Takeaways
1. Be Flexible
Learning how to be flexible was, by far, my greatest takeaway. Our team came up with a plan after meeting the students only to have that plan completely changed the day before we went to implement it. We had to regather our thoughts and come up with something new for the class, based on the restrictions the teacher gave us. There were also several occasions where the teacher canceled on us so we had to use the time we had very wisely and efficiently.
2. Be Prepared
We assigned a task for the students to complete at home, however, when we went back to help them blog about this task, none of the students had completed it. This was very frustrating, but it was comforting that we had a back up plan for the day.
3. Be Enthusiastic
With all of the issues we dealt with this semester, it was important to stay positive and enthusiastic. Students know when something is wrong, so we had to make sure we kept a smile on our face! It was also important to keep a positive attitude with the teacher, even when they changed plans on us. I never know where I could end up teaching, so I always want to build positive relationships.
4. Integrate technology as much as possible!!
The students loved working with the computers. I was surprised, though, that many of the students did not know how to type well. This is a key skill for people in today's society so I believe students should have multiple opportunities to use technology per day.
Suggestions
1. Set higher expectations with teachers
It seems as if there were a lot of problems with the teachers at P.K. Younge. I know you communicated well with them, but maybe they did not understand how important this was. Since it was the first semester, hopefully it was a learning experience for them and they will better understand the process in the fall!
2. Teach us more
I did enjoy the layout of the class. However, I would have liked to learn a little more content in the area of technology. It would have been cool to learn about tools and resources we could use as future teachers.
3. Have a group meeting with ALL teachers and ALL students
This could potentially help with confusion at the beginning of the semester and would also have everyone in the same mindset.
4. Higher expectations for us
Sometimes I was a little uncertain what was expected of me. It would have been helpful to have a little more feedback to see how I was doing/how I could improve throughout the course.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Situation Report
Since my last situation report, there has not been much change with our project. I have still been in communication with our teacher. She is extremely easy to work with and has affirmed all of our ideas so far as well as adding in some of her own. I am excited to continue building a relationship with her and learn from some of her teaching practices.
Today, Marissa and Lauren went into the classroom to teach a mini lesson. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend because I had another placement in Ocala at the same time. During the mini lesson, they explained to the students why would be in the classroom and what we would be doing. They also showed examples of blogs and told the students we would be using tools such as Voice Thread and imovie when we make a movie at the end of the semester. I talked with Marissa today after they went and she said it went great! She explained that the students were really excited and all of them wanted to ask questions. It is definitely awesome that all of the students are on board!
Next week we are starting to meet with the students two days a week. We cannot go on Monday since it is holiday. Therefore, Corissa and Lauren will start on Wednesday and Marissa and I will start on the following Monday. The first week we will focus on blogs and make sure each student gets to create one. We will encourage them to start posting about why they like reading and why they believe reading is important.
I am still nervous about our time line. The semester is sailing by and I am just afraid we will not have enough time. I also feel like we are potentially forgetting to do things. It would be helpful to maybe get a weekly reminder about things when we do not have class. Otherwise, everything is going well and I am excited to get to know the students!
Today, Marissa and Lauren went into the classroom to teach a mini lesson. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend because I had another placement in Ocala at the same time. During the mini lesson, they explained to the students why would be in the classroom and what we would be doing. They also showed examples of blogs and told the students we would be using tools such as Voice Thread and imovie when we make a movie at the end of the semester. I talked with Marissa today after they went and she said it went great! She explained that the students were really excited and all of them wanted to ask questions. It is definitely awesome that all of the students are on board!
Next week we are starting to meet with the students two days a week. We cannot go on Monday since it is holiday. Therefore, Corissa and Lauren will start on Wednesday and Marissa and I will start on the following Monday. The first week we will focus on blogs and make sure each student gets to create one. We will encourage them to start posting about why they like reading and why they believe reading is important.
I am still nervous about our time line. The semester is sailing by and I am just afraid we will not have enough time. I also feel like we are potentially forgetting to do things. It would be helpful to maybe get a weekly reminder about things when we do not have class. Otherwise, everything is going well and I am excited to get to know the students!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Situation Report
After meeting with our teacher, Mrs. Garrido, and meeting with my team I have a better understanding of what my roles and responsibilities are. Before we met with our teacher, I was the contact person to set up the meeting time and relay expectations, etc. Throughout the project I will continue this role in being the main communicator with the teacher. She is great to work with and said we could really do whatever we wanted as long as we let her know ahead of time. Therefore, I plan on keeping her updated as much as possible. Hopefully close communication will help with the success of our project.
