Blog # 6 - Top of the Class Technology

I am kind of sad, this is going to be my last blog. I do have to say that this is a pretty cool looking blog, I am proud of it.

I have thought about this, and I think that it would be very helpful to become a member of MACUL, Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning. It looked like being a member of this also opens the door to MCOATT, Michigan Consortium for Outstanding Achievement in TEaching with Technology.

I also took a look at my local ISD, Eastern Upper Peninisula School District. They had a technology heading, which talked about how the district wants to improve their technology communication. When I went to the professional development page, I could not find any seminars on technology, but they do hold monthly technology meetings. I also looked at the Charlevoix-Emmett County School District, and they did not have any professional development training for technology. I am sure that at some point in the year they have some.

I found this web site that is the Michigan Teacher Network, and they profile teachers who are exceptional with technology. They provide the information for what they are doing with technology, so I was think that I could look over that, or even talk to them about ideas I might have.

I am not sure though if I want to join any more Michigan groups, because I am not sure if I am going to stay in the state. I think however, one of the best ways to stay at the head of the class in technology is to use it, that way the more you use the better you will become at it. If you are using it on a daily basis then you are more than likely going to be up on the last devlopments.
I also plan on becoming good friends with the technology teacher.

I also think that you can use technology to keep up on technology. Use the internet and see what is what. Use you students if you are in the upper grades, because they always seem to know the latest and greatest. I also happen to have family that works for Dell, and I have a geek for a boyfriend. He is always telling me about new technology.

Blog # 5 - Web Site Eval

Wow, is what I have to say about that website about Martin Luther King.My first thought was , "Is this true!". I can't really tell you anything about the people that published this webpage, except that they really do not like Martin Luther King, and that they want to run his name through the mud. AS for do I think that this is a good site for school kids to use, that would be a definite NO! Let me just quote a few of their quotes that appear on the firts page.
"I'm F--ing for God", and "I'm not a Negro tonight."
I don't care how true this statement may be, students do not need to read about this kind of stuff.

Websites like this one,are great proof that not all websites are repputable. I have been sitting here trying to think of how students can learn to be less trust worthy, and I am coming up blank. The only idea I can come up with is to talk to them and explain to them. I guess you could make your own webpage, that is full of made up information, as an example.

My internet search of Martin Luther King was interesting. When I went to google, it was the third one down on the page. Then I went to yahoo, and ask jeeves and I could not find it. As for how they got to be so high on the list for google, well more than likely because it is .org.

I enjoyed doing this blog.

Constructivism-Blog # 4

I plan on having a constructivist classroom. Why, might you ask? As a young student (grades 1-3) I struggled in the classroom. I had what you would call an "Old School" teacher. We sat in straight rows all facing the board, you were only allowed to get up if you raised your hand. She stood at the front of the classroom, writing on the chalkboard, or lecturing us. The only type of materials used were our textbooks and workbooks. The only form of assessment was your typical testing. My mother was beginning to worry about my education because I was doing so poorly. Now I want you know that not everybody in the class was doing poorly, but I would have to say about half of us were.

Entering 4th grade I was I greated with a different style of classroom. On the first day we as class walked into a room with round desks, and work stations along the back wall. She told us that she liked the round desks better, because it allowed for group work. Imagine our surprise. What was this all about we were thinking. We were never allowed to work toegther, that was viewed as cheating. The teacher allowed us to get up and get a drink whenever we needed to. She hardly ever stood infront of the class and lectured. She was always walking around the room asking us questions, and getting our input on things. We watched educational movies, played educational games, and used manipulatives in our math. We did more hands on learning in one week then we had ever done in the first 3 years of elementary. I remember once, we had to make a shadow box after reading a story in language arts, and present it to the class. We all that this was great. The next day the teacher told us that she was so pleased with our progress, and that we had all recieved an A. We were so surprised. We asked an A, on what? She then told us on our shadow boxes. That was her way of assessing us on that perticular story. Yes, sometimes we would have your typical test, but we also had fun forms of assessment.

