Lantz tech of ed. week 6 Time in the class.

Class reflection

Technology and education has been a very interesting class. I did however find it difficult at times because of already knowing how to use much of the google suite. I did learn about some new technology to use in the classroom but I I learned a lot about how to word things differently. I frequently helped my peers with the programs and apps. It was very good at helping me communicate differently at many points.

Class also introduced many ways of getting students interested, or involved in something else other than class. It was a great break and super enjoyable during class time.

As a person who knows tech. Pretty well I struggle finding apps I like. Apps that you can get on your phone really did not offer too much in terms of education prior to this class. This class has given me more apps and technology to utilize in the classroom. I enjoyed using wevideo, sketchboard, and the many apps that turned subjects into games. Many of the apps were simple but were very useful. I am not sure, however, what ones I will use as of right now.

I do not like twitter for just about anything however, I did enjoy talking to some people from around the country about art. That was super neat and was very thought provoking via the conversations. We talked about kilns and different art concepts. It was cool. Granted the minimal characters may have taken much away from the conversation…

It was overall a great class with great people. At least the twitter will link us even after class!

Lantz Education of Tech Week 5

So Today I was driving to visit friends in Wisconsin for the weekend and well I was listening to my music. I know many are unfamiliar with some of the stuff I listen to, however today I have never seen such horrible distaste in someone's face for the split 30 seconds it took to stare him down then continue driving… It made me think about all my music on the drive there…. Then it got me thinking…
Recently a lot of music has been showing up on my social feeds. Now I get a lot of music on my feeds for just about everything that I use but the biggest thing that stuck out to me is just how different it is from the things that I listen to on everyday radio.  We have access to oodles of more music from around the world and yet I hear the same top 20 sounds every hour on the hour on the flipping radio. I mean for real?  I hear rock bands that turn their music into almost full-fledged musical songs with harmonies that are repeated throughout the album, a three person folk group that will have each instrument reverberating throughout the room they are playing in and it isn’t even a full drum set or electric bass guitar, or even songs that are not lyrically orientated but are definitely not classically based. It's so interesting that even with the access to things around the world via a small albeit powerful box, that most top 20 songs are on repeat for the biggest/ common radio stations. Introducing new things is beneficial. Not everything you're going to like so simply listen and accept that it is playing.

Lantz education Tech post 4

I have many different social media websites that I float around on. But today after listening to this video on storycorps.com.
 https://storycorps.org/listen/russell-lehmann-and-david-apkarian-170922/

I needed a break. It was emotionally draining. I will explain why a bit later…

Because I was emotionally stressed, I went on my tumblr. A mostly with pictures that you scroll through. Not long after watching that video this post came up:

 http://dragon-says.tumblr.com/post/166832049692/mikelaughead-i-made-a-self-help-comic-last-year.

This post made the emotions flow back immensely. I know what kind of stress Russell Lehman, was going through that day. I may not have autism but I also get sensory overload and high anxiety attacks from over stressful situations, even if to some the situations are not a big deal.

These happen more then I care to admit. It is rough. But life keeps going. It is going to be okay.

lantz education of tech post 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hwu3xqbMKw

The flipped classroom is changing the traditional learning way of lecture in the classroom to outside the classroom and coming to class instead to get help. 

 For myself, this would benefit me in terms of math and reading. Math would be the biggest one. I need all the help I can get so this would help immensely. I always asked for extra help in and out of the classroom.
 The same goes for reading. I always hated reading out loud in the classroom or having silent reading for the book discussion in class. I always figured I would read it before and just come to class and start the discussion.  It was very rarely that way until college.  Flipped learning would be awesome for that!

I am not sure at how well I would be with this in a social studies class. unless it was more focused on reading outside the classroom and coming in for a discussion on something else...

I also think for myself it would save a lot of time in the art room. This would save time lecture-wise for students to see, read, and/or hear about famous artists and works outside the classroom before coming to class.  They would get that chunk of 5 minutes prior to class where I can simply help them more on control, feedback, medium, etc. 

Lantz Education of tech post 2

This one is kind of a free for all but I suppose it still has to have some reference to technology. When I think of technology I think of it in an extremely loose context. Yes, it can be computers and Apps and what have you… but I also think of the 3D pens, the 3D printers, cameras, and videos and mechanisms in general. I do this because how I look at things is everything has an art form.  They are combinations of subjects to create something new, something more advanced, and something more interesting to think about. Sure technology can help make things easier, organized and cleaner, but what else can it do?

