Some of my strengths are using videos, music, lcd projectors, some graphs, word processor, spread sheets (basic things), and just basic things like those. I was really suprised because I thought that I knew a lot of things about technology but I guess I don't know as much as I thought. According to the UNI survey, I stayed mainly in the "apprentice" category. There were a few things that I was in the "novice" and a few things that I was in the "practitioner" categories...but not very many of them.
Some of my weaknesses are the fact that I can't really go beyond the basic usage of certain programs and things, I can't create things on my own, if there are major problems for something then i can't fix them. If I do then it's a miracle! I always feel like I'll mess something up because I don't really know that much about things.
I hope that when I become a teacher or even before that, that I can become more familiar and more comfortable with the use of technology. I think that it will not only help me in doing certain things but if my students have certain questions that I'll be able to help them.
A resource that I would use in helping me with things is:
http://www.oraclefoundation.org/?gclid=CN3V5YCStJ4CFSFRagodkXmklg this website has many things like articles, videos, ect...that helps use technology within the classroom.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Lessons Learned
I thought that I was "up" on a lot of the newer technology. I figured that what I haven't done will be easy to figure out but there are some things that I never thought would even be possible with the future of technology. One day, students will be using computers daily in their classrooms; that's how they'll do their daily assignments and things. I feel and have always felt that by students and people in general using facebook, text messaging and things like that that it would decrease the scores in writing. After watching the video "Tools for Change" I was amazed that it said that those things would have no affect on writing scores. I have issues with writing because I want to short hand everything or put things like lol instead of spelling everything out. A also have gotten worse in using commas and complete sentances because in using Facebook and texting I don't worry about those things and it has just become a habit almost. I'm also worried that it's putting a major impact on social skills because they aren't having to talk to others and they don't have to go out and talk with them about something. We just send a text or instant message them if we need to talk to someone. I'm also guilty at doing that because if I just don't want to deal with something or talk to someone in person than I just send them a text or something...
In the video " Social Networking" the students were putting adults down becuase they weren't or didn't understand technology. Kids now are understanding a lot of the new technology and can figure it out really fast. They then are making fun of their parents or thinking that they know more than their parents because they can figure out how to use certain things faster than their parents. It's also a scary thought because what if they're doing things that aren't appropriate, they can easily find ways to hide it to where their parents will never find out; that's just the simple fact they most kids know a lot more about computers than thier parents. I think that technology is a good thing that has opened more doors but it's also a scary thing!
In the video " Social Networking" the students were putting adults down becuase they weren't or didn't understand technology. Kids now are understanding a lot of the new technology and can figure it out really fast. They then are making fun of their parents or thinking that they know more than their parents because they can figure out how to use certain things faster than their parents. It's also a scary thought because what if they're doing things that aren't appropriate, they can easily find ways to hide it to where their parents will never find out; that's just the simple fact they most kids know a lot more about computers than thier parents. I think that technology is a good thing that has opened more doors but it's also a scary thing!
My Beliefs
I think that future teaching will eventually include a lot more technology than it doesn now. When we were growing up technology wasn't really used; you used a computer to type papers and do a little bit of research on something but that was about it. We didn't have cell phones, ipods, blogs, facebook, ect... Now, kids are growing up in a technology rich environment where everyone and everything relies a lot on the technology that is available out there. I believe that if you teach with how/what a child grows up using and knowing about that they'll learn better because it will be familiar to them and they'll enjoy working with things they know how to work.
I also think that with all of the technology out there that it will be difficult to teach certain things. Maybe we are focusing to much on the use of technology than we are on the core standards and critical thinking and daily usage. If a child has been taught how to do math strictly on a computer or calculater, then they will probably have a hard time doing things in their heads or showing it on paper. Also, you will run into the problem that most of the kids in your classes and schools that you'll be teaching at won't have the ability to use a computer daily. So I think that there are pros and cons to using a lot of technology in your classrooms.
