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.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Digital story blog
What
We learned about the digital stories in class this week. I think that it will become a very useful tool while in the classroom. It could be a good way to introduce or conclude a very boring topic. We started out learning about the digital story and then learning how to do the story board to help us organize our digital story and get some ideas or figure out what/if we need to change anything
So What?
This will show that as a teacher I'm comfortable with using technology that the studnets are interested in to make my teaching strategies better. I think that this will really get the students attention, especially on a very boring subject. It will also help me to become more enthusiastic about teaching that boring subject.
Now What?
I'm going to use this in my class someday. I think that I will probably use it a lot while I'm going to have to teach my students about a very very boring subject. I think that I could use two different digital stories, one to introduce the topic and get my students "hooked" and then to use a different one to "conclude" what they've already learned. I still need to work on learning how to get all of the main points into it and then figure out how I want to put everything together.
Video Blog
I couldn't get the Nasa video to work....
We learned about the digital stories in class this week. I think that it will become a very useful tool while in the classroom. It could be a good way to introduce or conclude a very boring topic. We started out learning about the digital story and then learning how to do the story board to help us organize our digital story and get some ideas or figure out what/if we need to change anything
So What?
This will show that as a teacher I'm comfortable with using technology that the studnets are interested in to make my teaching strategies better. I think that this will really get the students attention, especially on a very boring subject. It will also help me to become more enthusiastic about teaching that boring subject.
Now What?
I'm going to use this in my class someday. I think that I will probably use it a lot while I'm going to have to teach my students about a very very boring subject. I think that I could use two different digital stories, one to introduce the topic and get my students "hooked" and then to use a different one to "conclude" what they've already learned. I still need to work on learning how to get all of the main points into it and then figure out how I want to put everything together.
Video Blog
I couldn't get the Nasa video to work....
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Reflection #8 and Video #8
What?
In class, we learned about Podcasts and Vidcasts. In past experiences I've never liked podcasts; just the thought of them make/made me cringe. They way that Doc Waters taught us though was pretty fun. I think that I'm slowly starting to like them because it's a much easier way than what I've learned in the past. We also learned, well talked about, some of the ways that we can incorporate Podcasts into our teaching; something that I never would have thought of.
So What?
I think that incorporating podcasts into my teaching will help me reach my students in an all new way. Students nowadays have grown up in a digital world. They are constantly playing around on the internet, cellphones, video games, ect... When you take them away from this and then put them into a classroom that's mainly lecture after lecture then they aren't going to give you their full attention. In reality, who would give you their full attention when they are thinking about doing something else? Incorporating podcasts into my teaching will help show the students that there are fun ways of learning and that can include technology.
Now What?
I would definately try to incorporate podcasts and vidcasts into my teaching, although I don't want to just teach that way because the students may get used to that way of teaching and then they will "zone" out whenever you start teaching another way. The only problem with podcasts is that I will have to get an ipod that has the attachment that makes recording easy. I also have no idea how to put the podcast onto my computer and send it out. I know how to download it once I've recieved it, but I don't know how to place it somewhere. For example, I have no idea how to make it work correctly on my google sites page. So I still have a lot of information to get down before I can incorporate using podcasts in my teaching.
Video Blog:
I watched the video on the podcasts and vidcasts webpage a few weeks ago so I chose to watch the video "Pay Attention". This video was all about engaging your students and how the most recent technology can help incorporate that. There was a part of the video that was about using their cellphones in helping them learn. Something, again, that I never would have thought about. They said that you may be able to use the cellphone in helping with writing, reading, ect... it was very interesting to me.
Something that really shocked me, at first anways, was that it said that only about 28% of 12th grade students thought that homework was meaningful. That really suprised me because I was thinking that it would be more than that, just because of the students wanting to go to college and further their education.
The last little thing that it showed on the video was "Transforming teaching through technology". I really like that becuase it is so true. We need to transform teaching through technology, it's not that we are totally changing certain ways of teaching but we are just using modern day things to better enhance how we teach.
