In my time at Florida SouthWestern College I have taken a lot of classes that I didn't really want to take. Mostly math classes, but those are deemed a necessity in the academic community. I've rarely felt that I leave my classes with information I can utilize everyday in my future career. This course, definitely did not leave me with that feeling. I have learned so much about technology and the importance of its use in a school setting. I always thought I was kind of tech savvy, I have my own Facebook, I know how to look up videos on Youtube, I know what a tweet is (although I don't use it) so when I signed up for the course I wasn't expecting to learn anything new that I didn't already know. I was really, really wrong (which is something I'm not particularly used to but I am happy I was in this case.) There are a lot of critics when it comes to integrating technology in today's schools but the more I got into the course the more I found myself puzzled by these arguments. There are so many wonderful ways to use technology to enhance learning. I figured out how to make a website, how to make a web quest, copy right laws, blogging, podcasts, virtual field trips, and better ways to asses a student's progress. These were not things I came into the course thinking about, which was the beauty of this class, it opened up a lot of new doors for me. I got to utilize a lot of creative through sights like Voki, ToonDoo, and Kahoot. Tools I didn't even know existed before and things I will definitely be using with the younger kids I will be teaching. I had no idea that great tools for student assessments were right at our fingertips through:
Electronic tests and quizzes
Gradekeeping software
Digital Portfolios
Student response systems
Online surveys
Learning performance rubrics
I learned about the wonderful world of blogging, and have actually considered starting my own blog (although it would be more comedy based to be honest, probably won't be sharing it with my students.) It really is a great tool to utilize though, academically or not.
I learned about KidPix, a tool that I feel very sternly about and will definitely be using in my classroom. I have always felt that nurturing a child's creative side is just as important as nurturing their intellectual side, so many things online allow teachers to tap into both at the same time and I think that is an amazing thing.
Virtual Field Trip
Using KidPix
The only feedback I have on how to improve this course is the lesson plan assignment. I think that having students all create their own lesson plan would be a better opportunity for more advanced learning. I have never been a big fan of group work. Also maybe having to teach that lesson plan will give more experience, that or the web quest just so we can have a feel how that particular lesson would play out in an actual classroom setting. Other than that I honestly loved this course, I had a lot of fun and did things on the computer I didn't know I was capable of doing. I appreciate you putting up with my antics and I know I will use the things I learned here to further better a future generations education.
(n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com
(n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.flickr.com/
(n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.kidpix.com/
Fastest Way to Create Comic Strips and Cartoons - Toondoo. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.toondoo.com Kahoot! | Game-based blended learning & classroom response system. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from https://getkahoot.com/ Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc. Voki Home. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.voki.com/
There are so many wonderful educational websites and apps that allow teachers to foster online learning. In todays digital world the library for applications that can assist a student in their education seems to be endless. Go to the app store on your phone and type in "education" and thousands of search results come up. Same can go for educational websites, any search engine will open the door to thousands of hits that can assist you in your lesson planning. There are many wonderful tools to be used at your disposal. One of which is Social Bookmarking. Social bookmarking expands the concept of bookmarking from one user at one computer to a community of users on many computers. Instead of a private resource library that can be viewed by one person social bookmarks create a public list that can be by many readers. This can allow teachers to set up bookmarks she finds educational for all of her students to utilize. It allows new ways to sort and search all kinds of information.
Another cool tool is Information Alerts. Information alerts are electronic notices that new information about a topic has just become available in some electronic publication format. Information alerts allow busy teachers a convenient way to notify all students that new information about a certain topic area has just become available online. Google alerts, which is free, is one of the many options for this particular tool. You enter a keyword and Google search automatically sends you an email whenever there are new result for your term. I think this is really neat because if you are working a particularly time consuming lesson plan for your class this can help the students with their research as well as the teacher. Google Alerts can be a time saver because instead of searching for yourself Google Alerts will do it for you, generating 5 types of alerts
New
Video
Blog
Discussion
Book
So not only does it help you manage your time, its gives a variety of sources for your topic.