Another responsibility I have is going in the classroom one day a week to work with the students using blogger, voice thread, and imovie. Our goal is to promote literacy not only in the classroom but also in the community. We are going to do this through the social media tools listed above. Each student will have the opportunity to create their own blog, record a voice thread about their favorite book, and participate in creating a public service announcement.
Next week Marissa and Lauren will go into the class to give a mini-lesson to the students. They will explain what we are going to be doing and hopefully spark the interest of the students. Mrs. Garrido said the students are starting to fall in love with reading and literacy so they should jump right on board!
I am really excited to see where our project goes. However, I am somewhat nervous about the time frame. I hope we are able to get everything we have planned accomplished but if not we will just need to make modifications!
Another responsibility I have is going in the classroom one day a week to work with the students using blogger, voice thread, and imovie. Our goal is to promote literacy not only in the classroom but also in the community. We are going to do this through the social media tools listed above. Each student will have the opportunity to create their own blog, record a voice thread about their favorite book, and participate in creating a public service announcement.
Next week Marissa and Lauren will go into the class to give a mini-lesson to the students. They will explain what we are going to be doing and hopefully spark the interest of the students. Mrs. Garrido said the students are starting to fall in love with reading and literacy so they should jump right on board!
I am really excited to see where our project goes. However, I am somewhat nervous about the time frame. I hope we are able to get everything we have planned accomplished but if not we will just need to make modifications!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I'm Back!
The popularity of social media has only increased over the years. People of all ages are using social media for different reasons and purposes. Some use it for gaming and advertisements, while others use it to promote important causes. I have heard that some teachers are ignoring social media and not bringing it into the classroom. However, I have a different view. I believe teachers should embrace technology and social media in the classroom. Ned Smith (2010) mentions if we do not bring social media into the classroom we are creating a major disconnect for our students. Why do we try and “hide” these tools from students when they are using them outside of the classroom on a daily basis? Whether we want to believe it or not, our students are probably more technological advanced than we are. That might be intimidating at first but essentially we can learn from our students just as we expect them to learn from us as teachers.
I found a blog where teachers posted different ideas about how to incorporate social media into the classroom. Many of them were aimed at college or high school level students but I believe an elementary school teacher could modify them to suit the needs of his or her students. Yanick Rice Lamb mentions on the blog that she uses social media to essentially inspire the students to act as journalists. A third, forth, or fifth grade teacher could explain what journalists do, show them examples of journalists’ work, and challenge them to create their own journalist piece. This is just a simple example of how we can embrace technology and social media.
Even though the project for this class is somewhat unclear and not completely laid out, I am excited to begin because I know that there are endless possibilities for not only my team but for my peers as well. My goal is to create a project that our team and the class are passionate about. As we have discussed in class, working toward something is always better when you are passionate about it. If the students do not care about our cause they will not be motivated to help out. I also want the students to realize that they can use social media in others ways than just communicating with their friends or playing games. If they learn how to use social media in a positive and purposeful way at a young age hopefully that will carry over into their adult hood as they impact lives in their community and across the world. As long as our team has the same goals and focus I believe our project will go smoothly. It is also essential to stay in contact with each other to keep the team on track and hold people accountable for their positions.
After briefly talking about our team roles and how we wanted the dynamics set up, my team decided that I would be the best “team leader.” I can honestly say that I did not want to take on this position because I already have several other administrative roles. However, the other girls said they are not very organized and needs someone to be the overseer so I just decided to take it. Besides just being the “leader” of the team I can also provide creative ideas and I can promise that I will brainstorm ideas for everything. It is always a goal of mine to work with a smile and positive attitude so the same is true for this project.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Inquiry...
Completing my Inquiry Project was not something I really wanted to do. I have so many assignments to complete over the next week and I kind of put it on the back burner. However, once I sat down and focused I realized that I really liked learning about my topic. Technology is definitely something I will incorporate into my future classroom. I will also, especially now after researching my inquiry topic, use it to connect with parents. The home-school connection is a integral part of a child's school career. Parental involvement is proven to be the number one predictor for success for students. That fact alone motivates me to connect the parents and children.
Finding sources was not an easy task. I had to search and search but finally found 6 that I think were very useful. The screencast was actually fairly easy to do and I thought it was really cool. Using a screencast is a great way to show the work you've completed while telling someone verbally about it.
This course was great and I cannot wait til the next one like it! Now to decide if I am specializing in technology! :)
Finding sources was not an easy task. I had to search and search but finally found 6 that I think were very useful. The screencast was actually fairly easy to do and I thought it was really cool. Using a screencast is a great way to show the work you've completed while telling someone verbally about it.
This course was great and I cannot wait til the next one like it! Now to decide if I am specializing in technology! :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
last class...
