I have learned so much regarding technology in education this semester. I have learned how important and easy it is to set up and run a website for one of my classes. I have learned how to use a Smartbaord and a lot of the features that they offer for a classroom. I have also compiled a ton of websites that I am going to be able to use when I become a teacher whether they be lessons, activities, or templates for my classrooms. I have also learned how to create a blog or podcast which is something that I have been wanting to know for a long time. Overall I have learned how to navigate all relevant technology that I am going to be expected to know how to use in my classroom.
This semester I focused on the first NET for teachers which is to facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. I really wanted to find new ways that I could let my students use technology in the classroom. The first way that I am going to do that is by using it myself, and the second way is by requiring them to create blogs and podcast about different subjects that we are covering.
The NET that I focused on for students was the 1st one "Creativity and Innovation." This tied in really well with the NET that I was focusing on for myself. I just wanted to make sure that during this semester I learnt all the different types of technology that I was going to be required to know when I get a job.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Reflection #12
What:Technology lets us share what is going on in our classrooms with other colleagues, parents, and students by posting pictures or videos online.
So what: This is a great opportunity for teachers. Instead of having to try and get in contact with every parent it enables us to have an online platform that everybody can go to to get information about our classes. We can post videos or pictures of what is happening in our classes to encourage students to do better, and to highlight their good work.
Now what: I think we need to make sure that we are all using websites in our classrooms to keep everyone outside of the classroom informed about what is going on. One thing that we do need to make sure that we do is get permission from all of the parents to show their child's pictures and work online, as this could quickly become a legal headache.
So what: This is a great opportunity for teachers. Instead of having to try and get in contact with every parent it enables us to have an online platform that everybody can go to to get information about our classes. We can post videos or pictures of what is happening in our classes to encourage students to do better, and to highlight their good work.
Now what: I think we need to make sure that we are all using websites in our classrooms to keep everyone outside of the classroom informed about what is going on. One thing that we do need to make sure that we do is get permission from all of the parents to show their child's pictures and work online, as this could quickly become a legal headache.
Reflection #11
What: The role that technology in starting to play in our classrooms
So what: I recently read an article called "Effects of Technology on classrooms and Students" and it was talking about how technology is forcing kids in our classroom to take a more active role in their education. They are required to make more decisions and are often times required to participate more with technology. Teacher roles are changing as well since they are no longer the center of attention when technology is used.
Technology also enable our students to accomplish more complex tasks then they used to be able to do.
Now What: I think we just need to be aware of how how technology is affecting us and our students. We need to understand that it is a good thing when used right, but it can also turn into a bad thing if used wrong or too much.
So what: I recently read an article called "Effects of Technology on classrooms and Students" and it was talking about how technology is forcing kids in our classroom to take a more active role in their education. They are required to make more decisions and are often times required to participate more with technology. Teacher roles are changing as well since they are no longer the center of attention when technology is used.
Technology also enable our students to accomplish more complex tasks then they used to be able to do.
Now What: I think we just need to be aware of how how technology is affecting us and our students. We need to understand that it is a good thing when used right, but it can also turn into a bad thing if used wrong or too much.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Assignment #4
Mr. Walton's Website
For my technology project I decided to create a website like the one that I would use in for my classroom. I also wanted to create a blog that I could use to give students and parents
information about upcoming weeks.
Features:
For my website some of the features that I used were: choosing a template, background picture, background colors, making links to other websites, created classes, calendar events, uploaded documents, and created online quizzes.
For my blog I chose a website called voki.com. On this website instead of having a traditional blog it was more of a mix between a blog and a podcast. At voki you create a character to be the face of your blog and then you can either type or record what you want your character to say. I really liked this idea because it is more enjoyable to watch the animation then read a long blog, and it also makes it so students who can't read can still get information online.
Issues:
Some of the issues that I have faced with this is getting the voki to post to my website. I looked and looked for a way to get it on there, but it just wasn't happening. I solved this problem by finding a tool on my website that allows me to email my class lists. The voki does come in a format that emails so that way I could just email all my students the blog for each week.
I really didn't have any problems with setting up my website. I went to K12lessonplans.com and it really made the whole process pretty painless.
What it means to me as a teacher:
This project really showed how easy it would be to set up a website for all of my classes and how I could keep the students and parents informed. I always knew that it would be a good idea to have a resource like this for the parents, but I just assumed that it would be soo time consuming that realistically it would be something that I would never do. The voki website was really helpful because it is a really quick and fun way to get information across. I like the idea of my students being able to watch something without having to look at me.
NETS for Teachers:
2. Design and Develop Digital-age Learning Experiences and Assessments- My website full fills this in a couple of different ways. One way that it fulfills it is there are online quizzes that students are required to take throughout the quarters. It also is a place that I can post class lectures and activities.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership- The idea of creating a website, blog, or podcast at the beginning of this semester was kind of a daunting task, but now I feel comfortable doing all three. I think this project helped me accomplish this.