Another tool that I had personal experience with this week is the creation of your very own WebQuest. I personally had a lot of fun creating my web quest, this tool allows educators to get really creative with their lessons. You can ask students to go on an adventure, whether it be virtual or somewhere they physically have to go. You can ask students to create diaries, whether they are video or hand written. The web quests really allow you to go above and beyond and break the limitations of a boring old assignment. There are thousands of links and other resources that can hep you beef up your web quest and make it more interactive for the students. There are 5 steps to creating a successful web quest:
Stage setting
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
This type of lesson planning lays out exactly what you want the student to complete and how they will be graded on it. This helps lead the student to success in whatever the task you assign may be. There is little room for misunderstanding or confusion, unless you don't know how to write a step by step activity. I actually had a lot of fun creating my web quest because it was an assignment I would have personally loved to have in high school on a topic I think most kids find interesting.
Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
The role of assessment is central to the work of teaching. Every teacher evaluates a students learning and that is one of the most important aspects of the job. In order to teach effectively one must asses effectively so they know the most effective way to teach each student. Assessment is multi factored, not a singular process of just giving grades after a test, it features 3 elements:
New Teacher Assessment: How supervisors will asses your work
Student Assessment:How you will assess students' learning and your own effectiveness as a teacher
Student Self Assessment: How students will participate in the assessment process
These are all very important elements to take into consideration as an educator. Properly assessing all areas is crucial to any lesson plan and curriculum. The ability to engage in self reflection is a crucial skill for any teacher. If we can not evaluate ourselves and the effectiveness of our own teaching methods than it is nearly impossible to ever approve upon them. Technology can help new teachers with this ordeal in two ways: as part of projects that show evaluators your skills as an educator, and through tools that evaluate what the students learn and are able to do. Technology offers great support to teachers when it comes to all forms of assessment.
An important thing to do as a new teacher, knowing that you will be evaluated throughout your career, is developing a digital teaching portfolio. A digital teaching portfolio is a collection of educational and professional materials stored in an electronic format. This is a great organizational tool that can showcase your growth and development over time as an educator. It can contain digital copies of paper materials but also fun multi media aspects such as video, picture, power point, and audio. It is a way to use all of the ideas and activities learned in the classroom, field experiences, summer work, and community volunteering while obtaining your teaching license. This is an impressive way to track who you are as an educator and a wonderful edition to any resume. Common elements found in most new teachers digital portfolios are:
Resume
Philosophy of Education and References
Lesson or Unit Plans and Reflections
Academic Courses and Research Experiences
Teaching Experience
Involving students in learning and assessment is a very important element in teaching. Letting the student in on what they get to learn is a wonderful way to keep them engaged. In many classrooms students do not get an option over the curriculum but developing a way that allows them to truly assess what they want to learn gives them a voice in the educational decision making. Schools and classrooms that push for this are know as "Democratic Schools" In democratic schools and classrooms input and involvement require teachers and students to engage in open and frank discussions about how their classroom operates. I think this is a wonderful idea because the teacher is still in control but it becomes clear to the students that he/she really cares about teaching them what they want to learn. A mutual respect is formed and students becomes more engaged and participation becomes higher. I believe that all classrooms should model themselves from this.
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Designing lessons and developing curriculum with technology is a new and exciting way for teachers to spice up their classrooms. There are many programs and fun filled technology based activities teachers can integrate into almost any lesson plan. Presentation software, visual thinking software, and web-based diagram and flowchart making tools are only a few of the many possible options.
Learning assessments occur before, during, and after teaching lessons and enable teachers to evaluate student knowledge, understanding and performance. Assessment tools include multiple choice and short answer tests, essays and other written tasks, oral discussions, teacher observation, class participation, and student projects. Technology can lend a hand in successful learning assessments with a few useful tools:
Electronic tests and quizzes
Gradekeeping software
Digital Portfolios
Student response systems
Online surveys
Learning performance rubrics
Using and and all of the tools can provide a teacher with easy to use means to assess his/her students.
