Splicing Video and Video Project Reflection

Creating the video project was a veryfun assignment and a very long assignment. I think it ended up going pretty well because my group really went into filming with a well thought out plan. I think that when you teah thing based of the standards and you plan your lesson with excitement not just for yourself, but also for your students then education is a delight. The device that saved a lot of time for my team was creating that story plan because after that we all knew what to do and what to expect. Video taping was not that hard, but editing the film took a lot of time because we wanted to make it fun to watch for the students. I really enjoyed creating this project and if I do end up teaching 5th grade I would most definately use it in my classroom as a tool to help teach the water cycle.

Databases

Databases:
I never heard about databases until class. I thought a database was learning the inner workings of a computer. After learning what a database was and how it was used I now ask my friends if they know how to use databases of if they even know what one is. This tool would definitely be useful in the classroom. You can use a database to get to know your students or even to find out how effective your teaching is. I would love to use databases in my classroom. I thought it was very helpful that you can create a survey to protect the privacy of the students because that to very important. I also really liked that your could not only have the data, but also make that data into a visual representation which is usually easier for students to understand and can better help decipher your findings. Databases are a good way to stay organized as a teacher and get the students involved with technology. As a teacher you could teach the students how to use databases such as inspirdata so create graphs of scientific finds or simply make a survey and analyzing the information for patterns. Databases are a good tool for teachers and I can't wait to use it in the classroom.

Wiki and Bridging the Digital Divide

The Wiki seems like it would be very useful in the classroom or as a school. A Wiki is a secure place for children to work on a project and for communication between teachers, parents and students. I am very interested in learning more about Wiki's. During the explaination of Wiki's I was taking the midterm which I thought was not so hard, but I realized shortly afterward that I had forgotten to do something. Another difficulty that I ran into during the midterm was my computer screen froze not allowing me to finish and then when I fixed it part of it was gone and I had to redo it. I love technology, but this was pretty frustrating.

"Bridging the Digital Divide," when I first read that I thought to myself what in the heck does that mean, but when I read the article it became more clear. The article was very interesting and really gave the teachers and schools suggestions for making technology more available in the classroom and to the student in labs. There are so many students that do not have access to technology because of various reasons such as race, income, etc. Technology enhances education so much that it is well worth it for schools to find a way to make them available to students as well as teachers. One of the most touching quotes to me said, "In addition, labs reinforce the idea that computers are simply 'extra' or 'special' instead of an integral part of the learning process." This is so true I remember growing up and at school going to the computer labs every once in a while and my teacher would base it on behavior. This was really hurtful to me because I was always good, but my classmate had some problems. It is very important to make technology a part of the learning process because it make learning more interactive and students need the use of a computer under there belts to go out into the today's world.

Excell and Using the Internet as a Research tool

Last week was very interesting. I use excell almost everyday at work inorder to update my reading points and I still learned things in class. I never knew that you could use the cursor to spread you equation into other cells. This will save a lot of time and energy. I really like the fact that excell allows for alot of flexibility so you can go back and change the numbers and the other cells will change automatically. I thought that this is really helpful and I hope to use it more in the future as a teacher to create gradesheets, charts and much more.

This reading was very interesting and really helped me understand how to help student use the internet to search for things. I never knew there were so many different search engines available to students. It is great to have options when using the internet.

Evalutech

This website is pretty cool. This website will really help us evaluate software as teachers and for our next assignment. The part I like most about this website is the evaluation of children's software. As teachers and parents it is important to know whether or not certain software is good for your children. You ask Will my child be able to navigate it? Is it educational? Is it fun for a child? How is it designed? And is it really worth it? I know that I find myself asking these questions even as an aunt when my nephew asks for a computer game. This website really gives you the guildelines to help make your choice.
On this website I found instructional resources as well. I thought that this was pretty cool. It broke them down into the different subjects (math, science, language art, etc.). It also had lesson plans and teaching strategies that would really help first year teachers. This website is pretty cool and I am excited that we got to look at it and will defiantely use this in the future.