NETS for Students:
1. Creativity and Innovation: By showing the students how to use voki and requiring them to do it as well it really lets them show how creative they can be with their blogs and characters.
3. Research and Information Fluency- My website gives the students in my class a starting point when they are doing a paper or project for my class. They can come here and have a list of websites that they can use for their project and it helps them get the ball rolling.
For my technology project I decided to create a website like the one that I would use in for my classroom. I also wanted to create a blog that I could use to give students and parents
information about upcoming weeks.
Features:
For my website some of the features that I used were: choosing a template, background picture, background colors, making links to other websites, created classes, calendar events, uploaded documents, and created online quizzes.
For my blog I chose a website called voki.com. On this website instead of having a traditional blog it was more of a mix between a blog and a podcast. At voki you create a character to be the face of your blog and then you can either type or record what you want your character to say. I really liked this idea because it is more enjoyable to watch the animation then read a long blog, and it also makes it so students who can't read can still get information online.
Issues:
Some of the issues that I have faced with this is getting the voki to post to my website. I looked and looked for a way to get it on there, but it just wasn't happening. I solved this problem by finding a tool on my website that allows me to email my class lists. The voki does come in a format that emails so that way I could just email all my students the blog for each week.
I really didn't have any problems with setting up my website. I went to K12lessonplans.com and it really made the whole process pretty painless.
What it means to me as a teacher:
This project really showed how easy it would be to set up a website for all of my classes and how I could keep the students and parents informed. I always knew that it would be a good idea to have a resource like this for the parents, but I just assumed that it would be soo time consuming that realistically it would be something that I would never do. The voki website was really helpful because it is a really quick and fun way to get information across. I like the idea of my students being able to watch something without having to look at me.
NETS for Teachers:
2. Design and Develop Digital-age Learning Experiences and Assessments- My website full fills this in a couple of different ways. One way that it fulfills it is there are online quizzes that students are required to take throughout the quarters. It also is a place that I can post class lectures and activities.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership- The idea of creating a website, blog, or podcast at the beginning of this semester was kind of a daunting task, but now I feel comfortable doing all three. I think this project helped me accomplish this.
NETS for Students:
1. Creativity and Innovation: By showing the students how to use voki and requiring them to do it as well it really lets them show how creative they can be with their blogs and characters.
3. Research and Information Fluency- My website gives the students in my class a starting point when they are doing a paper or project for my class. They can come here and have a list of websites that they can use for their project and it helps them get the ball rolling.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Future of Education and Technology
According to what I have found it won't be long before every kid in class will either have a laptop or some sort of palm pilot that they can work on. This is already happening in most math classes with the graphing calculators. Now the leading graphing calculator manufacturer is adding new features to their calculators so they can be used in different classes.
Another thing that I think will catch on more as time goes by is online schools. This is already happening in colleges obviously but I think that at some point it could be integrated into middle and high schools.
Another thing that I think will catch on more as time goes by is online schools. This is already happening in colleges obviously but I think that at some point it could be integrated into middle and high schools.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Online Learning Experience
I chose a to watch a video from the K12 Online Conference 2009 called "Steal this Preso! Copyrights, Fair Use, and Pirates in the Classroom." This session talked about how we can use music, videos, and other peoples work in our classroom. He talked about when it is okay to have music, videos, or other peoples work in a class project. His main point was that it is okay to use videos and music and borrow stuff from different people as long as the content is going to be used inside your classroom only. So if you are going to invite in parents or staff members then it is not okay. If you are going to post it up on a school website or class blog then it is not okay. The only time you can use outside sources is if it is used for educational purposes inside the classroom. If you do want to use music or videos in a project and post it up on a website or something then you need to write to the copyright author and publisher and get permission from them. This can obviously take some time so if you are going to do this then you should do it early as it can sometimes take as long as a couple months. Another source you have is the public domain. You can use this for whatever project you have, but the problem you have is it is really old and very limited. Anyways there are obviously lots of other rules, but these are the ones that stuck out to me. We need to make sure that we are being a good example about copyright laws since we require our students to adhere to these rules in the classroom.
Reflection #10
What: Is there a point where we rely and use technology too much in our classrooms?
So What: Obviously technology is our friend in the classroom, and it helps make our classrooms new and exciting, but can we use it too much? I feel like there is a definite line, and we are quickly approaching it. Maybe I am just old fashioned, but it is much more enjoyable to read a book from an actually book then on a computer, and I would rather draw on a piece of paper then on a computer. I feel like there is soo much integration with technology that we are missing out on some things. I have this feeling that our schools are moving towards providing each student with a computer at school, and they will be required to all their work on it. It just seems like relying on something like technology could end up being a bad thing.
Now what: Make sure that we are differentiating our instruction. Use technology sometimes, but not all the time. Variety is our friend and it will keep our students more engaged.
