End of the Semester Reflection

I have learned so much about technology and how I can incorporate technology in a classroom. Before this class, I was practically clueless about any form of technology other than basic functions on the computer. I have used a smart board in high school, but not very much. I have learned so many techniques and programs that I could use in my future classroom. I think that learning about the web 2.0 tools was extremely educational for me. I will definitely be saving a list of web 2.0 tools for future reference. I learned how to use different features on the smart board. I can link pictures, websites, and videos on a smart board presentation.

Also, I know more about word and powerpoint, and how to utilize them in my classroom. I have learned how to use online bookmarking sites like delicious. This will help me to organize websites that I want to use in my classroom. I have learned how to link a presentation to a website using box.com. I have also learned how useful a blog or website could be in a classroom. I have never used a blog before in my life. However, now I know how to set up, use, and maintain a blog. I definitely feel more confident about using technology in the classroom. I feel like I now have a pretty firm foundation of knowledge of technology.

The NETS standard that I focused on this semester was: "Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership." I was able to obtain this standard by taking part in the Technology in Education class. I was able to interact with fellow classmates as I was learning more about technology. Fellow students helped me grow in my knowledge of technology and how to use it. Also, I learned about many different resources that could be used in the classroom. I learned how to use a flip camera, find gallery tools to use in smart board presentations, and learned about different web 2.0 tools. Finally, I have improved my growth in technology by implementing what I have learned. I have practiced using various types of videos, presentations, and tools. Overall, I think that I accomplished my NETS goal. I was able to grow in my knowledge and resourcefullness with technology.

Reflection #12

I learned a lot this semester about how blogs or websites can be helpful in a classroom. A class blog or website can help students and parents get aquainted with a teacher before school even starts. Now,teachers are able to present themselves to parents and students before the beginning of the school year. With blogs and websites, teachers have the power to control how they come across to others. They can set the tone for their classrooms through a website or blog. Teachers can also be a tool for teachers to use to post syllabi, classroom rules, assignments, photos, and goals for the year. Websites and blogs have become very useful tools in the classroom. I had only a few teachers who actually used a website when I was in school. However, it was very nice to have a place to go to find homework assignments and notes from the day. I think that teachers should think more seriously about utilizing either a blog or website in their classrooms. I think that I would use a website before using a blog because a website seems more organized. A blog is constantly changing, while a website has different pages that stay the same. Blogs and websites should be used by teachers because they help to keep students and parents informed.

Reflection #11

I read an article about powerpoint today. It was about how it is overused in military meetings. People are able to make presentations to make them seem like they are informed and in control. It is possible to give an entire presentation without actually knowing what you are talking about. It is easy to make a powerpoint with pictures, charts, and information without really understanding them. One general said that powerpoint "makes us stupid." Powerpoint makes it possible to present information without having to really polish your thoughts. I think that using powerpoints excessively in the classroom can be dangerous. Teachers need to make sure that they fully understand the content that they teach so that presentations can be interesting and informative. Also, teachers shouldn't rely on using powerpoint as their main teaching source. Teaching should use an array of presentation strategies and convey content in an effective way.

Blogs I have commented on

Bethany
Matt
Natalie
Melissa
Shayna

Reflection #10

I was in a grocery store a few days ago with my brother. While he was checking out, I was looking at a rack of different magazines. I noticed that there were 8 or 9 magazines that were devoted just to technology. There were magazines about computers and other forms of technology. It is interesting how technology has just continued to get more important over the years. People now can buy magazines that detail different forms of technology. There are so many ways now that people can learn about new forms of technology. Highlighting technology like these magazines do only helps technology to become more utilized in society. There are so many ways in which people can be exposed to technology. This is beneficial for teachers because it allows more people to learn about different types of technology that could be helpful in the classroom. Technology will just continue to get bigger and bigger because there is so much exposure to it.

Assignment #4

I created a smart board presentation that was about balanced and unbalanced forces. It also is about friction. I would use this presentation to teach physics principles to an 8th grade class.

