Web 2.0 tools definitely aid many teachers in their endeavors. I have especially enjoyed using Diigo so far in class. The social bookmarking function is incredibly useful and I really do plan on using it in the future. Twitter is also great for fostering an online community in which ideas and resources are shared. Wikis are a tool that I'm not nearly as fond of. Anyone can post information to a wiki, so the information is not always reliable. I think any teacher that implements wikis into their classroom should use it as a teaching tool for teaching about credibility of sources online.
Scribd is an application that lets users read on any device, any place. All of the user's literature is saved to their scribd account so users do not lose their books or pdfs when they begin using a new device. You can access anything from sheet music, articles, or even books. There is a free trial available for anyone who is interested in using it and becoming familiar with the ins and outs of this technology. After that, there is a membership available for $8.99 a month. The membership probably would keep some teachers away from using this platform, but it is really useful for sharing articles and books and other educational resources with others. Here is a link if you are interested: https://www.scribd.com/
I believe that learner analytics is the technology advancement that has the most promise for the future of education because it can help teachers to interpret specific learning needs. Teachers can see what teaching strategies and techniques are most needed for student success. It can be used to predict a lesson's potential success based on analysis of certain data and calculations. It can save teachers a lot of time, something that first time teachers especially seem to lack. This program will help lessons to be more effective for more students as well. It does not just address the needs of the class as a whole but can analyze the needs of individual targeted students as well.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Blog post #4
So far on twitter I have managed to use original hashtags and class hashtags. I have retweeted and also replied. I had to use twitter for my ENC2135 class last semester so I'm not new to it or new to using it for classroom purposes. I have interacted with the EME2040 class twitter but I have not interacted much with other students, though I plan to in the future. I may continue to use twitter in my classes so it is definitely helpful to practice using it more. I also may use it to teach students about safety on the internet and how to keep personal information private so it will definitely be useful in that aspect.
The digital divide is "the gap between people who do and do not have access to technology." It is caused by some students not having access to technology or other resources at home. Some may not be able to get internet if they live in more rural areas. Some students' families may not have the resources or money to get a computer or device with internet access. This can affect a student's academic success since those with internet access and technology access are expected to perform better in school. This will effect how I teach because I will encounter students on each side of the divide. Special care must be taken to make sure that the students who are not exposed to technology do not fall behind students that do.
I expect to use certain softwares mentioned in chapter 8 such as presentation software or desktop software. Both of these can help me teach students regardless of their grade level. However, with some grade levels appropriate softwares may differ. Say for example I was working with 3rd graders, I would probably use more educational games to keep students engaged. I would not use these as much for high school students. For higher grade levels I might use software such as simulations. They have more experience with technology usually and would get more from using the simulation. Younger students may struggle with the software or not garner as much use from it so it would be less appropriate for them.
The digital divide is "the gap between people who do and do not have access to technology." It is caused by some students not having access to technology or other resources at home. Some may not be able to get internet if they live in more rural areas. Some students' families may not have the resources or money to get a computer or device with internet access. This can affect a student's academic success since those with internet access and technology access are expected to perform better in school. This will effect how I teach because I will encounter students on each side of the divide. Special care must be taken to make sure that the students who are not exposed to technology do not fall behind students that do.
I expect to use certain softwares mentioned in chapter 8 such as presentation software or desktop software. Both of these can help me teach students regardless of their grade level. However, with some grade levels appropriate softwares may differ. Say for example I was working with 3rd graders, I would probably use more educational games to keep students engaged. I would not use these as much for high school students. For higher grade levels I might use software such as simulations. They have more experience with technology usually and would get more from using the simulation. Younger students may struggle with the software or not garner as much use from it so it would be less appropriate for them.
