End of the Year Reflection (required)

What Have I learned:

Well, the real question is: "What have I not learned?" I have learned so much this semester that I am shocked to say I have used quite a bit. Just the other day, my best friend was mentioning how she would like to make a photography website for her sister and I could say " hey! I know how to do that!" I never in a million years would have thought that I could be of any help in the realm of technology. These new found skills cause me to want to understand technology more and to be willing to play around with things that are new to me or that I still do not understand. I also think that in the area of the SMARTboard, I have really seen a tangible improvement. I am not able to form my own presentation from scratch and can use my own ideas in technology which is one thing that I really wanted to be able to do. It is one thing to follow a template and to copy the work of others, it is another to be creative with your own ideas. I think I still have a ways to go, however, I have also come a long ways from where I was.

NETS for teachers:

At the beginning of the year, I said that I wanted to work on: facilitating and inspiring student creativity. I choose this because I know and understand that students are going to have to learn to think out of the box in order to be successful in the world of the future. I also realize that in order to inspire my students to be creative, I need to learn how to be creative with technology myself. I can see that over this semester I have become much more creative with SMARTboard, delicious, web surfing, podcast, video and blog. I also am pleased to say that I have been able to go back and improve things such as old blogs and also to check out more and more new aspects of technology.

I wanted to:

1. Increase my knowledge of the SMARTboard: I did this by creating consistent lessons on this program for all of my lesson plans this semester ( for all education classes)

2. Use the ideas as a starting ground for my own.: I did this my observing students in class and taking note of things that I want to add to my future lessons. Also, I have improved and experimented with my own lessons such as the use of video, bookmarking tools, drop box etc.

3. Use multiple venues: I did this by branching out from what I am comfortable with through the use of Vocaroo, SMARTboard, DocuCam, drop box, delicious and imovie.

Therefore, I think that I really have learned a lot from this class even if I had to fish my way through some of the frustrations of technology. I am glad that this has jump started my interest in educational technology and I hope to continue to learn more in the future.

Reflection #12: Eyes on the Prize- Teacher of the Year

What:

Teacher of the Year

This year's teacher of the year award went to Sarah Brown Wessling from Iowa who successfully incorporated technology in her classroom. She was recognized for her ability to teach a wide range of students and also because of her ability to connect everyday life with learning. An english teacher by trade, Wessling allows students to incorporate writing in the form of pamphlets, grant proposals and story boards so that learning is catered to the interests of individual students and also prepares them for the future. Wessling focuses on learner based teaching and mentioned that one way she does this is by having her desk at the back of the classroom so that as the teacher she is the "lead learner."

So What: This award and the teacher that received this honor can speak volumes about what is expected and respected in teachers today. The application of technology is not only a skill to be celebrated but in reality required of prestigious teachers today. This is especially shown in the addresses from the president. More and more learning is more about individual students and application to real life then the traditional way of teaching.

Now What: Well, I want to be on board with what is required and expected of me as a teacher in today's world. This may mean that I need to put more time into individual based projects and even continue to expand my knowledge of technology. But, as a future teacher, my goal is to effectively reach as many students as possible, from as many backgrounds and learning styles as I can. I really do think that technology is a valuable tool to bring about better learners when partnered with dedication and the desire to go above and beyond the basic call do duty.

Reflection #11: The School of Dreams

What:

Contest for the Architecture of New Schools

As I was browsing the internet, looking for some interesting insight on technology in future schools, I accidently came across an international contest for architects. These architects have come up with what they view as the "ideal" school, based on different international environments in the U.S., India, Uganda, and South America. The pictures have paragraphs about why they picked certain themes and designs and how this will affect the learning environment of children.

For example, in India, the buildings are thin but multi-storied with a focus on brief interactive learning. In Teton Valley, the school involved wide open spaces and farm animals ( so that students can interact with nature).

So What: This is a very interesting idea. My search actually began as I looked up what a technological savvy classroom would look like and was shocked at the statement that: Schools have not changed at all for almost 100 years. This is something that specialists are realizing and I really do think that the development of new schools is going to have a big push in the future. Studies show that students learn best in a well structured learning environment and the format of a classroom really does play a large role in this.

Now What: I think that this is exciting for teachers in that we don't have to design these complicated schools, we merely get to enjoy them. However, it may be safe to say that we are stepping in the unknown. As future teachers we must realized that education is and will change quite a deal as we step into it and that we may not be able to use the experiences that we had as students but must instead look to the future. The students that we teach and the way in which we teach them is heading somewhere that no one really can predict. This, I believe, is both exciting and terrifying.

Reflection #10: High School at Your Convenience

What: The other day I was watching T.V. and, I was surprised to see a commercial for a complete online school. What really intrigued me was the way that they advertised it: School at your convenience. They had flashing pictures of students studying in coffee shops and having jobs as well as getting together with friends to do school on "their own time." It is now possible to get a high school diploma completely online and on your own terms for free.

So What: Well, I just began to think as the commercial came to a close: how is the world are high school students going to be motivated to complete their entire education online? For me personally, online classes seen to be the worst possible option. I already despise spending long periods of time on the computer and really what makes school important to me is interaction with my peers and my professors. However, I am also aware that in this day and age, many students respond best on the computer. Also, this option could be ideal for students pursuing things such as art, sports and careers that require a lot of time and training as a high school student. For example, if an athlete wanted to train for the olympics or a dancer wanted to join a company now it is possible to do school work at their convenience.

Now What: This is interesting because this may influence our jobs as teachers in the future. If more and more students choose to do online schools, we may find ourselves teaching to a virtual community rather then a real one. I really do hope, however, that this does not become the majority. I think that there are some things about interacting with peers and doing hands on activities in a classroom that cannot be recreated on a computer ( especially with younger children). I am interested to see how popular online school becomes and also if online classes begin to be geared at younger and younger grades.