Why am I talking about this? Well…
This weekend I saw a movie that was completely created by 125 oil painters, using simply oil paintings and their paint skills. It was called "Loving Vincent."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy0RVDM1sNA

It was by no means a realistic telling of the artist Vincent Van Gogh's last part of his life.  However it did take care for including some accuracy from his letters as well as plausible theories for the end of his life told in his very own medium. Putting these ideas for a movie is not by any means new. (Think any stop motion movie you have seen)  This idea is not new yet somehow it still is remarkable because without technology and recording this would never have happened.  It came to exist because of the options, advancements, and interests in pushing the typical boundaries for mediums that are fairly well known.

Thinking creatively when using technology, I think will create the most remarkable advancement in everyone for the future.

Lantz Education of Tech post 1

Technology is changing as time goes on. Technology is not good or bad it is simply relevant. It matters, it exists. It is something that is everywhere. It develops and gets enhanced with every year and it is necessary to utilize it in the classrooms. Students should be introduced to even the most basic forms of technology at a young age so they are able to comprehend the capabilities. This will help them understand and grasp more difficult concepts when using tech.

Positive:

Technology is good for connecting people via long distances, even if it is people you have met personally or not. It is a great way to connect with people around the world. I creates new and exciting thing never thought imaginable (ie the 3d doodler pens.) It helps with daily activities for example automatic can openers, or automatic wheel chairs. It saves time sending memories, documents, and sharing them simply with others but like anything else in this world it is good in small doses, and one is aware of the dangers in the world.

Negative:

Technology can allow bullying, addiction, and physical harm to users if something goes wrong. Phones have exploded from overheating and other issues. Addiction to video games and web surfing have become more prominent in most recent years.  Even bullying has moved into more technology. It could be because someone has better technology then you, or knows how to use it faster, or simply being cruel on the internet.

It is neither good or bad, but technology is building the world we are currently living in. Acknowledging that the different types exist and being educated about these, good or bad will benefit everyone  being students, teachers or others. 

week 8 lantz

Week 8

Chapter 13

                The last chapter is putting everything we read together. This chapter is super handy for stating the jobs and ways to use psychology in jobs and in life. Even giving a list of jobs that utilize psychology. The chapter says, “The field of life span development recognizes the impact that psychology has on all aspects of our lives and that we are all stakeholders in the outcomes (pg. 301.) I believe this is true. Especially because everyone is affected by the actions of others.

                Reading about ways to use what we read in this book was so nice especially after reading many of people’s introductions to this class about being nervous or hoping to actually learn something from the class. I believe this chapter will help those and many other people who have their doubts because it lists not only careers that utilize lifespan psychology, it also talks about how it is used in leadership roles.  My old boss and a family friend runs a golf course. He went to college. Many would guess he had a degree in business but actually he has a degree in psychology and sociology. He has told me it helps him deal with customers on a daily basis but for long term it is how the environment around has affected customers.

The chapter says psychology is referred to as a helping profession. It is because it helps other professions in different ways. For example psychology is used in advertising and marketing by using what ages or genders to properly market to. Also what colors properly show off what to sell. What I mean is a certain presentation of color can affect a person’s mood to buy or even eat. It is the Psychology of color. It is the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior. Color influences perceptions that are not obvious.

This is actually a big concept of the art world for selling art. Now studio art is a bit different because it is usually trying to make a statement but for other aspects the area to sell art is what is applicable to the bigger mass of people. What makes them comfortable, and is “nice.”  I quote nice because it is boring. It is overarching calming and pleasant to look at and that’s about it.  It is a basic cliché for Fads. For example look at Christmas cards, the snowy cottage in a forest. Those are usually by the artist Thomas Kinkade.  He paints other works very similar to this one. They sell for millions and yet they are all so similar it is lackluster.