Understanding by design (UBD) is an approach to curricular development, there are three main stages to this approach:
Identify desired results
Determine acceptable evidence
Plan learning experience and instruction
The internet provides vast resources for developing lessons using the UBD method. Already assembled lesson plans on virtually any topic for any grade level are free on educational websites such as PBS and Anneberg Learner. These resources can help new teachers adjust to this type of curriculum and serve as a great starting point for the development of their first lesson plans.
The main resource schools use to asses their students is standardized testing. I personally do not agree with this because I do not think it is an accurate way to measure someones intelligence. There are many forms of intelligence and not all of those can be clear from a test. There are many students who suffer from test taking anxieties and freeze up when they are put on the spot. This puts an unfair amount of pressure on todays youth because they fear they will not advance to the next grade level. Although I know it provides schools with funding I think we should brain storm alternate methods.
Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Technology in schools tends to follow one of the two patter: Infusion or Inclusion
Infusion: Means that computers and other information technologies are ongoing features of teaching and learning in all academic subjects and grade levels.
Inclusion: Means that computers and information technologies are used mainly for transferring information and practicing skills.
I would like to practice Infusion in my classroom when I become a teacher for a number of reasons. The main one being ongoing interest and uses of technologies increase student motivation and engagement, which also increases everyone's ideas and creativity. Using technology in your lessons can and will increase a students passion to learn. Tapping into their creativity and asking them to create is much more effective than authoritarianism teaching that only involves testing and work sheets. Children need to be stimulated, not just black and white testing because intelligence comes in many different forms and helping a child discover theirs is the whole reason I want to teach in the first place.
There are different stages teachers can be at with the level of technology they use in their classroom, 5 to be exactly.
Entry- Teachers are beginning to learn information technologies
Adoption- Teachers blend technology into their classroom practices without making any significant changes to those practices
Adaption- Teachers fully integrate new technologies into traditional classroom practices
Appropriation- Teachers easily and confidently use technology both in the classroom and their professional work
Invention- Teachers start to experiment with many inventive and creative ways to use technology in and out of the classroom
I believe that every teacher should work to at least make it up to the adaption stage. This way they can use technology to enhance their lessons plans and make their jobs easier and students job more enjoyable.
Of course there are always going to be issues in integrating technology as well. Some teachers will have to face them and come up with creative solutions to the problems. Some of those issues include:
Administrative Support and teaching styles
Unwillingness to change favorire lesson plan
Reluctance to use technology in new lesson plans
Use of technology as a reward or punishment
Use of technology as an ass-on to other activities
Use of technology to separate students by ability groups.
At the end of the day not everyone is going to agree that use of technology in a classroom is a beneficial and positive way to engage your students. It is a very hot button issues and teachers who are used to teaching without it are not going to be as open minded to change. However it is very apparent that when a child is allowed to create and use his/her imagination to learn they will engage with more enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Using technology to educate, if done correctly, can be a wonderful and exciting thing. Teaching future generations in this way is, in my opinion, the way of the future and as a society we are technology driven, its just the way that it is.
Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Tapping into a child's creativity, in my opinion, is one of the most important part of being an educator. When a child is allowed to express themselves and utilize their creative talents their chances of learning and loving what they learn are much greater. Multimedia technologies can help us as educators accomplish this goal. There are countless programs and softwares that make learning and creating new things for students of all grade levels fun and inspiring. Multimedia combines text, data, voice, picture, and video all in a single application. Giving the students countless creative options for their projects. Comparing Minimal and Multimedia Classroom Technologies we can see the difference in certain teaching strategies. For example in the past (before the computer revolution) a teacher would have to draw the Water Cycle on the whiteboard/chalkboard and ask her students to copy it down and memorize it. With todays tools the teacher can used a times slide show with audio, or a reel-to-reel movie projected on a screen. She could also ask the students to create these on their own in groups or individually.
Using Powerpoint and Next-Generation Presentation Tools is another fun and exciting way to teach a classroom. With all of the new additions and abilities in these systems presenting to a classroom has never been easier or as exciting. The ability to embed podcasts and videos into your presentations gives them flairs and keeps the students interests alive. A document cameras captures whatever is under its lens and, when connected to a digital projector or a television set projects that image onto a large screen or whiteboard. Having the ability to transform the small screen of a single computer into a classroom-wide, theater like learning environment, drastically changing the presentation experience for the students and the teacher.
