivation for the project. It was a lot of fun looking at different resources. A lot of the resources seem very applicable for the project I have planned as a future educator. One thing that could have made this project better would be a group member. If there was one person to bounce ideas off it would be great. Peer critique ideas could be another way to help. Once I had completed the third post there seemed to be a lack of inspiration. I could not think of many new ideas or other resources.
Today was a lot of fun, being able to present the project to others. I was able to present to people I did not know and peers from the class. It was very nice to finally be able to share this idea I have been working on all semester. It was also a treat to be able to listen to other students in my class's presentations. They have done a great job on their projects as well.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
4th Blog Post
As of now I have a bunch of ideas for my project. I want to begin my project with students who mainly need motivation and purpose. My main goal is to show students they can do things if they set their mind to it and it can impact others in positive ways. I know I want students to plant gardens in and outside of schools, be able to grow produce that can provide themselves and their families with food with the hopes of selling some to bring in a source of income. I want to implement technology in the project for data. I want students to record their data, advice, and concerns with their peers through the technology.
At this point the app kind of sounds like a glorified blog, so that is where I am a little stuck. I want students to be able to record data and I would like to be able to see everything they are doing. I think I want everyone to see everyone else's work, but not be able to manipulate anything other than their own. I also know I would need support from other teachers. If the technology and plans go according to plan I would be able to share this at county meetings. Now so much is shared through social media outlets I would hope that that could be a way other teachers could hear about, then utilize the technology.
I would love something like this to be implemented in schools everywhere. I believe my concept stemmed from thinking about where I am currently placed, a lower income area. But I believe students of all backgrounds could learn from it. The lesson would directly relate to life science and physical science (with energy changes), but it goes deeper than that. I want students to be able to learn about the place they call home, Earth. Hopefully they can gain a deeper appreciation for it and want to put efforts in to keeping it up.
I also like this idea for a deeper reason. I have seen so many of my friends recently want to go "Organic" or "Gluten-Free" or other fads advertised and glorified around us. Going organic or gluten free can be great things! But why do we need them and why do our bodies feel better when we do them? Based off the research I have found and the people I have talked to, we feel better with these more natural foods because we were built to eat them. We were not developed to eat corn as the main source of food, we were not made to digest wax on our fruits or anything else. I hope this lesson accompanied with the technology could be used to educate students about the growing need to look into the history of the food you are eating.
So, immediately my students would benefit from all of this, but hopefully this information can reach the masses. Something needs to change in the food industry and students are a great demographic to start with. They are the ones living on their computers and iPhones, Twitter and Facebook, so they are great to get the word out. They also love giving their opinions. Now I am not talking about a massive takedown of the FDA or anything crazy like that! I think we should continue to eat meat, and a lot of it. But, our meat should not be eating corn, which is actually worse for the environment than grass fed stock, but that is a different story.
You can see I have a lot of ideas at the moment so I hope to get them a bit more concise this week.
At this point the app kind of sounds like a glorified blog, so that is where I am a little stuck. I want students to be able to record data and I would like to be able to see everything they are doing. I think I want everyone to see everyone else's work, but not be able to manipulate anything other than their own. I also know I would need support from other teachers. If the technology and plans go according to plan I would be able to share this at county meetings. Now so much is shared through social media outlets I would hope that that could be a way other teachers could hear about, then utilize the technology.
I would love something like this to be implemented in schools everywhere. I believe my concept stemmed from thinking about where I am currently placed, a lower income area. But I believe students of all backgrounds could learn from it. The lesson would directly relate to life science and physical science (with energy changes), but it goes deeper than that. I want students to be able to learn about the place they call home, Earth. Hopefully they can gain a deeper appreciation for it and want to put efforts in to keeping it up.
I also like this idea for a deeper reason. I have seen so many of my friends recently want to go "Organic" or "Gluten-Free" or other fads advertised and glorified around us. Going organic or gluten free can be great things! But why do we need them and why do our bodies feel better when we do them? Based off the research I have found and the people I have talked to, we feel better with these more natural foods because we were built to eat them. We were not developed to eat corn as the main source of food, we were not made to digest wax on our fruits or anything else. I hope this lesson accompanied with the technology could be used to educate students about the growing need to look into the history of the food you are eating.
So, immediately my students would benefit from all of this, but hopefully this information can reach the masses. Something needs to change in the food industry and students are a great demographic to start with. They are the ones living on their computers and iPhones, Twitter and Facebook, so they are great to get the word out. They also love giving their opinions. Now I am not talking about a massive takedown of the FDA or anything crazy like that! I think we should continue to eat meat, and a lot of it. But, our meat should not be eating corn, which is actually worse for the environment than grass fed stock, but that is a different story.
You can see I have a lot of ideas at the moment so I hope to get them a bit more concise this week.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
This week I decided I wanted to research what resources are already available for the public regarding gardening. I wanted to look for resources that would benefit the students who would use the App.
The first site I found, by searching on Pinterest, was the Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network or SAAFON. The site is very interesting. It talks about getting more African-American organic farms established. Before their meeting in 2006 there were no African-American certified organic farms in the South East.
Not all students using the App would be able to be members of this site if they began their own farm, but it is a great resource for minority students! Students could potentially interview the farmers for tips and encouragement!
The next resource I found, also on Pinterest, is the Green Acre Aquaponics company. This is exactly the kind of resource I was looking for! Using different methods to achieve the best, most natural form of nutrients for farming is my favorite thing about farming. The earth has been doing this since the beginning and why should we do anything differently? Fish secrete nutrients in the water that can be cycled into the plants to provide all the nutrients necessary for great produce! The company offers tours and sessions on learning how to properly install your own pond and garden for personal use! The garden is in Florida, so it may not be the best for a day trip for all teachers. But a group of teachers could go over a weekend and teach their students for years to come!
