Technology is everywhere in today’s society and it will continue to materialize for time to come. Teachers have an important role in this because they will have hands on experience teaching the youth new technology. A teacher will be allowed to help students learn technology and help them use that technology to be a valuable part of society in the future. Three forms of technology that are emerging in today’s society are virtual classrooms, podcasts and mobile learning labs.
Virtual classrooms are great for students who feel they would like to get ahead in their education. The goal of using a virtual classroom is to give students the opportunity to move forward with their education or to improve on their education. Virtual classrooms are emerging in the world because students can take classes that may not be offered in the public schools. Some of the classes that are offered on a virtual school range from Chinese to Japanese to AP classes that smaller schools could not afford to have.
Virtual classrooms are all over the United States in many states. Many states offer their own virtual classrooms that range from many subjects. Information on these classes can be found online by looking at search engines. This will help impact future students by allowing them to decide on their educational fate. They will allow students to participate in many classes that they feel they are not getting in public schools. This will impact my teaching because I can encourage students who do not achieve in a class or students who do achieve to take classes online to further their education. It will be helpful to allow students to make this choice in their life at a younger age so they understand that they will be making choices like this for years to come.
Podcasts are a new product of technology because it requires students to have access to computes as well as an mp3 player or Ipod. A podcast is a combination between an Ipod and podcasts. A podcast is a form of broadcasting over the internet. Using podcasts in the classroom will allow teachers to post homework or notes recorded online and let students look over the homework or listen to the notes as they please. This will also allow for teachers to put all late work online and let students download and complete it at their leisure.
Information on using podcasts in the classroom is found at apple.com as well as all over the internet. Using podcasting is as easy as posting information from the class online and having students download it at their leisure. Podcasting will have an impact on my teaching when I am in a health classroom I can put instructions on CPR online and have students download the information and use it to practice the correct procedure before the exam. Podcasting will affect the future of students by letting them use their Ipod, something they use everyday, for educational purposes.
Mobile learning labs are a great technology because if schools have the money, or grant money, they can bring laptop computers into the classroom. Mobile learning labs help teachers bring many online experiences into the classroom. Students can go onto the internet, use encyclopedias and do labs and lab write ups in the luxury of the classroom. Students can also check out computers to use during the day incase they do not have internet access at the home. Having a mobile learning lab will impact my teaching by letting me use them during labs in the classroom. Instead of having students write up lab reports or complete labs that take time and money students can do those labs on the computer and then print out results very easily.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Distance Education Activity
Distance Education
5 Pros of virtual schools
1. Take variety of classes most likely not offered in a standard school
2. Money invested is re-invested into maintaining the program
3. Numerous awards bestowed on program means schools is up to standards of state and national level of education
4. Works in cooperation with local schools
5. Classes offered year around and have extended time for completion
5 Cons of virtual schools
1. Costs money when going to local public school does not
2. Diminishes the relationship between student and teacher
3. Answers to questions could take days to get a response instead of having the teacher answer the question in class
4. Student just reads book, does not obtain knowledge with retention
5. Classes are offered but not affordable to those students with financial needs
How would you determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery?
I would asses their pervious work throughout high school and middle school and give this information to the parents. Ultimately I feel it would be the parent’s decision if they want to pay and let their child participate in a class where the student is solely responsible for their actions. This could lead to some children not being ready for this commitment and failing at this which would lead to a drop in the students self esteem. Overall I feel that the student has to prove himself to classroom teachers and parents in order to be accepted or be able to apply for a distance delivery education.
What would you need to do to be able to tech in a virtual school?
