Blog #6

      I went onto Raa Middle School's website. The website includes pertinent information like a list of the teachers and their departments, as well as a list of all athletics activities. Once you click on a specific department you can see all of the teachers with a link to their own websites. Each website is different and unique to the teacher themselves. On these websites you can expect to see what is expected of your child and how their teacher is. Ms. Langston, teaches all language arts for all of the grades.

      It is almost impossible to have a technology free classroom today. With all of this readily available technology to use at our finger tips, I think teachers should be excited and should use every resource available to them. Certain word processing features like spell check, mail merge, and desktop publishing can be very helpful for teachers and students to learn at such an early age! In my classroom I plan to incorporate things like Twitter or TopHat that way students have a comfortable and easy way to interact with one another. I would also plan to use google apps for education quite a lot as well. Through google I have learned about blogger, google docs, google slides, and much more. They have all been very useful to me so I know it would be useful to my students as well!
     
       I'm not going to lie the last assignment was difficult to me. I have never used Wiki before or anything like it. I had trouble navigating the website and figuring out how it all worked. I cannot see myself using this much in the future because I had such a difficult learning curve. Maybe if someone sat down and took me through it, I would like it but as of now I am not a fan. I liked that you could invite others to collaborate on it, though. I do feel like this potentially could be a useful tool to use in my future career, but again I would need a lot more assistance with it.

Blog #5

     The podcast explains that Web 2.0 allow users to interact and share with one another. These uses include blogs or youtube.  I think blogs and Wiki can be useful for the classroom because they allow for a fun and interactive way for students to interact with each other. Twitter however, can become very easily distracting and does not have a filter for unwanted content.

       A peripheral is a device that is connected to a computer system for its operation. They can be easily added through the use of USB and help increase versatility in the classroom (Technology in the Classroom 120). For a computer, it is imperative that there is an output device (monitor or printer/scanner), an input (keyboard and mouse), some storage (hard disk drive or optical drive) and a system unit (containing the CPU and RAM). Once you have all of the components for your computer you can begin to effectively use some of the tools described above!

      The classroom will also need an effective network. Most schools operate by a server that connected all of the computers on one network. So basically the way computers and the internet works is: the internet goes to web server which then goes to the server, which goes to the network, and then the network branches out to all the individual computers. Got it?

       I found Popplet to be really interesting! I personally am a very visual learner. Anytime that I am studying for a test or trying to understand a topic I always have to write it out with some sort of visual aid. I guess I didn't really realize it but I've been making concept maps all along! My study sheets don't necessarily look like the traditional concept maps but they are closely related.

        One thing that I find very innovative about Popplet is that it is an app and not just a website. So, it has easy to access and use capabilities. Most young children are visual learners. { I guess I never grew out of this ;) } So I think this would be a great outlet for kids to get their thoughts together. This way kids can concretely see how certain things are connected and related to each other.

        If we did a class project on the states, each kid could get their own state and draw connections. For example if a child had Florida they could say "the sunshine state" and oranges. I like all the cool colors, fonts, and shapes Popplet offers!

http://popplet.com

      I have never mad a concept map on my own before. I have seen many of them and used them to study but never actually created one of my own. Webspiration gave me some trouble in the beginning but I figured it out after a while. I like that I could make my own map form scratch. I did't use a template. It's cool how I could pick the shape bubbles I wanted and make them any size and any color. The only thing I didn't like was Webspiration itself because it was a little slow and troublesome at times. I will definitely be using concept maps in the future and I will show my students how to create their own. Sometimes students learn better when they create something on their own.

Blog #4

        I choose a standard under English Language Arts for Grade 2. This particular standard addresses how to display what a child has learned through some sort of excersize. For example I have listed the link below to a game that teaching children how to make compounds words with the help of pictures. I thought it was pretty cool and I would love to show this to the elementary class that I help mentor!  Standard: Cluster 3 LAFS.2.W.3: Research to Build and Present Knowledge                    

Link to website: http://www.fcrr.org/studentactivities/V_009b.pdf
This tool is an educational game. I plan to use this in my classroom because most children are visual learners just like myself, and pictures can really help. Also, what kid doesn't like to play games? Showing children that learning can be fun and educational at the same time makes them more eager to learn. I would teach a lesson on what compound words are and let them give me a few examples and then I would introduce them to this really fun game.

