December 06, 2007
Final Project
Overview
I have worked with Access and designed websites for quite a few years now, but have never taken the time to figure out how to use databases with websites. I know that using relational databases with websites works effectively when you want to retrieve, store, or run queries on data. I would think that its effectiveness lies in the fact that stored data and returned data is organized in a linear fashion as demonstrated by this flowchart. My principal approached me a few weeks ago about creating a page within our high school website where parents could "sign up" for spring parent/teacher conferences. I told him that would be a great idea since relying on the students to sign up their parents is usually ineffective. My plan has been to learn how to run a database within a web page form so that all of the data entered can be stored, queried, and updated.
Posted by ascummings at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
November 28, 2007
Final Project Progress Review
My project focuses on creating a form on our high school website that would allow parents to sign up online for spring 2008 conferences. Teachers would need to receive the time slots that parents signed up for and a teacher specific schedules would have to be available on the website so that parents would know what time periods were already taken. To acheive this I have to create a relational database.
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November 02, 2007
Mini Tech Review-#4
A team from the University of Wisconsin has established a Local Games site that focuses on integrating augmented reality games into classroom curriculums. Augmented reality (AR) games focus on making learning hands-on and integrates virtual reality settings within real-world elements. There are eight different types of AR games listed on the site. Some of these games were discussed in Chapter 11 of The Design and Use of Simulation Computer Games in Education in detail, some were just mentioned. I will be focusing on the Hip Hop Tycoon simulation which enables students to experience being an entrepreneur.
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October 28, 2007
Mini Tech Review-#3
Second Life is a Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE) created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has recently become one of the cutting-edge virtual classrooms for major colleges and universities. Second Life allows educators to host lectures and projects online via islands that have been purchased for educational use. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items (virtual property) and services from one another.
Posted by ascummings at 12:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 18, 2007
Mini Tech Review-#2
Our group previewed the Youda Games Simulation Website. The website can be found at here. We looked specifically at Kindergarten and Konnectors. We focused on the essential criteria on pages 109-110 from the book The Design and Use of Simulation Computer Games in Education and wanted to specifically address the questions "How can online simulation games be used at the Elementary grade level?" and "Which games would be appropriate to use in classrooms and which ones are for entertainment purposes."
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October 14, 2007
Mini Tech Review-#1
How can we rethink our approach to design and development, that is, how can we create games that will merge with instructional design to create learning environments that are authentic and engaging as well as make our students engage in critical thinking?
Posted by ascummings at 02:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 25, 2007
Spreadsheet Mini Project
Objective: This assignment will be used in Business Foundations during the unit discussing financial planning. The students in this class will not have the skills to create this spreadsheet on their own. The spreadsheets have been protected so that the students can only manipulate data in the loan payment calculator portion. I will use this model to explain the different formulas and functions used, so that students understand the concepts behind the spreadsheet. Students will use an Excel loan payment calculator to manipulate data that includes an interest rate schedule, amortization schedule, hyperlinks to financial institutions, a chart that visual depicts yearly interest payments versus amount paid on principal, and a vlookup function that determines poor, average, good interest rates. Students will use this spreadsheet to determine the financial cost of credit when purchasing items using a loan or credit card. This worksheet is set up so that students can manipulate the key factors to calculate interest in different types of consumer credit situations such as student loans, home mortgages, or credit card purchases.
Posted by ascummings at 09:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 13, 2007
Spreadsheet Phase 1
Project Goals
Students will use Excel to create a loan payment calculator that includes an interest rate schedule, amortization schedule, hyperlinks to financial institutions, a chart that visual depicts yearly interest payments versus amount paid on principal, and a vlookup function that determines poor, average, good interest rates. Click here to see an Inspiration Model of my project.
Posted by ascummings at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 09, 2007
Technology Review-#1
Rose-Hulman's Institute of Technology has developed a web site that focuses on providing digital teaching materials and professional development materials. The web site is called PRISM (Portal Resources for Indiana Science and Mathematics). PRISM is a free, assistive web site for Indiana teachers. Originally designed for middle school math, science, and computer teachers, PRISM has extended its content for teachers of all grades and subjects. Teachers can quickly find engaging, standards indexed, online learning activities in PRISM'S database. A little over a year ago they began offering free Moodle hosting, enabling teachers to create their own course/communities on PRISM.
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