Where has the time gone?! I feel like I was just sitting here writing about the first day of class. Over the course of this semester I have been exposed to many, many different types of technological tools. I don't even know where to begin! In the beginning of the semester, I stated that technology is an important part of our world and I still believe that to be true. I also mentioned that I wanted to see and experience how I could incorporate technology in the elementary classroom. Through chapter presentation and class assignments I have gained so much knowledge about how to include and integrate technology in the classroom. Before this class I was somewhat skeptical of how much I could actually use online tools but that skepticism is now gone. However, there is much more technology I could/would like to learn about and I am still contemplating specializing in technology during my grad school year.
Overall, I am extremely grateful for this class and for the knowledge I gained. Technology is a part of our everyday lives so we need to embrace it not hate it! :)
Overall, I am extremely grateful for this class and for the knowledge I gained. Technology is a part of our everyday lives so we need to embrace it not hate it! :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Scratch!
Before the Scratch project was introduced to our class, I was very nervous and scared based on what other people told me. Thankfully, I learned very quickly that I cannot always believe what I hear from other people. It may come as a surprise to some, but I truly enjoyed creating my interactive game. I decided to focus on kindergarten since that is the grade I would like to teach. After looking at the sunshine state standards I thought it would be fun and engaging to create a game where students could practice their rhyming words. Overall, I believe my final product turned out well. No it is not perfect but this is my first time using Scratch so I won't be too hard on myself :). If a game or interactive learning tool needs to be created for my class, I am glad I can create this tool myself!
almost finished...
Sam and Lauren presented on chapter 10 and provided us with information based on assessment. I am still uncertain though, about using certain aspects of technology assessment with younger children. The idea of online rubrics is very useful and I will definitely use the sources that my peers provided (when I actually do use rubrics). The girls made a good point when they said we shouldn't use "pre-made" rubrics because they will not exactly match the material we've been teaching. I hope my future school has "clickers" because I would love completing some assessments with them! Ultimately, our goal is to make sure the assessments we create are authentic.
I'm getting a bit nervous about the inquiry project, time to get moving!
I'm getting a bit nervous about the inquiry project, time to get moving!
Chapter 10: Assessing with technology...
Performing assessments in the classroom can sometimes be a difficult talk. There is always the question of individual or group assessment, written or verbal, etc. Throughout this semester I have learned about different tools and ways teachers can conduct assessments with technologies. Some examples are online surveys, using clickers, or having students take online quizzes.
A couple different types of assessments described in the chapter are authentic and performance based. Our evaluations should be original, and engaging to create "meaningful experiences" (p. 218). It is important to make sure tests or other forms of assessments are based on things we have taught in the class. It would be unfair/non-beneficial to assess students on things that are not taught. I have experienced this in several of my classes at the University of Florida and it is very frustrating. Performance assessments is fairly self-explanatory. Teachers have students perform tasks based on what they learned; this could be useful for things such as science experiments.
How does his tie in with technology? One huge positive reason to use technology for assessment is because a computer can store and help organize large amounts of data. It also allows teachers to view assignments and give feedback more quickly (most likely). However, one concern I have is what if your classroom only has six computers? It would be somewhat annoying to have students take tests or quizzes at different times.
The idea of electronic portfolios really interests me. As the students complete online work over the semester, they could store it in on online folder so at the end of the semester all the work is compiled. These portfolios can include things from presentations to video clips. I'm trying to think of how I could use this in a young elementary classroom (K-2). I am interested to hear my peers talk about this chapter today to see if they have any ideas and more resources!
A couple different types of assessments described in the chapter are authentic and performance based. Our evaluations should be original, and engaging to create "meaningful experiences" (p. 218). It is important to make sure tests or other forms of assessments are based on things we have taught in the class. It would be unfair/non-beneficial to assess students on things that are not taught. I have experienced this in several of my classes at the University of Florida and it is very frustrating. Performance assessments is fairly self-explanatory. Teachers have students perform tasks based on what they learned; this could be useful for things such as science experiments.
How does his tie in with technology? One huge positive reason to use technology for assessment is because a computer can store and help organize large amounts of data. It also allows teachers to view assignments and give feedback more quickly (most likely). However, one concern I have is what if your classroom only has six computers? It would be somewhat annoying to have students take tests or quizzes at different times.
The idea of electronic portfolios really interests me. As the students complete online work over the semester, they could store it in on online folder so at the end of the semester all the work is compiled. These portfolios can include things from presentations to video clips. I'm trying to think of how I could use this in a young elementary classroom (K-2). I am interested to hear my peers talk about this chapter today to see if they have any ideas and more resources!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
presentation day...