I would need to be computer literate more so then I am now. To teach this type of class or program I would need to have a full lesson plan devised and reformatted to work with a distance delivery setting. I feel I would have needed to teach in a public classroom for a while which would allow me to get myself situated with a real classroom then I would move on to an internet classroom. I feel it would be hard to teach online because at most the teacher would present the material and expect quizzes and tests back in a timely manner. I want to be a teacher, not a webmaster. Overall I feel that if I got offered the opportunity to teach a class on the internet, I would decline
5 Pros of virtual schools
1. Take variety of classes most likely not offered in a standard school
2. Money invested is re-invested into maintaining the program
3. Numerous awards bestowed on program means schools is up to standards of state and national level of education
4. Works in cooperation with local schools
5. Classes offered year around and have extended time for completion
5 Cons of virtual schools
1. Costs money when going to local public school does not
2. Diminishes the relationship between student and teacher
3. Answers to questions could take days to get a response instead of having the teacher answer the question in class
4. Student just reads book, does not obtain knowledge with retention
5. Classes are offered but not affordable to those students with financial needs
How would you determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery?
I would asses their pervious work throughout high school and middle school and give this information to the parents. Ultimately I feel it would be the parent’s decision if they want to pay and let their child participate in a class where the student is solely responsible for their actions. This could lead to some children not being ready for this commitment and failing at this which would lead to a drop in the students self esteem. Overall I feel that the student has to prove himself to classroom teachers and parents in order to be accepted or be able to apply for a distance delivery education.
What would you need to do to be able to tech in a virtual school?
I would need to be computer literate more so then I am now. To teach this type of class or program I would need to have a full lesson plan devised and reformatted to work with a distance delivery setting. I feel I would have needed to teach in a public classroom for a while which would allow me to get myself situated with a real classroom then I would move on to an internet classroom. I feel it would be hard to teach online because at most the teacher would present the material and expect quizzes and tests back in a timely manner. I want to be a teacher, not a webmaster. Overall I feel that if I got offered the opportunity to teach a class on the internet, I would decline
Monday, October 15, 2007
Critiques for Teacher Web
Critique 1
Mr. Rinard
GOOD
1. Explains in detail about family and the about me section was very interesting
2. Web resources were very through and very helpful for a health person
3. Grades are easy to access
BAD
1. The quiz was very easy and not really reflecting on content of course, needs to be more focused on the class information and less on personal information.
2. Calendar might need to be more in-depth for future students because they might check it and want to know what they are doing on a certain day, not just test dates.
3. Not a whole lot of information on what the WIKI is and the entire link says is it is a WIKI, not what it is about.
Critique 2
Mr. Divelbiss
1. Page was very well thought out and overall very easy to follow to different links.
2. Class handouts were easy to click on and the information is easy to follow.
3. The about me section was a good laugh and seems the person is really family orientated.
BAD
1. Teacher schedule should be about your teaching schedule, not your class schedule, students will go to site and see that teacher is not teaching yet, but still trying to learn how to teach.
2. The FAQ page is funny but not appropriate for the class. The FAQ should be about the class, home work, tests and things relevant to the class, not if the teacher is awesome.
3. The calendar should be throughout the year, not just a month by month calendar. This will allow students to see when dates in the future are and important tasks that they need to complete.
Mr. Rinard
GOOD
1. Explains in detail about family and the about me section was very interesting
2. Web resources were very through and very helpful for a health person
3. Grades are easy to access
BAD
1. The quiz was very easy and not really reflecting on content of course, needs to be more focused on the class information and less on personal information.
2. Calendar might need to be more in-depth for future students because they might check it and want to know what they are doing on a certain day, not just test dates.
3. Not a whole lot of information on what the WIKI is and the entire link says is it is a WIKI, not what it is about.
Critique 2
Mr. Divelbiss
1. Page was very well thought out and overall very easy to follow to different links.
2. Class handouts were easy to click on and the information is easy to follow.
3. The about me section was a good laugh and seems the person is really family orientated.
BAD
1. Teacher schedule should be about your teaching schedule, not your class schedule, students will go to site and see that teacher is not teaching yet, but still trying to learn how to teach.
2. The FAQ page is funny but not appropriate for the class. The FAQ should be about the class, home work, tests and things relevant to the class, not if the teacher is awesome.
