I have never used twitter in my life. The first time I heard about it I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. However, after reading this article my opinion has changed a little. Although I will most likely never use it in my personal life, ever, I realize that it can be beneficial in the classroom, if you use it correctly. Of course, you would need to set up a separate and private twitter blog for your class (you may choose to do different pages for different subjects as well). This provides many perks for a teacher. Twitter, when used this way, can provide instant feedback for the teacher, you can add notes after class, you can add assignments. Also, you can collaborate with other instructors, if you run into a problem all you do is post it and wait for tons of feedback from fellow teachers. For students, it creates community, they can also post questions they have and get immediate feedback from other students or the teacher. Lastly, twitter in the classroom also helps with brainstorming, group work and much, much more. I think that if it is used correctly and efficiently it can be a great benefit to the classroom. I never thought twitter would be useful for anything other than the latest gossip, I guess I was wrong.
Emerging Ed Tech
100 Twitter Tips- Classroom
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Reflection #2
Technology today is absolutely amazing. One piece of technology that always just stuns me is the cell phone and all the different kinds. I never upgrade or get a nicer phone until my 2 year commitment is up and I get one for free, and even then it is never the latest development of phones I get to choose from. So that being said it is probably clear that I have a phone that is close to two years old. It is not new and does not have any of the newest features on it such as: internet, games, email, projection, music, etc. I see commercials for tons of different kinds of new and advanced phones and they are always 'toping' a previous invention. I always wonder to myself, "what are they going to make that tops this?" But one way or another there is always something better: a touch screen, a touch screen AND a regular key pad, a projector built in. So now my question is, "what's next?" I do not know where they are going to go next with cell phones, to me it seems like there is nothing left to add to make a cell phone any better, but then again I would have never thought of adding a projector to a cell phone, so I am sure they will come up with something to top that.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Reflection #1
Something that I have noticed from being around children is that (for the families I nanny for) they are so attached to their games and technology that I think it is somewhat ridiculous. I think the new technology is great students and kids, but I think there needs to be a limit on it. I feel like kids are more and more detached from family and friends. One of the kids I babysit all he does is play video games or watch T.V. I think it encourages children to be lazy instead of getting out. Yes, Wii-fit is great (or so I have heard). It makes working out fun for kids, but why can't mom and dad go out and play tennis or basketball or whatever activity they child wants to do instead of having them do it with the T.V. screen? Anyway, what I am saying is there needs to be a limit on the number of devices in a home and the amount of time spent in front of them.
Assignment #1
Science Technology Society vs Textbook-Based Instruction
Yager, Robert E. Journal of Elementary Science Education, Vol. 21, No.2 pp. 15-24 Spring 2009. Document and Public Services, Western Illinois University.
This article is based on a type of experiment that took place amongst teachers in Iowa. It has spread to many other areas sense. Basically what happened was a group of about 30 teachers took a seminar on how to make their classroom more technology based. They had different sessions of learning and experimenting one is 2-4 weeks in the summer and two are 3 days in the spring and fall. At these sessions or conventions the teaches are being taught new technology and later becoming very successful in the classroom. Since the first trial of this there have been over 225 teachers enrolled each year over the past decade. This has proven to be very successful. Every year the most successful teachers then go on to teach the newer beginning learners how to be successful with technology in the classroom.
This program then did a test to see if STS was really much more beneficial in the classroom. They had 15 different teachers teach science with STS and 15 teach without STS. All variables inside the lesson and all lessons were the same. All that differed was the use of technology. They then got results from classroom behavior and tests to compare if STS was really a big deal or worth all the fuss. From the results of 4th-6th grade classes they discovered that concept mastery was reached as required in both settings. However, student attitude, creativity, progress toward reaching the 4 goals for NSES, and deeper learning all had a better score, if you will, at the end of the lesson.
I enjoyed reading this article, it was somewhat long and got a little repetitive, but the results that came up were shocking to me. As I was reading I was expecting the students who were in the non STS classrooms to not master the concepts as quickly or as well as students with STS classrooms. Especially since there is so much talk about how great technology in the classroom is for students. However, as I read on and discovered that deeper learning, better attitudes and so on were all higher scores it all made sense to me. Students who want good grades will still work hard whether they are taught with technology or not, however, all students will better enjoy and in a sense learn more with technology in the classroom. When students have bad attitudes about a subject, they are more likely to tune it out and not listen or learn, but if we, as teachers, make it more engaging and use technology we will keep the students' attention longer and they will learn more than the just the concept that is required in the lesson.