I learned how to do the following:
-make a video using photo story
-make a video using a flip camera
-insert an attahment in a smart board presentation
-insert a web link in a smart board presentation
-insert interactive "pull tabs"
-insert interactive elements such as popping balloons
-insert a formal title page
-insert smart response questions

I encountered a few problems while creating my presentation. I did not know how to include interactive elements in order to make my presentation more professional looking. To solve this, I included a title page and used interactive games and pull tabs to make it seem "cool." I also had trouble loading my videos to the presentation. I was able to include them as attachments, but those will only work on my computer. Therefore, the videos will not work on any other computer. I had a ton of trouble uploading my presentation. It was too large to be uploaded to the free version of box.net. So, I tried emailing it, but my email wouldn't allow it to be sent either. I will need to bring it in to show it to Professor Sorenson.

This project was helpful to me because it helped me become more familiar with elements of the smart board. I figure that I will be spending a lot of time with either the smart board or activboard when I am a teacher. It is important to become very familiar with how to create a professional-looking presentation. I chose to do a smart board presentation for this project because I wanted to become more comfortable with it. I am not a very tech savvy person. So, I wanted to become more capable of using the smart board. As of right now, I do feel a lot more comfortable than I did before I created this presenation. I think that I could use my physics presentation and teach that lesson in a classroom. I will be able to use the skills I learned about attachments, links, and using the smart response system to create additional presentations. These skills will definitely be used when I am teaching lessons in a classroom. I now feel more comfortable and capable of using the smart board in a way that looks "cooler" and more professional. I had planned on only using one type of video. However, I did not feel like I knew much about using videos so I wanted to include two different types. I think that flip videos will become more and more common, so I wanted to become more familiar and comfortable with how they work. I also learned how to create my own photo story videos. I think that both types of videos could be used in my classroom in the future.

NETS for students: The students will use the NETS standards #2 and #6. For the 2nd standard, students will be able to "use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others." Students will come up to the smart board and identify different things that are either balanced or unbalanced forces. Students will also use elements of the smart board to reveal different definitions and videos. The 6th standard is that students will "demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations." Students will be able to know how different interactive elements of the smart board. They will understand how links and interactive elements work. They will participate in a smart response quiz.

NETS for teachers: The teacher will use the NETS standards #1 and #5. The first standard states: "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." I will use both videos and actual demonstrations to show students how friction and forces work. The two types of demonstrations will balance each other. There will be both a technological element and a human interaction element. The 5th standard states: "Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources." I have accomplished this by becoming more familiar with different types of videos and smart board presentation elements. I have learned so much about how to create smart board presentations and videos.

Reflection #9

In just a short year, I have been exposed to so many different ways to present information in a classroom. All throughout high school and my first two years of college, I have only used powerpoint to do presentations in class. However, this year, I have used the smartboard, document camera, and videos. I think that by using new sources of technoology, I have been able to make my presentations more engaging and interesting. Instead of just giving a "lecture" type of presentation, I can have classmates watch a video or get involved in a smartboard activity. These developments of technology will be very useful for teachers to use, as well. They will allow students to be more involved in the presentation instead of just listening to a presentation. They also provide a way for students to get out of their seats during a lesson. It is often hard to sit through an entire lesson and still pay attention. Different technologies provide opportunities for students to be actively involved in a lesson.

The future of technology in education

I read the article entitled, Education and Technology: The Future of Handheld Learning. This article was posted on Tech News World.

This article is all about how handhelds will be useful in a classroom setting. While most people seem to think that every student will have their own laptop in the classroom, it is more likely for each student to have a handheld computer. Technology-related educational research at the University of Michigan has shown how handhelds would be more practical in education. Firstly, handhelds are less expensive. While laptops usually have 3-digit price tags, handhelds can be bought in bulk for under $100 dollars each. Handheld computers are more cost effective, and they are easier to transport. It is much easier for a student to put a handheld computer in a backpack than carry around a laptop.

Some people might think that handhelds are too small. However, children do not have a problem with them being small. It is usually only adults who have trouble using small buttons and seeing small screens. Handhelds can be used to help students conduct research, write sentences, check the stock market, etc. Special education classes would also benefit from handhelds because some have difficulty writing. Someday, every student in a classroom might have a handheld computer on which to work.

