Wordle

Chapters 10 and 11

Chapters 10 and 11


        Chapter 10 describes it best when it says, "trying to balance the needs of individual learners with those of larger, increasingly diverse classroom communities is part of what imbues the field of teaching with creativity, excitement and constant challenge." (245) Personally, I feel the word that stands out most from this quote is challenge. Imagine a classroom of 25 students all with different learning needs, then add to it the issues some have at home, and now try teaching them. To some it may sound easy, but to those who are in the teaching profession we know how difficult it really is. Nothing bothers me more than people who have no idea what really goes into teaching calling teachers "certified babysitters." 

       Adapting and adding the use of technology in the classroom can greatly help reach all children's learning needs and help them reach their potential. Technology can be great for visual learners, auditory learners, and even kinesthetic learners. With modern technology, there really is no limit on what a child is capable of doing. Technology also helps to reach out to multicultural learners and learners who do not have english as their first language. It's amazing that a teacher with the help of technology, can teach students in different languages even if the teacher is not bilingual herself. Many apps and educational websites can be used in different languages in order to make sure a child is not being restricted from learning the lesson just because of a language barrier. Children can learn english at their own pace, but not miss out on what is being taught in the classroom in other subjects. 

       Chapter 11 talks a lot about testing and assessments. Assessments are clearly made to measure the growth of a child, but nonetheless are portrayed by some students that they are inadequate. A child feels if they do not get in a the upper 90's or a perfect score that they are a failure. Although, if a child scores a 20 on a test and then takes a similar tests and gets a 70, then it is proven that a child is learning. To me, assessments do not show a child's full potential, but rather looks at them as just a test score. I think assessments need to be differentiated such as learning is in the classroom. Some students are simply not test takers even though they may have mastered the material. An assessment sometimes, does not show what a child is capable of. Technology can help differentiate tests to accommodate each child's differences. Students can take oral tests, online tests, written tests, and even be assessed in the form of a game which will make the testing less stressful and more about what a child actually knows and is learning.

Question for readers:

1. How do you feel about testing and certain forms of assessments?

Chapter 7 & 8 Reflection

Throughout Chapter 7 what stood out was how educational software, games, and apps promote problem solving and critical thinking, but teachers need to carefully evaluate each potential resource for its quality and effectiveness as a learning experience. I think something that sounds so simple, is actually quite hard. I know students today in the school I work at use something called ABCya, which does have educational games. Although, I noticed when we allow my class to use it children tend to gravitate towards the games that have the least educational value... It makes me wonder if they notice this is what they are doing or if they just find these games more fun. I definitely want to use what I learned in this chapter and explore the games on the site and recommend to the class the ones with the most educational value and see what they think of these games.

Questions:

1. Does anyone know any games that have high educational value that they would recommend ?

2. Is it okay to allow them to play games without educational value during computers in order to give them a break from their rigorous schedule?

Throughout Chapter 8 what stood out to me was the use of social networking to communicate with a teacher or student. I think children would be more willing to ask for help if they could just shoot the teacher and email of a message on a website. I also think it is more effective, because the student could ask right then and there when they are struggling. Students won't forget their questions and they won't just leave it blank and not gain anything from it. I also think this would be helpful for parents, considering they did not learn in the style of the common core and to them, common core looks like it it is in a whole different language. I think social networking with teachers and students would also make the children relate to the teacher more. They may even think he or she is cool for being able to use such technology!

Reflection 10/28/15

Reflection 10/28/15

Today in class we discussed our final group project.We picked our groups and learned about one another. We have no ideas of our Web 2.0 site yet, but I am hopeful we will find something and make it amazing! My group seems very ready to wkr together to ensure a success!

We also discussed our WebQuest design and how to maneuver the digication website. It seems easy enough. All I need to do now is creatively put my ideas on my digication. I am very excited to see the final result!

