I feel that integrating the technologies that are available to us as teachers is the obvious and right way to go. Using technology can help our students grasp the learning and get them excited. Using tools that they use and see in the world outside of school can help them to see connections with their lives beyond school and feel like what they are learning has value beyond their grades. I think its important that I do everything I can to help my students succeed.
Evaluating myself on the NET standards and UNI surveys has given me insight into what and where I can improve. There are lots of areas and I am glad that there are also lots of resources out there that can help me bridge the gap from my current skills to where I would like to be. I am now able to set goals for my learning, and I think this is important because if I don't know what is available I won't have a chance to know where I am deficient.
The videos and articles I read will benefit not only me but I believe my students. I think that they will connect with the situations presented and be glad that people are understanding where they are coming from. When students realize that their teachers are actively trying to create the best curriculum and environment for their learning, they hopefully will also realize the value that their learning has. We, as teachers, need to present information that the students can relate to and utilizing technology in the classroom can facilitate this task.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 19 - PDP "Lessons Learned"
The material for this exercise was very informative. I have to say that the statistics are somewhat overwhelming. It makes me wonder whether education can cut through the bureaucracy enough to really integrate the technologies that are available. The article "The New WWW" gave me a lot of insight into the gap between where schools are in general and what the students are surrounded by and interact with every day. Using the technologies they use could help students to better respond to instruction.
The video "Did You Know?" was amazing. It really brought home to me how small the world haws become and that it is in large part due to the technologies that are available to so many. In order to help our students compete we as teachers need to help them utilize the technology that will help them keep up and succeed. If we don't then we are doing a huge disservice to the world of tomorrow.
I have been wishing that there could have been a content area class that addressed the uses of technology in the classroom. I really think that this more specific instruction could help teachers to more quickly integrate by sharing ideas and things that have worked. I also realize that just like the information pointed out, these technologies haven't been around long enough and are continually changing so that my professors would not have used them in their classrooms. This helped me to commit to keeping abreast of current technologies and not to be complacent with what I know.
The video "Did You Know?" was amazing. It really brought home to me how small the world haws become and that it is in large part due to the technologies that are available to so many. In order to help our students compete we as teachers need to help them utilize the technology that will help them keep up and succeed. If we don't then we are doing a huge disservice to the world of tomorrow.
I have been wishing that there could have been a content area class that addressed the uses of technology in the classroom. I really think that this more specific instruction could help teachers to more quickly integrate by sharing ideas and things that have worked. I also realize that just like the information pointed out, these technologies haven't been around long enough and are continually changing so that my professors would not have used them in their classrooms. This helped me to commit to keeping abreast of current technologies and not to be complacent with what I know.
April 19 - PDP "Strengths & Weaknesses"
As I went through the NET standards, I saw many areas that I will need to make improvement in. Improvement in most of these areas will depend on gaining experience. As I plan lessons, teach curriculum, and assess my students I will, through incorporating technology, measure up to the standards. The UNI surveys gave me more specific areas to consider. Through the first survey I considered myself at an apprentice level, as I took the second half of the survey I slipped into more of a novice category because of my lack of experience in spreadsheets, databases, and graphic organizers.
As a beginning teacher, I want to address my lack of experience in creating lesson, teaching curriculum, and assessing using technology by making it a goal to incorporate technology into my daily lesson plans. This can be done by using multimedia presentations to illustrate the works of literature we are studying, using the Internet to search for resources and information, and using web pages or blogs as an option for completing assignments. In regards to my weaknesses regarding the use of spreadsheets, databases, and graphic organizers, I will make it a goal to make keeping track of grades easier by using spreadsheets. The use of databases and graphic organizers can be worked into my lesson plans as tools for learning.
There are two resources I have identified that will help me to accomplish my goals. These are the eTech newsletter and the High Tech Learning course spoken about in this assignment. The eTech newsletter will keep me apprised of how technology is being used in classrooms and give me an opportunity to find ways to incorporate this information into my teaching. The High Tech class will expand my knowledge base and experience by acquainting me with many of the varied technological tools that exist to help me better teach my students. This is an in depth course that will help me progress faster than I could on my own.
As a beginning teacher, I want to address my lack of experience in creating lesson, teaching curriculum, and assessing using technology by making it a goal to incorporate technology into my daily lesson plans. This can be done by using multimedia presentations to illustrate the works of literature we are studying, using the Internet to search for resources and information, and using web pages or blogs as an option for completing assignments. In regards to my weaknesses regarding the use of spreadsheets, databases, and graphic organizers, I will make it a goal to make keeping track of grades easier by using spreadsheets. The use of databases and graphic organizers can be worked into my lesson plans as tools for learning.
There are two resources I have identified that will help me to accomplish my goals. These are the eTech newsletter and the High Tech Learning course spoken about in this assignment. The eTech newsletter will keep me apprised of how technology is being used in classrooms and give me an opportunity to find ways to incorporate this information into my teaching. The High Tech class will expand my knowledge base and experience by acquainting me with many of the varied technological tools that exist to help me better teach my students. This is an in depth course that will help me progress faster than I could on my own.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
29 March - Internet Safety
What?
The topic of teaching students about cyber ethics, being safe on the internet, how to prevent/stop cyber bullying, etc.
So What?
