Field Experience:
This past week it was my last time being with my first graders in my host classroom. It was really sad because I have grown to become attached to these students. This particular week we didn't use any type of technology but I know down the road when they will continue to incorporate the technology into their learning.
Technical Skills:
A recently purchased a Macbook and I am getting used to the Apple product because I was so used to the PC's. I am grateful to be in this Edu315 class because we have learned so much new information on technology. I have a basic understanding of the mac computers now and hope to explore the other wonders of this great product soon!
Weekly Reading:
The reading that I recently used this week came from eschoolnews. It was about empowering education with video technologies. Many schools are using websites and videos to inform the parents/guardians of what their child is learning. It also lets them know what is happening in the school up to date. Sometimes parents/guardians are unaware of special events because the children either forget to or choose not to tell their parents. It is empowering because the usage of video is common especially with students playing video games so much and watching television, they have adapted to the usage of videos.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Week 12 - Almost done
Field Experience
During my field experience this week I got to see the children do their morning greeting as a whole school in the gymnasium. They had a power point for the whole school to see the news and announcements of the day. They showed whose birthday it was that day. The birthday students were allowed to go up and say a few words on the microphone. The power point also showed the words to the pledge of allegiance in case some children may have forgotten it. I think it is done every day of the school year so that it a key reminder of using technology each and every day with such a basic task.
Technical Skills
A technical skill that I learned about was a website that helps math teachers with different activities and games for students to use. The website is http://nlvm.usu.edu/
It is a great site for children of all ages to learn about the various mathematical topics. I would definitely use a site like this to help me better understand material but also to incorporate this mathematical technology to my future students. I would recommend it to parents as well so they can play and practice around this site with children as an extra activity at home.
Weekly Reading
In our Edu 373 class we read a book called An Ethic of Excellence by Ron Berger. He isn’t the prototypical teacher that believes in testing. He uses portfolios to view the progress of students. Throughout the book he never mentioned himself using technology which I found to be extremely weird because he is viewed as one of the most remarkable teachers in America today. I thought possibly he just didn’t fit that into the book because he bases his experience mainly on classroom management rather than specific topics. If I had to bet I would guess that once in a while he does incorporate technology into his classroom. This book is great I learned a lot about teaching and the positive and negatives of going into the teaching field. It is a job that won’t pay a lot of money but the reward for this job is like no other. It is something you cannot physically measure, but something that you can measure inside your heart.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Week 11! :)
I will be teaching a S.S lesson in my host classroom using the SMART board in the room. The lesson is going to be very interactive and hopefully exciting!
I will be working this week with my host teacher to come up with a plan for the topic, and content I should include, as well as, when would be the best time to teach it.
I am looking forward to teaching this lesson using the SMART board. I have seen lessons presented on the SMART board in this classroom and the students love the interactive lessons.
:)
I will be working this week with my host teacher to come up with a plan for the topic, and content I should include, as well as, when would be the best time to teach it.
I am looking forward to teaching this lesson using the SMART board. I have seen lessons presented on the SMART board in this classroom and the students love the interactive lessons.
:)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Week 10
One article of the reading from this week was about Digital Citizenship.
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
This article discussed nine elements of digital citizenship. This can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use. The nine elements were digital access, digital commerce, digital communication digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security.
Along with these were three basic ideas of digital citizenship these were:
1. Respect yourself and others
2. Educate yourself and connect with others
3. Protect yourself and others
According to the article these ideas and elements should be taught starting at the kindergarten level, and be built upon every year. This allows students to embrace the digital age with full force, and full knowledge of how to use it safely, and properly.
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
This article discussed nine elements of digital citizenship. This can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use. The nine elements were digital access, digital commerce, digital communication digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security.
Along with these were three basic ideas of digital citizenship these were:
1. Respect yourself and others
2. Educate yourself and connect with others
3. Protect yourself and others
According to the article these ideas and elements should be taught starting at the kindergarten level, and be built upon every year. This allows students to embrace the digital age with full force, and full knowledge of how to use it safely, and properly.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Building my technology skills!
Throughout the semester we have done a lot of exploration of different types of technology, in and out of class. We are continuously building upon our knowledge of tools and tricks to use in our future classrooms; not only in 315 but in all of our Block 1 classes.
I learned how to use the "print screen" button while doing an assigment for 379. I was trying to save a picture off of a web page, and could not save it, so I decided to enlarge the image and do a print screen instead. To do this, on my computer, you hold down the function key and the print screen key at the same time. You can then paste the image into a word document, or other photo editing software. This helped me make use of some great online resources for my project, that I would not have been able to do, otherwise.