Reflection on WebQuest 10/21/15

Reflection of Class 10/21/15

Today's lesson thoroughly explained a WebQuest and what is expected of our WebQuests for this class. I love the idea of it and how it reaches all children's learning styles and needs. My one dilemma is how to make an effective WebQuest for younger grades. The ninth grade example of Romeo and Juliet was brilliant, and a perfect match for the grade level. I love how we were able to critique someone else's WebQuest in order to figure out what we think should be needed for us. I am comfortable with the idea of a WebQuest and making one for my students, but am unsure of my creativity and appropriateness for my grade level. I think this project will be difficult, but definitely rewarding, and something that can be timeless and used effectively in classrooms. I only wish we saw an example of a younger grade levels WebQuest to see the difference between the older and younger grades expectations. 

Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 Reflections

Chapter 5 & Chapter 6 Reflections

I found it interesting that there is now words to define assessing the internet in a proper way, introduced in Chapter 5 as information literacy and defined by the American Library Association (ALA) as the “ability to recognize when information is needed and to then have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” For most of my life I have been able to instantly find information needed from the internet. It's hard to imagine what life was like without this ability. I do remember one time though when my siblings and I were younger we were at a restaurant on vacation. My brother had us playing trivia games and he was asking us questions and telling us if it was correct or not. At one point he said something that didn't seem right, and I remember my family saying how much easier it would be to just look it up right then and there, but how we couldn't. And now look how far we have come. Now, we can just pull out our Smart phone and find exactly what we want to know. It still seems mind boggling that this is possible. I agree with the chapter when it says that the internet is immensely important for education purposes. Children are able to feed their curiosity instantly, which allows them to question more things knowing they could figure out the answer in the next five minutes. Although, figuring out what websites are safe must definitely be taught. Otherwise, students can feed their minds false information, and cause them to learn incorrect topics. 

When it came to the part about eReaders I must admit I was torn. I am someone who loves to read. I love to open a book and flip through pages and pages of words. I like to highlight things that I find interesting and add notes in the margins. Although, this year I made the switch to eBooks for my textbooks due to the fact that I wouldn't have to wait for them to be shipped and some were cheaper. I have recently become a fan the eBook and have learned to use it in a very helpful way. It can be used the same ways as a regular book, but also as it perks. For example, if I want to find a sentence I wrote down for a paper, I can easily type it in the search bar and it will immediately bring me to the page. I love that aspect of an eBook, but I do still love regular paper books, as well. I think it is important to use both in order to stay relevant with the times, but also not completely lose one's past.

Something that stood out to me was electronic notes. I do like how easy it is to type up notes, and how much quicker it gets done. Though, I also find writing my notes to be a form of studying and typing does not assist in that way. While I write the answer the information goes from my hands to ym brain. Typing does not work the same way for me.

In Chapter 6 I especially like the idea of virtual field trips. Some school budgets cannot afford to take actual field trips, so virtual field trips can still allow children to experience other places without having to leave the classroom. Although, I do not necessarily agree with virtual schools, because I feel children need the social aspect of school and interaction with others to learn.

Tonight's Reflection 10/14/15

Tonight's Reflection 10/14/15

                         I was shocked when I saw that you had to actually have a log in for Wikipedia in order to edit posts. My whole life I was under the impression that anyone could write absolutely anything. I feel as if teachers in high school brainwashed us into thinking that people posts crazy things that have nothing to do with the topic we are researching. I feel they blew it completely out of proportion just so we would not use the website. In reality posts on Wikipedia must be approved in order for viewers to see it. Teachers should educate students better on why the website should not be used and how you know if a website is reliable or not if they plan on students using the internet for school related activities. 

                

                          Something that stood out to me was how people in North Korea and Iran use fake i.p addresses so they can get on websites like YouTube. To me, that seems insane. Although, it makes me think how you can tie internet safety into teaching your students about their freedom in the United States. With freedom comes responsible, and students need to realize that at a young age so they do not do anything that jeopardizes their futures. 

Reflection 9/23/15

In my previous blog post I wrote about the low-income gap and how I didn't understand how people who are less fortunate could learn all day with technology, but not have access to it at home. I feel silly that I never thought of how restaurants, libraries, and cafes often offer free wifi, which we discussed today in class. It's true that while technology is evolving, other businesses are also evolving to keep up with the changes. People say the profession of teaching is constantly changing, but as one can see every profession and aspect of life changes regularly as well. I guess the lesson would be that change cannot be avoided, and one should try their best to embrace changes.