Assignment #4: Final Project

Exciting, Energetic Earthworms SMARTboard

My Delicious Account

Features that I learned and used:

1. SMARTboard software

a. Table

b. Gallery

c. Text box

d. Add a link

e. Video

f. background

g. Picture

2. Internet

a. Youtube

b. Delicious bookmarks

c. Websites for research

3. Delicious Account

a. Bookmarking

b. Tabs

c. Bundle

Issues that I encountered:

I had many issues when I first began to tackle the SMARTboard. I have never been one to be tech savvy and I was really nervous that learning a brand new program would be very difficult for me. This earthworm lesson was actually the very first SMARTboard presentation that I made all on my own. It took me forever. I was really confused about the text box element. First, I had to figure out that in order to move a text box I had to click on the cursor button or I would continue to make more and more text boxes with each click. After I finally figured this out I couldn't figure out how to edit a text box once it was made ( you actually have to double click on the text box once it is moveable to edit it). This created a bit of a problem but luckily I was able to figure it out with a bit of trial and error. Also, I learned how to make a chart on the SMARTboard program. This is learned is great for kids to come and drag items into it, however it only fits one word and then when a second word is brought into the box, it disappears. I have yet to figure out how to make this work. I also was able to mess around with links to various internet pages. I learned that you can choose to either connect a link to an object, or have a little round blue dot to the side of an object. Both of these are very helpful in that it make accessing the internet in the beginning of the lesson very helpful. I also will never forget the moment during the previous presentation in which I used this SMARTboard lesson when the video did not show up. I had to act on my feet and decide to go straight into the reading of the book instead of dealing with the video that I had intended to use. This was a great lesson in technology in that it is important to always have a back up plan :).

What this Means to Me and How I Will Use it as a Teacher:

This project represents to me a lot of hard work. I never would've imagined a the beginning of the semester that I would be able to make my very own SMARTboard presentation. I can look back now and can say that I feel much more comfortable with technology in general as well. I feel as though I can maneuver throughout the internet and can be much more creative with technology. As a teacher in this generation, I really do think that technology is going to play a key role in the classroom. I also think that the SMARTboard is going to be a normal part of any and all classrooms at a time in the near future. So, I am really happy that I have had this opportunity to learn how to use the tools on the internet to make my classroom a better place ad also to relate best to a generation of learners who are digital natives. I would love to use this particular lesson in the future as part of either an english/ reading lesson or a science lesson. I am also pleased to say that I have made other SMARTboard presentations related to math, and reading that I hope to use in the future.

NETS for students:

3. Research and Information Fluency:

b. locate, organize, analyze, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

In my project, students are able to research an animal of their choice using internet sources and then to use this information to answer specific questions.

6. Technology Operations and Concepts:

a. understand and use technology

b. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

Students will understand how to interact with the SMARTboard in front of the class and will also be able to use a new resource ( delicious account) to search for websites on a given topic. At one point, student may able develop their own delicious account to bookmark websites that they use to research their own animal ( expansion lesson).

NETS for teachers:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity:

a. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

Students will do their own research after I model research that I have done and also once I give specific guidelines and instructions. I will also point out available resources as a starting point for student research ( my Delicious account that I have already set up in regards to certain topics).

2. Design an develop digital- age learning experiences and assessments:

b. develop technology- enriched learning environment that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

Students will have an opportunity to research an animal of their choice and also to gage their own progress as they answer specific questions in order to write their own creative diary. This lesson can also be expanded to become a project as well, this would leave even more room for student creativity.

Comments on Other Blogs ( part 2)

Amy Angelton

Alice Livermore

Kacie Simpson

Bethany Pitroff

Sarah Womack

The Future of Education and Technology (required)

I read an article on the influence of technology in the classroom now as well as the potential influence that it has for future classrooms. Much of the information found was from universities such as NYU and the relationship between students, professors, and technology. The article stated that already, technology is a key element in the classroom. However, the use of technology is expected to expand even more, especially in the areas of video games, networking sites and other web 2.o tools. Though these may seem to be odd additions to the classroom. Studies have shown that these items originally "intended for evil" can be turned into "good" tools. These are especially useful for the students that are struggling with the pace of the class. Also, networking tools make it easy for students to connect with one another and with their professors.

This shift in education is predicted to make learning more about the application of knowledge then memorization. Students will be able to learn in a way that works best for them, but will be expected to show a demonstration of what they learn in a new way as well. This means that a student may be able to test at the beginning of the year to see what they already know and then can focus on those areas in which they need improvement. Also, projects and presentations will be student based and will also involve extensive peer review. Overall, technology is continuing to influence and change the education system in a way that will eventually rework learning as we know it.

Technology and Education

Why I Have a Mac (required)

I really enjoy having a Mac but to be honest, there are still a lot of things that I have to learn. I grew up using PCs and just switched to a Mac when I entered college. So, I am far from being a tech savvy Mac user. However, there are a few things that I really enjoy about having a Mac. For one, the programs that are included on a Mac are very user friendly such as iphoto, itunes and imovie. I really like iphoto in particular. It is a great way to organized pictures and to do simple photo editing as well. I also really like the dashboard element (this is a place where I can store different gadgets that I can download from apple. com such as a dictionary, calculator, and even Christmas lights). I also really like the set up of "Hot Corners." This allows me to switch quickly between different programs that I have open at once. It is really handy when I need to use the internet and Word at the same time. Or if I need to organize parts of two different Word documents.

Once challenge that I had to face with a Mac is the lack of Microsoft Word. I have this program downloaded on my computer but sometimes it is hard to open an attachment when I email them to others ( because my version of Word is different). This does pose a challenge. But, other then that minor problem, I am very happy with my Mac.

Ways to use the Mac in the classroom:

1. Mac's are easy to cart around and are small in size, this makes them ideal for classroom use.

2. iphoto has an excellent photo editing program where students can easily take a picture and edit it for a project or presentation.

3. imovie is user friendly and great for hands on projects where students can combine their knowledge of a subject with photos and are to make a movie project.

4. the hot corners effect allows students to use many different windows at once, this makes it easier to do research.