Today Christin, Neil, and myself presented on chapter 9. I really liked this chapter and feel like I will use many of the tools we found in the future. Overall, I think the presentation went well. I enjoyed finding different visual tools to use in the classroom (and I included our glogster in case you are interested in viewing any of the tools)! We received great feedback from Jeff and our peers which was very encouraging. I love presenting in classes because it's great practice for my future!
Jess introduced dweeber as her cool tool. This is a social site where students can connect with their peers to talk about homework, have study sessions, etc. As Jess said, young students cannot easily meet with their friends (unless parent's take them somewhere). This website would be a good way for them to collaborate and ask questions. However, there are limitations to this site such as potential cheating or not having any friends on the site.
Another cool tool I think would be useful was GoogleLitTrips. Katie introduced this website and showed us you can map different events and historical places. She mentioned that they are not many books in the archive so teachers could create their own or older students could also create trips based on books they are reading.
Sextexting. This was Neil's contemporary issue and a topic that I think is extremely disgusting. It is sad to me that young children (and older people who should know better) are sending this inappropriate text pictures. I truly wonder why someone would want to do this but I suppose it's an issue we, as future teachers, need to be aware of. I hope that I will never have a student who decides to "sext" but if I do I need to understand how to handle the situation.
Time to finish our stop animation! :)
Jess introduced dweeber as her cool tool. This is a social site where students can connect with their peers to talk about homework, have study sessions, etc. As Jess said, young students cannot easily meet with their friends (unless parent's take them somewhere). This website would be a good way for them to collaborate and ask questions. However, there are limitations to this site such as potential cheating or not having any friends on the site.
Another cool tool I think would be useful was GoogleLitTrips. Katie introduced this website and showed us you can map different events and historical places. She mentioned that they are not many books in the archive so teachers could create their own or older students could also create trips based on books they are reading.
Sextexting. This was Neil's contemporary issue and a topic that I think is extremely disgusting. It is sad to me that young children (and older people who should know better) are sending this inappropriate text pictures. I truly wonder why someone would want to do this but I suppose it's an issue we, as future teachers, need to be aware of. I hope that I will never have a student who decides to "sext" but if I do I need to understand how to handle the situation.
Time to finish our stop animation! :)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
New thoughts...
In class I learned even more about designing with technologies and how I could use different designing tools in the classroom. If students are interested in math, science, and design they would probably love using the architecture tools. I think every student would love designing on RollerCoasterTycoon. CreatingMusic is a tool that would be great for students to practice their musical talents and learn how to "create" music.
Skype was the cool tool Sarah presented. It was so cool to "meet" her mom through this technological tool and she shared an idea on how we can take students on virtual field trips. I also enjoyed learning about TalkShoe and it's many capabilities. TalkShoe allows you to have virtual conversations with others who have a talkshoe account. I liked the "Free English Corner" talk cast and think that it would be useful for English Language Learners. LiveMocha was definitely my favorite cool tool shown today. I am going to Paris in the fall and do not know much French, so hopefully this tool can help me learn some before I head there in 4 weeks :). Students could also use this site to practice their English skills.
Andy shared a contemporary issue on online dating. I have never been a fan of meeting people this way, but I know many people have feel in love with someone they met on the internet. Like she said, people need to be careful about their information (money, etc.) when meeting people over the internet. In reality, you could meet someone in person who is a scam artist but at least you can see them and talk to them face-to-face rather than communicating through the internet. We just need to make sure we are careful in every situation to promote our safety! There are crazy people in this world and we could meet them in person or on the internet.
I'm excited to go work on our stop-animation! Be on the lookout for our video!
Skype was the cool tool Sarah presented. It was so cool to "meet" her mom through this technological tool and she shared an idea on how we can take students on virtual field trips. I also enjoyed learning about TalkShoe and it's many capabilities. TalkShoe allows you to have virtual conversations with others who have a talkshoe account. I liked the "Free English Corner" talk cast and think that it would be useful for English Language Learners. LiveMocha was definitely my favorite cool tool shown today. I am going to Paris in the fall and do not know much French, so hopefully this tool can help me learn some before I head there in 4 weeks :). Students could also use this site to practice their English skills.
Andy shared a contemporary issue on online dating. I have never been a fan of meeting people this way, but I know many people have feel in love with someone they met on the internet. Like she said, people need to be careful about their information (money, etc.) when meeting people over the internet. In reality, you could meet someone in person who is a scam artist but at least you can see them and talk to them face-to-face rather than communicating through the internet. We just need to make sure we are careful in every situation to promote our safety! There are crazy people in this world and we could meet them in person or on the internet.
I'm excited to go work on our stop-animation! Be on the lookout for our video!
Designing with Technologies...
