Lekitsky


 * A bit about me...**

My name is Kristen. I am a 4th grade Learning Support teacher in the Kutztown Area School District. At this time, I find it difficult to utilize technology in my LS classroom due to student scheduling, time, resources and space. I do use Excel to graph and share student data. Ideally, I would like to utilize technology more in the classroom.


 * Website Link**

Here is a great reading/math website that I use at my computer center in my classroom... click here


 * Social Networking... My thoughts.**

It seems as though Facebook is easier to navigate through. MySpace seems to be filled with advertisements as well as many options to click on. The pages feel very "busy" to me. Personally, I no longer no anybody who has a MySpace account. All of my friends currently have a Facebook.. I seems as though Facebook is the new MySpace.


 * Blogging... My thoughts.**

I really liked the 21classes.com site. I saw some great ways that teachers and students can use blogging sites. Teachers can post school calenders, schedules, and assignments- just to name a few. Students can then use blogs to post ideas and/or thoughts as well as communicate with their peers/classes. This may also be a nice way for parents to communicate with other parents. I believe that I would be able to use blogging to communicate our school calender, behavior contracts, and summaries of what is going on in the classroom. It would be beneficial if parents could also post comments or questions.


 * Netiquette- Questions/Answers**
 * 1) **Do you agree with all of the items covered in this Bill of Rights? Why or why not?** I agree with all of the items covered in the Bill of Rights. All personal users, educational systems, and institutions should have access to a computer, be able to compute information, understand their responsibility, and make themselves informed.
 * 2) **What do you disagree with?** Not everyone has access to a computer, and I believe that some do not respect properties of others through the internet. Perhaps it is the responsibility of some to monitor this.
 * 3) **Do you plan to abide by these guidelines? Why or why not?** Yes, they seem respectable and reasonable to me. However, I do already feel like I do abide by these guidelines.
 * 4) **Do you think they leave out anything important? Why or why not?** I believe they kept the guidelines general and broad enough that most of everything needed would be covered.
 * 5) **What's not covered that should be?** See above.


 * Threatening Viruses**

I am unclear of what the actual names are of these viruses, but I do believe that my home computer was affected by the MP3 Metadata Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. A few months ago when I was downloading some songs, my computer alerted me that my computer contacted a virus. What I thought at the time was just a simple virus to get rid of, turned into a disaster in which I had to lose my computer for a week while a computer company had to clean and fix my computer. It ended up costing me nearly two hundred dollars. Needless to say, I have never downloaded a song again.
 * [[image:http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/graphics/ssrc/bar_4.gif]] || [|Microsoft Windows Media Format MP3 Metadata Remote Code Execution Vulnerability] || 09/08/2009 ||
 * [[image:http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/graphics/ssrc/bar_4.gif]] || [|Microsoft Windows Media Format ASF Header Invalid Free Memory Corruption Vulnerability] || 09/08/2009 ||
 * [[image:http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/graphics/ssrc/bar_5.gif]] || [|Microsoft Windows TCP/IP TimeStamps Remote Code Execution Vulnerability] || 09/08/2009 ||


 * Internet Hoax?**

[|**Video: Michael Jackson Is Alive**] YouTube video appears to show a very-much-alive Michael Jackson hopping out of a coroner's van in a Los Angeles parking garage. //(Added 09/01/09)//

I do not believe this hoax. If this was true, it would be an incredibly sick joke which would affect everyones views and opinions of he and his family. Additionally, so much time was spent on his story on the news, talk shows, and award shows that it cannot possibly be true. However, I must say I do find it odd that he has a movie coming out. When did he have time for that? It is quite coincidental.


 * Scenario**

Lester sends an e-mail to the entire student body inviting them to a BYOB party at his house while his parents are out of town. Lester receives a message from a system administrator calling him in for a meeting with school officials. He objects because he feels that his e-mail is his own private business.

In my district, Lester would not win the battle. According to my school's AUP, Lester has broken many rules. For instance, no student is able to use the computer for illegal or personal uses. Underage drinking is most certainly illegal. Also, any material that is objectionable is prohibited and email is not allowed to be used to broadcast messages. Furthermore, Kutztown reserves the right to review any emails at any time. So, the district is not out of line in their request to meet with Lester. In my district, the the students are required to "sign off" on the AUP at the beginning of the year.

I would handle the situation the same way my district would. The high school students in my district have the luxury of the one to one lap top program. Every student has their own lab top to use throughout the year. In my opinion, this is a great privilege that should not be abused.


 * Google Earth**

I realized that I have witnessed Google Earth before but, at the time, I did not know what it was. What an awesome resource that can be used in many ways! Currently, my fourth graders are learning about the continents and maps, and this could be a great tool to use! I know that the kids would really love to use this to search and learn about different locations. I plan on utilizing this resource in my classroom as well as posting this on my Moodle page for Social Studies.


 * My Jing**

Check out my Jing on how to log on to my classroom Moodle page!

media type="file" key="Moodle.swf" width="360" height="270"


 * Podcast!**

Check out my podcast that introduces my classroom!

media type="file" key="06 Track 06.mp3" width="240" height="20"


 * You tube video featuring a clip from "Dumb and Dumber"... one of my favorite movies!**

media type="youtube" key="5bHPjx7hfb4" height="344" width="425"


 * United Streaming Assignment**- Writing Prompt

"Wordy" version: Friendlier version w/ picture:


 * Movie Maker Project**

Here is a movie that I created using photos from my most recent vacation to Myrtle Beach with my fiancee and family.

media type="file" key="kristen.wmv" width="300" height="300"


 * Video Conferencing... My thoughts.**

We spoke with Sue Porter tonight who I believe is one of the founders of TWICE (Two Way Interactive Connections in Education). We learned much about video conferencing including its main purpose in 1997 which was to take classes, to the shift in video conferencing in which museums and science centers began utilize video conferencing. Currently many schools, specifically elementary and middle, are using video conferencing as a way to meet and talk amongst each other. We also learned about the ASK program and CAPspace, a portal for video conferencing projects. CAPspace apperared similar to a facebook page in that it offered opportunities for teachers to collaborate/communicate with other teachers.

There are many ways to use video conferencing in the classroom. My school in particular uses Polycom when meeting with our partner teachers from outlying buildings. Also, video conferencing can be used in the classroom to supplement discussion topics and/or book talks. Sue further stated that video conferencing is not only good for teachers, but it prepares our students for the future. Video conferencing is now being used for job interviews, which is one reason students should have exposure to this.

Other companies that also offer video conferencing are Tandberg and LifeSize. Check out the links below learn more about each one. TANDBERG LifeSize


 * My Classroom Moodle Page** (in replace of a Wiki)

[|Moodle]

Take a peek! Username: klekitsky Password: Frog2ufo


 * Webquest- Native American tribes in Pennsylvania. I created this Webquest for use in my student's social studies class.**