Features of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Word
Font size/style
Tables
Copy and Paste
Borders
Bullets
Page numbers/Headers/Footers
Spell Check
Margins
Columns
Line Spacing

Excel
speadsheets
tables
lists
graphs

PowerPoint
New slides
Inserting pictures
Bullets/Numbered lists
font settings
copy and paste

3 Project ideas:
1) Make a table in excel in order to store information that was found when conducting an experiment
2) Make a flier on word in order to advertise a country that the students studied
3) Make a powerpoint presentation which can be presented to the class that highlights a topic that the students researched.

Online session

The online learning experience that I listened to was The iPod Touch in the Classroom by Kern Kelley. I was curious as to how an iPod could be used in a classroom. One way they can be used is to download educational podcasts for students to watch. The tutorial goes through, step by step, how to use iTunes in order to put podcasts on the ipods. Also, there is not a tab on itunes that has only educational resources. iPods can be plugged into a tv so that the entire class can see what is on it. You can also download applications to your ipod that are educational. The website iear.org lists different reviews and lists of ipod applications that can be used for educational purposes.

Kelley details a few applications that he has found useful in a classroom. One application is called stanze. This application allows you to read newspapers, ebooks, and blogs online. You can also load information to the application. There is also an application for creating a story book. Students can use a microphone, draw, and write a story. These stories can be uploaded to the internet. The ipod can also be a quick way to add grades, participation, and attendance. The ipods can be plugged into car radios, projectors, computers, or tvs.

I think that there were several good ideas for using ipods in the classroom. However, I think that I would only use an ipod myself, if I even used one. I do not think that I would allow students to use their own ipods because it would be difficult to monitor what they are looking at. I think that ipods could be handy for inputting grades and attendance, though.

Reflection #8

Today, the pastor at my church used skype in order to talk to a missionary from Haiti during the church service. Its pretty cool that we have the technology to talk to and see other people who are half way across the world. It made me think that skype could be useful in a classroom as well. If students have pen pals, it is possible to bothe write to them, talk to them, and see them. I have seen advertisements where different classes can interact with each other using skype. I also have a friend who goes to school at Georgia Tech. She is in a lot of engineering classes, and her class regularly interacts with people from all across the world using skype. Sometimes, her class will be part of a a class that is happening in other countries. I think that is pretty amazing that we have the technology to do this now. I think that I could use this technology in my own classroom to help students see what other cultures are like and interact with people from other cultures.

Educational Blog

I read a comment on a blog entitled Teach42. The blog that I read was called "Mobiles to Help Learning? High School in UK says OK." This blog was all about how a school in the UK is now allowing students to use cell phones in the classroom. It talked about how cell phones can be beneficial to students: they have internet and take photos. The blog was pretty neutral. It just reported the facts and asked people to give their thoughts about it. There were many comments on the blog since it was kind of a controversial topic. There were arguments for both sides of the debate.

My comment was on the side that argued that cell phones should not be used in class. I think that it would be hard to monitor what students are actually using the phones to do. The screens are so small on cell phones, teachers wouldn't be able to see whether a student is using a phone for an educational purpose or not.

Reflection #7

Today in chapel, a group from Invisible Children came. They showed a video about the problems in Uganda with child soldiers. They used a video to show a recap of the story and what is happening in Africa. This is a good way to get a message across to millions of people. The entire project started with three guys who made a documentary about the problem. They came back to the US and spread the documentary around. This documentary started the entire Invisible Children movement and caused millions of people to try to stop what is happening in Africa. It is crazy that just one video could be used to bring so much awareness to people. Videos are such a good way to inform people. They can be used to show things that many people would not know about without videos. Without the use of technology, I do not think that as much would be happening to prevent this tragedy from continuing.

Assignment #4 Part 1

For my technology project, I will be creating a smart board presentation. I will use several features of the smart board in order to make my presentation more interactive. I will also be creating my own video which I can use as the anticipatory set for my presentation. I think that this presentation would be useful because it could be presented in front of a class. Also, a video is interesting for students to watch. I plan on making this project for a 6th grade science class.

Podcast

Questions for the Panel

How often do you use technology when you teach?

