Reflective Post

Through out this semester of my EME2040 course I've struggled a little. I think this is a very interesting class for future teachers. Before I had no idea how much technology is in the classroom. I found this class a bit difficult because its learning about technology online, I am more of a hands on person. 

However I enjoyed many of the assignments. The discussions were interesting because you get to communicate with the other students and discuss some of the social issues schools have with technology. Stating your opinion and what you learned and the reading another persons opinion or comments they had may open you eyes more. The wiki page was another collaborative project, this one I struggled with because I could not figure out the set up of it. I found it difficult to create my wiki page and make a collaborative page with the others. The lesson plan however I found it easier to communicate with the others and when we all had separate responsibilities the final project came together very well. When working on the Rubric I learned that there are many online sources that can help make a rubric for student projects. Such as Rubistar for teachers. Another project I enjoyed was the WebQuest, it was like an online lesson plan. This was very interesting to me because i knew of sites like this where the students can visit and go through an educational lesson. However I was unaware that the teachers can make the page and relate them to their lessons for in class and out of class. One of my favorite projects in this class was the E-portfolio, I feel like there was a lot to this project and because it was about the over all projects of the class i enjoyed going through and showing my progress. This project made me think about how teachers can communicate with parents and show them what the teacher is doing in class. Finally this blog I really enjoyed because you get to voice your opinion similar to the discussions. Many of the blog posts were reflections of the textbook chapters. I found the textbook very helpful for this class, because the class was so technical with the online tasks the book was very descriptive and informative about the technology teachers use. 

Photo credits to EdTechReview

Although I found this class a bit difficult I also found it an eye opener. This class made me rethink if i wanted to become a future teacher. I realized there is a lot more to teaching today than when I was in school. Between technology and social issues teachers have to worry about everything. They have to put all of their time and effort into making sure that each student can understand the lesson or has the right technology tools to complete their work. I plan to continue my education to be a future teacher, realizing that even thought I may struggle in the end it will be worth it for my students to learn the most that they can. 

New Teacher Survival Guide: Technology in the Classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/technology-in-the-classroom#

Integrating Mobile Technology into the Classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/330-mobile-technology-in-classroom

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Blog Post F

For chapter 12 I found many distinc concepts. I liked this chapter because for the final post of this course it sums up many ways to integrate technology as a teacher and the issues of it. I found this article that is relevant to the integration of technology but it is also from 2007 and if you read though it, you'll see how much technology in the classroom has changed.

Todays educators have to make informed choices, explore technology, and promote change. The technology of todays students is always changing and the teachers have to be able to always be informed about it and keep up today with it. To integrate technology into the classrooms there are five stages, entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation, and invention. These stages describe how capable the teacher is of using technology in their lessons. When technology is properly used in the classroom there are many positive learning developments from the students. Such as explore and present information dynamically, act more socially aware and confident, communicate effectively, be a self starter, share knowledge spontaneously, and have a positive orientation toward the future. Many issues also come with trying to integrate technology in the classrooms. Some of the issues are getting administration support, unwillingness to change favorite lesson plans, reluctance to use technology in a new lesson plan, use of technology as a reward/ punishment, as an add on to other activities, and to separate students by ability groups 

Quiz!

Another important concept is that event though in class there are inequalities in the technology there are some. It is our jobs as teachers to make sure just like in the classroom everyone is equal. Weather its how they are being treated how they are taught or how they are taught with the technology they use. The most common new feature in classrooms is one to one laptop computing. Making sure every student in the school is supplied with their own laptops for educational use. This idea is promoted by new machines, use in higher education, and research studies. 

Lastly the other important concept is the educational change of integrating technology. Now because of  the technology the material taught is included with the technology. Today the kids have to learn the common core materials but also the technology tools and references to use it. Computers are encouraged in education because they support knowledge construction, explorations, learning by doing, learning by conversing, and are intellectually partners that support learning by reflecting. 

As Schools Start So Do New Waves of Technological Improvement for Education. (2013). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://tablet-news.com/2013/09/15/as-schools-start-so-do-new-waves-of-technological-improvement-for-education/

How to Integrate Technology. (2007). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-implementation

12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers

Chapter 12 By: Shelbyburd. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://flipquiz.me/u/shelbyburd/chapter-12

Digital Blog Post #E

Enhancing lesson development with technology

I found this an important topic because lesson planning is one of the most important things in teaching. Teachers can plan, organize, and create their lessons while planning. Lesson developments consist of academic content, assessment and evaluation, and teaching goals and methods. Now that technology is so important to teachers are incorporating it into their lesson plans. Technology that teachers use would be presentation software, visual thinking software, web based diagrams, threaded discussion and email, interactive software, web quests, intelligent tutoring systems, digital cameras and movie making software, and assistive technologies. Not only do teachers have all sorts of support they also have social media to share and get different ideas for lesson plans. Assessment and evaluation is an important part of lesson development because it helps the teacher identify how the student will understand and process the material. Tools that will help teachers with this are electronic tests and quizzes, grade keeping software, digital portfolios, student response systems, online surveys, learning performance rubrics. Its easy for teachers to schedule an online quiz for homework now with all of the different websites.