Photo-Taking and Movie-Making With Students was another important section of this chapter. Children in our generation love to take pictures and make videos. The applications such as Facebook and Vine show us that movie making and photography can be tapped into by just about anyone. Incorporating this into your lesson plan could be a fun and interesting tool for your students. This allows students to not only tap into one type of creativity but several. It gives them the opportunity to
Film
Write
Act
Edit
Critique
Coming up with a story line and acting is out is a wonderful way for students to re-inact historical events or explain one. For younger students softwares such as alphabet books allows students to upload pictures of themselves holding up objects with the specific letter they are doing. This is a fun way for young children to learn the alphabet while also tapping into their creative side
In conclusion, creativity is one of the most important thing for a child to develop. Technologies help us as teachers provide the tools to nurture this skill with innovative and fun ways to learn.
Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
I liked this chapter of the book because it touched on the importance of multicultural education and diversity. I feel very strongly about teaching children at an early age about other peoples cultures and backgrounds so they can grow up to be informed, tolerant and respectful citizens. The section that talks about connecting classrooms with communities and cultures is spot on. Schools, without intending to do so, become separated from the broader society around them. They celebrate other cultures but only on certain occasions (i.e.; Black History Month.) It is important to connect children to the idea of other cultures and traditions on a broader sense. Technology helps them do this through access to endless information including newspapers, translators, personal testimonies... the list can go on and on. Every students culture, language and background can become integrated into the curriculum and better understood throughout the year.
This chapter also touched on how to teach children with disabilities. I had never heard of a concept known at Universal Design for Learning until I read this text. The UDL is the application of universal design principles to educational setting. In architecture one must make accommodations for those in wheelchairs when designing a building. This same concept can be brought to the classroom. For example a teacher can use Powerpoint to display her vocabulary words to the class to help better accommodate a hearing impaired child while the class discusses the terms. Another example could be using Podcasts in lessons to help accommodate vision impaired children. I think this is a really important concept because all children deserve the same education no matter who they are or what disabilities they may possess.
Other tools that can help with the education process are assitive technologies. These are technologies that are designed for those with varying disabilities. Some examples of these technologies include computers with lard keypads for those with reduced hand functions and also computers that will read out text for those who cannot see. Assitive technology makes it possible for those with hearing, sight, mobility, or cognitive challenges the ability to translate text and understand spoken words. With the advancements available today thanks to technology it is a lot less of a challenge for these individuals to get the same experience as those students without disabilities. I think this is wonderful because nothing is more important than establishing a childs self esteem early on so it can translate into their adult life.
I would like to conclude this blog with a picture I found that I fell in love with. I think that this saying should be universally adapted and hopefully we as educators can help create a generation without hatred.
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Side note: I don't know what happened to my text in this blog, it got a little whacky after I uploaded my Padlet... I could not get it to all be the same size.. I tries highlighting it all and pressing Normal but nothing was working. Sorry.
This chapter touched on Social Media and how we can implement in our lesson plans. I liked this chapter because I am a big fan of social media. I think the ability to communicate with people from all over the world for free is an amazing and inspired thing. Facebook allows people to find others from their past, keep in touch, and share pictures, videos, and endless sources of information. The section in this chapter that speaks about teachers creating their own blogs for their students was really interesting to me. I think a teacher's blog is a wonderful idea and can enable students and their parents to keep up to date with your lessons and future activities. You can also provide your students with articles and pictures that you find potentially educational by posting them to your blog. A fun idea I thought of would be to have my students post one thing a week to my blog that they found interesting about one of our lessons. Whether it be a video, a picture, a slide show, something they find on the internet that they feel like sharing. It can also allow for the teacher to keep in contact with the students outside of the classroom.
Another section I found interesting was the concept of a teacher's website, which is different from a blog. Websites are more formal, blogs allow personal interjections while websites are strictly business. I like this idea because my student's parents would be able to go on and see a detailed break down of what I plan to teach their child during the school year. Most parents like to be involved in their child's school life and I think it is our responsibility to make that as easy as possible for them.
