Google Map Engine in Classroom

In the Geography classroom, I would use Google Map Engine to help my students to achieve the knowledge as much as possible. I believe the combination between Google Map Engine and Google Search will improve my lecture really well.
First of all, I would show my  students one or two short videos of instructing how to use Google Map Engine and then answer any question they have. Next, I would let them practice a little bit and give them feedback immediately. Immediate feedback will help students know how they are performing, their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, they can move forward or keep practicing with the computer.
Next class, I would require my students to assign into groups of 3 to 4 people. Each group will have to make a map about parks in a city that they can choose. With Google Search, the students can easily find the basic information about the parks such as addresses or amenities. Then, they need to locate the parks and add information and photos in the map. Finally, they can decorate the locations with different colors and icons to get extra points. I, the teacher, would move from group to group to assess the process and give some more instruction in need.

These are advantages of this lecture:
- Working in group will help students to develop their skills of combination and management.
- Technology-related assignment will create engagement in students, encourage them to find more detail, dig into the knowledge source more deeply. Thus, they will be more creative.- Being more active will help them to remember the knowledge easier and more successfully.

For example, the students would submit a map like the one below:

My PodCast

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Embed Game

I'm trying to embed a game Angry Bird into my blog.

Angry Birds

The map of WMU

This is the map of our school, Western Michigan University!

Videos from Youtube

In this post, I would share with you some music videos that I really like :)
Enjoy, friends!

The first one is My Immortal from Evanescence, which a meaningful song.


The next one is the sweetest song ever, We Belong Together from Mariah Carey.


Last but not least, Applause from Lady Gaga, the female singer that have great potential voice but freak a little bit.

Photos from my hometown

Today I'm going to share with you some pictures that I took when I was in my hometown. Everyone said that is a peaceful city. But, I think, it "was".

EDT 5410 - Week 5 Reflection

            Base on the data getting from the question, we know in this situation, both teachers and students are provided laptop computer and wireless Internet access 24/7. Additionally, all of necessary materials are also installed on the laptops. The question is: why this innovation only reach a little successful and how to fix this.

            1. I think 3 possible factors (or reasons) why this innovation has a little effect on teaching and learning process are: administrator, teachers and students.

            - First of all, maybe the administrator need to train the teachers to use the equipments successfully. Many teachers are old and they are not familiar with the new technologies, so they don't know how to integrate that new technology into their classroom. Furthermore, the administrator need to know that the new technology is appropriate to the subjects or not, then make a suitable decision on this innovation progress. For example, Math and Science will be supported really well by mathematical websites or virtual laboratory, but Language Arts need to be taught in traditional methods because Arts is something we need to feel directly, the technology can only improve a little impact.

            - Second, some teachers already know how the technology works but they resist to change the traditional methods. They think that the traditional one is enough for students and, especially, they have taught with that old method for many years. Additionally, maybe the teachers are lack of resources for their lecture. For instance, there are thousands of websites that support Math, they provide the formulas and even the result of the questions. Therefore, the teachers don't know which one is suitable with their lecture and then give those resources to their students.

            - Finally, the reason maybe comes from the students. The students nowadays know the new technology very well, but they don't know how to utilize these kinds of technology into the learning process effectively. For example, the students that assigned to Social Studies subject think that they will only study about the social in real life, the communication. In fact, they also need to know more about the Social Network, such as Facebook or Tumblr that they use every day. The problem is that the teachers don't know much about these kinds of social network, so they are quite unconfident in this topic.

            2. Now I will give out 2 suggestions about administrator and teachers  that, hopefully, can help the school to improve the innovation:

            - The teachers who are not familiar with new technologies need to attend an instructive class to understand clearly how the new technologies work and how it can improve the teaching process. The responsibility of the administrator is setting up that kind of classroom, requiring the teachers to attend and make sure that they know how to utilize the supply into their teaching process. The administrator also need to research more about the subjects that really need the support from technology.

            - Not just following the instructive classes, the teachers need to take initiative in finding sources, trying new technologies and applying them into the lectures. They need to know that the traditional method of teaching is good, but it can get better with the support of technology. For instance, the Science teachers can find out many free virtual laboratories and require students to practice on the Internet. Moreover, they also need to create inspiration, connection and coordination among students. The point is now they are able to make a flipping classroom with technologies, where students can actually discuss, work in group and then do a research with peers. 

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