End of semester reflection

I never realized how much technology can be utilized in the classroom. I've really appreciated the tools and resources we've had access to such as the Notebook software, Vocaroo, Storybird, Prezi, and many more. I never knew these existed and I'm glad I've gotten the chance to become familiar with them over the semester. These tools can increase the creativity of lessons for both teacher and student and I'm anxious to be able to put those into practice.
The NETS I chose to focus on this semester have been aligned with all the programs we've used and I think it'll be pretty simple to incorporate them into my future lessons since they are so relevant and applicable.

Reflection #12

I've realized that ever since I got my iPhone, I don't use my laptop as much. I use it for school all the time, like writing papers, doing projects, etc., but for the social media I use primarily my phone. It is just so convenient since I have it with me all the time and there are apps available for every social media out there at the touch of a button.

Links to comments, part 2

Bethany: http://bethanylowesblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/week-10.html?showComment=1354608661711#c1354829128555673962

Alyssa: http://sitzleralyssa.blogspot.com/2012/12/week-14.html?showComment=1354608967607#c7929333892494287246

Sigrid: http://sigridthoreson.blogspot.com/2012/12/reflection-12-clocks.html?showComment=1354609964066#c662790963956506237

Kendra: http://kendracotton.blogspot.com/2012/12/reflection-3.html?showComment=1354770099451#c6249157671016947353

Heather: http://heatherkristinsadventures.blogspot.com/2012/11/reflection-11.html?showComment=1354770296513#c7838690038967894408

Angie: http://angiegarza12.blogspot.com/2012/11/reflection-10.html?showComment=1354770614009#c7289687588760399293

Trey: http://treybotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/13-word-excel-powerpoint.html?showComment=1354770728786#c2961337771512237180

Tootsie: http://tootsievasquez06.blogspot.com/2012/12/week-15.html?showComment=1354770855639#c6696083259034268964

Sarah: http://sarahstoker.blogspot.com/2012/11/reflection-12.html?showComment=1354771007027#c6803060308493459468

Reflection #11

In one of my classes my prof uses his iPad to make slides of the content we cover in class. It's interesting to me that he uses that so much rather than the classroom computer. It certainly is easier for him since he can carry that around and work on it whenever he needs to. It's such a helpful tool!

Reflection #10

Today in chapel I realized how much media and technology goes into the services. In Christmas chapel there was a media presentation being done on the screen in the background while someone sang a song. It's interesting how so many different aspects of technology can be incorporated into one setting. How much is too much?

Week 15

This is the language arts lesson I chose. I think it would be a good representation of a bunch of different aspects to English: writing, reading, application to cultures, and communication among peers.

This is a language arts lesson that is an extension of the children's story "I Went Walking" by Sue Williams.

1. Skype session to read the story, I Went Walking. Discuss concepts of print before reading. Ask comprehension questions after reading.
2. Outside of skype session each students in each class will write and draw a page answering the question...I went walking, what did I see? Teachers should prompt students to write about things unique to their culture.
3. Skype session to share class writing.
4. Question and answer session between classes talking related to the writing.

NETS
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
   
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
   
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
   
4. Identify trends and forecast possibilities
   
   
   1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning
      
      
      and Creativity
      Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face 
      and virtual environments.
      1. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
      2. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
      3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
      4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments 

Reflection #9

Today I taught a lesson using the document camera. I've never used it before and I thought that it was a really useful tool that can be used in so many different ways. You can display papers or objects and this really opens up the possibilities of what we can use in our teaching!

Week 14

I found a website that was talking about the different ways education technology was going to be used in the future and it's amazing the things that people have predicted. An illustration showed that about 65% of kids in elementary school today will one day be working in jobs that haven't even been thought up yet! I think this is so exciting, I'm interested to find out what jobs will be invented in the future and how incorporating technology into our student's education now can enhance their opportunity to succeed in those jobs later.

http://edudemic.com/2012/07/future-of-education-technology/

Reflection #8

I noticed today in a classroom I was working in that the teacher was using the ActivBoard to show instructions of what the students needed to have out for the beginning of class, the learning target for that day, what was due, and what their homework was. I thought this was a great way to utilize the smart board instead of just writing it on the whiteboard.