In class, we learned about Podcasts and Vidcasts. In past experiences I've never liked podcasts; just the thought of them make/made me cringe. They way that Doc Waters taught us though was pretty fun. I think that I'm slowly starting to like them because it's a much easier way than what I've learned in the past. We also learned, well talked about, some of the ways that we can incorporate Podcasts into our teaching; something that I never would have thought of.
So What?
I think that incorporating podcasts into my teaching will help me reach my students in an all new way. Students nowadays have grown up in a digital world. They are constantly playing around on the internet, cellphones, video games, ect... When you take them away from this and then put them into a classroom that's mainly lecture after lecture then they aren't going to give you their full attention. In reality, who would give you their full attention when they are thinking about doing something else? Incorporating podcasts into my teaching will help show the students that there are fun ways of learning and that can include technology.
Now What?
I would definately try to incorporate podcasts and vidcasts into my teaching, although I don't want to just teach that way because the students may get used to that way of teaching and then they will "zone" out whenever you start teaching another way. The only problem with podcasts is that I will have to get an ipod that has the attachment that makes recording easy. I also have no idea how to put the podcast onto my computer and send it out. I know how to download it once I've recieved it, but I don't know how to place it somewhere. For example, I have no idea how to make it work correctly on my google sites page. So I still have a lot of information to get down before I can incorporate using podcasts in my teaching.
Video Blog:
I watched the video on the podcasts and vidcasts webpage a few weeks ago so I chose to watch the video "Pay Attention". This video was all about engaging your students and how the most recent technology can help incorporate that. There was a part of the video that was about using their cellphones in helping them learn. Something, again, that I never would have thought about. They said that you may be able to use the cellphone in helping with writing, reading, ect... it was very interesting to me.
Something that really shocked me, at first anways, was that it said that only about 28% of 12th grade students thought that homework was meaningful. That really suprised me because I was thinking that it would be more than that, just because of the students wanting to go to college and further their education.
The last little thing that it showed on the video was "Transforming teaching through technology". I really like that becuase it is so true. We need to transform teaching through technology, it's not that we are totally changing certain ways of teaching but we are just using modern day things to better enhance how we teach.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Reflection #7 and video #7
What?
This week we had to have the "skeleton" of the WebQuest and then finish it up or have it finished by next time. I was thinking that we were almost done with our presentation but we still had a lot more to do. We had starting doing some things and decided that that wasn't going to work or that we needed more/less information. It seems to be very time consuming, I thought that it was going to take some time but it's taking longer than I expected.
So what?
This project uses a lot of team cooperation. Sometimes I wonder if it would've been easier to do by myself because I do like to take control (it helps me know that it's getting done). This activity has definately shown me that I don't always have to take control to get things done and to have faith in my group members. It will also be fun to see the finished product instead of just the parts that I've done.
Now What?
I really enjoy doing this project. It's something new and exciting and you can use this for a new way to present a lesson. It would also be a very good way to assess your students; you could teach the lesson one way and instead of just verbally asking them questions or giving them a test you could show them a WebQuest and incorporate some assessment questions into that and your students would know that they are anwering questions but it would be in a more fun way than the traditional assessments. You could also use this to present a lesson too...
Video Blog:
This week we watched the School House Rock video of Nouns-a person, place, or thing. This would be a very good thing to show a class that's learning about nouns. It's a very simple video but kids seem to like this type of thing so it would/could be a very useful tool when you're teaching about it. I would reccomend showing most of the School House Rock videos as an extra tool in your teaching. They are easily accessible now with technology and they explain things very well and they aren't so long that students would lose interest in them.
This week we had to have the "skeleton" of the WebQuest and then finish it up or have it finished by next time. I was thinking that we were almost done with our presentation but we still had a lot more to do. We had starting doing some things and decided that that wasn't going to work or that we needed more/less information. It seems to be very time consuming, I thought that it was going to take some time but it's taking longer than I expected.
