As someone who has always considered herself whatever the opposite of tech savvy is, I have to admit that I have learned so much from this course! I went into it with an anxious yet open-mind. I am so glad I did! I have learned things that will make my life so much easier once I become an educator!
At the beginning of this semester, I felt overwhelmed. I have taken online courses before with little trouble, but all of the websites I had to use within each assignment made me incredibly nervous. The first site that I found to be helpful was THIS valuable resource! As a student and a Mom, I am lucky if I remember where to put a planner let alone what to put in it, using Delicious helped me organize all of my new found teaching tools into one place that I can not lose! I also found the blog to be an engaging way to break down my thoughts. What I particularly liked about this portion of the assignments was how laid-back it was. It encouraged thought. Utilizing WEBQUESTS was another beneficial task. I actually can not wait to get into my classroom and make assignments that will entertain and teach my students!
My favorite assignment though was the website/e-portfolio. This was almost like a midnight snack for my motivation. Doing this made me realize that in just a few short years I will be making a real website for my elementary school classroom. I saved all of my new tech tools for when that day comes!
My only feedback is not necessarily from a teaching standpoint, but I found the group projects a bit unorganized on the student's end. It felt like a few people did all of the work and everyone got the credit for it. At one point I felt like I was begging for a job to do. If maybe there were more emphasis put on the teamwork aspect, they might run smoother? Other than that, I felt like the class was never a wasted moment. I especially appreciated the lack of busy-work. Everything we did in the class will benefit us as educators.
References:
Dodge, B. (n.d.). QuestGarden.com. Retrieved December 12, 2016, from http://questgarden.com/
Welcome to del.icio.us. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2016, from https://del.icio.us/
Monday, December 12, 2016
Monday, December 5, 2016
Chapter 8: Communicating and Collaborating with Social Media
Social media is like the elephant in the technology driven classroom. We all know it's there, most of us use it, yet somehow it's not quite being used within the teaching realm yet. It's a fine line of inappropriate and useful. The use of social media within the classroom would have to be monitored closely not only by the educator but also by parents and administration.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Email, teacher or classroom website, Blogs, Online Discussions, and Wikis are just a few ways to utilize social media within the classroom. The first thought that comes to my mind when hearing this is how students would be able to communicate with the teacher after school hours, this leaves little opportunity for excuses to not have things done. Assuming that the teacher was able to check this at least within specific hours each night, they would be able to communicate to answer any questions the student may have. However, it also leaves little time for the teacher to unwind after an already hectic work day.
While teachers would be able to communicate with students, they would also be able to communicate with other teachers they would not normally have access to. In one of my observations the teacher asked if I would be interested in joining a closed Facebook group of elementary school teachers, they share lessons, ideas, what works for them, what does not work for them, and also the occasional moral support.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES
This is a concept that I like, and will most certainly use within my classroom. Being able to communicate with families instantly is to me a game changer within the classroom. One of my core beliefs is that education is a full circle, I can only do so much as an educator if I do not have the help of the family at home. By using a form of social media within the classroom, we can engage parents in the students classroom. I was at lunch with a mom friend of mine the other day and her daughters preschool class has a private instagram for the parents. They are able to see photos, lessons, activities, a sort of 'behind the scenes' look into her daughters preschool education. I thought this was such a neat idea. Another potential benefit is that while it would be great if students could be in school everyday of the year, it is not a perfect world and sometimes life and emergencies happen, By being able to communicate with parents, the student could continue to stay in the know and keep up with lessons, even if they are not able to make it into the school.
WEBSITES AND BLOGS FOR TEACHERS
Just like this website, 'Blogger', it is an excellent way for students to reiterate and discuss in their own words what they have learned. What I find particularly beneficial in these lessons, is that is is more laid-back than a normal assignment. Instead of being hung-up on formatting, grammar, every little detail, I feel like I am more able to speak freely and communicate with the professor. In return, I learn far more than if I were writing a formal paper on each chapter. The other aspect of a blog for students, is that many students can contribute. In fact, everyone can log on to look at their blog. Parents can simply check-in to see what their child is learning, Teachers can keep up with progress, Administrators can monitor for efficiency, and see what the teachers and students are up to. Blogs are an excellent way for everyone to stay engaged in the learning environment of the student.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Email, teacher or classroom website, Blogs, Online Discussions, and Wikis are just a few ways to utilize social media within the classroom. The first thought that comes to my mind when hearing this is how students would be able to communicate with the teacher after school hours, this leaves little opportunity for excuses to not have things done. Assuming that the teacher was able to check this at least within specific hours each night, they would be able to communicate to answer any questions the student may have. However, it also leaves little time for the teacher to unwind after an already hectic work day.