Friday, February 3, 2017
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.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Blog Post #2
I have used Microsoft Word probably since the 5th grade onward. I've used it for reports, science fair projects, short stories, and even as spell check in the olden days before I used Google. I have sometimes used it as a file converter as well, uploading files to Word as a .pdf and saving it as a .docx. A lot of teachers will use it to type up assignment descriptions or even to make the syllabus. Teachers may also utilize Word's many capabilities to make lesson plans or to make tests and quizzes.
Copyright and fair use have always scared me in the educational environment, probably because previously I knew very little about them. You can get in a lot of trouble for using the wrong photo, or not citing something you use, so that was definitely intimidating. Now that I know more about the rules, they aren't nearly as intimidating! As a teacher, I would try not to scare my students too much. I would communicate to them that as long as you follow the rules, there will be no issues and you can use the materials that you need to complete assignments. For my own instructional use I will try to use photos that have no copyright, or at the end of any powerpoint I make I will cite my sources, so that my students can follow by example.
One issue I might face would be cyber bullying through platforms like Edmodo or blogs. A way to solve this would be to make it clear from the beginning that any online bullying will have the same consequences as bullying in real life and that online privileges can be taken away if any platform is misused.
Another issue would be keeping children safe online. If they do post anything publicly, pseudonyms should be used to maintain the students' safety. Preferably, students would use platforms that do not post things publicly, but instead post things within the classroom's own private group. It should also be communicated to the students that they should not be sharing personal information such as their address or phone numbers online.
I could also face a problem with students using class computers to send explicit or sexual images or messages to one another. To combat this a teacher should communicate the possible dangers of this, especially if these images or messages go public. It is illegal even for children to view these images and that should be communicated to the students. It must be explicitly clear that these rules are in place to create a safer online environment for not only the individual students, but for the classroom as a whole.
Copyright and fair use have always scared me in the educational environment, probably because previously I knew very little about them. You can get in a lot of trouble for using the wrong photo, or not citing something you use, so that was definitely intimidating. Now that I know more about the rules, they aren't nearly as intimidating! As a teacher, I would try not to scare my students too much. I would communicate to them that as long as you follow the rules, there will be no issues and you can use the materials that you need to complete assignments. For my own instructional use I will try to use photos that have no copyright, or at the end of any powerpoint I make I will cite my sources, so that my students can follow by example.
One issue I might face would be cyber bullying through platforms like Edmodo or blogs. A way to solve this would be to make it clear from the beginning that any online bullying will have the same consequences as bullying in real life and that online privileges can be taken away if any platform is misused.
Another issue would be keeping children safe online. If they do post anything publicly, pseudonyms should be used to maintain the students' safety. Preferably, students would use platforms that do not post things publicly, but instead post things within the classroom's own private group. It should also be communicated to the students that they should not be sharing personal information such as their address or phone numbers online.
I could also face a problem with students using class computers to send explicit or sexual images or messages to one another. To combat this a teacher should communicate the possible dangers of this, especially if these images or messages go public. It is illegal even for children to view these images and that should be communicated to the students. It must be explicitly clear that these rules are in place to create a safer online environment for not only the individual students, but for the classroom as a whole.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Blog Post #1
Teachers have an obligation to arm their students with the tools to flourish in both their future academic career and eventually the work force. In our modern society, technological literacy is a necessity to accomplish this, so teachers are influenced by this need to use technology in their classroom. Teaching students how to use technology also aligns with many standards that many teachers must satisfy such as Common Core. Technology also helps teachers to present information in different ways that can benefit different types of learners. PowerPoints with lots of graphs and diagrams may help visual learners more, while computer programs can help students who are kinesthetic learners who need to actively perform tasks in order to retain information. Even podcasts can be played in the classroom for students who are more auditory learners. The students are generally influenced to use technology by their teachers in the classroom setting to satisfy their specific educational needs.
