ASSESSING MEANINGFUL LEARNING

I loved the idea of the multiple choice clicker. This is a fast way to assess the students, while learning is going on also. It is a quick assessment tool that will give the teacher information fast, and will be able to fix the problem right then and there. Not only do the students learn from it, but them enjoying using the clickers. It is something different from the norm, it is a simple technology device that that the student can click A, B, C, or D for the answer of their choice. Usually when you change up the scenery of the classroom the students tend to work harder. I do think that there is a down side to this device. I think that there could be a mistake with their answer that they select that could give the wrong data. In that case, the clickers would not be a good tool. I think I will try to use these in my near future.

I will be real honest when I say that I was not excited at all when I started this course. I thought it was just going to be a big repeat of everything I already know about technology and the web. I have learned so much more about technology then I ever dreamed of learning. I now plan on using technology in my teachings more that I have ever thought I would have. I used to not know where to begin looking for on-line things to do with my class, but now I am completely confident where I stand in technology. I have enjoyed learning things like wiki’s, podcasting, and blogs. I didn’t know what any of that was before this class, but am now very familiar with these handy tools. I think I am better prepared for teaching these students now days with their technology minds. I am thankful that they made this class mandatory. I think that everyone should have to be required to do this class.   

Technology Application Standards

As future teachers, we should all know and take responsibility for theses five standards. A teacher should know how to plan, organize, deliver, and evaluate instruction, while using technology. We should have all learned these standards and know that we them thoroughly. One of the hardest things to me that I have learned thus far in my education is learning how to read the TEKs. I know it is a simple and easy thing to read, but I have trouble understanding what number goes with what objective. I am also new to the fact teachers have to incorporate so much technology. I don’t think that technology is everything, but we can’t change our world and how our students live. It lists all the duties that a beginning teacher has to be responsible for under the Knowledge section. These standards have reassured me that I am on the right track of my education. It also reinforces my thoughts on how I am being educated from my professors. 

§126.2. Technology Applications, Kindergarten-Grade 2. (b)(1)

First off, it took me forever to find a TEK that I actually really liked.  This is such a hard thing to pick from due to the fact that there are many things that we should teach our students. I ended up choosing (b) (1a). I think that it very important for each student to know what they are doing on the computer. I think that they should be able to use all the correct terminology appropriately, and know what they are actually talking about. Another thing I think that is important is that each student needs to know how to start and exit all programs. There are so many teachers and parents that do all of these things for their students/children, that they depend on someone else to do everything for them. While on the other hand, there are many children who know how to mess with technology better than an adult…mainly because that is their life.

Wow. This is such a hard decision to make! Find the most important TEK that we should have our students learn…well shouldn’t that be all of them?! I just went ahead and chose TEK§110.11. English Language Arts and Reading, Kindergarten

(1) Reading/Beginning Reading Skills/Print Awareness. Students understand how English is written and printed. Students are expected to:

(A) recognize that spoken words can be represented by print for communication;

I think that it is extremely important to learn that spoken words can be represented by print for communication for many reasons. I think that this is one of the first things that a student will learn in school, and this skill will open up many doors for the child. This TEK will start out the education, and without realizing that, and then the child could possibly be left behind or maybe even put in some sort of resource class. I think this is a very important concept that we must teach our students in order to give them an equal opportunity for learning.

Visualizing with technology!

I am completely amazed with the information that I have discovered in this lesson. I think that visualizing with technologies is such a huge step to take in the correct direction. We are competing with so much when it comes to teaching our student’s now-a-days because they are so dependent on technology. I think that without visualizing with technologies, students wouldn’t know how to visualize things on paper or on the computer. Technology helps students grasp the idea, and gets and holds their attention. For example, while working on a math problem it is very important to be “visual” which is completely correct. There is such a large math process that we all have to go through just to get to our answers. I have never thought about how visual we are in this world, until I read and studied this lesson. After reading chapter nine I realized that technology is very important in my life along with many, many others.

Emerging Technologies Project

I’m just going to start off by saying that I think the links that were given were very interesting! After researching them I got to thinking about how I could use each one of them in my future classroom. I thought of something interesting for all the subjects. I think that links like these give great ideas and information for educators. It also changes up the scenery of the classroom from time to time.

Computer Aided Design: http://www.usfirst.org/

This site was informative for adults and educators, not for the children. There are no games for a student to play on this site. This site focuses on how to learn more about different events and opportunities for our students. The age group for this site is middle and high school ages.

Lego: http://universe.lego.com/en-US/creationlab/Default.aspx

This site was fun to look at. There were “challenges” for kids to try and accomplish with Lego blocks. I never knew that there was a Lego software program. After exploring this site I found that it would be very fun for the children. I think that you could give your student a challenge or goal and let them try to accomplish it. You could use it in a math lesson with making something and then counting how many you just used. I think this program could open student’s minds and make them stretch out on their creativity skills.