Week 13

Features:
Word: bold, italics, underline, margins, alignment, spacing, word count, save, print.
Excel: graphs, numbers, spreadsheets
Powerpoint: presentations, slides, design, clipart, pictures


My students could easily become familiar with Word by writing papers, reflections, taking notes, etc.
Excel is more difficult, but a business project using spreadsheets, students can collect data and create a graph from the information they find.
Powerpoint is a program used by any student of any age. Presentations to relay information, projects, stories, pictures, and much more can be utilized and shared via Powerpoint because it is so easy and straightforward to use.

Reflection #7

In one of my other classes we've been teaching lessons for our midterm and it's been really interesting to see the types of technology people have chosen to use. There have been a lot of ActivBoard presentations, use of Word, and use of Powerpoint.

Week 12

Dr. Robert Marzano discussed how the Promethean ActivBoard was such a huge success in the classroom. He reported that there was a 17% increase in student success when it was used on a regular basis. I thought this was interesting because from researching this ActivBoard earlier, it seemed to be a tool that can only help student achievement and doesn't hinder their learning at all.
I think that I'll probably incorporate some version of an ActivBoard into my classroom if I can! It not only will help the students but also make my job easier!
http://www.simtrol.com/current-press/68-2009/156-dr-robert-marzano-discusses-the-effect-of-classroom-technology-on-student-achievement

Week 11

Educational Blog (all the way at the bottom of the page)

This blog entry was directly related to how blogging for students is a good idea in multiple ways. It gave 10 reasons why it can help students in not only the educational and classroom settings but in their personal development as well. I think my comment contributed by reinforcing how these ideas really are essential to today's age of integrated technology.

Week 10

Bloom's Taxonomy


Bloom's Taxonomy emphasizes that there is a process to thinking. Knowledge leads to understanding, which leads to application. This cognitive awareness can be taught through a variety of different avenues, but technology is a great way to integrate it. In any lesson there is a learning process that needs to be accomplished, and technology can be utilized as an effective tool to aid in that process to make teaching easier.

Vocaroo Technology Project

Audio recording >> I am planning on doing a vocabulary and language project for 7th graders. The Learning Standards that this project applies to are: 1) Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate technology literacy and fluency as well as different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems,and 2)Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences.

Flipped Learning

This concept of flipped learning is not a method I buy into at all. If the students are learning and teaching themselves at home, what need is there for a teacher?? Yeah, they can lead them through homework at school, but if the students are teaching themselves, it is likely they can do their homework on their own as well. I am all for students being pro-active in their learning and taking responsibility for it but the teacher's job is to enhance and further that process and if you use the flipped teaching method I'm afraid the entire face of education would look differently. There's got to be some student/teacher interaction!!

Week 9

I thought this article was very well thought out and organized. At first I wasn't convinced that the use of video in the classroom was a very good idea as it takes away from the teacher/student interaction, but the ideas presented about all the different ways to incorporate it into all aspects of the school day (and beyond!) we're pretty effective. I can say that I'd probably use a few of these ideas in my classroom if the opportunity arose.

Flipsnack

Week 8

I think Twitter can be one of the many useful resources in promoting and sharing ideas within education. The blogs and websites that teachers post that are available and encouraged for other teachers to read up on and duplicate can be very influential to a teacher's planning. There are so many resources and ideas out there that are available and I'm looking forward to being able to use them!

Links to comments part 1

Angie: http://angiegarza12.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-2.html?showComment=1349832422318#c6406657744953673791

Bethany: http://www.bethanylowesblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-2.html#comment-form

Heather: http://www.heatherkristinsadventures.blogspot.com/2012/10/in-avid-class-that-i-help-out-in-once.html#comment-form

Sigrid: http://sigridthoreson.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-7.html?showComment=1349831001652#c1809190485630901744

Alyssa: http://sitzleralyssa.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-1.html?showComment=1349831256970#c9157290814787620367

Tootsie: http://tootsievasquez06.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-4.html?showComment=1349832135900#c7198167500118299550

Kendra: http://kendracotton.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-3.html?showComment=1349993405571#c7537029627409271515

Trey: http://treybotten.blogspot.com/2012/10/9-blogs-for-educators_9.html?showComment=1350166395121#c428002006287687674

Whitney: http://wright2whitney.blogspot.com/2012/09/week-4-smart-board.html?showComment=1350324575334#c3545394955064534276

Reflection #6

I saw a status on Facebook yesterday that was making fun of how many of her family members were using some form of technology at once. It wasn't like watching TV or laptops either...it was an iPhone, and iTouch, and an iPad. They were all sitting in the same room and on these devices. I think this is happening in most households today -- there is more and more technology usage and not as much family interaction.

