Walking into my Education course on Diversity was like walking into an Economics class. I knew nothing. I interacted on a computer on a daily basis, but I never really thought of implementing them into the classroom. I always felt like the time that education would transition from pen and paper to computer after I was a teacher so I wouldn’t have to adjust my learning styles to accommodate. I was wrong. Technology is today, and I had to realize that my teaching styles and what I was accustomed to was inaccurate and a part of the past.
Children thrive through technology. An educator of the 21st century is taking students love for technology and embracing it inside the classroom. Everyday students are interacting and using technology, it is mind-boggling to believe that we should leave it out of the classroom. Through articles I have read during class I have realized how necessary it actually is to integrate technology into the classroom to keep students involved and interested in the classroom. If our life is changing drastically because of technology, aren’t we crazy to assume that education shouldn’t follow this trend?
One of the videos we watched for EDU 302 was one at the beginning of the year that opened my eyes and gave me the understanding of the necessity of technology in the classroom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw&feature=related The video has a simple text video that really opened my eyes to how much kids actually use technology. Students an amazing way of learning technology on their own, why not put it into the classroom. This video really intrigued me to learning more about what I could to engage my students in the classroom.
After having the desire to teach I then started to think of ways to add technology into my classroom in the future. One amazing opportunity the class was given was to visit the ACTEM conference in Augusta where there were various lectures on integrating technology into the classroom. The class began my interest on having technology in the classroom and this conference actually gave me new and fascinating ideas of how.
http://www.actem.org/Pages/ACTEM_Conference/index
After learning about how necessary to integrate technology and then finding ways how I thought that was the basis of my use of the class. I thought I would bring this information further and when I got a classroom I would integrate it, little did I know this information was already being put to use.
I was given the opportunity to teach my Kindergarten classroom how to use computers for the first time. They each had a lap top and I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted with them. I had them to begin to explore Pixie and other programs. At the age of 5 when these students didn’t even know all 26 letters, they signed in and navigated through the desktop to fix pixie. If that isn’t an example enough of students thriving on technology then I don’t know what is!
It was fascinating to have this class go a full circle. I started off with the assumption that students didn’t really need technology in the classroom or that it was an unachievable goal due to funds in the school system. Then my knowledge of technology because more realistic and how I can actually do it in the future. And t bring this class full circle I actually saw how students at the young age of 5 actually loved to go on computers and are still to this day asking if they can use them at least once a day for free choice. Isn’t it our jobs as educators to provide students will the most effective way in learning? If students are advancing with technology everyday, shouldn’t education also?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Hey Nicholas! This is my Blog!
Hi , Welcome to my Blog. My name is Jennie and I am in college to become a teacher. I live in Maine and I love cold weather. I have lived in Maine my whole life, with my family. I am from a small town in Southern Maine. I love to go skiing and I can't wait for it to snow! Talk to you soon!
Jennie
Jennie
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Computer Conference
Last friday the practicum class was brought to a computer conference. My initial thought of this conference was that it was going to be information geared towards a professional that I would not yet connect to. After going to the conference I realized how valuable that day actually was. Here are the 10 big things I learned at the conference.
1.)ACTEM is wayyy bigger then I ever expected. I never thought that this conference was going to have so many people attend. The biggest thing I probably learned was the amount of information that was out there that I had no idea about. It was a huge eye opener to see how much of a possibility there is to connect technology to the classroom that teachers aren't using to full potential yet.I always felt like I was pretty up to date on a lot of technology but this conference blew me away. If there was one thing I pulled out of this conferences it was the possibility to improve a classroom through technology.
2.)I never knew how much you could actually do on google. The amount of applications is amazing and could actually be useful for a teacher. There is even a program called google reader that helps with placing all the useful internet tools on one page and collaborating them so your acess is much shorter. This is google reader: http://www.google.com/reader/view/?hl=en&source=en-mmm#directory-welcome-page
3.) Flickr was a great program that I learned about in one of my sessions. This program put together a easier was to upload videos and images to share with the world. Visit flicker by clicking here:www.flickr.com
4.) I always wondered how recent teachers always got amazing ideas for projects and units. I realized that a lot of upcoming teachers take use of a program called delicious. It is a way for teachers to collaborate with other teachers on anything they are seeking help on. It's like a huge dictionary for help in the classroom put out by teachers who have placed benificial websites that other teachers can browse and create ideas.You can subscribe to other teachers websites and find out which websites they find helpful. Visit Delicious: www.delicious.com
5.) At the conference I got to walk around to all the venders and witness the new products that are coming out for teaching. I thought it was amazing how much of these new products were actually eco friendly. It is amazing that in the career of teaching the future we are working towards a cleaner, greener,world and it gives me hope for what is to come. There were printers that used less ink and worked with LED lighting and recycled materials used for posters and displays. In all I was impressed by the number of "green" products displayed at the conference.