5. The Mac store offers great advice and council for computer problems that is an excellent source for schools.

Online Conference ( required)

I had the chance to listen to a few different podcasts:

Googlios- a 21st Century View of Teaching

This podcast talked about a wide range of technological tools that are handy in the classroom. Some examples include the use of Google tools, the E portfolio, wikis and other websites. I really enjoyed this individual's insight into the E portfolio or "Googlio". I am particularly interested in this because of the new portfolio system that we are setting up in the education program. It is interesting to hear about all of the things that can be included in something like this and also to see how it can be used in all different age groups from kindergarten to graduate students. I think that it is a great idea to have students become familiar with the portfolio at a young age, especially with how competitive the job market is getting. If kids are better equipped at a young age to be ready for the workforce and the "real world" the better. I also particularly like his ending statement that we are in fact on the breach of a "technological renaissance" it just makes everything seem very epic.

The Cigar Box Method

This Podcast focuses on a method of "remixing" in regards to a project that a class did on Canadian history. The teacher focus on "inquiry based work" where students can research history and can come up with their own conclusions. This is based on a story of a "Cigar Box" collection of a man who collects cigar box and claims that "each panel of the box, as he uncovers them is a part of history." So this teacher decided to have his students create cigar panels that represent different parts of Canadian history through images and research. Students could then "Remix" images to understand history more closely.

1. analyze "Canada in a Box" website ( different images and what they mean)

2. Had a professor come in to speak about the "Cigar Box" exhibit

3. Students research topic

4. Sketches in sketchbook

5. Macromedia Fireworks graphic editing program

6. Create five panel (form a virtual museum)

7. Frequent feedback

8. Worked with a Curator from the museum

9. Finishing touch.

10. Wood shop

I really liked this project because it made history come alive for the 7th grade class. I also think that it is cool that this became a class effort and the students had to work together to form their own personal museum. I love the idea of making history more personal and also to have students really think about historical artifacts and what they mean, not just memorize dates and facts. I loved this project and I greatly admire the hard work of this class and this teacher.

The World Flat Classroom

This Podcast about a classroom that focus on technology and global development. It includes the presentations of individual students who present different group projects. Also, students reflected on the experiences with different global classrooms.

Some of these include:

1. predicting the future

2. Summits with other classrooms around the world (Germany, Australia)

3. Creation of video

I think this is a great way for students to connect with other students from other countries. This allows the world to become more real and also allows students to engage cross cultural. I also really enjoyed the fact that teachers from across the world are using this program to connect across cultures. This would be a great addition to a history, social studies, or geography curriculum.

Reflection #9: Re-visiting the Dream

"The Land of Spices" India Blog

What: This is the blog that I started up when I went on a month-long internship to Mumbai, India last summer. Because I was interning for an organization that had many sponsors ( I also had some of my own) I was asked to start up a blog to keep people informed during my time in India. Little did we all know that I would in fact be staying at a place with no internet connection and very little access to internet cafes ( they were a half and hour drive from where I was staying). So, unfortunately, though I was able to post my thoughts before my trip and after my trip, I was not able to keep people updated during my stay in India.

So What:

This was my first experience writing a blog and I am so proud to say that I feel more comfortable writing blogs now that I have been in Technology in Education. However, this is another great way to show the use of blogs. Blogs are a great way to keep a large scope of people updated on a topic in your life and you can make it as personal or impersonal as you wish. I think a really cool project for a class would include researching a country or state and writing a blog talking about "adventures" in that country or state. This would be a great way for parents to see and be involved with what their kids are doing in school.

Now What:

Like I said earlier, a blog is a very useful tool to keep a large number of people updates on a specific topic. Therefore it could be a useful tool for students or for teachers. I think that I have for sure learned this through my experiences writing a block recounting my experiences in India.

Reflection #8: Rebuilding a Community One School at a Time

School for Schools Teacher Exchange

What:

This website is a part of the Invisible Children campaign that focuses on improving the educational system in Northern Uganda. The website includes promotional videos that are very well done that explain what has been done already in Uganda an encourages involvement so that more can be built and improved. The basic heart of this ministry is to rebuild schools in Northern Uganda that have been devastated for years because of war and to bring these school up to standard so that the students can once again compete with southern Uganda and with the world. The basic steps that are taken to do this include rebuilding the structural buildings of the schools through local contractors and then to bring in good teachers to begin to mentor students. They also focus on individual mentorship and have a "teacher exchange" program where teacher from America can swap places with teachers in Uganda in order to learn from each other.

So What:

This is a great example of the place that education is in the world. Many countries are looking for book and desks let alone technology and resources. We are so blessed in America to have all fo the resources available to us that we do. This website causes me to think outside of the box and to get a global perspective on the importance of education.

Now What:

I really think that this program would be an amazing experience for anyone interested in secondary education. After reading this article, I really do consider doing something like this "teacher exchange" so that I can see the global need and so that I can give hope in the form of education to students around the world.

Educational Blog (required)

Post on Educational Blog

I really enjoyed reading this educational blog. However, when it came to the time when I had to formulate my own comment, I was a bit intimidated. The blog I read was focused on the issue of "failing school" and "diverse learners" and the it posed the question: How can you solve the problem of failing schools and also avoid the stigmatism of having diverse learners?" This is a very tough question to answer and I really do not know what the best thing is to do. However, it was good to think about this issue especially because I am interested in teaching in a low income area. This is for a sure an issue I may be facing in the near future. I enjoyed reading the article and participating in the discussion. However, it still was a bit scary posting my ideas for the entire world to see.

Reflection #7: Giraffes, A Mystery

What:

This is my riddle video that I created in class last week. This was a challenge but, in the end, I am really glad that I learned this skill. It is funny to think that I have had this application on my computer for a few years but have not taken the time to learn how to use it. I included pictures of giraffes and african music to give a feel for the culture in which giraffes are found. It took a lot of trial and error and a lot of frustration as well as an entire two hour class time. However, I do think that the practice was well worth it and now I am better prepared to make more videos in the future.