Musical Sketch Pad: http://creatingmusic.com

Out of the three sites that were given, I liked this one the most. I think that this program gets students involved with what they are doing. They can create music along with being able to edit music to create their own master piece. along with many, many other things. This allows the students to step out of the box and be creative. I could see how this could be used in the classroom!

Podcasting

 

1. What did you learn about podcasting? How it can be used in the classroom?

 

2. How is podcasting different / similar to other Web 2.0 applications we discussed so far?

Podcasting is very different, but similar to the Web 2.0 tools. I think that one of the biggest differences in the Web 2.0 tools and podcasting is that on the podcasting you can create one or just "subscribe" to one. Yes, they are informative but you can't always rely on the information that you are reading or watching. On the Web 2.0 tools there is a plethora of information that you can use at your convience. You can always go back and find that same information or look if there is anything new. Also that is information for all subjects, not just for one. It is like a never ending idea of technology, because one link takes you to another, that take you to another. I think that both the Web 2.0 tools and podcasts are very helpful for educators in this world today. I personally prefer using the Web 2.0 tools over a podcast any day.

 

 

3. Your reflection: Do you own an iPod or MP3 player? How do you use it? Would you use it in your classroom and how? What do you think about the advantages and disadvantages of online communication tools?

I have a iPhone and absolutly love it! Previously I had an ipod and thought it was the absolute coolest thing since sliced bread. That thing went everywhere with me. I along with many others would be completly lost without it. It's alsmost as if I didn't know how I survived without it. I use it as my phone, ipod, entertainment,navigation and many more. In my personal opinion, I think that the advantges out weigh the disadvantages. Online communication makes our world a better place to live and communicate. Technology and online communication is such a huge deal with today's world. Especailly in the business world people rely on e-mail, phone calls, podcast and even blogs. We have lived in this world without technolgy many years, and some how everyone made it. But it sure is nice having an unlimited amount of technolgy that we are capable of using.

 Honestly, I never knew what podcasting actually meant. After wathching the video, it made me realize how easy it is to make a podcast. The three main advantages to a podcast is that anyone can create one. Another advantage is that you can subscibe to a certain podcast that intrest you in any way. For example, a television show that you like. You can subscribe to that certain show, and it will continue to record all the new shows or podcasts that are produced. And lastly is that you can upload a podcasts to almost every single gadget of you choice. Once you upload it you can take it anywhere with you and watch it at your own pace. This can be used in the classroom in many different ways. You can use it as a audio or visual on the screen or even use a video camera and record your class while doing a skit or something fun in your classroom.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 tools is such an amazing thing to be able to have in today’s teaching world. I have done a lot of research on Web 2.0 tools previously in other education classes, and am so lucky because it is a great tool to have in your classroom. I had to make a science notebook one semester, and got the majority of my resources from the Web 2.0 tools website. I think that web 2.0 is changing not only the way we teach, but how our students are learning. I think that it is a positive change. I also found out that I do like Wiki’s because it seems like the students also like it, which in turn helps spread information better. I believe that these tools make it so much easier to find materials, links, and even teaching suggestions. I think that this can make us better educators with a little push towards the right direction.

Copyright & Fair Use Policy

What I have learned so far....

I have learned that Copyrights and Fair Use is way more important than I have ever thought it would be. I always knew that it was a VERY serious issue, but I didn’t realize how many stipulations were put on us (teachers). This truly affects the materials that we can use to teach with. For example, “Poem less than 250 words; 250-word excerpt of poem greater than 250 words”. We are very restricted on what we use, and we must follow these rules. Another thing I have learned is the Cyberbullying is a big deal, especially in today’s world. There are very few teenagers that don’t have a cell phone, or some kind of technology in their hands at all times. When someone puts something negative or embarrassing on the web, for example Facebook…it goes viral. It then turns into a game of who can hurt whose feelings. I don’t think that Cyberbullying will ever stop or go away at all or at least anytime soon. We need to keep these things in our mind so we can educate our future students.   

How do I feel about it??

Well, first off…I am VERY against bullying of any sort!! I don’t think that anyone should have to hear any negative comments about anything. I used to get made fun of for my height. I would get called names like short stuff, small fry, and little girl. Those were very hurtful at that time in my life, but of course now it doesn’t bother me. I think that if you bully someone, it will eventually show their true colors.  

I feel that the Copyrights and Fair Use is a policy to have. But I do think that some of the rules are a little too strict. When you are in the classroom you need a surplus of material to use, it is hard to do different things with your students every day, epically when you are limited. I do understand that there has to be some copyright laws, but I don’t see why it has to be so picky. As long as your site where you got your information from I don’t see a problem. Although, we may disagree with some of the laws we still have to follow the rules.