Post #10

I would use current event blogs in my class.  Students would be required to look up current events and report them in their weekly blogs along with an opinion.  Discussions on events would also be encouraged both in and out of class.

I found Alyssa's quizstar program to be pretty interesting, mostly because of its ability to attach multimedia files to it and its online capabilities.  I might look into it more in the future.

I would like to learn more about podcasts so that I may start making them in the future for either professional or personal use.

Once again, I feel the best way to accomplish my technology related goals is simply to start using programs and software and learn via experience.

Post #9

I found an online puzzlemaker at discovery.com.  There is a free online version that you can use as well as a software version that you can purchase.  The types of puzzle that can be created include word search, criss-cross, math squares, mazes, cryptograms, and hidden message.  The puzzles are very good looking and are fully printable.  

The purchasable version seems to be a bit easier to work with than the free online version, which can be difficult at times.  The purchasable version also lets you save the puzzles and offers sample puzzles, clip art, and included searchable dictionaries.  I believe this software would be very useful for creating a variety of puzzles that will help students learn vocabulary, math, and puzzle solving skills.

I would like to learn how to use Windows Video Editor properly.  I have a good amount of experience using professional-grade editing software such as Final Cut Pro, but have yet to gain any proficiency with the Windows editing program, and do not wish to purchase any new software. I would, however, like to return to my hobby of filming and creating short movies.

I believe I can achieve my goals in technology simply by immersing myself in it:  trying new things out as I come across them.

Post #8

One topic covered in Chapter 8 is computer viruses and the signs of infection.  Signs of virus infection include an unusual message or graphic that appears, an unusual sound or music plays spontaneously, less available memory than normal, missing programs or files, appearance of unknown program or file, size of file changes without explanation, a file becomes corrupted, or a program or file doesn't work properly.

This week I learned how to create buttons in Powerpoint 2007.  This will be useful to me as a teacher because I plan on making in-class study games in powerpoint to aid in reviews before tests.

Spring break was great!  I went to one of the best concerts I've ever been to and was able to hang out around home and relax for the week.  I'm feeling ready for the summer now.

Post #7

Authentic Learning is the view that students learn better with real-world, hands-on experience as opposed to simply being taught a concept. An example of authentic learning is having students create a model of the solar system.

I learned that I'm better at public speaking than I thought I was. The benefits of being an Education major (and future teacher) being a good public speaker are self-evident.

Spring break is here! Wooooooo!

Post #6

Digital media applications in education enable teachers to immerse students in interactive learning that wouldn't otherwise be possible in the "traditional" school environment.  For example, teachers can take their students on virtual field trips, use online education games or virtual reality.

Last week I attended my first service-learning session.  For the first time I was able to sit in a classroom and observe the teacher's approach and strategy rather than focus on what was required of me as a student.  I wouldn't say I directly learned anything new from it, but it was a good first experience, and I'm confident that I'm passively learning teaching approaches that will help me in the future.

Spring Break is getting closer, and I'm getting stoked.  I can't wait.  I'm only going home, but it's still exciting.  Is anyone doing anything out of the ordinary?

Post #5

One topic covered in chapter 7 is the evaluation of web-based resources. This is a highly beneficiary skill for both teachers and students; especially when writing or grading research papers. A majority of research is now done using the Internet. Since information on the web is not always completely true, to say the least, the ability to critique the accuracy and reliability of a site is very helpful.

In the past week I learned how to assess the reliability of a web resource and create a form to aid my students in their web resource assessments. I'll be able to directly use this skill as a teacher by creating another assessment form to distribute to my students.

Is anyone else beginning to feel these blogs are tedious and repetitive? Just a thought.

Post #4

Chapter 2 covers the Internet from the basics of HTML to Web 2.0. HTML coding can create a basic web page, but most modern webmasters use JavaScript and Flash in addition to HTML. The chapter also takes a brief look at the technical network of the Internet. Networking is a very broad field that involves a lot of technical knowledge, but the chapter gives an overview of the basic aspects such as IP addresses, servers, URL, etc. Web 2.0 is revolutionizing the way we think of the Internet by making it more user-friendly. Sites like Facebook and YouTube are setting the pace for the web of tomorrow.