While teachers would be able to communicate with students, they would also be able to communicate with other teachers they would not normally have access to. In one of my observations the teacher asked if I would be interested in joining a closed Facebook group of elementary school teachers, they share lessons, ideas, what works for them, what does not work for them, and also the occasional moral support.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES
This is a concept that I like, and will most certainly use within my classroom. Being able to communicate with families instantly is to me a game changer within the classroom. One of my core beliefs is that education is a full circle, I can only do so much as an educator if I do not have the help of the family at home. By using a form of social media within the classroom, we can engage parents in the students classroom. I was at lunch with a mom friend of mine the other day and her daughters preschool class has a private instagram for the parents. They are able to see photos, lessons, activities, a sort of 'behind the scenes' look into her daughters preschool education. I thought this was such a neat idea. Another potential benefit is that while it would be great if students could be in school everyday of the year, it is not a perfect world and sometimes life and emergencies happen, By being able to communicate with parents, the student could continue to stay in the know and keep up with lessons, even if they are not able to make it into the school.
WEBSITES AND BLOGS FOR TEACHERS
Just like this website, 'Blogger', it is an excellent way for students to reiterate and discuss in their own words what they have learned. What I find particularly beneficial in these lessons, is that is is more laid-back than a normal assignment. Instead of being hung-up on formatting, grammar, every little detail, I feel like I am more able to speak freely and communicate with the professor. In return, I learn far more than if I were writing a formal paper on each chapter. The other aspect of a blog for students, is that many students can contribute. In fact, everyone can log on to look at their blog. Parents can simply check-in to see what their child is learning, Teachers can keep up with progress, Administrators can monitor for efficiency, and see what the teachers and students are up to. Blogs are an excellent way for everyone to stay engaged in the learning environment of the student.
Chapter 7: Exploring Problem Solving With Software, Apps, and Games
This chapter introduces the notion that learning can be enhanced and even possibly achieved at a higher level when apps and games are utilized within the classroom.
PROBLEM SOLVING AND INQUIRY LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Inquiry based learning is something that I will absolutely utilize in my classroom, I think that it provokes the habit of inquiring. This is something that if a student learns to do at a young age, will help them tremendously as adults. It is so important to always wonder, inquire, ask questions, and learn even once there will be no test. So this strategy in the classroom uses real-world situations to inquire. It can be exploring primary sources such as newspapers, census data, historical events, etc (Maloy, 2011). Also according to the article, when students are engaged in researching open-ended problems, they are honing in their "thinking skills, risk-taking, creativity and mental self-discipline". When this is used hand-in-hand with computers or other forms of technology, the student is able to see the possibility of several outcomes and able to consider different solutions to get to that outcome.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Software is the term for the instructions within the computer while hardware is the basic machinery of the computer (Maloy, 2011). Software is then broken down into two general types, system and application. Software programs include; Adobe, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, things that make organization and teaching with software possible. Another type of software is the open-source software, this is open to the general public, which means that students can utilize these sources for free, and typically easy use.
TYPES OF PROBLEM-SOLVING AND INQUIRY-LEARNING SOFTWARE
The first type of software I would like to discuss is the Composing and Calculating Software, this is the basic software including applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, it uses writing and mathematical calculations to help students become masters in this area.
The other type of software is used for building and inventing. This is where exploring open-ended questions through technology can come in handy. I will include a project I recently did with QuestGarden.com to help young elementary students explore the Bill of Rights HERE. This would be an example of utilizing technology to help the students inquire about a certain subject. What I found particularly interesting about it is that the educators are able to tweak the lesson to fit any age group. A kindergartner can do a lesson related to the a fifth grader, all with a few minor revisions.
Maloy, R. W. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Chapter 3: Transforming Learning with Unique, Powerful Technology
Transformative Learning is one of the core aspects of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) and the Student Outcomes for Learning. Technology is what the education of the future will be centered around.
RESEARCH ON THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING
The "How People Learn" series went on for years, it determined that people of all ages are 'goal-directed agents who actively seek information'. The study also showed that people only form new knowledge based on things they already know. This is interesting when taken into an education standpoint, if students only can learn off the foundation of what they already know, then it is imperative that teachers form a basis for which their students know. They can utilize technology to build on their students learning, influencing far more students than the educator who does not use technology.
SCIENCE OF LEARNING VIDEO
BEHAVIORISM, COGNITIVISM, CONSTRUCTIVISM, AND CONSTRUCTIONISM
These are the learning theories that teachers generally use in their classrooms, at least a combination of the above.
- Behaviorism- is the idea that learning is achieved through memorizing, demonstrating, and imitating.
- Cognitivism- this is typically done through active learning, transfer of learning, comprehension, and metacognitive skills
- Constructivism- idea that learning is the result of interpreting and manipulating your surroundings
- Constructionism- Learners build their own knowledge.
It is easy to see why generally teachers believe in a combination of these ideas. Put together they would benefit every students needs, however it is just not feasible to do so within every lesson, so by choosing at least two of each for every lesson, the teacher would be able to interest and connect with at least the majority of the classroom.
THINKING CRITICALLY AND SOLVING PROBLEMS
I just read an article saying that some measures of intellect are based on how quickly one can solve problems. One idea that the book relates to is alternative ways of not only thinking, but acting. Before, in a traditional classroom, the student generally only had one source of print. The printed textbook, now they have access to several different forms of sources, magazines, computers, etc. This forces them to have to inquire on their own, and form their own opinions. We are able to check every fact several different ways.
Work Cited
Work Cited
G. (n.d.). Goldman Sachs. Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyz6-taovlaOkPsPtK4KNEg?v=y17l-hxFz1M
Maloy, R. W. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
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