How do you deal with difficult parents?

What is the most important piece of advice that you would give to first year teachers?

Assignment #3

I created a delicious account where I stored all of my bookmarked websites. A toolbox is a very helpful thing to have because it organizes all of the websites and articles that a teacher uses or wants to keep handy.

My websites are in the order in which I added them to the account. I decided to not organize them alphabetically because sometimes when you are looking for a specific website, you do not remember the name of it. Sometimes, you only have a general idea of when you last looked at it. That is why I organized my websites by the dates in which they were added. I think that will make them easier to find in the future. Also, I gave all of my websites tags. This way, I can search for a specific tag in order to find the site that I want. For example, I have more math websites than any other subject. If I wanted a website that had math worksheets, I would search for "math" and "worksheets," and every website that I entered with these tags will appear.

I decided to add mostly math sites because that is the topic that I am most interested in. If I decided to teach middle school, I want to teach math. I included some sites for nearly all subjects, though. I also included some general education websites, like the OSPI website, and some articles about teaching.

I think that I will use a toolbox frequently when I am a teacher. It would be helpful to know exactly where to look to find a specific website, if needed. It is a good way to keep websites organized. I will be able to easily share my toolbox with other teachers by emailing the link to them. I think that it might be helpful for a group of teachers to create a joint delicious account. This would be a way to see helpful websites and articles that other teachers are looking at.

One site that I really liked was Fun Brain. This website has been bookmarked over 11,000 times on delicious accounts. It is a website that features different reading and math games. One game that I will probably use from it is the Mad Libs games. All of the games on this website are educational, but also fun. These games would be a fun way for students to review and reinforce different reading and math concepts. I am pretty sure that I will use this website in the future.

Another website that I liked was called Math Playground. This website contains various math games, videos, logic puzzles, and word problems. I especially liked the logic puzzles. There were games such as mancala, sudoku, battleship, and coin weighing. These would be fun and interactive games that could help students to think in a more logical way. These are the type of games that teachers make available for students to play during free time and at recess.

I also bookmarked a website that contained links to various pages. It was called Sites for Teachers. This website has many different sources for worksheets, games and activities. It is a resource for teachers to use in order to find resources and gather ideas. Really, it is a toolbox within itself. I think that I will definitely use this website when I need new ideas or am looking for a worksheet or activity for a particular subject.

"Caught on Video"

After reading Bob Sparkle's blog "Caught on Video," I have learned that there are so many ways in which videos can be used in the classroom. Videos can be used for practically anything in class. I never considered that a teacher could use a video instead of a parent letter. I think that it is a really good idea to use the videos to document what students know at the beginning of the year/unit and then go back at the end to see what more they have learned or if their questions have been answered. It is a good way to track the progress in a classroom and for students to see how much they have learned.

I think that a video camera would be worth the investment. Cameras can be used by students, as well as teachers. If a student is working on a project that needs to be presented, the student could use a camera in order to present part or all of the project. I think that there are even more ways in which cameras could be used than even Sparkle's blog listed.

Reflection #6

Technology is really prevalent in sports. I play volleyball here at Northwest, and our team uses technology a lot. We watch film of other teams before we play them in order to break down what they do and where they have weaknesses. Our team has a stats system that corresponds with the video of teams. Our coach can enter a player's number and find all of the short clips of that person hitting/passing/serving/etc. It is a really neat feature. For example, if I wanted to know where #2 tends to hit the ball, I can find all of the clips of her hitting in one spot. It is really efficient for watching film. You do not have to keep fast forwarding in order to find all of the clips of #2 hitting. It is also a helpful tool for watching yourself play. I can watch myself play and see my tendencies from using the technology. I think that technology that athletes use has really transformed the way that athletes prepare for games. I'm sure that technology for professional athletes or athletes at Division I schools is even more complex. Now, I think that athletes need to focus more on limiting their weaknesses because it is easier for opponents to find them. It has made sports more strategic. Teams must prepare thoroughly if they want to win. I think that technology also helps make athletes better because they can see their own weaknesses and work on them.