Reflection of Chapters 1 & 2

Reflection of Chapters 1 & 2:

              Chapters 1 and 2 both underscored to myself that I am going to have to be more than a "Media Mover" (one who uses online and mobile devices regularly as a way to connect with other people socially); to be a successful teacher I must be a "Digital Collaborator," which is someone who uses online and technology readily to create and share information with others. (Maloy 26) As exemplified in the textbook, a teacher must be able to respond to innovation and change within the technological realm. 

              I think that it is important for teachers to be open to change, because it's next to impossible to name a time when teaching was not changing into something new and more advanced. In my personal life I am not a big fan of change, so I'm hoping after learning more throughout the class I can find ways to welcome change in my teaching career. 

               According to the Rogers innovation curve I would place myself in the group that would utilize technology if I felt confident about it. Like the old saying goes, "confidence is key." No one wants to do something that they do not feel they are good at. As a teacher one must welcome the opportunity to learn from students and others. A teacher is just as much of a student as anyone else. There is always room for learning and improvement in all fields. 

              Students begin to get bored in class if they are forced to listen to their teacher lecture everyday. Technology and education apps give students a break from lectures and allows them to explore and discover on their own. I think it is important for students to want to learn and for them to be curious about things on their own without the teacher persuading them to learn about a certain topic. Technology stimulates learning and engages students.

              Some questions I have:

1) I babysit a child who goes to a school districts that gives the students iPads to use for homework and schoolwork. On these devices children are able to communicate with one another via an email account. There have been situations where bullying has occurred via these emails and being that it is the school's property the school must take action. That being said, how can teachers prevent student's from bullying on these devices? In this case, children do suffer consequences after the bullying is reported, but is it really possible to make sure bullying does not occur at all? 

2) The barrier of children not being able to afford such devices strikes me. If a child is doing all of their learning on an iPad, but is unable to bring that iPad home because it is school property, how does the child do work at home? If they use technology all day, it seems to me that a pen, paper, and textbook may seem foreign to them, and may make their further studying at home much more difficult. 

Closing Reflection 9/16/15

September 16, 2015

                   Tonight's lesson focused on how education is always changing. This lesson prompted me to think about how education has changed since I began college almost four years ago. Constantly people are complaining about the changes of edTPA and Common Core standards, and I personally feel people are forgetting how much education changes. When one decides to become a teacher I feel they need to keep in mind how education is a changing field, and that we need to for lack of a better term, "roll with the punches." Some changes have been made for the better, and some for the worse. Though in order for anything to be made better it needs to be able to take new forms and new things must be tried. 

Technology and it's Importance

              One would think that a 21 year old student would know his or her way around technology and in reality most do, but I am not one who does. Of course, I can work your basic social media apps on my iPhone, but when it comes to anything more difficult than that I am incapable. Although when it comes down to being a teacher, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are not going to make my classroom a better learning environment. 

              As a teacher, I want to use technology to enhance my student's learning in the classroom. I want to grow with technology and have my students be comfortable while using technology to prepare them for the real world. I don't want them to be someone like me, who would rather pen and paper, because some day pen and paper may not be an acceptable way to learn in a classroom.

  

              I know knowledge of technology is necessary to succeed in the future, and I want to give each and every student I ever teach the materials to succeed. 

Personal Goals:

• I want to find ways that my children can use technology for projects and assignments that will help them express their creativity and individuality.
  
• To be able to recognize the problems that may occur during a lesson whether with Microsoft Word or the SmartBoard, so I can quickly fix them and not mess with the schedule I have planned for that day's lessons and assignments.
  
• I want to be able to know the ins and outs of PowerPoint in order to ensure my student's are capable of presenting their knowledge in an exciting, visually appealing, yet informative manner.
  
• I want technology to be available to provide more interaction for children with different learning styles.
  
•  To use these tools to produce interactive and inquiry-based learning experiences that teach academic content and skills to 1–6 grade level students.