I believe that it is really important to teach technology to our students. Students in this generation are at a completely different level then any other group of students before them, they have always been exposed to technology from even before birth. Students have music played even before coming to this world, and their own computers by the time they are toddlers. Being a teacher to these students we need to accommodate to there needs which means that we have to teach technology to them. If you don't they will be board and as a teacher you will lose them more quickly if you don't teach them in a manner that they will listen to.
I believe that using technology enhances your lessons. Taking your students on a virtual tour of the pyramids so they can see how they are actually laid out will teach them so much more then just trying to describe it to them. When having you lessons enhanced by technology it allows you to increase there ability to see, hear and learn the lessons that you want to know. Having all of those senses stimulated helps the student take the information and ingrain that into their memory.
I am glad that as a student I have had the opportunity to have this class to teach me different uses of technology that I can use in the classroom. I know I will be a better teacher because of it.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Lessons Learned
I learned many things from the information that was assigned for this lesson. One of the more interesting assigned readings was the "The New WWW." I really found it interesting how the article broke the information down. For example how we are surrounded by WWW everywhere we go and how if we continue to progress at the rate we are now we will soon be surrounded with technology and information unlike anything we could understand at our current state. The reason why I believe this is true is because as I think back in my life and the technology that has progressed just in the last 10 year has been amazing, I can't even fathom what it will be like in another 10 years.
The, "Did You Know; Shift Happens - Globalization; Information Age," video is a perfect example of what I was saying previously. In the video it talks about how students that are starting college now, the information that they learn will be obsolete before they even graduate from college. This was really interesting to me, the thought that what they are coming to college to learn could be obsolete before they even finish learning it is mind boggling to me.
The other article that I really liked was "Study: Teens See Disconnect Between Personal and School Writing" article. I found it very interesting that even though student have learned how to communicate in a completly different way when they write on facebook or texting, that those writing styles don't transfer into there schooling is amazing for the students brain to switch to a complete different way of speaking, I feel as though it is more then just changing there patterns but it is almost being bilingual. So many youth are online using Facebook or texting. Almost everything is abbreviated such as “lol” and teens say things like “U2” rather than writing you too. This abbreviated way of speaking is so quick in the students minds, it is truly like another language.
As teacher we need to allow students to feel as though they are free to express themselves in anyway they can. In the article it said that many of the students feel that they are not able to be creative in their school writing, but they can be creative when they are writing on Facebook, or with texts. Again as teachers we need to allow our students to be free to express, we can do this by having free writes but not just by hand, have your students create and maintain a blog instead. This would be a great opportunity to have students show their thoughts but be creative as well.
The, "Did You Know; Shift Happens - Globalization; Information Age," video is a perfect example of what I was saying previously. In the video it talks about how students that are starting college now, the information that they learn will be obsolete before they even graduate from college. This was really interesting to me, the thought that what they are coming to college to learn could be obsolete before they even finish learning it is mind boggling to me.
The other article that I really liked was "Study: Teens See Disconnect Between Personal and School Writing" article. I found it very interesting that even though student have learned how to communicate in a completly different way when they write on facebook or texting, that those writing styles don't transfer into there schooling is amazing for the students brain to switch to a complete different way of speaking, I feel as though it is more then just changing there patterns but it is almost being bilingual. So many youth are online using Facebook or texting. Almost everything is abbreviated such as “lol” and teens say things like “U2” rather than writing you too. This abbreviated way of speaking is so quick in the students minds, it is truly like another language.
As teacher we need to allow students to feel as though they are free to express themselves in anyway they can. In the article it said that many of the students feel that they are not able to be creative in their school writing, but they can be creative when they are writing on Facebook, or with texts. Again as teachers we need to allow our students to be free to express, we can do this by having free writes but not just by hand, have your students create and maintain a blog instead. This would be a great opportunity to have students show their thoughts but be creative as well.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Through out my educational career I have learned bits and pieces of technology along the way. Some of the technology that I have learned have become strengths and some that I haven't had the opportunity to practice as often have become a weakness of mine.