6.) The second session I went to was about making a interactive white board with a Wii Remote. I found this session to be one of the most benificial. I didn't even know this idea was possible and the instructor of the lesson was extremely informative. She broke down everything into simple terms and made this white board actually do-able for students. The Wi Remote acts as a mouse when standing up at the board and students have the ability to have the teacher or presentor at the head of the class teaching with an overhead projection screen. She showed the session videos of how these remotes work and also hands on how the light pens actually work. I found it extremely benificial because it is so cost effective.
7.)A really useful website I came across at teh conference was "how stuff works". I see students using this website a lot because not only does it provide images and information on a decent amount that students want to know it also provides videos for students to watch. It gives students the ability to acess information in a different way other then just looking up information online. Visit http://www.howstuffworks.com/ Today!!!
8.) For months I have been hearing about Smart boards. My practicum teacher had mentioned using one in class and Johanna has also mentioned using them in a classroom setting but I never actually came across one, until the conference. I never knew the capabilities of this amazing whiteboard. Teachers have the abilities to stand at the front of the class but still interact with the computer as if they have a magic wand telling it everything they want to do. I was captivated by watching the Smart board and hope one day I have the ability to use one inside my classroom.
9.)I have never really been to a conference with all teachers before so I was looking forward to seeing a collection of teachers wanting to learn. As sad as it is to say I am extremely dissapointed. These teachers spend their days in the classroom trying to gain respect and attention at all times but once they are in a conference with others in the same position as them their role switches drastically. I feel our class was more respectful at the conference then most teachers. There were teachers talking on the phone, texting, having other conversations, and just not paying attention. School probably funded for these educators to be there, why not take advantage of it? I got severely discouraged by the community sitting around me because it was as if they were creating a double standard. Isn't one of the goal of teaching is to set an example? Just because students aren't there doesn't mean that no longer applies. If their was one piece of information I learned at this conference it was how some actual teachers react to being taught and my hope for myself for the future is to be the oposite.
10.) My reaction to the conference would be overall positive. I feel lucky to have experienced the conference at an early age because now I know what to expect for the future and what sessions to look for the next time I go. I really enjoyed some of the sessions I went to because it opened up a new page of teacher resources I didn't even know where available. Most of the sessions were taught by actual teachers that use these programs on a daily basis so they were knowledgable yet spoke on our level. I never felt like I was lost in a session. Overall it was a great conference and I can honestly say I benifited from it. Now if I can only find the ability to manuver myself online and on these programs it will be a miracle.
1.)ACTEM is wayyy bigger then I ever expected. I never thought that this conference was going to have so many people attend. The biggest thing I probably learned was the amount of information that was out there that I had no idea about. It was a huge eye opener to see how much of a possibility there is to connect technology to the classroom that teachers aren't using to full potential yet.I always felt like I was pretty up to date on a lot of technology but this conference blew me away. If there was one thing I pulled out of this conferences it was the possibility to improve a classroom through technology.
2.)I never knew how much you could actually do on google. The amount of applications is amazing and could actually be useful for a teacher. There is even a program called google reader that helps with placing all the useful internet tools on one page and collaborating them so your acess is much shorter. This is google reader: http://www.google.com/reader/view/?hl=en&source=en-mmm#directory-welcome-page
3.) Flickr was a great program that I learned about in one of my sessions. This program put together a easier was to upload videos and images to share with the world. Visit flicker by clicking here:www.flickr.com
4.) I always wondered how recent teachers always got amazing ideas for projects and units. I realized that a lot of upcoming teachers take use of a program called delicious. It is a way for teachers to collaborate with other teachers on anything they are seeking help on. It's like a huge dictionary for help in the classroom put out by teachers who have placed benificial websites that other teachers can browse and create ideas.You can subscribe to other teachers websites and find out which websites they find helpful. Visit Delicious: www.delicious.com
5.) At the conference I got to walk around to all the venders and witness the new products that are coming out for teaching. I thought it was amazing how much of these new products were actually eco friendly. It is amazing that in the career of teaching the future we are working towards a cleaner, greener,world and it gives me hope for what is to come. There were printers that used less ink and worked with LED lighting and recycled materials used for posters and displays. In all I was impressed by the number of "green" products displayed at the conference.
