Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Reflective blog post Chapter #Final

This semester in Eme2040 was such a great learning experience for me. I've always depended on my husband to do everything technology related for me. So this class has really opened my eyes to great technology tools for teaching and that I can use at home on a regular basis. I really enjoyed this class because it was so hands on and everything that I needed on a project was laid out so there wasn’t any misunderstanding of what was needed from me.

In EME2040 we had some really good assignments that I could use in the classroom when I become a teacher. This class has really put me in the right direction of becoming a 21st century teacher. The assignment I was most eager to learn  was the blog post. I’ve always liked writing and a blog post was something that I always wanted to do. Throughout the semester we wrote a blog about three concepts from each chapter we were reading. We would reflect on what we had learned and we could explore more on the concepts we read about that interest us. Today I can not only write an informative and reflective blog but I can hyperlink and insert some great videos and images and other great 2.0 tools into my blog. We also had discussions which allowed us to see are classmate’s opinions and give feedback on what they posted. I really liked the class because it was smaller than most classes that I have taken. If I had any questions about assignments they were answered in class or by email. We did a few group projects a collaborative lesson plan and an instructional strategies wiki. Group projects aren’t my favorite thing to do but it gave me an opportunity to work with others who I normally wouldn’t work with. One thing that I liked was the teacher got us moving, if the class seemed tired she got us up and in the middle of the classroom to get our blood flowing. Using GPS and finding clues around campus were some other great things we did in the class.

 One assignment that I found difficult was the website evaluation rubric. I found this assignment hard because you were determining what was good about website and what was bad. Then you would make your rubric and rate that website. I tried really hard on this assignment reading the teacher rubric on what she wanted and going back on what she said in class about what makes a good website. I got an A on this assignment and really liked this assignment because as a teacher you’re going to be grading students work if you don’t have a rubric on what you want or expect how would you be able to give out grades based on work. So although challenging for me it was also a great learning experience for me.

We also learned about Web Quest which I really liked and I also feel that students in any age range would like to participate in a Web Quest. So knowing the different sections in a web quest and looking at some really good web quests and some bad ones helped determined what we needed in the web quest we would be creating. Another assignment we had and that I liked was the webpage portfolio. It was a portfolio with all the past assignments we did and was a chance for us to imagine what kind of teacher we would like to be. All the assignments I felt was appropriate and really taught me things I didn’t know how to do. A few things we learned that weren’t big assignments but that were informative like legal and ethical issues with copy right laws. Giving credit to photos and forming good habits so we can teach our students to have good habits as well. Cyber bullying and the effects it has on students as they get older and become adults.


Class EME2040 with Ms. Coleman was a great informative class for me. I learned a lot of new tools, vocabulary, and some great websites like delicious that will help me to be a better student and teacher. I really liked the course and think it is laid out well. The only suggestion that I have to improve the course in order to improve my learning would be to make the lesson plan assignment an individual assignment. I got along with my team member but it was hard to find time to meet up and I felt like if I was doing it alone I could have been more creative and it would have been a lesson plan I developed on my own. I have learned so much from this class and  I really liked this class because it gave me a respect and interest for technology that I didn't really have before. 


 photo by: U.S department of Education
Duke Ellington DNG 344Flickr



Resources:

Flickr photo by U.s Department of Education , Duke Ellington (2009,March 11.) Retrieved April 30,2015

Hamilton, P. (2012, November 21). Technology in Education. Retrieved April 30, 2015.

Maloy, R., O’Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Digital Blog Post #L Chapter 12

Technology is a great tool to interpret into schools today. Although technology can be expensive, things like laptops and tablets are being seen more and more in school. Teachers are trying to find creative ways to integrate technology in the classroom that will make the learning experience more enjoyable and more engaging for students. Three concepts that I found interesting in chapter 12 were Infusion, one to one laptop computing and digital textbooks.

                Infusion means that computers and other information technologies are ongoing features of teaching and learning in all academic subjects at all grade levels. They are a continuing part of the day to day educational experience of students. I liked the concept of infusion because it is allowing students to work with and understand a variety of technology tools. They can select certain tools and use them for a specific purpose on a regular basis.  Student’s regular use of computers will be infused with the classroom daily learning. I think infusion is really good because it gives those tech savvy students a chance to be on the computer and learn new things. Teachers can really choose what technology they want to bring into the classroom. I think in many academic subjects technology can be infused to make a fun learning experience. A teacher’s knowledge of the technology will also increase the interest of students.