So What: Obviously technology is our friend in the classroom, and it helps make our classrooms new and exciting, but can we use it too much? I feel like there is a definite line, and we are quickly approaching it. Maybe I am just old fashioned, but it is much more enjoyable to read a book from an actually book then on a computer, and I would rather draw on a piece of paper then on a computer. I feel like there is soo much integration with technology that we are missing out on some things. I have this feeling that our schools are moving towards providing each student with a computer at school, and they will be required to all their work on it. It just seems like relying on something like technology could end up being a bad thing.
Now what: Make sure that we are differentiating our instruction. Use technology sometimes, but not all the time. Variety is our friend and it will keep our students more engaged.
Reflection #9
What: Incorporating our Christian beliefs into our classrooms
So What: Obviously we are not allowed to preach to our students, nor would we want to, but it is our responsibility to make sure that we are a good example. I think that so much is conveyed through our actions, and that if we are living right our students can see God through us. It is hard for some us to not incorporate our beliefs into our teachings, but we need to make sure that we are not because something like that could get us into a lot of trouble, and even fired.
Now What: We need to make sure that we are doing our best to live right, and let our actions speak for themselves. We also need to remember that we are there to teach them about our subject area and not God.
So What: Obviously we are not allowed to preach to our students, nor would we want to, but it is our responsibility to make sure that we are a good example. I think that so much is conveyed through our actions, and that if we are living right our students can see God through us. It is hard for some us to not incorporate our beliefs into our teachings, but we need to make sure that we are not because something like that could get us into a lot of trouble, and even fired.
Now What: We need to make sure that we are doing our best to live right, and let our actions speak for themselves. We also need to remember that we are there to teach them about our subject area and not God.
Week 13 Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Word features: Spell check, clip art, headers, tables and graphs, footnotes, envelope maker,
Excel features: List feature, templates, Protect mode, clipboard viewer, freeze panes,
PowerPoint: Clip art, backgrounds, adding links, graphs,
Projects for Students
1) Create a game like Jeopardy on PowerPoint
2) Record homework on an excel spreadsheet
3) Write what they did over the summer in Word
Excel features: List feature, templates, Protect mode, clipboard viewer, freeze panes,
PowerPoint: Clip art, backgrounds, adding links, graphs,
Projects for Students
1) Create a game like Jeopardy on PowerPoint
2) Record homework on an excel spreadsheet
3) Write what they did over the summer in Word
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Reflection #8
What: The weight problem that the US and the rest of the world is facing
So what: The whole world is facing this new epidemic of being overweight. According to a study done by John Hopkins university 66% of adults and 16% of kids are overweight. They also go on to say that if this trend continues that by 2015 75% of adults will be overweight. The effects of being overweight are starting to kick in and adults are having more heart problems earlier, more cases of diabetes, and many other health problems too.
Now what: Now that people are realizing that eating right and exercise is important there is a new push for being healthy. This is a huge opportunity for PE and Health teachers to really focus on this with their students and give them assignments that will get their parents involved too. It is our job as educators to help our students learn how to be good stewards of their bodies.
So what: The whole world is facing this new epidemic of being overweight. According to a study done by John Hopkins university 66% of adults and 16% of kids are overweight. They also go on to say that if this trend continues that by 2015 75% of adults will be overweight. The effects of being overweight are starting to kick in and adults are having more heart problems earlier, more cases of diabetes, and many other health problems too.
Now what: Now that people are realizing that eating right and exercise is important there is a new push for being healthy. This is a huge opportunity for PE and Health teachers to really focus on this with their students and give them assignments that will get their parents involved too. It is our job as educators to help our students learn how to be good stewards of their bodies.
Educational Blog Comment
I posted my comment on a blog called The Cool Cat Teacher Blog. The blog was about how so many people waste time complaining about the situation they are in instead of just trying to make it a better one. I thought this was a good take on teaching, and on life in general. I feel like we all need to keep in mind that we will not always have the ideal school or classroom and we need to do our best with what we have.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Technology Project Plan
One of the main goals or targets for high school PE classes is the idea of knowing how to calculate how many calories you are taking in, and how to burn those calories. Another part of that is also putting together some sort of personal plan on how to get or stay in shape. My technology project is going to help students with this.
Podcast
Podcast
Reflection #7
Reflection 7-
What: A thought of the day website.
So What: I know a lot of teams where the coach brings in a thought of the day at every practice. The idea is to motivate the players, and remind them what they are playing for. I think this could be applied to a classroom as well. It is a fun idea where when the students walk in there is an idea on the board. This could serve many purposes but most of all it gives your students something to think about when they walk in.
Now What: I think it is really important that we are constantly considering what is the best way to get the most out of our students. If this means putting a quote up on the board or doing morning stretches we should do it.
What: A thought of the day website.
So What: I know a lot of teams where the coach brings in a thought of the day at every practice. The idea is to motivate the players, and remind them what they are playing for. I think this could be applied to a classroom as well. It is a fun idea where when the students walk in there is an idea on the board. This could serve many purposes but most of all it gives your students something to think about when they walk in.
Now What: I think it is really important that we are constantly considering what is the best way to get the most out of our students. If this means putting a quote up on the board or doing morning stretches we should do it.
