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.

Take Away Message 3/17

Happy St. Patty's Day!

I feel like I really learned a lot today. I always thought about the fact that students need to understand the dangers of the internet but never thought how to go about teaching them. Discovering the Digital Citizenship was amazing! That site has everything you and your students needs to know about how to be a good digital citizen, follow rules and policies and have digital respect, even about cyber bullying! This is definitely something I am going to have my students explore with and even maybe send a note home to their parents so they can be informed on the dos and don'ts of this new digital age.

Take away message 3/10

I clearly was very opinionated on my opposition of the secure use of the website wikipedia. Yet I found I might have judged too quickly before I had done all my research. Through this discussion I found that there are security settings as well as a main office where all editing must be approved when prior to learning this I believed it to be a free for all of a jumble of miss-information. I was very surprised in learning this and it makes me second guess my usage of it in my future classrooms. I do believe that it would serve as a great compare and contrast piece with a highly reliable source but instead of ruling it out I do feel that now it is a good stepping stone to the beginning of the use of research.

Chapter Five Review

            The internet can be both a wonderful and scary place. I feel it is important while introducing the internet and its wonders to young children to also show them what to look out for and be careful of. It is also important to teach children what a creditable site is compared to a made up site that might be baring faulty information. This chapter also touches on the topic of plagiarism and how children can unknowingly commit this act therefore we must educate them on how to rightfully state the sources we use.

            One section of chapter 5 struck my interest in particular, the section called ‘Evaluating Online Information.’ The reason this struck me is because up until college I feel I was not able to properly assess how credible a website and its information was. That I feel is an imperative skill to have to be a sufficient internet user. I also feel that it is important that schools have certain web pages blocked. There are so many negative and inappropriate sites that children can accidently stumble upon it is important to keep them shelters from that possibility and also to teach them safe search skills for when they further their research at home. I also feel it is a good idea to conduct a list of creditable and useful internet sites for students to use and keep them up on a chart in the classroom or in their notebooks so when searching on their own those websites come to mind first therefore they learn how to search properly and efficiently.

            I also had the pleasure of reading the article, “Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking,” by David H. Jonassen. Mr. Jonassen explained how computers could be used as mindtools and I completely agree. There are a bunch of databases and programs children can use to ‘engage learners in critical thinking.’ This is important, therefore students will not only be using the internet as a tool for research but also for a tool to broaden and challenge their mind.

Questions:

1.     What are a few valid and useful websites you would present to your students to use?

2.     Do you think there are more negative effects on the use of the internet then positive or vise versa? What is your opinion on this?

Take Away Feb 24

These videos really inspired me. Although I am focusing my webquest assignment on a higher grade level (5th grade) in the elementary sschool scale, I would rather keep it comical and light. I feel as though my idea and topic are not able to portray a heart wrenching cliff hanger of whats to come but a more comical yet still determined and driven in accomplishing a task at hand. Since my topic is history it is less of opinion and depiction and more facts and understanding. I am very excited to see what everyone's video trailers have in store and excited to see where everyone takes this creatively.

chapter 2 and 3 reflection

I found chapters two and three to be very informative. Chapter two really highlights the amazing attributes that technology has when integrated into the classroom. As stated in the text, it "promotes unique, powerful and transformative learning."Along with this, integrating technology can assess skills such as visual learning, accessing and assessing information, student engagement, collaboration, feedback and creativity. Throughout chapter two there were many great pieces on how technology can aid and be beneficial in multiple areas of the classroom but the one I found most intriguing is how it helps heighten students creativity. For students that don't feel a paintbrush, crayon or canvas is the outlet to their creative thinking they now have a new outlet with the various opportunities technology offers.

Chapter three is very important for all teachers. Without planning, a classroom is mayhem and learning can be close to impossible. During my student teaching experience my sponsor teacher was most definitely a "digital immigrant." I witnessed her trying to assess and keep order of each child's individual assessments on paper in the thickest binders I have ever seen. Using how to implement technology into her planning and assessing of students her paperwork, organization and time would have been so much easier. This is just one first hand example where I found that implementing technology in planning and organizing in the classroom from a teachers standpoint can help everything run more smooth. 

