Digital Story

WHAT:
The last couple of weeks we've been working on our digital story for our final. Teresa and I are doing ours on September 11th 2001. We've been able to put pictures, video, and music on that helps show the feelings of those who experienced September 11th.


SO WHAT:
While learning how to make this digital story, I realized that I would probably have my sixth graders do one. It is definetly not that hard, and with step by step instructions my students could easily use this. I think I would do it for the begining of the year. They could do a digital story of thier own life. That way I could get to know my students, and what kind of things they like. Another thing I could do is have them make a digital story of thier favorite ancient civilization. using things they learned and pictures they could find.


NOW WHAT:
So know that I've learned so many things in the technology class, I'm going to try to implement them into my classroom. There are so many things coming out pertaining to technology and school that it's hard to keep up, but it's amazing how nice most of it is.

Lessons Learned

Most of the articles were talking about how technology was used in the classroom. One that I liked was Tools for Change, because the idea that you could put a hole textbook on a Kindle would save not only paper, but money for buying the huge expensive college books. I also like the idea from the TechWatch video that we can Social Network even more, and correlate it into our everyday classrooms. I’m excited about the technology because it gives us more and more ways to learn by using everyday activities that we can actually see and do.

I am a little concerned about the touch tables that they want to integrate into schools. I know that it's amazing technology and it is very useful, but I wouldn't want my students to just be on the touch computers everyday. I want my students to still write shorthand, even though it is going extinct (typing is taking over). I do want my student to experiment in crafts other than those they can create on a computer. I'm not putting down computers, but I do like hands on activities where students can learn other things as well.

My Beliefs

My beliefs regarding teaching are simple. I want to use technology in my teaching methods because that is what each and every student is going to have to deal with in their lives. We are here to teach to prepare them for life after high school. Right now, their life after high school is considering a lot of technology in their lives. Every profession has more and more technology advances each year. How would I be a successful teacher if I do not let those students experience what they will need to know, and learn to love.

I am a firm believer of interactive white boards and will be writing for a grant to get one in whichever school I will teach in. After my experience in field using an interactive white board it has been hard going back to a regular white board. I know that I want to use technology, and teach technology as much as I can. I'm excited to learn more, and as I teach, I know I will learn more about technology.

Strengths & Weaknesses

What were your strength/weaknesses according to the UNI Survey and NET Standards?

In my UNI survey I realized that I am pretty adept at most things, which will help me as a teacher as well as a student. Some things I know how to do but don’t participate in a lot is video conferencing. The reason I don’t use this often is because my computer does not have a camera, and I don’t know anyone with whom I would talk to frequently that uses it. Another thing I have issues with is using terminology related to computers appropriately. I have a hard time remembering and reiterating words that are not familiar to me, or that I don’t use frequently. I also have issues with graphing calculators in math. If I had a step by step memory card to remind me which buttons to use for each problem I’d be able to do it. I know a bit about equity, ethics, legal, and human issues concerning use of computers and technology, but I know there is a lot more out there that I do not know about.

MY GOALS:

My goals is to learn more technology terminology by taking this online course at university class.com. The reason I would do this is so that when my students ask me a question I can answer them correctly instead of always saying, we will look that up. The other thing i will do is work on my use with graphing calculators. I know for a fact that all of my students need to learn how to use a graphing calculator. Not only for college classes, but for high school classes as well. By taking this online tutorial by Prenhall I will be able to better instruct my students on using and understanding a graphing calculator.

Reflection

WHAT:
So I presented/performed my technology integrated lesson plan, using laptops provided by the school.


SO WHAT:
I'm going to make this short because my computer is crashing... The assignment went really great, I was super excited to get the students on the computers and into the program. We made our own myths, which really helped with what we were learning about. I loved the idea that the kids could get onto the computers and learn more than what I teach them.

NOW WHAT: 
I am pretty sure that I will be using a lot of technology when I teach. I want to get a grant to get a promethean board, as well as an ELMO. I love that technology is used in the classrooms. It helps the students get ready for what is out there in the world, and helps them learn things on their own.

Reflection

WHAT:

Through being in field I've learned many things. Recently I've learned how to have control on the class without having to repeat myself a million times. 

SO WHAT:

I'm excited about this because by learning classroom control I can successfully teach my class without a lot of interruptions. I am learning how to handle different situations with my 6th graders and am excited to say I can see that they are learning something.

NOW WHAT:

Now that I've learned this, I can store it into my memory and use it at a later date when I will need it. I know that I will have challenges with my students in my class when I become a teacher, and since I am learning now some Classroom Management Techniques I will better be prepared to handle any situation my own students will bring my way.