The last section I will talk about is the section on creating a Wikitext. I find this to be a fun and exciting tool for all grade levels. Allowing the students to be involved in creating their own text book will allow them so much more insight on the material while having fun learning it. They become creators, not just receivers. This also promotes collaboration which I think is highly crucial in any curriculum. Team works promotes social skills which heightens a students self esteem. It allows them to work with others and build on their people skills while also utilizing their creative thinking.
I created a story of the importance of this program however in order to get the embed code I need to upgrade my member ship so I am just going to put the link to it.
In conclusion social media can be a wonderful tool for educators and setting up a blog/website is a wonderful way to keep everyone updated on what is going on. Wikitext is a great tool that I just learned about thanks to the text book. I am keeping a list of all these wonderful options to make the lessons more fun and innovative
Resources: Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
This week we read Chapter 7 in the book which had some very good insight on issues concerning exploring problem solving with software. It is very clear the technology is an important part of the learning process in todays society but how can we as educators filter out the softwares that do not hold much educational value. There is a specific section in this chapter that gives teachers guidelines on how to do just that. The "Evaluation Criteria" section offers helpful tips when it comes to choosing your software for your classroom. There are 3 main features to determine low quality software- 1) The computer dictates the activity, 2) competition, stereo-typing or violence is present, 3) quick reactions are favored over sustained thinking and problem solving. I think in order to have a successful education software these criterias are important to avoid. You don't want the student to feel pressure to answer the fastest or be the smartest in the class. These games are not about competition, those are games that are meant to be played at home for entertainment purposes. I was made aware of the organization "Common Sense Media" through this section. This non-profit organization evaluates the learning potential of websites, video games, and mobile apps for students. It evaluates age-appropriatness and learning content. I thought this was really great because not only will it provide helpful feedback on potential softwares but it will make me as an educator more aware of the options I could possibly have in my classroom when it comes to different programs. I especially like that it rates age groups since my goal is to work with younger students this can really help me filter through all of the available softwares at my disposal.
The next section touches on students "Building, Inventing, and Creating Software" I really loved this section because I am a big fan of anything creative. What I really advocate and enjoy is the use of Kid Pix. I have used this software before on a family friends computer who is an elementary school educator and I was blown away by the amount of things you can do. Kid Pix really is, in my opinion the best software out there for educators of younger children. It allows kids to really tap into their creative side while also learning and having fun. Kid Pix allows children to create their own books, stories, pictures, graphs, work sheets etc; it really has it all. I think this is a must have software for anyone who is entering the Elementary Education field. It is definitely something I plan to purchase once I begin my student-teaching hours. Another great tool mentioned in this section is Google Earth. I have mentioned before that I am a big fan of virtual field trips and Google Earth is a wonderful software that can definitely aid in that particular activity. It can allow students to visit anywhere in the world and even offers "street view" for a much more detailed look. Below I included a video that gives a detailed look into all of the fun and exciting things a student can do with Kid Pix.
The last section I want to talk about is "Debates about Games and Gaming." This is an issue I myself have become aware of taking this class. Before entering this course when I heard the term "gaming" my mind immediately went to video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. I thought of killed brain cells and violence that was a bad influence on America's youth. The truth of the matter is gaming gets a bad reputation because of the negativity surrounding the industry. Games can be used to improve students problem solving and critical thinking skills while creating a fun and entertaining learning environment. There are 3 types of video games, those that are for entertainment purposes only, those that combine education and entertainment and those that are strictly used for educational purposes. As an educator I know I will have to make a stand on one side of this debate and I am honestly all for video games. I believe even the ones created just for entertainment purposes still hold some level of problem solving that must be completed. For example I beat the "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" game and although there was a fair amount of violence it took a lot of strategizing and coming up with original ideas to complete some of those missions. If playing video games is going to increase a childs interest in his/her education I don't see why this is even an issue at all.
In conclusion I enjoyed this chapter because it gave me a lot of excellent resources that I can utilize in my future classroom. It also got be thinking about a debate that I wasn't aware was such a hot button issue among teachers. I can use many of the things I learned here to my advantage later on in my career.