1. What is one way technology has helped you improve your creativity? How can this be related to your future students?

2. Have you ever witnessed a teacher using 'old fashion' ways to organize or apply material for their class? If so how could have using technology helped them and what type of technology?

WebQuest Idea

I wanted to make my webquest as fun as my imagination allowed me to. I love learning about Hellen Keller and the hurdles she overcame I also am a lover of American Sign Language. So, for my webquest I want to create a mission for a 5th grade class to learn about these topics in a fun way. I will have an evil villain threaten to rewrite Hellen Keller's history and it is up to the students as time travelers to save her by researching and proving him wrong before he can rewrite it.

The standards I will address will be:

Standard 2, Key Idea 3

Key Idea 3: Study of the major social, political, cultural, and religious developments in world history involves learning about the important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.

Performance Indicators--Students will:

Elementary

understand the roles and contributions of individuals and groups to social, political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and religious practices and activities

gather and present information about important developments from world history

understand how the terms social, political, economic, and cultural can be used to describe human activities or practices.

and

Social Studies Standard 1: History of the United States and New York

Students will: use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.

and

Social Studies Standard 2 
World History

Students will: use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, 

developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.

Take Away Message

Before my student teaching experience I always had a negative outlook on integrating technology into the classroom to some extent. I still had blackboards in my elementary school classrooms and now I found that they are replaced with smartboards. This is only the second class of course EDU 7266 and my eyes have been opened to so much more that I cannot help but think that the positives now outweigh the negatives in technology integration. The video on edutopia I found extremely inspirational. I remember thinking how I need to learn all these new applications this way I can then pass that knowledge onto my future students as the featured teacher has. The children in the video were so inspired, focused and still interacting with their classmates on a personal level. I found this important because I always would see the use of technology as diminishing personal, face to face communication skills. I also loved how creative the students were getting they seemed so inspired. Today has really opened my eyes to a whole world of opportunity for teaching.

Chapter One Review

         When we become teachers with our own classrooms we will be teaching the generation where technology has been most prominent in a child's life. According to the text, 85% of 5-17 year olds know how to use and navigate a computer. Growing up I was not exposed to much use of technology in my classrooms. In elementary school our blackboards were not covered up by smart boards and our televisions were wheeled in on giant carts. We had computer class where we learned basic programs but after my student teaching experience my eyes really opened up to all the new innovative use of technology in the classroom. At first I was not too keen on the idea of having so much technology come into play in the classroom. Before I learned more about it I thought it was used as an easy way out of a proper lesson. Chapter one really opened my eyes to even more possibilities on how technology can be used and it is certainly starting to grow on me.
          The section of chapter one that I thought was really helpful to determine if technology is acceptable were the six key questions a teacher should answer to see if that integration is appropriate. I especially liked this because I feel that sometimes teachers throw in technology because it is the easy thing to do but what should be evaluated before doing so is if the use of technology will have ample success for your students and the lesson. Reading this section made me think of a personal experience I had as a student observer. The teacher I was observing was teaching a math lesson using an interactive math program on the computer. She did not know how to set up her projector to project the program on her smart board so instead had the class huddle around her tiny desk computer. Standing where the last row of students sat it was clear that they were not fully engaged and could barely hear and see what was going on. Instead of this I believe the teacher should have taught the material manually instead of resorting to technology since it was not an idea learning situation for the majority of students. Also in chapter one they mentioned that the use of technology builds professionalism and I completely agree. When students graduate they are expected to know how to use and maneuver around many programs and forms of technology. If students do not have access to such at home it is imperative that they are properly exposed to them in the classroom. This is the generation where being technologically savvy is not just an advantage in our students future workplaces but it is completely expected.

Two Questions:

1. Was your opinion of integrating technology so much into the classroom always a positive one? Why or why not?

2. What are some ways you would incorporate technology into your classrooms?

Hi everyone!

This is my first blog ever, I hope you enjoy it!