Reflection

WHAT:

So in my field experience at South Summit Middle School, I have seen a lot of technology used in the classroom. One of these being a Promethean Board. Instead of a white board we have the Promethean board that can be written on only with an electronic pencil. It is connected to a laptop that you can easily bring



SO WHAT:

This is a nice way to write things on the board and not be messy. It's easily erased by the touch of a button, and you can slide from one page to another that has information on it. I've used it and the kids love it because if you need to go back and let them write something, you don't have to rewrite what you just did. 


NOW WHAT: 

When I have a class, I'm going to try to put in a for a grant that would allow me to get a Promethean Board so that I can easily show information on the board. I like it because it's easy for me and my students to use.

Reflection

WHAT:

We've started in on digital stories. I've seen a few before, so it was fun to see what else there was to them.

SO WHAT:

I think I might show digital stories to my students, but I need to make sure that they are age appropriate. I don't want my students getting scared or sick by any of the stories I show them. I might even figure out some time how to do a digital story for introducing a topic. that would be fun.


NOW WHAT:


Now that I'm understanding how to use and create digital stories I will be able to use them for my students. I can introduce topics in a fun and exciting way that only technology can do.


Video Reflection:
The NASA Digital story would not work because UEN.org was down this weekend.

October 19th Reflection

What?
Today we learned how to use PodCasts and VideoCasts to help teach a class using video cameras and an iPod.

So What?
Well, honestly I'm not sure if I'm going to be using these in my classes. I know for sure that I will not have the students in the videos or PodCasts at all. I don't want that kind of liability.I know of many parents that would be furious if thier kids were on videos on YouTube. There are too many internet predators out there and that would risk the students safety. Especially if you put what school, they could easily google what city and state it's in.

Now What?
I like the idea of using them for fun, I htink I would use videocasts with my class and only in the class to demonstrate different types of technology. It would be fun to let the students know what they are saying and what they sound like. I think I would also use it for a student if they know they are going to miss a class, and want me to podcast my teaching for them. However, I know that it will be hard to learn what they missed just by listening to a podcast.

Video Reflection:

The video was about how blogging was used by students, and how it helps. I would use blogging with my students to let them reflect on what they learned so that they can do some critical thinking about it. I like the idea because you can be specific about who sees it.

Reflection for October 12

What:
This week we finished our WebQuest Assignments.These assignments are needed for our portfolio when we graduate, so I wanted to do a really good job on it.

So What:
While working on our webquest assignment I noticed a few things. It's not an easy process. Yes, we did it in PowerPoint but I had difficulties making sure that everything was perfect because I'm a perfectionist. The two that I worked with where great. Ideas where shared, talked about, and decided on. We worked together, asked questions, and figured out all of our kinks. I think it would have been harder making a WebQuest by myself.

Now What:
With one WebQuest behind me I am better able to think about other WebQuests I can make for my students. I will change a few things though, I will make sure that I have a background that goes perfect with my webquest, I will make sure that all links work before putting it up, I will make sure that each link I send my students on is child safe, and doesn't have additional links in it.

Video Reflection:
Just watched the "Noun" video... I thought it was kind of cute. The rap with techno music wasn't what I'd say was inspirational, but it was catchy.

I think kids would like this video for learning about nouns because it has the words up there and has a song to it. They could have done one better on the multiple intelligences by adding pictures to those nouns.


I like the idea of learning things by songs because that's how I learn best. I will be extremely picky, however, on which ones I use with my students. I'll have to be excited about it to get my students excited about it, or else it will not help them learn.

Reflection for October 5th, 2009

What:

This week in class we were able to start our WebQuest Presentations. These are cool because they are web based and help students interact with technology. 

So What:

In these WebQuests we are able to have a safe internet environment for our students. It's a research engine that doesn't let students into anything that they should be into. I'm afraid that one day I'll have my students researching something and they will click on an advertisement that leads them to inappropriate websites. WebQuest is a way that I can keep them on task and working hard in a nicely guided way. 

Now What:

Now that I'm able to understand how WebQuest works I want to use them for my lesson plans. Students are able to use the internet for so many things, and understand it better than the generations before them because they use it so much, that to integrate a lesson plan soley on the internet with a guided source helps students learn in a way that I've never seen before.