3. The calendar should be throughout the year, not just a month by month calendar. This will allow students to see when dates in the future are and important tasks that they need to complete.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Concept Mapping Software Questions
1. How can the use of concept mapping activities engage your students in their learning? Give 2 or 3 specific examples
It can engage my students in learning by putting students into groups or having them complete the assignment by themselves. In a health setting they could make a concept map on different drugs and alcohol as well as types of birth control. Another way they could use concept mapping is present a project on the circulatory system and then make up a concept map as a review worksheet to give to the rest of the class. One other way that I could use concept mapping is to make the students present homework assignments in a concept map and branch out on a certain subject to show that they have gained knowledge in the specific field that was required of them.
2. Discuss how concept mapping changes the way your students can demonstrate that they understand a concept of topic you would be teaching.
Concept mapping changes the way my students can demonstrate that they have gained an understanding of a topic by working on a computer which will allow them to gain a tighter grasp on technology as well as by letting the students show an understanding of the topic by making projects over the information. They could make a concept map as a homework assignment over a lesson I taught that day. They could go home and make a map on the rules of soccer and make the requirements be 15-20 bubbles or facts. Overall I see the concept mapping being very effective but it requires the students to spend money to get the program or give the student’s time during class periods to work on it.
It can engage my students in learning by putting students into groups or having them complete the assignment by themselves. In a health setting they could make a concept map on different drugs and alcohol as well as types of birth control. Another way they could use concept mapping is present a project on the circulatory system and then make up a concept map as a review worksheet to give to the rest of the class. One other way that I could use concept mapping is to make the students present homework assignments in a concept map and branch out on a certain subject to show that they have gained knowledge in the specific field that was required of them.
2. Discuss how concept mapping changes the way your students can demonstrate that they understand a concept of topic you would be teaching.
Concept mapping changes the way my students can demonstrate that they have gained an understanding of a topic by working on a computer which will allow them to gain a tighter grasp on technology as well as by letting the students show an understanding of the topic by making projects over the information. They could make a concept map as a homework assignment over a lesson I taught that day. They could go home and make a map on the rules of soccer and make the requirements be 15-20 bubbles or facts. Overall I see the concept mapping being very effective but it requires the students to spend money to get the program or give the student’s time during class periods to work on it.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Concept Mapping
After reviewing the website, inspiration.com, I feel that it will be a valuable asset in helping student’s complete projects online. The website will help plan, organize, research, evaluate, comprehend and communicate efficiently with between the students along with the teacher. The website will help students come up with different lesson plans along with over 50 curriculum packets.
The website is rather intriguing because when I was searching on how to use the program I looked at how each subject could use the site. Students could create a math project and after they make it they could, add symbols to the project, use different images and mainly make it into an html item and be able to post it to the internet.
Overall I feel that the inspiration website will be very useful for teachers who want to use technology in the classroom. The website will help students become more accustomed to different features on a computer and on the internet which will help them when they go to college and find a job. Technology is the future and if we can get our students to begin to accept it we will be helping them more then they ever know.
The website is rather intriguing because when I was searching on how to use the program I looked at how each subject could use the site. Students could create a math project and after they make it they could, add symbols to the project, use different images and mainly make it into an html item and be able to post it to the internet.
Overall I feel that the inspiration website will be very useful for teachers who want to use technology in the classroom. The website will help students become more accustomed to different features on a computer and on the internet which will help them when they go to college and find a job. Technology is the future and if we can get our students to begin to accept it we will be helping them more then they ever know.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Blogs in Education
Blogs in Education Project
1. Yes the results are similar because they are the most popular that are looked at and they are the most helpful. I believe that most search engines are the same but with different websites that appear at a later date on the site. I do not see many differences in each website except for the material that is on the future pages.
2. Three ways that bogs are being used in interesting ways are using other teacher’s power points, having students post homework on personal blogs and by communicating with students in other parts of the world.
Using power points teachers can use lessons from other teachers and not have to waster their prep periods in making them. This also allows teachers to change the power points to make it more suitable for each class they teach. Teachers can use blogs by having students post homework on them instead of having everything be turned in by hand. This will help save paper and will allow teachers to grade papers from the comfort of their home or office. Using blogs to communicate with students in other parts of the world helps teach students different climates and let them see what students in other economies learn on a daily basis.