NU Educators Panel Questions
1. What is your favorite tool for classroom management?
2. What is the most rewarding part of the job for you?
3. Do you find it difficult to keep up with the students in the technology department?
2. What is the most rewarding part of the job for you?
3. Do you find it difficult to keep up with the students in the technology department?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Bob Spankle's "Caught on Video"
The idea of bringing a video camera into the classroom is obviously a great idea, and before I read this article I could think of lots of good ways to incorporate it into a classroom, but Bob Spankle's article "Caught on Video" brought several new ideas to mind. The first one that really stuck out to me was filming the students on the first day of school, and then showing it to them later in the year to see how they were doing. I also loved the idea of quizzing students on a topic before you start a unit and then as a review at the end of the unit have them watch the video and see how much they have learned. The last idea that I really liked was using the video to give a substitute teacher an idea of what you want done during the day you are gone. This is really nice because it lets the substitute know what you want, and they could even go back and watch past videos to see what you covered yesterday or the day before. Now that we have access to this kind of technology it is up to us educators to make sure we are using it to help our students learn as much as possible.
Assignment #3 Resources for Teachers
As i started this my toolbox i had no idea what I really wanted to include in it so I decided to make this website solely for myself or a resource for another teacher to go to. While it is centered around resources for PE teachers their are a lot of really good sites that any teacher could benefit from.
My toolbox is located at wiki spaces and is really easy to locate. To find my wiki space you do have to first create an account on wiki spaces.com. Then you can just type in the search bar "resource for teachers" and my wiki space will pop up. From there you can see that I have listed several different categories that I thought would be helpful to any teacher. I broke my toolbox up into four categories:
PE curriculum ideas- A list of websites that can help a PE teacher with ideas for class
Resources for students- A list of websites that you could give your students to learn about nutrition
In class resources- Sites that you could use during your class.
Organizational tools- Sites that help teachers organize information and make it more accessible for students
I know I will be referring back to this toolbox whenever I need ideas for my PE classes, or if I need to refer a student to a site. I am still really new to a lot of technology so some of the websites I am going to I think the easiest way to share the toolbox is to put it up on my personal website, and to just tell others about it.
I thought the best way to do this part was to take one website from each of my categories.
PE Curriculum- PE Central is the best website I have ever seen as far as PE websites go. It has everything that you could possibly need. It has lesson plans, assessment ideas, videos, and it even has a place to post or search for jobs. You could spend days going through all of the information they have stored up in this site. Definitely a solid resource that most PE teachers will visit sooner or later.
Resources for Students- Brain Pop is a really cool website that is geared towards younger kids. Its goal is to make learning fun and easy for kids. It has information on Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts, Music, Health, and technology. Not only is this website really engaging but it also is really easy to navigate. You could use this website as a tool for educating your students by having them go online and watch different videos about health or whatever subject you are teaching, or you could just post it up on your class website as a resource for parents to use to go over information with their kids.
In Class Resources- The Inner body Website is a really good resource for a Health or Science teacher. It is something that could be used really easily during class to quiz or go over information about different body systems. For instance they have a diagram of the muscular system and you could quiz your students by either scrolling over a muscle and having them tell you what it is or you could list a muscle and have them come up to the board and point it out.
Organizational Tools- I have never really learned how to create a podcast so I though that I should find a website that went over that and put it in my toolbox. This website is cool because it has a video that you can watch on how to create one, and then it also has a list of podcast that are appropriate for teachers. After you watch the video they have a step by step process that walks you through setup, equipment, recording, editing, and then finally posting to a website.
My toolbox is located at wiki spaces and is really easy to locate. To find my wiki space you do have to first create an account on wiki spaces.com. Then you can just type in the search bar "resource for teachers" and my wiki space will pop up. From there you can see that I have listed several different categories that I thought would be helpful to any teacher. I broke my toolbox up into four categories:
PE curriculum ideas- A list of websites that can help a PE teacher with ideas for class
Resources for students- A list of websites that you could give your students to learn about nutrition
In class resources- Sites that you could use during your class.
Organizational tools- Sites that help teachers organize information and make it more accessible for students
I know I will be referring back to this toolbox whenever I need ideas for my PE classes, or if I need to refer a student to a site. I am still really new to a lot of technology so some of the websites I am going to I think the easiest way to share the toolbox is to put it up on my personal website, and to just tell others about it.
I thought the best way to do this part was to take one website from each of my categories.
PE Curriculum- PE Central is the best website I have ever seen as far as PE websites go. It has everything that you could possibly need. It has lesson plans, assessment ideas, videos, and it even has a place to post or search for jobs. You could spend days going through all of the information they have stored up in this site. Definitely a solid resource that most PE teachers will visit sooner or later.
Resources for Students- Brain Pop is a really cool website that is geared towards younger kids. Its goal is to make learning fun and easy for kids. It has information on Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts, Music, Health, and technology. Not only is this website really engaging but it also is really easy to navigate. You could use this website as a tool for educating your students by having them go online and watch different videos about health or whatever subject you are teaching, or you could just post it up on your class website as a resource for parents to use to go over information with their kids.