When I think about designing with technology I instantly think of graphic design or something along those lines. Even though that is one form of design, there are many other types that I learned about through this chapter. In reality, if I didn't pursue a degree in Elementary Education, I would have majored in interior or fashion design. The problem, however, is that I can not draw that well, but thankfully technology helps me in that area :).
The CAD program sounds pretty interesting and useful (must be since it was created in 1960 and still used today!). People can use this as a "virtual drafting table" (p. 171). I think it is so cool they can use this tool to view and rotate objects on the screen, zoom in and out, and help produce final drawings.
One of my good friends is in architectural design and he has showed me several of the computer tools they use. The SkethUp program seems like a neat tool because you can create virtual buildings and houses! This is very helpful if someone is trying to create a large development or shopping complex because then they could see what everything will look like before it is actually built. It would definitely be better to make changes before the place is actually built.
Since I love music and love to sing, the music composition software caught my eye. I have played with a few tools like this and think it is really cool and useful to develop songs and scores on the computer as well as create sheet music. I think the Impromptu program sounds useful as it allows you to keep a running log of music are you are working.
The CAD program sounds pretty interesting and useful (must be since it was created in 1960 and still used today!). People can use this as a "virtual drafting table" (p. 171). I think it is so cool they can use this tool to view and rotate objects on the screen, zoom in and out, and help produce final drawings.
One of my good friends is in architectural design and he has showed me several of the computer tools they use. The SkethUp program seems like a neat tool because you can create virtual buildings and houses! This is very helpful if someone is trying to create a large development or shopping complex because then they could see what everything will look like before it is actually built. It would definitely be better to make changes before the place is actually built.
Since I love music and love to sing, the music composition software caught my eye. I have played with a few tools like this and think it is really cool and useful to develop songs and scores on the computer as well as create sheet music. I think the Impromptu program sounds useful as it allows you to keep a running log of music are you are working.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Birthday Week...
Today we ended our showing of digital autobiographies. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about my peers through pictures. Pictures are something I cherish and love looking at and I think I will show presentations about myself in the future to introduce myself to students. Speaking of pictures, I celebrated my 21st birthday this week and here is a picture from my birthday celebration. :)
Chapter 7 was an interesting read and the two girls did a fabulous job presenting the chapter in class. They provided so many resources that can be useful to use in our classrooms. I want to go back and look through the resources because I felt like i did not have time to explore any of the websites. I thought the assessment was pretty cool and fun. Using video-conferencing in the classroom is something I hope to do because you can connect with so many different people in different parts of the world. The video they showed at the beginning of the presentation was eye opening and showed how much technology is actually used today. Videos such as that one and others that are similar always grab my attention and really interests me.
Sarah brought up an interesting contemporary issue that I often think about: the growing rate of childhood obesity. The benefits of technology are very great and I do not believe we should "choose" playing outside or being active over letting children play with technological resources but rather create a balanced lifestyle for our children. We cannot blame just media for the obesity problem because there are many other factors that contribute (the food we eat, etc.).
A cool tool that I particularly liked today was DrawAnywhere. This is a site where people can create diagrams, flowcharts, concepts maps, and classroom setups. I also like the fact that you can upload your own photos for your charts or diagrams (but is not available in the free version, of course!). Another tool introduced, WooMe, is a site that I don't think I will be visiting in the future! It seems like a very sketchy resource and I would not let my students or children use this site. I liked how Jeff tried to justify his adding this cool tool to the list :) But it just goes to show how quickly things can change!
Communicating with Technologies...
Over the last few years of my life, the way I communicate has drastically changed. There are definitely pros and cons to this change. I went from talking in person, to AIM, to texting and facebooking. Through all this change, I have tried to maintain face to face relationships with people (which is almost harder these days). Students in the future will probably have even more technology so I can't imagine how they are going to communicate. I agree with the book when it says that students can use multiple technologies at the same time. If you were to watch students for an entire day, you would probably be extremely surprised by the amount of technology they use and the time they spend with technology.
Since students are so used to multitasking with technologies, how are we going to keep them interested and engaged in the classroom? One way teachers can use communicating with technologies is through discussion boards. This is a way for students to share information and learn from each other. The book mentions that through online forums, there is no "race, gender, age, and no infirmities-only minds: people talking to people" (p. 141). That statement is very true and I agree those things can sometimes cause issues in the classroom, but what about students who do not use grammar correctly or do not write well? Those students might be scared to discuss through online forums. This issue is addressed later on in the chapter and suggests that teachers should give students opportunities to communicate in person and learn how to have actual conversations first before introducing them to online discussion boards.
