End of Semester Reflection

I came into the class a little skeptical about technology being used in education.  I have never been into the latest gadgets or games, but this class has taught me that there are a lot of positive aspects of technology.  I have learned that there is a wide range of items that are considered technology.  It was really beneficial learning how to use the SMARTBoard and Activboards.  I used the SMARTBoard in another class to help with my lessons.  Learning about the different tools like Photostory, Storybook, and teacher websites will be helpful in my future classroom. 

For the NETS for Teachers, I focused on the 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.  Through out the semester, I learned how to use the SMARTBoard, Storyboard, and Photostory which I can have my students use in the classroom.  In my final project I created a project where students would use digital cameras and PowerPoint to create a story.  I've learned that there are so many ways that students can positively and creatively use technology in learning and students will love it!  

Comments on Classmate's Blogs

Kirstie

Kirstie

Jessica

Jordan

Rich

Reflection #12

I was thinking back to when we were at Eastside Prep and talking about cell phones and inappropriate use of the internet while in class.  I have always thought that I wouldn't allow that in my class at all and listening to Mr. Adair talk about the way they handle those situations some what changed my mind. Of course it depends on the age level, but students should learn to use their time wisely and the Robot website (that manages the time spent on different websites) would be a great tool to share with older students.

Week 14

Word - I use it to write assignments, make lists, print pictures, copy information.  I use the different fonts, sizes, formating, spell check, backgrounds, footnotes, headers, page numbers, layout, etc.

Excel - I use this to make lists, schedules, budgeting, graphs. I use the formulations, graphs, insert pictures, different colors, backgrounds, etc.

Powerpoint - I use this to create slideshows and show pictures.  I use the different layouts, insert pictures, animations, effects, spell check, etc.

Projects -
Word - I could have my students write part of a story, but tell them they have to use at least five elements of Word.
Excel - Create a project budgeting a two week trip driving across the country. Use the formulas and graph it.
Powerpoint - Make a story by inserting your own pictures, wording, and animations.

Reflection #11

In chapel while I was following along with the speaker's notes I realized how helpful it is to have the screen to follow along. In chapel the projector allows us to follow along with speaker's notes, see pictures, watch videos, and sing.  While we sing it is helpful to have the song lyrics in case someone doesn't know the song or just to follow along.  A lot of people are visual learners and the projector helps them focus and learn the content better.  In my future class it will be important that there are all types of learners.

Reflection #10

A couple days ago, a friend and I were talking about "Giga Pets" that we had when we were in elementary school.  I remeber I thought mine was the coolest thing ever, every kid had to have one.  And what was it? Technology. It's amazing how many technological devices have developed in such a short time for children.  I don't know what form of technology is popular for kids right now, but it would be interesting to see the advancements and even how it will change when I am teaching.

Assignment #4 - Part 2

Project (PowerPoint) 
Project Outline for Students

Technology features:

• Digital Camera (Samsung SL420) - To take the photographs
• Kodak Program - To convert the pictures from a SIM card to a disc. I wanted all the pictures to be in one place to make them easy to find
• Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation - To make the story
• Microsoft Word - To make the project outline for the students
• Box.net - To upload the project

The problems I encountered with this project were
1. Figuring out the Kodak Program - I hadn't ever converted pictures from a SIM card to a disc.  A worker at Bartell's was able to help me understand the process. This will be a good resource in the future.
2. I haven't used Microsoft PowerPoint very often and in a long time.  I had to play around with PowerPoint for a while before I started the project.  I couldn't remember how to make the effects work, change the background, etc. I just had to play around with it some more.  It would be nice if in the feature they could add a voice recorder to the program as well (like PhotoStory).

Also, it takes a lot of time! This wasn't a problem, just something I noticed and will need to take into account in the classroom when the students are doing the project. I need to remember not to rush them too much because there are a lot of steps to making the photo story.

I really enjoyed this project because there is so much you can do with it.  It can be easily adapted for any grade level, subject, or unit.  It allows students to create their own project using their own pictures.  It also helps with writing skills, allows students to think on their own, and incorporates technology!  When I teach I'd like to use this project, but I would probably use another program like PhotoStory so the students can tell their story too.

