Take Away Message 4/14

Today I took one stop closer to becoming a Digital Native! I feel I have learned so much already about an application that I have been using for years and already thought I knew all there was to know. Aside from that I learned what Voice Thread was. In high school my local public library provided tutoring and extra help for a variety of subjects and they used a program extremely similar to Voice Thread. I always wondered how they made them and now I know! It was interesting to see how it is made from the teachers standpoint. Immediately it brought me back to those extra help math sessions I endured during high school and I can most definitely picture myself using this program as a way to integrate technology into my future classrooms. I can have each student create their own math problem and everyone in the class has to respond with their answer and how they found it as well as have students post questions they might have to problems and it is a great way for me to communicate with them step by step on how to solve it. This application can be used in more ways than just math and I am excited to explore the possibilities.

Chapters 8 & 9

What I related to most in chapter 8 was the use of email and blogs to better a student to teacher means of communication and better their learning process. In high school I do not recall anyone emailing their teachers or supervisors but what I see now is that it is becoming more and more common and popular under the collegiate level. Instead of phone calling students and parents between certain hours I feel that communicating via email leaves more flexibility and a greater line of communication open between parents and teachers. I think emailing a teacher or professor is a great way for students to also keep in touch and it can be used for assignment clarification and questions. Chapter 8 also mentioned that blogs are becoming more and more popular. In this class, 7266, it is the first time I have ever experienced writing a blog. According to the text I believe that this blog would be considered an 'active learning blog.' This is so because students are sharing their ideas, thoughts and opinions on current topics and chapter readings in the classroom. I think blogging is a great way for the teacher to assess if students are understanding the knowledge at hand as well as for students to interact and learn from each other. 

Chapter 9 also had some very relatable information and what stuck out to me the most was how teachers and students can use their own movie making sot wares and digital cameras to enrich the learning process. This is true and I loved reading more about it because I experienced it first hand. For example when we make our group video projects we are focusing in on a specific topic, learning and applying it to real life. What we don't necessarily think of is that when we are learning about this topic and creating a video we are also learning and practicing our technological skills. Together they go hand in hand to create a broad more diverse learning task. Not only that but incorporating technology such as movies and pictures into everyday or basic lessons makes it more exciting and engaging. There are endless possibilities when it comes to creativity and applying technology to our classrooms.

Questions:

1. What do you think is the earliest grade blogging can be incorporated into a lesson successfully?

2. Do you think making movies or leaning through a digital lens be more beneficial to students with disabilities?

Take Away Message 4/7

Today I learned how to spruce and spice up my teaching portfolio and how it is also important to have students keep on and do the same. I feel it is important for students to keep a portfolio therefore at the end of the year they can look back on all their work and see how much they have learned and progressed. I also learned a lot more about maneuvering around the e-portfolio website. I was never sure how to customize my banner or change my background pictures and now I certainly will take advantage of that to make my personality come through and make it as unique as possible. I also enjoyed learning and being reminded that portfolios need constant updating! I read my 'about' section and I was still listed as an undergrad student. This class has most definitely made me want to go home and get to work on what needs updating!

Take Away Message 3/31

I am excited to start planning and filming our group project video. We decided to target nutrition in our 'What's In Your Lunchbox: Drinks Edition." With help from the class we have brainstormed a bunch of exciting ideass to base our video off of and I can't wait to see the finished product. We can break different drinks into categories such as caffinated drinks, sports drinks, sodas, juices and juice boxes, water and tea. Through this we hope that children will second think what they put in their lunchboxes to have during lunchtime.

Chapter 7

I completely understand the dynamics of the debate of the beneficial use of video and computer games for children. I do believe that gaming has come a long way. The first sign of educational technology I remember using was watching Muzzy in my Italian classes and watching The Magic School Bus during a science unit. These were the first uses of integrating technology and meshing them with learning that I can remember in my past classrooms. From there I feel educational technology has really come a long way. An example of it is the ever so popular Leap Frog Learning games. These were and still are so popular among the Toddler, Pre-school and early Elementary years. They have created fun ways to learn how to read and do math so children that are Digital Natives are more intrigued to do so. I also remember playing The Oregon Trail in elementary school when we learned about that time period and instead of that being the main learning tool my teacher used it as a motivator. Whether it be we were allowed to play during lunch, when we finished our work early or during indoor recess it got us more excited to learn about the topic when we were simulating living in it. As it states in the text it is important to chose what games you integrate into your classroom very wisely. The text stated that it is important to avoid games that teach minimal or narrowed skills and games that are only about winning or losing. This is important and I agree because if children are only playing and focused on rewards then they are not getting an enriching virtual experience.

1. What was your first learning based technology that was integrated into your classroom when you were younger? Do you think the options of such has improved or widened?

2. If you were teaching in an elementary school today what are some games you think you would incorporate?

3. Do you think the new common core standards limits us with what we can and can not use for this particular topic of technological integration?

Take Away Message 3/24

Minecraft is always a topic of discussion in my house between my youngest sister and cousins. What I always found an annoying or boring topic I now see in a different light. I never gave this gaming sight much thought or credit for educational value and after interviewing my cousin and watching the video I don't entirely know if my opinion has changed. I do see how it can be constructive in skills as following directions and strategies go but to stretch it as far as bringing it into the classroom I do not see that its value is significant enough. I think although not gory, that some aspects of the game are inappropriate for a classroom, learning environment and that each player needs to be closely monitored to make sure they are staying on task. I think overall what I am getting into is, that there are so many learning games out there that serve better learning purposes and are fun that are a better tool than Minecraft.

Chapters 4 & 6

What I took away most from chapter four was the mentioning of the 'participation gap.' What the participation gap is, is when technological resources aren't as accessible to some students whether it be at home or in the school district that students then fall behind on the use, knowledge and exposure of it. It stated in the text that "often economically advantaged kids get to do more intellectually challenging activities" when it comes to the use of technology. This made me think of what can we do as teachers if we happen to work in one of the less fortunate areas or with lower income students to prevent such a 'participation gap.' When schools have such limited funding it becomes a greater challenge because technology is a costly expense for teachers to pay out of pocket. 

I love the idea of implementing WebQuests and virtual field trips into classroom lessons. I feel that these two teaching strategies can be used and progressive in elementary through college years of learning. Technology is always changing so what better way to learn new information while also learning and staying updated with the newest and most current technology. I have never been on the student end of a WebQuest or virtual tour but it certainly seems like an experience.

1. What do you think would be an efficient way to close the 'participation gap?'

2. Have you ever participated in a WebQuest or virtual tour in your younger years in school?

Looking through the free education apps I noticed I had one! The Blackboard app! I find it very useful as a student with online work due. It helps keep me updated and sends me reminders of when assignments are posted, things are graded and when work is due. This saves a lot of time by not having to sign in through the internet or St. John's Central. Also during my student teaching experience, BrainPOP was widely used by a variety of teachers in a variety of grades. The videos they provide are both fun, intriguing and informative. 

Two websites that I love and would definitely implement into my students technology lives are pbskids.org and funbrain.com. They are both fun, bright, welcoming and education sites for kids to explore and have so much fun between videos and games that they wont even realize they are learning. These sites are also great to build lessons off of and can be used for motivations and tasks.