3. I would use the readers because I like to see information on the side of the screen and this would allow me to catch up on news and sports in a matter of seconds. I might use it in a classroom to let studetns catch up on world news and sports and would make sure that each reader I use would have a search engine built in to them for quick access to the web. Students could also do a project on comparing and contrasting different readers in order to find the best one that the class will use.
4. I believe the impact of using blogging and RSS readers in the classroom would help students more then hurt them. Blogging will help show teachers that the students are technologically advanced and have the ability to enter the world with computer skills. The RSS readers will help give students up to date news that most students would not follow or know about if the reader was not there.
5. 2 pros
Easy to make and update blogs
Easy to look at and grade
RSS reader is quick way to get world-wide news
RSS reader is easy to work with and easy to get minimize
2 cons
Students might not have computer to make site
Students might not have ability to update on regular basis for hw
RSS reader is distracting when using in classRSS reader is sometimes not the same as others which makes it harder to decide which one is perfect for students.
1. Yes the results are similar because they are the most popular that are looked at and they are the most helpful. I believe that most search engines are the same but with different websites that appear at a later date on the site. I do not see many differences in each website except for the material that is on the future pages.
2. Three ways that bogs are being used in interesting ways are using other teacher’s power points, having students post homework on personal blogs and by communicating with students in other parts of the world.
Using power points teachers can use lessons from other teachers and not have to waster their prep periods in making them. This also allows teachers to change the power points to make it more suitable for each class they teach. Teachers can use blogs by having students post homework on them instead of having everything be turned in by hand. This will help save paper and will allow teachers to grade papers from the comfort of their home or office. Using blogs to communicate with students in other parts of the world helps teach students different climates and let them see what students in other economies learn on a daily basis.
3. I would use the readers because I like to see information on the side of the screen and this would allow me to catch up on news and sports in a matter of seconds. I might use it in a classroom to let studetns catch up on world news and sports and would make sure that each reader I use would have a search engine built in to them for quick access to the web. Students could also do a project on comparing and contrasting different readers in order to find the best one that the class will use.
4. I believe the impact of using blogging and RSS readers in the classroom would help students more then hurt them. Blogging will help show teachers that the students are technologically advanced and have the ability to enter the world with computer skills. The RSS readers will help give students up to date news that most students would not follow or know about if the reader was not there.
5. 2 pros
Easy to make and update blogs
Easy to look at and grade
RSS reader is quick way to get world-wide news
RSS reader is easy to work with and easy to get minimize
2 cons
Students might not have computer to make site
Students might not have ability to update on regular basis for hw
RSS reader is distracting when using in classRSS reader is sometimes not the same as others which makes it harder to decide which one is perfect for students.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Learning Styles Project
Learning styles
The learning style that I looked at was Learning Styles and Strategies. It measured if people were sensing learners and intuitive learners along with visual and verbal learners. The test also decided if the tester was an active or reflective learner and if they were a global learner or a sequential learner.
The instrument used to test all of these methods was a test. The tested asked questions such as
If I were a teacher, I would rather teach a course(a) that deals with facts and real life situations.(b) that deals with ideas and theories.
OR
I would rather first(a) try things out.(b) think about how I'm going to do it.
The learning style instrument was a test which after completion gave results to the test taker. The learning style results that I came to were that I was an active learner over a reflective learner. I was a sensing learner over an intuitive learner. I was a visual learner over a verbal learner and I cam pretty much even when I was tested over sequential learner to global learner.
After reviewing these results I believe that the results were correct. I am an active learner because I like to work in groups and I do find it easier to retain information if I find a way to do something with the information besides just try to memorize it. I am a sensing learner because I like to learn facts, such as sports facts and trivia, and I like to solve problems and be hands on more then intuitive learners. I also enjoy taking classes that pertain to the real world, not just learning information that means nothing to me.