Promethean ActivBoard

Promethean ActivBoard

The Promethean ActivBoard seems like it is just like the smartBoard. It has a lot of the same features as the smart board. The main difference that I noticed is that it is not touch sensitive. You cannot use your finger to write on the board. This has its pros and cons. The pro side of this is that you can actually rest your hand on the board or touch the board without messing up what you are writing. The con side is that you can't just use your finger to erase or write. You have to use the pen. There are many cool devices that can be used with the activboard. It has clickers where students can vote or send in quiz answers. I think that the Activslate is a really cool addition. It is like every student has a small white board. Except, all of the answers appear on the board. I thought that was really cool, but I'm sure it costs schools a lot of money for each student to have one. The Activboard also has pre-made lessons, videos, and activities that teachers can use.

I do not think that I have many questions. Although I would like to know, other than the touch sensitivity, what makes an activboard different from a smartboard?

Reflection #5

It is crazy how much research has changed just in the past 10-20 years. I can remember the first time that I was allowed to use the internet in elementary school. I was attending Fairwood Elementary in Renton. The school had just gotten 4 PCs that were able to use the internet. All of the other computers were those tiny box-like macs that only allowed you to do a few things on them. All of the students had to get their parents to sign permission slips stating that it was ok for the students to use the internet. I remember being extremely confused the first time that I used it. I did not know what a search engine was or how to look for information online. I remember thinking that I would probably never really use the internet for research, and stick to using books and encyclopedias. Things have definitely changed for me since then. The internet is now my primary research tool. It is so quick and easy to use. You can get almost any information you want with a click of a mouse. In fact, I have had many teachers who have required students to use a few book references for research projects because it is now our tendency to find all of our research online.

Using the internet as a tool for research can be a beneficial thing for teachers. It is often quicker to use than trying to find information in a books. Teachers can assign projects that do not necessarily require a trip to the library to complete. Also, students can find information that answers a quick question. The internet saves time in classrooms. The internet is also helpful for teachers. It allows them to find quick information, pictures to use in class, videos, or other tools that benefit learning. Although books are definitely important to use for research, the internet has become the fastest way to find information. The internet is so helpful in the classroom, and all teachers should have their students use it in some way.

Reflection #4

I use technology so often in my everyday life. I think that is proven every time the power goes out. I use my computer, cell phone, and ipod on a daily basis. It is very rare if I do not turn my computer on during the day. It seems like I use my computer for almost everything. I use it to communicate with others, search the internet, watch TV, follow my favorite sports teams, and do homework. Every time the power goes out, I have to figure out a way to entertain myself.

I think that this just shows how involved in technology we are. Students in classrooms are the same way. They are so used to using technology, that when they get to the classroom and technology is not being used, they get bored. I think that technology has also shortened our attention spans. I can be checking my email one minute, reading an article online the next, and writing a paper another. We go from one activity to another so quickly when we use computers. It is important to keep this in mind when teaching because teachers need to keep their lessons and activities as brief as possible to avoid having students get bored. Technology helps us communicate and keep tabs on things that are happening around the world. Not using technology is like containing learning to only what is happening in the classroom. Having said all of this, teachers should definitely use technology in the classroom. Students are so involved with technology away from school that it would be a mistake to not incorporate it into the classroom. Also, teachers should use a variety of activities and technological tools in order to keep their students' attention.

Blogs I have commented on

Lauryn Duffy
Ashley Peavey
Devon Carroll
Inna Semenyuk
Daley Landon

Reflection #3

I am currently in a geography class here at NU. The professor only uses the internet to find online maps and an overhead to show blank maps. Students in that class seem so unengaged with the material that is being taught. I have always liked geography and learning about different places in the world, but I find myself incredibly bored and uniterested in that class. I am also a very visual learner, and am not a good auditory learner. While the professor does show different maps of places, it would be nice to see some images that have to do with specific aspects of the places that he describes. Just showing a picture of a famous landmark or cultural aspects of a place would be something that would benefit myself, personally. Many students need to be able to be engaged in some aspect of the class, especially a class that is two hours long. I think that if more technology was used, then the class would be much more interesting and insightful. There are so many aspects of technology that could be used in my geography class. For example, there are smart board applications that require students to identify different places on a map. In geography class, when we identify places on a map, we just point to a spot on an overhead. I believe that my professor should use different forms of technology in order to keep the students engaged.