So what?
This project uses a lot of team cooperation. Sometimes I wonder if it would've been easier to do by myself because I do like to take control (it helps me know that it's getting done). This activity has definately shown me that I don't always have to take control to get things done and to have faith in my group members. It will also be fun to see the finished product instead of just the parts that I've done.
Now What?
I really enjoy doing this project. It's something new and exciting and you can use this for a new way to present a lesson. It would also be a very good way to assess your students; you could teach the lesson one way and instead of just verbally asking them questions or giving them a test you could show them a WebQuest and incorporate some assessment questions into that and your students would know that they are anwering questions but it would be in a more fun way than the traditional assessments. You could also use this to present a lesson too...
Video Blog:
This week we watched the School House Rock video of Nouns-a person, place, or thing. This would be a very good thing to show a class that's learning about nouns. It's a very simple video but kids seem to like this type of thing so it would/could be a very useful tool when you're teaching about it. I would reccomend showing most of the School House Rock videos as an extra tool in your teaching. They are easily accessible now with technology and they explain things very well and they aren't so long that students would lose interest in them.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Reflection #6 and Video #6
What?
In class, we learned about WebQuests and how they are made and shared. We got into our groups and chose what we were going to do a WebQuest on that was appropriate for the grade that our group was. My group was 4th grade and at first our group was talking about doing our WebQuest on fossils. Then we changed it to indians and we chose 2 specific native american groups to incorporate into the lesson/activity that we'll be doing our WebQuest on. We decided to have each student read about certain things of that group like art, traditions, housing, ect... After they research about the two groups, they'll get into groups of their own and using the information that they researched they'll make up their own "group".
So What?
I think that this would be a fun way to do a lesson plan. It would be something that was a little different; it would be using the same material as just writing up the lesson plan but you would be teaching it in a different way. It would be incorporating technology with your lesson plan and give the students a chance to experience something new. They would not only be learning about the lesson information but also about how to use the computers(technology). I think that this would be a fun thing do to with the class.
Now What?
Well I kind of explained how I would apply this in the above paragraph. I think that in learning/using WebQuest, you have an endless opportunity to make learning fun and let your studets experience many different things.
I'm not sure of what I need to work on. I am sure that this is a much more fun way of doing a lesson and the research is time-consuming but fun and worth it.
Video Reflection:
I watched the video on the coffee table that's also a multi-touch computer thing. It was pretty cool how you can use it to send, resize, and many more things to pictures. It was also very interesting that it uses infared lights to detect what was being put on it.
The most interesting thing that it talked about was the fact that you could take a picture with the camera, set the camera on the table and the picture would download itself to the table. Then, you can set your phone on the table and drag the picture to the phone and it would upload right to the phone. That was very very interesting to me, it's so crazy how technology just keeps changing.
In class, we learned about WebQuests and how they are made and shared. We got into our groups and chose what we were going to do a WebQuest on that was appropriate for the grade that our group was. My group was 4th grade and at first our group was talking about doing our WebQuest on fossils. Then we changed it to indians and we chose 2 specific native american groups to incorporate into the lesson/activity that we'll be doing our WebQuest on. We decided to have each student read about certain things of that group like art, traditions, housing, ect... After they research about the two groups, they'll get into groups of their own and using the information that they researched they'll make up their own "group".
So What?
I think that this would be a fun way to do a lesson plan. It would be something that was a little different; it would be using the same material as just writing up the lesson plan but you would be teaching it in a different way. It would be incorporating technology with your lesson plan and give the students a chance to experience something new. They would not only be learning about the lesson information but also about how to use the computers(technology). I think that this would be a fun thing do to with the class.
Now What?
Well I kind of explained how I would apply this in the above paragraph. I think that in learning/using WebQuest, you have an endless opportunity to make learning fun and let your studets experience many different things.