6.) The second session I went to was about making a interactive white board with a Wii Remote. I found this session to be one of the most benificial. I didn't even know this idea was possible and the instructor of the lesson was extremely informative. She broke down everything into simple terms and made this white board actually do-able for students. The Wi Remote acts as a mouse when standing up at the board and students have the ability to have the teacher or presentor at the head of the class teaching with an overhead projection screen. She showed the session videos of how these remotes work and also hands on how the light pens actually work. I found it extremely benificial because it is so cost effective.
7.)A really useful website I came across at teh conference was "how stuff works". I see students using this website a lot because not only does it provide images and information on a decent amount that students want to know it also provides videos for students to watch. It gives students the ability to acess information in a different way other then just looking up information online. Visit http://www.howstuffworks.com/ Today!!!
8.) For months I have been hearing about Smart boards. My practicum teacher had mentioned using one in class and Johanna has also mentioned using them in a classroom setting but I never actually came across one, until the conference. I never knew the capabilities of this amazing whiteboard. Teachers have the abilities to stand at the front of the class but still interact with the computer as if they have a magic wand telling it everything they want to do. I was captivated by watching the Smart board and hope one day I have the ability to use one inside my classroom.
9.)I have never really been to a conference with all teachers before so I was looking forward to seeing a collection of teachers wanting to learn. As sad as it is to say I am extremely dissapointed. These teachers spend their days in the classroom trying to gain respect and attention at all times but once they are in a conference with others in the same position as them their role switches drastically. I feel our class was more respectful at the conference then most teachers. There were teachers talking on the phone, texting, having other conversations, and just not paying attention. School probably funded for these educators to be there, why not take advantage of it? I got severely discouraged by the community sitting around me because it was as if they were creating a double standard. Isn't one of the goal of teaching is to set an example? Just because students aren't there doesn't mean that no longer applies. If their was one piece of information I learned at this conference it was how some actual teachers react to being taught and my hope for myself for the future is to be the oposite.
10.) My reaction to the conference would be overall positive. I feel lucky to have experienced the conference at an early age because now I know what to expect for the future and what sessions to look for the next time I go. I really enjoyed some of the sessions I went to because it opened up a new page of teacher resources I didn't even know where available. Most of the sessions were taught by actual teachers that use these programs on a daily basis so they were knowledgable yet spoke on our level. I never felt like I was lost in a session. Overall it was a great conference and I can honestly say I benifited from it. Now if I can only find the ability to manuver myself online and on these programs it will be a miracle.
Monday, October 6, 2008
My Webquest
My overall interest in creating this webquest is to have student explore the presidential elections.
1.) Who is who?
a.) Students will explore both candidates for the upcoming elections.
b.) Grade Level: 7th
c.) task- Students will find information on both candidates. In groups they will put all the information together on a vehn diagram do display the similarities and differences between the two candidates.
- McCain maverics- find information on the McCain campaign and put all the information together.
- Obama Observers – find information on the Obama campaign and put the information together.
- The collectors – take all information found and put that into a vehn diagram.
2.) Debate Discussion
a.) Students will sit as a class and watch a presidential debate as a class.
b.) Grade Level:7th
c.) task- Different groups will be assigned to watch the debate with different intensions. Class discussions will then be held in the groups and then as a whole to discus what was found.
Positive ponderers – find quotes and moments that they agreed with either side.
Negative Nancies – find quotes they really disagreed with from either side of the debate.
Quote finder – find moments where each candidate shined in the election.
3.) I can find the next Pres.
a.) Students will find the qualifications of a president and then as individuals create a campaign for any person they choose that fits the criteria.
b.) Grade Level: 7th
c.) task- Each student will explore what it takes to be a president of the United states and then find any person to campaign to be a president.
4.) Class Elections
a.) Students will split into groups and work towards having one of their group members become a president of the class.
b.) Grade level: 7th
c.) task- Students will be divided into groups and then create a campaign for a student in the group. They will each be given different tasks that will all contribute to the campaign strategy. Another class who has been given the information will come in and watch the debates and then vote on which team was more effective.