Reflection #2

I recently visited a 1st grade classroom at Jefferson Elementary in Everett. I observed a math lesson. The teacher used a document camera, but no other form of technology. The lesson featured a few card games, so technology was not necessarily needed for the particular lesson that I observed. However, I think that technology could make math lessons more fun and engaging for younger student. There are so many different activities on the smart board that can be used to teach students about math. I think that oftentimes, technology is underutilized in classrooms, especially in math. Math is usually the subject that many students do not like. So, math should be the subject where technology is used quite a bit. Technology usually engages students. There are so many ways in which technology could be used in order to help students learn about math in a fun way. I think that teachers should definitely think about ways in which technology can be used while teaching math so that it is not just working out of a workbook.

Reflection #1

This week, I was thinking about my high school experience and how technology was used. I remember that I was in a few classrooms that did not even have white boards until half way through my sophomore year. A few of the classrooms in the older wing were still using chalk boards. This is interesting to note because half way through my senior year, every classroom at Kentridge High School got a smart board. In the 3-year span of my high school career, I went from using chalk boards to smart boards. Even though my classes had smart boards, none of my teachers knew how to use them. In 4-5 months of having the smart boards in classrooms, not one of my teachers used the board for anything more than tapping it twice to change the slide on a powerpoint presentation.

I think that my experience really shows how fast technology has developed over the last few years. Technology has really impacted the way we approach school and teaching. I'm sure that since I have graduated, Kentridge teachers have learned more about the smart board and how to use it. At the time, I did not see the point of the smart boards since none of my teachers used them. There are so many more things that teachers can use to teach because of technology. I think that I have learned that teachers need to learn how to use the technology that is in their classrooms because it can be very beneficial for the learning process.

School Website

One of the many Elementary Schools that I attended was Fairwood Elementary in Renton. I visited the school's website. I like how there is not a whole lot of information on the main page. The main page does not seem cluttered or confusing. The main picture on the home page is of a teacher dressed up like the Cat in the Hat. I like that the main page contains information that is easy to find. The address and phone number of the school is at the top of the page. Sometimes, this information is difficult to find on school websites. Upcoming events are also clearly highlighted. There are easy to find links to information about the school on the left side of the page. I also liked how the staff directory was organized by grade or department instead of alphabetical order.

The website is very basic. There is not a lot of flair or special features on it. Therefore, I was not confused by any aspect of the site. I was a little curious as to why there were no school rules listed on the website. However, there were quite a few things missing from the website. There were a couple of links that went to pages that said the information would be "coming soon." Also, there were not a lot of forms under the "forms" link. I would think that there would have been quite a few forms under that link. There were only 3.

After Presentation

I have learned that there are many different ways to use the SMART board in classrooms. The SMART board can be used for every subject. I didn't realize that you could use the SMART board for subjects like health and PE. There are so many different interactive programs that you can use to get students involved in the lesson. I think that SMART boards are good for keeping students engaged in the class lesson or discussion.

After this presentation, I do not have many questions. I might still need some help with some of the small technical elements. I may not know how to use certain applications or interactive elements.

Assignment #2

I will be presenting a lesson about probability that is designed for 6th graders. My SMART board presentation will include the following features: an interactive spinner, an interactive die, moving pictures on the board, and writing on the board.

NETS for students:
4)Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
For this lesson, students must collect and analyze data in order to identify the probabilities for certain problems.
6) Technology Operations and Concepts
Students must be able to use the SMART board technology in order to take part in the activities in the lesson.

NETS for teachers:
1) Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
This lesson uses real-world problems and has creative aspects in the lesson.
2) Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
This lesson uses technology and digital-age learning experiences in order to teach probability.

Interactive white boards could help students to remain engaged in classroom activities and lessons. It is more interesting to pay attention to a lesson that uses and interactive white board than to pay attention to a lesson that does not have interactive elements. These boards allow students to be involved in the lesson, not just listen to the lesson. When students are involved and engaged, they learn better.