When looking through the UNI Preservice Teacher Technology Competencies, I came to realize that there is so much more to learn, according to the questions I am an apprentice in most of the categories that were listed among the survey. One of the questions; Use audio/visual resources (audiotapes, videos or slides) to access information and analyze the authority, accuracy, currency, and relevance; because of this class and the practice from making our vidcast and our digital story as made it so that I can say that I am an expert in this area. I have been able to help construct with a partner a video that taught the subject matter in a quick and easy way that would be impossible for a teacher to show that subject matter to a student with out technology to help.
One of my weaknesses would have to be a smart board. So many of my peers were able to interact with a smart board in their classrooms while in field. I didn't have the opportunity to interact with one. Due to my inexperience I would have to say that that would be one of my weaknesses. Although my cooperating teacher didn't have a smart board in her classroom she did integrate technology into many of the lessons that she taught using her projector to show the kids virtual tours from the web and to use her ELMO to show the kids their actual text book material to them in class.
When reading the NETS for teacher, I found that I do have many strengths, or at least understand how to integrate all of the subjects that are mentioned as a technology standards and performance indicator. I would say that my one strength in the criteria set will have to be demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies. With out this class to continue my education into the current technologies that are in the world I think that it will be difficult to learn and understand new technologies that I don't know even exist.
One of my strengths found on the NETS would be apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences. This is a strength because the first thing that I think of when planning a lesson is; how can I integrate some type of technology into this lesson for my students to better understand it? I really enjoy seeing how technology can capture a students attention and teach them so much in a short period of time.
When looking through the UNI Preservice Teacher Technology Competencies, I came to realize that there is so much more to learn, according to the questions I am an apprentice in most of the categories that were listed among the survey. One of the questions; Use audio/visual resources (audiotapes, videos or slides) to access information and analyze the authority, accuracy, currency, and relevance; because of this class and the practice from making our vidcast and our digital story as made it so that I can say that I am an expert in this area. I have been able to help construct with a partner a video that taught the subject matter in a quick and easy way that would be impossible for a teacher to show that subject matter to a student with out technology to help.
One of my weaknesses would have to be a smart board. So many of my peers were able to interact with a smart board in their classrooms while in field. I didn't have the opportunity to interact with one. Due to my inexperience I would have to say that that would be one of my weaknesses. Although my cooperating teacher didn't have a smart board in her classroom she did integrate technology into many of the lessons that she taught using her projector to show the kids virtual tours from the web and to use her ELMO to show the kids their actual text book material to them in class.
When reading the NETS for teacher, I found that I do have many strengths, or at least understand how to integrate all of the subjects that are mentioned as a technology standards and performance indicator. I would say that my one strength in the criteria set will have to be demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies. With out this class to continue my education into the current technologies that are in the world I think that it will be difficult to learn and understand new technologies that I don't know even exist.
One of my strengths found on the NETS would be apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences. This is a strength because the first thing that I think of when planning a lesson is; how can I integrate some type of technology into this lesson for my students to better understand it? I really enjoy seeing how technology can capture a students attention and teach them so much in a short period of time.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Reflection #5 Vidcast/Key Assignment
1. The name of our podcast series is, "Jorduyn's Day Potostory"
2. Grade 2, Social Studies, Standard 2, Objective 2
3. As I read the objective it states to;
Identify individuals within the school community and how they contribute to the school's success.
a. Identify the roles that people have in the school and explain the importance of each member.
b. Demonstrate respect for the school and the school community.
In our communities it is important for the students to learn and understand who is in their community and how they, as children, are important and can make a difference in another person’s life. I think this is a very important for my students to learn how to see out of their egocentric lives and understand that there are other people out there in the world that they help. Having this realization would help my student view their lives in a different light.
4. In the NETS models I found number one b; “Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources” related to my vidcast because I have the students engaged in the world around them in many ways to help a peer in their group.
In the INTASC standards I linked this lesson to standard 3 letter c; “Accommodate individual students cultural, physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth.” It is important for students to think outside of themselves and see that others in their community need help.
I also linked this lesson to standard 3, f; “Incorporate understanding of the diversity of the school community into student learning.” This is a very important lesson to teach our students that they have peers that have very different types of things going on in their lives and that a student they might play with now is in the hospital and they can make a difference in her life by participating in this “Day to help Jorduyn”.