I also think that with all of the technology out there that it will be difficult to teach certain things. Maybe we are focusing to much on the use of technology than we are on the core standards and critical thinking and daily usage. If a child has been taught how to do math strictly on a computer or calculater, then they will probably have a hard time doing things in their heads or showing it on paper. Also, you will run into the problem that most of the kids in your classes and schools that you'll be teaching at won't have the ability to use a computer daily. So I think that there are pros and cons to using a lot of technology in your classrooms.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Technology Rich Lesson plan for 1st sememster field experience
The school that we were in didn't have much to work with when it came to technology. The classroom had computers in it but they didn't work. Our cooperating teacher also didn't have any way that we could really use technology to teach a lesson. The lessons that she gave us were mostly math lesson plans so we did the best we could.
The one lesson plan that we taught to the whole class, instead of in math centers/groups, was on long division. So to incorporate technology into this lesson plan, I searched online for a way to show the students how to do long division.
While they were out to recess, before math, I used the time to set my laptop up to the projector. It was a different projector than I had used before and it was hard to find a place in the room where all of the students would be able to see (it was on a rolling cart, there was hardly enough room on it for the projector and my laptop. Also, the classroom was so condenssed that it was hard to find room in the classroom for the cart and to make the projected screen visible for all students.)
We started the lesson out by reviewing what division was and had the students tell us how to do it. Then I showed the projected screen and we had one person from each table tell me how to do long division. The game on my computer was good becasue it not only showed them how to do long division step by step but it allowed them to see that you can use technology to learn and it's fun. I was worried that they would think it was dumb but they actually loved it. One boy came up to me and asked what website that was because it was fun and it helped him.
It wasn't really what I was invisioning with using technology but it's all that we could do with the amount of time the teacher allowed us to have and with the lesson that we had to do.
The one lesson plan that we taught to the whole class, instead of in math centers/groups, was on long division. So to incorporate technology into this lesson plan, I searched online for a way to show the students how to do long division.
While they were out to recess, before math, I used the time to set my laptop up to the projector. It was a different projector than I had used before and it was hard to find a place in the room where all of the students would be able to see (it was on a rolling cart, there was hardly enough room on it for the projector and my laptop. Also, the classroom was so condenssed that it was hard to find room in the classroom for the cart and to make the projected screen visible for all students.)
We started the lesson out by reviewing what division was and had the students tell us how to do it. Then I showed the projected screen and we had one person from each table tell me how to do long division. The game on my computer was good becasue it not only showed them how to do long division step by step but it allowed them to see that you can use technology to learn and it's fun. I was worried that they would think it was dumb but they actually loved it. One boy came up to me and asked what website that was because it was fun and it helped him.
It wasn't really what I was invisioning with using technology but it's all that we could do with the amount of time the teacher allowed us to have and with the lesson that we had to do.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Third and Last week of Field Experience
What?
This was my last week, and tomorrow-Monday, of field experience. It's been hectic and very exhausting week. I'm not physically tired but I'm mentally tired. As the end of the week came closer and closer, I found myself already missing the studnets that I've been working with for the month of November. I stayed all day on Thursday to go to a movie with them and they were so excited that I stayed to watch it with them. They are all sad that Monday will be my last day with them. I really want to go back and visit them but I'm not sure if I'll have time with my work schedule and school.
So What?
I'm sure that I'll love being a teacher now. I was still up in the air with whether or not I wanted to be a teacher but even after just the first day I knew that I was going to love it! I never thought that I would feel bad when I left at the end of the day and I was sad. I know that it's going to be hard but I'm willing to do it! I honestly can't wait to become a teacher and get to have my own classroom that I can arrange anyway that I want to and put whatever I want on the walls, colorful things. I did notice that our cooperating teacher hardly ever, if ever, does any art projects with the students. I'll want to have them do some sort of art weekly; different kinds of art so that the students who aren't comfortable drawing can realize that art just isn't about drawing.
Now What?
I have realized that our cooperating teacher doesn't do a lot of things with technology or art. I know that when I'm a teacher, I want to have the students do art things and I will want to use technology as much as I can when I can. I'm hoping that whatever school I'll be teaching at will have computers that work in the classrooms and they'll have a projector that's on the ceiling so that it doesn't take up space and everyone can see around it. I did realize during the lessons that I taught that I need to find a way to use more correct terms. The students understood what I was meaning but when getting observed that's one thing that I was told to work on because I may get a student that gets confused with the terms that I use.