I'm not sure of what I need to work on. I am sure that this is a much more fun way of doing a lesson and the research is time-consuming but fun and worth it.
Video Reflection:
I watched the video on the coffee table that's also a multi-touch computer thing. It was pretty cool how you can use it to send, resize, and many more things to pictures. It was also very interesting that it uses infared lights to detect what was being put on it.
The most interesting thing that it talked about was the fact that you could take a picture with the camera, set the camera on the table and the picture would download itself to the table. Then, you can set your phone on the table and drag the picture to the phone and it would upload right to the phone. That was very very interesting to me, it's so crazy how technology just keeps changing.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Reflection #5 and video #5
So what?
Well we didn't have class this week so I'm going to reflect on my other classes. This week I've chosen to blog about Psychology class. We learned about Erik Erikson and his 8 stages. We also learned how to do the "peg" system which I've never heard about before but it was kind of fun.
So What?
I really like most of the 8 stages of Erikson...and also really liked his ideas. The stage of Intamacy vs. Isolation would be one of the stages that would reflect on what stage most of the students would be coming into during elementary school years. I could use this in implementing a lot of praise and critical thinking in my classroom. I think that that would really help students like you because they wouldn't be scared of you and you would be showing that they really can come to you and trust you.
Now What?
During an activity or even just after a lesson you can walk around the class while the students are working and you can tell them good job and show them how to do things without doing it for them. You can also give them something that requires them to do some critical thinking, something that's more difficult for them but not impossible for them to do it.
I'm really not sure what I still need to work on... Maybe implementing other things into my teaching style like dance and drama. Some drama is easy to implement into teaching, but dance is a little more difficult.
Video:
I watched the video on why to let your students blog. This was very interesting to be because some of the things that it said it would allow students to do or feel surprised me. I was thinking that by letting students learn would give them a chance to go back and reflect on what they've learned in class...but it mentioned that and other things like collaboration, empowerment, motivation, participation, excitement, creativity, extend, give them a voice, and to give them other skills that they can use in the future. It would give them a better understanding of how computers/technology works and they'll be able to use that information in the future. I as a future teacher would really consider letting my students do this, I think that they would become very excited about learning how to do something new and to incorporate the information they may already know into what they would be learning. They could also set it up and somewhat decorate it in any way that they would like, so they would also be using their own creativity.
Well we didn't have class this week so I'm going to reflect on my other classes. This week I've chosen to blog about Psychology class. We learned about Erik Erikson and his 8 stages. We also learned how to do the "peg" system which I've never heard about before but it was kind of fun.
So What?
I really like most of the 8 stages of Erikson...and also really liked his ideas. The stage of Intamacy vs. Isolation would be one of the stages that would reflect on what stage most of the students would be coming into during elementary school years. I could use this in implementing a lot of praise and critical thinking in my classroom. I think that that would really help students like you because they wouldn't be scared of you and you would be showing that they really can come to you and trust you.
Now What?
During an activity or even just after a lesson you can walk around the class while the students are working and you can tell them good job and show them how to do things without doing it for them. You can also give them something that requires them to do some critical thinking, something that's more difficult for them but not impossible for them to do it.
I'm really not sure what I still need to work on... Maybe implementing other things into my teaching style like dance and drama. Some drama is easy to implement into teaching, but dance is a little more difficult.
Video:
I watched the video on why to let your students blog. This was very interesting to be because some of the things that it said it would allow students to do or feel surprised me. I was thinking that by letting students learn would give them a chance to go back and reflect on what they've learned in class...but it mentioned that and other things like collaboration, empowerment, motivation, participation, excitement, creativity, extend, give them a voice, and to give them other skills that they can use in the future. It would give them a better understanding of how computers/technology works and they'll be able to use that information in the future. I as a future teacher would really consider letting my students do this, I think that they would become very excited about learning how to do something new and to incorporate the information they may already know into what they would be learning. They could also set it up and somewhat decorate it in any way that they would like, so they would also be using their own creativity.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Reflection #4 and video #4
What?