So What:

Well, this is an excellent tool for an anticipatory set on pretty much any topic. It is a great idea to create riddles that get more and more difficult that engage students and cause them to begin to think about the topic even before the lesson begins. I also am interested to look into other ways to make creative videos and to even try and take more pictures that could be used in personal videos. I even have a few trips that I have gone on and it would be cool to make videos to show friends and family that represent these trips as well.

Now What:

Now I plan to use this skill further in the classroom. I plan on creating more videos and also having students use programs to put their own information into videos. This would be a great tool for student presentations. I know that my nanny children already love to make videos and podcasts about our days together. I think that it would be fun to make a video with them as well. Also, it seems as though many kids already know so much about technology, so using these interests in the classroom.

Technology Project Plan

Here is a link too...

My Podcast

Introduction to my Project:

For my Technology in Education project I am going to do a project called "Exciting, Energetic Earthworms." In this project I will be using the SMARTboard software as well as a DELICIOUS account bookmark list. I will have different activities for students (about grade 3) regarding earthworms as well as information about the book "Diary of a Worm." This SMARTboard lesson is designed as a supplement to a lesson on earthworms for science that also ties into english. For the second part of the lesson or unit, students will be required to look at a DELICIOUS account to find website that will give them information on an animal of their choice. Therefore, I will have a link from my SMARTboard presentation to a bookmark list of websites first on earthworms as an example, and next on different animals so that students can use them for resources.

Panel Questions (required)

Here are my three questions for the panel:

1. What are some ways that study abroad could be effectively added into the education program?

2. What is the best piece of advise that you have have ever received regarding education?

3. What is the worst experience you have ever had as a teacher?

4. Why did you choose teaching?

5. Why did you choose public/private school?

6. What are some ways that you use technology in the classroom?

7. What are some effective classroom management techniques that you have used, how does this vary with grade level and school district?

"Caught on Video" (required)

Well, I really like the idea that the author presented in this article. I particularly like the concept of a time capsule. How cool would it be for a student to see themselves at graduation taking about what they were learning in first grade, fourth grade and eleventh grade? I think that this is also very applicable to our day and age. More and more it seems that media skills come hand and hand with job criteria and I think that is great for students to learn how to manipulate this type of communication at an early age. I do think however, that strict guidelines need to be set in regards to who can view these video and what content can be in videos. I think that this could be a particular problem at the secondary level. However, if these guideline were set and privileges were given only as these rules were followed, video could be a very beneficial tool both for the classroom and for the student.

Assignment #3

Introduction:

For my "Tool Box" I chose to set up a Delicious Account so that I could book mark resources that I will be using for a few different classes that I am currently in. These classes include: Reading Methods, Instructional Design and Math Methods, all of which I have lesson plan assignments coming up in. My Delicious account is set up with easy to understand titles for each link as well as clear tag so that it is easy to navigate each website based on topic or subject.

Here it is:

Devon's Delicious Account

How it is Organized and Why I Chose these Sources:

I organized the titles of my websites alphabetically. However, I also tagged each website by subject and topic to make them easier to navigate through. I decided to add these sites mostly because I have a few lesson plans due in other classes and I thought this would be a great opportunity to research for them. This is why the topics in my delicious are very eclectic from earthworms to books, seed germination to snakes. I also included a few projects that I have used in Sunday school and a few resources such as my website that could be useful for parents.

How I will use it and How I will Share it:

I will use this as a resource for my classmates. If they have any lessons they are teaching on these subjects, here are a lot of resources. Also, I think that, in the future this is a great place to have resources posted for students. This I think would be especially helpful for specific projects and topics. For example, if students need to research snakes, I can have a list of bookmarked resources that they can find all in one place. I hope to share this with the tech in ed class by posting the list on my blog.

A Summary of Few Sites:

How to Write a Limerick

This website was remarkably helpful when I had to do a lesson plan on poetry. It is a great resource to find a fast and easy way to relate poetry to kids. It went through a step by step process of teaching that was helpful and also provided kid friendly examples of poetry types ( this can sometimes be hard to find). It also had a very wide variety of poetry forms within the website.

How to Make a Gingerbread House

I love this website, it has so many simple, inexpensive but quality crafts and projects for kids. I used this particular recipe for a first grade class at my church and it worked really well. Also, the supplies were easy to find and relatively inexpensive. I found it to be the perfect holiday creation and the kids making their houses and taking it home. Overall, this website it a great resource for reliable crafts even if a gingerbread house is not what you are looking for.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt Pages

I was so excited to find these printable pages. I am doing a reading lesson on the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" and this colorful pages would be a great supplement. I am unsure if I will use them in my lesson, however, they are a great resource for a classroom. This is also a great example of activity pages and printables that are available online today.

Reflection #6: One Room, Three Separate Worlds

What:

Today I am nannying for two girls, one two year old and one seven year old. This morning was an unusual one for this household. Usually the girls are very active and ready to embark on imaginative play when I arrive in the morning. However, today the girls took longer to wake up and the seven year old played "Cookie Mama" for the morning. It was unusual in that, as I sit here, I am on the computer typing homework, Josy ( the two year old) is watching Caillou on On Demand, and Nicole ( the seven year old) is continuing to play her game. We are all sitting in the same room but are involved in separate worlds.

So What:

I think that, though technology has contributed great things to society, it brings many dangers as well. Moments like we are having today are not bad if they are not the norm, however, I believe that it is easy for technology to take over a house if we are not careful. This is also the case in education. I think that it is important to remember that technology is merely a supplement to teaching, not the teaching itself. There are just some things in life that you have to learn in real situations with real people. I hope that society remembers this as we become more and more digital.

No What:

Well, I need to finish this up so that I can make breakfast and start the kids playing for the day. Though this lull in the day is relaxing, it is important that kids are active learners. As a teacher, I want to make sure that I don't just have students watch how to do something but actually do it themselves. There is nothing as significant as real experience.