In this chapter we touch on Information Literacy and Digital Citizenship. There was a section that I really found interesting that touched on the subject of e-readers called "e-books and e-readers." This section talked about the potential benefit e-readers can pose to students when it comes to their interest in reading. I found it especially interesting when a survey showed that 33% of students would read more if they had access to electronic books. I suppose I wasn't aware of the potential benefits of these devices seeing as I had always been a fan of actual paper novels. When they were first released I didn't agree with them and in a sense I still don't but if these little devices will get students more interested in reading than I am all for them. I like the fact that in the future there will be more advanced tools when it comes to electronic textbooks, such as animated flashcards and embedded videos. This was something I did not know was in development but I think it is an amazing idea. This will get many students much more engaged in the material and increase their understanding massively. I can understand why parents believe e-readers have a negative impact on children's desire to read, I felt the same way before reading then research shown on the matter. At first glance e-readers just look like tiny computers, which parents perceive as distracting but in todays society children want to feel technologically superior, owning an e-book will cause them more desire to read than not owning one.
The next section I found informative was the one on search engines. What I liked about this section was the large list of search engines they provide. For me Google was always the beginning and the end when it came to search engines. I was never aware that there were so many different ones for different materials (blogs, historical archives etc;) I even dog eared the page so I could use it as a reference to go back to. This section touched on explaining search engines to your students, I am sure that many people were like me and only considered one source as their information cauldron but the fact is that it is important to expand on students knowledge of the internet. Being aware of these other tools could greatly increase their access to all kinds of information but also increase the chances that it is coming from a credible source. Many fun activates can be created by using search engines. Asking students to look up one topic and find as many true and untrue statements as they can would be a fun lesson plan. It would help students learn about a topic but also show them just how many false facts are on the internet and how to differentiate between the two. This can be done through the teaching of AAOCC.
The last thing I want to touch on was the "Electronic Note-Taking" section of this chapter. The reason I chose this section is because it is something I never really considered until I read up on it. I have always been the kind of person to use a pen and paper to take my notes (much as I have always been the kind of person to read an actual book) but like the e-readers this section informed me on the benefits of electronic note-taking. This section made me aware of a few useful websites, including NoteStar. These sites are great tools for students and teacher alike. They are wonderful organizers and are forever kept on record through the internet, there is not chance of loosing them or spilling coffee all over them! Another tool I learned about through this section was called "OneNote." OneNote is an app for Mac or PC computers that serves as an electric binder of sorts. This application allows you too house many different types of information and organize it however you want. It also allows for audio not taking so a student can just hit record during a class lecture and jot down important facts he/she may have missed before!
Just one example of what you can do with OneNote! Photo Credit by: gordonr at Flickr
This chapter really opened up my mind a lot. As far as e-readers and electronic note-taking go I was always very wary of them. I always thought that the only real way to read and write had to involve paper. However, after reading the statistics and seeing the amazing things both of these tools can do I have to say that I change my mind.
This chapter was titled "Transforming Learning with Unique and Powerful Technology" and I found it very informative. This chapter introduced me to many methods in which I could utilize education through technology. The section "Online Problem-Solving Environments" made me aware of the usefulness educational games can serve in my classroom. The section goes onto state that educational games on computers utilize student's critical thinking skills and stimulated understandings. When I was a kid I used to play these games in school, I'm sure they were a lot less advanced back then but it was always my favorite part of the day when we were able to go into the computer lab and have time to do these activities. It is a fun way for children to learn without them feeling as if they are being taught. I like the 3 primary characteristics that go into solving problems in an online learning environment. First, students use computers to do what they cannot easily do on paper. Second, students encounter types of problems that occur in the real world. Third, students integrate knowledge of technology with academic content. These are all very important for students to experience and it can all be done with an online learning environment.
Another secretion I found myself connecting with was "The Role of Feedback." This subject expresses the importance of feedback from instructor to student when it comes to the students success. Without positive reinforcement it may be hard for the student to continue to motivate his/herself. The thing about technology that is so great is it gives you rapid feedback. When you complete a problem correctly in an online game or on a virtual worksheet most of the time you get a "good job" or "fantastic." For example in my mathematics class I use a program called MyMathLabsPlus. In this program we have homework and every time we get a problem right the computer will pop up with a box that usually contains encouraging words. Feedback is crucial for educators because children, especially younger ones, thrive on making those around them proud.