I feel that as future teachers we should all be looking for way to incorporate technology and new tools into our own classwork and learning to enable us to present this knowledge to our elementary students.
I learned how to use the "print screen" button while doing an assigment for 379. I was trying to save a picture off of a web page, and could not save it, so I decided to enlarge the image and do a print screen instead. To do this, on my computer, you hold down the function key and the print screen key at the same time. You can then paste the image into a word document, or other photo editing software. This helped me make use of some great online resources for my project, that I would not have been able to do, otherwise.
I feel that as future teachers we should all be looking for way to incorporate technology and new tools into our own classwork and learning to enable us to present this knowledge to our elementary students.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Social networking Teachers nightmare or new teaching tool?
One reading this week was and article titled, "How to use Social Networking Technology as a Learning Tool"
http://www.edutopia.org/how-use-social-networking-technology
This article, from Edutopia, found at the link above, is one that everyone should read, it is short but very good. It expresses the need to reach students at their level, which quite frankly, is technologically. Creating a class blog, or allowing students to sign up for websites that allow them more learning experiences, is much more beneficial than having them play math games for thirty minutes a day. As the article says "too often, schools use computers as little more than glorified workbooks, and that's criminal,"
My host classroom teacher has a blog set up where she communicates daily to her students and parents. She has set it up so her students can ask her questions, as well as, their parents. She updates it every afternoon, with what topics were covered that day, as well as, what was sent home with the students ( homework, permission slips, newletters etc.) I feel that this is a tool that would alleviate a lot of stress when it comes time for parent - teacher conferences. Having an open line of communication with families makes them feel more comfortable that their children are with you all day long. This is also good for students who may be afraid to ask questions in class, so they can ask them on the blog, or express concern about projects or activities from class.
It does take alot of extra time to set up things, such as a blog, but taking the time to do it, will be more than worth it. I also feel that, as the article talked about, it is crutial that students are being taught how to properly use these tools. Many schools as well as parents ban them becuase their children use them inappropriately. Teaching students how to use them, and how not to use them, will eleviate the worries surrounding social media.
:)
http://www.edutopia.org/how-use-social-networking-technology
This article, from Edutopia, found at the link above, is one that everyone should read, it is short but very good. It expresses the need to reach students at their level, which quite frankly, is technologically. Creating a class blog, or allowing students to sign up for websites that allow them more learning experiences, is much more beneficial than having them play math games for thirty minutes a day. As the article says "too often, schools use computers as little more than glorified workbooks, and that's criminal,"
My host classroom teacher has a blog set up where she communicates daily to her students and parents. She has set it up so her students can ask her questions, as well as, their parents. She updates it every afternoon, with what topics were covered that day, as well as, what was sent home with the students ( homework, permission slips, newletters etc.) I feel that this is a tool that would alleviate a lot of stress when it comes time for parent - teacher conferences. Having an open line of communication with families makes them feel more comfortable that their children are with you all day long. This is also good for students who may be afraid to ask questions in class, so they can ask them on the blog, or express concern about projects or activities from class.
It does take alot of extra time to set up things, such as a blog, but taking the time to do it, will be more than worth it. I also feel that, as the article talked about, it is crutial that students are being taught how to properly use these tools. Many schools as well as parents ban them becuase their children use them inappropriately. Teaching students how to use them, and how not to use them, will eleviate the worries surrounding social media.
:)
NETS !
After reviewing the standards, and having to think about what area I was weakest in and how I would strengthen that was very beneficial. I felt that I was weakest in Standard 4 : Promoting digital citizenship and responsibilty. I feel this was because I do not allows cite all of the information I get off of the internet. If I am doing papers for school, or projects I cite everything, but when I am casually looking for information or picures, I do not always do this. It made me think about my taskstream and all of the pictures I have on there. All but one are from Google, images, and I did not mention that on my portfolio at all:proably should do that!
It was also good to see the student standards and think about how to incorporate those into elementary classrooms. The digital generation that we will be teaching, is going to need more than a worksheet and a pencil to be engaged and reach their fullest potential. I feel that becoming comforable with all technology on a independent level as well as, strategies on how to implement it, productively, into a classroom are things that we should all be doing now.
Reflecting on the standards helped me see where I need to be before I step into my first day of teaching my own students.
It was also good to see the student standards and think about how to incorporate those into elementary classrooms. The digital generation that we will be teaching, is going to need more than a worksheet and a pencil to be engaged and reach their fullest potential. I feel that becoming comforable with all technology on a independent level as well as, strategies on how to implement it, productively, into a classroom are things that we should all be doing now.
Reflecting on the standards helped me see where I need to be before I step into my first day of teaching my own students.
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