Before this class, if I was doing a project or just wanted to google a question, I would often times just go with the first source that came up. As we all know that is not always the best way to go about research. Just about anyone can post just about anything they want on the internet so we need to be careful about what sources we use. I found the acronym ABCDT very useful, I have never heard of it before.

Author: Credentials?

Bias: Resource neutral?

Content: Accurate & Current?

Design: Clear?

Technical Elements: Function properly? 

      I never considered things such as stability. I never paid attention to the URL or domain names. It's super important to pay attention to the URL and do some research to make sure the sites are okay to view before showing them to my students. I would hate for something like the "White house" site described in the podcast to happen to me or my students!! 

    

      From the web hunt assignment I learned just how easy it is to find information on a certain standard. I google so many things a day and I take for granted how great google is! Just typing 4 words alone can bring me to over 50+ websites on content that I am looking for. 

WEB HUNT
*You want to teach multiplication to your students. Can you find a site that teaches cool tricks or games in how to do so?
________________________________________________________________________________
* You want to teach about the about the seven contents. Can you find a cool video or worksheet to do so?
________________________________________________________________________________

      

      

Blog #3 2.1.16

      I feel most confident with RL.7 "Multimedia:" Literature & informational text. Throughout my K-12 schooling experience, all of my teachers have displayed the use of these standards. In middle and high school my classmates and I had a lot of assignments that had to do with acting and displaying our take on the topic assigned to us. Thankfully, we did more than just read a bunch of novels and essays. Our teachers put and emphasize on student exploration of the topics being discussed. I duel enrolled at my high school and in my ENC1101 class we read the classics like Odysseus,Oedipus, and death of a salesman. Once we where done reading and discussing the plays, when then watched the movie and compared and contrasted it to the text version. So I believe I have the most knowledge about those particular standards.
        I would say I need more preparation on standard W/WHST.8 "Use multiple sources". I would like more clarification on what the difference is between a primary and secondary source. I also would like to know how to find the differences between a credible and an unreliable source. And most importantly, a better understanding on how to avoid plagiarism.
     As I have said before, most children now-a-days have some sort of technology that they use everyday. Most of the kids I know today have an iPad or and iPod touch or some sort of electronic device that they use. Some kindergartens are even giving iPads to children for them to use--I know it is crazy. I believe technology use can be very beneficial in the classroom, but to an extent. I think that 3rd grade and up could probably handle things like discussion groups online or chats with their fellow classmates. The World Wide Web is another story however. This is all different kinds of crazy things posted on the internet, and as an educator in charge of a classroom of young students it is my job to monitor their computer use and make sure they don't see anything they should not be seeing at such a young age. Digital citizenship guidelines are super important when teaching students how to use the internet. These guidelines help point students in the right direction when using the internet for the first time. By the end of elementary school I believe students should be aware of copy right laws, know how to be responsible and respectful online, and navigate their way around basic websites.
      I have never created my own newsletter or classroom document from scratch before, so this was both a exciting and challenging experience for me. Figuring out to how to type on different columns gave me a little bit of trouble, along with a few aspects of Word I have never used before. I get really excited when I get to make things like this for "my classroom" so I put a lot of time into it because I wanted it to be just perfect. This assignment had me navigating around Word and finding cool things I can do with this document that I have never done before, like word art and cool graphic banners. It was a little frustrating and time consuming but I am glad I have experience with creating newsletters now! I didn't like how tricky some of the formatting was or how when I change the font or color of a word it would sometimes change to whole document from that point on. I know newsletters are super important because they help communicate with the parents, what their child is learning and what is expected of them. So with the experience I gained from this assignment I feel like I already have a great start with learning how to create my own documents for the classroom.

