Post 10

In Post #7, I talked about the difficulties in incorporating technology with a kindergarten through second grade lesson. However, I read one of Morgan Blogs, I believe it was #9, and she posted a web site full of activities for kindergarten and beyond: http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/currl/kindergarten . I viewed the website and it is AWESOME! Although it will probably take a while for my students to learn how to access it, the site can definitely help me with daily lesson plans and guidelines to follow in teaching early developers. In addition, to Morgans blog, I read another students blog who mentioned PowerPoint as a resourceful tool for presentations because of the vast range of graphics. I totally agree with their statement.

I would like to learn how to work podcast next. This semester, we were not forwarded enough time to cover it, but hopefully I will learn how to access it in the future. In addition to podcast, I think it would have been a benefit for my future in education to learn how to construct a letter to a parent in a "proper" format. We covered how to do a newsletter in class, which is great, but I think we could have touch more on the professional aspects of a newsletter. For Example, obviously you would not send home the same newsletter to an elementary parent and high school parent. Microsoft Excel was a great thing to learn. This class was my first experience with Excel and it was very informative yet tedious with all the formulas we have to include.

When I was in the 12th grade, my high school implemented pinnacle to help us check our grades everyday. The teachers were responsible for posting the grades. I observe allot of my teachers who were not technology savvy primarily because of age or they just never took the time out to learn. The students were putting in grades for the teachers who did not know how to work pinnacle. I definitely want to avoid being THAT teacher once I start my career. Practice makes perfect, so by me teaching my students the skills I know about computers, it will help me to improve and learn more.

Post # 7

Using technology within education is a very powerful tool, however there are disadvantages to using technology with age graded influences. When I was in the 3rd grade, we were responsible for logging into Accelerated reader and remembering passwords for the application. I do not recall doing the same thing in kindergarten, second, or third grade grade. I am confused as to how to implement technology with learning for k-2nd grade. I think that starting as early as 3rd grade is a big advantage because it allows students to develop a skill as early as age 9. Applications such as Microsoft, askjeeves, and even i tunes will allow students to become familiar with computer software.

In Elementary school, I deem it important to include allot of visuals in a power presentation just to help the students pay close attention during each lesson. For example, history was not a favorite subject of mine when I was in elementary school. However, when ever my teacher made it fun, I always learned and was attentive. For middle and High school power point is a great source for taking notes and lecturing, in an effort to make sure you cover all the material and students do not miss anything important.

Facebook and myspace has become so popular in our society. my concern is students logging on during class time and missing the essential elements of a lecture because they are distracted by this social network. technology is great in every aspect, but it can be a hindrance in school for teachers and peers. Students who can access the Internet through their mobile phones are at a greater risk for being distracted during the lesson and most of the team, a teacher will not catch the students because he/she is indulged in the lesson.

Post 9

I never knew google had a an email account that could be shared amongst a group of people. Maybe it is common knowledge since google serves as a popular search engine for so many people. I didn't find out about the email account until I started participating in this philanthropy where we had to post phone numbers and meeting times by emailing each other and placing items in "google docs". I will definitely use this email account to communicate with my students and their parents about various grades that I post because I know conferences are sometimes inconvenient, but everyone uses the Internet through out their day.

I also will use you-tube in my lesson plan while teaching. I think you tube is an excellent source for an icebreaker if its use appropriately. In the past, I have used you tube in my study groups in an effort to help people loosen up and speak to each other by laughing at a mutual thing. When my students complete a test or a stressful project, I will play videos on you tube to help them relax and release their stress.

Excel use to seem somewhat difficult to me, because the page is so busy and my mom had a challenging time with it so I thought I would to. however, Excel is easy for taking attendance and charting things that need to be updated daily. In my class room, no matter what grade I teach, I will use excel for attendance and introduce it to my students for charting their grades since it was never introduced to me until I came to college.

Post 8

I am not quite done with power point 2 yet, but it will be completed before class tomorrow. As I stated in my previous blog, Power Point is new to me. I am having an adventurous time exploring new tools and learning ways to enhance my presentation. Deciphering between extremes in animations seem to be a problem. I don't want my Power Point Presentation to be too elaborated with animations and visual, but int he same instance I want everyone to enjoy the presentation. That seems to be my only problem. I cannot include a screen shot of my Power Point because I do not have the program on my computer.