Teacher NETS  

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

This project promotes student learning and creativity while using technology.  The teacher first has an example of the final project that the students are going to make to ignite their interest. This project allows the students to use technology (the digital camera and Microsoft PowerPoint (or other story making programs)) to make their own stories however they want.   The project fulfills the NET standard by allowing the students to use the technology to create their own story; they are both learning and being creative. 

Student NETS

1. Creativity and Innovation

	Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
	a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression. c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.

The students get to choose the pictures they want to take.  They can choose any style or features they want to use to make their stories.  The most important part is that the students are allowed to be as creative as they want.  The project fulfills the NET standard by allowing the students to be innovative and creative by creating their own digital story.

Reflection #9

This past week, my fiance and I were scanning pictures and putting them onto discs to be able to use on our computers.  I think it's awesome that we can take prints of pictures that we have from when we were babies and put them onto discs so that we can preserve the pictures and make replications whenever we want.  In the past years there have been a lot of advancements with photography and I'm excited to see what is to come!

Week 12 Assignment

Week 12 Assignment

Reflection #8

For my senior year in high school, we got a brand new school and along with it a lot of new technology. I was just thinking back about how excited we were to have SMARTboards, voters, and a lot of other objects, but it wasn't used because the teachers and students didn't know how.  It would be interesting to go back now and see how they use the technolgy in the classroom now.

Reflection #7

Yesterday while I was asking my nephew about school (he is in first grade) he told me that in math he does some math assignments and games on a school website.  He told me the website and every specific detail about how to get to it without having to show me!  He seemed really excited about it and told me he liked going on there the only downfall according to him was "it only has addition, no subtraction."  He likes electronics so I am glad there is something educational that he likes to do on the computer too!

Week 11 - Mrs. Yollis' Class Blog

Mrs. Yollis' Class Blog

It was a blog with a postcard from Washington.  The class asked if anyone had been to Mount Rainier so I responded to that question.  I also told them that their blog with be great for ideas for when I have a class of my own.

Assignment #3 Toolbox Resources

My toolbox is a tab at the top of my blog.

You can also get to it here.

My toolbox is divided into two sections - Teacher Resources and Student Resources.
I found the websites by searching and browsing through Google.  I added the sites that I thought would be useful for me, other teachers, and my future students. 

I can use my toolbox to easily find resources that I will need for my future classes.  I can share my toolbox by giving other teachers the link to it. 

Three websites that will be helpful in the future are:

Education World - this website has templates, lesson plans, electronic portfolios, clip art galleries, article archives, etc.  There are so many links on this website that will be helpful. 

Scholastic - I really like this website because it gives book recommendations! There are tabs for teachers, parents, kids, administrators, and librarians.  Teachers can review books, buy them online, get magazines, and a lot more.

4 Teachers - This is a website that promotes teaching with technology! There are videos, success stories, and tabs for teachers to look at.  I watched the Youtube video they made to promote using technology in the classroom and I really liked the idea the 6th grade teacher had for her students (to make a virtual museum that everyone could be involved in.

Week 10 - NU Educators Panel

1. Who is part of the NU Educators Panel?
2. What do they do specifically?
3. How have they seen technology been used recently in the classroom?

Technology Project Plan

For my project the age group I am going to focus on is fourth grade. I plan to have my students use digital cameras to take pictures of anything they like, they should take at least ten pictures, and create a story of their own from those pictures. They can use Powerpoint or StoryBird to create their stories, they will then share their stories with the class. I chose this project because I like photography and think that is a great opportunity for students to express themselves. I also think that it would be a good opportunity for students to work on creatively writing. I can use this project will be used as a part of a writing lesson. I could also use it as part of a science lesson to document a project or it could be used for any age group.

Week 9 "Caught on Video"

The article "Caught on Video" by Bob Spankle discusses the benefits of using a Flip Video Camera in the classroom.  It mentions how students would be able to see how they are working at the moment, use it for self reflection, show parents/guardians, and other students.  Before reading the article, I hadn't heard of the Flip Video Camera, it sounds like a wonderful tool that can be used in and outside of the classroom.  It will allow students to creatively use technology and also to reflect on their work. 

Reflection #6

In my Instructional Design class, I have noticed that many students used technology for their anticipatory sets.  Some students used Youtube videos, the computer to play music, to play games, etc.  There are so many ways that teachers can use technology to initiate student interest.  I often have difficulty having technology work correctly when I try to use it, so I hope that I will be able to learn how to properly use technology for the benefit of my future students.

