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.

Expectations and Experience with Technology

This week our reading focused on surveys of students and their expectations and experience with technology. I would have to say much of the data presented met my expectations, yet I was intrigued with a few of the percentages. The reading started off with addressing that 99% of K-12 have internet access while 87% of classrooms have internet access, these resources are rarely used effectively. The percentages are incredible and show a changing learning experience for younger generations. Emphasizing that these recourses are rarely used effectively is surprising yet understandable. (As reported 56% of respondents identified integrating technology into the classroom as a challenge) Older teachers need to have proper training in order to keep up with the technology available in classrooms. I also think that much of the software and technology can be overwhelming and without detailed training, I can see where it’s not used effectively.

I was shocked when I read that only 38% of college students use the Internet for work in classes, instead the Internet is used primarily to communicate.  What I would like to know is how the other 62% obtain their information. Without the Internet and other programs I wouldn’t have been able to complete my work to the best of my ability. There are many amazing sites that should be utilized in order to complete work.  I was also shocked that only 6% of students reported taking an online course for credit. With being so technologically based and convenient for our fast-paced lives, I am surprised more students wouldn’t enroll in such classes.  “Students reported a substantial disconnect between how they use the Internet for school and how they use it during the school day and under teacher direction.”  WHAT?!!!!! I just don’t get this, how does the Net Geners not know how to integrate their technology!!!!!!!!!!

Qustions for my survey:

1. How would you like to see technology used in your classroom?

2. When do you use technology, when it comes to your schoolwork?

3. How do you integrate your knowledge of technology into your educational development?

4. What do you feel needs to change when it comes to technology used in your classroom?

Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizers are visual representations of a text or a topic. I am a visual learner as many other students are when I see information broken down it helps me understand the topic better.  I believe that Graphic Organizers should be used in student projects in order to help organize facts, information as well as record information. Graphic Organizers can also be used to help highlight important information as well as vocabulary. I don’t think students should be writing paragraphs and reports if more visual representations are used they can help clarify and expand on ideas as well as generate and create information. I think students learn by doing and it takes a different level of organizing to put together Graphic Organizers which can help them learn the text or topic and overall improve their academic performance!

My diigo.com Library!

Social bookmarking allows for users to organize, share and edit bookmarks in which they use. With this method it allows students and teachers to share sites in which they commonly use. This is a great feature especially when projects, group work or other research materials are needed it can help organize and SHARE!!! I had so much fun putting together my diigo page! I used sites that we have used in class as well as sites that were recommended through my IU13 substitute training program. It was the first time I looked through a lot of these sites and I will defiantly be using them for my future teaching needs! Social bookmarking creates a new dynamic in sharing sites with your "friends"! You can find my page here:
http://www.diigo.com/user/ginamocci

GOOGLE DOCS!

I would have to side with google docs! At first it was a little hard for me to use the newer program and get used to the features but overall I would choose google docs over Microsoft Word and Excel any day. I love the ability of easily sharing my work with teachers and fellow classmates. It allows for a fully interactive class and creates a flexaible working space. The features are almost the same but being able to easilt share work is priceless. No questions asked.... GOOOGLE DOCS!!!

Reflection on Excel

I personally LOVE excel, it keeps me organized in so many ways. Excel Software can easily be incorporated into a lesson plan/curriculum. I love lessons that teach children real life experiences such as banking, shopping, discounts, expenses, budgets, etc. First I would use Excel to have children track a fictitious "budget management" which would track where "their" money is being spent and then create a graph. Second, I would have my students use a Excel formula that would enable them to keep track of their goals. (How long will it take to have $75 to buy a video game if saving $X per week, etc) Third, Excel would be great to track grades, attendance, organize lessons, create lesson plans, etc. Forth, Excel can be used in playing a vvocabulary game by putting words in one column and mixing up the definitions in the other column. Finally, I personally love using Excel as a "shopping list" I am able to write down all of my holidays gifts and how much I spend on individuals and tally it up in the end. I think this would be great in showing students how to track, organize, and compute real life situations!

Technology Perspective

When it comes to my perspective compared to the student's perspective I would say that we both have similar views. Much of the conversation that was discussed in chapters five to seven, I could easily relate to. I think since I am still a student myself and I have grown up in our "tech savy" world, I respect and understand the point of views from the students. I would agree that we our a generation of learners by exploration in which we use technology to discover as well as solve problems. As mentioned in the reading, we take technology for granted. Once our computers or cells phones are taken away we feel lost! I feel the same way when it comes to technology in the classroom its convenient, saves times and efficient. When technology is used correctly by a teacher it can make the lesson enjoyable and well appreciated!! When I do my research for the most part I work with online databases/journals, etc we our a generation that rarely uses the library, with technology its easier and much more convenient.

Technology Lesson Plans Project

This was my first time using Google Docs!! I have to say, I think its such a great and creative site in order to create documents. When using Google Docs for the Technology Lesson Plans Project I had a few issues at first with getting used to the tools/features, I also had some problems with the site or it might have even been my computer. Overall, I felt as if I was using Microsoft Word the whole time. I can see already that I will be using Google Docs from here on out its so convenient and I love the ability of sharing work with others!
:)