Video Blog:

Ok, so I have to admit I'm a little bit disturbed. Let me explain. The video showed how surfaces (table tops, walls, etc.) are being turned into multi-touch computer screens. Yes I admit it will be easier to work with programs, pictures, products. However, are we really going to replace writing and drawing? If these get put into the schools you will have a lack of students writing anything out. As for drawing, why draw with a pencil when you can "draw" it on the computer with a perfectly straight line? I think the technology is amazing however I would not want to put it into the classroom because it would be the end of writing and drawing with a pencil or pen.

Reflection 9/28/09

What:
Since we did not have class on monday because you are sick, hope you get better, I learned in my other class the importance of Dance in the classroom.

So What:
I can introduce dance into the classroom to help students with coordination and group working. This will be nice because I want my students to be able to learn in different types of situations, as well as work with other students. Also a research study states that if you have some kind of exercise before a test the students will do better.

Now what:
I can integrate dance with math, social studies, science and language arts. It may sound silly know, but dance helps with counting; it helps students learn different cultures; it helps with language arts when you put a new vocab word to each movement; and in science where you can "create" a machine through dance.

Video Blog:
WHY LET OUR STUDENTS BLOG?

Basically the video was telling me why it's important to let students blog, which includes interactives, group learning, sharing, etc. It's a good idea to let elementary school aged kids blog because of how important technology is these days, and will be even more important when the graduate, but you have to structure it in a way that it's not just going to be a game for them. It has to have some kind of learning with it.

Reflection 9/21/09

WHAT:

On Monday in class we worked as a team to make classroom rules. Each of us having to work on one rule each on the same PowerPoint Presentation.

SO WHAT:

As a teacher, I can have my students, when working on a project together, do it on Google so they will be able to work on it wherever they are. And as a teacher my fellow teachers and I can work on a "grade" activity without actually being right next to each other. Also as a student it makes working on group projects easy when my group is sick, or its a weekend.


NOW WHAT:


The biggest thing I need to remember is that I need to integrate this information into the classroom. Without my help and instruction, my students will not know how to get to it, what it is, or how to use it in their studies. I think the coolest thing about technology is that my students will not just use it in my class, but in many classes to come because technology is becoming more and more prominent in the classrooms everyday. 


VIDEO BLOG: on Introducing Web 2.0

WHAT:

So the video was basically a PowerPoint Presentation in video form showing what kinds of tools the internet has, and what it is used in the classroom for.
SO WHAT: 
I thought it was an interesting video. Honestly it kind of gave me motion sickness. I would not use this in the elementary grades. The terminology was definately focused towards the upper grades. 
NOW WHAT:
However as a teacher I could use this video if I was showing another teacher the different kinds of tools that she/he could use on the internet to make it easier to work together.

Reflection of 9/14/09

WHAT

In class I learned how to build my own classroom website. I was soo excited about this because I knew that I was going to have to incorporate a website not only for my students (since they are so internet friendly these days) but for their parents as well, so they can keep up with what's going on in class, what's due, and any other announcements I need to put in.

SO WHAT

This is important to me because it's hard to keep everyone up to date with how busy everyone is. I was going through my g-mail calendar and realized I don't know how I've survived with just a write in calendar. With g-mail it texts me exactly what is going on so I won't forget. An epiphany I had today is that I should have added my classes to it so I would remember the right books for the right day, since today I brought another days work. This will help parents because they can create thier own google calendars and add mine to thiers so that they know on a day to day basis what is going on.

NOW WHAT?

Now that I've learned and experienced how to have a class website it won't be hard for me to adjust it to whatever school I go to in two years. It's exciting for me because I'll be able to post assignments, announcements, cool activities, when I need room mothers, and any other thing imaginable! It makes communication so nice. I won't let it take over communication. I still need to talk face to face with parents and children; but simple questions might be answered easily by my website if it's on there.

VIDEO REFLECTION:

I watched the Mr. Duey Fractions Video. To be honest I thought it was extremely corny. However, students get a few of the multiple intelligences out of it. Not only is it Visual, but it's Auditory as well. Students might find this easier to understand than just writing it on a white board. It's a good resource to use for students to get a different idea of how to learn. Although Mr. Duey Fractions was short, it had the basics of fractions which would help me a lot, but I'd have to watch it a few times and take notes to fully understand the concept.

Reflection #2 9-10-09

WHAT?

This week, since we did not have Instructional Media, I am reflecting on my favorite lesson of the week. This lesson was in our Arts Integration Methods class. At the begining of the class we all sat in a circle and started a movement game where everyone had to do exactly what the leader was doing. We used this game in two different kinds of ways as well. As we played this game we were thinking about how we could use this game in our classes to calm our students, get them to work together, and bring unity into the classroom.