- President – this is the head honcho who is responsibe for the debate and making themselves visible to the public.
- Campaign director – responsibe for making sure posters and slogans are appropriate and visible.
- Vice President – The one that will take over the job if the president doesn’t hold up to his word.
1.) Who is who?
a.) Students will explore both candidates for the upcoming elections.
b.) Grade Level: 7th
c.) task- Students will find information on both candidates. In groups they will put all the information together on a vehn diagram do display the similarities and differences between the two candidates.
- McCain maverics- find information on the McCain campaign and put all the information together.
- Obama Observers – find information on the Obama campaign and put the information together.
- The collectors – take all information found and put that into a vehn diagram.
2.) Debate Discussion
a.) Students will sit as a class and watch a presidential debate as a class.
b.) Grade Level:7th
c.) task- Different groups will be assigned to watch the debate with different intensions. Class discussions will then be held in the groups and then as a whole to discus what was found.
Positive ponderers – find quotes and moments that they agreed with either side.
Negative Nancies – find quotes they really disagreed with from either side of the debate.
Quote finder – find moments where each candidate shined in the election.
3.) I can find the next Pres.
a.) Students will find the qualifications of a president and then as individuals create a campaign for any person they choose that fits the criteria.
b.) Grade Level: 7th
c.) task- Each student will explore what it takes to be a president of the United states and then find any person to campaign to be a president.
4.) Class Elections
a.) Students will split into groups and work towards having one of their group members become a president of the class.
b.) Grade level: 7th
c.) task- Students will be divided into groups and then create a campaign for a student in the group. They will each be given different tasks that will all contribute to the campaign strategy. Another class who has been given the information will come in and watch the debates and then vote on which team was more effective.
- President – this is the head honcho who is responsibe for the debate and making themselves visible to the public.
- Campaign director – responsibe for making sure posters and slogans are appropriate and visible.
- Vice President – The one that will take over the job if the president doesn’t hold up to his word.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Technology in MY classroom!
During this summer I had a position at in my hometown daycare called Back to Basics. By the title of the daycare it is easy to assume that technology was not a staple in the everyday instruction. As I began to fall in love with this daycare I started to think of more and more ways that I will change the way my classroom was run. One of those changes will be the integration of technology.
The owner of the Daycare opened an amazing opportunity for me when letting me have my own classroom at the age of 19. She gave me the ability to design the curriculum and classroom in any way I pleased and I found it so intriguing to have a blank slate. When I look back now I realize how little technology was actually in my preschool classroom. We had one computer in the room that I never even turned on during the day because there was no way to have every child involved in that little activity.
As my classes are starting to develop ideas of technology in the classroom I begin to put together many more possibilities for that classroom. Many of the students in my class had computers at home and were extremely familiar with them yet never had them in the actual classroom. One of the videos we recently watched for class made the statement that all students lives are revolving around technology, why aren’t our classes?
One of the biggest things I would want for my classroom when I started back up after graduating would be to get the students more familiar with computers and use them inside the classroom more often. One of the computer teachers from my elementary school was discussing how they were giving away the old computers from the lab because they got bran new ones so even an opportunity like that would get these kids attached to technology in a much easier way.
A point that I’d like to stress is one that my boss planted in my head the first week I was there. The only reason the daycare is called back to basics is because she did not want her daycare to go into technology overload where computers were doing more for the children then the teachers. She loves the idea of having the teachers on the ground interacting with the toddlers and the preschool teachers reading books out loud to the students. I agree with her idea and but I also believe that education can be enhanced by technology without being overtaken.
Something that I was introduced to this year was the world of audio books. I LOVE them! I had the children sitting in the circle on the carpet and a student would sit with the book and show his classmates one page at a time while the story was read to them. This empowers that student to share a story with his classmates and also focus on when the sound comes to turn the page. If that’s the only technology I have had in my classroom so far, I can’t wait to explore other areas.
The owner of the Daycare opened an amazing opportunity for me when letting me have my own classroom at the age of 19. She gave me the ability to design the curriculum and classroom in any way I pleased and I found it so intriguing to have a blank slate. When I look back now I realize how little technology was actually in my preschool classroom. We had one computer in the room that I never even turned on during the day because there was no way to have every child involved in that little activity.