This week in class we learned about google presentations. We were put into groups to do classroom rules; the group that I was in was having some technical diffuculties so only one of us could be in the presentaion at one time. It was a very good thing to learn about because it's almost like Powerpoint only you can get into anywhere and on any computer without having to have in on a c.d. or some other kind of device.
So What?
If I were to use this, parents would be able to access classroom rules from their homes. I could put anything onto the presentation that we would be doing in class and the parents would be able to get onto the site and see what we were going to do that day or what I expect from my students. You could put together just about anything with the presentation and parents would be able to see them without calling you and bugging you all of the time. Also if you were to do a google presentaion, you wouldn't have to worry about losing it if your computer died. You would only have to worry about the whole google server thing go down. Whereas with a PowerPoint presentation, you would more than likely lose it when your computer dies... unless of coarse you have it on some other device which most of the time we don't think that far ahead.
Now What?
I would really have to get used to using this instead of just using PowerPoint. I know that they are similar but PowerPoint has more things that you could do with the presentations then the google presentations do. Although with Google Presentaions you would be able to have parents access it whenever they want to. I guess I would just need to learn how to get used to using google presentations over powerpoint for some things. I could also use Powerpoint in my classes and then make the same thing for google presentations... I know that that would be a lot of extra work but it was just an idea.
Video:
This video wasn't really what I wanted to watch. I guess it was informative about giving the definitions of what certain things are like tagging, podcasts, RSS, social networking, ect... I'm not sure if I would show this to my students to give them an understanding of what things are because it was a boring movie... But it would be good background for teachers...
This week in class we learned about google presentations. We were put into groups to do classroom rules; the group that I was in was having some technical diffuculties so only one of us could be in the presentaion at one time. It was a very good thing to learn about because it's almost like Powerpoint only you can get into anywhere and on any computer without having to have in on a c.d. or some other kind of device.
So What?
If I were to use this, parents would be able to access classroom rules from their homes. I could put anything onto the presentation that we would be doing in class and the parents would be able to get onto the site and see what we were going to do that day or what I expect from my students. You could put together just about anything with the presentation and parents would be able to see them without calling you and bugging you all of the time. Also if you were to do a google presentaion, you wouldn't have to worry about losing it if your computer died. You would only have to worry about the whole google server thing go down. Whereas with a PowerPoint presentation, you would more than likely lose it when your computer dies... unless of coarse you have it on some other device which most of the time we don't think that far ahead.
Now What?
I would really have to get used to using this instead of just using PowerPoint. I know that they are similar but PowerPoint has more things that you could do with the presentations then the google presentations do. Although with Google Presentaions you would be able to have parents access it whenever they want to. I guess I would just need to learn how to get used to using google presentations over powerpoint for some things. I could also use Powerpoint in my classes and then make the same thing for google presentations... I know that that would be a lot of extra work but it was just an idea.
Video:
This video wasn't really what I wanted to watch. I guess it was informative about giving the definitions of what certain things are like tagging, podcasts, RSS, social networking, ect... I'm not sure if I would show this to my students to give them an understanding of what things are because it was a boring movie... But it would be good background for teachers...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Reflection #3 and Video #3
What?
This week in class we talked about Google Docs and Google Sites. At first I was thinking to myself that I would probably never use this information outside of this class. But the more and more I use it, the more and more I realize that the Google Doc will be very usefull in whatever i'm doing. I have already used the Google Doc in another class so that our group could work on the assignment without actually having to meet up and work on it.
So What?
This will become very important if/when I ever have to work on assignments with other students in the Cohort because my schedule is very un-organized. Google Docs will allow me to see what others have done and to add my own stuff into the document. I haven't completed my Google Sites assignment yet, but this will be usefull for when I become a teacher, it will allow my students parents to see what's going on in the class and if they are going to miss a day, the can look at the Google calender and see what's going to be due.
