Hey everybody,
Sorry that my posts are so long!! I really get into it when I am discussing topics. I get so carried away and don't realize how much I have typed until I'm done!! I hope everybody is having a great summer, although its almost over :( I have to say I'm excited and nervous about student teaching in August. I know it will be a great experience for me though. I have really enjoyed this class and learning different technology techniques for the classroom. I didn't realize all the free software and resources out there for us as future teachers. It's exciting! I hope everybody finds a job where they want after graduating. Good luck to ya!! Thanks for reading my blog :)
~Amber
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
21st Century Teachers
I Need My Teachers To Learn 2.1 - Created By: Kevin Honeycutt
http://sites.google.com/site/drasresources/i-need-my-teachers-to-learn
I really enjoyed watching the video on 21st Century Teachers and how they need to learn more about technology. This video shows students in different grade levels and how important the use of technology is to them in order to accomplish tasks in the classroom. I like this video because a guy is singing during the video and tells a story about 3 students in classrooms. He makes it interesting by singing a song that correlates with the issues at hand. There is a college student who uses her computer to type her notes and study them for a test. The teacher tells the students they can use their notes in class, but only handwritten notes. The student can't use her computer to look at her notes and therefore receives an F on her test. Another student in a school gets detention for trying to post his essay on facebook by using his phone. He has to call his parents and tell them why he is in detention. The last student is in 3rd grade. It is show and tell day and her dad can't be there because he is overseas in the military. She tries to get on a computer so she can skype with him (chat face-to-face). This will give him the chance to see the classroom and watch his daughter as she participates in show and tell. The school has a firewall up and has blocked the access to the internet and phone. The little girl was really upset because she couldn't share this experience with her father.
The video strongly points out that we need our teachers to learn. Teachers should prepare their students for the future, not the past. In order to do so, teachers have to learn how to use all of the different technology tools to accomodate the 21st Century students. Teachers must change some of their styles of teaching in order to provide technology resources to students. Technology is important in today's society and surrounds our children. These children must have access to the technology tools in the classroom in order to stay interested and engaged in learning. This is not to say that textbooks and whiteboards shouldn't be used anymore for teaching. The video just points out how technology tools should be added to our classroom enviornment in order to stimulate our student's minds even more. It is our responsibility as teachers to learn more about how to use technology, as stated in the video. This is important in helping our student's prepare for their future. The video ends with a question that all of us should ask ourselves as future teachers.
What will you learn today?
~Amber
http://sites.google.com/site/drasresources/i-need-my-teachers-to-learn
I really enjoyed watching the video on 21st Century Teachers and how they need to learn more about technology. This video shows students in different grade levels and how important the use of technology is to them in order to accomplish tasks in the classroom. I like this video because a guy is singing during the video and tells a story about 3 students in classrooms. He makes it interesting by singing a song that correlates with the issues at hand. There is a college student who uses her computer to type her notes and study them for a test. The teacher tells the students they can use their notes in class, but only handwritten notes. The student can't use her computer to look at her notes and therefore receives an F on her test. Another student in a school gets detention for trying to post his essay on facebook by using his phone. He has to call his parents and tell them why he is in detention. The last student is in 3rd grade. It is show and tell day and her dad can't be there because he is overseas in the military. She tries to get on a computer so she can skype with him (chat face-to-face). This will give him the chance to see the classroom and watch his daughter as she participates in show and tell. The school has a firewall up and has blocked the access to the internet and phone. The little girl was really upset because she couldn't share this experience with her father.
The video strongly points out that we need our teachers to learn. Teachers should prepare their students for the future, not the past. In order to do so, teachers have to learn how to use all of the different technology tools to accomodate the 21st Century students. Teachers must change some of their styles of teaching in order to provide technology resources to students. Technology is important in today's society and surrounds our children. These children must have access to the technology tools in the classroom in order to stay interested and engaged in learning. This is not to say that textbooks and whiteboards shouldn't be used anymore for teaching. The video just points out how technology tools should be added to our classroom enviornment in order to stimulate our student's minds even more. It is our responsibility as teachers to learn more about how to use technology, as stated in the video. This is important in helping our student's prepare for their future. The video ends with a question that all of us should ask ourselves as future teachers.
What will you learn today?
~Amber
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Mr. Winkle Wakes
"Mr. Winkle Wakes" created by Mathew Needleman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm1sCsl2MQY
This is a short video on You Tube about a man who slept for 100 years. He wakes up only to find that the world has changed. He hears weird sounds and sees everything being operated by machines. These machines print documents on paper and allow business people to talk to other business people across the world on a screen. He is really confused and starts to feel sick. He goes to the hospital and sees machines keeping people alive by giving them oxygen. He notices lasers and x-rays used in surgeries. Mr. Winkle never thought these things were possible. He decides to leave the hospital and go find something that makes him feel more comfortable. He stumbles across a school and decides to go in. He sits in a classroom full of students who are being lectured by their teacher. It was instantly familiar to him. Students sat at their desks and took notes all day as they were being lectured about reading, math, writing, etc. Mr. Winkle notices one of those machines (laptop) in the back of the classroom. He realizes that it is covered in dust and hasn't been used. It was comforting to know that even after 100 years, some things remain the same.
I think this video makes a good point. Technology has changed the world as we know it in major businesses today. However, schools are just now starting to use a few technology tools in the classroom. Teachers are still teaching in the traditional sense of using textbooks for every lesson, worksheets, and whiteboards. Some teachers still lecture their students all day as students take notes. This video was trying to make a point regarding that almost everything in society has changed over the past 100 years except education. I think that it is good that some of the traditional values are still being used and taught in the classroom. It is familiar to teachers and makes them feel comfortable when teaching.