In Class Resources- The Inner body Website is a really good resource for a Health or Science teacher. It is something that could be used really easily during class to quiz or go over information about different body systems. For instance they have a diagram of the muscular system and you could quiz your students by either scrolling over a muscle and having them tell you what it is or you could list a muscle and have them come up to the board and point it out.
Organizational Tools- I have never really learned how to create a podcast so I though that I should find a website that went over that and put it in my toolbox. This website is cool because it has a video that you can watch on how to create one, and then it also has a list of podcast that are appropriate for teachers. After you watch the video they have a step by step process that walks you through setup, equipment, recording, editing, and then finally posting to a website.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Promethean ActivBoard
Video
I watched a video on the Promethean ActivBoard and the news channel actually interviewed a few teachers in Maryland that has them. Some of the things that the teachers said is that it really engages the students and cuts down on behavior problems because the kids are so motivated to learn. It also benefits all kids of leaner's whether they are auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. Another really cool option that the ActivBoards have that our smart boards don't have is the ability for more than one person to write on them at once. This is really nice that way you can get more than one student involved at a time.
I watched a video on the Promethean ActivBoard and the news channel actually interviewed a few teachers in Maryland that has them. Some of the things that the teachers said is that it really engages the students and cuts down on behavior problems because the kids are so motivated to learn. It also benefits all kids of leaner's whether they are auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. Another really cool option that the ActivBoards have that our smart boards don't have is the ability for more than one person to write on them at once. This is really nice that way you can get more than one student involved at a time.
Reflection #6
What: Calling on students for answers when they don't have their hands raised.
So what: I was talking with my fiance about things that always bothered her in the classroom and she said that being called on when she didn't have her hand raised always bothered her. We talked about it and of course realize that the teacher is probably trying to involve everybody and create an open atmosphere, but can a teacher put a shy or slower child on the spot too much?
Now what: I think it is important that we as teachers make sure that we are being sensitive to our students wants and needs. Maybe if we force our students to talk in class it will close them off more and make them less receptive to us. It could even go as far as turning them against us, and make them feel like we are picking on them. Think about what you do and do not force your students to do in your classrooms. It might just change a kids life.
So what: I was talking with my fiance about things that always bothered her in the classroom and she said that being called on when she didn't have her hand raised always bothered her. We talked about it and of course realize that the teacher is probably trying to involve everybody and create an open atmosphere, but can a teacher put a shy or slower child on the spot too much?
Now what: I think it is important that we as teachers make sure that we are being sensitive to our students wants and needs. Maybe if we force our students to talk in class it will close them off more and make them less receptive to us. It could even go as far as turning them against us, and make them feel like we are picking on them. Think about what you do and do not force your students to do in your classrooms. It might just change a kids life.
Reflection #5
What: The benefits and negatives of giving homework to do in class.
So What: I am obviously in college now and I find it weird that some of my teachers still give homework to be completed in class. It comes across to me as the teacher being lazy. I feel like why am I required to come to class to work on some homework that I could just do at home. Obviously in class homework is essential for elementary kids, since they are going to need more help getting started with their work, but when does it become pointless.
Now What: I think we as future teachers need to make sure that we are using our class time wisely. We shouldn't be trading away valuable teaching and interaction time, for individual work.
So What: I am obviously in college now and I find it weird that some of my teachers still give homework to be completed in class. It comes across to me as the teacher being lazy. I feel like why am I required to come to class to work on some homework that I could just do at home. Obviously in class homework is essential for elementary kids, since they are going to need more help getting started with their work, but when does it become pointless.
Now What: I think we as future teachers need to make sure that we are using our class time wisely. We shouldn't be trading away valuable teaching and interaction time, for individual work.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Reflection #4
What: Teachers making websites for their classes
So What: I think this is something that all teachers could benefit from. While it may take a little setup work, I think the rewards are well worth it. This website could be a place where parents find anything they need to about your classroom, whether it be the syllabus or class rules, or the weekly schedule and special upcoming events. It also can be a great resource for students who miss class or are behind.
Now what: I think its really important to do our best to learn how to set up our own website (even if we are writing the html code ourselves) and make sure that we stay on top of it. Not only is it a good resource for parents and students, but it just might help us land jobs if we have a sample one setup that we could show at interviews.
So What: I think this is something that all teachers could benefit from. While it may take a little setup work, I think the rewards are well worth it. This website could be a place where parents find anything they need to about your classroom, whether it be the syllabus or class rules, or the weekly schedule and special upcoming events. It also can be a great resource for students who miss class or are behind.
Now what: I think its really important to do our best to learn how to set up our own website (even if we are writing the html code ourselves) and make sure that we stay on top of it. Not only is it a good resource for parents and students, but it just might help us land jobs if we have a sample one setup that we could show at interviews.
Reflection #3
SNL Skit
What: It is a Saturday night live commercial for online college. It is a spoof on what student miss out on when they attend an online college.