Now What?
I can apply Google Docs and Google Sites in every day things, well when it's dealing with school. Like I stated in the above paragraphs, I have already used the Google Docs by doing other assignments with other peers instead of actually having to meet up and do it in person. You can also use this when you're a teacher because you can type something up and then change the language so that if you have some students who don't speak English or that their parents don't speak English they will be able to get the just of what the letter says. You can also use the the Google site by sending a letter out to your students parents and letting them know your class website so that they can access what's goin on in the class and also what's going to be due if they're going to miss a day or even a week of class.
Video Reflection:
I watched the Mr. Deuy Fractions video. I thought that this video was very interesting. It didn't really capture my full attention because I know how to make an improper fraction into a proper fraction and I know how to get a decimal out of a fraction; but if students were to watch this they might find it interesting. It's a good way to capture their attention because it's wrapping and explaining put into one istead of just having some guy lecture/talk in monotone and tell them how to do it. I think that it's important to explain things in a fun way, if possible, because it will get your students excited about whatever it is that you're teaching and it will also help keep their attention.
This week in class we talked about Google Docs and Google Sites. At first I was thinking to myself that I would probably never use this information outside of this class. But the more and more I use it, the more and more I realize that the Google Doc will be very usefull in whatever i'm doing. I have already used the Google Doc in another class so that our group could work on the assignment without actually having to meet up and work on it.
So What?
This will become very important if/when I ever have to work on assignments with other students in the Cohort because my schedule is very un-organized. Google Docs will allow me to see what others have done and to add my own stuff into the document. I haven't completed my Google Sites assignment yet, but this will be usefull for when I become a teacher, it will allow my students parents to see what's going on in the class and if they are going to miss a day, the can look at the Google calender and see what's going to be due.
Now What?
I can apply Google Docs and Google Sites in every day things, well when it's dealing with school. Like I stated in the above paragraphs, I have already used the Google Docs by doing other assignments with other peers instead of actually having to meet up and do it in person. You can also use this when you're a teacher because you can type something up and then change the language so that if you have some students who don't speak English or that their parents don't speak English they will be able to get the just of what the letter says. You can also use the the Google site by sending a letter out to your students parents and letting them know your class website so that they can access what's goin on in the class and also what's going to be due if they're going to miss a day or even a week of class.
Video Reflection:
I watched the Mr. Deuy Fractions video. I thought that this video was very interesting. It didn't really capture my full attention because I know how to make an improper fraction into a proper fraction and I know how to get a decimal out of a fraction; but if students were to watch this they might find it interesting. It's a good way to capture their attention because it's wrapping and explaining put into one istead of just having some guy lecture/talk in monotone and tell them how to do it. I think that it's important to explain things in a fun way, if possible, because it will get your students excited about whatever it is that you're teaching and it will also help keep their attention.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Video Blog #2
There was no video this week because of the holiday. Where the video was, it just says to "have a good holiday"
Reflection #2
What?
Since we had a holiday on Monday and weren't able to attend class, I'm going to reflect apon something that we did in one of the other education classes.
In my Curriculum Assessment and Design class, we discussed and went over how to do start and finish a backwards design. This is one way that will help get started on doing a lesson plan that we will use as teachers.
So What?
A backwards design/lesson plan will help me as a teacher because it will allow me to organize the information that I'll need to teach and also to get a better knowledge of what the core curriculum is. Although as a teacher, we'll need to look over the core curriculum at the beginning of the year, having to look at them again as I do my backwards design/lesson plan will refresh my memory of what it is that I need to be teaching.
As a teacher, this will reflect how commited and organized I am. It will aslo show how serious I am about teaching my students what they need to know and make sure that they understand everything being taught.
Now What?