Reflection #5: Student as Leader

Article on Leadership Written by a Student

What:

I went on the New Horizons for Learning website and followed a few links until I found this article. It was cool to see that New Horizons advocates for student voice in regards to technology. There was an entire section dedicated to student voice. The article I read was written by a Sophomore in high school from the Seattle area. The author speaks of leadership and what exactly it means to be a leader. He wrote about knowing what you believe and, as a teen, deciding what you really think about different issues and really following through with your own choices and opinions.

So What:

I think that it is very valuable for students to have a voice online. For one thing, it makes students feel significant to be published on the web because anyone can read it and it makes them feel proud of their work. I also think that it is a great idea to have students who are leaders in school to talk about issues such as leadership for the sake of their fellow students. This allows students to see what their peers are saying. This would obviously need to be monitored and certain restrictions would need to be put in place. However, I think that the idea of student voice could be a great one for student confidence and growth.

Now What:

Well, if I taught on a secondary level, I would look into having a forum for topics that we discuss in class. I would also have students work on essays of opinion for a few weeks. When their essays are perfected and well edited I would have the class put them on the class website or a blog that they create on their own. Then, I would have students tell friends and family about their blog and have a groups of followers. Also, I would have them comment on the blogs of a few classmates. This is similar to what we are already doing in technology in education class. Overall, I think that the web is a great place for student voice and inspiration, and teachers should tap into this resources especially on the secondary level.

Reflection #4: Digital Nation

What:

My friend Tiffany mentioned that she watched a documentary in one of her classes on technology and society. It told her I was interested to see it myself and she sent me the link so that I could watch the part that specifically focused on technology in education.

Digital Nation Documentary

This documentary is very interesting and focused in on technology and how it is affecting society from school to relationships. I only was able to watch a few sections of it, however I really think that the whole thing is worthwhile to watch. This is a crazy eye opening film that really causes me to think "what is technology doing to change society?" and " what is the future going to look like because of it?"

The part specifically on education mentions that some schools have switched over to using computers as the main educational tool. It was interesting to see the different perspectives on technology and eduction. Teachers at the primary and secondary level regard technology as a necessary tool to draw students in. Many teachers mentioned the need to "meet students where they are at" and " prepare them for the future." However, on a university level the perspective is much different. Professors at MIT especially mentioned that students are being " fooled into thinking that multi-tasking is benefiting their education." I am having a hard time figuring out if this is really true or if this is just skepticism of change.

So what:

I think that this documentary causes me to think about technology and to weigh both the benefits and problems that technology brings to society. It is important to set boundaries for oneself and to use technology as a tool, but also to keep it from running your life or taking over important things such as hands on experience, and real face to face relationships. I think that this is a precautionary tale of the problems our children may face in the future as well as the type of world they will live and grow up in.

Now What:

As a future teacher, I plan to look more into the affects of technology on children. I think that it is helpful that I can observe technology in the classroom now in order to develop my own opinion on what I think works well and doesn't work well. Also, I think I am once again reminded that children today are growing up as digital natives and understand technology in ways that I never will. This film causes me to strive to learn more about technology and also the set boundaries for myself and my future students about the balance between technology and real life.

Pomethean Activboard: required

I Google searched " About Promethean Active Board" and found the following two videos showing the board being used in classrooms.

News Report of Activboard in Maryland

Math and the Activboard

This was very interesting because I did notice some differences in format such as the way transitions are made between slides. I also noticed just how much you can do, especially regarding math. I assume that most of the math, you could also do in a similar way on a SMARTboard. In the short news clip, I learned that this product in from the UK, so I assume that this may be more popular on the east coast. However, I am curious to see if this is also being used in the area. Overall, when teachers were interviewed they really loved the Activboard, especially because it kept students on task. It was also interesting to see that it was also very successful in special needs classroom as well as in upper level math.

Questions:

What is the difference between the SMARTboard and the Activboard?

Which board is more user friendly?

Who decided what brand will be used in the classroom?

Which is more popular in the Seattle area?

Reflection #3: To Educate the Broken in India

Teacher Advocates in India, Review of 2009

Wow, I can't believe it has almost been a half a year since I was last in India! I miss it so much, and my heart is to return again. I really do believe that a part of my heart will always be in the Jungle of western India, help gently in the hands of broken women and precious children.

What:

I was looking over a blog for a ministry that I actually came in contact with in India last summer called ANM Advancing Native Missions. This ministry is based out of Virginia and works with ministries overseas that are run by natives of each country. While I was Interning with the Home Foundation at Bombay Teen Challenge, I had the chance to meet a team of women who run this organization. It was amazing because one lady in particular was focused on training teachers in local schools in India. I immediately hit it off with her because, ultimately I would love to teach in India one day or to help in education in some way.

Today I glanced over their blog and my heart strings were pulled as I looked over their accounts of the very trip to India that I met then on. I ended up reading an article on the situation of school in India. They also have profiles of teachers that need prayer and stories of situations in which children and girls my age were given hope and a new life because of the educational opportunities that they have received.

So What:

Well, get on board! I want to get on board with education on a global scale, maybe you do to. I know a lot of the girls in the education major at Northwest want to use education as a tool for ministry or missions. Well, here is an opportunity. Think out of the box, think of the possibilities of a life surrendered to God. He is limitless, and so are the doors that we may choose to walk through, our degree in education in hand. Maybe He says go, maybe he says wait, or maybe he has another plan for you. All I know is that this makes me EXCITED! So what? Ask yourself.

Now What:

For me this is the hardest question. I love to help people learn, and I want to help the poor have better lives. Not only in Christ but also through education. I find myself asking the question: "Now What Lord?" and you know, I don't have an answer. All I can do is walk forward in the direction he has set me and to trust that His plan is greater then I can even imagine. I urge you reader, be inspired, or use this article to inspire your students. There is so much that we take for granted here in the U.S. To be honest, many countries don't even know how to teach children with text books let alone SMARTboards and computers. See the opportunities that you have been given and run with them. The world in your oyster.

Reflection #2: To Raise One's Emotions

What:

Today I went to a women's coffee tasting at World Concern headquarters in Seattle. This was an amazing experience, one of those experiences that, for me, rekindles by burning desire to be involved in the lives of children overseas. As the afternoon progressed, we heard many speakers. However, one thing that particularly blew me away was the fact that most of the speakers used videos as either an opening to talk or a supplement for it.

