After reading through my classmates blogs, it is clear that most people gained a lot from this class. I think that many people, including myself, thought that we already knew how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint from previous experience. While it is true we knew some of the basics of these programs, I think it is interesting that many of us learned more than we thought we would and acquired several new skills that will definitely be useful in the future. For example, most everyone knew how to create a slide show on PowerPoint, but had never made a game board before or linked slides together. I think that a lot of people enjoyed that assignment.
One technology-related tool that I would like to learn more about is Photoshop. I really enjoy taking pictures and would like to be more comfortable editing them and adding other effects. While pictures can be used in the educational setting, this is more of a personal goal for me; something that can be used at home and for my own enjoyment.
At the rate the world is going now, I think that there will always be new technological skills to learn. I think throughout the rest of college I will continue to learn more about computer programs and other technologies, especially once I begin student teaching and can witness the use of some of these tools first-hand. In addition, when I start my teaching career, I hope to have a few mentors who can get me familiar with programs used at the particular school.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Blog Post #9
My classmates came up with several helpful web-based resources and I agree that Youtube is a good site to use to gain students' interest and find millions of video clips. Also, networking sites could be useful for staying in contact with students and their parents. One web-based tool that I find very interesting and think would be great to use with my elementary students is virtual field trips. One particular site, http://www.uen.org/tours/fieldtrips2.shtml, seems to offer numerous online field trips and opportunities for fun, engaging, interaction.
When you get to the site, there are several categories to choose from including fine arts, foreign language, math, science and social studies. Seeing how I will be teaching all subjects to students in my classroom, it will be nice to have one site that I can use for everthing. Students are free to explore different habitats, travel back into history, and quiz themselves on math skills. There are even links for teachers to learn more about technology in use in classrooms, special education, and professional development.
The excel program is going to be very beneficial to me because like I said, teaching several subjects, I will need to stay organized. As opposed to calculating grades and averages manually, it will be very convenient to use the functions the program offers to ensure accuracy and save time. Also, I see excel as a great tool for keeping student information such as parents names, emails addresses, and phone numbers. In addition, I will be able to easily create graphs based on student grades and can see which areas I may need to adjust or where I need to spend more time.
For the final project, my group and I are supplying an astronomy class with resources to enhance learning and integrate hands-on tools. We hope to either organize a trip to a planetarium or even better, purchase one to stay at the school. One idea is to buy an inflatable dome and use computer software to project at nighttime sky on the walls and ceiling. In addition, we think it would be very cool to provide students with telescopes, star maps, and other computer related resources to assist in learning. One challenge I see is fitting all of our ideas into our budget. A portable planetarium is quite expensive as well as telescopes so we will need to do our best to ration the money.
When you get to the site, there are several categories to choose from including fine arts, foreign language, math, science and social studies. Seeing how I will be teaching all subjects to students in my classroom, it will be nice to have one site that I can use for everthing. Students are free to explore different habitats, travel back into history, and quiz themselves on math skills. There are even links for teachers to learn more about technology in use in classrooms, special education, and professional development.
The excel program is going to be very beneficial to me because like I said, teaching several subjects, I will need to stay organized. As opposed to calculating grades and averages manually, it will be very convenient to use the functions the program offers to ensure accuracy and save time. Also, I see excel as a great tool for keeping student information such as parents names, emails addresses, and phone numbers. In addition, I will be able to easily create graphs based on student grades and can see which areas I may need to adjust or where I need to spend more time.
For the final project, my group and I are supplying an astronomy class with resources to enhance learning and integrate hands-on tools. We hope to either organize a trip to a planetarium or even better, purchase one to stay at the school. One idea is to buy an inflatable dome and use computer software to project at nighttime sky on the walls and ceiling. In addition, we think it would be very cool to provide students with telescopes, star maps, and other computer related resources to assist in learning. One challenge I see is fitting all of our ideas into our budget. A portable planetarium is quite expensive as well as telescopes so we will need to do our best to ration the money.
Blog Post #8
Looking over my PowerPoint 2 assignment, I would say that navigation is very clear and easy. My presentation begins with a title slide and then links the following pages. The navigation buttons for the same function appear in the same place consistently as well as questions, answers, and pictures. 
Also, the design is consistent and does not get in the way of the information. The text is in a clear font and placed against a background that makes it easy to read. Each slide has fewer than four colors and the text is short and to the point so as to not clutter the screen.
I think it is safe to say that I will use some sort of peripheral device on a daily basis in my classroom. Printers will obviously be necessary when creating assignments, quizzes, or tests. Scanners will be very helpful if I need to post information that comes from books, newspapers, or magazines on a website, much like many professors do here on blackboard. Also with scanners, I can transfer pictures onto a computer and use them in presentations or make overheads to use on a projector.