I can apply a backwards design/lesson plans to everyday teaching. It's something that will always come in hand when you need it or even for when you have to have a substitute. A lesson plan is just another way to better organize your information and the core curriculum that you have to teach.
I still need to improve on fully understanding how to do the backwards design. It's still a little clowdy to me even though it seems to be very easy.
Since we had a holiday on Monday and weren't able to attend class, I'm going to reflect apon something that we did in one of the other education classes.
In my Curriculum Assessment and Design class, we discussed and went over how to do start and finish a backwards design. This is one way that will help get started on doing a lesson plan that we will use as teachers.
So What?
A backwards design/lesson plan will help me as a teacher because it will allow me to organize the information that I'll need to teach and also to get a better knowledge of what the core curriculum is. Although as a teacher, we'll need to look over the core curriculum at the beginning of the year, having to look at them again as I do my backwards design/lesson plan will refresh my memory of what it is that I need to be teaching.
As a teacher, this will reflect how commited and organized I am. It will aslo show how serious I am about teaching my students what they need to know and make sure that they understand everything being taught.
Now What?
I can apply a backwards design/lesson plans to everyday teaching. It's something that will always come in hand when you need it or even for when you have to have a substitute. A lesson plan is just another way to better organize your information and the core curriculum that you have to teach.
I still need to improve on fully understanding how to do the backwards design. It's still a little clowdy to me even though it seems to be very easy.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tech Watch blog
I thought that that video was very interesting. I really never watch the news so the information about the touch screen computers was new to me. I thought that it was very interesting how you can move pictures and resize them, color, or do pretty much whatever you want with just your fingers. I never would have imagined that technology would be so far advanced during my lifetime. I remember in 6th grade when we thought that in the year 2010 we would be flying around like the Jetsons; we aren't quite that far with technology but we are getting farther and farther to that point. In some aspects, it's almost scary how far along the technology is in certain parts of the world. I really enjoyed watching that little video clip...
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
My Ideal Classroom
My ideal classroom would be:
It would be very bright and decorative. I love color and I don't like to be in a dull room so I wouldn't expect my students to be in a dull learning environment. I would have one board with a scene made for whatever month it is, a rewards board, and a get to know one-another board. The get to know one another board would have pictures of all my students and some information that they shared underneath the pictures.
The desks would start off in rows facing the front of the classroom. Changing the desks how they want, will be a reward as long as they can still pay attention. My desk would be in front of the classroom, more to one side than the other so that I can keep an eye on the classroom when/if I am sitting. There would be a reading section in the back of the classroom with bannanna chairs and a couch, with a variety of books that the students could choose from. We will aslo come here for a half hour a few times a week for when I read them a book that they choose.
My students will all know when its ok to goof around and have fun, but they will also know when it's time to be serious and pay attention to what I'm teaching. Overall, they will be very good students and they'll appreciate what I make them do in class as they get older and start going through school.
That's what my ideal classroom would be like...well what i'm thinking it will be like in the future.
It would be very bright and decorative. I love color and I don't like to be in a dull room so I wouldn't expect my students to be in a dull learning environment. I would have one board with a scene made for whatever month it is, a rewards board, and a get to know one-another board. The get to know one another board would have pictures of all my students and some information that they shared underneath the pictures.
The desks would start off in rows facing the front of the classroom. Changing the desks how they want, will be a reward as long as they can still pay attention. My desk would be in front of the classroom, more to one side than the other so that I can keep an eye on the classroom when/if I am sitting. There would be a reading section in the back of the classroom with bannanna chairs and a couch, with a variety of books that the students could choose from. We will aslo come here for a half hour a few times a week for when I read them a book that they choose.
My students will all know when its ok to goof around and have fun, but they will also know when it's time to be serious and pay attention to what I'm teaching. Overall, they will be very good students and they'll appreciate what I make them do in class as they get older and start going through school.
That's what my ideal classroom would be like...well what i'm thinking it will be like in the future.
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