Reflective Post

Photo credit Sebastian Dooris from Flickr

I had a wonderful experience in my EME2040 class. I have gained a lot of knowledge and have learned a bunch of new ways to surf the web and how to do things the right way. For example, one of the sources I learned to use was Flickr; a website with tons of great pictures. You can receive creative common pictures which are copyrighted, allowing you to copy them without getting in trouble.

 Also, throughout this class I learned how to create my own wiki, blog and teacher website. I really enjoyed creating the wiki page with my classmates. In the text book, they talked about how wiki pages can be used as a collaborative learning strategy and also explained some strategies that teachers can use with the page. One of the strategies mention was the “group processes” which is exactly what my professor had my class do. This strategy is simply just putting your students in small groups of 3-5 and have them participant in a project. The benefit for the teacher with this activity is that, they can see who takes part in the work and how actually isn’t.  

The blog page and the discussions post I had to create helped me tremendously. I learned how to not be so focus on the topic but to broaden my horizon. Searching to narrow on a topic isn’t the best thing to do but, by using keywords about the topic you can receive much more information. I loved the idea of blog post.  

EME2040 defiantly was a great class. I was very pleased with the amount of new things I learned and I believe that the course followed all the learning objectives. I am really happy that I chose to take this night class rather than taking it online on my own. I truly think my professor did an excellent job teaching the course! I am excited to use all the things I learned throughout the course when I am in my own classroom. J

 

 

Chapter 11: Engaging Teachers and Students in Learning and Self-Reflection



Photo credit to DoDEA from flickr

Focus Question: How can teachers and students use digital portfolios as tools for learning?

Digital portfolios offer affective ways for students and teachers to access teaching and learning opportunities. A digital portfolio is a collection of educational things gather together into a CD-ROM, website, or computer file.

There are several advantages and disadvantages of a digital portfolio. Some advantages are that digital portfolios are easy asses, include creative information display and also allows teachers and both students experiences in technology skills. A few disadvantages include time, computer access, and that the style will override substances in the presentation of information.

One type of portfolio that was discussed was a standard-based digital portfolio which serves as a way for new teacher candidates to connect lesson plans, teaching evaluations and other several other things that are done within the classroom.

I find that digital portfolios are used much more today in the modern world then they were back then. I find it very fascinating that digital portfolios can be very fast and simple to create. Also that they can transfer anything being done within the classroom with other teachers.

Tech Tool: Digital Portfolio Building Resources

While creating a digital portfolio you can include many different templates that can help you completely design your portfolio. Three of the templates mentioned are TaskStream, iLife and EduTools. The TaskStream is popular for a digital archiving tool, it’s a software that provides users with a variety of design options including presentation portfolios and learning how to work portfolios. iLife is a software created by Apple computers. This software allows you to incorporate more sound effects and professional quality features. Edutools is a website that provides online reviews and comparisons and consolations for teachers and schools interested in using e-learning tools and also provides reviews if online colleges.

 Summary & Conclusion:

Chapter 11 examines how teachers and students can be active participants in evaluating and assessing their own growth as learners using technology. Technology can be a powerful tool while assessing your students because it allows your students to perform what they have learned and what is being taught throughout the classrooms. Also the chapter explores how teachers can use performance-based portfolios, presentations and publications for personal and student assessments. Finally, the chapter ends with ways to use domestic classrooms and online survey software. Students can become actively involved with assessments and educational using technology. One way is by using the online survey which allows students to activate their prior knowledge and also giving them the ability to decide different materials will be used throughout the lesson. If you involve your students in the process of performance they will build a partnership for their learning environment and have an outstanding evaluation.

Resources:
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.

Chapter 10- Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

Focus Question: What are differentiated instruction (DI) and universal design for learning (UDI)?

 

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an instruction approach that allows students to interpret things in several different ways. This is a way for teachers to create different strategies to help students learn the specific needs in their grade level. Every student has a different learning type and by letting student use differentiated instructions these students will benefit more learning. Although everyone has different learning types, teacher have to try their best to incorporate all learning types. Not necessarily every learning type will be in one lesson but trade off the learning strategies that why everyone gets their turn.  