Week 8 - Midway Elementary

I looked at the Juanita Elementary School website.  I went to Juanita Elementary in fifth grade and wouldn't mind teaching there either.  When looking at the website, I found that individual teachers have links on the main website.  I thought that was neat because it is a way that the teacher can communicate with the students.  On the front website there are announcements, events, and contact information that is easily accessible.  I really like that the website regularly updated.  The website could have some other helpful links, but overall I think it is one of the better school websites I have seen.

Reflection #5

On King 5 News tonight there was a report about the effects of technology on young students.  In many Preschool and Kindergarten classes teachers are finding that students' fine motor skills are not as developed as they used to be.  It has been found that many students are not able to properly hold a pencil due the amount of time spent using technology instead of doing other activities with their hands.  Teachers are having to focus on developing fine motor skills instead teaching academics. Technology is a huge part of our society and has many positive aspects but as we can see some negative ones as well.  I know there needs to be a balace, but how can we create a balance so children don't lose the essential skills they need, like being able to write? 

Week 7 Response

http://www.guerrillaseason2008.blogspot.com/

I liked this blog because it focused on one particular topic – Guerilla Season.  The whole site was for the students to post their work.  I liked that it included pictures of student’s projects and writings.  I also like that the teacher interacted with the students on the blog and told them that even after the class they could contact him through his email.  For junior high, I think this is a great idea because students are able to use technology and express themselves.  This could also be done in other grades and subjects as well.

Assignment #1

Assignment #1 Technology Literacy

Computers and Education

"Integrating video-capture virtual reality technology into a physically interactive

learning environment for English learning"

Jie Chi Yang a,*, Chih Hung Chen b, Ming Chang Jeng b

http://www.csie.ncu.edu.tw/~yangjc/paper/2010_CAE2_Yang.pdf

The program used in this study was the Physically Interactive Learning Environment (PILE) for English learning.  In this study the technology used was called a Video-capture VR.  The purpose of the program is to help elementary students learn English. This study was done with 60 second graders in Taiwan meaning that they are learning English as a second language.  This program allows students to interact with what they are learning and be physically active with it.  The study compared 30 second grade students who used the Video-capture VR to learn English and in the other class of 30 the teacher used PowerPoint presentation.  The study found that the students were a lot more engaged in the Video-capture VR and retained more of what they learned than the students whose teacher used PowerPoint.  Although this is a small study, it shows that it is better for students to learn interactively. The article was a little vague about how the program works (to me it seemed similar to the video game console “Kinect” and a SMARTBoard, but I am not completely sure).  Also, in the United States it would not be appropriate to use the “plastic pistol” with the board like they do in the study.  It is important to have students be engaged in the material and if this is a way that will be successful then I need to implement it into my future classroom.  I can use the interactive boards and other systems that become available when I am teaching.

Teacher NETS

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
c.	promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
d.	model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

This standard is important to me because it is about encouraging students to use creativity while using technology.  This means that I need to provide examples for my students that will promote positive use of technology while allowing the students to express themselves creativily.   Three ways I can use this standard this semester are 1. by implementing it into my final project, 2. trying different kinds of technology that I wouldn't normally use, and 3. finding other kinds of technology that would promote creativity.

Reflection #4

I have noticed in several of my classes that the Professors don't know how to use technology very well.  Often they will turn the projector on and off several times, restart videos on accident, won't be able to find documents, etc.  Although I know it is not done intentionally, it wastes both the Professors and students' time.  For my future classes, I want to do my best to know how to use the technology that is available.

Reflection #3

Last week in one of my classes we used the voters to answers questions on morality.  It was a great way for the students to feel comfortable to honestly respond to the questions answered.  Afterwards, we were shown a pie chart of the responses to see how many people answered true or false.  This would be a good method to use in class for students to feel comfortable responding to questions and it can be used for formative and summative assessment.

Generation IM

The Generation IM article reaffirms the need for teachers to use technology in the classroom.  The statistics seemed really high when I first read them but when I thought about it I was part of the age groups (8- to 18-year-olds) studied in 2005, and most of the students around my age were using quite a bit of technology.  The ideas of having students blog about assignments does seem like a really good idea.  It is true that students want others to acknowledge what they have done and this makes it easy to share with other people (but for students who are bullied this could be a problem for them as well).  For the older grades in elementary school, junior high, and high school I think a lot of the ideas (blogging, videos, school social network sites) would be effective.