Blog #2 1.24.16

      I have had to use Microsoft word all throughout high school to do essays or projects. I can remember using it in middle school for history fair and science fair as well. (My partner and I went to the next stage of competition with our project in seventh grade, Whoop Whoop). I use Microsoft word just about every single day now. I've used it in the past to make lesson plans for VBS and I use the notebooks layout to take notes everyday in my lecture style classes. I was involved in a program at my high school called Business Entrepreneurs and my teacher had us complete little assignments using Microsoft word as well. I know my teachers use it to make their lesson plans as well.
      I haven't really had much experience with copyright and fair use of materials so far. I've always known that you have to cite your sources in a bibliography or 'works cited' page but that is about it. I just learned more about the copyright laws in my introduction to education class last year. I know it is very important to give credit where credit is due. So, as a teacher I know it is my responsibility to follow these fair use rules and set a good example for my students. Plagiarism as we know is a huge deal and should not be taken lightly. Even accidental plagiarism can be very bad so it is best we learn how to cite properly. Textbooks and videos are copyrighted but if I obtain a license, I can use them. As teachers, we should go ahead and assume that everything has a copyright, just to be safe.
       Twitter really is an incredible outlet we can use to reach out and stay connected with people in the world. Most college aged people have a twitter to keep up with what is going on in their friends' social lives and to post funny content hoping to get a few likes or retweets. But twitter really is so much more than that. The hashtag (#) was born on twitter and it was helps connect conversations. When a big world event happens it is a way for people to come together and share their voice, opinion or support. For example when Paris was attacked just a few short months ago, the hashtag #PrayforParis gained so much momentum from victims, families, and celebrities. Twitter can also be  powerful tool if you are trying to reach a powerful audience. If a certain tweet directed to a local official or governor gets 10,000 retweets and is basically seen by 10,000 then eventually this person can see it and hopefully listen to what the people are trying to say. The good thing about twitter is that you can follow and be notified about the certain things you want. It is very easy to block people, anti is very easy to find out information. Following accounts that have to do with education can help with questions you have or provide valuable insight.

Post #1 1.19.16

      With the way that technology is so quickly advancing, it is important as teachers to have the necessary understanding of technology to be able to prepare the next generation. The International Society for Technology in Education (ITSE) provides the standards to which both educators and students should meet. ITSE started a project called the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) to further ensure what exact standards should be met. A few years ago the question was raised, Should technology even be allowed in the classroom? And if so to what extent? Today, that question has become minuscule. It is no longer a question of if, but how much. It is essential that students are prepared for a 21st century world. Meaning, that if students are not familiar with technology and how to use the most popular, every day programs, they are already at a disadvantage. Most states today have adopted the Common Core Standards and technology was included in these standards. Florida itself has not adopted common core but something very similar to it. Things like the Partnership for the 21st Century and the Teacher Preparation Accreditation have also been included in the common core standards.
      I think computers are vital to the education experience because it is ensuring that students have all of the necessary components they need to thrive in the real world. If students are educated in their k-12 experience then it can really help them when they go onto college or their career. The more comfortable they are with technology the easier it will be for them to learn a new program or adapt to their job. Technology can be a very helpful resource in a student's education as well. The internet helps them interact with their fellow classmates and teachers when they need help with something. If a student has a question about an assignment (like me who usually has 5) then they can just shoot their teacher and email or text one of their friends and get a speedy response. If all else fails, there is google to answer virtually your every need. Technology can also provide new experiences for students. Like viewing news live from around the world, or watching education videos, or creating a website of their own. Being computer literal can also help with lesson preparation. You can stand at a podium and lecture for an hour with no sort of visual and chances are the audience will not retain much of what you are saying because they will lose interest and become distracted. But, knowing how to make a cool graphic, or powerpoint, or some sort of interactive component can help the lesson be better received.
      Once concern regarding technology is that teachers cannot teach something that has not been invented yet. Last semester I did a report on this very issue. When computers first came out there way no such thing as twitter or gmail. We simply cannot plan for things that have yet to be invented. Another concern is that we don't want to make students 100% dependent on the internet and technology. If something were to ever happen where we could no longer use technology, they still need to have the basic skills needed to function in society without relying on a computer.
      I am a fan of the ISTE standards that are listed for teachers. One standard that I like in particular is the Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. It talks about incorporating digital tools to help promote creativity and student learning. If students can see that technology is wonderful outlet that can help them express themselves and be a contributing member of society, it is only going to help them! If teachers can convey technology in a way that excites students it will make them more eager to learn and participate and come up with new ideas of their own. One standard that seems currently out of my skill set is to demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. As I have said before, I am not super up to date with all of the latest programs. This worries me a bit because I feel like if you are lacking in even just one particular area or program then you cannot fully understand what's going on or how to teach it.
      I do believe that today's youth are "digital natives". A digital native can be defined as someone how has grown up knowing technology and using technology. A digital immigrant is someone who is "new" to technology, meaning that it was not available to them growing up. I've had teachers in the past who had no idea what twitter or Instagram or Netflix was but it was always fun to show them. My friends and I created a Instagram for my Law Studies teacher and it's just a long on going joke now. The lessons could run slower if I had a teacher who didn't know much about the technology in the classroom. Often times, the teacher would ask the student for help and that wasn't the best situation. I feel that I will be pretty well prepared to teach my students adequately with the technology that I know, but then again in 10 years there will be brand new technology to learn that has not be invented yet.