The last section I want to touch on was the section titled "Active Learning." This subject talked about the method of hands-on learning, or learning by doing. In this type of learning students are actively involved in their own educational process. It is crucial that more teachers practice Active Learning and stray away from the standardized tests and reading from a text book method that was a thing of the past. Technologies can play a huge role in active learning since there are so many tools that will help teachers make it possible. Allowing students to be a part of their education and what they learn is proven to be a more successful way of teaching. Technologies can help this goal be achieved.
In conclusion I enjoyed this chapter, like the last two it had me thinking about things I hand't ever thought about before. I would like to end my post with a photo that I saw that I thought was very relevant to where education, and the rest of society, is headed when it comes to technology.
Resources: Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
I really enjoyed reading this chapter for two reasons: 1) it gave me an insight on the importance of technology use in a classroom from a students point of view through surveys and 2) it made me aware of the struggles and issues I may face as an educator who is an advocator of technology. It really made me reflect and think about the future decisions I may need to make in my career. The section that really got me asking myself important questions was "Key Issues for Technology-Using Teachers" this section asked a variety of questions that I found myself deeply reflecting on. For example a few of the questions included " what is your readiness to integrate technology into teaching?" "what are your reasons for wanting to use technology in teaching?" and "what are your ideas for the kinds of teaching methods you plan to use?" These are questions I had never really thought of before, I never gave a second thought on how important the advancement of technology would inevitably become to education. The first question was an immediate answer for me, I am very ready to integrate technology into my classroom. The second question was easy to answer, my reasons for wanting to use technology are simply because I think children will be able to relate to the lessons more, and enjoy them with more exuberance. The third question however had me doing a bit more reflecting. It had me imagining all of the fun and creative ways I can teach my classroom. The last discussion topic led me to a really awesome discovery that is known as an "interactive field trip" I found this idea fascinating and really exciting. I never knew such a thing existed and I never thought about all of the endless possibilities that could come along with it. I want my teaching method to match my personality, fun and personable, I want to get to know my students and I want them to be comfortable with me, I want them to know that I care about their successes and even their failures.
The second section I really got into was the "Barriers to Technology Use" section. It was very informative on the restrictions that may pop up as an educator when it comes to integrating technology into my lesson plans. Lack of access was a big one I had never really considered. It shed light on the fact that some schools are not technologically advanced, meaning there is not easily accessible technology use. Some class rooms don't have enough computers for students, some don't have interactive white boards or televisions. It got me wondering what I would do if I were employed in a school such as this. Group work would become a larger part of my lesson plan, that way if there were not enough computers the groups would have to be larger. I would do my best to find ways around these issues, because I strongly believe in technology as a learning aid. Another issue that I had thought of was brought up in the text, and it was the issue of digital divides. There are many students who come from urban and low income homes that do not have access to, nor know how to use the latest technologies. This issue is something that really bothers me, I feel strongly about all children feeling equal in a classroom. Nothing is more detrimental to a child's self esteem than feeling isolated and different from their peers. This is an issue I don't really know a solution too, and I hope one will come to me over time the more I learn of technology and the education system in general, I will definitely be thinking about it.
The last section that really got to me was titled "Your Teaching Philosophy." This section goes into detail about two main differing philosophies taken on by teachers; the first one is teacher-centered. These teachers view teaching as a formal conveyance of information from a knowledgeable instructor to a novice student. They use students test scores to determine how much they have learned. The second philosophy is known as student-centered. These teachers believe in a more progressive style of teaching, one that allows for engaging in conversation with students, the creation of puzzles and games, and asking many questions. These teachers view teaching as orchestrating different experiences for students. The text is stated as saying that many teachers find themselves in the middle of these two philosophies. However I find myself 100 percent relating with the student-centered method. I do not think that a child's intelligence can be measured by a test. Interactive learning, holding a conversation, knowledge about how the world works and how to survive in it; that is intelligence, not a score on a standardized test. Engaging your students and challenging them to think creatively is what teaching should be about. I never realized how strongly I felt about this issue until I read this section and the first philosophy almost made me angry, because although standardized testing is a necessary evil it should not be the basis of a teachers philosophy in my opinion.
