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.