The ISTE Standards are a set of standards written by the International Society for Technology in Education outlining what specific skills are necessary to effectively implement technology into the classroom. They are written in a way that not only helps students to learn more effectively, but helps teachers to teach more effectively. These standards help prepare students for their future in a workforce where most jobs require basic computer skills. I like the standard that says that a teacher's use of technology should "facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." I feel like in my academic career, post elementary school, students were encouraged less and less to be creative and instead we were given strict guidelines to follow for all assignments. Technology is an incredibly useful thing and if can be used to keep students creative then I think it should definitely be utilized. I do not think that the skill of "demonstrating fluency in technology systems..." is something I currently posses. I'm sure that by the end of this class however, I will be better prepared for any challenge the digital world may throw at me.
I would agree with the phrase "digital native" to describe today's youth. They have been raised in a society where nearly everything is dependent on technology. An age before computers is hard to image not only for them, but for some who had to become accustomed to the overwhelming presence of technology in their lives. I've found that most people that would be considered digital natives have an ability to solve problems more naturally with technology. They have more an instinct to fix computer problems and have to look things up less. Digital "immigrants" such as my father and people around his age have less patience with technology. They tend to give up more easily rather that clicking around trying to solve their problem, and they usually look it up. This difference has not really had any effect on my learning experience, since often teachers will get the students to fix their technology problems if they can't fix it within a minute or so themselves. As technology advances and I become more out of touch with new technology, I'm sure that I will react similarly to current "digital immigrants" by asking the internet and others to help to fix my technology problems.
The ISTE Standards are a set of standards written by the International Society for Technology in Education outlining what specific skills are necessary to effectively implement technology into the classroom. They are written in a way that not only helps students to learn more effectively, but helps teachers to teach more effectively. These standards help prepare students for their future in a workforce where most jobs require basic computer skills. I like the standard that says that a teacher's use of technology should "facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." I feel like in my academic career, post elementary school, students were encouraged less and less to be creative and instead we were given strict guidelines to follow for all assignments. Technology is an incredibly useful thing and if can be used to keep students creative then I think it should definitely be utilized. I do not think that the skill of "demonstrating fluency in technology systems..." is something I currently posses. I'm sure that by the end of this class however, I will be better prepared for any challenge the digital world may throw at me.
I would agree with the phrase "digital native" to describe today's youth. They have been raised in a society where nearly everything is dependent on technology. An age before computers is hard to image not only for them, but for some who had to become accustomed to the overwhelming presence of technology in their lives. I've found that most people that would be considered digital natives have an ability to solve problems more naturally with technology. They have more an instinct to fix computer problems and have to look things up less. Digital "immigrants" such as my father and people around his age have less patience with technology. They tend to give up more easily rather that clicking around trying to solve their problem, and they usually look it up. This difference has not really had any effect on my learning experience, since often teachers will get the students to fix their technology problems if they can't fix it within a minute or so themselves. As technology advances and I become more out of touch with new technology, I'm sure that I will react similarly to current "digital immigrants" by asking the internet and others to help to fix my technology problems.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Blog Post #0
Blog Post #0
Most of my experience with technology has come through school. I have not done much outside of using word documents and powerpoints. I only started using Excel in college and I'm still not very good at using it effectively. Last semester I had to use an online learning system for my Pre-Calculus class called MyMathLab and learning all of the ins and outs of that system was definitely challenging. I'm ready to be learn more because, as of now, my knowledge of technology is pretty limited.
In this class I hope I become more experienced with computers and certain programs and I hope to learn how to use them efficiently. I want to be confident with my knowledge of computers and so far I am not. I also hope that I can learn in this class how to use certain technologies so that I can teach better and know how to use different types of technology that can benefit all types of learners. These are skills that I will genuinely use in life and in my future career so I am definitely excited to take this class.
Sadly, the results of the learning styles quiz for me were not very telling. I was in the middle of nearly every single category. The only one where I showed some sort of disposition was on the Sensing/Intuitive scale. I leaned more toward the sensing side. I agree that I'm in the middle of nearly every category because really I do not think that there is any one way that I learn better. I just sort use all different types of learning whether it be visual, verbal, or anything else, and combine them all to absorb information.
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