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Blog Journal #3

A lesson plan that I might create that incorporates technology would be an activity about the September 26th birthday of Johnny Appleseed. This activity would be geared for 4th and 5th graders. To celebrate the birthday of Johnny Appleseed, I would read the story of Johnny Appleseed aloud to the class. Then, I would have the class research Johnny Appleseed on the internet. I would have the students type a sentence on their favorite aspect about Johnny Appleseed and then type one to two sentences on whether they like apples or not. These sentences will be printed. The students would then receive an apple cut out to decorate. The class will use their printed sentences and draw different forms of apples to decorate their apple cut outs. I think that this would be a great way to engage the class in a history activity that incorporates technology. The students will be using the internet as well as Microsoft Word.

My concern about being a teacher who supervises students in a technology environment would be that I am significantly outnumbered. The age group that I would like to teach is elementary students. I think that supervising elementary age students is a difficult challenge because the children are not yet experts at internet-use. The greatest challenge I think would be trying to help all of my students but only being able to help one at a time. If multiple students had questions or difficulties using the internet, I would not be able to help all of them at the same time. In these situations, I would try to do the best I can to help everyone and try to demonstrate the activity very well so that there will be less questions or concerns.

A helpful web-based resource that I found is “ABC Teach.” ABC Teach offers thousands of worksheets and activities for different grade levels. Teachers can find almost anything they need for their lesson plans here. At the website, you can create a custom worksheet or use one that’s already been made. ABC Teach also has printable flashcards, templates, labels, bookmarks, and other fun stuff that teachers can print out. I will definitely use ABC Teach when I start teaching because I think it is a great resource. The link to this website it http://abcteach.com/

Blog Journal #2

As a student, I have used Microsoft Word in so many ways. I am using it now to type my blog and I have used it in my past classes to type up reports and assignments. I have used MS Word to make tables, charts, graphics, and Word Art. I have seen my teachers use MS Word to type up assignments, syllabi, notes, etc.

A good example of a case that used Microsoft Word creatively in a school setting is in high school, when one of my teachers would use MS Word to make calendars. My teacher would make calendars that included all of the assignment due dates and other special dates and then hand them out to the class. She would insert a table and then use Word Art to make the calendar look attractive. On special holidays, my teacher would insert clip art into one of the dates. For example, on Thanksgiving my teacher inserted a picture of a turkey in the calendar. I liked these monthly calendars because I thought it was a nice way of making school and assignments more cheerful than they actually are. I liked how my teacher used the different tools in MS Word to brighten up the strict school schedule.

I have acquired many new skills in this class so far that I can definitely use in my educational career. I learned how to make a quiz which I think will be especially useful because I am now able to test my future students and make sure that they are learning the material. I learned how to use the Prt-Sc button on the computer. I think that this will be useful if I am trying to demonstrate something to my students and want to show them what is appearing on my screen. I have also learned many different shortcuts including how to copy and paste quickly, how to make a superscript and subscript, how to sort text alphabetically, and how to find a specific word in a text. I think that these shortcuts are very useful because they will save me time and let me work more efficiently.

Blog Journal #1

Computers and new technologies are important parts of the educational experience because the world around us is rapidly changing, as is the necessity for technological knowledge. Computers and new technologies teach students many of the tools they need to know in order to enter the work field. Learning about new technologies teaches students higher-order thinking skills as well as information management skills. Computers can act as a cognitive tool in the classroom along with outlines, flowcharts, and Venn diagrams. Teachers must have a basic understanding of computers so that they can thoroughly teach new concepts to their students. Technology makes communication with parents and attendance recording more efficient for teachers. I agree with the issues raised in Chapter 1. It is important to be aware that not all students are on the same page in terms of technology. The book said that, “sixty-eight percent of your students will have used a computer before they get to you.” That is the majority of the classroom but the other thirty-two percent will not have basic computer skills. It is important to take the time to teach students technological skills without overloading them with information. Another issue that the book raised is that, “the role of the teacher is changing from lecturer to guide or even co-learner…” This is why it is so important that teachers learn the same basic computer skills as students. Students cannot get the best technological education if their teacher knows even less about technology. Computers and new technologies are essential to both teacher and student, as they enhance the educational experience.

I am planning to use computers in my classroom for instructional, communication, and organizational purposes. I want to be able to teach my students basic computer skills so that they can start to build their knowledge for the working world. I will also use computers to keep in touch with parents and coworkers through e-mail. I can keep electronic attendance and construct lesson plans more efficiently. I hope to learn better organizational skills pertaining to the computer so that I will be able to make lesson plans, syllabi, etc. I hope to learn everything I can about education technology so that I can better assist my students.

I am an Elementary Education major and have always wanted to be a teacher. It sounds silly but I remember being a little girl and pretending to teach to a classroom full of stuffed animals and Barbies. I absolutely love taking the required education courses and am looking forward to learning a lot from this course. I know I want to be an elementary teacher but I think I might also want to become an administrator as well. I like change and I cannot see myself in one position for the rest of my career. I am very excited to learn everything I can in this course so I can be the best teacher I can be.

Matt and Kim

Blog Jounral #0

My prior experiences using technology have included different technology classes that I took in high school as well as learning technology at home. In high school, I took computers and web design. In computers, I learned the basic skills of using a computer and the basics on a few programs. In web design, I learned how to compose my own web site as well as create different images for that web site. At home, I have learned a lot of computer skills from my dad. He taught me how to use excel to manage my budget.

In this class, I hope to learn the softwares and skills necessary for a teaching career. I hope to learn how to manage my own gradebook. I also want to be able to compose my lesson plans in an efficient way. I want to be tech savy so that I can manage my classroom quicker and more efficiently.

Today I learned that I prefer reflective learning over active learning. This makes sense because I have always liked to think about imformation for a long time before doing anything with that information. I also learned that I am both a sensing learner and intuitive learner. I like facts but I also like to think abstractly. Today I also learned that I am more of a visual learner than verbal learner. Although I do like information to be explained, I learn better if the information is clearly displayed. I am both a sequential learner and global learner. Depending on what I am learning, I either learn with ordered steps or the information just clicks at the end.