Project 1 - Track

The track I created on TrackStar is called What's the Matter? It was created for a high school chemistry audience and accompanied with Indiana State Standards SCI.C.1.5 2010- Describe the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases and changes in state at the molecular level and SCI.C.1.2 2010- Observe and describe chemical and physical properties of different types of matter.  


The topic was chosen to reflect the standards stated above as well as go beyond the common three states of matter.  I selected these standards because there is more than the common phases of a solid, liquid, and gas which should be addressed at the high school level.  My criteria for selecting websites for my track was that they be at a high school level, although I began the beginning slide used an introductory site (geared more for kids) and progressed to a few university sites (for a more mature target audience).  This way, the students will be able to ease into the complexity of matter and the several phases that exist.

The task chosen for this track was a fill-in-the-blank section, note organizer (chart), and a reflection question.  I wanted to cover a range of questions that involved higher-order thinking skills.  Additionally, I chose these tasks so the students will need to browse through the entire track before completing.

The only issue I had while completing this track was to ensure that the websites I chose were accredited.  I managed to overcome this by carefully filtering through websites that ended in .com.  Therefore, the majority of the sites I chose are from a .org, .edu., or .gov.  One exception to this was an interesting YouTube video I linked, although the creator of this video comes from The University of Maryland, College Park.

You can find this track at 

http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=442121

Alternatively, you can search for my TrackStar creation, which is track #442121.

Hope you enjoy!

Introduction to PhotoShop

Other than some basic editing of a photo to reduce redeye, crop, or rotate, my Photoshop skills were extremely limited.  What I enjoyed most out of this Photoshop introduction was the artistic alterations you can make to a picture.  My favorite technique is the desaturation of a picture followed by the history brush to color in an object.  It allows an object of significance to be the highlighted focal point of the photo! I have always been fascinated by this selective coloring technique, only I never knew how to do it.    Who knew it would be so simple to master!

This is my before picture.  It was taken at the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis, MN back in 2010

This is my after picture.  I desaturated the image, and used the history brush to carefully re-color the red cherry.  Notice the rainbow :) 

Technology Autobiography

My name is Sarah and I’m a first time blogger!  I began my Masters in Secondary Education program at Indiana University- South Bend this past fall. My content area is currently Chemistry, although I may expand to Math and Biology at some point in the future.  I am enthused by the subject matter of this course in media applications and intend to build my skills in technology for both inside and outside the classroom!

When it comes to technology, I am not highly knowledgeable of the technological world.  I tend to just get by with the basics of a variety of devices.  I utilize my cell phone and computer on a daily basis.  I also use other devices frequently including a watch, digital camera, radio, TV, Ipod, and GPS.  My iphone is the one device I carry with me practically everywhere I go.  Ironically, my cell phone can be used as everything mentioned above.  Additionally, I use it to play games, read books/articles, check e-mail, and it can also be used as a calculator.  It is amazing how far technology has come for one device to be so versatile and universal. 

Technology is generally used to simplify our lives.  It allows us to communicate almost instantly with a touch of a button.  Additionally, technology is used to educate/ inform others.  An unlimited amount of information can be discovered over the World Wide Web.  We hear the news, weather, and current events over the radio, TV, computer, and cell phones.  We find out updates about our friends, families, communities much sooner than if we were not connected to these people through technology. 

Most forms of technology require a battery or other electrical power source.  We often forget what life is like without these devices- that is, until we lose power.  Once there is a black-out or the battery dies we then remember how much we rely on technology and how “lost” we feel without it.  That is, until we reunite with our obsolete friend, the telephone, whose phone line can is undisturbed by such power shortages. 

Some of the technologies that have had the most significance to me are the alarm clock – the device that gets me moving each and every morning; my cell phone- which allows me to stay in touch with others as well as them able to get a hold of me; the internet – a place I can get lost in browsing, yet find the answer to almost any question; and the GPS – which has practically saved my life on a number of occasions when I have been literally lost.  I am thankful to not know anyone who relies on assistive technology for any health conditions like a pacemaker or hearing aid, yet I do realize that these means of technology must have a much more significant impact to those who rely their life on them, then the technology I use for my own life’s simplicity.

Technology is all around us and it is nearly impossible to not incorporate it into our classroom.  It is a tool that can provide an infinite amount of possibilities.  My future integration of technology will heavily rely on what I learn throughout this course.  Up until now, I am not tech savy.  I know only the basics of computers and other devices, but have an open mind for what is yet to come!

Assistive Technology

Often times, the educational needs of individuals with physical disabilities are no different than their nondisabled peers.  Instead, the issues exist when the resources needed to deliver this education is inadequate, limited, or unavailable.  Assistive technology has come a long way as far as the versatility in technology assisting such a large population of persons with disabilities.  

A significant development in assistive technology is the non-touch computer and affiliated software.  This technology has opened the doors for the amount of communication between those with cerebral palsy, muscle dystrophy, or other disabilities that limit the mobility of hands or accuracy of fine motor skills.  Although these advancements over the years have helped improve the education a person with disabilities can receive, there are still issues associated with assistive technology.  

Technology in itself is expensive, and this relatively new assistive technology requires professional training and expertise for educators, students, and their families.  The costs are high and the expertise and training with such technology can be limited, especially in the public school system.These factors play a large role in whether or not a disabled person can (or will) receive a quality education equivalent to their nondisabled peers.  

After watching the movie, Freedom Machines and our in class discussion, I have pondered on the idea of whether technology will fully complete the education gap between disabled students and their nondisabled peers.  The technology available now seems almost limitless, however is such assistive technology inclusive to every disability?  Perhaps not yet.  I sure hope there are advocates out there that are continually looking for ways to create new technology that may just help the minorities of disabilities!