Post #6: Web Sites and Wikis

Class Websites

Most teachers are required to maintain some sort of website for their class. This class website is a good way to inform students and parents about important upcoming events and deadlines.These websites also create a place for teachers to upload resources and students to upload their work for grades. I found a high school English teacher's website from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington. I chose this site  because high school English is the subject area and grade level that I want to teach. This website included a syllabus, class discussion board, calendars, and class assignments. 

Technology

As a teacher, I hope to use technology in any way I can to make my life easier. I like the podcast's idea about using Diigo or Evernote to keep track of sources while creating lesson plans. I agree with the podcast's point that keeping electronic notes and sharing them is a great way to keep better records and share your ideas with other teachers. 

Wiki Project

The wiki class assignment helped me learn how to create my own wiki online with others. This semester I also had to edit a class wiki on Blackboard, and I liked PBworks better because it is public and easier to edit. I think that creating a wiki on a topic is a great way to learn more about something while teaching other people, so it is definitely a tool I would want to use in my classroom in the future. This assignment was also focused on making our own criteria to evaluate web resources, which is a very important topic. Making sure that students only receive the highest quality information is important, and it is also a good idea to teach students to evaluate sources for themselves. 

Post #5: Web 2.0 and Concept Maps

Web 2.0 in the Classroom

The ELA standards create the need for teachers to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, blog sites, social networks, and video sharing sites into their classrooms. I think that almost any form of Web 2.0 technology could be applicable in the classroom setting. The challenge for teachers with Web 2.0 tools is making sure that the technology they choose to use with their students is closely tied to their lesson plans and appropriate for the age of the students. While social networking can be a valuable tool to connect with students and parents, it would probably not be appropriate to encourage elementary school students to get Twitter accounts. 

I really like the idea of blogging sites such as Kidblog or Blogger in the classroom because it allows students to express themselves and be creative while discussing what they learned in school. As a prospective English teacher, I would like to incorporate a class blog into my teaching to encourage my students to practice their creative writing. However, all of my students would need access to a computer with internet access in order to create a class blog. Chapter 5 of the textbook described the different types of devices that can be used in the classroom. The input devices in this example would be the mouse and keyboard, the output device is the monitor, and the important peripherals would be the system unit and hard drive. This project would also require network technology such as wifi.

Web 2.0 Tools

The Web 2.0 tool that I found is a free web tool that lets kids create their own comic strips called Make Beliefs Comics. The website includes free lesson plans and printables. I like that students can type in any language, which is helpful for ESOL students. I chose a comic creator because I was looking for more ways that my students could express their creativity in the classroom.

Make Beliefs also has a mobile app (though the app is paid), so students could create comics on tablets or other mobile devices. I thought that the site was fun and easy to use, and I created a quick comic with it.

Concept Map

I like making concept maps and diagrams, looking at information visually (especially when it's history!) has always helped me learn. However, I really did not enjoy working with Webspiration. I think that this tool is not user friendly at all, and it runs really slowly on every computer I've tried it on. Since it was so frustrating to use for me, I do not think I would want my students to use it. I think this assignment taught me that there are many tools out there to make concept maps, and this one was not for me. That being said, I like what me and Kelty have made, and here's a sneak peak at our concept map:

Post #4: Web Scavenger Hunting

CPALMS Standard

The standard that I chose to examine was SS.912.A.2.1, which is a Social Studies standard that states: "Review causes and consequences of the Civil War." I found a webpage that outlines five main causes of the Civil War, and it includes a short video that summarizes the main points of the article. The textbook would probably classify this type of resource as reference software, because it provides an interactive overview of historical events. I liked this site because it also included audio and visuals in the short video, as well as links to other articles on the same subject embedded in the text of the post.

Internet-Based Resources

I have used web-based resources throughout my career as a student for research projects. I have to admit, I am very used to Google searching anything I need, which does not always provide high quality sources. I also do not often consider whether or not my software is open source when I am using something for personal use, but I will have to be more aware of content licensing as a teacher. Open-source software intrigues me because it is open for anyone to use and improve, though I doubt I will ever be good enough at programming to try and change the software myself. 