After reading this article I know that if I do not use technology in the classroom, I will still be able to get my students to master the concept given, however, they will not enjoy it as much. I learned more deeply what effect technology really has on students. It helps with creativity, attitude, and much more. I will definitely use technology in my classroom and I think this article is great for persuading teachers to use technology. Teaching is about the students, and although it may be more time consuming making learning fun for the students is better than using a textbook and teaching them to dislike school.
NETS FOR TEACHERS
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
-The teacher uses their knowledge on the subject to teach in a way that students will advance in learning, creativity and innovation in real and virtual environments. I think this is important because teachers need to be creative and come up with new ways to teach to their students. They also need to encourage their students to be creative. This is important to me because I remember loving classes that were not straight out of the textbook and that actually had activities. I want the students in my class to learn and to enjoy being there. So I think it is important to facilitate and inspire learning and creativity.
1. This semester I will learn new technologies such as the SMART Board so I can use it in the classroom with my students. I want to learn not just the basics but how to include my students so they have fun with the SMART Board also.
2. I will learn creative ways to use technology to teach and make it fun for the students. I will come up with new ways and ideas to teach through learning new technologies.
3. Lastly, this semester I will think about ways that I can include technology in areas that are not necessarily thought of as needing technology. I can also talk to my students and see what they like and if they have ideas on how I can use technology to engage them.
NETS FOR STUDENTS
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
I think critical thinking, problem solving and decision making is very important. In many settings today students and even adults find it difficult to make decisions. They are wishy washy and go back and forth on decisions all the time. I think that critical thinking and problem solving help in decision making. They are all three related and work together. I have always enjoyed problem solving and critical thinking and think they are very important. They are not only practical in future decisions such as schools to attend or careers to strive for, but also in decisions made daily, good and bad.
1. One assignment I can give my students is a type of scavenger hunt with clues. The clues can be ones that require critical thinking or problem solving in order to get to the next clue. Also, I can include options of obstacles students choose to take, one can be a short-cut but more complicated, and one can be the longer way but easier and make students decide which road to take. This would take some time and not be a one day event, but rather an activity we spend a little time on each day for a period of time.
2. Another assignment I can have my students do is a science project. One that you use the science steps of hypothesis, experiment etc. This is great to get the students thinking about what the outcome of the experiment is going to be and to follow directions and make decisions throughout the experiment.
Yager, Robert E. Journal of Elementary Science Education, Vol. 21, No.2 pp. 15-24 Spring 2009. Document and Public Services, Western Illinois University.
This article is based on a type of experiment that took place amongst teachers in Iowa. It has spread to many other areas sense. Basically what happened was a group of about 30 teachers took a seminar on how to make their classroom more technology based. They had different sessions of learning and experimenting one is 2-4 weeks in the summer and two are 3 days in the spring and fall. At these sessions or conventions the teaches are being taught new technology and later becoming very successful in the classroom. Since the first trial of this there have been over 225 teachers enrolled each year over the past decade. This has proven to be very successful. Every year the most successful teachers then go on to teach the newer beginning learners how to be successful with technology in the classroom.
This program then did a test to see if STS was really much more beneficial in the classroom. They had 15 different teachers teach science with STS and 15 teach without STS. All variables inside the lesson and all lessons were the same. All that differed was the use of technology. They then got results from classroom behavior and tests to compare if STS was really a big deal or worth all the fuss. From the results of 4th-6th grade classes they discovered that concept mastery was reached as required in both settings. However, student attitude, creativity, progress toward reaching the 4 goals for NSES, and deeper learning all had a better score, if you will, at the end of the lesson.
I enjoyed reading this article, it was somewhat long and got a little repetitive, but the results that came up were shocking to me. As I was reading I was expecting the students who were in the non STS classrooms to not master the concepts as quickly or as well as students with STS classrooms. Especially since there is so much talk about how great technology in the classroom is for students. However, as I read on and discovered that deeper learning, better attitudes and so on were all higher scores it all made sense to me. Students who want good grades will still work hard whether they are taught with technology or not, however, all students will better enjoy and in a sense learn more with technology in the classroom. When students have bad attitudes about a subject, they are more likely to tune it out and not listen or learn, but if we, as teachers, make it more engaging and use technology we will keep the students' attention longer and they will learn more than the just the concept that is required in the lesson.
After reading this article I know that if I do not use technology in the classroom, I will still be able to get my students to master the concept given, however, they will not enjoy it as much. I learned more deeply what effect technology really has on students. It helps with creativity, attitude, and much more. I will definitely use technology in my classroom and I think this article is great for persuading teachers to use technology. Teaching is about the students, and although it may be more time consuming making learning fun for the students is better than using a textbook and teaching them to dislike school.
