Before taking this course I thought that I had a good grasp on using technology effectively in the classroom. As a technology High School teacher, I quickly became the student. I never realized how many free educational technology tools are available to use in the classroom. In addition, these tools can be used for almost any subject type. As a Business Education major and teacher I only really saw technology from a business stand point. Seeing how technology has been implemented by teachers who teach other subjects has been great. Reading the experiences and stories of my classmates use of technology in their general education classroom has been a great experience. Reading these first hand accounts of technology education I think has made me a better teacher.
State Standards also are very important when using technology. To effectively implement technology successfully in the classroom is to make sure that the technology is following state standards. It is our jobs at teachers to make sure that students are learning what they need to know and state standards help guide learning.
My view on technology has not changed much from taking this course. As a high school computer teacher I highly value technology in the classroom. However, since taking this course I find myself sharing my technology knowledge to my fellow teachers at the school I teach. If I did not take this course, I probably would not share my knowledge and love of technology on to others.
This course has opened my eyes to many technologies that I did not think even existed. For example, a few technologies that I enjoyed learning about and will be implementing into my own classroom for this school year and in the future include: Wordles, Wikis, WebQuests and Screencasts. I know have a better understanding of these technologies and have the confidence to implement these technologies into my own curriculum.
Technology is always changing. As a teacher it is our jobs to make sure that we prepare our students for the future. Technology is the future. Incorporating technology in the classroom is vital to prepare students for the real world. After taking this course, a teacher has the tools that they need in their technology toolbox to better prepare students.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Apply and Discover 10.1
I viewed the below three video WebQuests.
1.Gabrien Turner - Narrative Essay Writing.
This was a great webQuest. It was easy to follow and understand. The links that were provided were great resources. Also liked how the examples of pervious student work was pointed out. Overall this was a great video narration of the WebQuest.
2. Karena Allen - Life Cycle a Frog's Life
The narration of this webquest was great. It was easy to follow and very visually inviting. It is definitely geared to a younger audience. Pointing out all of the resources was very helpful. Overall, great job.
3. Dawn Glidden – Story2tell
Good walk through of the WebQuest. However, the sound was very low. I know how hard it was to record these videos. The walk through and step by step of each page made up for the audio issues. Overall great job.
Overall this video project of the WebQuests that we created was very challenging. There were many speed bumps along the road, but was a great learning experience.
1.Gabrien Turner - Narrative Essay Writing.
This was a great webQuest. It was easy to follow and understand. The links that were provided were great resources. Also liked how the examples of pervious student work was pointed out. Overall this was a great video narration of the WebQuest.
2. Karena Allen - Life Cycle a Frog's Life
The narration of this webquest was great. It was easy to follow and very visually inviting. It is definitely geared to a younger audience. Pointing out all of the resources was very helpful. Overall, great job.
3. Dawn Glidden – Story2tell
Good walk through of the WebQuest. However, the sound was very low. I know how hard it was to record these videos. The walk through and step by step of each page made up for the audio issues. Overall great job.
Overall this video project of the WebQuests that we created was very challenging. There were many speed bumps along the road, but was a great learning experience.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Apply and Discover 9.1
What does it mean to "provide equal access to the digital world"?
As a teacher it is our job to make sure that students are learning to the best of their ability. This can be a difficult task at times to reach every single student. Technology has become an important tool that teachers can use to help meet this goal. As a first year teacher I learned very quickly that each student learns differently and as a teacher we need to reach students in many different ways. It is the same with technology. There needs to be equal access for all students to the digital world. Technology is great and offers many different resources that help provide each student equal access to the digital world. There are many adaptive technologies out there that provide students who are struggling in a certain area, be at the same level as a student who is not experiencing these struggles. The one example that comes to mind is students who have visual impairments. You may assume that these students cannot use a computer as effective as a student who as 20/20 vision. Well there are resources and equipment available that allows these students to use a computer just like a regular student. There are specialized keyboards that are larger so students can see what they are typing and settings can be set on the computer screen that makes the data appear larger and brighter for students. These types of accommodations help provide equal access to the digital world.
As a teacher it is our job to make sure that students are learning to the best of their ability. This can be a difficult task at times to reach every single student. Technology has become an important tool that teachers can use to help meet this goal. As a first year teacher I learned very quickly that each student learns differently and as a teacher we need to reach students in many different ways. It is the same with technology. There needs to be equal access for all students to the digital world. Technology is great and offers many different resources that help provide each student equal access to the digital world. There are many adaptive technologies out there that provide students who are struggling in a certain area, be at the same level as a student who is not experiencing these struggles. The one example that comes to mind is students who have visual impairments. You may assume that these students cannot use a computer as effective as a student who as 20/20 vision. Well there are resources and equipment available that allows these students to use a computer just like a regular student. There are specialized keyboards that are larger so students can see what they are typing and settings can be set on the computer screen that makes the data appear larger and brighter for students. These types of accommodations help provide equal access to the digital world.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Apply and Discover 3.2.
Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.
I created an Animoto for a Visual Basic Lesson that I am doing this week. This technology is so cool.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Apply and Discover 2.2
Integrating technology into the classroom is very important. Incorporating technology in teaching is an important tool to help reach more students at one time. Technology in the classroom can become a very effective tool for teachers and can also help guide learning.