Web Hunt

For the Web Hunt, I found myself falling on old habits and using Google for almost everything, In the future, I hope to become more comfortable using other search engines and databases in addition to Google. Here are my search challenges for everyone:

• Find an online interactive model of the water cycle.
• Find a video that summarizes the causes of the American Revolution.

Review causes and consequences of the Civil War

Post #3: ELA Standards, Technology in the Classroom, and Newsletter Design

ELA Standards

The ELA standard that I feel most prepared to teach is EL.7, the standard on multimedia literature. I am excited about the idea of incorporating visual and audio into my lesson plans, and I feel comfortable doing this through YouTube videos. The standard that makes me the most nervous is the standard RI.7, because I feel that I need more practice before I will be comfortable creating engaging multimedia text for my students to use.

Technology in the Classroom

I hope to teach high school English. I hope to incorporate multimedia projects to make my lessons more engaging. I will need to teach my students digital citizenship by making sure that I follow fair use policies in my own presentations. Since I will be teaching older students, I can also teach them how to responsibly use copyrighted material in their class projects. 

Newsletter Design

The newsletter design project taught me how to do a few new things with Microsoft Word, such as how to create two columns on a page. I have to admit that I struggled with this project because I had a hard time making everything align on the page the way that I wanted. This project showed me that I still have more to learn about a program I thought I was very familiar with, 

Post #2: MS Word, Fair Use and Twitter

Word

I have used Microsoft Word constantly as a student. I use it almost daily to take notes in class and to write papers at home. I expect to use Word as a teacher to make the assignments, tests and handouts for my students.

Fair Use

I have to admit, as a student I often do not think about where the material that my teachers use comes from. I find myself assuming that everything they use comes from a credible source and is used in a way that respects copyright and fair use policies. As a teacher I need to be more mindful of this issue and make sure that I follow fair use policies when making my own instructional materials for my students. I can do this by making sure that I do not use anything that is not my own without giving proper credit by citing my sources.

Twitter

I had never used Twitter before last week, and I still have a lot to learn before I can be comfortable using it. I think that social media is a good way for prospective teachers to connect with each other and also learn from current educators. I am a little concerned about using Twitter in my own career because I want to teach high school and I worry about the potential risks of interacting with my students online. 

Post #1: ITSE Standards and Digital Natives

Computers 

Computers are a very important part of the educational experience today. The internet gives students and teachers the opportunity to research practically anything with the click of a mouse. As technology continues to improve, teachers must also learn how to effectively utilize this technology in the classroom. While computers and the Internet can be very helpful resources for learning and research, there is also the risk of technology being a distraction in the classroom as students can easily use this technology for entertainment and social media.

ITSE Standards

The standard that gladdened my heart was the first standard, which was: "Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." I think that technology can be such an good tool to spark student's imaginations, and the generation after mine is even more native to technology than I am. Since my future students will likely be even more tech-savvy than I am, I am concerned about the standard on designing digital-age learning experiences and assessments.

Digital Natives

I would agree with the term digital native for today's youth. A digital native is someone who grew up with technology such as personal computers, cellphones, and the internet. I have definitely noticed throughout my education that my teachers have often been uncomfortable using technology. Many of my teachers avoided technology entirely, or had trouble using technology and often asked students for help. I feel that as technology continues to evolve today's digital natives will have to continue to learn new things as we will eventually become digital immigrants.

(clip art  photos from clipartpanda.com)

Post #0

#0 Welcome! Technology and Learning Styles

About Me

I have some experience with Word, Excel and Powerpoint from assignments I had to do in high school and college. I feel the most comfortable with Word because it is something I use almost every day. I feel the least comfortable with Excel because I have not had to use it often.
Last year, I started learning HTML for fun, though I still only know how to do some very basic web design. While I enjoy working with computers, I would not consider myself very tech savvy and often find myself asking friends (or Google) for help.

What I Hope To Learn

In this course, I hope to become more proficient in the programs I already know, as well as learn some new skills and programs. I am a prospective education major, so I am excited to take what I learn here into the classroom with me in the future.

Learning Styles

These learning style test results show that I am more of a reflective learner than an active learner, which I would agree with. I definitely need time to think about and process new information, and I prefer studying and working individually.
I also have a strong preference towards intuitive learning, which means that I like to look at the bigger picture and try to understand concepts instead of memorizing facts.