Reflection #5 - Promethean ActivBoard

"Press Release - Promethean ActivClassroom technologies transform learning at Brentwood Special School"

 Website - http://www.prometheanworld.com/czech/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.10157 

In this article, it explains how the ActivBoard is successfully being used to enhance learning in Brentwood Special School in Altrincham, Manchester.  “Since the technologies were installed, there has been a vast improvement in terms of inclusivity, student engagement and the flow of lessons,” said Cathy Graves, Deputy Headteacher and ICT Co-ordinator at Brentwood Special School. “The ActivBoard+2 in particular is making a real day-to-day difference to pupils and teachers, by helping to make learning a continuous process, and enabling all students to participate in lessons."  The ActivBoard is allowing more students to participate in learning and also allows teachers to use different methods to teach.  The ActivBoard can be placed low enough for students to reach and even sit on the ground.  I thought it was neat that this of how the ActivBoard is successfully being used in a Special Needs.  

What features of the ActivBoard are different from the SMARTBoard? Which are similar?

Assignment 2

In my presentation, I will be using the following features:

·         Pens

·         Eraser

·         My hand (finger) to drag objects

·         A video clip

·         Audio

·         Random word chooser

·         Timer

Student NETS used:

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:

a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.

The lesson plan allows students to solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools.  The students will use the pen on the SMART Board to circle the correct answers, they will use their fingers to drag the answer to the correct side (and for the true and false question), watch a video, and view the material on the board.  The students will be able to see the questions on the board and interact with them.

Teacher NETS used:

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

I used a premade SMART Board lesson and modified it.  I inserted a couple of new slides and added pictures on one to make it visually appealing and an interactive presentation on another slide.  Altogether the lesson will allow students to be engaged in the activity while using the technology as well.  The different slides and activities on them allow the students to use different skills. 

The interactive whiteboard could improve student learning in my future class by helping engaging students.  Most learning styles could be satisfied by using the interactive white board.  I could do kinetic, aural, visual, (etc) activities with the board.  I could also use it as a tool for my morning routine by having the schedule and morning message up on the board.  I could also use the timer (which it is available for the students to see as well) and the random word chooser (to randomly call on students).  The interactive whiteboard has a lot of features that can help students learn.

#4 Smart Board

Today I learned how to modify lesson plans for the SMART Board.  I worked on adding objects and removing parts of the lesson plan that I did not want to include.  I also used the actual SMART Board to try out a lesson plan.  I used the pens, eraser, and made a video run for the first time. 

It is still difficult for me to find different objects to use.  I think I will just need more practice with it.

Reflection #2

Yesterday, my fiancé and I were working on getting ready to send out our Save the Dates.  I was dreading how long it would take to address all the envelopes (by hand), but my fiancé, Ben, figured out a program on the computer where it would take all the addresses from our guest list and would print them on their own envelopes.  The whole process only took less than a half an hour instead of a couple hours! It saved us a lot of time!  It is often thought that technology “wastes” people’s time, but if used in the right way, it can really save a lot time! This can also be applied to the classroom, there are many ways that technology can save the student and teacher's time.

Reflection #1

This past weekend my six year old nephew stayed with me.  He loves playing on the computer, watching tv and playing video games - he would be satisfied playing with them all day if he was allowed to.  I try to mostly avoid doing those sorts of things because I would rather interact with him instead of him being engaged in the computer, video game or tv (he doesn't generally do things on them or watch things that are educational).  When I did allow him time to play on the computer I was surprised that he knew how to turn it on, where to go to get the internet, what website to go to with all the right "www" and slashes.  He really knows how to manage it well!  I know the main reason I don't like him using technology as much as he does (besides missing out on getting exercis, coloring, etc) is the type of stuff he watches and does on them, but I was thinking that if I could find educational games, he would absolutely love them and learn from them.  I would love to see his love for technology be used in a way that is beneficial for him!