Now in conflict to Thomas Kinkade, look at most art pieces in any museum, especially modern art wings. They have an artist statement that directs the viewers’ attention to what they see, even if its gruesome or simply a nude. The best question to ask here is would you feel comfortable to hang such a work in your house? Unfortunately the answer usually is a no. Think about what you look at and how it functions with a basic form of psychology and why they want you to think about what is in front of you.

week 7 Lantz

Week 7
 Chapter 12

                Dying and spirituality sounds like a very low point in the book but it is actually very bright and informative. It discusses roles of death in different parts of the world and what death which is clinical, brain, biological, and social death. (I did not know there were four!) There is also spirituality to consider. It talks about grief and how to consider death and dealing with dignity.
                The spirituality portion of the reading was interesting for me as I was not raised as anything until I went to a Catholic High School. I never really identified as catholic and still do not. The chapter talks about spirituality as being a goal to find out the life’s purpose.  I think everyone is trying to find their own life’s purpose but I do not think it has to be with spirituality. But the different theorists were a great read. Frankls’ theory talks about the life developing in three stages.  The first is the physical dimension which is the motivation to stay alive. The second is the psychological where it’s the personality and interactions with those around. The third is the noetic dimension were it is the “totality of the search for the meaningfulness of life. (p293) Jung’s theory only has two forms which is the first and second halves of life. The first talks about how the personality develops towards individuality or simply more distinct selves. The second half of life is the opposite of the first. They turn inward, or turn attention to the development of the inner self or introspection. The final theorist is Wilson. He sees religion and spirituality as inseparable.  That they grant essential benefits to believers.

                I am not a religious person though I was raised catholic. During my time at a catholic high school I always referred to myself as non-practicing because I never went to mass or did the like. After awhile I felt I did not believe in what was practiced save for being a good person to others, etc. I felt I did not need to be practicing something to be that way.  What I do believe is there is a higher power that makes up a part of every one of us. That said, when we die it isn’t anything to be afraid of as we become a part of the world itself. Our body decays and gives life to other things. 

Week 6 Lantz

Week 6

Chapters 9 & 10

                Chapter nine focused on early adulthood and chapter ten focused on middle. These chapters, like the rest still focused on the changes humans go through mentally and physically. It discusses other things as well as drug usage, initiations into adult hood, jobs, careers, marriage, identity, and the ideas of gender. It continues on with physical  development and aging.

                The discussion on gender in lifesmart on pages 215 to 218 really surprised me because of the typical lack there usually is in teaching and discussing this idea in classes usually. It spoke of the ideas of gender orientations and other ways of dealing and labeling gender for the world today. Including even a picture of Lady Gaga and avid supporter of the Community that identities with a different gender. I identify as an ally but my best friends are gay and bisexual. The school we had attended together prior did not even discuss any such matters in the psyche classes or sociology classes. The books states what gender role orientation or expectation is and gives a definition of what androgyny is which most in college couldn’t even figure out what the word meant. This is definitely interesting for a text book and something I can get behind as it will make talking to young children easier. My cousin is Trans and trying to explain to my little sister what that means is difficult. Cassie gets the name change and the want to be different but I question how much she really understands.

Chapter ten focuses on middle adult hood and discussed age, and physical change and how that can effect a personals cognitive abilities. On page 241, there is a section that starts with, “the Role of Creativity.” It opens with, “a key factor in the ability to continue to be productive well into the later years is creativity.” I think this is true especially because of the rising use of art therapies and hobbyists., (definitely for the ages the hobby market markets to! Example: knitting and crocheting are currently marketed to this age area.) These are used to get the middle aged involved in something other than the typical career, family, orientated aspects of their life.  The chapter lists aspects that creativity studies found in highly creative adults as;

1) like planning and making own decisions

2) do not like to work with others and prefer own judgement

3) take hopeful outlook

4) have the most ideas when a chance to express individual opinion is presented

5) are most likely to stand their ground in criticism

6) most resourceful

7) are not necessarily the “smartest” or “best” in competition

I can totally see this but I disagree that it is simply in adults. I have been described as one or more of these since I started the pursuit of art in grade school. I think it is more a matter of allowing creativity to flourish at a young age rather than waiting until adult hood. I am curious to know what you guys think!




Edit: 7/19
I watched the videos needed and  I'd like to talk about the second on from Karen McGonigal. This was an eye opener because of how I dealt with things in college. During college I was told my mood, and frequent illnesses were simply because of stress and my workload.  Even after college I was told I did not like change and it was simply causing me stress. Aftere watching this video the oxytocin made sense to me. It was telling the body to find support. Well the only common thing that happened throughout my time away from home was I worked on all my assignments with someone close to me in the same room. We did not have to talk, they could be playing video games, or reading. They just had to be present. I would accomplish all my tasks, and feel at ease, tired, but at ease. 

week 5 - Lantz

Week 5 chapter 8

                Talking about adolescence is tricky to discuss its stated as “a time of life marked by transitions” (pg.186).  This chapter discuses all the types of changes an adolescent goes through; the physical changes to the mental.  It also brings up the struggles they face with each of these changes.

