Jenncomick's Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblogDay 9: Reflection
Even though this was only a two week course, as our tech class comes to a close I am amazed at how much I have learned and been exposed to in just a very brief time. While I still feel that I have a lot to learn in terms of being more technically integrated, I at least feel more knowledgeable about the technological resources that are available.
The growing use of technology has changed the dynamics of our classroom….both for the better and the worse. However, technological advancements are inevitable, and whether we choose to accept them or not, I don think that we keep up with the rest of the world if we don’t know how to use them, or do not expose ourselves to them. There is no doubt that technology has greatly changed the way we interact and communicate with others. It so amazing that we can communicate with people all over the world almost instantly!
Today we learned how to listen and use podcasts. I signed on to an account on gabcast and listen to “Mic’s Africa Gapcast.” This was cast about one students experiences while visiting Namibia and Botswana. I think that it was so cool that I was able to hear someone share their story somewhere literally on the other side of the globe. I feel like it is a definitely a tool I would like to become more familiar with and integrate into my classroom. Podcasts seem like a great way to keep students engaged, and to share news and information with them a whole new level. In addition, through today’s group presentation on Skype, I also learned additional ways of interacting and communicating with others on a much higher level. I love how Skype can really bring people all over the world closer together…its the closest thing to physically be there!
Furthermore, I enjoyed getting to share my own use of technology during the Multimedia presentation I shared today. My group and I presented on starfall.com and additional interactive sites that can be used to teach reading to young and struggling readers. I think that this was great way to show how technology can be incorporated both at school and at home.
Though my technology exploration today was brief, as a whole I feel that I have generally taken a lot away from this class. Though I still have a lot to learn about being technologically savey, I feel much more prepared than I did when I began. Its important to remember that technology is always changing and evolving. While its impossible to keep up with everything, I think that it is important to take hold of all its possibilities and explore as much as possible.
Day 8 Relflection: Web 2.0 Communication
Under the “communication” tag that I choose to look at was watchittoo. I thought that this site was cool because it allows users to interact through instant messaging and video. Users can also insert music, pictures, and other documents. As the described by the site, its a great way to incorporate communication and entertainment.
Under the “create” tag I choose to look at the MeeHive site. Meehive allows you to create your own personal newspaper, formulating it to get the latest new and facts that you want to hear. You can also watch videos on it and news feeds. This site can also be tied to others, including facebook, twitter, iphone, ane email.
Day 7 Reflection
Today in class we were introduced to “twitter.” I had heard about twitter before, however I had never considered using it myself. After trying it out I still dont think I have much of a desire to use it. I really just dont see the point of it. Still, I suppose it was good to just give it a try. I really enjoyed the presentation that Nevada, Kate, and Cindy gave on SmartBoard. I was pretty unfamiliar with SmartBoard, so it was great to in action. It seems like a great tool to use both with younger and older students. Its a great tool to make lessons stimulating and interactive.
Day 6 Reflection: 21st Century Response
In viewing the Educational Leadership site I was able to find a lot of resources and useful tools. The only real downside to the site was that the amount of links and information made it somewhat overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Regardless of this, once someone becomes more familiar with the features, the site proves to be a useful tool for both parents, teachers, and administration.
I found the website to be very stimulating as it allowed one to view videos, ask questions, take surveys, and blog. For example, as shown on the home page, the “EL exchange” posts a monthly questions,which allows people to share their ideas and experiences with fellow educators. This is a prime example of the 21 century technology helping to improve eduction. Not only are people sharing a plethora of knowledge across the United States, but they are also sending their ideas and advice all over the world! Furthermore, in posting surveys, people are able to provide feedback on today’s critical issues in education.
In addition to sharing ideas and advice, the website also provides a lot of useful resources. In affiliation with ASCD, an organization that develops educational products and service, the website also brings lot of new information and ideas, benefiting both parents and children. ASDC is involved in many realms, working to improve education. This includes, publications, professional development, initiative & programs, and public policy.