One specific way that I would design instruction that addresses diverse learners’ needs and promotes technology use is to first start with a class management tool that would help aid instruction. This technology tool could be a class website, class blog, or class wiki. This online class space would provide a place to help better organize the class and help the student follow the class. Having this type of virtual classroom will allow for a place for students to reinforce technology skills through using specific features that come with the online class. For example, students can interactive with other students in the class through an online discussion feature. They can also ask questions to the instructor and to the students. This will teach students on how to interact professionally in an online setting. I have seen this type of technology in the current school that I work at. Many teachers have their own websites in which they post assignments and resources that are helpful for students.
I currently use a wiki for the classes that I teach. I use the wiki to post assignments and resources that will help aid the in class learning. In addition, if for some reason the student misses class, they will not get behind because the assignments and material that they missed for that class period is available online. The feature that my students like the best is the discussion board feature. They enjoy posting comments and sharing their thoughts and views on learning with other students in the class. However, as a teacher, I have noticed that sometimes the discussion is not class related and monitoring of student posts is key keeping learning on track.
Another added feature of this type of technology is that it allows for students at different levels to work at their own pace. I currently teach a high school computer class. The curriculum is based on student centered learning. Students work on projects on their on pace. While students are working on projects I teach various components on how to complete the projects. I enjoy being a facilitator and watch how students learning something new on their own or with a little help. This type of teaching provides students with valuable skills that will help them in the work force. Students need to learn at a young age that in life, not everything is shown to them step-by-step and in black and white. They need to learn how to problem solve on their own and become self learners and their own teachers. This technology tool is very helpful in a learner centered classroom.
Another method is using technology to assess students. There are assessment type programs available that can easily assess student formatively and summatively. I believe that online assessment is the way of the future and that the old method of paper-pencil type assessments will be a thing of the past. I also work for an educational publishing company. The company is currently moving away from its print based curriculum and currently moving to more technology based curriculum. Currently I happen to work in the Online Products Department, so I know this type of curriculum quite well. Our newest online product trend is the online assessment. The new product is called i-Ready and is a diagnostic online assessment that finds student's strengths and weaknesses and then provides an online instruction program that will help students on their weaknesses. This type of program is the future of education. From the many teachers and users that I speak to on a daily basis, the program is great. Teachers love how it diagnosis student weaknesses and automatically provides the correct instruction to help students on their weaknesses. Students love it because it is interactive and almost seems like a game to them. However, they do not realize that they are truly learning. Check out: http://www.i-ready.com/ and let me know what you think.
One specific way that I would design instruction that addresses diverse learners’ needs and promotes technology use is to first start with a class management tool that would help aid instruction. This technology tool could be a class website, class blog, or class wiki. This online class space would provide a place to help better organize the class and help the student follow the class. Having this type of virtual classroom will allow for a place for students to reinforce technology skills through using specific features that come with the online class. For example, students can interactive with other students in the class through an online discussion feature. They can also ask questions to the instructor and to the students. This will teach students on how to interact professionally in an online setting. I have seen this type of technology in the current school that I work at. Many teachers have their own websites in which they post assignments and resources that are helpful for students.
I currently use a wiki for the classes that I teach. I use the wiki to post assignments and resources that will help aid the in class learning. In addition, if for some reason the student misses class, they will not get behind because the assignments and material that they missed for that class period is available online. The feature that my students like the best is the discussion board feature. They enjoy posting comments and sharing their thoughts and views on learning with other students in the class. However, as a teacher, I have noticed that sometimes the discussion is not class related and monitoring of student posts is key keeping learning on track.
Another added feature of this type of technology is that it allows for students at different levels to work at their own pace. I currently teach a high school computer class. The curriculum is based on student centered learning. Students work on projects on their on pace. While students are working on projects I teach various components on how to complete the projects. I enjoy being a facilitator and watch how students learning something new on their own or with a little help. This type of teaching provides students with valuable skills that will help them in the work force. Students need to learn at a young age that in life, not everything is shown to them step-by-step and in black and white. They need to learn how to problem solve on their own and become self learners and their own teachers. This technology tool is very helpful in a learner centered classroom.
Another method is using technology to assess students. There are assessment type programs available that can easily assess student formatively and summatively. I believe that online assessment is the way of the future and that the old method of paper-pencil type assessments will be a thing of the past. I also work for an educational publishing company. The company is currently moving away from its print based curriculum and currently moving to more technology based curriculum. Currently I happen to work in the Online Products Department, so I know this type of curriculum quite well. Our newest online product trend is the online assessment. The new product is called i-Ready and is a diagnostic online assessment that finds student's strengths and weaknesses and then provides an online instruction program that will help students on their weaknesses. This type of program is the future of education. From the many teachers and users that I speak to on a daily basis, the program is great. Teachers love how it diagnosis student weaknesses and automatically provides the correct instruction to help students on their weaknesses. Students love it because it is interactive and almost seems like a game to them. However, they do not realize that they are truly learning. Check out: http://www.i-ready.com/ and let me know what you think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)