I am very glad that I learned the skills necessary to complete the PowerPoint 2 assignment over the last week. I had previous knowledge of basic PowerPoint skills but did not know how to create game boards and link slides. Being an elementary school teacher, I think that this kind of presentation will be particularly useful because it is fun for kids and keeps them entertained while they review information. I can definitely see myself using this method of presentation in subjects such as science and social studies. Studying facts for these types of tests can be very boring but making a game out of it will engage students much more and in turn help them learn more.
Also, the design is consistent and does not get in the way of the information. The text is in a clear font and placed against a background that makes it easy to read. Each slide has fewer than four colors and the text is short and to the point so as to not clutter the screen. I think it is safe to say that I will use some sort of peripheral device on a daily basis in my classroom. Printers will obviously be necessary when creating assignments, quizzes, or tests. Scanners will be very helpful if I need to post information that comes from books, newspapers, or magazines on a website, much like many professors do here on blackboard. Also with scanners, I can transfer pictures onto a computer and use them in presentations or make overheads to use on a projector.
I am very glad that I learned the skills necessary to complete the PowerPoint 2 assignment over the last week. I had previous knowledge of basic PowerPoint skills but did not know how to create game boards and link slides. Being an elementary school teacher, I think that this kind of presentation will be particularly useful because it is fun for kids and keeps them entertained while they review information. I can definitely see myself using this method of presentation in subjects such as science and social studies. Studying facts for these types of tests can be very boring but making a game out of it will engage students much more and in turn help them learn more.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Blog Post #7
I think that one of the biggest advantages of using presentation software in the classroom is that it allows students to see visual representation of the material they are learning. PowerPoint allows teachers to add graphics, charts, graphs, and videos to their slide shows in order to enhance their presentations. Also, I find PowerPoint very advantageous for creating review games such as jeopardy. It is a fun, interactive way to make sure students retain information. One disadvantage I see for presentation software involves use for elementary aged children. Often times slide shows are presented in a lecture style and that is not particularly effective for younger children as they have very short attention spans.
To help students remember factual information, the easiest way to incorporate PowerPoint is to created organized, bulleted slides. Students can take notes and highlight phrases that are particularly important. For conceptual knowledge, it would be very important to include flowcharts or graphs so students can understand the relationship between items. Finally, teachers can use PowerPoint to support student learning at a procedural level by using graphics, sound, or a video to tie everything together. For example, if presenting a science lesson, one could use a video to show the step by step procedure cell division.
One educational technology topic I find particularly interesting is classrooms where the teacher is not physically present, but teaching over a video from a different location. This is becoming more common over recent years in colleges because it allows professors to teach larger numbers of students from various places. I have never been in a class like this nor do I know anyone who has but I am not sure if it is a great idea. I feel like communication between students and professors would be very difficult since it cannot happen face to face and it seems that there would be less opportunities to get help if necessary. I would like to know if students grades are generally no different than their counterparts who physically see their professor or if they tend to fare worse.
To help students remember factual information, the easiest way to incorporate PowerPoint is to created organized, bulleted slides. Students can take notes and highlight phrases that are particularly important. For conceptual knowledge, it would be very important to include flowcharts or graphs so students can understand the relationship between items. Finally, teachers can use PowerPoint to support student learning at a procedural level by using graphics, sound, or a video to tie everything together. For example, if presenting a science lesson, one could use a video to show the step by step procedure cell division.
One educational technology topic I find particularly interesting is classrooms where the teacher is not physically present, but teaching over a video from a different location. This is becoming more common over recent years in colleges because it allows professors to teach larger numbers of students from various places. I have never been in a class like this nor do I know anyone who has but I am not sure if it is a great idea. I feel like communication between students and professors would be very difficult since it cannot happen face to face and it seems that there would be less opportunities to get help if necessary. I would like to know if students grades are generally no different than their counterparts who physically see their professor or if they tend to fare worse.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Blog Post #6
I think that Web 2.0 technologies are a great way to enhance learning and better communication in the classroom. By using such tools as Wiki or blogs, teachers can keep in contact with parents and inform them about grades, school news, or other concerns. This will really encourage parents to be involved in their child's education. I also believe that social bookmarking will help me as a teacher. I can stay organized by storing and categorizing web pages and files as well as exchange content with others.