Furthermore, the websit also gave some interesting featured articles, displayed under “Current Issues.” In particular, the website also showed technology of the 21st century at it best by providing a video of students and their work. It was a great way to show how technology can be used an enhancive and interactive tool in our classrooms.
Day 5 Reflection
Even though I am by no means technologically smart and have had to ask a lot of questions this week, I feel like I have learned a lot this week. Today I made an avatar of myself, which I thought was really cool. I also made of my boyfriend and my sister. They got a good laugh about it….
Besides the fun stuff, I never really realized how much I could utilize technology in the classroom and use it to my benefit. Seeing everyone’s photo story also made me want to learn to become more technologically savey. I particularly liked Lauren’s photo story on the Great Depression. It seemed like something that would be good to incorporate for a lesson.
Day 4 Reflection
Today we learned how to edit photos and create a digital photo story. Unfortunately my computer froze and I lost my project…one of the downsides to technology is that it is not always reliable. However, my digital photo story displayed pictures from my trip to Italy. I posted pictures of my favorite pictures, which mostly included different pieces of artwork and famous architecture. Since I wasn’t in most of the photos, I also pasted an image of myself, and some of my family, into a few of the pictures. I added captions to each of the photos, and animated each photo to some how transition into the next. Overall, it wasn’t anything fancy, but it was a fun program to learn how to use.
We also explored the Discovery Streaming webite, which displayes lessons plans and tool that incorporate technology. I liked this website a lot, and think that it will be very helpful when created my technology intergreated lesson plan.
Day 3 Reflection
We started class today by discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly in using PowerPoint. I think that PowerPoint can be a good tool when used correctly to enhance key points and ideas. It is a good way to get the attention of students, and can appeal to a diverse group of learners. This can be done by incorporating videos, pictures, and sounds. Mora than anything, it is important for teachers to make PowerPoint fresh and exciting for students. Having boring, dull slides will do nothing to enhance learning.
However, in general I have seen the bad side of PowerPoint more than the good. Many times people make the slides too flashy, which can be distracting. Putting too much text on a slide can also make it hard to follow. PowerPoint can also become a crutch for teachers, rather than a tool…
Nevertheless, after watching the in class PowerPoint, which discussed the benefits of PowerPoint, I became a bit more turned on to how using PowerPoint can be a fun and helpful tool. In addition to the favorable points that I listed above, I learned the addtional things that I can do to make my PowerPoints better and more appealing to my students.
Day 2 Reflection
Today in class we debated about using very detailed and scripted lesson verses non-detailed and unscripted lessons. I was on the “yes” side of the debate. However, after hearing both sides and reflecting on the points made by both my side and the “no” side, I can see the benefits of both types of lesson plans. Lesson plans have a time and a place depending on their content, the needs of the students, and school requirements. Lesson plans may not always have to be preciously laid out step but step; however, it is important that they are flexible and support differentiation. Teacher’s should also have some idea of what they want to teach each day, but they also have to be open to changes that may come up during the day, which may subject their lesson objectives to be altered.
In addition to our debate we also played around with Microsoft Word and Excel. I feel comfortable using Word, but Excel is a program that is pretty foreign to me. I got a little frustrated and annoyed using it. Mostly I just feel very technologically challenged for not knowing how to use it already.
Day 1 Reflection
For the first day of our computer/technology class I was a little overwhelmed by how much technology has become such a vital aspect of our every day lives. Though I use some aspect of technology everyday, I did not realize how much the use of technology is growing, and how, as a soon to be teacher, it is important for me to become more familiar with it and it implement it into my lessons.
In particular, I though that the short video that we watched had a lot of interesting facts about how technology has grown world wide. For instance, because of the spread of technology the number of jobs has increased immensely. It really jumped out at me that people will have an estimated 10-14 jobs by their 35th birthday.
However, despite being slightly overwhelmed, I was also become more open minded to how how idea of blogging. While it was foreign to me in the past, I now see how blogging can be a very useful tool to interact, communicate, and share information with others.