                This chapter is all about change. “Adolescence is a complex process of growth and change. Because biological and social changes are often the focus of attention, changes in the young adolescents ability to think may go unnoticed.( LifeSmart pf 191.) This rings true because of everything they deal with. .  The students are developing physically via puberty and these new changes make them feel emotionally different because it makes them feel like they are always on center stage with everyone judging those around them.  I remember in one of my classes in Wisconsin the professor had stated this is the roughest time to teach the students because they have no idea what they are doing, or what they actually want, or what they are doing, because of so many things going on for them. I did not really understand until I simply just sat with the students and talked with them working on the same projects they were.

The chapter discuses each thing that is going on in their lives that they would discuss. Their lives, identities, and even things they or their peers were dealing with.  It was honestly one of the most exhausting experiences.  It was exhausting because of the sheer amount of work they were given but also the different things they were dealing with outside of their education.  This was part of a study I read in that class stating that a teacher wanted to experience a student’s week and see what went on in the life of a student I did it for significantly less than the professor did. I also did it at about a quarter of their age and was mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the day.  The students have a lot to deal with and it’s a big stressor with their physical changes going on. 

week 4- Lantz

Chapters 6 &7

The next stages for development are Early Child hood and middle childhood. Early childhood started with the development of physical and motor skill and then discussed the neural connections to the brain.  Piaget's pre-operational theory and conservation task were discussed.

The paragraph about the entire community that built an education system for preschoolers snatched my attention. The Reggio Emilia, Italy embody an approach to early childhood education as bringing everything surrounding the student together. "In the Reggio Emilia schools, the classroom and school environment are considered another teacher, which means that beauty, nature,  and transparency ( to foster communication between individuals) are explicitly demonstrated in many ways…" (pg139) It is the embodiment of holistic learning grabbing the attention of a student that fits he or she's specific needs. Art Education tries to bring that idea into class rooms by adding art alongside other subjects to think about a subject from different perspectives. The Reggio Emilia community brought this idea back to their children at the time.

 

The children's art work section stated that "learning to draw is like learning a language: Children acquire increasingly complex and effective drawing rules, which is one of the major achievements of the human mind." (pg. 150) I can agree with this statement as it stands, because its true art is a form of communication and in schools it was once placed in the communication category. The work of Rhoda Kellogg is an argument that four stages are the forms of art commonly used. They are; 

1: placement

2: shape

3: design:

4: Pictorial

I have never heard of Kellogg but I am curious about her work and if it is similar to the study I read in my under grad. It was a study about children from around the world and what they would do when given a pen.  If it is their first time they would almost immediately jam the tip into the paper. It is called a BAM mark. As they gained more motor skills it would move into line and shape, etc. The only thing that was different between the cultures was the colors.

EDIT:Change a few weeks after I wrote the above and continuing below after watching the videos!: I have heard of Kellogg She is definitely the same one who discussed the BAM mark. 


For the bullying video It was rough watching what those kids have gone through, especially after I am the one who usually would stand up for those kids during school. (fact: I have gotten into a lot of trouble solely because I stood up for someone...(including getting into trouble with the school.) I think though the media has gotten pretty good at referencing bullying. In fact one of the most recent Disney movies has bullying in it and what has changed. I am talking about Zootopia.  The main character is Judy, she is a rabbit who wants to be a police officer but not many believe in her. Especially her hometown bully who is a Fox.  Here is the video of the moment she gets bullied as a kid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9IqrTRbHDA

The movie continues and she does get her dream but only halfway. She becomes a police officer sworn to ticket duty until she befriends a client to get a case before she is kicked off the force. Before I say too much and spoil it for anyone she goes back home downtrodden and ends up meeting the bully again. Here is that video: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB021VKnVvE

He apologizes and says why he did what he did which is important for both parties.

week 3- Lantz

Week 3: Ch 3, 4, & 5

This large chunk of chapters went through the beginning of conception to infancy. That is the cells and how they form all the way until the birth of the newborn. There is information about the disorders that can develop from genes, stress, and substances taken in during the pregnancy that can harm the fetus. The last chapter discusses the development physically and mentally of the infant.