Overall, my teaching experience has been great and I have learned a lot. There are many things that I want to use from the teacher I watched and there are many things that I would change. I just hope that for next term I don't get put into a 1st grade class. I'm really not sure if I could handle 1st grade. I've been set on teaching the upper grades and I'm still set on that. Who knows though, I may like the younger grades more than the uppper grades.
This was my last week, and tomorrow-Monday, of field experience. It's been hectic and very exhausting week. I'm not physically tired but I'm mentally tired. As the end of the week came closer and closer, I found myself already missing the studnets that I've been working with for the month of November. I stayed all day on Thursday to go to a movie with them and they were so excited that I stayed to watch it with them. They are all sad that Monday will be my last day with them. I really want to go back and visit them but I'm not sure if I'll have time with my work schedule and school.
So What?
I'm sure that I'll love being a teacher now. I was still up in the air with whether or not I wanted to be a teacher but even after just the first day I knew that I was going to love it! I never thought that I would feel bad when I left at the end of the day and I was sad. I know that it's going to be hard but I'm willing to do it! I honestly can't wait to become a teacher and get to have my own classroom that I can arrange anyway that I want to and put whatever I want on the walls, colorful things. I did notice that our cooperating teacher hardly ever, if ever, does any art projects with the students. I'll want to have them do some sort of art weekly; different kinds of art so that the students who aren't comfortable drawing can realize that art just isn't about drawing.
Now What?
I have realized that our cooperating teacher doesn't do a lot of things with technology or art. I know that when I'm a teacher, I want to have the students do art things and I will want to use technology as much as I can when I can. I'm hoping that whatever school I'll be teaching at will have computers that work in the classrooms and they'll have a projector that's on the ceiling so that it doesn't take up space and everyone can see around it. I did realize during the lessons that I taught that I need to find a way to use more correct terms. The students understood what I was meaning but when getting observed that's one thing that I was told to work on because I may get a student that gets confused with the terms that I use.
Overall, my teaching experience has been great and I have learned a lot. There are many things that I want to use from the teacher I watched and there are many things that I would change. I just hope that for next term I don't get put into a 1st grade class. I'm really not sure if I could handle 1st grade. I've been set on teaching the upper grades and I'm still set on that. Who knows though, I may like the younger grades more than the uppper grades.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Second week of field experience
What
This was my second week in field. It's quite an interesting experience. I love teaching so far but I have a hard time working/doing things the way of the teacher that I'm working with. I think it may just drive me crazy. I love to work on things before they are do and I'm a very organized person and a neat freak; my cooperating teacher is none of the above. I also like to have my lesson plans done at least a few days to a week in advance so that I can look over it and review it. So far, I've not had a chance to do that. We get told what to teach a night before we have to teach it and it's very frustrating...especially because there is a blind child in the class and the assignments need to be brailed a week in advance so they've been having to make exceptions for us and I'm sure that it's very frustrating for them as well... It is a good experience though.
So What?
Although this experience is going to drive me crazy, I think that it will help me to prepare for the unexpected when I become a teacher. I know that things don't always go the way you planned when you're a teacher because something always seems to come up, so I think that having to "wing" it right now will just help me become that much better as a teacher.
Now What?
I'll apply what I've learned so far not only as a teacher but in real life. I know that's it's not always feasible to have everything organized and planned out just so but it does make things nice. It will also help me when/if I do make up a lesson plan that if a child is having some problems or something else comes up that I'll know how to "wing" it and think on a whim. I've also learned a few classroom managment skills that will help when I'm in charge too. So far, although this situation is very frustrating, it will help me a lot in the long run.
This was my second week in field. It's quite an interesting experience. I love teaching so far but I have a hard time working/doing things the way of the teacher that I'm working with. I think it may just drive me crazy. I love to work on things before they are do and I'm a very organized person and a neat freak; my cooperating teacher is none of the above. I also like to have my lesson plans done at least a few days to a week in advance so that I can look over it and review it. So far, I've not had a chance to do that. We get told what to teach a night before we have to teach it and it's very frustrating...especially because there is a blind child in the class and the assignments need to be brailed a week in advance so they've been having to make exceptions for us and I'm sure that it's very frustrating for them as well... It is a good experience though.