So what was the difference in the two teachers. The first had a traditional classroom, and the second had a constructivist classroom. That was a turing point in my education. That year almost everybody in my class excelled. The students who had done poorly the years before showed great improvement, and the student that had done well in the years before continued to do well. I think that the critics who argue that there is little hard evidence of the constructivist method, are crazy. Even if there isn't that much of a change in grades from the traditional classroom to the constructivist classroom, let the students have fun while learning. As adults we tell each other to find a career that we enjoy. Why not let the student enjoy their learning experince. Another aspect is that children don't feel incontrol of their lives when they are younger, and this can give them the feeling of ownership. It gives them a feeling of something they are incontrol of.

I don't think that you can go wrong with a constructivist classroom. I know I plan on having one. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blog # 3 Online Classes

I have enjoyed this online class. I was a little worried about taking this class online, but I really did not have a choice. I am however, happy that I have done it this way. I am a night person, and this class has allowed me to work on this class whenever I want. If I choice to work on it at two in the morning than I can, and I don't have to worry about what I am going to wear to class. (haha)

The draw back to an online class is that I tend to wait until the very last minute. Normally this isn't a problem, but if for some reason you have a problem with your internet then you could be in a world of hurt.

I have never had another online class so I am not sure how it compares to others. I have realized that when I am in a face to face class I tend to ask silly questions on how to do things because they will be answered on the spot. With the online class I am more likely to search for the answer before e-mailing my question. It has helped my research skills, and also it has required me to pay more attention to the little details. The little details are there in a face to face class, I just think that we take advantage of the fact that the teacher is in the same room as us.

So far I have enjoyed this class, and I would give it a double thoumbs up. I am not sure if I would take another online class, it would all depend on what it was. I work in North Centrals book store, and I see all the classes that they offer online, and I am not so sure that I would try taking some of them online. After all, they were hard enough face to face.

Blog # 2 - Software

There are so many forms of software that I feel are important for students to learn, it is hard to narrow it down to just the top 5. Well here go it they are. Drum roll please...............

1. Word Processing- I think that this program is the most widely used of all the softwares. I also feel that it is easy for the student to learn the basics at a young age. The grade that I would start using this at is 2nd.

2. Educational Games- As teachers are goal is to educate, and ecucational games help to reach some of the multiple intellegences. This software does double-duty. It helps the children learn different aspects of the computer, as well as educate them while having fun. I feel that this could be used in first grade, maybe evern earlier.

3. Power Point- This is a great way for students to do presentations. It is an easy way for them to present their ideas, and information in an organized fashion. As a teacher I know that I will more than likely use it in my classroom, and I think that the student will think that it is cool to be able to do the same thing that the teacher can. I think that the simplest form of power point could be introduced in 4th or 5th grade. As they get older the more advanced features could be taught to them.

4. Excel- I think that this is a very useful program. I know the basics, but I am still not confident when using it. It seems that many occupations are requiring the use of excel, so it would be a great skill for the students to have later in life. I would teach this at the middle school grade level.

5. Digital Photography- This seems to be the new way of capturing memories. You hardly ever see anyone using film anymore. Digital photography makes it easier for students to place their own photos into presentations. Student need to be able to save, edit, and send their pictures. I would say that this could also be taught around the middle school grade level.

Blog Entry #1-Tragedy

Yes I feel that we need to talk to the student about moments like this. Young children are very perceptive, and they pick up things. I feel that it is better that we inform them of the right information, rather than have them pick up information from unreliable sources. Things such as 9/11 and Katrina are events that are going to go down in our history, so I feel that these are teachable moments.
You can locate resources from the internet, but also your local red cross is a great source of information. The NASP, the link that you included, is a great resource to have. (I am from a very small school and we don't have to deal with the death of fellow classmates very often, so when one of my classmates was killed, I remember hearing the teachers talk about the NASP.)
I think people can only learn from tragedy, if they are aware of all the elements that go into it. So take Katrina for example, the students could then be taught about hurricanes, and sea levels. I think that as an adult, and as a teacher we will be aware and know the limits of how far we can go on informing the students. We just need to know common sence.