Reflection #5

I was thinking about all the apps that the iPhone has and find it interesting that the app Instagram is only available on this type of smart phone. It's not a website that anyone can visit, you have to have an iPhone in order to use it. This app seems like a thing like Twitter or Facebook that should be available like any other website to anyone!

Week 7

While perusing Blogs for Educators, I came across something in the Zeno Math Powered article that caught my attention. It was the issue of whether or not students should be taught numerous ways to solve an equation. On one hand, it is nice to be able to have options for solving and for students to be able to pick which one work best for them, but on the other hand it can get confusing and sometimes being more concrete is better. However, if there is only one way to solve an equation, students will just be practicing how to do something and not the why. Often times, especially with math, explanations for why something needs to be solved a certain way can be crucial to figuring it out. Overall, an interesting perspective...

Reflection #4

Today in one of my classes a Powerpoint presentation was used to give information for taking notes. I think this method is most effective because it allows students time to take notes while looking at the slides instead of trying to remember what the teacher said. This way there is no confusion about information and little risk of missing a point.

Reflection #3

I used to have a Windows PC before I got my Apple Mac and switching between the two computers and softwares took awhile to get used to. Little things like what side of the browser or document the exit button is on, the applications, features, the speed, everything was different. It's amazing how different they really are!

Animoto Video

Try our slideshow creator at Animoto.

Week 6

While reading Generation IM I can't say I was surprised at the content. This generation is FULL of technology, and not just things like the computer and TV. Kids are exposed to and often encouraged, both in and out of school, to use technology in order to make things easier and convenient. The article talked about "media multi-tasking" and gave the example of someone researching for a school project, listening to music, and chatting a friend at the same time. Those 3 elements of technology are just a small amount of what this generation is experiencing.
A comment that caught my attention was that if teachers today were to teach students content in the same way and using the same tools as when they learned it in their generation, the students aren't learning as best as they can be. Technology is changing weekly and in today's society, students need to keep up and be able to utilize the tools that are being given to them to further their education. We're not doing the students of today's generation any favors by keeping them from the advances our world has to offer.

Reflection #2

The other day in my AVID classroom, the teacher used a SmartBoard to write instructions about the activity we did. It helped to centralize all the information and provided a common place for the students to refer to when they had questions about the assignment. This was helpful not only for the students but for me as well because if I was asked a question or had one myself, I could look back to the board and find the answer.

Reflection #1

In my Instructional Design class, we are learning about the correct and effective way to make a lesson plan. We are also learning about academic language and how to navigate the OSPI website to find state standards for teaching. In it my teacher uses the interactive whiteboard in the class to go through powerpoint slides. The whiteboard isn't exactly utilized in the coolest ways it can, but the effects within powerpoint come through. It allows the teacher to stand right at the board and simply tap it to move to the next slide without walking back and forth to the computer to change it. This makes the lesson quicker, more effective, and easier for the teacher.

Week 5

Promethean ActivBoard:
http://www.prometheanworld.com/en-us/education/solutions/whole-class-learning

This interactive whiteboard is a method in which teachers can engage the entire class at the same time while also catering to individual students' needs and learning styles. It allows the students to be engaged in their learning and makes it easier for the teacher to plan and execute the lesson. It is also a way to smoothly introduce and maintain a consistent usage of this form of technology to better the education of all students.

I don't really have any pressing questions about the ActivBoard right now, but as we continue to learn about the tools, I am sure something will come to mind!

Assignment 2

This is the link for the activity I chose for the presentation.
Figurative Language

There are special effects such as pictures and moving objects. These features are used almost on every slide of the presentation.

NETS (teachers):

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning
   and Creativity
   Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face
   and virtual environments.
   1. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
      
   2. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
      
   3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
      
   4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments 
      

~This standard meets the criteria for my activity because it challenges the students to use the knowledge they have about technology to figure out the answers. It is encouraging students to engage with the lesson and the tools used in the activity are enhancing their learning.


NETS (students):

Creativity and Innovation

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. Identify trends and forecast possibilities 
   
   ~This standard meets the criteria for my activity because students are using prior knowledge about technology in order to understand the lesson. The students are forced to think outside the box when the tools are being used because they present a different, more exciting way to present information.
   
   
   An interactive whiteboard could totally enhance student learning! Just by playing around with the tools and the program I am amazing at how much interaction it takes between teacher and student  to get through the lesson. The students are learning new technological concepts while learning about the subject area at the same time.
   By using an interactive whiteboard in my classroom in the future I am encouraging the students to learn by another means of teaching. This way it is more interesting for them to watch me as well as engage them in doing it themselves.
   