Bloom's Taxonomy and Powerpoint

This is actually not the first time that I have heard of Bloom's Taxonomy. In my EDMS 511 class we learn how to use Bloom's Taxonomy in the classroom to assess the different levels of learning. Bloom's Taxonomy is great in so many ways because not only does it help teachers evaluate, but it helps challenge children in the classroom. As many of us know classroom are very diverse and there are many different types of learning that take place in class. You would not expect a GATE child and an Special Education child to be able to the same level question, but you can still assess there learning by using another questions in Blooms Taxonomy. The questions are also formed to leave the child open to give a creative answer rather that yes or no questions. It is so great to be learning these tools now before being thrusted into the classroom.
Powerpoint is another tool that is so great to learn now before going into the classroom. I thought I knew a lot about powerpoint, but I was proven wrong again. I never knew how to add sound or the dimming effects to a powerpoint, but I am so excited to be able to use it in the classroom. Powerpoint is so useful in the class because it really helps guide a lecture and can be used to help in the learning process. It can be use to play games and get the children engaged.

Oh the Changes we've seen

The main thing that I gathered from this article is technology has greatly influenced education. It has helped teachers as well as students. My favorite quote was, "As long as educators continue to reflect on what they do in their classrooms, we will progress." Education is ever changing and reflection is a big part of being an educator. Nothing is ever perfect because as educators we need to realize that not all children are the same and we need to change things to meet their needs. As teachers we also are growing in experience and knowledge. As we learn we figure out tricks and trades to better our teaching methods.

Mapping Students Minds

This article was fascinating and really gave me some insights to helping children learning and learning from them as well. These teachers were really creative by getting the students involved in something local and bringing it into the classroom. This project seemed to be pretty labor intensive as far as collecting data, but technology made it a little easier. I believe that when you get the kids involved in something local it makes more personal and fun. I also thought it was interesting that the teacher noticed that when doing this project with her class that she was learning how the kids were thinking and learned with them. I would really enjoy doing something like this with my future class.

I really enjoy math so I think it would be interesting to do a project like this to get the children to really apply their knowledge to the real world and make them realize that school is important to their future. Math is not the most interesting subject, but maybe by making it more active by using field trips and technology we can make learning fun in all subjects.

I thought the use of mapping really helps kids because it forces them to make connections and learn cause and effect which is a subject that is extremely hard to teach. I don’t know why, but this article really made me excited about teaching. I think it is because I want my future student to really learn and how better to do that than doing activities like this one.

Tools and Teaching Understanding

HI CLASSMATES!

I really enjoy last class and I never knew there were so many things out there for teachers to use. The thing I can’t wait to use is the groups. It is going to be really nice as a first year teacher to have some help. I also liked to Yahoo briefcase idea of having class pictures up for parents to view, but not without permission of course. I can’t wait to learn more technology that I will be able to use to help further my teaching and make children enjoy learning. I also learned a lot from the reading.

The article really made me look back at my own education and wish that teachers had more technology and wanted to teach for understanding instead of just “drill and kill”. I really enjoyed the article, but the thing that really touched me was when it said, “…general goals of teaching are for students to master content and to develop the skills, strategies, and attitudes characteristic of successful learners.” I couldn’t agree with this more. So many teachers including the teacher I am with right now in my field practicum focus so much on testing that the children really don’t really get a chance to understand the material. The children are going to end up great test takers, but not successful learners. I hope that as future teachers we will remember this article and help student understand and not just memorize to take a test. We can make a difference in the live of children as we teach.

Hello Fellow Classmates

Hello Classmates,
I am currently in a classroom doing my first semester field practicum. I was placed in a third grade class full of English as a second language students. This class has seven in class computers. All the students get a chance to use the computer daily using the Accelerated reader programs and English in a flash. I have never seen students so content while doing school work, but these programs not only give the students a good learning experience, but helps them further their English and reading skills. These student came in the class barely being able to speak English or read and they have improve tremendously. Technology is great when being used in a classroom and I look foward to learn more and being able to apply it in a classroom environment.
Renae Bleuer