I really found myself enjoying this chapter, this is the first semester I have taken any classes that have to do with my major and I have not enjoyed school like this for some time. It is so important to engage students in their interests much like I am being engaged by this class and my other education course. I have never been more sure of anything in my life the way I am sure that I am meant to be a teacher. I want to inspire children to feel the way I feel right now about school, which is excitement, wonder, and curiosity. I have decided to upload a video I really liked to this post, as I mentioned before I have taken a special interest in "virtual field trips." I found a video on Youtube that I really enjoyed. When I become and Elementary educator I have no doubt in my mind I will be using this tool and many like it in my lesson plans. I also put in a picture that I rather enjoyed of a young girl using a smart board, another tool I would love to use if I am fortunate enough to have access to it in my classroom.
Resources: Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
As a future educator it is becoming more and more apparent that the use of technology in a learning environment is imperative to educators. The further I got into the first chapter of our textbook the more excited, and aware I became of all of the tools I could use at my disposal. A section that really stuck out to me was "Developing Identity and Social Media." As a social media junkie myself I really related with this section of the chapter. It got me thinking that as a teacher I would love to create my own educators Facebook page and ask my students to add me as a friend. I could implement assignments and reading by sharing links pertaining to interesting topics or ask them to write a reflective piece on my wall. I feel that this would be fun for the students and since most of their time is spent on Facebook outside of the school halls it will give them an opportunity to learn while also using social media. I think another great social media tool that can be used as an educator is Youtube. Another idea I had for students was a video diary, having the student create a mini movie or series that lets me know about their interests, goals, and desires when it comes to education. Having them upload this video to Youtube and watching it will give me a great insight to my students and what their personal aspirations are for the future. It also allows the students to utilize their creativity and offers limitless possibilities on which direction they would want to take their film. Blogs are another wonderful tool to use in a classroom. Having your students write a daily blog about their thoughts and feelings helps you get to know them on a more personal level which will enhance your knowledge on how to better educate them.
Another section that had me reflecting was "Your Must-Have Technologies for Teaching." It had me pondering what my own list would be. I suppose if I had to choose right now (take into consideration my limited knowledge on todays technological teaching tools) I would choose a computer, an iPod, a tablet of some sort, a video camera/digital camera, an interactive white board, and a digital projector. I could use these tools in endless ways to help enhance my classrooms creativity and education. These tools will help make learning fun and give me an opportunity to come up with original and innovative lesson plans. I love the idea of an interactive field trip. Having the students learn facts about another country and taking them on a digital tour using a projector seems like a wonderful and fun learning strategy.
My last point of discussion will be on the section "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge" or (TPACK) this is something I had never heard of before I picked up this textbook. This concept refers to how teachers bring together three different forms of knowledge to produce exciting learning experiences for their students. It is broken down into 3 parts: Content Knowledge: which includes the essential academic subject matter, Pedagogical Knowledge: which includes all information teachers know about teaching methods and Technological Knowledge: which includes knowing how to use different types of technology when it comes to educating. This section touches on how in order to be successful in todays schools you must touch on all three. I enjoyed this section because it talked about blending technology into your classroom. It is important to still use old school teaching methods when it comes to your students. If everything involved technology it can become confusing or exclude certain children who don't have access to these tools outside of a classroom. It is crucial to blend all three of these concepts into each lesson plan in order to adapt to 21st century teaching while also implementing non-techonological learning tools into your students education. I found this section extremely helpful and eye opening.
In conclusion as future educators it is our responsibility to be aware and adapt to all of the changes this generation is going through. Technology is used now more than ever and is growing more advanced by the day. It is our duty to stay up to date on the current tools we can use. Having this knowledge will not only make our lives easier but increase the students desire to learn and keep him/her in school and interested in education.
Resources: Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