Other forms of online communicating include things such as chatting on the internet (AIM instant messaging, Facebook chat) and videoconferencing with others. Videoconferencing on resources such as Skype is a great way to connect with others who are not in the same area or are in different parts of the world.
Communication is such a huge part of everyone's life and it is interesting to read and learn about the different ways people can communicate. If we were thought about the way we communicate on a daily basis, I guarantee at least 50 percent of our communication would be through technology. Is that a good or bad thing?
Since students are so used to multitasking with technologies, how are we going to keep them interested and engaged in the classroom? One way teachers can use communicating with technologies is through discussion boards. This is a way for students to share information and learn from each other. The book mentions that through online forums, there is no "race, gender, age, and no infirmities-only minds: people talking to people" (p. 141). That statement is very true and I agree those things can sometimes cause issues in the classroom, but what about students who do not use grammar correctly or do not write well? Those students might be scared to discuss through online forums. This issue is addressed later on in the chapter and suggests that teachers should give students opportunities to communicate in person and learn how to have actual conversations first before introducing them to online discussion boards.
Other forms of online communicating include things such as chatting on the internet (AIM instant messaging, Facebook chat) and videoconferencing with others. Videoconferencing on resources such as Skype is a great way to connect with others who are not in the same area or are in different parts of the world.
Communication is such a huge part of everyone's life and it is interesting to read and learn about the different ways people can communicate. If we were thought about the way we communicate on a daily basis, I guarantee at least 50 percent of our communication would be through technology. Is that a good or bad thing?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Learning each day...
Today I gave my cool tool presentation on sliderocket. I really like this tool and believe I will use it in the future. I also enjoyed the other cool tools introduced: Flickr and Polleverywhere. I love taking pictures so flickr is definitely a tool that sparked my interest!
Will virtual schools or other forms of technology cause me to lose my job in the future? I sure hope not! I'm not too worried about that, but you never know what could happen in this crazy world. :) Even though Katie didn't mention teachers in particularly, she did mention how technology has caused some people to lose jobs and asked how we can create jobs using technology and encourage students to be prepared for a "skilled" workforce in order for them to be successful.
Stop-motion animation was introduced and it is a very interesting tool. I did not have a clear understanding of what it was before today and now I am excited to use it with my class! Jeff mentioned using it as an alternative assessment which would give students a break from the traditional pencil and paper method. I'm all for the alternative assessments. :) It will be fun creating a stop-motion animation with peers in our class. Our topic of "texting and driving" should make for an interesting animation!
Scratch is going to be time consuming, but after learning about it more in class I feel more prepared to start my project!
Will virtual schools or other forms of technology cause me to lose my job in the future? I sure hope not! I'm not too worried about that, but you never know what could happen in this crazy world. :) Even though Katie didn't mention teachers in particularly, she did mention how technology has caused some people to lose jobs and asked how we can create jobs using technology and encourage students to be prepared for a "skilled" workforce in order for them to be successful.
Stop-motion animation was introduced and it is a very interesting tool. I did not have a clear understanding of what it was before today and now I am excited to use it with my class! Jeff mentioned using it as an alternative assessment which would give students a break from the traditional pencil and paper method. I'm all for the alternative assessments. :) It will be fun creating a stop-motion animation with peers in our class. Our topic of "texting and driving" should make for an interesting animation!
Scratch is going to be time consuming, but after learning about it more in class I feel more prepared to start my project!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Exit Slip
Today's class was jammed pack with information! We had two groups present their chapter and each group provided multiple resources. Doing the chapter presentations definitely clarifies information about that chapter that I didn't necessarily understand the first time. It also allows us to explore the resources in class and become familiar with things we could use in the future.
Last summer my computer crashed and I was unbelievably sad about the things I almost lost (thankfully, a dear friend recovered the computer). Dropbox is a tool we learned about which is a site that allows people to store information and is a "back up" in case something happens to the files on your computer. Brainpop is a cool that Jacki presented and like her, I too believe this is a great site to use in the classroom. You can use this site to introduce different topics. There are interesting videos and games that children truly enjoy.
I presented my contemporary issue on a subject that I am passionate about and believe that everyone should be aware of; media and technology's influence on body image. After seeing the Dove Campaign video several years ago I was shocked and basically mortified by the way technology distorts body image and creates these "beings" and bodies that are very unattainable. I want children and my peers to understand what the media is doing to they do not buy into the lies or think their body or appearance isn't "good enough."
Another issue that Brittany brought up was social networking and if it is appropriate for children. Personally, my own children will not be allowed to participate on social networks at such a young age. Even though I think social networking is an awesome way to connect with people and share information, I do not believe sites like Facebook or Myspace are the places to do this for elementary and even middle school students. The can be social at school, on other "child-friendly" sites such as webkins, club penguin, or Kidswirl.
