Blog Post #3

I feel most prepared to satisfy very few of the technology standards outlined in the ELA standards. I just do not know how to use computers very well, but I am sure that will change as I get more experience and finish this class. I feel prepared to complete some of the tasks that just require typing and basic knowledge of Word and Powerpoint. Standards that just require teachers to use technology to better explain and emphasize main ideas are definitely in my skill set. However, things like making audio or visual recordings to reinforce knowledge are not things I am currently prepared to do. I can find audio and visual recordings that apply to the topics that I am teaching but I do not think I can make them on my own.

I would like my students to definitely learn how to use search engines. With all the information at our fingertips we are incredibly privileged to live in an age where students can find information about anything they may desire in an instant. I would teach this more for later elementary school and early middle school students. This can teach them how to navigate the web and they can learn how to discern which sources are legitimate, and use these sources in their academic projects. I would also like my students to make web blogs. They could use this to share information about the class and to post their projects. I would prefer this to to done by middle school students because it would be easier to manage since they have more experience online. This project would teach them how to keep personal information private online and would allow them to foster an online community and teach them how to handle online interactions in a polite manner

I learned a lot through the newsletter assignment. I had no idea how to make columns before. I also utilized the search images through the web option which was incredibly useful. The only thing I did not like about it was writing the articles. It wasn't that they were miserable to write, it was just difficult to write updates for a classroom that did not exist. I'm sure it will be much easier with an actual classroom. I will definitely utilize the skills I learned through this assignment in my future career. When I have to manage a classroom it will be good to send out occasional newsletters to keep the parents up to date with what is going on in the classroom.