Universal design for learning is another approach to help teachers change instructional practices and classroom structures to promote learning success for every student. Every student can benefit from a wide and varied range of educational experiences that can advance the potential of student’s ability to learn. By designing different styles of learning it becomes a huge impacting on the students learning goals.

Tech Tool: Extra-Large and Online Calculators

Photo credit to Ian Ruotsala from flickr

 

Calculators in my opinion are very helpful to students in this generation. Although they’re a huge impact nowadays, I believe that students should know how to do basic mathematics without a one. There are several ways that a teacher can teach students how to calculate things without using a calculator. For example, teachers can have students count marbles or can even have their students them just divide quantities of items. Teaching students how to do mental math can be hard but very beneficial. Calculators may provide the answer but cannot shows students how they received the answer.

Summary & Conclusion:

Chapter 10 begins with explaining how computer technologies help expand opportunities for teachers to meet the learning requirements for all students, regular and challenged. Technologies used for special needs students can also be a learning strategy for regular students. This allows them a different techniques to learn material and also helps teacher’s incorporate all there students, whether they’re challenged or regular. In concluding the chapter it speaks about ideas for integrating technology into the teaching of writing. One of the ideas given is that as teachers we are to convince students that they are writers and that they must believe that the words and pictures that are in their heads are interesting. Inspiring and energizing our students to write means individualizing the parts of writing. One way to do so is to read aloud a story and meanwhile explain to the children why they the author used the type of grammar they used.

Teaching children with several technologies can benefit them in many ways. I believe that every teacher should incorporate at least two or more learning styles or technologies when teaching a lesson. Even explaining to the children what grammar is being used while reading aloud is a good strategy. One thing I really liked about this chapter is that the tech tool 10.1 was about calculating things and how they said that you can you use different methods in teaching your students how to calculate and not have them relying on calculators.

Chapter 9- Creating and Sharing Information with Multimedia Technologies

Focus Question:  What is multimedia technology and how can teachers use it to effectively create and share visual information dynamically in their teaching?

Multimedia technology is when you combined several media together in order to establish a high-quality interaction between the learner and the program. Media can be- text, data, voice, picture, and video. It is known for students to learn material better if there is more than one multimedia be conducting while teaching the material. There are two different learning modes. One of which is known as Single-mode learning which is when students only receive information by one style of learning. For example, when the teacher just talks. Another mode is Multimodal learning. This mode happens mainly when the teacher incorporates more than one media at once while teaching the material. For example, when the teacher uses picture and video while talking and explaining what is being taught.   

Teachers can use multimedia effectively in varieties of ways. One way it can be effective is by simply using a digital projector to show an internet website to illustrate what you want your students to do. Then you can break them into groups of individually allow them to access the website.

Tech Tool: Visual Learning with Digital Projectors and Interactive Whiteboards

Using digital projectors and interactive whiteboard are great aspects in today learning style. This two types of media help enhance students learning tremendously. A digital projector makes is possible for everyone to see things larger and on a bigger screen. This media does not only allow the students to view the object larger but helps springboard the conversation on what is being taught. Also with the digital projector you do not only have to have the object present, you can access internet websites as a visual as well. The interactive whiteboard helps modify and expand the lecture that is being discussed. The students can take notes on information displayed on the whiteboard and later use them as review on what was discussed in class. Also I believe that the whiteboard helps teacher combined several technologies and helps teachers conduct enhance learning in today’s world.

Summary & Conclusion:  

Chapter 9 is concentrated on how to create and share information with multimedia technologies. The chapter builds on multimedia’s used in classroom. Some of the ones mentioned were digital projectors, whiteboards, videos, and pictures. All of these and more are an excellent way to help enhance students learning today. Also they mention two types of multimedia modes. One is Single-mode learning and the other is Multimedia learning. Not very much teachers use the single mode in today’s teaching. Mostly every teacher used the multimedia mode because using more than one effective learning tool is way better than just using one and not give students a variety of ways to remember what is taught.