5. The potential draw back is that it this is a somewhat fabricated story. This story about Jorduyn is true, Danielle my partner went to school with Jorduyn and her cancer is real, her struggle is real, but this story would not apply to my students because they may not have a peer with this struggle.
6. If I were to have a future student that had cancer and our community needed to come together to help that student I believe that I could take this series and tweak it and make it applicable for the problem at that time.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Reflection #4 Vid casting
If you are reading this now sorry I was sick and my internet stopped working this week.
What? We are learning about vidcasts, which are pre-recorded files that can be broadcasted over the Internet. We are creating a Podcast that is 1-1 ½ minutes long and then uploading it to your website under tools. Danielle and I created a public announcement about a girl who has cancer and ways to help raise money such as a fair.
So What? We are learning this lesson so that we can learn to create and upload vidcasts.
I think that they will be beneficial for kids who were sick and aren't able to come to class. If a child is really sick, has cancer or any other reason not be in class for an extended amount of time, it would be beneficial to record my lectures and class activities so that my student who maybe sick could still have a semblance of being a part of the class discussions. I would also be able to collaborate with other colleagues that may not live near me, together we could work on different lesson plans, then show how the lesson worked! I think that it is smart to use this tool and I will try to use this tool in my classroom, when I can.
Now What? Like I stated before this would be an amazing tool for students to use if they are sick or absent. Also if I am having a hard time connecting an activity for lesson I could perhaps watch a video of a colleagues who has done the activity before. When we were in Dr. Remariz's class we watched videos of different activities that we could to do in class, if I were to just read the description it would be more difficult to understand what the class was doing, but watching the video helped it so I saw exactly what they were talking about. This is a very good and important tool to know and understand.
What? We are learning about vidcasts, which are pre-recorded files that can be broadcasted over the Internet. We are creating a Podcast that is 1-1 ½ minutes long and then uploading it to your website under tools. Danielle and I created a public announcement about a girl who has cancer and ways to help raise money such as a fair.
So What? We are learning this lesson so that we can learn to create and upload vidcasts.
I think that they will be beneficial for kids who were sick and aren't able to come to class. If a child is really sick, has cancer or any other reason not be in class for an extended amount of time, it would be beneficial to record my lectures and class activities so that my student who maybe sick could still have a semblance of being a part of the class discussions. I would also be able to collaborate with other colleagues that may not live near me, together we could work on different lesson plans, then show how the lesson worked! I think that it is smart to use this tool and I will try to use this tool in my classroom, when I can.
Now What? Like I stated before this would be an amazing tool for students to use if they are sick or absent. Also if I am having a hard time connecting an activity for lesson I could perhaps watch a video of a colleagues who has done the activity before. When we were in Dr. Remariz's class we watched videos of different activities that we could to do in class, if I were to just read the description it would be more difficult to understand what the class was doing, but watching the video helped it so I saw exactly what they were talking about. This is a very good and important tool to know and understand.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Week 3
What? This week we learned about how to create and post a podcast. We were able to work together and record a public service announcement. Danielle and I recorded a announcement about a little girl that had leukemia, and as a school we decided to raise money as a class and donate it to the family cause.
So What? We have decided to do this so that we as a teacher can not only add/upload information to our website classroom website. With this ability we could record our lectures or classroom speakers for students that may have been sick and missed class or for students that are in the hospital. I think that this is also helpful for our colleagues, we can record and send the recordings to each other so that we might be able to know what we are doing even if we work far apart.
Now What?
Learning about pod casting is very important to my future class because it is necessary to understand how to do every kind of technology that is or could be beneficial to my class. I feel as though it is important to my future becuause like I stated before it is imoortant to be able to post information for my class, my parents, for the students that are not able to be in my class, or for those that may not have understood a difficult lesson that was given.
I am glad that I was able to learn how to do this for my class and it is also important to know for myself.
So What? We have decided to do this so that we as a teacher can not only add/upload information to our website classroom website. With this ability we could record our lectures or classroom speakers for students that may have been sick and missed class or for students that are in the hospital. I think that this is also helpful for our colleagues, we can record and send the recordings to each other so that we might be able to know what we are doing even if we work far apart.