So What?
Although this experience is going to drive me crazy, I think that it will help me to prepare for the unexpected when I become a teacher. I know that things don't always go the way you planned when you're a teacher because something always seems to come up, so I think that having to "wing" it right now will just help me become that much better as a teacher.
Now What?
I'll apply what I've learned so far not only as a teacher but in real life. I know that's it's not always feasible to have everything organized and planned out just so but it does make things nice. It will also help me when/if I do make up a lesson plan that if a child is having some problems or something else comes up that I'll know how to "wing" it and think on a whim. I've also learned a few classroom managment skills that will help when I'm in charge too. So far, although this situation is very frustrating, it will help me a lot in the long run.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Field Experience week #1 Blog
What?
This was my first week, well 2 days, in my field experience. It was very interesting to see how my cooperating teacher ran her class. It was also very interesting to see the different types of students and how she had to do certain things differently with each child.
So What?
I wasn't quite sure what I should expect when I went into the classroom. I was very nervouse until I was actually in the classroom. It's very interesting to see how fast the 5th graders warmed up to me.
At recess, they swarmed around me and wanted to talk to me and then at the recess that they earned later that day, they wanted me to play with them. It was very fun :)
We played a game, the students came up with, it's a get to know their name game. They gave me a beanbag spider they called Mr. Spider and I would throw it to them and they would tell me their name. After all of the kids told me all of their names, I went through and tried to recall all 29 of their names. Needless to say, I could only remember about 10 of their names. I felt very bad that I couldn't remember their names so for the rest of the day, I would look at all of them and say their names and look at their faces and where they were sitting. Lets just say that by the end of the day and the begginning of the next day I had all of their names memorized.
I found myself feeling bad when I left the students. I never knew that after 2 days I would feel like this for the students. I figured that I would feel bad for leaving at the end of November but not after just 2 days. Now I'm positive that teaching is what I want to do as my career.
Now What?
I know that many of the things that I've learned, in just 2 days, will help me when I become a teacher. I know what I will change from what I've seen and I know what I can use. I have seen many things that I like and dislike and I know now what I can do and what I should stay away from. I really enjoy getting this experience and I'm still liking the idea of teaching the higher grades, 4th-6th, but that could change when I go back in the spring to do field experience in the younger grade levels.
This was my first week, well 2 days, in my field experience. It was very interesting to see how my cooperating teacher ran her class. It was also very interesting to see the different types of students and how she had to do certain things differently with each child.
So What?
I wasn't quite sure what I should expect when I went into the classroom. I was very nervouse until I was actually in the classroom. It's very interesting to see how fast the 5th graders warmed up to me.
At recess, they swarmed around me and wanted to talk to me and then at the recess that they earned later that day, they wanted me to play with them. It was very fun :)
We played a game, the students came up with, it's a get to know their name game. They gave me a beanbag spider they called Mr. Spider and I would throw it to them and they would tell me their name. After all of the kids told me all of their names, I went through and tried to recall all 29 of their names. Needless to say, I could only remember about 10 of their names. I felt very bad that I couldn't remember their names so for the rest of the day, I would look at all of them and say their names and look at their faces and where they were sitting. Lets just say that by the end of the day and the begginning of the next day I had all of their names memorized.
I found myself feeling bad when I left the students. I never knew that after 2 days I would feel like this for the students. I figured that I would feel bad for leaving at the end of November but not after just 2 days. Now I'm positive that teaching is what I want to do as my career.
Now What?
I know that many of the things that I've learned, in just 2 days, will help me when I become a teacher. I know what I will change from what I've seen and I know what I can use. I have seen many things that I like and dislike and I know now what I can do and what I should stay away from. I really enjoy getting this experience and I'm still liking the idea of teaching the higher grades, 4th-6th, but that could change when I go back in the spring to do field experience in the younger grade levels.
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