One-on-One Computing

One-on-One computing is an opportunity for each child/student to have access to a computer while at school.  Not all school systems can afford to provide this resource.  According to my readings from my textbook, if this resource is provided, then one would have to consider other types of support.  The support would include the following:

·       Technical support

·       Internet access

·       Staff development for faculty and staff

·       Software

·       Hardware

One-on-One computing will be a less costly venture going forward.  Having acknowledged the decrease in cost, will this access at any cost improve student learning outcomes?   How would the determination be made with regard to the learning outcomes?  Is the learning a result of the one-on one computing or is it a result of access to the computer?  How will we evaluate the contributing factors in a measurable way?  I seem to have more questions than answers.

Other resource:

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1883

Assessing and Evaluating Technology Use in the Classroom

One’s understanding of the use of technology can be assessed using technology skills checklist.  The checklists reviewed were extensive, especially the one from University of Kentucky published in 2005. This document included areas of inquiry from basic computer skills (correct use of the computer for example, clean hands, no food/drinks, no magnets, etc.) to checks before and during online assessment.  This checklist is provides a comprehensive evaluation of the learner.  I could not think of additions to this list.  I feel confident that if all the categories on this checklist are met the learner will be successful in an online learning environment. 

Another checklist asked the learner to evaluate their skill and identify the additional skills to be learned as a result of participating in the course of study.   This skills checklist was focused on conducting research.  This checklist evaluated the student’s ability to define keyword searches in order to gather data on specific topics, and the use of other software applications, such as, word processing, spreadsheets, and file management. 

These examples were specific to the specific offerings.  The sites for these examples are listed below:

http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/education/marsville/students/training/checklist.html

http://www.hdi.uky.edu/uda/Files/TechnologyChecklistKY11-21-05.pdf

Copyright Issues and Violations: Must Know

Copyright is the legal right given to individuals to publish, produce, sale or distribute works that they create.  The primary works covered by the copyright laws are literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic works.   Three guidelines associated with copyright laws that impact the classroom are making copies of the work, selling or otherwise distributing copies of the work, and preparing new works based on the protected work.

The two guidelines that are most important to me are making copies of the work and preparing new works based on the protected work.  Making copies of the work happens most days.  I reproduce articles to use in the classroom and I had planned to use these articles in the future not realizing that this practice was an infringement on copyright laws.  According to my reading, this practice of copying and using works in future years is outside copyright laws.  I thought this was okay because this was what I have witnessed. We are ignorant of the law and how our practices are in conflict.  I thought this practice met the “fair use” guidelines, until now.  The volume and frequency of use is the problem not the use of the material. 

The second, guideline is preparing new works based on the protected work. The adage of “don’t recreate or reinvent the wheel” comes to mind. This adage makes it seem okay to use previous works to aid in the current endeavor.  This could be writing a paper or creating a lesson plan.  I search for examples of the task at hand prior to beginning my work.  I frequently use some of the information, modifying the content to make appropriate for my needs.  How much should I use?  If the format of the document is used and not the content, is that inside or outside the purview of the copyright laws?  This law has to do with how much of the resource is being used.  Anytime there is a judgment call there is some gray associated with the answer.  This makes appropriate interpretation of the law harder.  Since the use of protected works come into play in the classroom every day, I will seek ways to ensure appropriate use.

Teachers are allowed to use copyrighted material on a limited base.  However, when the use is in conflict with the purpose of the copyright law which is to provide an economic incentive for individuals to create new work there is a problem and this is when we are violating the law.

Can Student Nurses Blog Their Way to NCLEX Success?

I found a document that provides a study schedule that can be use when preparing to take NCLEX.  This document provides a 3 months step by step process to the NCLEX exam. This document gives tips on a course of study that starts with the weakest area first and end with this same area.  Practice exams are recommended until a score of 86% is reached on a 100 item test.  The suggested study time is twice a week for 1 – 2 hours each time.  The document can be found at http://nursing.unc.edu/current/counseling/nclex_study_schedule.pdf

Can Student Nurses Blog their way to NCLEX Success?