Blogs for Educators

I looked at the website called Emerging Ed Tech. This website detailed many different ways to use new technology in the classroom. It showed how things like twitter could be used with teachers and students. I didn't realize that there are so many different ways to use twitter in a classroom. I always thought that twitter was kind of pointless and a waste of time. I can now see how twitter might be beneficial for students to use. For example, a teacher could ask for suggestions about different lesson plans from other teachers in a quick way. However, if a teacher does use twitter, it should only be used for school related activities. A twitter account should not contain personal posts as well as school related posts.

I'm not sure if I will ever actually use a twitter account. However, if I do, it will only be used as a resource for teaching. It would only be used to communicate with my students and fellow teachers. Also, since I want to teach elementary, I might not use twitter. I'm not sure if young children really need to use technology like facebook and twitter. Some parents would probably not approve of their children using this type of technology.

Assignment #1

Mayfield, Kristin H., Irene M. Glenn, and Timothy R. Vollmer. "Teaching Spelling through Prompting and Review Procedures Using Computer-Based Instruction." Journal of Behavioral Education 17.3 (2008): 303-312. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 3 Feb. 2010.

The article that I read was entitled Teaching Spelling Through Prompting and Review Procedures Using Computer-Based Instruction. This article details an experiment that was conducted on a classroom of 6th grade students. The teacher used computer-based instruction to teach topics. The students' progress in the classroom was monitored based on whether the student was above average/gifted, below average, or a standard student. The results showed that computers were a valuable resource for all types of students to use. Students were able to learn more spelling words than if they did not use computers. Gifted students were able to work ahead. Furthermore, computers would benefit below average students because teachers would be able to spend more time working one-on-one with them while other students use the computers. The computer programs also allowed the students to practice spelling at home.

The results from the computer-based instruction was compared to students learning how to spell without a computer. Also, follow up tests were administered 3 weeks after the experiment to see if the information that the students learned from either test was retained. While the research on this is not complete, evidence seems to point to the fact that computer-based instruction is effective.

From this article, I have learned that computers can be very effective for helping students learn how to spell. Having students use computers allows them to work individually without needing a lot of help from a teacher. Also, this allows the teacher to have more time to spend helping the students who are stuggling. I will be able to use computer-based instruction in my own classroom. I can have students practice certain skills using programs and websites. I will have them use the websites at school and at home. Computer-based instruction can be used for more than just spelling. It can be used for all subjects.

NETS for Teachers:
Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

I think that it is important for teachers to continue to grow in their knowledge of technology in the classroom. Technology is constantly changing, so it is important for teachers to keep themselves up to date on how to use new sources of technology. As more and more technology emerges, the students will become more and more aware of and comfortable with different types of technology. As a result, it is important for teachers to keep pace so that they can keep their students engaged in the classroom. If a teacher fails to use new sources of technology, students may become disinterested in what the teacher has to say. In order to maintain a focused and growing learning environment, teachers need to implement technology in the way that they teach.

1. I will be part of the Technology in Education class. In this learning environment, I will be able to interact with my peers in order to explore new sources of technology and how those sources are applicable to the classroom setting. It is important that I am able to interact with other future teachers so that we can all grow in our knowledge of technology together, and help each other along the way.
2. I will seek out new sources of technology that I can use in the classroom. I will learn how to use these resources in order to be able to implement them in my own classroom in the future. I will explore new websites, SMARTboard activities, web browsers and other technological tools that I can use in my classroom.
3. I will help improve my effectiveness as a teacher by implementing the things that I have learned in this class. It is important for teachers to use technology when they teach so that they can better engage their students. When students are engaged in what they are doing, they learn more. In order to accomplish this goal, I will use the different teaching strategies that involve technology.

NETS for Students:
Technology Operations and Concepts

This standard is important for students to be able to do because teaching in going to be incorporating more and more technology. Students should have the knowledge of how to operate different types of technology. For example, if a student does not know how to use the SMARTboard, they will not be able to participate in the activities that are done on the SMARTboard. It is important for students to have a general knowledge of technology so that when technology is used in the classroom, they can focus on what is being taught by the teacher, not how to use the technology.