However, there are a few technology tools that have made their way into the classroom. I think it is a good idea and needs to continue because teachers have to meet the needs of this generation of students. If technology is being used everywhere and students are familiar with it, then they should have access to it in the classroom as well. These students need to be prepared for future corporate jobs where all they use is technology. They will have to know how to use these tools in order to be successful in their careers. I know that some teachers are not comfortable with using technology, but sometimes you have to be uncomfortable for a while until you learn. I think teachers should attend workshops and meetings focusing on how to use technology. This will help teachers meet the needs of their students and help them be successful in future jobs.
~Amber~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm1sCsl2MQY
This is a short video on You Tube about a man who slept for 100 years. He wakes up only to find that the world has changed. He hears weird sounds and sees everything being operated by machines. These machines print documents on paper and allow business people to talk to other business people across the world on a screen. He is really confused and starts to feel sick. He goes to the hospital and sees machines keeping people alive by giving them oxygen. He notices lasers and x-rays used in surgeries. Mr. Winkle never thought these things were possible. He decides to leave the hospital and go find something that makes him feel more comfortable. He stumbles across a school and decides to go in. He sits in a classroom full of students who are being lectured by their teacher. It was instantly familiar to him. Students sat at their desks and took notes all day as they were being lectured about reading, math, writing, etc. Mr. Winkle notices one of those machines (laptop) in the back of the classroom. He realizes that it is covered in dust and hasn't been used. It was comforting to know that even after 100 years, some things remain the same.
I think this video makes a good point. Technology has changed the world as we know it in major businesses today. However, schools are just now starting to use a few technology tools in the classroom. Teachers are still teaching in the traditional sense of using textbooks for every lesson, worksheets, and whiteboards. Some teachers still lecture their students all day as students take notes. This video was trying to make a point regarding that almost everything in society has changed over the past 100 years except education. I think that it is good that some of the traditional values are still being used and taught in the classroom. It is familiar to teachers and makes them feel comfortable when teaching.
However, there are a few technology tools that have made their way into the classroom. I think it is a good idea and needs to continue because teachers have to meet the needs of this generation of students. If technology is being used everywhere and students are familiar with it, then they should have access to it in the classroom as well. These students need to be prepared for future corporate jobs where all they use is technology. They will have to know how to use these tools in order to be successful in their careers. I know that some teachers are not comfortable with using technology, but sometimes you have to be uncomfortable for a while until you learn. I think teachers should attend workshops and meetings focusing on how to use technology. This will help teachers meet the needs of their students and help them be successful in future jobs.
~Amber~
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Technology Reflection
Welcome to my blog site! This blog was created for my instructional technology class. I feel like I have already learned quite a bit about technology for the classroom. I like the idea of KWL charts. I have been exposed to these in some of my education classes before. I think they are a great component to use in the classroom for specific lessons in subjects to find out what each student know's, wants to know, and what they have learned after the lesson. It is a great way to find out information about students prior knowledge, and be able to reflect on what they have learned and what needs to be reviewed again. I think the student's also feel like they have some control over their learning by being involved in the process.
I am excited about having my own Portaportal. I had heard about them from other students who took this course. However, I wasn't sure exactly what they were until we had to create one ourselves. I like having all of my websites for the classroom on one page. It is so much easier and quicker to access a specific website by using my Portaportal. I will definately use this tool in my classroom. This will allow me to access my favorite websites for lessons and activities in the classroom without having to spend time searching on google.
The blogging thing is new to me, but I am enjoying it so far. I think it is a great way for teachers to reflect on daily experiences and lessons. I could go back and look at my previous blogs to see how far I have come and how I have improved as a teacher. I like that you are able to personalize blogs and make it your own so that people have something to remember you by. I also like that other people are able to comment and give you advice about topics and state their opinions.
The tool that I look forward to the most in this class is creating a website. I am glad that we have to create one because no matter where we teach, we will have to have our own page on the school's website for the parents. Some parents do not read papers sent home from school. However, with technology these days, more parents are probably on the internet. Having a page on the school's website gives the parents a chance to find out what their student is learning, homework assignments, future events, and a chance to learn more about the teacher.
Overall, I feel like I have already learned a lot in this class for integrating technology in the classroom. There are many tools out there on the internet for the classroom that I did not know about. It is like a whole new world and I am excited to learn more throughout this course. So far, I feel like each tool we have created will be great for the classroom and for me as a future teacher. :)
I am excited about having my own Portaportal. I had heard about them from other students who took this course. However, I wasn't sure exactly what they were until we had to create one ourselves. I like having all of my websites for the classroom on one page. It is so much easier and quicker to access a specific website by using my Portaportal. I will definately use this tool in my classroom. This will allow me to access my favorite websites for lessons and activities in the classroom without having to spend time searching on google.
The blogging thing is new to me, but I am enjoying it so far. I think it is a great way for teachers to reflect on daily experiences and lessons. I could go back and look at my previous blogs to see how far I have come and how I have improved as a teacher. I like that you are able to personalize blogs and make it your own so that people have something to remember you by. I also like that other people are able to comment and give you advice about topics and state their opinions.
The tool that I look forward to the most in this class is creating a website. I am glad that we have to create one because no matter where we teach, we will have to have our own page on the school's website for the parents. Some parents do not read papers sent home from school. However, with technology these days, more parents are probably on the internet. Having a page on the school's website gives the parents a chance to find out what their student is learning, homework assignments, future events, and a chance to learn more about the teacher.
Overall, I feel like I have already learned a lot in this class for integrating technology in the classroom. There are many tools out there on the internet for the classroom that I did not know about. It is like a whole new world and I am excited to learn more throughout this course. So far, I feel like each tool we have created will be great for the classroom and for me as a future teacher. :)
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