Blog # 5

Q: Explain at least three specific ways that Integration of Technology helps facilitate a Learner-Centered Classroom that encourages students to construct meaning from the technology-assisted activities you have them engage in.

A: I think that the smart board is a awesome way to get students to interact with technology because its fun but at the same time they can learn something. I wish that they had smart boards when I was in school instead of the chalk board. The smart board makes it more usable and saves time in the classroom; you can erase a project on the smart board in minutes the old board takes more time to get it erased more quickly. You can do more math related games on the smart board; the color and sound effects make a child more apt to pay attention rather than the old school manner.

I think that anytime a child uses a computer is a wonderful thing. They have the world at their fingertips. They can use a computer to do research on for a class project or they can use the internet to communicate to children of another school and/or country. I would use the internet for a pen pal program if the students were old enough to understand the communication and cultural experiences.

I also the idea of using power point to get a child's interest in a subject that may not be so interesting with plain old transparencies. You can bring a subject to life. You can give it movement and sound;more or less a face. I wish my teachers would have had the access to this kind of technology when i was in school. Power point is such a useful tool.

Blog #4

Q:Reflect on how you would use both Concept Mapping (Inspiration, Kidspiration) and an Interactive Whiteboard (SMARTBoard) in your content area (s) with the level of students you plan on teaching. In your blog cite specific examples of how you would use both technologies as well as the advantages each offers.

A: I am planning on teaching K-3, there are a lot of choices for fun activities that are still educational. I like the idea of doing matching games. For example using English vocabaulary words; matching nouns and pronouns. Another good way to use the smartboard is to use competitive games;an example is math. When we did our class activity on playing internet games, they have on the PBS website a math game that was a race and it was using math problems to get the rabbit to move ahead. I though that game was educational but competitive. You can also you the smartboard for simple fun things such as making things for the holidays; a snowman or pumpkins. By using the kidspiration you can make fun activites for the children to use on the smartboard. When we did our presentations in class, there were a lot of ideas that I would not have thought of. When i think of the smartboard i think of interactive fun.

Blog #3

Q: Reflect on why students should use Databases and Spreadsheets in the classroom. In doing so, focus on your content area and the specific advantages and disadvantages of integrating this software in your future classroom.

A: I think that databases and spreadsheets are useful to help kids understand different ways at looking at things. Since I am going to be teaching K-3 the type of graphs and databases are more simple compared to students that are in middle to high school. My concentration area is going to be language arts and with language arts you can do a lot of different databases and spreadsheets with characters in books and the common characteristics. Another use for the whole classroom would be common things with the students; such as birthdays, holidays and favorite snacks. Some disadvantages could be that some students may not understand the basics of how the spreadsheet works. With the students that are not familiar with the spreadsheet and databases, it is a great learning opportunity to learn. You can start out with simple things with children in the first grade, but by third grade the students should be able to make and fully understand how to use spreadsheets and databases. By children using the databases and spreadsheets at a young age, it helps prepare children for other grades and eventually the work field. Technology is in every day life, the younger you can learn the better you will be able to work with it.

Blog #2

Q: After exploring Geo Technologies (GPS, GIS, Google Earth & Maps, etc.) Games, Simulations & Virtual Reality in class and participating in a GPS Scavenger Hunt, reflect specifically on how you might use at least two emerging technologies in your future classroom.

A: I believe that after the exploration of the the emerging technologies that all of these activities would have a great deal of educational purposes for numerous ages and grades. Since I have going to teach K-3 the games would be a excellent source of educational purposes. The games that I played showed that they would help a student that has trouble with math, english, science or simple things such as food groups and seasons. I played word frog and alien addition. Those two games would be great for someone that has a hard time with those topics. I think that the gaming has come along way and will do a lot to benefit children that learn better with technology. I wish that when I was growing up that they had the extent of games they do know to help with troublesome areas. I think that games are a awesome way to help children that might focus better playing games than sitting in the chair, its a more hands on experience.

I also like the idea of simulation/ role play because Mokitown shows alot of ways to act safely while have fun in the process. While you are in Mokitown you learn how to cross the street, learn what the symbols for the cross walk mean, wearing your seat belt and bike safety; those are just some of the things that children can do while playing in Mokitown. They can earn rewards for doing this things correctly. It also lets children interact with other children from across the world. I think that games like this are better than the sims for younger children because it shows them right and wrong things rather than just build and play. Unlike the sims you can talk one on one with other children.

The GPS tracking might be too much for a child in Kindergarten but i think that it would be great for a child of a older grade/age. I think that it would a great activity to use with a scavenger hunt at a local park with adult supervision.

Blog #1

Q:Tell us the level of students with whom you plan on teaching as well as the content area. Then, describe the benchmark and/or grade level indicators you were working with on the Newsletter assignment. Finally, reflect on how your newsletter activity represents a learner-centered activity where your future students would be able to construct meaning regarding the benchmark or grade level indicators through the use of word processing.

A: I hope to teach children in the first or second grade and my specialty area is going to language arts. My newsletter was aimed toward children in the first to second grade. In my newsletter I took my students to a local farm. The farm is a wonderful place to learn and grow. Because it is more hands on, you benefit from the experience more than you would a zoo looking through glass at the animals. By the use of visual aids ( one of the benchmarks) the children were able to bring together three different types of animals with three different similarities. They were also able to use technology by graphics ( multiple clip art) and electronic resources by using the computer to do some research on their chosen animal. By going to the farm and doing this newsletter it will help students with their computer skills, along with using their correct sentence structure. I think that this is a beneficial exercise because it will help with building a good foundation on proper research techniques because they have to use books and/or computers to find unknown information about a animal, in this case. This project will also help with following directions that are required to complete the project, which is also another benchmark for the K-2 program.