It amazes me how students learning completely different than they did back then. In the olden days teachers didn’t have the option to using several technologies to incorporate in their teaching. In today’s world it is proven that students learn better when they are taught using several technologies. Technologies advance day by day. I wonder how different things will be in a couple years.
 

Chapter 8- Communicating and Networking with Websites. Blog, Wikis and More

Focus Question: How can teachers use communications technologies as teaching and learning tools.

Teachers use communication technologies as teaching and learning tools mainly by five uses of electronic communications. These being teaching strategies, information sharing, community building, publish student work and energizing student writing. Communication technologies are provided in order for teachers to connect with their students, promote meaningful learning extend academics beyond the regular school time.

The communication system helps extend the impact of teaching beyond the information taught in the classroom or in the textbook. Nowadays there is never enough time to teach everything students need to know in a school year. Instead of assigning paper-pencil homework it is much easier to just have our students go online and submit via internet. Teachers can inquire everything needed over the internet now. They can put class notes, questions, homework and missed assignments and even writing ideas on a on the internet, making it much easier to communicate in this society.  Also it helps a teacher provide more information about the assignment, the grading policy and upcoming activities all on an easy updateable format. Also by using all the communication technologies teachers can help build learning strategies to help students learn how to explore the topics of interest.

Tech Tool: Posting and Publishing with Digital Image Scanners

A digital image scanner is a tool provided for teachers and students with the computer storage of handmade works.  It is easy to lose something you have written or drawn by hand on a piece of paper. But by using a digital scanner you can scanner whatever it is that you have done into the computer and store in a file where you know it is impossible to lose. Also by using the scanner it makes things a whole lot easier to publish online. It also helps teachers add visuals to hangouts, class notes and learning resources that they may be creating for their students.

Photo credit to oldschoolgoodtimen on Flickr

Summary & Conclusion:

Chapter 8 is mainly about how teachers and students can use computers and several other technologies to share information in classrooms and online learning environments. The chapter starts with explaining the use of educational websites and several ways that they are used in order to communicate. They talk about the five uses of electronic communications which are; teaching strategies, information sharing, community building, publish student work and energizing student writing. All these strategies in my opinion are all excellent. I find it fascinating that there are other way for teachers to communicate with their students without having to be with them in person. For example if one of their students misses a class they can receive everything online including notes and excreta. Next, the chapter talks about the use of wikis, blogs, instant messaging, emails, and discussion boards. Most teachers communicate with their students, families and professional colleagues through email because they feel that instant messaging has too much informal language. I completely agree with teachers in that cases. IM has a lot of slang and shorten words that are used when trying to communicate and I believe that teachers should be appropriate at all times when communicating with their students, the students’ parents and colleagues.  

Resources:
Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5

Chapter 7- Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools



Focus Question: What are the standard software applications found on most computers today and what open sources software alternatives are there?

Software is for computer instructions, it is a collection of codes that tells computer hardware to perform certain functions. There are two types of software’s, system software and application software. System software is responsible for the overall control of the computer functions and application software performs specific functions in ways to specialize different services such as, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, power point and several more applications.
 
Students and teachers use a variety of these application while learning new things. Some of the few programs that are most commonly used are word processing, presentation software, spreadsheets, electronic databases and programs for other specific functions.

 

Another commonly used software is the open source software which is opened to the public to use, cop and recreate. These types of software’s can be free but also could have a little cost fee included with the uses.  Also it is said that some educators believe that it is saver to use open source software because you receive more privacy. 

Photo credit to Ivan Walsh from Flickr

Tech Tool: A Mathematical Learning Game- Zoombinis Logical Journey  

Zoombinis Logical Journey is game designed to teach critical thinking, problem solving and mathematical learning to elementary students. There are multiple levels throughout the game. The game focus more on asking children to uses their powers of observation and problem solving to help them figure out the puzzles. Each Zoombinis has their own characteristic that differentiates themselves from one another. It is up to the children to choose the one that will help the best to figure out the puzzle. From what I have read I think this is a really interesting game for the elementary school students. They are learning math in a fun and neat way. 