SMART Board Reflection

The article I found about SMART Boards is titled "The Use of SMART Boards for Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Kindergarten Science."  This article describes the general logistics of the SMART Board and how science can be taught to kindergarten students by using the SMART Board.  The research shows that primary students benefit from having a SMART Board (Interactive White Board) in their classroom because it stimulates learning because it is a visual tool.  I thought it was interesting that the research found that it is helpful in teaching science to kindergarteners (it makes complete sense).  For young students this would be a great tool to help the students learn (especially science) in the classroom.  It is important to remember that the SMART Board is a TOOL to help engage the students, not the whole lesson (not everything should revolve around it).  I really enjoyed this article because it shows the benefits the Interactive Whiteboard can have specifically on science.  The level of science in schools is not satisfactory and if it is shown that it helps develop a foundation for the students then, of course, it should be utilized in the classroom!

http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf9/pdf/2008/73A/01Jun08/32699193.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=32699193&EbscoContent=dGJyMNLr40SeqLM4yNfsOLCmr0meprBSrq64S66WxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMOzt4Yfq4rmF39%2FsU%2Fipt02u&D=aph

2011 Class Blogs

Jordan Henderson

Rich Skillman

Kirstie Walton

George Mazurets

Jessica Henderson

Beginning of Semester Reflection

The amount of technology in our world already is mind-boggling.  Television, cell phones, iPads, lap tops, and Smartboards are only a few of the millions of products of technology.  Like everything, technology has its pros and cons.  People often focus on the cons of technology like decreasing interaction (socialization) between people and the immoral material that technology can be used for, but there are many ways that technology can positively impact people - especially students. 

Technology should be embraced as a positive technique to help teach students.  In every grade, teachers can use technology to improve their teaching methods and help engage their students.  Students want technology to be used in the classroom and encouraged outside the classroom - so why not?  Teachers have the opportunity to make technology a positive part of their classes. 

Honestly, I have a lot to learn about technology.  My six year old nephew probably knows more about computers than I do.  I need to learn about the technology that is being used in schools and by elementary students.  Just from the explanation in our Technology in Education class about how blogs are used in elementary schools to inform parents, students, and other educators about classes, it is important that I learn how to make the most of blogging for my future classes. As a future teacher, I will need to keep up with the current technology that can be used to improve my classes and help my students learn.

"Turning on the Lights"

I thought "Turning on the Lights" was particularly interesting because before this article I hadn't read anything about technology in schools.  It makes complete sense that technology should be included in the learning process since it is such a huge part of our culture and is also extremely influential in young students' lives.  Teachers should incorporate technology into lesson plans (not necessarily all lesson plans) to help engage students and provide different avenues for students to best learn.

I agree that it is important to know what students are interested in so teachers can incorporate it into lessons.  Although video and computer games do not thrill me, I should make an effort to know what types of games are popular.  I could use something from a video game in a lesson plan to help my students learn better.  It is also important to know what students are interested in and doing at home so teachers don't come across as naive.

A couple ideas that the article mentioned that I think are excellent ideas to include in a class are: having online pen-pals (which is a lot faster than through the mail) and having students create videos.  I loved writing to pen pals and learning about the other students from across the United States or other countries but did not enjoy having to wait so long in between letters.  This is a great way for students to use technology to interact and learn from other students from different cultures.  Creating videos allows students to express themselves, demonstrates they understand the subject material and they are able to review it with the teacher, all while developing and using their technology skills.

One part of the article that I did not agree with was letting students decide on the technology policies at school.  I think it would be great to get their input, but I think it could get out of hand letting them have too much of a say.  The reason I say this is that students would want it to be acceptable to have cell phones on in the class.  They would say they need to search something on the internet - but the majority of the time would probably actually be spent texting or on Facebook.  I think it is unacceptable for students to be on their cell phones in class.

It is important for technology to be incorporated into the classroom to help prepare students for the future, and to best learn.

First Reflection

I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in elementary school.  I had amazing teachers who taught me that learning is important and can be fun.  I looked up to my teachers and could always count on them to be consistent.  From the wonderful experiences with all my elementary school teachers, it made me want to become a teacher as well.  I have always thought that I wanted to be a third grade teacher in a public school, but in the summer of 2008, I was a camp counselor at a junior high camp and loved the experience.  I also never thought that I would want to teach science, but now love it and am getting a science endorsement.  At this time, I am not positive if I want to teach elementary or junior high school but am excited to share my love for learning with my future students.

I wouldn’t call myself very technologically savvy; I have a lot to learn.  I have used Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and that is about it.  I’ve never used a SmartBoard, blogged, or done a podcast.  With technology becoming such an important part of our society, it is important that I learn how to best utilize the technological tools that are available.  I’m looking forward to learning how to use technology!