1. In order to help my students understand how to use the SMARTboard, I could give a short demonstration at the beginning of the year. I could allow all of them to practice on the board by setting up easy activities for them to do. If the activities are easy, then they can focus more on learning the technology. Once they have gained confidence in using the board, I can have them complete more complex activities that require more academic thought.
2. I could have my students do a research project which requires them to use various search engines. This would help them to understand the different types of search engines that are available and which ones they like better than others. For example, if they were researching a specific country, they could try using google, dogpile, bing, ask, or other search engines to learn more about the country that they are researching.
3. I could have them take quizes that incorporate the SMARTboard and the student remotes. This would help them to understant how to log in to something, as well as how to use technology to answer questions.

Beginning of the Semester Reflection

I think that it is important for teachers to use technology while they teach. Since children use technology more and more, they will be bored at school if technology is not incorporated in some capacity. If they are used to using computers, TVs, video games, ipods, and other sources of technology at home, they will not be interested in what the teacher is teaching if the classroom is absent of technology. There are many different ways to use technology in the classroom in order to promote learning. I think that teachers need to familiarize themselves with different forms of technology. It is important for teachers to know how to use technology in order for their students to learn in a fun and engaging way.

Generation IM

I thought that this article was very interesting. Since more and more children are becoming digital natives, it is necessary to start using more technology while teaching. Students will begin to get bored or not see the importance of a lesson if it is not up to date with technology. This article provided several good ideas for using technology in the classroom. I particularly liked the example about using google earth. Projects using google earth would be much more fun for students than finding the same information without using technology.

I can understand the reason why many teachers do not use technology as often. Its not necessarily because they don't know how to do it. It is usually because they do not have time to set it up. Planning lessons that incorporate technology is time consuming. However, as teachers form lessons with technology over the years, they will be able to re-use those lessons. Also, teachers can share their lesson ideas with each other in order to help save in planning time.

Overall, I learned that there is a growing need for teachers to incorporate technology in their teaching strategies. There are more ways than just using a search engine for students to use technology.

The Wonders of Interactive Whiteboards

I read an article by Neal Starkman called "The Wonders of Interactive Whiteboards." Starkman described how SMART boards have positively impacted classrooms and the way that students learn. Using interactive whiteboards causes students to want to engage in school. It is more interesting for students when a SMART board is being used. Starkman wrote about a school in Ontario that used to have more suspensions every year than actual students. Once the SMART boards were brought to that school, the number of suspensions dwindled to 20. Also, the grades of students in that school went up. This was because students were able to engage in what the teachers were saying. SMART boards are also useful for teachers. They can save information and they are easy to use. Overall, SMART boards are a great addition to classrooms.

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Turning on the Lights

It is interesting to think about how much education has changed. It is becoming more and more important to incorporate technology into education. It makes sense that students would be bored in a classroom that does not incorporate technology when they are so accustomed to using technology outside of school. In today's society, kids seem to know more about technology than adults do. Therefore, it is important for teachers to learn about technology in order to teach students more effectively.

Although I think that technology should be used in the classroom, students do need to "power down" certain forms of technology. For example, I do not think that cell phones should be used in the classroom. Cell phones are only a distraction for students and can't be used for educational purposes. However, some personal electronic devices can be useful in the classroom. In high school, I had a teacher who allowed students to listen to music on their ipods during work time. This is because many students are able to learn better if there is music playing in the background.

Overall, I think that teachers' attitudes toward technology in the classroom is what needs to change, not the students' attitudes. The importance of technology in today's society and in the future is the reason why students should learn more about technology and how to use it. Not only will it make learning more interesting and applicable, it will also help prepare students for the future.

My Decision to Become a Teacher

I didn't know that I wanted to be a teacher until I was a senior in high school. I began working with kids at my church in the Junior Bible Quiz program. I really loved interacting with the kids and teaching them different study strategies. The kids that I work with are usually in 5th or 6th grade. I really like working with older kids because they are more fun to interact with and talk to than younger children. My experiences in JBQ have made me want to teach for my career.

In this class, I hope to learn how to learn about different types of technology that I can use in my classroom. I want to be able to be confident in my abilities to use technology in teaching.