I hope to play around and work with some of the tools that were introduced today. I mentioned in class that I am concerned with how to use certain resources in an elementary classroom setting so hopefully I can modify them for future use!
Last summer my computer crashed and I was unbelievably sad about the things I almost lost (thankfully, a dear friend recovered the computer). Dropbox is a tool we learned about which is a site that allows people to store information and is a "back up" in case something happens to the files on your computer. Brainpop is a cool that Jacki presented and like her, I too believe this is a great site to use in the classroom. You can use this site to introduce different topics. There are interesting videos and games that children truly enjoy.
I presented my contemporary issue on a subject that I am passionate about and believe that everyone should be aware of; media and technology's influence on body image. After seeing the Dove Campaign video several years ago I was shocked and basically mortified by the way technology distorts body image and creates these "beings" and bodies that are very unattainable. I want children and my peers to understand what the media is doing to they do not buy into the lies or think their body or appearance isn't "good enough."
Another issue that Brittany brought up was social networking and if it is appropriate for children. Personally, my own children will not be allowed to participate on social networks at such a young age. Even though I think social networking is an awesome way to connect with people and share information, I do not believe sites like Facebook or Myspace are the places to do this for elementary and even middle school students. The can be social at school, on other "child-friendly" sites such as webkins, club penguin, or Kidswirl.
I hope to play around and work with some of the tools that were introduced today. I mentioned in class that I am concerned with how to use certain resources in an elementary classroom setting so hopefully I can modify them for future use!
Reflecting on chapters 5 & 6
One thing I like about our classes this semester is the fact that the things we are learning in each individual class somewhat overlap with each other. In our science methods course, we learned how models can be used in the classroom. Some of my classmates used Scratch to create models for certain things. Chapter 5 discusses "modeling with technologies" and how we can learn through building and creating models. I like the section at the beginning of the chapter that explains the difference between computers teaching students and students teaching/sharing their information with the computer. When we create models of any kind we are showing that we understand how something works and we are showing our knowledge. I like the way the book put it, "the primary purpose of students modeling is the construction and revision of the learner's conceptual understanding, a process known as conceptual change and one that is sometimes difficult" (p. 83).
Several examples of computer based "mindtools" are given in the chapter. These include things like databases, concept maps, spreadsheets, microworlds, and so on. One example I really like is something called Comapping. This is a site where you can post, organize, and share information with others. Students should create models because I believe they learn not only from the success they may encounter but also from struggles and trials they may have.
Who likes to communicate with other people?! I do! Chapter 6 is all about community building with technologies. I personally use technology to communicate with all types of people in my life; professors, close friends, friends that live far ways, family, etc. When we communicate and share information, we are also learning and gaining new perspectives on things, sometimes without even knowing it. "Technologies enabling social networks and knowledge webs offer a means of constructing knowledge by facilitating collaboration and teamwork" (p. 101). Do you like you learn from other people? I believe I am constantly learning from what people say and trying to see their perspectives on things when they share information.
Using Wikis is a way to co-construct knowledge. I first heard about wikis my freshman year when I took the introduction to technology class. I thought they were cool and interesting, but I honestly have not used them since then. However, this class reintroduced them to me and have been very effective for displaying and sharing information. It is very easy and convenient for me and my peers to post sources on the class organization wiki. A wiki creates an "environment for students to join together in a knowledge-building community" (p. 105). They can post "knowledge" they have found and see the other things that have been posted. One example of a wiki they described in the book is an AP teacher who used a wiki as a way to help prepare his students for the end of the year exam. What a great way to review!
Once again, I am amazed by all the technological tools I read about in these two chapters and am excited to put them to use in the future!
Several examples of computer based "mindtools" are given in the chapter. These include things like databases, concept maps, spreadsheets, microworlds, and so on. One example I really like is something called Comapping. This is a site where you can post, organize, and share information with others. Students should create models because I believe they learn not only from the success they may encounter but also from struggles and trials they may have.
Who likes to communicate with other people?! I do! Chapter 6 is all about community building with technologies. I personally use technology to communicate with all types of people in my life; professors, close friends, friends that live far ways, family, etc. When we communicate and share information, we are also learning and gaining new perspectives on things, sometimes without even knowing it. "Technologies enabling social networks and knowledge webs offer a means of constructing knowledge by facilitating collaboration and teamwork" (p. 101). Do you like you learn from other people? I believe I am constantly learning from what people say and trying to see their perspectives on things when they share information.