So what: Have you ever heard the saying that you can have too much of a good thing? I think that is the main idea behind this skit. In the skit they are basically mocking people that get their degree online because they miss out on so much that goes on in a classroom. It is hard to replicate human interaction on a computer. There is a lot of focus for us new teachers to be well versed in technology and to make sure that we use it, but we also can't forget about classic teaching methods that we grew up with too.
Now what: I think too much focus can be put on technology sometimes. I feel like sometimes people try to hard to integrate it into everything they do when sometimes it is just easier and faster to use a normal white board. We need to be careful that we are not cutting corners in our classrooms but catering to all students.
What: It is a Saturday night live commercial for online college. It is a spoof on what student miss out on when they attend an online college.
So what: Have you ever heard the saying that you can have too much of a good thing? I think that is the main idea behind this skit. In the skit they are basically mocking people that get their degree online because they miss out on so much that goes on in a classroom. It is hard to replicate human interaction on a computer. There is a lot of focus for us new teachers to be well versed in technology and to make sure that we use it, but we also can't forget about classic teaching methods that we grew up with too.
Now what: I think too much focus can be put on technology sometimes. I feel like sometimes people try to hard to integrate it into everything they do when sometimes it is just easier and faster to use a normal white board. We need to be careful that we are not cutting corners in our classrooms but catering to all students.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reflection #2
I thought since we have been learning so much about smart boards it would be nice to have a resource for different smart board activities. I found this one smart board activities. It is pretty cool. If you click on the United States you can choose any grade level that you want and any subject. It has tons of different activities you could do for any subject. I think its important than we as teachers start implementing these new technologies in our classroom that we do it in an interesting way so as to keep the kids attention. We need to make sure that we are incorporating this technology at all levels and in all subjects.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
School Website
Tacoma Baptist High School
The website that I decided to look at was my old high school Tacoma Baptist. It is a small private with only about 120 kids in the high school. I was surprised to find a working website since in previous attempts most of the links were not working. Some of the features that I like about the website was the links to videos so you could learn more about the school, and the ease of maneuvering around the website to find whatever I needed. You could tell that this website was not the schools main focus since most topics did not have that much information to them and a lot of the links still do not work. I think one area that they need to work on is their curriculum section. They have an area designated to this and the only thing they have is what subjects are taught for which grade level; which really is not enough information. Another area that i think they are lacking is their faculty page. New parents or students would like to be able to look at the staff and read something about each one. As of right now the only thing they have for each teacher is email address. The last thing they really need is for someone to keep up on the sports. They have the team schedules up but that is about it. I feel like they should be able to post results and have team pictures of from the seasons. All in all the website left the viewer lacking allot and if any real information was needed somebody would be better off calling or visiting the campus.
The website that I decided to look at was my old high school Tacoma Baptist. It is a small private with only about 120 kids in the high school. I was surprised to find a working website since in previous attempts most of the links were not working. Some of the features that I like about the website was the links to videos so you could learn more about the school, and the ease of maneuvering around the website to find whatever I needed. You could tell that this website was not the schools main focus since most topics did not have that much information to them and a lot of the links still do not work. I think one area that they need to work on is their curriculum section. They have an area designated to this and the only thing they have is what subjects are taught for which grade level; which really is not enough information. Another area that i think they are lacking is their faculty page. New parents or students would like to be able to look at the staff and read something about each one. As of right now the only thing they have for each teacher is email address. The last thing they really need is for someone to keep up on the sports. They have the team schedules up but that is about it. I feel like they should be able to post results and have team pictures of from the seasons. All in all the website left the viewer lacking allot and if any real information was needed somebody would be better off calling or visiting the campus.
Reflection #1
I though I would do some looking into some websites that offer information for parents and teachers that would help keep kids fit. The one that I found that I like the most is called PE Central. It gives lots of ideas for exercise programs and different programs PE teachers can run in their classes. This could also serve as a resource for elementary teachers for creating fun activities that they could run as a reward for their students. Its obviously a great resource for us PE teachers to refer to when we need curriculum ideas. Check it out its pretty cool.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Smart Board Presentation Response
I really enjoyed last night and learning about the smart boards and what they are capable of. I think the ability to turn the writing that a student does, into text is one feature that I didn't know about that I think could be really helpful. Especially since this enables you to save it and post it online as a word document so a student could access it at home.
The only part of smart boards that I am really not 100% positive how it works is the response system. I understand most of the elements, but I still need to learn how to setup a class so students can log in.
The only part of smart boards that I am really not 100% positive how it works is the response system. I understand most of the elements, but I still need to learn how to setup a class so students can log in.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Assignment #2
Smart board Activity
Smart Board Features: Touch Screen, Response Clickers
NETS for Teachers: In this project i focused on the first and second NETS for teachers which are: Facilitate and Inspire Students Learning and Creativity/ Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. . The activity that I planned for Tuesday the 16th is a perfect way to get students thinking about what foods are healthy in a fun way. With this activity the students get to get up and get involved with what they are learning. They are also being assessed through the technology.