     One to one laptop computing means every student in a grade school, or district has her or his own computing device too use in school. The main concept of this is to reduce digital inequalities by providing each student with their own laptops. This cost about 18 million dollars per year. When I was observing in a 8th grade classroom they had laptops and tablets that they shared among the 8th grade classes. The students really enjoyed having the laptops to work with for fun games like Kahoot. They also watched a science video on YouTube with Bill the science guy. One concern that was mention in the book about one to one laptop computing was that schools face the challenge of finding the right blend of digital devices because technologies have become more available. I think that laptops will become replaced with tablets and when the new best thing comes out it will replace that. Technology is always changing that’s why students are so fascinated with it.

        Digital textbooks is a dynamic way to integrate computer technology into the teaching of academic material. It is now a national educational policy priority to move away from paper materials to digital textbooks. Many schools carry only a class set of actual hard cover textbooks. Students can now access their textbook online and any course material that goes along with that textbook. Teachers can use a single computer to make digital textbook formats to work successfully.  They don’t have to have a computer for each student. I think digital textbooks can be a good idea especially for those students use to doing most things online. I personally like to have a physical book so I can highlight or take notes, but I think moving into a more digital direction can not only be good for the environment but also allows students to access homework assignments and textbooks anywhere which is great.  


         Technology is something that all teachers can use to make a more creative, interesting and fun learning experience for all students in any grade level or age. I think teachers have to educate themselves on the technology they will use to truly successfully execute their lesson plan. I think Infusion of technology is something we as teachers will see more of and will become like second nature to integrate into teaching. One to One laptops is such a great idea to have to get kids prepared for using computers because that’s what is used in college and at work. Digital textbooks is another great tool for students and teachers assignments and text is all in one place. Technology is always changing and there is so many great tools, apps, software to be used to help students learn and have fun doing it.


Resources:

Bubbl.us by Ella Kies

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

TIM: The Technology Integration Matrix | A video resource supporting the full integration of 
technology in Florida schools (Technology Integration Matrix)
http://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/infusion.php

PowerUp - The road toward one-to-one computing. (2014, October 17). Retrieved April 16, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6NB25ncUY

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Chapter 6 Blog post K

flipquiz


Three concepts that I found interesting in chapter six was Web Quest, Videoconferencing, and virtual schools. Each of these concepts provide an interesting engaging learning experience for the student. As an aspiring teacher some of these tools can come in handy to keep students engaged in the school curriculum.

Web quest are online inquires by students that are designed and guided by teachers. In a Web Quest students follow an electronic map or take an online tour, moving from one web resource to the next to gather information and learn about a specific topic. For a web Quest all the information is digital, students visit sites that are preselected by teachers. Although for teachers designing web quest can be time consuming there are already made Web Quest that teachers can use in their classroom. Web quest are great activities for students to do in groups.

Another interesting concept was videoconferencing which is a feature of Virtual field trips. Videoconferencing can change the learning experience for students. Its offers real time access to people and places that’s students are unable to visit. Interactive videoconferencing requires two computers or large screen television monitors at each site with one or more cameras and a digital projection device. One monitor shows the near site and the other shows the far site. The digital projector lets the visual and printed text to be shown from site to site. Videoconferencing is a feature of virtual field trips because in virtual field trips students visit a place from the comfort of their classroom.

Virtual schools are highly debated because some people don’t like all the online teaching. A virtual school are educational organizations that teach students mainly through online learning. With virtual schools students never go to a real school site everything from class time to exams are all done on computers. Virtual schools mainly attracted home schooled students but now many students with medical conditions or other constraints on mobility, gifted and talented students are taking an interest in these schools.


There is a lot of technology that can be brought into the classroom to provide as an aid to the curriculum. Things like Web Quest gets the students engaged and collaboratively working together. Videoconferencing and virtual tours are great ways to travel and meet new people and see new places without leaving the classroom. Virtual schools are highly debated but are a great and new school that is out there for students that seek a different route an obtaining an education.


Resources:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.