I do not think that Wikipedia is the best choice to use as a learning resource. Many students find the site handy because its quick, simple, and right to the point, but often times there is a lot of incorrect or biased information. Anyone is allowed to post on Wikipedia so there is no way to know how accurate the information is. While it may be okay to use to find a quick answer such as a date or name, for a majority of academic work, other qualified sources would be much better.
This past week we learned about presenting information through power point. Though I have used this program many times before, I did not know about all of the things of which it is capable. I think this will be an extremely useful tool when I become a teacher and I expect that I will frequently use it to create lessons. I think it is a really great way for students to learn because power point provides opportunities for visuals as well as sounds.
I do not think that Wikipedia is the best choice to use as a learning resource. Many students find the site handy because its quick, simple, and right to the point, but often times there is a lot of incorrect or biased information. Anyone is allowed to post on Wikipedia so there is no way to know how accurate the information is. While it may be okay to use to find a quick answer such as a date or name, for a majority of academic work, other qualified sources would be much better.
This past week we learned about presenting information through power point. Though I have used this program many times before, I did not know about all of the things of which it is capable. I think this will be an extremely useful tool when I become a teacher and I expect that I will frequently use it to create lessons. I think it is a really great way for students to learn because power point provides opportunities for visuals as well as sounds.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Blog Post #5
I think that the Internet can be a very useful tool in supporting research so long as students learn to use effective search strategies and to question the validity of the information. Students must ask themselves, "Who wrote this?" and is it an expert? Also, is the information based on facts or is it simply one's opinion? To increase the chances of quality research it is important to know which symbols to use in search engines to obtain what you are looking for. There is a lot of inaccurate information on the web but if students follow these steps the internet can be very useful.
Not only can the internet be used to obtain research information, it can also be used for other educational purposes as well. I think that the virtual field trip websites would not only be informative, but also fun for younger aged children. I would also make use of tutorials to teach specific topics or websites where students can practice and be quizzed on what they have learned. In addition, online video clips could be helpful for students who are visual learners and like to see examples.
I think that at every grade level there are concerns for teachers who are working with students in a technology environment. At all ages I would be concerned about the viewing of inappropriate websites. Although most schools have blocks on particular websites, sometimes an innocent search can bring up inappropriate material. For older students who are working on research papers, I would definitely harp on copyright issues. Plagiarism is not something that is taken lightly and sometimes students don't even realize they are doing it.
Not only can the internet be used to obtain research information, it can also be used for other educational purposes as well. I think that the virtual field trip websites would not only be informative, but also fun for younger aged children. I would also make use of tutorials to teach specific topics or websites where students can practice and be quizzed on what they have learned. In addition, online video clips could be helpful for students who are visual learners and like to see examples.
I think that at every grade level there are concerns for teachers who are working with students in a technology environment. At all ages I would be concerned about the viewing of inappropriate websites. Although most schools have blocks on particular websites, sometimes an innocent search can bring up inappropriate material. For older students who are working on research papers, I would definitely harp on copyright issues. Plagiarism is not something that is taken lightly and sometimes students don't even realize they are doing it.
Blog Post #4
I think that the concepts presented in chapter seven will be very useful for teaching language arts and how to write stories and papers. Because I plan on teaching elementary aged students, I think that Kidspiration would be a good tool to have them use to create idea maps. I could have them try to fill in blank maps that I have created and then have them play around with the software to get a better feel for it.
I will definitely encourage my students to develop outlines and idea maps before producing a final product. Outlines are a relatively easy and comfortable way for students to organize their ideas and plan a logical sequence of events. Idea maps will help children plan carefully so they will not have to waste time with false starts and so they can realize quickly if their plan is unworkable. In addition, idea maps help students form links between ideas so they can remember things easier.
I believe that the new web hunting skills I have acquired in the last week will be very helpful for when I begin teaching. I have learned more effective ways to search for topics that will no doubt save me time such as searching within google scholar and through databases on the fsu library site. Also, the web hunt assignment introduced me to new teaching tools such as websites for generating calendars or creating my own site to post grades and assignments.
I will definitely encourage my students to develop outlines and idea maps before producing a final product. Outlines are a relatively easy and comfortable way for students to organize their ideas and plan a logical sequence of events. Idea maps will help children plan carefully so they will not have to waste time with false starts and so they can realize quickly if their plan is unworkable. In addition, idea maps help students form links between ideas so they can remember things easier.
I believe that the new web hunting skills I have acquired in the last week will be very helpful for when I begin teaching. I have learned more effective ways to search for topics that will no doubt save me time such as searching within google scholar and through databases on the fsu library site. Also, the web hunt assignment introduced me to new teaching tools such as websites for generating calendars or creating my own site to post grades and assignments.
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