NETS for Students: The NETS for students that I focused on in this project were the second and forth ones which are: Communication and Collaboration/ Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. In this activity the students are using media to interact with the subject, and they are also doing this at a distance with the clickers. During the presentation they are required to use their problem solving skills and decide which foods are healthy for them and which ones are not.
Interactive white boards make it so much easier to make sure your students are engaged and paying attention. Getting them up and at the board is also good for them, because it is hard for kids to stay seated for long periods of time, which is what the norm used to be for students. Its also nice for sports because you can show positioning easily in a classroom so when you get out to play all the kids know where they should be.
Smart Board Features: Touch Screen, Response Clickers
NETS for Teachers: In this project i focused on the first and second NETS for teachers which are: Facilitate and Inspire Students Learning and Creativity/ Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. . The activity that I planned for Tuesday the 16th is a perfect way to get students thinking about what foods are healthy in a fun way. With this activity the students get to get up and get involved with what they are learning. They are also being assessed through the technology.
NETS for Students: The NETS for students that I focused on in this project were the second and forth ones which are: Communication and Collaboration/ Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. In this activity the students are using media to interact with the subject, and they are also doing this at a distance with the clickers. During the presentation they are required to use their problem solving skills and decide which foods are healthy for them and which ones are not.
Interactive white boards make it so much easier to make sure your students are engaged and paying attention. Getting them up and at the board is also good for them, because it is hard for kids to stay seated for long periods of time, which is what the norm used to be for students. Its also nice for sports because you can show positioning easily in a classroom so when you get out to play all the kids know where they should be.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Generation IM
I am always surprised when I hear a new statistic of how much time kids spend in front of a screen. The tally is up to 6.5 hours a day now. That is a staggering number. This means that all kids are doing is sitting in front of a screen. Which is a fun task for us PE teachers to battle but I guess that is another story. I think the biggest thing that I got from this article is that if we are going to communicate and teach kids today we have to be prepared to use technology. I think that the ideas it listed at the end of an article are a great but there are also tons of other ways to use technology. The key is keeping students engaged and interested.
Blogs for Educators
Free technology for teachers
The blog that I really liked on this site is the one about half way down the page titled "Five Good Places to find Math Tutorial Videos." Math is one one those subjects that some students just really have a hard time understanding, like the author of this blog relates to. Some students can have it explained to them time and time again but unless they see it done they are helpless. I think these sites could be a huge help to these students, because if they get stuck at home and they have no one to help them then they really can't complete the assignment. I think its really important for teachers to let their students know that there are resources out there to help them succeed and encourage them to search for them and use them.
The blog that I really liked on this site is the one about half way down the page titled "Five Good Places to find Math Tutorial Videos." Math is one one those subjects that some students just really have a hard time understanding, like the author of this blog relates to. Some students can have it explained to them time and time again but unless they see it done they are helpless. I think these sites could be a huge help to these students, because if they get stuck at home and they have no one to help them then they really can't complete the assignment. I think its really important for teachers to let their students know that there are resources out there to help them succeed and encourage them to search for them and use them.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Assignment #1
Author- Gary Stiler
Title-MP3 Players: Applications and Implications for the Use of Popular Technology in Secondary Schools
Source- Education, v128 n1 p20-33 Fall 2007. 14 pp. (Peer Reviewed Journal)
URL-http://www.projectinnovation.biz/education.html
Summary:
This article talks about how mp3 players might be used by teachers in the classroom. It starts out by talking about the popularity of them, and that instead of embracing this new technology most schools and teachers are just banning them. It then goes on to talk about how schools could use them. Some examples are for audio books, for music teachers, for downloading appropriate speech's or lectures from topics being explored in class, and coaches or PE teachers could use them to watch video clips or teach new strategies or sports or just listen to music while exercising. Another interesting thing it touched on was some universities are distributing them to their students for use in their classrooms. The last portion of the article was spent talking about two groups of teachers and coaches that had used them in their classrooms as part of an experiment, and their reactions to the mp3 players.
Reflection:
I think that giving a mp3 player to a student in a traditional classroom could be very distracting, but in a PE classroom there are many advantages. Often times when students are doing a circuit workout or running exercise there is music playing so having the students have a mp3 would enable them to workout to their own music which could improve productivity. Also, if you had students download and bring to class certain files you had posted, they could watch drills or exercises and practice them during class.
NETS for Teachers:
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
As a PE teacher I think the most important thing you can do is inspire your students to get involved in physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. One of the easiest ways to do this is to be physically active and fit themselves. It is hard for students to take their health teachers seriously when their health teacher is out of shape. Three ways that I am going to focus on inspiring students to be fit are:
1)Stay fit and in shape myself by being physically active at least three times a week.
2)Find ways students can get involved in physical fitness outside of the classroom.
3)Explore new games and activities to do inside the classroom that will involve and interest more students.
NETS for Students:
Creativity and Innovation
Its hard to get up and exercise the same way day after day for the rest of your life. Its important for students to be constantly exploring different way that they can get exercise. Most students think of working out as going to the gym and lifting weights or running around a track, but the fact of the matter is most people don't enjoy doing these things. Its important to remind students that there are other ways to stay fit besides heading to the gym.