As I see the influence that technology has, I become more and more concerned with how impersonal it can seem. Typing on a computer or texting on a phone is not the same thing as talking to someone in person. There are definite advantages to being able to communicate via these devices, but I feel that today's students are sometimes not fully appreciating the dangers also associated with their favorite social networking site or how damaging one not thought out text or picture can be. It is well known that teens think they are invincible. This has generally been applied to the physical risks teenagers are more apt to take, or that they seem unaware of. I think this imagined invincibility can also be applied to their actions or inactions in regards to internet safety. They can take the attitude that bad things happen to other people, not to them. This of course is not the case and learning this lesson can be a very painful process.
Now What?
As a teacher I want to help students become aware of the consequences associated with their actions. The campaign I am designing for this class is a great start. I hope to take these materials as a starting point and expand on them. Creating a safe environment for our students is a top priority for us as teachers and this includes helping them be safe on the internet.
The topic of teaching students about cyber ethics, being safe on the internet, how to prevent/stop cyber bullying, etc.
So What?
As I see the influence that technology has, I become more and more concerned with how impersonal it can seem. Typing on a computer or texting on a phone is not the same thing as talking to someone in person. There are definite advantages to being able to communicate via these devices, but I feel that today's students are sometimes not fully appreciating the dangers also associated with their favorite social networking site or how damaging one not thought out text or picture can be. It is well known that teens think they are invincible. This has generally been applied to the physical risks teenagers are more apt to take, or that they seem unaware of. I think this imagined invincibility can also be applied to their actions or inactions in regards to internet safety. They can take the attitude that bad things happen to other people, not to them. This of course is not the case and learning this lesson can be a very painful process.
Now What?
As a teacher I want to help students become aware of the consequences associated with their actions. The campaign I am designing for this class is a great start. I hope to take these materials as a starting point and expand on them. Creating a safe environment for our students is a top priority for us as teachers and this includes helping them be safe on the internet.
Monday, March 14, 2011
15 March - Digital Story 2 (Copyright)
What?
The progression of copyright laws. How the laws of copyright apply to the use of audio and video material in the classroom.
So What?
I made sure to take notes on the "Fair Use" laws and "Creative Commons". The other rules and regulations were interesting to learn about but I didn't feel like they applied to my situation and there was really no way I would remember all the dates, rules, fines and potential prison times anyway. I was very relieved to learn that sources would be available to me as a teacher through the Fair Use act. A lot can be shared and learning enhanced through the Creative Commons and I would like to partake and give back.
Now What?
The digital story is an interesting way to utilize some of the great material that is available. I hope to be able to get my message across and would like to use it in the future. I wonder how many teachers are currently using this technology in their classrooms. It would be awesome to create a digital story library so everyone could access each other's stories.
The progression of copyright laws. How the laws of copyright apply to the use of audio and video material in the classroom.
So What?
I made sure to take notes on the "Fair Use" laws and "Creative Commons". The other rules and regulations were interesting to learn about but I didn't feel like they applied to my situation and there was really no way I would remember all the dates, rules, fines and potential prison times anyway. I was very relieved to learn that sources would be available to me as a teacher through the Fair Use act. A lot can be shared and learning enhanced through the Creative Commons and I would like to partake and give back.
Now What?
The digital story is an interesting way to utilize some of the great material that is available. I hope to be able to get my message across and would like to use it in the future. I wonder how many teachers are currently using this technology in their classrooms. It would be awesome to create a digital story library so everyone could access each other's stories.
Monday, March 7, 2011
8 March - Digital Stories 1
What?
The creation of a Digital Story and its relevance to classroom instruction. The article "Technology a Key Tool in Writing Instruction.
So What?
I enjoyed class last week. The digital stories presented an emotional tie in to the curriculum. It was very vivid and dramatic. I recognized that using videos brought the presentation to a whole new level of engagement, one that will definitely interest students. The article on technology and writing helped me see the creation of digital stories as a new way for students to connect to their writing and find their voice. The digital story my group is working on is about recognizing different perspectives that are often left out. We hope to do so in an upbeat manner since so much of what we talk about in regards to literature is on the heavier side of things. I have had some trouble picturing how our digital story will come together though. I am very interested to know what the copyright laws are that pertain to creating digital stories.
Now What?
I hope to take this this experience into my future classroom. I would like to actively be engaged in utilizing technology in the classroom. I can see how digital stories can be used to not only interest students who might otherwise be ambivalent but to also give new insights into those students who are passionate about their topics. I would really like to master this tool so that I may use it effectively.
The creation of a Digital Story and its relevance to classroom instruction. The article "Technology a Key Tool in Writing Instruction.
So What?
I enjoyed class last week. The digital stories presented an emotional tie in to the curriculum. It was very vivid and dramatic. I recognized that using videos brought the presentation to a whole new level of engagement, one that will definitely interest students. The article on technology and writing helped me see the creation of digital stories as a new way for students to connect to their writing and find their voice. The digital story my group is working on is about recognizing different perspectives that are often left out. We hope to do so in an upbeat manner since so much of what we talk about in regards to literature is on the heavier side of things. I have had some trouble picturing how our digital story will come together though. I am very interested to know what the copyright laws are that pertain to creating digital stories.
Now What?
I hope to take this this experience into my future classroom. I would like to actively be engaged in utilizing technology in the classroom. I can see how digital stories can be used to not only interest students who might otherwise be ambivalent but to also give new insights into those students who are passionate about their topics. I would really like to master this tool so that I may use it effectively.
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