The entire start of the reading was basically my biology and health class but what peaked my interest was the paragraph on the Postpartum Adjustment. It talked about depression usually because of the hormonal changes during and after having the baby. It also talked about bonding, single parenting, and family dynamics. These last ones I have never heard of but in general I have rarely heard this or read of post-partum adjustment anywhere. It coming up in the text book surprised me. I knew it existed I just was not expecting it to come up, especially because a friend of mine's mother had gone through the depressive stage with her son and had some pretty intense thoughts. Stating that she felt upset, lost, and shameful, and had ideas of leaving baby to the cold to quietly sleep…The idea of it sends shivers down my spine but it is not necessarily talked about as often as SIDs, (sudden infant death syndrome.) (note: do not worry her and the baby (my friend) are fine!) I am curious to know if it affects the infants after birth too though.  My friend was fine but what about others?

Week 2 Lantz

This week was different psychologists and their theories of the stages of development. Psychologists such as Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky, Pavlov, Bandura, Bronfenbenner, and Maslow all using theory to gain insight in lifespans. They talk about psycho-social crises, cognitive development, culture, and behavior.

Much of this was touched on in chapter one on how it affected one another but the theories from the psychologists listed above vary depending on their point of view. Piaget and Vygotsky were cognitive theorists while Freud and Erickson were psychoanalytic. 

Psychoanalysis theory was the idea that humans possess ideas and impulses that we are unaware of yet they have major influence over our behaviors. Freud is debated against now because of the very sexual way his theory was voiced. However his theory still holds for many of his predecessor psychoanalysts like  Erikson or even ones like, a 2000 noble prize winner, Eric Kandel who " reflected the belief of several modern neuroscientists that some of Freud's conclusions enforce the research results of current experiments.

The cognitive theory had much to do with the conscious part of the mind. Piaget though of it as adaptation and how  it either assimilates or accommodates. Piaget describes assimilation as a way we incorporate data into our cognitive structures. Accommodation is the manner in which the structures change. (lifesmart pg.35)

While reading i saw the career apps at the bottom of page 31 state " as a teacher how might you use Fairy tales to help children grapple with their own personal fears or concerns?" I had started thinking about that and realized that I had created a bulletin board touching upon this kind of question.

I had created a bulletin board for education in my undergrad studies based on Child development and storytelling. I had connected how each of the theorist's stages coincided with the ideas of stories.  I used Erickson, Piaget, and Carl Jung for it. I attached the pictures and the text for the board I used. :)

week 1 Lantz

The reading was the 101 chapter on how to look at the development of individuals from conception to death. It also shows how different things affect a person's outcomes. The rest of the reading focuses on the different ways to do studies and how they work.  The video on Mobius' strips was a focus on what is shown to the world versus the inner life of an individual.

The book discusses how a person develops. It is from their biological, cognitive/ psychological, and social changes that occur throughout their lifetimes. (Lifesmart pg.5) All of these combined offer insight to lifespan of development or lack thereof.

  There are many factors that affect this idea like changing views of the different periods of life.  The view of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and perspectives on aging all have a different effect on individuals. History shows this in having children work alongside family for their own things, while now there is a higher want for education.

Things change, and the fact that people change (or do not,) shows a form of development. The Mobius strip video talks about how people have the option to build a wall around their inner selves or create a Mobius strip to have the inner and outer coexist together, flowing out of each other. The lifespan of a person can show why he or she chose this outcome. It sheds light on the cause and effect.

The Mobius strip video is definitely more a motivational speaker video but it is a good outlook on how to bring both lives together. Its motivational because of its comparison between how an individual can deal with life and gives you an open ended choice. But I think it offers an insight to how to be yourself all at once. I do not mean dumping everything on innocent passerby but having conversation without being one sided and feeling more comfortable in oneself might be easier. This flowing attitude of inner and outer lives may also offer more acceptance and understanding of others if being open was done respectfully.   It is kind of like how most people in America when asked how they are doing they answer "OH MY GOSH YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE…" while else where  for example my friend from Germany, Nino, stated no one ever does that its fine, okay. Bad or good. Followed up with either a question about why or just stops.