Final Blog By: Gina Mocci

I believe it is very important that teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms. The technology that is presented to students in our society is ever-changing and continuously being modernized/ updated. In order for students to get the most of their learning experiences I believe we need to use the latest technology that is presented to us. Technology in schools demonstrates to students how to use the devices and programs while learning how to obtain information that is needed to succeed when it comes to growing as a student and later as a working professional.

The benefits in my eyes are endless. I personally feel that using technology allows teachers to be well organized, present information in a well constructed manner, allow for classroom interaction as well as use sources that relate to classroom lessons. I also think that students benefit from technology in the classroom. First off it creates a diverse, unique, interactive learning environment. Students can also benefit from the amount of information that is available to research, create, organize and publish school work. 

Some of the challenges when it comes to technology in the classroom is the lack of training older teachers have with the new devices and programs that are available. Technology can also make a person become frustrated and overwhelmed. Teachers have to be aware of copyright issues while students need to be familiar with plagiarism in school.

After taking this class I have learned about so many amazing useful websites that I have saved for future teaching needs. I also have learned and have become comfortable with using educational software/programs and sites that will be of my benefit. I feel that this class has allowed me to develop skills and tricks that will help me use technology in a classroom properly and efficiently!!

Online Presentations

Maria- I loved your glog!! First off, the music made me want to relax, do yoga or drink a refreshing cup of tea. I would agree with you when it comes to the benefits that you have listed for Podcasts. I personally think the biggest benefit is the ability to use Podcasts as a way to reinforce material that is taught during class time in a interesting way. It’s such a wonderful idea to use Podcasts as a means to help with stress management…the benefits are truly endless!!!!!!

Suzanne- I liked your glog, and I enjoyed that it targeted visual learners. I myself am a visual learner and I would have to agree that using animation can greatly help visual learners when it comes to understanding concepts better. I have never heard of Stop-Motion or Celluloid as a animation technique,  I liked that you included examples of each which helped me understand them better. Animation allows learners to be engaged in what they are looking at. Hang drawn, model and computer generated are great ways to incorporate animation into the classroom.

Lisa- I really enjoyed learning about video modeling as well as the research study that you presented. I found the whole study to be intriguing.  Having the boy watch the video over and over until he achieved the desired behavior seems like a wonderful strategy. I liked how they used his classmate’s behavior in order to portray proper behavior in which the boy should be displaying. I thought it was such a good idea to capture footage of him on and off task. Once he mastered he would watch desired behavior and see if his current behavior is the same as what was mastered. Loved this research study J

Portfolio

I have chosen two portfolios in which I like something and dislike something from each! I think they are both good (in their own ways) but need a few tweaks! First: http://durak.org/kathy/portfolio/index.html I like Kathy's page, she gets very personal with her previous educational experiences. I think if she had more about lesson plans it would do her good. Her portfolio looks like she is telling a story or writing a journal its very personable! Second: http://kids-learn.org/ I like Mrs. Silvermans page, I think her lesson plans are fabulous and BEYOND detailed. What I don't like about the page is I wasn't able to learn anything about the teacher... that would have been a nice touch! As you can see both of the pages were good yet had things that weren't so good!!!

Copyright

The law of copyright can seem confusing and overwhelming for many people including teachers. There is so much information available to the general public, at times it seems "easy" to get away with illegal copying/downloading, etc. What surprised me with copyright was the amount of rules/ restrictions and the legal facts when it came to Fair Use. I personally would want to do the right thing and set a good example for my students but I think I would need a chart of what I can and can't do. Its too overwhelming to understand exactly what a teacher can copy. I myself have seen in work and at school numerous illegal copying of files. (Mostly they have printed over the copy max) I think it is our job to teach copyright respect to our students. I would do this my comparing students copying on a test to a teacher breaking copyright laws.

Video In The Classroom

I think video in the classroom has extraordinary value. It allows teachers to reinforce lessons as well as use video as a way of instruction. I think videos teach many things to students depending on the subject matter that is presented. It gives lesson plans a creative edge and takes teachers and students away from the typical day to day classroom activities. I think if you are teaching a business class and want to show students the wrong and right way of interviewing for a job, a video demonstrating would be a ideal way! I think you could also have the students create a video showing what they believe is the wrong and right way of interviewing for a job. The outcome would demonstrate great interviewing tips and tricks! The challenge would be making sure students know what not to do as well as what to do when being interviewed before making the video!!!!

Group Video Project

I really enjoyed making our video on crossing streets. Its a easy and simple subject, that not many people follow properly. With our video we were able to explain, demonstrate, as well as entertain our audience. We first started by creating a storyboard then discussed where we should film, once we started filming it was simple! When it was time to edit, I had fun! I love being creative and trying to think outside of the box!! What worked?! I think our topic was perfect it is something that everyone can relate to. What would I do differently?! Other then using the right camera next time, I wouldn't do anything different... our video worked for us! What surprised me?! Mine and Jenn's fabulous acting ability :)

Smartboards

Interactive whiteboards are becoming more common in the classrooms. I feel they interactive whiteboards enhance teaching and learning by bringing in new multi-media into a lesson, create more of a interactive teaching environment, allow students and teachers to research subjects/topics easily and they can motivate students since it changes the pace of the class as well as lesson plan. I didn't find the technology hard to use, although the features were extensive. It was pretty simple to learn the basic skills that were needed to create a lesson plan, etc. In my eyes, the pros seem to be never ending!!! Pros: allow students to engage in a different way, motivate students, can focus on different learning style and special needs, simple way to review and see if students understand the subject matter. Biggest Con in my eyes: EXPENSIVE! The only lesson plan I have really written was for our Smart board Lesson. When it comes to adding two digit plus two digit numbers, I should have broken my steps further down and had more examples as well as having the class practice with easier problems and gradually gotten harder.