I learned that there are online calendar applications that can be used for free. I briefly used demos at calendarhub.com and kiko.com. In my thirty seconds of experience with this online programs I decided that kiko.com was more functional and user-friendly than the other. I've been looking for a good calendar, so I'm going to make one on kiko later tonight. :)

Random thought of the day: I can't believe how hot it is in this room today! I can't stand it! I'm leaving!

Post #3

Chapter 4 covers the basic aspects of the computer, from the system unit to keyboards and pointing devices, and also the internal aspects of the computer, such as the processor, hard drive, RAM, etc.  The chapter also discusses several peripheral devicers.  One peripheral that I think is important to the uses of technology in education is the data projector.  The data projector projects the display on computer onto a large screen for the classroom to see.  Every classroom in my high school had a data projector, and it makes a vast number of technology integrated lessons possible.

In the last week I learned that I have an accepting and respectful personality type, and that I'm less concerned about being right than I am about ensuring things are right in the world.

Random tidbit on my mind this week:  I just bought a ticket to see Flogging Molly in Orlando. Does anybody else listen to them, or better yet, is anyone else going?  I'm incredibly stoked about this show; it's going to be amazing.

Post #2

Chapter 3 covers many types of software, such as the microsoft office suite and grade book software, which are used by teachers to instruct and organize.  Other types of software discussed are personal finance, tax prep, and legal software.  One type of software that caught my attention is video/audio editing software.  I've had a good amount of experience with Final Cut Pro in high school and would consider myself fairly proficient in using it.

Since last post I learned that I could customize my blog by adding graphics to the page.  I've changed my blog title and side graphic to give it a Led Zeppelin theme, just for fun.

In my high school we had SmartBoards in almost every classroom.  In my county it was the only school with them in such large numbers, and I was wondering if anyone else has had any experience with them.  I think they're extremely useful tools for both teaching and learning, and hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to use one in my classroom.

Post #1

From a purely theoretical initial viewpoint, I see the ARCS model (Attention, Relavence, Challenge, Satisfaction) as a highly accurate and effective teaching model.  In my experience as a student it seems as though the teachers to followed this model or something similar in fashion had the greatest positive effect on my education.  I think that this model coupled with the possibilities of education technology (such as in Ridgedale High) offer new, innovative, exciting, and challenging ways to increase the effectiveness of education.

In my education classes I've learned about different learning styles and ways of integrating them into a single lesson so that all students have an opportunity to understand the material regardless of learning style.  I believe my uses for this developing skill in the classroom are fairly straightforward.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting excited about being a teacher.  I'm hoping that the next couple of years here are kind to us as we prepare for future careers as teachers.  Seeing as how we'll be taking similar classes, we might even get to know each other (which would be cool).  So, here's to the future.  :)  woot!

Post #0

Going to a technology-oriented high school I was required to take many classes either focused around or integrated with technology. As an underclassman these courses were fairly boring and repetitive; mostly due to the fact that the instructor acted as though I had only recently laid eyes on a computer. However, as I graduated to more advanced classes and more freedom and electives things became better. In a digital design class I learned how to work with a range of Adobe software including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Yet my most entertaining technology classes were my video and music classes. In music I learned music theory in a program called Sibelius, and composed two synthetic songs in a program called Cubase. Overall my experience with technology in high school has given me a fair amount of knowledge and experience with technology in a variety of ways, and I hope to be able to carry these experiences with me into the future.

In this class I hope to learn how to integrate technology into the classroom in ways that are innovative and fun. I already have some ideas regarding technology in the classroom, such as Smartboards, Blackboard, etc. I look forward to enhancing my future classroom with technology.

First off, I learned that I am extremely visual (I scored a 9! A 9!). Other than that I'm fairly balanced between the two sides in each aspect. More so, however, as I thought about each question I realized that my learning style or preference really depends upon the subject and the situation.