Assessing and evaluating students 

I thought this was another important topic because this is how the teachers make sure the material is understood by the students. This is by test assessments and performance assessments. These are not only typical standardize testing they use there are also online software programs they use now. Also there are consequences that go along with these tests such as only focusing on the info and skills of test taking, abandoning wide range curriculum, and giving answers. 

Meeting educational standards 

This is also an important topic because this is how we make sure what to teach and not stray from the material. What we use for this is National curriculum framework it tells the teachers what to teach. This also helps because of all of the technology that we can use it helps them not to stray too far from the materials

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Making Learning Awesome! (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from https://getkahoot.com/

Blog Post #D

Chapters 8 and 10 I enjoyed reading through because there are many topics that are touched on that were very informative. For chapter 8 the electronic communication between teachers and students seemed the most important. Then for chapter 10 I chose technology for diverse students, and adaptations for the classroom learning.

Chapter 8 electronic communication with teachers and students

In the beginning of  this chapter there are a few questions that make you think about the material. The two questions that helped me decide that this was a distinct concept for the chapter were "how would you describe the impact of communication technologies for teachers and students?" and "how can teachers use email or text messaging to foster information exchanges with and among students?" The first question made me think of how before technology many students and teachers could only connect during school hours. Now between homework, online discussions, and emailing they are always connected. Then thinking how can we further the communications with teachers and students. For example I've never experienced texting a teacher, recently many professors have encouraged texting to quickly answer questions about homework or anything about the course. Electronic communication is encouraging students to reach out more and connect with their teachers.

Chapter 10 technology for teaching diverse students/ DI and UDL

One thing that I never thought of before reading this chapter was how to teach all students with technology. Whether its ESC or special needs teachers can use technologies for every one to learn. It gives everyone an equal opportunity to learn in fun new ways. Which also is known as differentiated instruction. I found this section important because with education its all about keeping the students attention but teaching the right material.

 Chapter 10 adaptations for classroom learning

This is a distinct concept for the chapter because classrooms are always changing with technology. When I think back to either chalk boards white board or bulletin boards they are all mostly replaced with smart boards. One struggle teachers deal with now is adapting their classrooms to all of these changes. This chapter had a lot of vocabulary as to what minimal and high tech uses in the classroom. I created some flip cards to practice!

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Blog post #C

The three main topics I found most important in chapters 5 and 7 were digital citizenship, problem solving and software, and computer gaming. I created a bulletin board to show some information from each one.

 Kids in the digital world 

 

 

One of the reasons I thought that digital citizenship is so important is because today's students need to learn what they can and can't do with technology. Since technology is such a common tool today we need to teach kids the proper way to use it. Learning the digital ethics and values consist of social network safety, citing sources, plagiarism, and appropriate technology use. Not only is it important to teach the children how to be a good digital citizen but also the teachers. When a teacher is using a power point or article it is important that they understand the copy right and fair use of the internet. I found an article and video that perfectly explains how fair use works.

fair use

 

 The next topic I found important was problem solving and the use of software. When students are problem solving they first need to understand the problem then use problem solving strategies and then check their results. To use technology for problem solving they can use software programs, apps, learning games, and intelligent tutoring programs. Problem solving software consists of composing and calculating software, digital writing, and building inventing and creating software.

 

Its important to incorporate games into Children's education but the more technology that comes out today the harder it is to keep kids interested in the educational games. there's video games and digital games for learning such as internet or browser based games and desktop based games. Tips to teachers for games are not to let them play the ones that isolate the children or only focus on winning or loosing.

 

 

 

 

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.



 

 

Amy Erin Borovoy, Edutopia. Five-Minute Film Festival: Copyright and Fair Use for Educators. December 02, 2015

Technology is always changing. The students learn and tend to catch on quicker than adults. Today the kids have tablets, phones, smart boards and other tools they use. Many people will argue that today's technology is effecting students education in a way because they are so distracted with social media. This will impact me as a teacher because every year technology advances. I will have to learn how to keep up with all of the new devices. Also it will be a struggle to keep my kids focused and interested with the new devices we will have. I know for example when I had a professor who was not dry good with technology it would be frustrating when they couldn't get it working and wasted our class time. I hope to be aware and up to date with tomorrows technology and not waste my students time.

As a teacher I will have to use technology weather I like it or not. Today most classrooms have online books and tablets. Because of this its changing the was some students learn. For example when taking notes if I fall behind but have my tablet with me and the uploaded power point I can leave space and fill in the material or just follow along. One thing the text book mentioned was connecting with students. I hope that I can help and better my future classroom by emailing or texting my students whenever they need me.

Building my digital identity as a teacher will impact me because I can learn and connect with a lot more people. You can always learn something from others or find new ideas to try. reading through the textbook honestly I have never heard many of the tech tools they use. I hope to better my teaching by learning more and being able to widen my students options for learning from others.

The future of educational technology