Blog Post #12-Current View of Technology in the Classroom

I think having technology integrated into the classroom is extremely important. Doing so creates many positive opportunities for the students. I am going to use technologies in my classroom that are appropriate and use as a learning tool that is enjoyable for my students. There are a lot of tools that I am excited to use in my classroom in the future that I learned about in this class. I will be using the internet. I will utilize it to locate activities, lessons, educational games, and for communication. There are many softwares that I will be using as well. I have learned about Kidpix, Kidspiration, Neighborhood Map Machine, Quest Atlantis, Timeliner, 2simple, Comiclife, and many other are specific programs that I will aim to use in my classroom. Web blogs may be something that I could integrate into my classroom. There are many ways that technology can be used to improve learning. I think that students will be more interested in interactive websites compared to worksheets. As far as assistive technologies go, I have learned about many of them as well in this course. There are many devices available to use. So, because of this class, I have realized the importance of implimenting technology into the classroom and all the different opportunities that come along with it. Technology makes lessons more exciting for children and it is something that will be used in everyday life, so might as well expose technology to them early in life!

Blog #11

There are many non-computer based technologies available for use in the classroom. One particular technology I ran across that interests me is the Coin-U-Lator. It is a handheld device that helps students learn numerical concepts like making change.
Instead of standard numbers on a regular calculator, this device uses realistic coin buttons and a dollar bill. It does addition and subtraction. It also has a game option that lets students show off their money skills. This device is only $26, so it's very affordable. It can easily be used in the classroom during math. This is something that a classroom could do without, I just think it's a neat device and would be fun way for the children to learn!

Blog # 10

I feel like I learned a lot after watching the ERIC presentations. All the groups presented information that was helpful in someway. If not directly to our future classroom, but information that is good to know as a teacher. Using technology in our future classroom is extremely important and it was interesting listening to various ways, views or areas of technology that we can integrate.
There were various subjects or things that grabbed my attention during the presentations. Through this course, I have realized how important it is to understand the benfits and be prepared to integrate technology into our classrooms. I thought the presentation on the digital divide was interesting because it is very realistic that we may not have the means to have adequate technology available for all of our students. We will have to find alternate ways to introduce students to technology and be creative in doing so. If the digital divide is nothing to worry about, then use the computer in lessons by utilizing kid pics, kidspiration, neighborhood map machine and other software that we will be learning about this week at the software fair. I enjoyed hearing about what we can use in our classroom; areas that will be applicable in our future classroom. Also, I felt that the science integration presentation was helpful. The Quest Atlantis simulations look like a neat resource to use. Overall, I felt like the presentations were done well and provided useful information!

Blog #9

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/1999-02/HFaE-DSTE-010299.php

This article is about designing successful technology-rich elementary schools. It discusses design issues of a technology-rich networked classroom. It touches on how across the country billions of dollars are invested on educational technology, during the 95-96 school year. It discusses the challenges of having technology in the classroom. Although, the articles says that if the environment is well-designed it can impact the teacher and students physiologically, emotionally and psychologically, which can promote more successful learning. Also, the paper discusses how the classroom can be designed to accommodate teaching and learning. Finally, it discussed how all the computers, printers and scanners were connected in a particular classroom.

Since this article was written quite professionally, after reading the article a couple times, I finally understood what it was saying. I think it was an interesting article. I feel as if it could have gone in more detail about specifically designing technology in the classroom, but I thought it was interesting noting particular areas to place desks and such. Overall the article was a bit fascinating because of the design element.

Blog #8

Blog #7- Half-Way Reflection

I feel like I am learning a lot in this class. I think that technology in the classroom is a must. Especially after brainstorming about Internet uses in the classroom. I feel that even Imovie may be useable in our classrooms. I am not sure if it is necessarily the most important concept I have learned, but I really valued learning about spreadsheets. My skills regarding spreadsheets were extremely limited and now I have grasped the basic concepts of using it and I feel confident.

Blog #6

Part 1
There are various pros and cons for using internet in early childhood classrooms. The Internet gives people the opportunity to exhange ideas and information quickly throughout the world. For example, students could become pen pals with other students on the other side of the world. The students across the world would get the e-mail instantly, compared to through the postal service which would take weeks. Also, i think sometimes we underestimate the abilities of young people to learn the basdics of computers and the Internet. Most students can learn new languages quickly. The Internet is kind of like another language. It can serve the students in many areas of their lives for years to come. The Internet gives students audio, visual and kinesthetic experiences. They could potentially develop sophisticated search and retrieval strategies as they explore new topics. It also can help with students critical thinking skills amd problem solving skills. As a teacher, I think I could create challenging, appropriate projects for my students. It would be convienient as well, because time and space are not as relevant on the Internet, since Spain is as close as our neighbors. A con of the internet is that, there are few child-friendly sites. Visiting boring, uninvolving or irrelevent sites discourages the value of using the Internet. The teacher of course can select a few good sites in advance for the students to use so that they are not just searching aimlessly. Another con is that for a lot of schools there are not enough computers to accommadate all the children. Although, this is an issue that can be fixed.
The benefits of using the Internet in an Early Childhood classroom, I briefly described earlier. I feel that giving children the opportunity to connect to the world through the Internet would be a beneficial experience for them. By using the Internet students have audio, visual and kinesthetic experiences. Also, as a teacher I could create activities revolving around interesting sites that I provide for the students. I personally believe that the Internet is useful in these ways.