I am still on my quest to find a few powerful resources to help student nurses prepare to take the National Council License Examination (NCLEX) and pass on the first attempt.  One of my students did find the information from my last blog on “how to create a study plan” helpful.  This resource provides a plan of study used by another student that can be use as a roadmap for their own personal plan of study.

A colleague shared a resource that she uses with her NCLEX advisees.  The URL is http://freenursetutor.com/.  This website was created by Diane Yeager (nurse, teacher, Webmaster) who has “enthusiasm for using today’s computer technology to enhance the educational process”. This site promotes the use of practical interactive computer based learning activities as a supplement to traditional methods of teaching and learning.  I sampled a couple of the activities and found them to be useful a review for assessment techniques and a lot more.  I will share with my students.  My goal is to create an inventory of resources for use by current and future NCLEX advisees.

Open Source

I am amazed by all of the free software applications that are available for use.  I knew about OpenOffice from my previous work experience but not the other software.  I am committed to using GIMPshop and audacity before this semester is over. I was nervous about download software for fear that my computer may crash.  As related in one of the You Tube clips, there is no one to call if you have a problem.  I am less and less nervous about downloading software after having to download for this class. 

I am impressed with the way Wendy Drexler uses technology in her classroom.  I am energized by the student’s engagement.  I liked how the notebook layout kept the student’s work organized and in front of them the entire year.  The students are constantly reminded of how much they have accomplished.  I think seeing your good work motivates you to do more. There are many ways that technology can enrich education.

I am blown away by the very idea of an open source school.  The idea excites and fills me with questions and anxiety.  I do believe that an open source school creates major flexibility for the educational process.  Just think about the benefits to athletes as an example of one group.  They could be on the road competing and never miss an assignment.  The teacher could employ the techniques used by Wendy Drexler creating a connection between student and teacher that is seamless.  Oh my goodness.  What would it be like if walls of education crumbled while the fabric of education was fortified with steel, though the use of open source software?

Student Nurses Blogging to NCLEX Success

My journey to use blogs as a resource to aid my nursing students passing NCLEX on the first attempts continues.  I appreciate the feedback and support I received from my classmates on my last blog.  I found several websites that referenced improving NCLEX passing on the first attempt.  Only one of the resources passed the preliminary evaluation to be recommended to my students based on the content for this week’s class work on website evaluation.  This document is on delegation which in integral to the practice of nursing by a registered nurse.  I will provide this URL to my NCLEX advises this week.  I did find one blog to pass along to my nursing student, allnurses.com.  This web publication has a area, Nursing Discussion, where nursing students can go to read about NCLEX study practices of recent graduates who passed NCLEX on their first attempt.   I will share student feedback on these resources.

References:

Working with Others: A Position Paper

This is a document prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.  This document describes the parameters of delegation.  Delegation is a skill use by the registered nurse to transfer authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation.  There are guidelines for delegation and this document describes those guidelines.  The act of delegation is so integrated in the practice of nursing that evaluation of one’s ability to apply this skill is covered in some detail on the licensing exam given to student nurses upon graduation.

https://www.ncsbn.org/Working_with_Others.pdf

Allnurses.com

Allnurses.com is active online nursing community.  The Nursing Discussion area is where students can visit and read about the study experiences of recent NCLEX test takers and glean ideas that could help them develop their own plan of study. 

http://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/omg-i-passed-528887.html

Can Student Nurses Blog Their Way to NCLEX Success?

What is NCLEX?  NCLEX is an acronym for the National Council License Examination.  All student nurses take this exam upon graduation in order to practice nursing. I wonder if blogging could aid in supporting student nurse success on this exam on first attempt.  Blogs were discussed in my readings as being a tool that could increase students visit and revisit of topics.  This type of inquiry increases the contact students have with the blog content.  I believe that continued contact with subject matter will support analytic and critical thinking skills.  I am so new to the uses of technology in education.  I am not sure what strategy would be best or most helpful to nursing student gaining varying perspectives and approaches to the content areas on this exam.  I am interested in trying blogging based on the ease of creating the blog site.  I am nervous because of my level of knowledge about the whole process of blogging. I just need to “begin” and see what unfolds.  What suggestions do you have that would help me initiate a blogging experience for my nursing students?