I realized just how much we connect with a video. There is something about seeing the moving faces of children in different countries that connect us to something greater then ourselves. We become emotional. The child in a statistic is no longer a floating imaginary being, but someone we have seen, someone who is real that we could know. That child connects with us.

So What:

Media, is an excellent tool that can be used for great good. It can be used to fundraise for a necessary ministry, or to call an audience to think outside itself. It is vitally important to embrace media in order to reach not only my generation but the generations to come. We no longer are satisfied with a statistic on paper, we need to know that another human being is in fact looking for our help. Therefore, as a teacher I hope to use video as a tool to connect my students to the world around them.

No What:

Well, as far as World Concern goes, support that ministry, it is amazing. As for me, I walked away convinced that I want to help teach "school on a mat" in Bangladore or Thailand. Is this entirely because of the video I watched in a two hour session, no. But a hunger that was already inside of me re-birthed, oh yeah. Now, I hope to use the tool of video to encourage my students to think out of the box. If we are studying Africa in class, we will watch a video on an African village. If we want to learn spanish, We will Watch a video on another class in Chile learning English. If we want to analyze current events, we will watch a video on the earthquake in Chile, or the Winter Olympics. Really, there are endless possibilities for inspiration when students can see a living picture of something in which they have never experienced before.

World Concern Video- Human Trafficking

SING: Website Page

Sing! Website page

Just an experiment... these things are more challenging than you would think. :)

King's Schools Website Reflection (required)

It was fun looking at the website of my old elementary school. I think one of the major surprises that I encountered was the fact that there is a huge difference between this private school website and the public school websites that I have been looking through. The King's website was helpful but was very broad on a lot of topics. For example, the curriculum was addressed merely by topic and the topics addressed were also very vague. Also, there was no indication of things such as teacher web pages and blogs. It seems that, in general, the school is a bit behind in the area of technology. I also wish that there were more specific answers to things such as disciplinary problems and grade expectations. However, I do appreciate the fact that each family has an interview process that probably explains most of these things to each family.

On a positive note, the website was very easy to maneuver and was well organized. It also provide good information on a variety of topics including frequently asked questions. It also had smooth transitions to other campuses of King's Schools as well as other CRISTA ministries. These were also very helpful tools.

Overall, I was happy with the website, but also can see room for improvement. I also was amazing at the large difference between public schools and private in areas such as technology, special needs and academics.

King's Schools Website

Reflection #1: Nicole Meets the SMARTboard

What:

I nanny once a week on Tuesdays, right before our technology and education class. A few weeks ago, I had Nicole, the 7-year-old that I watch "try out" my SMARTboard lesson that I later presented to the class. It was fascinating just how enthralled she was in technology. I never would've guessed that in a split second she would be so interested in a simple lesson on the four seasons.

She was immediately interacting with the different activities and I really think she learned a lot about the seasons. I was also surprised at how little instruction she needed to understand how to use the program.

I also think that she felt very excited to "try out" my lesson before I showed it to the class.

So what?

This was very exciting because it was the first time I have been able to see a child interact with the SMARTboard. I have not been placed in a cooperative classroom yet and my elementary school did not have the SMARTboard. So, I was able to see first hand, the technological ability of an elementary age student. I finally do believe all of those articles :). This also gave me more confidence about presenting my project and also let me know what things I needed to "tweak" or change.

Now what?

Well, I hope to continue to learn to use the SMARTboard and to understand better how it works. I think that I may use Nicole as my "expert" to check out any future SMARTboard lessons that I may put together. I am interested to learn more about the SMARTboard and to see an entire classroom interact with the interesting new learning tool.

THANK YOU NICOLE :)!

What I Learned About the SMARTboard ( required)

Well, I definitely learned that I have a lot more to learn about the SMARTboard and about technology in general. It is also hard to plan with technology because there are always little things that can go wrong or happen in ways you do not expect. I think it is important to always have a back up plan and never be too prideful to ask for help from students. I think that if I have learned one thing in this class it is that students know an awful lot about technology, and really they can be your best resources. It also shows students that you are real if you are willing to learn from your mistakes. However,it is also important to give any technological tools a test run and to try to be ask prepared as you can be. If you are calm, the class will be too. I also noticed that it can be hard to get a good amount of class participation when using a SMARTboard. Even in our class it was easy to see that the same students would volunteer to help and others would sit back and tune out. I think one way to solve this is to deal with the SMARTboard in small groups such as stations, this allows more students to have a hands on experience with the SMARTboard. I still have many questions. I think that ultimately because I learn by doing, I need to personally play around with it more. It doesn't help me much to be told how to do things, instead, I need to figure them out for myself. This I realize requires more time of me. I would really like to learn how to record and post lessons, also I would like to become more savvy with the creation of games and also using template as a spring board for my own lessons.

I conclude: I have a lot more to learn, but I have come much farther then I thought :).

Reflection on a Blog ( required)

I found one particular chain of links that I followed very interesting. I began by following the link "Adventures in Educational Blogging." This website is very insightful. I really enjoyed the variety of topics that the author address. The author was also very interesting. She is not currently in Asia, working to bring technology into the schools there. She seems to be very well traveled and encourages the use of technology as a tool to keep up to date on world issues. What really intrigued me was one post that she had on the events that have happened in Haiti. She mentioned that in her attempt to get up-to-date information she almost had given up in frustration when she found a sight on twitter that offered the names of a few individuals who were giving twitter updates from the ground in Haiti. I followed this link and was amazed to find daily updates that provided insightful information about issues that the country of haiti is currently facing in epidemic proportions. Some of the tweets also had links to articles and websites offering more information on different topics. The first one that I followed was about the problem of the vulnerability of women in Haiti and the prevalence of rape. This was very eart- wrenching and hard to read. As I finished the article I found myself amazing that I had just learned valuable information by following a chain of various technological tools. This I believe is really what teachers should strive to do in their classes.