As my classes are starting to develop ideas of technology in the classroom I begin to put together many more possibilities for that classroom. Many of the students in my class had computers at home and were extremely familiar with them yet never had them in the actual classroom. One of the videos we recently watched for class made the statement that all students lives are revolving around technology, why aren’t our classes?
One of the biggest things I would want for my classroom when I started back up after graduating would be to get the students more familiar with computers and use them inside the classroom more often. One of the computer teachers from my elementary school was discussing how they were giving away the old computers from the lab because they got bran new ones so even an opportunity like that would get these kids attached to technology in a much easier way.
A point that I’d like to stress is one that my boss planted in my head the first week I was there. The only reason the daycare is called back to basics is because she did not want her daycare to go into technology overload where computers were doing more for the children then the teachers. She loves the idea of having the teachers on the ground interacting with the toddlers and the preschool teachers reading books out loud to the students. I agree with her idea and but I also believe that education can be enhanced by technology without being overtaken.
Something that I was introduced to this year was the world of audio books. I LOVE them! I had the children sitting in the circle on the carpet and a student would sit with the book and show his classmates one page at a time while the story was read to them. This empowers that student to share a story with his classmates and also focus on when the sound comes to turn the page. If that’s the only technology I have had in my classroom so far, I can’t wait to explore other areas.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Can't beat it? Join it!
I find it fascinating how many little things I never think of until they are brought to my attention and I realize that they could create a great deal of change and transitions in my life. I always knew that technology was advancing and that it was always progressing but the idea that it would affect my life as a teacher never really crossed my mind.
I always assumed that teaching was one of those occupations that could never be outsourced. The possibility to sending our children to China to be taught was impossible, so I just assume picking education as a major was the best job security possible. But when you place technology into the picture the possibilities pertaining to the responsibilities of teachers could be lightened drastically.
I remember when I was in elementary school and we went to computer class every week. I always just related these machines to a school activity until my family actually got one at home. Then I was concerned more in class about what these machines could actually do for me. When the article “Do something Disruptive” Stated that computers are less affective until there is one they can relate to at home I completely agreed because that was my life experience.
As I transitioned through highschool I realized how much my life was actually revolving around technology. When the power went out on a stormy night it was like someone had ended the world for every teenager in my town. When the video of Pay attention presented the idea “Since your students already know how to use the technology, why aren’t you using it to teach?” I actually had the lightbulb turn on.
My teachers in highschool never caught on to the craze of technology. After watching this video it brought to life so many ideas I had never realized. So many students from highschool fought the dozing nods by distracting themselves with something to do while normal instruction was going on in the classroom. As a teacher how can they not realize that their students will never comprehend this material if something to test them on it. Then again these teachers could have the same ignorance to technology as I do. I never really connected some of the ideas that the Pay attention video was portraying.
These videos and articles brought so much more desire for me to learn about technology because I realize that if I don’t, the world of education will move on without me. I will bore my students with the hope that traditional learning styles will spark their attention when so much technological stimulation is happening outside of the classroom. I am not going to fall behind.
I always assumed that teaching was one of those occupations that could never be outsourced. The possibility to sending our children to China to be taught was impossible, so I just assume picking education as a major was the best job security possible. But when you place technology into the picture the possibilities pertaining to the responsibilities of teachers could be lightened drastically.
I remember when I was in elementary school and we went to computer class every week. I always just related these machines to a school activity until my family actually got one at home. Then I was concerned more in class about what these machines could actually do for me. When the article “Do something Disruptive” Stated that computers are less affective until there is one they can relate to at home I completely agreed because that was my life experience.
As I transitioned through highschool I realized how much my life was actually revolving around technology. When the power went out on a stormy night it was like someone had ended the world for every teenager in my town. When the video of Pay attention presented the idea “Since your students already know how to use the technology, why aren’t you using it to teach?” I actually had the lightbulb turn on.
My teachers in highschool never caught on to the craze of technology. After watching this video it brought to life so many ideas I had never realized. So many students from highschool fought the dozing nods by distracting themselves with something to do while normal instruction was going on in the classroom. As a teacher how can they not realize that their students will never comprehend this material if something to test them on it. Then again these teachers could have the same ignorance to technology as I do. I never really connected some of the ideas that the Pay attention video was portraying.
These videos and articles brought so much more desire for me to learn about technology because I realize that if I don’t, the world of education will move on without me. I will bore my students with the hope that traditional learning styles will spark their attention when so much technological stimulation is happening outside of the classroom. I am not going to fall behind.
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