NETS FOR TEACHERS
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
-The teacher uses their knowledge on the subject to teach in a way that students will advance in learning, creativity and innovation in real and virtual environments. I think this is important because teachers need to be creative and come up with new ways to teach to their students. They also need to encourage their students to be creative. This is important to me because I remember loving classes that were not straight out of the textbook and that actually had activities. I want the students in my class to learn and to enjoy being there. So I think it is important to facilitate and inspire learning and creativity.
1. This semester I will learn new technologies such as the SMART Board so I can use it in the classroom with my students. I want to learn not just the basics but how to include my students so they have fun with the SMART Board also.
2. I will learn creative ways to use technology to teach and make it fun for the students. I will come up with new ways and ideas to teach through learning new technologies.
3. Lastly, this semester I will think about ways that I can include technology in areas that are not necessarily thought of as needing technology. I can also talk to my students and see what they like and if they have ideas on how I can use technology to engage them.
NETS FOR STUDENTS
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
I think critical thinking, problem solving and decision making is very important. In many settings today students and even adults find it difficult to make decisions. They are wishy washy and go back and forth on decisions all the time. I think that critical thinking and problem solving help in decision making. They are all three related and work together. I have always enjoyed problem solving and critical thinking and think they are very important. They are not only practical in future decisions such as schools to attend or careers to strive for, but also in decisions made daily, good and bad.
1. One assignment I can give my students is a type of scavenger hunt with clues. The clues can be ones that require critical thinking or problem solving in order to get to the next clue. Also, I can include options of obstacles students choose to take, one can be a short-cut but more complicated, and one can be the longer way but easier and make students decide which road to take. This would take some time and not be a one day event, but rather an activity we spend a little time on each day for a period of time.
2. Another assignment I can have my students do is a science project. One that you use the science steps of hypothesis, experiment etc. This is great to get the students thinking about what the outcome of the experiment is going to be and to follow directions and make decisions throughout the experiment.
Monday, February 1, 2010
"Generation IM" Reflection
This article was very interesting. The beginning of it I have heard/read about in many other articles. It talked about how children are so "techy" in today's time and that teachers need to adjust to this for their students. It was interesting how one teacher was awarded for her great incorporation of technology and although she was happy to receive this award, she did express how exhausting and demanding it really was for her. There is so much to learn and you cannot expect teachers to be able to just automatically learn everything in a day. Especially when they did not grow up with this kind of technology.
At the end of the article I really like the 7 steps/ways to include technology in the classroom. A few of this ways I had already thought of, however, they were all very helpful and great ideas for a teacher to use in his/her classroom.
At the end of the article I really like the 7 steps/ways to include technology in the classroom. A few of this ways I had already thought of, however, they were all very helpful and great ideas for a teacher to use in his/her classroom.
Beginning of Semester Reflection
Technology plays a very vital role in the world today. There are few things, if any, that cannot or are not currently done using technology. Just about everything uses technology in some way. Also, technology is becoming more and more advanced as the years go by and technology is becoming more of a necessity and it is harder for people to function without technology at hand.
I think as a teacher I need to be educated in the newest technology. I need to be aware of what my students are using and be able to relate to my students. The more educated I am in the current technology and any new technology coming out the better I can teach and make it relate to my students. Also, using new technology and not using the old school ways of little technology will help my students from getting bored and tuning out. As a teacher it may be necessary that I post items such as assignments and grades online and this would be much easier and less time consuming if I was well educated in technology.
As for the classroom and how technology should be used I am all for technology in the classroom! I think technology is becoming more and more advanced and if I have the opportunity to use it and get my students using it I would take advantage and do so. The younger the students are when they learn the technology that easier it is later in years and the better they learn it. If you know technology now, it is easier to learn as it gets more complicated and advanced. I think technology is very beneficial to students today and I believe it should be brought and incorporated in the classroom today.
I think as a teacher I need to be educated in the newest technology. I need to be aware of what my students are using and be able to relate to my students. The more educated I am in the current technology and any new technology coming out the better I can teach and make it relate to my students. Also, using new technology and not using the old school ways of little technology will help my students from getting bored and tuning out. As a teacher it may be necessary that I post items such as assignments and grades online and this would be much easier and less time consuming if I was well educated in technology.
As for the classroom and how technology should be used I am all for technology in the classroom! I think technology is becoming more and more advanced and if I have the opportunity to use it and get my students using it I would take advantage and do so. The younger the students are when they learn the technology that easier it is later in years and the better they learn it. If you know technology now, it is easier to learn as it gets more complicated and advanced. I think technology is very beneficial to students today and I believe it should be brought and incorporated in the classroom today.
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