I was rated very highly as a visual learner because I need to see things before I can understand them. I like to be able to look at the bigger picture before I can truly understand what is gong on. When looking at the sequential vs. global learner I was right in the middle. I guess this could mean that I understand things when I take a large jump into things and when I take time to look at all the steps one by one. Overall though I feel that I am more of a sequential when looking at math problems but a global when looking at bigger things such as sports and things I understand and am enthusiastic about.
The website I took this information from was…
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
I believe that I could use my new understanding about my learning styles into my future as a teacher by helping students seeing the bigger picture in the sports part of my PE lessons. I could begin by giving the students step-by-step instructions on how to play sports such as soccer then show them the big picture of how to play it. This kind of teaching method is a whole-part-whole. This could work perfectly for both the sequential and global part of teaching.
Being a visual learner I could teach this by showing lots of pictures of health problems and ways to play sports. I could also teach by using strictly PowerPoint or by using handouts so that I could see the information while teaching it and my students could see the information as well.
I would make all my lessons apply to the real world because I am a sensing learner. There is nothing more I hated as a student then learning information that I knew would not be any use to me in the future. Everything I teach my students will be relevant to the games and lessons I teach to all of my students.
Overall I feel that after looking at all of my learning styles I have become more aware of who I am as a teacher and as a learner. In the future I will be willing to change lesson plans I have previously made in order to reach my students. I feel though my learning styles are what I am comfortable to and I will use them to teach my students to the best of my ability when I become a teacher.
The learning style that I looked at was Learning Styles and Strategies. It measured if people were sensing learners and intuitive learners along with visual and verbal learners. The test also decided if the tester was an active or reflective learner and if they were a global learner or a sequential learner.
The instrument used to test all of these methods was a test. The tested asked questions such as
If I were a teacher, I would rather teach a course(a) that deals with facts and real life situations.(b) that deals with ideas and theories.
OR
I would rather first(a) try things out.(b) think about how I'm going to do it.
The learning style instrument was a test which after completion gave results to the test taker. The learning style results that I came to were that I was an active learner over a reflective learner. I was a sensing learner over an intuitive learner. I was a visual learner over a verbal learner and I cam pretty much even when I was tested over sequential learner to global learner.
After reviewing these results I believe that the results were correct. I am an active learner because I like to work in groups and I do find it easier to retain information if I find a way to do something with the information besides just try to memorize it. I am a sensing learner because I like to learn facts, such as sports facts and trivia, and I like to solve problems and be hands on more then intuitive learners. I also enjoy taking classes that pertain to the real world, not just learning information that means nothing to me.
I was rated very highly as a visual learner because I need to see things before I can understand them. I like to be able to look at the bigger picture before I can truly understand what is gong on. When looking at the sequential vs. global learner I was right in the middle. I guess this could mean that I understand things when I take a large jump into things and when I take time to look at all the steps one by one. Overall though I feel that I am more of a sequential when looking at math problems but a global when looking at bigger things such as sports and things I understand and am enthusiastic about.
The website I took this information from was…
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
I believe that I could use my new understanding about my learning styles into my future as a teacher by helping students seeing the bigger picture in the sports part of my PE lessons. I could begin by giving the students step-by-step instructions on how to play sports such as soccer then show them the big picture of how to play it. This kind of teaching method is a whole-part-whole. This could work perfectly for both the sequential and global part of teaching.
Being a visual learner I could teach this by showing lots of pictures of health problems and ways to play sports. I could also teach by using strictly PowerPoint or by using handouts so that I could see the information while teaching it and my students could see the information as well.
I would make all my lessons apply to the real world because I am a sensing learner. There is nothing more I hated as a student then learning information that I knew would not be any use to me in the future. Everything I teach my students will be relevant to the games and lessons I teach to all of my students.
Overall I feel that after looking at all of my learning styles I have become more aware of who I am as a teacher and as a learner. In the future I will be willing to change lesson plans I have previously made in order to reach my students. I feel though my learning styles are what I am comfortable to and I will use them to teach my students to the best of my ability when I become a teacher.
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