Now What?
Learning about pod casting is very important to my future class because it is necessary to understand how to do every kind of technology that is or could be beneficial to my class. I feel as though it is important to my future becuause like I stated before it is imoortant to be able to post information for my class, my parents, for the students that are not able to be in my class, or for those that may not have understood a difficult lesson that was given.
I am glad that I was able to learn how to do this for my class and it is also important to know for myself.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Blog Week Two
What? This week was a very hard week in computers. We had to cram 2 weeks worth into one and in order to do that we had to have an extra class this week to make up for it. Although it was difficult to come on our day off, it did pay off! I was able to get the assignment done and not only got help on some of the things I was having a hard time with I was able to help quit a few people on their text boxes for their resource page and that made me feel like I was needed.
So what? Although this assignment was, not really difficult but very time consuming, necessary to do so that when we do have our classroom set up we can use this assignment as a templet for our own classroom web-page.
The other assignment was an excellent way for us as future teachers to learn to collaborate with each other. When we are teachers collaboration will the the number on thing that will help us in the classroom, the knowledge we are learning how to collaborate will be essential for us in the future.
So what? Although this assignment was, not really difficult but very time consuming, necessary to do so that when we do have our classroom set up we can use this assignment as a templet for our own classroom web-page.
The other assignment was an excellent way for us as future teachers to learn to collaborate with each other. When we are teachers collaboration will the the number on thing that will help us in the classroom, the knowledge we are learning how to collaborate will be essential for us in the future.
Now what? As for what assignments can I give my students? The second assignment for us to gather data, that would be an awsome way for me to see which students is doing what. If I have the students broken up into to groups I will be able to tell if everyone is pulling their own weight. Although if I were to assign this to my students I would have a better guidline to follow. I felt that we as a team were finding the same things all the time because there wasn't a set criteria. I would ask the students to have person one look up this and person two look up that, not a open ended thing where we were just to find something. I still think that this is imperative to know as a teacher. I also think as a teacher we should learn all there is to know and use in technology. not only will knowing the new and up coming technology help us in our classroom but it will make is so that we don't feel like idiots when our students are telling us about something we should have already known about.
The first assignment is needed so that we can keep in touch with our students and there parents in the age of technology.
All of this is essential and I am glad that we are learning it, although I will be glad when we are completely caught up with the other cohorts so that we are not having as many assignments thrown at us all at once.
The first assignment is needed so that we can keep in touch with our students and there parents in the age of technology.
All of this is essential and I am glad that we are learning it, although I will be glad when we are completely caught up with the other cohorts so that we are not having as many assignments thrown at us all at once.
Friday, September 3, 2010
My Educational Hero
My Educational Hero would have to be my Mom.
My mother was a history teacher at Lakeridge Jr high for 14 years. She loved it, it was her passion. 5 years before she passed away she started to loose her ability to walk. At first it was only a little bit and she had to walk with a cane, then a walker, then a wheel chair. We found out twelve weeks before she died that she had Lou Gehrig's Disease. Even though she was in immense pain she continued to wake up everyday and go to work because she loved it. Her perseverance and love for her students rubbed off on me and made me who I am today. She had a love for her students and made everyday a fun and exciting day to learn in her class. If I become half of the teacher that she was I will be amazing. I love kids and love helping them through the the tough times and relish in those 'Ah ha' moments. I can't wait to be a teacher to my own group of students.
My mother was a history teacher at Lakeridge Jr high for 14 years. She loved it, it was her passion. 5 years before she passed away she started to loose her ability to walk. At first it was only a little bit and she had to walk with a cane, then a walker, then a wheel chair. We found out twelve weeks before she died that she had Lou Gehrig's Disease. Even though she was in immense pain she continued to wake up everyday and go to work because she loved it. Her perseverance and love for her students rubbed off on me and made me who I am today. She had a love for her students and made everyday a fun and exciting day to learn in her class. If I become half of the teacher that she was I will be amazing. I love kids and love helping them through the the tough times and relish in those 'Ah ha' moments. I can't wait to be a teacher to my own group of students.
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