Using Wikis is a way to co-construct knowledge. I first heard about wikis my freshman year when I took the introduction to technology class. I thought they were cool and interesting, but I honestly have not used them since then. However, this class reintroduced them to me and have been very effective for displaying and sharing information. It is very easy and convenient for me and my peers to post sources on the class organization wiki. A wiki creates an "environment for students to join together in a knowledge-building community" (p. 105). They can post "knowledge" they have found and see the other things that have been posted. One example of a wiki they described in the book is an AP teacher who used a wiki as a way to help prepare his students for the end of the year exam. What a great way to review!
Once again, I am amazed by all the technological tools I read about in these two chapters and am excited to put them to use in the future!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Exit Slip
Alex and Katie started off class with a great presentation on Chapter 4 and showed many resources that we can use to incorporate writing in the classroom. Gliffy and Polleverywhere were two of my favorite tools that we saw today. My freshman year, when I took Intro to Educational Technology, we used Gliffy. Back then I was not impressed with the tool but I believe it has been improved tremendously over the past year or so. I love reading and hearing how we can use technology in other subject areas and will make a conscious effort to do this in the future.
Parentella is a cool tool that Jordyn introduced. This is a very useful tool and is closely related to my inquiry topic (the home-school connection). I definitely plan on researching and becoming more familiar with this site and others that are similar.
Am I or are you addicted to the internet? I sure hope not! Today we learned about internet addictions and discussed if they are a problem. We can waste so much time doing mindless things on the internet. I myself even spend too much time on sites like Facebook when I could be looking on useful information. The internet is a very useful tool and has helped our society in many ways. We just need to be careful what we are actually using the internet for. I like the point Katie made about being addicted to "something" not just the internet.
We also talked a little more about podcasts and learned about Garage Band. I'm glad I finished mine already and I will be blogging about the experience soon!
Parentella is a cool tool that Jordyn introduced. This is a very useful tool and is closely related to my inquiry topic (the home-school connection). I definitely plan on researching and becoming more familiar with this site and others that are similar.
Am I or are you addicted to the internet? I sure hope not! Today we learned about internet addictions and discussed if they are a problem. We can waste so much time doing mindless things on the internet. I myself even spend too much time on sites like Facebook when I could be looking on useful information. The internet is a very useful tool and has helped our society in many ways. We just need to be careful what we are actually using the internet for. I like the point Katie made about being addicted to "something" not just the internet.
We also talked a little more about podcasts and learned about Garage Band. I'm glad I finished mine already and I will be blogging about the experience soon!
Reflecting on Chapter 4
Chapter four discusses how teachers can support writing with technologies. Writing is not just something we need to do in school, it is apart of our everyday lives. Writing through emails or through other technologies such as Facebook is something that is a part of most people's lives. When writing something, especially papers or formal letters, it is a great idea to organize your thoughts to figure out what to say. Concept mapping (p. 62) is one form of organizing ideas. We learn this concept in elementary school and keep refining it all the way through high school. This year in my college science course, we learned about an online tool that can be used for concept mapping. Cmap is a tool that is free for users and can be downloaded onto any computer. Students and teachers can use this to organize and plan out ideas and explore ideas about different topics. As students use this tool, they could start off by working together to explore broad topics and then continue to narrow them down. It will also help them to synthesize sources of information and find the important things they need.
Supporting creative and collaborative writing can also be accomplished through technologies. Students of all ages like to see their work displayed or published in some form or fashion. Publishing students work on the internet is a great way to get them motivated and excited to write. The book describes a few sites where students can publish their work and I am sure there are many other sites out there. This How-To talks a little more about publishing students' work and this is a site where you can: Student Online Publishing. So far, I have learned that collaboration is key in the elementary classroom. Therefore, we should also have students write collaboratively to learn from each other and see how different people write. Roles could be assigned to students such as editor, reporter or leader and these roles could change when different assignments are given (p. 73).
We all know that writing is something we do daily, but using these technological tools can be useful and will help engage students in the writing process. Students can organize their ideas, create several drafts of a piece, publish their work, and work together through technology.
Supporting creative and collaborative writing can also be accomplished through technologies. Students of all ages like to see their work displayed or published in some form or fashion. Publishing students work on the internet is a great way to get them motivated and excited to write. The book describes a few sites where students can publish their work and I am sure there are many other sites out there. This How-To talks a little more about publishing students' work and this is a site where you can: Student Online Publishing. So far, I have learned that collaboration is key in the elementary classroom. Therefore, we should also have students write collaboratively to learn from each other and see how different people write. Roles could be assigned to students such as editor, reporter or leader and these roles could change when different assignments are given (p. 73).
We all know that writing is something we do daily, but using these technological tools can be useful and will help engage students in the writing process. Students can organize their ideas, create several drafts of a piece, publish their work, and work together through technology.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)