SO WHAT?

The Movement Game was important to me because I'm a very active person. At some times I feel as if I need to focus in on one thing to get anything done. My student I'm sure will feel overwhelmed by homework and projects. After recess or at the begining of class the movements game would be a great idea because it will not only bring me back into teaching mode, but bring the students into a state where they will be calm and able to enjoy learning. This game is not just about getting away from learning. The students won't know at first, but they are also learning through this game. They are learning how to cooperate with either a partner (by switching who's in charge of moving first), or in a group (by having one student leave the class, choose a leader, come back and have to figure out who the leader is). Another thought I had with this game is that if my students are just out of control, can't concentrate, and need a point of focus, even if it's in the middle of class, I can have them grab a partner, break into small groups, or even have the whole class in one group to calm their minds and unify them in one thing.

NOW WHAT?

As I get ready to become a teacher, I know that I will have days where I will have students not paying attention and fooling around. The biggest thing I need to remember is that I can not give up on my students. If I allow my students to control the class, they will never learn anything, and I will be a terrible teacher. My favorite lesson from this week will help me to bring my students back to square one where I can steer them into an attitude where they will be able to start learning again.

VIDEO #2 HOLIDAY

There was no video on the class web page under Holiday.

Thanks
Julie Harmer-Hoyt

TechWatch with eSN: NEW TECH TRENDS

In watching the video it says that they are thinking about charging internet services like they do phone services. In my opinion I think this is a rediculous idea. Schools, Universities, Colleges, and Hotels even give internet to students for free. If they are charged per usage, they will start charging us. Not alot of students have the money to pay for school, let alone internet. I don't know a single school that doesn't use the internet for resources for teachers as well as students. Corperations as well use internet for interdepartment mail, as well as buying/selling products. The only thing that would be gained is that the companies charging for this product would get more money. that's it. As for the touch computers, I beleive that it might be a good idea. It would help people to me more hands on, even though it is just a screen. It would allow people to do more with computers. Another new trend is the 3G iPhone. Personally, they are trouble for schools. I use mine only when I want to speak to someone, but students will use them to get on  the web at school (bad idea no monitoring), play games during class, and many other things. A phone should be for calling people. Maybe I'm old fashioned but that's my opinion. The next trend, using the internet to educate people about judicial knowledge is a great idea. we are using the internet to learn about everything these days, why not make some kid friendly pages so they can understand too. So that's my opinion...

MY IDEAL CLASSROOM

OK, so I'm describing my "ideal" classroom. So I'll start out by telling you that it will be colorful. maybe i should tell you first that desks will be in groups of 4-5. not just lined desks... i like the students to be able to help each other on assignments when need be. i will have a reading corner. Which will have been bags (colorful) and book cases filled with books all around the area. Then I will have an area with colorful maps of what we are studying (grade appropriate). I will also have a bit of a science area, were i will have projects and info books.

I will have cubbyholes? folders? (something that I can't think of the name of) for assignments. A done one, graded one, and late work one. I will have a cd player for soft music, so we can listen to music while working on assignments.

I will have a cute Bathroom pass, i'm not sure how it will look yet, i have to decide what would be gender/age appropriate... 6th graders don't want a dora pass. I'm hoping i'll have 4th or 5th grade students because at that age i don't have to teach them to raise thier hands, stand in a line, etc. They should know that by then.

In hallways i will do mental math games, where i will add subtract multiply and divide numbers and if someone comes out with the right answer they get green bucks.

Now green bucks, i thought of this idea the other day and thought it was a great idea. At the begining of the year each student gets $50 in greenbucks. These greenbucks can be used in our "class store" if someone forgot a pensil, paper, eraser, etc. It will aslo have stickers, bouncy balls etc. Students get greenbucks when doing a thoughtful thing, examples being volenteering to pass out papers, helping someone clean up a mess when everyone else leaves, good behavior... Greenbucks are taken away when misbehaving.

I want to integrate using the internet for researces through uen. i trust UEN because it's a teacher website and is kid apropriate. I don't trust google because you can bring up way too many questionable sites. I want to integrate art into my teaching as much as I can.

My students will be fun and exciting but know when to get to work. Thier parents will want to be interested in thier childrens work and achievements. I will be thought of as the "Best Teacher in the School." (won't think world cause my heads not that big)

That is my ideal classroom. thought i know it won't be quite like that. I can dream

testing... testing... 123... lol

STARTING UP

This is for my edel 3250 class. Each week I need to write a reflection blog about what i've learned and how it can help me in the classroom.