The digital Camera seems to be popular now and I think it would be great to incorporate as an art project. I know everyone is not able to afford a camera, which is why I am going to purchase one for my class. The camera is not dependent on the computer, however if you want to post the pictures you need the computer. Sometimes students need a broke and I think an activity with the camera will be fun and exciting for the students!

I know this may be a fairly simple lesson, but I learned to listen. When I was presenting my Power Point in front of the classes, the smallest things distracted me, even when students leaned over to whisper. When the next classmate was up presenting, I noticed that she was distracted as well by the commotion around her, so I decided to give my undivided attention because I know how it feels. I think this will help to listen to my students more and be more cautious and attentive when others are speaking because its rude to not respect their time and presentation.

Post 6

Web 2.0 is definitely learning of the future, or should I say "my future" because there is no way possible, adults before my generation could possibly keep up with all of this. I think Web 2.0 is a great course of advanced technology within education because it doesn't limit the students to strict pen and paper. It allows them to branch out cognitively and socially. My students will have to create weekly journals through the blog as a reflection of their development in class and to enhance their technology knowledge. Sources such as Power Point 2007, facebook, blogger, Internet (google) and may more are forms of web 2.0 and can assist students if used appropriately.

I am ANTI-wikipedia when it comes to learning because your are able to edit and ad information. Thus proving that the information posted is not reflecting accurate, non bias data, but the opinion of the editors. Wikipedia is a form of blogging and should be ban for research purposes because it misguides users. My instructors my freshman year in college prohibited us from using wikipedia because of its information and if anyone was caught using it, there was a 25 point deduction from your paper.

I know this may sound unbelievable, but I never knew how to construct a Power Point until I started taking this class. I was just never interested in learning how to do it. In high school, I would provide the information for the power point and allow everyone else to piece it together. But thanks to EME 2040, my Power Points ROCK!!

Post 5

I support the use of Internet for students to use to a certain extent. A lot of Internet sources are not accurate and could give false information to students resulting in a failing grade. I also think that before a students uses Internet to research a report, he or she should be capable of citing and deciphering information that is irrelevant. Most textual information on the Internet can be copied and paste to other documents as the work of the students which is why the Internet may prove to be useless to some students. Honest students who use the Internet for research is given an abundant amount of information to choose from and sum up.

Other developing countries are sometimes clueless about the modern world and the other technologies we have. In the same instance, our country is insensitive and uninformed about other countries who would enjoy our freedom. With that being said, I support web-sources such as virtual tours to enhance the knowledge of learning. It allows each student to gain more knowledge about how the Internet works and how technology has advanced in some areas but not in other areas. This would be great for a social science lesson or a human geography assignment.

My major is currently elementary education, and my biggest concern is scaffolding so students can understand on their level. I am afraid of not knowing what is age appropriate for my students. For instance, how would I teach 3rd graders about technology and learning on a level that they would comprehend. I am also concerned with how much more will my students know about the computer and Internet than me. I think its embarrassing for teachers to not be tech savvy and their students constantly helping them with computers.

Post 4

Chapter 7 explains how certain preparations could be taken before completing a project or an assignment. I agree with concept mapping because it displays an enlightening period for the student. There is a thin line between a well thought out pre-planned paper and a paper full of loaded language and details. Concept mapping helps students to brainstorm and omit details and ideas that are irrelevant. When I was in Elementary school, we were forced to make a concept map before we wrote an essay by pencil and paper. Now concept mapping can be made easier and less time consuming, via the Internet or different programs such as inspiration or kidsperation.

I would make it optional for students to develop an out-line or a storyboard, because some students are more cognitively advanced than others, and requiring them to submit an outline could hinder their abilities. I will highly encourage it for my class because it benefited me, but I definitely will not make it mandatory for them to submit or complete an out-line. I will also use incentives to influence them to use out-lines; such as granting positive free time with exploring the Internet if they complete a outline or some type of map before the assignment and offer extra credit if they complete it using a program on the computer.

The Web hunt assignment that I completed introduced to me other search engines that help me find answers more efficient than google. Although much of my answers for the assignment was inspired by google, i learned other ways and methods to search for topics. I also learned some essential points and markers for completing a newsletter for the class. Color is good but make sure it is consistent, use bold text for things you want to stand out, use text margins to line pictures up with words and so on.