The basic method I continue to see is a basic one, created by nature. It is a cycle and no piece goes to waste. First worms are grown. They are grown in a compost pile. The worms are fed to the fish in a tank. The tank of water is cycled into the plants. The plants soak up the nutrients from the dirty water, which is cleaned by the plants and some gravel then the water is pumped back into the fish tank. What about the compost pile? To successfully grow a plant requires pruning, pinching off excess fruits, dead leaves, or disposing of a dead plant. Instead of disposing of these pieces in the trash can or even compost pile, these waste pieces can be poured into the worm tank. Nothing here ever goes to waste!
All of this is great and all, but what about the main part of my idea, the app? Where does the benefit for students fit in to all of this? I want students to be able to communicate with everyone, their teachers, their classmates, people all over the world about their ideas and share their data. I want students to learn how to care for their environment. Hopefully I can come up with an idea that can actually be put into place.
Hopefully I can find more resources soon.
The first site I found, by searching on Pinterest, was the Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network or SAAFON. The site is very interesting. It talks about getting more African-American organic farms established. Before their meeting in 2006 there were no African-American certified organic farms in the South East.
Not all students using the App would be able to be members of this site if they began their own farm, but it is a great resource for minority students! Students could potentially interview the farmers for tips and encouragement!
The next resource I found, also on Pinterest, is the Green Acre Aquaponics company. This is exactly the kind of resource I was looking for! Using different methods to achieve the best, most natural form of nutrients for farming is my favorite thing about farming. The earth has been doing this since the beginning and why should we do anything differently? Fish secrete nutrients in the water that can be cycled into the plants to provide all the nutrients necessary for great produce! The company offers tours and sessions on learning how to properly install your own pond and garden for personal use! The garden is in Florida, so it may not be the best for a day trip for all teachers. But a group of teachers could go over a weekend and teach their students for years to come!
The basic method I continue to see is a basic one, created by nature. It is a cycle and no piece goes to waste. First worms are grown. They are grown in a compost pile. The worms are fed to the fish in a tank. The tank of water is cycled into the plants. The plants soak up the nutrients from the dirty water, which is cleaned by the plants and some gravel then the water is pumped back into the fish tank. What about the compost pile? To successfully grow a plant requires pruning, pinching off excess fruits, dead leaves, or disposing of a dead plant. Instead of disposing of these pieces in the trash can or even compost pile, these waste pieces can be poured into the worm tank. Nothing here ever goes to waste!
All of this is great and all, but what about the main part of my idea, the app? Where does the benefit for students fit in to all of this? I want students to be able to communicate with everyone, their teachers, their classmates, people all over the world about their ideas and share their data. I want students to learn how to care for their environment. Hopefully I can come up with an idea that can actually be put into place.
Hopefully I can find more resources soon.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Driving Question
Driving Question:
How can I incorporate technology to teach students how to grow things in a sustainable fashion?
Basically I am interested in teaching students how to grow their own food and have them realize why local, fresh food is important. I would love to incorporate this into their seventh grade biology class. I will be including technology as the place students record their data. Then, the data can be shared between students, classes, and even schools.
A lot of students in Athens are from low SES backgrounds, which does not give them a great start. They are statistically vulnerable for being overweight, teen pregnancy, having a lack of motivation just to name a few risks. My hope is enlightening them about what to eat and how processed foods can really harm their bodies, I can improve their chances at the risks for the future.
Technology will be incorporated as an outlet for students to share their ideas and data. Students can communicate with other students to learn, to put it simply, gardening. It sounds simple, and it is. Simplicity is where we should be going, but a new simplicity. I want students to be free to do what they want in the classroom. What do they think will be good for them to know? How can we get students motivated to learn the material for standardized tests? How can we teach in the most efficient and effective way for each student?
How can I incorporate technology to teach students how to grow things in a sustainable fashion?
Basically I am interested in teaching students how to grow their own food and have them realize why local, fresh food is important. I would love to incorporate this into their seventh grade biology class. I will be including technology as the place students record their data. Then, the data can be shared between students, classes, and even schools.
A lot of students in Athens are from low SES backgrounds, which does not give them a great start. They are statistically vulnerable for being overweight, teen pregnancy, having a lack of motivation just to name a few risks. My hope is enlightening them about what to eat and how processed foods can really harm their bodies, I can improve their chances at the risks for the future.
Technology will be incorporated as an outlet for students to share their ideas and data. Students can communicate with other students to learn, to put it simply, gardening. It sounds simple, and it is. Simplicity is where we should be going, but a new simplicity. I want students to be free to do what they want in the classroom. What do they think will be good for them to know? How can we get students motivated to learn the material for standardized tests? How can we teach in the most efficient and effective way for each student?
TED Talk
After I watched this video, I was able to get a clearer picture of something to aspire to in a class. I want to incorporate more technology than Stephen has, but I want my students to be able to get to the same points.
I also watched Arthur Potts Dawson's video. He discussed waste in the food industry. Studying waste and how to decrease it would be very interesting to incorporate in this class. Allowing students to research why we should make less waste so they can make their own conclusions on the topic. Then getting students to create ways to lesson their carbon foot print would be wonderful!
Michael Pawlyn has wonderful ideas on how to look at nature for our answers. Instead of trying to out do nature.
All of these Ted talks are just the first part of my research for my hopeful 20% project.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)