Summary & Conclusion:

 Chapter 7 is about how educational software and programs help inquire learning for students starting in kindergarten through twelfth grade.  The chapter explains how software’s are a great impact on teachers and students and what there functions are. They also introduce several different types of software’s, which are system software, application software and open source software. As a teacher you can promote all types of software in varieties of ways. For example, educational software can be used to promote skills-based learning, problem solving and by inquiring learning with many other combinations. Later on, they explain how teachers can use computer games and simulations as learning resources. Some children love to spend time playing games! Why not just encourage them to play educational games. By doing so students will be learning without realizing that they are. There are also several tutoring systems that both teachers and students become successful. Tutoring systems have shown to be effective in improving students learning mainly in math. Tutors can be constructed in variety of formats- simulations, games, tutorials and collaborative learning models. With the use of all these types of software teachers can become efficient in teaching their students.  

Resources:
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6- Teaching with Educational Websites and Other Online Resources

Focus Question: What and where are different types of educational websites available to teachers on the Internet?

There are six major types of educational websites: lesson plan websites, student-to-expert communication websites, real-time and recorded data websites, archival and primary source websites, skills/ practice websites, and exploration and discovery websites.

These websites are all use for different major reasons. Lesson plan websites are the most widely used. At these types of websites teachers are able to find thousands of ideas for classroom lessons plans or download entire lesson plans that are already created with step to step procedures. Student –to-expert communication websites are websites for K-12 students and even adults may use them. At these websites and student can reach out to an expert by asking a question and the expert responds to the question.  Real-time and recorded data websites, are websites that present scientific phenomena information. This site gives K-12 students the opportunity to access and analyze information from their classrooms. Archival and primary source websites are sites that allow students to research information from primary sources. Some on the main primary sources material are from museums, libraries and other organizations. Skills/ practices websites offer subject-specific activities. Teachers use this site to incorporate small group activities while they do one on one work with their students. Sites that provided students online engagement during online explorations on topic of interest is a website that is known as exploration and discovery website. All these website shall be a very good sites for all your students.

Photo Credit to K.W Barrett from Flickr

 

 

Tech Tool: Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking is a great opportunity for teachers to use in order to gather information. There are several bookmarking websites out there for different use. Some of the many; Delicious, Backflip, Connotea, Goodreads and Diigo. Delicious is a website used to keep all your bookmarking’s in one place. You can view the page you bookmarked by using the special tag system they have. Backflip keeps track of the websites you visit. By using this bookmark you can track anything you students are doing on the web. Connotea is an online reference managing tool that creates and saves bibliographical information in correct citation formats. Goodreads is created to organize your favorite books online. It creates shelves of titles by topics while viewing the selection. This website is connected with amazon. Diigo is short for Digest of Internet Information Groups and Other Stuff, this site allows you to bookmark sites, highlight portions of the webpage and also add stick notes to all the webpages.

Summary & Conclusion

Chapter 6 is filled with information and necessities for teacher and students to utilize while using learning resources such as educational websites. Throughout this chapter they give you different bookmarking tools that you can use as a teacher. Some of the bookmarking tools they mention are Delicious, Backflip, Connotea, Goodreads and Diigo; all these are social bookmarking tools. These tools help teachers by helping them not just to locate information themselves, but join a community of computer-using educators who are interested in the same topic. Also they mention WebQuests which are educational web-based teaching methods in order to engage and innovate all students.

I really enjoy learning about all the types of bookmarking tools. Especially the social bookmarking tools while visiting all the variety of websites they included I notice that they each had their differences but at the same time they have several aspects in common. My favorite out all the ones I listed was Delicious, this website was introduce to me during my EME course. This site is very easy to use and all  you have to do is get the URL from the website you are trying to bookmarking and paste it and use keywords as tags word to be able to locate it.

Resources:
Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5