Two assignments you could give your students:
1)Have students talk about something they do (or could do) that is a good way of getting exercise that most people wouldn't think of.
2)Have students calculate how many calories they could burn in a typical week if they never walked everywhere instead of driving.
Title-MP3 Players: Applications and Implications for the Use of Popular Technology in Secondary Schools
Source- Education, v128 n1 p20-33 Fall 2007. 14 pp. (Peer Reviewed Journal)
URL-http://www.projectinnovation.biz/education.html
Summary:
This article talks about how mp3 players might be used by teachers in the classroom. It starts out by talking about the popularity of them, and that instead of embracing this new technology most schools and teachers are just banning them. It then goes on to talk about how schools could use them. Some examples are for audio books, for music teachers, for downloading appropriate speech's or lectures from topics being explored in class, and coaches or PE teachers could use them to watch video clips or teach new strategies or sports or just listen to music while exercising. Another interesting thing it touched on was some universities are distributing them to their students for use in their classrooms. The last portion of the article was spent talking about two groups of teachers and coaches that had used them in their classrooms as part of an experiment, and their reactions to the mp3 players.
Reflection:
I think that giving a mp3 player to a student in a traditional classroom could be very distracting, but in a PE classroom there are many advantages. Often times when students are doing a circuit workout or running exercise there is music playing so having the students have a mp3 would enable them to workout to their own music which could improve productivity. Also, if you had students download and bring to class certain files you had posted, they could watch drills or exercises and practice them during class.
NETS for Teachers:
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
As a PE teacher I think the most important thing you can do is inspire your students to get involved in physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. One of the easiest ways to do this is to be physically active and fit themselves. It is hard for students to take their health teachers seriously when their health teacher is out of shape. Three ways that I am going to focus on inspiring students to be fit are:
1)Stay fit and in shape myself by being physically active at least three times a week.
2)Find ways students can get involved in physical fitness outside of the classroom.
3)Explore new games and activities to do inside the classroom that will involve and interest more students.
NETS for Students:
Creativity and Innovation
Its hard to get up and exercise the same way day after day for the rest of your life. Its important for students to be constantly exploring different way that they can get exercise. Most students think of working out as going to the gym and lifting weights or running around a track, but the fact of the matter is most people don't enjoy doing these things. Its important to remind students that there are other ways to stay fit besides heading to the gym.
Two assignments you could give your students:
1)Have students talk about something they do (or could do) that is a good way of getting exercise that most people wouldn't think of.
2)Have students calculate how many calories they could burn in a typical week if they never walked everywhere instead of driving.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Beginning of Semester Reflection
Its amazing how much technology advances over just a few years. I have not been out of high school very long and yet so much has changed since I was there. It is amazing what this new technology is bringing into the classroom, and even more amazing the possibilities it brings. I have already learned a lot about technology and the ways that it can be used in the classroom and I am excited to see how much more I can learn. A few things that have stuck out to me so far this semester like the idea of digital natives or immigrants and how that can effect how we approach and use technology in the classroom. Another thing that has stuck out to me is the importance of technology, and the fact that if we are not using it we are going to be putting out students at a disadvantage. They learn best through these avenues, because that is what they are used to using, so if we choose to not use them then we are only hurting our students. I cant wait to start using these methods in my classroom.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Smart Boards (Week 3)
Smart boards have given teachers today such a big advantage. I still really don't know how they work, but I am really excited to get to learn. The idea that a teacher can so easily bring up information and have the students interact with it at the same time is amazing. If used properly this can help students learn in different capacities and get the students up and becoming a part of their learning experience. Not only will smart boards help out in the classroom but they also enable the teacher an easy way to post their lesson plans and information online so students that struggled with it the first time can go online when they get home and go over it again if they want. It also lets parents see what is actually going on in a classroom a lot easier than previously. This is a tool that if used properly is going to help out everyone.
Smart board article
Smart board article
Turning on the lights (week 2)
In the article Turning on the Lights they talk about the importance of incorporating technology into our classes as teachers. Its sad to think that most of the time kids in school are bored. They are not getting pushed to their limits because the teachers don't seem to want to meet the kids on their levels. I think one of the most important thing a teacher can do is try and incorporate technology into every aspect of their teaching. Kids are used to moving at a fast pace and they are used to getting things now. They want to touch and be a part of the learning experience, and most schools now have the technology to let them do that.
Why did I decide to become a teacher
I have always known that I love working with kids. Ever since I have had the opportunity i have chosen to work with kids. As soon as I graduated from high school I worked as a camp counselor for a Christian camp. I volunteered for teaching positions in my church. I think this desire to work with kids comes from the fact that i enjoy being one. I went to college with the knowledge that I wanted to work with kids in some capacity, and being a PE teacher just naturally seemed like the right fit for me. I have been involved with sports and coaching my whole life and I really couldn't picture myself doing anything else.
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