Post #0 11.12.16

I will be the very first one to admit that I am embarrassingly super bad with technology. I just recently got a MacBook in July and I am still trying to figure out how to use everything. This is my very first laptop of my own so it's both exciting and challenging trying to figure everything out. I mainly use my phone or laptop to do most things. I just recently learned about websites like Prezi. I am slowly but surely catching up to everyone else.

I hope to learn how to do the basics like PowerPoint, excel, etc to help prepare me for the real world. I know it is extremely important to be a computer literate teacher today. I hope to become "fluent" in all things computer and not have to google or YouTube every single question that I have when using my laptop. I also want to learn "all things" computer so I can help my future students and my peers. I believe knowing how to navigate your way around the computer can only help your career.

I learned that I am pretty well balanced in all three categories. Based on these results I am both an active and a reflective learner. Every new topic or concept that I learn I approach differently. Usually I need something explained to me as I go, rather than hear all the information and then proceed. But in other cases I have to sit back and take a few minutes to process everything I just heard, gather my thoughts, plan out what I am going to do, and then do it. Pretty much every situation is different though. I personally think I am more of a "Let's try it out and see if it works" person but that doesn't always have the best outcome for me. Strictly taking notes on something with no sort of application is difficult for me. Again I am equally balanced between sensing and intuitive learning. This is part of the reason I want to become a teacher. I understand that everyone learns differently and I want to be accommodating to that as best as I can. In certain areas I like straightforward facts and methods but in other areas information won't click naturally for me so I will have to adjust and find ways that I learn best. Once I understand a conception or a process though, I usually pretty fast at executing. I take tests faster than most people. Whether I know the information like the back of my hand or I am not confident in the material, I still finish test rather quickly. This is where the intuitive learning styles come in. Before I took this quiz, I considered myself to be a complete visual learner, hands down. But again, I am evenly balanced between visual and verbal learning. In every class that I take I have to go back in my notes and rewrite them into something visual. I am always scared if I miss one thing then that is the one thing that the teacher will put on the test for sure, so I always write down pretty much every single word the teacher says. Thankfully, now that I take my laptop to class it is easier for me to get everything down. I try my best to listen to everything that is said and attempt to process it but usually I have to go back bad through my notes and make a "cheat sheet" of all the important concepts. Oddly enough, I learn better when my handwriting looks "cute" or neat and I am even more inclined to learn because I like how it looks. I know weird. Also, anytime I am studying for a test, I get a blank sheet of copy paper and write down everything in colorful pens. I would also say I am more of a sequential leaner. When steps are laid out to me and explained in a manner I can relate to I usually pick things up quickly.