What:

The blog I chose to follow was very closely connected with the international community and the importance of connecting students around the world to global issues. This was seen in the link that I read regarding twitter updates about Haiti.

So What:

Teachers should offer "chain" of resources that students can use to discover information. This can include many different technological tools. In this case the author of the blog provided a link to Twitter and then a link to internet articles that gave updated information about Haiti. I never considered Twitter to work in a classroom but now I can see it is an invaluable tools to connect directly with someone who is in another part of the country or overseas. This could also be a great tool to follow an important author or public figure.

Now What:

I plan to use this idea in my own classroom. I really like the idea of having a blog for parents and also to use this blog as a place to put links to other websites such as Twitter. I hope to explore this tools more in the future and to connect my students to other individuals that are in other parts of the world. I think it would be cool to follow one person a month and to read their twitter updates as a class as part of a morning activity. This I believe is a very tangible way to be connected to the world.

Adventures in Educational Blogging

Live Twitter in Haiti

Rape in Haiti

Reflection on Generation IM (required)

Wow, I am still amazed at how many options there are out there. I know that most of this we have begun to discuss in class, however, I am also amazed at how savvy students are at using technology. For me, I still am not confident that I know much about things such as blogging, wikispaces and podcasts. However, the students in my future classroom will most likely know quite a bit about various technological tools. I would never have been able to construct a blog in 4th grade, however, teachers are using tools such as blogs everyday. I think it is also interesting that the shift in education has turned from a "memorization" method to a "critical thinking" method. I wish that I had learned this when I was in elementary school. I know, especially in math, I am very stuck in the "traditional" style of math where I memorized a list of rules and followed them. However, I have found that many of the things I have memorized are just facts in my mind. I do not know why I followed those specific math rules. This is a problem that I must face now as critical thinking is becoming more and more important. Therefore, in this way, I think that technology is a valuable tools for kids to learn how to think out of the box and to creatively solve problems in the real world.

Assignment #2

Smart Board Seasons Lesson

video

Lesson

Tools I will use in my presentation:

1. writing with a pen

2. erasing

3. video

NETS for students:

1. Creative Innovation

d. Identify trends and forecast possibilities.

why: My presentation meets this standard because students are introduced to the various seasons gradually. Throughout the lesson they are able to see patterns in different seasons and then to participate in questions that cause them to evaluate what they already know about the seasons. They also, in the end are able to see the "trend" of the class in that they can see how many students like a certain season. This lesson will also help students to identify seasons through experiences in everyday life such as nature, activity and weather.

3. Research and Information Fluency a. process data and report results. Why: This is true especially because of the class poll that is taken at the end of the lesson. Students are able to understand how to represent data in a graph and also how to organize information.

NETS for Teachers:

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

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

d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

why: This is true because, as a teacher, I am using various forms of technology such as the SMARTboard and video to display an ordinary lesson. This allows students to experience the seasons through technology which in more innovative then merely a book or a weather chart. Also, the questions that the class must participate in help them to assess what they are learning throughout the lesson. This also causes student to have to participate actively in the lesson. Finally they students must evaluate what they have learned in order to form an opinion about which season is their favorite through a poll at the end of the lesson.

How an interactive whiteboard can improve student learning:

No that students are mostly digital natives, it is important to teach in a way that is easy for them to relate to. Interactive whiteboards are easy for students to learn and also connects easily with many of the activities that they already do in their spare time. Students also can easily participate in lessons in a very visual way as they come up to the board and drag objects or play games. This is helpful because students are able to learn both the subject and become technologically savvy. Also interactive whiteboards make thing that would have otherwise been impossible or very difficult possible. This is the case with difficult science experiments that would've otherwise required lots of prep time or space. Also it is very beneficially for the development of global awareness as well. It is much easier to "visit" and experience another country through technology then merely through books because technology is something that we all have in common. I am really looking forward to using the smart board for the study of other cultures and also for science lessons. I think a particularly good way to incorporate the smart board for station work. That way one station can always been on the smart board but the teacher is only dealing with a small group rather then the whole class. Therefore it becomes more manageable for the teacher and the students are able to interact with the whiteboard more. Some examples of what this would look like include having students take polls about likes and dislikes related to subjects. Also I really like the idea of having interactive questions for them to answer and games. I believe this is especially helpful in math and science.

Assignment #1

Reflection on Science, the Smart Board and Kindergarteners

Smart Boards in Kindergarten Science

This article was very helpful and I appreciated the fact that it explained the good and bad about the SMART board in the classroom.

The article was a general overview of some classroom science examples. It began with an introduction of what a SMART board is and how is has come to be available in the classroom. Then, it narrowed in on a specific school system and the use of the SMART board in the primary grades, particularly kindergarten. It mentioned that it is a great tool to use for younger grades, especially those that do not know how to read well yet, because the interactive and visual tools on the SMART board are very easy for younger students to use and show what they have learned. It mentioned the use of pictures, instead of worksheets with heavy reading and also mentioned that demonstrations on the smart board are easier for students to understand because they do now get lost in all of the procedures, but instead can focus in on something they can see and interact with easily. Overall, I enjoyed the examples that they gave such as: games where students point our objects that need electricity or batteries, or a power point of "flash" animation. I really think that this tool is a very useful one in the primary grades. However, I was also very happy to see that the article didn't shy away from the disadvantages. The author mentioned that sometimes kids can get bored if they "don't get a turn" and so it is important to realize that the smart board is a tool, no the the teaching itself.

Overall, I am excited to use all of the games, videos and other visual tools in my classroom, especially if I work with the younger grades. I would love to use the SMART board as a way to make what would normally be a painful and complicated experiment possible in a tangible and yet simpler way. I also think that the pictures of objects as well as games are great ways to asses what students know and have learned. I plan to use the smart board as a warm up lesson often, as well as a tool of assessment.

NETS For Teachers:

As a teacher I want to... Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.