Part 2
This website is www.funbrain.com which is a program encourages creative behavior and fun ways of building knowledge through math games, english games, reading activities, a "playground", short tales, and lots of fun stuff!

Thoughts on the article about revamping the kindergarten standards

I think it is interesting how the state and/or our society wants students to know more at a younger age. Also, I think it's is great that we are expecting a lot out of our students and teachers, but just as long as the amount of information we are expecting the students to know and teachers to teach is realistic.

I feel that by the state providing the teachers with a guide, they are serious about having these "benchmarks" met. Also, I think that as a teacher, it would be phenominal to have set standards that I need to meet and guidance in that. I think Illionois did a fabulous job, thus far, of creating these benchmarks and helping teachers impliment work and teachings so that students will reach these goals. As a teacher to be, I hope that Ohio has some teaching training of this sort because I am sure it is very helpful and beneficial in reaching these goals.

Blog #4

My lesson is geared towards first graders. We would be talking about emotions. I will introduce this lesson with pictures of myself and asking them if they can guess how I am feeling. For some of the more complex emotions like excited, they may say things like happy instead. This lesson will give them an opportunity to become familiar with these different emotions and notice these emotions in social situations. So, I will introduce with the pictures and then as a test of their comprehension, I will produce a worksheet with the emotions and they have to draw a picture of what that emotion looks like. The emotions I am displaying in my pictures are sad, happy, excited, unsure and tired. I think this would help the students understand feelings and emotions.

My teaching philosophy:

My philosophy of teaching:

1. enthusiasm
2. flexibility
3. good communication
4. caring
5. create a personal relationship with the students

post #2

Howard Gardner developed a list of eight intelligences. These intelligences are composed of linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and the most recent addition is naturalistic. Each of us excell at various intelligences. Being aware of these intelligences help teachers cater to each students needs. Therefore, the students learn more efficiently because of the variety of styles being taught.

I believe Gardner's Multiple Intelligencies support technology being integrated into the classroom. Each one of us possess a different combination of intelligences, because of this I believe Gardner's theory can relate to all three types of technology. Type I helps the teacher perfect their skills as a teacher. Teachers use a certain software that will support objectives of various lessons. A teacher may have a student that is most efficient when learning through music and fortunately there is software to foster this intelligence. Type II relates to Gardner's theory because a computer can be used as a tool to enhance the skills of various intelligences. Type III is supported by Gardner's theory because some people are more talented in different intelligences and can use computers to solve problems.

Bloom's theory on taxonomy deals with a herachial pyramid of six different levels. The lowest levels represent knowledge, comprehension and application. The three levels above that are analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The only way to advance to the next step is to complete the first stage. There are a few additional terms which were evolved bu one of Bloom's former students. These terms are; remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating. The terms are related to students learning because there are mant steps involved in active learning.

I feel as though Bloom's Taxonomly relates to technology integration in the classroom. Bloom's Taxonomy supports the three types of technology. Type I could be used to enhance a student's ability to achieve Bloom's first level of cognitive domain which is knowledge. Type II can be used as a tool to help a student succeed at the following level; comprehension. Type III is supported because the computer can be used to help with application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

The father of modern media in education, Edgar Dole created the "cone of experience" based on observations while teaching and learning. The cone of experience he refers to is a tool that teachers can use when making desicions about various activities to use in their classrooms; so that the students get the most out of each lesson. I belive Dale's cone of Experience supports technology intergration for learning in an early elementary classroom. I feel this way because of the way Dale's cone of experience can relate to the three types of technology. Computer technogloy can be used to activily engage the learner. Type I technology is supported by Dale's cone because the teacher can become a better teacher by using Dale's cone to choose the best technology choices to enhance student learning. Through type II students will be able to recall more from the lesson because computers can be used as a tool to enhance their experiences. Type III is supported because at the bottom of Dale's cone in order to achieve 90% memory of an experience a person must design and/or perform a presentation. Type III technology gives one an oppurtunity to do so.

post #1

Hi! My name is Mary. I come from a small farm town in northeast Ohio close to Wooster called Smithville. I love the small town atmosphere and all the people. I am definitely very close with my family. My sister is due with her first baby in five weeks. Also, I enjoy being with my friends, running, biking and cooking. I also enjoy watching soccer. I love warm weather and beaches. I try to live life to the fullest and enjoy each day.
What attracted me to Bowling Green is how it has a small feel to a large campus. I really like walking across campus and knowing lots of people but also passing unfamiliar faces as well. I have always wanted to be a teacher and Bowling Green has a great education program. I want to eventually be a first or second grade teacher.
I believe that technology will be an essential tool in the classroom when I teach. I think that giving the students a chance to learn computer skills at an early age definitely gives them an advantage. It may be difficult to have the resources to provide all the students with computers. As long as the students have the opportunity daily and are provided with fun, educational games and programs I think it would be a successful addition to the classroom.