   

Week 4

Learning about the SMART board was really fascinating to me because I've never actually used one for myself, so finding out about all the tools and techniques was pretty interesting. As I am researching different lessons to teach using the SMART board, I find that it is really very simple to edit and design lessons. It's basically a cooler version of PowerPoint...I'm looking forward to working more with this program!

Week 3

This article wasn't surprising to me...the fact that students are increasingly spending so much time with technology is a growing topic that seemingly everyone is talking about. I was however caught by the fact that students only spend about 5,000 hours reading compared to the 30,000 hours spent with various forms of technology. Because of this difference, intellectually they are decreasing because they aren't able to process information the way that the human brain was intended to. Everything is "electronicized" and not being translated to the brain on sheer brain power alone.
I think it's really important to incorporate technology into student's learning, but we can't become so invested in that part that we lose sight of the original way of learning which is back to the good ole pencil and paper and books!

Week 3 Classroom Demographics

Classroom Demographics:

I teach in the Northshore School District at Northshore Junior High School. I teach English and Language Arts to 8^th graders; my classroom has a population of 26 students, 15 male and 11 female.

I do not have any parent help in the classroom setting during the day.

Technology in my classroom consists of an interactive white board, a projector, a document camera, and a laptop available for each student’s use.

School Demographics:

Northshore Junior High is located in Bothell, WA and in a suburban community.

Enrollment
October 2011 Student Count		679
May 2012 Student Count		673
Gender (October 2011)
Male	346	51.0%
Female	333	49.0%
Race/Ethnicity (October 2011)
American Indian/Alaskan Native	3	0.4%
Asian	96	14.1%
Pacific Islander	3	0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander	99	14.6%
Black	19	2.8%
Hispanic	82	12.1%
White	444	65.4%
Two or More Races	32	4.7%
Special Programs
Free or Reduced-Price Meals (May 2012)	117	17.4%
Special Education (May 2012)	89	13.2%
Transitional Bilingual (May 2012)	16	2.4%
Migrant (May 2012)	0	0.0%
Section 504 (May 2012)	30	4.5%
Foster Care (May 2012)	0	0.0%

Community Demographics:

We get financial support from the community and district to supply the school with technology in order to enhance learning for the students. Countless volunteers are present within the school on a weekly basis to assist with field trips, school activities/sports, and after-school activities/clubs.

Technology Standards for grade 8:

EALR 1 – Integration Students use technology within all content areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate and solve problems. Components 1.1: Innovate: Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 1.2: Collaborate: Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. 1.3: Investigate and Think Critically: Research, manage and evaluate information and solve problems using digital tools and resources. **Some of this information is fictitious.

EALR 2 – Digital Citizenship Students demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations and practice safe, legal and ethical behavior. Components 2.1: Practice Safety: Practice safe, legal and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology. 2.2: Operate Systems: Understand technology systems and use hardware and networks to support learning. 2.3: Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively. 2.4: Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency): Transfer current knowledge to new and emerging technologies. (Grades 6-12 only)

Class Blog Links

Bethany's Blog

Alyssa's Blog

Sigrid's Blog

Kendra's Blog

Heather's Blog

Whitney's Blog

Angie's Blog

Trey's Blog

Tootsie's Blog

Monica Adair's Blog

Week 2 - Sir Ken Robinson

This video holds a lot of great examples about how technology has changed the way society works ad more specifically in education. One that really stuck out was the wristwatch example. People over 25 years of age wore watches to tell the time and those under 25 used a phone or other means to know what time it is. That's a perfect illustration of how far we've come technology wise in the last 25+ years.

Week 1

My decision to be a teacher first came about because I loved kids and my mom was a teacher. I figured that was what I was best at, so why not? The exact moment I knew I wanted to teach middle school English specifically was when I was sitting in a community college English class and the professor asked a student to read a passage out loud -- and they couldn't do it. They were mispronouncing and stumbling over words, not paying attention to punctuation, etc. I couldn't believe that at this level of education they couldn't do the simple task of reading aloud. So I decided right then and there that I wanted to teach English to kids at an early age so that by the time they made it to college, they would be prepared and succeed at that level.
I'm really comfortable with using technology and am always finding (usually by accident!) new ways of doing things and certain tricks to help me. I'm not really nervous about any of it, I'm looking forward to learning more about the technological tools that I can use when I start teaching!!