This is very important because creativity is the key to the future. As we have been told time and time again, many of the jobs that will be available to the kids we teach don't exist yet and, as a teacher, the best way in which I can prepare my students for the unknown is to teach them to think out of the box. This involves massive creativity, especially in the area of technology. I also really think that technology is a very tangible tool to use in solving the bigger problems of the world and of the planet. We can communicate cross-culturally so fast and really of the greatest things that we all have in common, on a global scale is technology.

Three things I want to work on:

1. Increase my knowledge of the smart board and work to step out of my comfort zone to use new tools for each class.

2. use the ideas of others only as a starting ground for other new ideas, I want to be creative in my own right in regards to technology.

3. Never stick to one program, I want to use multiple venues to teach a subject ( not just power point, or games but other resources as well), and I want to ask for help when I need it so that I can improve my skills in a timely manner.

NETS for Students:

I want my students to excel in... Communication and Collaboration.

I think this is super important because one of the main uses for technology is in fact communication. Technology allows us to see the world without actually having to leave our classroom. Technology has changed how we interact socially as a community and I think it is important to teach students how to use these skills and also how to balance these skills in everyday life.

Two Ideas:

1. having pen pals over facebook or email and then skyping the classroom full of students from another country for a country or geography unit.

2. have a class event or fundraiser in which students are assigned to make posters or send emails (etc) to announce the event or fundraiser to their peers and their parents.

Smart Board in the Music Classroom

This was a very interesting article and I especially enjoyed the idea of including the smart board in the music classroom. I think that normally I focus more on the smart board as an asset for teaching science, or reading or math. It is interesting to include music in the mix. I was particularly intrigued by the different software programs designed for music such as Smart Music and Finale. I also liked the idea of setting up a rhythm lesson on the smart board for students to follow.

The teacher that wrote this article was very enthusiastic about what he was doing and it made me, as a reader excited about his discoveries and experiments as well. He also mentioned the idea that his use of technology allowed students that were not usually interested in music, to engage more. His actions also pleased the administration as well.

Comments on other blogs

Comments of Other Blogs:

Lauryn Duffy's Blog:

Shayna Prause's Blog:

Ashley Peavey's Blog:

Sarah Womack's Blog

Melissa Newhouse's Blog

"Turning on the Lights" Reflection ( required)

I really enjoyed this article. It is sad to see that students are bored in class and that they feel like what they are learning is irrelevant to what they want to do in the future.

I think that educators today are faced with many new challenges that are not easy to tackle. There are a lot of new methods of teaching that need to be tried and also new ideas that need to be looked into. Do I think this will be easy? NO. Am I completely comfortable with changing everything I have come to think about education? NO. But, do I think that it is important? YES.

There were a few thinks that the author mentioned that I was not a huge fan of such as DDR in P.E. and cell phones in class. But then again, I am not sure it this is true because it is so different from what school looked like when I was growing up or if it is true concern.

However, one idea that I 100% support is the idea of meeting individually with students to hear what it is that they want to learn and where they want to be in the future. I think that it is important to be able to personalized education more and to assist students in their dreams. I also think that having individualized projects is also a good idea.

I think that it is important to combine the old with the new. I think that there is still value in books, and history and tests and math, however, I also think that these can be combined with technology.

Overall, I liked this article and, as a future teacher, I really want to continue to think through what role technology is going to have in my classroom.

Turning on the Lights Article

The Beginning of the Semester: A Reflection (required)

Well, technology is vitally important in society today. Though I tend to be old-school in almost everything in life from dating to movies, I do have to acknowledge that, well, technology is the future.

As a teacher I realize that I will need to learn quite a bit about everything from smart boards, to websites, iphones to laptops.

I hesitate, but I am willing.

One thing in particular that really fascinates me is the fluency with which kids today speak of technology. It seems that even in my first grade class at church the girls are up on the latest new toy or movie or song. I need to make sure that I am on top of these things too if I am to successfully reach my audience of students in this day and age.

I also know that technology can be used for good and bad. Cell phones are convenient distractions and tools such as the internet can cause just as much harm as good. However, I believe that if, as a teacher, I teach my students to use these tools positively, then maybe in the future they will continue to make wise choices. It is true that we can communicate globally in an instant, so world issues can be seen and experienced. We can also learn in a moment, so research is less of a hassle and more of an adventure. Overall, I think that technology in the classroom can do a whole lot of good, and I am excited to become more prepared in this area.

Teaching: a Reason and a Memory (required)- week #1

Teachers are inspiring, everybody knows that. Teaching carries with it great dignity, the dignity that comes with the action of bettering society without the glamour of monetary reward.

I really do think, that when teachers begin teaching they are idealists. I also believe that idealists with nothing more than ideals to hold onto become bitter and burnt out.

I do not know if I have what it takes to be inspiring. I also do not know if I really have the dignity and honor that it takes to give of ones self everyday from 6 to 5 without the promise of tangible reward. However, I do know that I am much more than an idealist, I am a believer. I do have a rock that can and will always carry me through. This "unseen support" is my inspiration, my dignity and my honor. In the great I AM I can persevere in the calling that I have received, I can indeed teach.

I want to teach because I want to pass on this inspiration to students.

I want to teach because education is a gateway out of poverty.

I want to teach because I know that it is something I love.

I want to teach so that I can see the look of understanding in the eyes of my students after working hard.

I want to teach because it is my calling.

It is only with God's grace that these things will be accomplished.

I believe the moment I decided to teach was the moment that my 4th grade teacher really believed in me. She encouraged me to write, actually. She saw potential in a very shy 4th grader and I will be forever grateful for that. I also am very interested in missions work with children and, after much experience on the mission field I have come to decide that education is vitally important in missions today. I am so excited to see how all of these interests combine.

The facts:

I am not very picky about what grade I want to teach. I usually answer with either 2nd or 3rd grade. I would not be surprised if I ended up in a one-room school house in a hut somewhere, no joke.

This semester I hope to learn a lot, because I have come to realize that there is a lot that I need to learn. Technology test to make me a bit "weak in the knees" so I both excited and apprehensive to be taking this class. I hope to gain confidence this semester and to develop skills that will help me in the future.