End of Semester Reflection

This semester I have learned a lot about the wide variety of technology available and how to utilize it in the classroom. I had never dreamed about all the different resources that were available to teachers - from Smartboards, to Prezi's, to Storybook and so much more. There is so much potential for implementing technology everyday in the classroom in order to make lessons more engaging, stimulating, and fun. Besides learning about the amount of technology available, I have gained confidence in my skills of using technology in a classroom setting. I have learned how to present technology in a classroom and how to use a Smartboard. Also, I feel like I have gleaned a whole heap of insightful hints on how to be a great teacher. Thank you Mrs. Adair!

When I chose my NET's at the beginning of the semester, I hardly understood what NET's even were. I feel like I have come far in learning about them. The NET's for Teachers that I focused on this semester were:

Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating
contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles,
working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

Although I still have a lot to learn relating to the NETS, I have learned how to design and incorporate technological learning experiences using the my new knowledge of the tools available. Technology is a great way to engage students in the learning process. It is especially helpful when it comes to students with different learning styles because there is much variety when using technology in a classroom. There are also a lot of different ways to provide formative and summative assessments through technology. There are many ways that students can participate in fun activities that assess what they have learned. Also, technology gives students opportunity to be creative and original through technology tools. 

My Oregon Trail Technology Project

Week #15 - Skype

I found a lesson that was called East/West Culture Exchange where a fourth grade class from Taipei, Taiwan was wanting to interact with students from another part of the world. The Taiwanese students spoke both Mandarin and English and were hoping to discuss language, holidays, and class assignments over Skype so that they could learn more about each other's cultures. I use this in a lesson to teach my students about geography and other cultures.

The Student NET's that this project would fulfill are:
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.

The Teacher NET's that this project would fulfill are:
1.  Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate
experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments
4.  Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.
a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning

Reflection #12

I was helping in an AVID class last week and was talking to one of the girls in my group who was struggling on a math problem. She had been watching tutorial videos online to try to get help. However, the videos were not well made and thus were of little use to her. Two things about this struck me. The first thing is that it is awesome that kids can just look online for homework help instead of having to wait for a time to meet with their teacher. The second thing is that when using an online resource to to homework, it is important to have a way to check and make sure that the resource is reliable and well-made and that the information is accurate. Technology is great and makes life a lot more efficient, but if the technology that we use is not accurate, then it is of very little use to us.

Blog Comments #2

1. Comment on Angie's Blog 
2. Comment on Sarah's Blog
3. Comment on Amanda's Blog
4. Comment on Tootsie's Blog
5. Comment on Trey's Blog
6. Comment on Bethany's Blog
7. Comment on Alyssa's Blog
8. Comment on Kendra's Blog
9. Comment on Sigrid's Blog

Reflection #11

Once upon a time, in a great castle far, far away, there was a library. Here piles of great literary works had been organized and sorted neatly onto shelves. These books were the pride and joy of the king who resided there. Every night he would spend time in his library, reading his many books. Today, a man sits at Starbucks. In his hand, he hold a Kindle and is reading intently. On this one, small device, a whole library of books is stored. This library is his pride and joy, and he carries is around in his coat pocket. The availability of books today is amazing. Instead of hauling a backpack full of books around, a person can simply carry a small electronic device. It is amazing how available books are today.

Week #14 - The Future of Technology in the Classroom

In their article How Information Technology Can Enable 21st Century Schools, Ted Kolderie and Tim McDonald say, "IT (Internet Technology) has been limited to reinforcing—albeit improving—existing modes of teacher instruction rather than transforming them." Kolkderie and McDonald propose that IT has the potential to totally rework how we do school here in the United States. Instead of a "factory mode" where all students are required to learn the same things the same way at the same time, IT is making school more customized to each student. Kolderie and McDonald say that there are huge opportunities for IT to make "mass customized" educational environments for each student to learn. Much like an amazon.com shopping experience where the website is tailored to each customer's interests, curriculum could be adapted to each student so that they can be taught in their learning style about the things they are interested in. All this will happen while increasing their grades. This is the future of technology in the classroom.