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.

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.

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.

Blog Post #3

I think that Inspiration is going to be a very useful tool for creating lesson plans. I see it being effective for teaching all grade levels, especially in elementary schools where children really benefit from visual learning styles. I can definitely see myself using Inspiration for a science lesson or any topic where I may need to show a map, flow chart or a hierarchy of information. For example, I could create a clear and organized chart that shows the animal kingdom and how it can be broken down into smaller groups. Also, as mentioned in the book, I could teach language arts by showing kids how to make outlines or concept maps.

http://www.perspective.com/nature/animalia/index.html
This website generally follows most of the rules laid out in the chapter. It is very simple and consistent with a pattern of heading, pictures and words. There are only two different style types and the text is not justified which makes it easier to read. The page is limited to a few colors which make it look less overwhelming and chaotic. Also, there are several pictures that serve purpose and prevent the information from being too boring. Most of the rules of text have been applied such as single spacing and using bold and italics. However, some of the sentences are quite long and include a lot of punctuation which can be difficult to follow.

Throughout high school and college I have had a lot of experience with copyright and fair use issues. Any time I have had to write a paper I am constantly reminded the penalties of plagiarism. However, I think that younger kids need to be taught that this is a serious issue as well. In my elementary school classrooms I will teach my children what plagiarism means and why its not okay to use other people's work for your own.

Blog Post #2

As a student, I have mostly just used Microsoft Word to write papers. One aspect I have found particularly useful is the reference tool. It makes it very easy to insert citations and I can be sure my bibliography is set up correctly. I have also had some experience creating graphs and tables on Microsoft Word. I have seen teachers use the program for a variety of things such as making quizzes, tests, and handouts.

When I am a teacher I imagine that I will get a lot of use out of Microsoft word. As an elementary school teacher, I'm sure that I will be writing a lot of letters, permission slips, and other notes for students to take home to their parents. I will also use it to print out quizzes and assignments for my students.

A useful skill that I have acquired since entering this class is creating a mail merge document. I am certain to be very busy as a teacher and this can really save me some time so I can make letters personal without having to type each one separately. Also I did not know how to use the format painter tool before last week. That will also be very useful in saving me time when formatting papers.

Blog Post #1

Computers are a very important part of the educational experience because it allows teachers to present material in a variety of different ways. Students do not always learn best from the same techniques so computers and other types of technology create opportunities for students to see things visually, hear things, or even interact. I agree with the idea presented in the book that technology shouldn't just be used simply because it is there, but rather to enhance the learning environment and increase understanding. While it is true that teachers can learn a lot from his or her students, I agree that generally a teacher should have a better understanding than the student of the technologies being used in the classroom.

I think that computers are going to play a very large role in my own classroom. It will be extremely useful for all of my organizational and house-keeping needs such as attendance, grades, and other information. I have had a little bit of experience with databases but in this class I hope to get more comfortable with programs like Access so I can use it to its full potential. I think that will be very beneficial in keeping student records. Also, since I plan to teach elementary school, I think it will be helpful to use tutorials and other types of interactive software to keep my students attentive and having fun while learning.

Introduction

My name is Leah Petrauskas and I am a sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am an elementary education major and I will be applying for the major this spring. I really enjoy working with children and have had a lot of experience through coaching, camp counseling, and being a teacher aid. I love sports and participated in cheerleading and softball in high school.