I have learned how to utilize a lot of resources, in IT 645, to aide in teaching my classes now and in the future. My first assignment was to create my own Blog so I could share what I learned in each chapter with my group members and also so I could reflect on what they learned in each chapter. I liked the fact that I had to read the chapter but only have to write about one topic; call me lazy if you want. I did however have to comment on my group member’s topic, but the pressure of organizing an essay type piece of work was off my shoulders so I liked that a lot. However, I felt more pressure to write a better reflection because I knew that other people would be reading my work; I wouldn’t necessarily say I liked the pressure but I wouldn’t say I disliked it either. For the most part I enjoyed doing the Blog, but I don’t think I will use it again after this class is over.
Next I had to do a flyer, progress chart, and quiz. I found these assignments to be the easiest of the semester. Especially since Dr. Wang provided a website to use for the flyer. I liked creating the flyer and will probably use flyers in my classroom when I have to set up teacher-parent conferences or other school related meetings. I think it is a good tool because it shows the parents that I don’t mind putting in a little extra work, they might relate that to how I teach their children. The progress chart was a good tool and easy to create using excel, but I probably will not use the actual tool because the school I teach at has a software program that includes students grades, what assignments they are missing, attendance. The concept of showing a parent a progress report on their child is a great idea. I have had three parent conferences this semester and I always bring a student progress report with me. The quiz was easy to create and I liked using power point to give a quiz. I like that I have the choice to make the quiz more visually appealing and it saves paper, so instead of printing out quizzes all of the students can view it on the smart board screen at one time. However, the only thing I do not like about a power point quiz is that some students take longer than others to complete quizzes and this may cause some problems with delivery. I will more than likely use this tool in my classroom, but it probably will not be my primary delivery method for quizzes.
The next assignment was the rubric, puzzle, and test creation. I really like the Rubistar website; I have always dreaded making rubrics, but not anymore. I will definitely use this tool in my classroom, especially when I assign projects or research papers. I will make sure to give my students a copy too so they know exactly what they will be graded on. The APTE Puzzle Center was also a great tool. I have already used it in my class. My fourth period class is separated by a lunch break, so the class ends up being about fifteen minutes longer than all of my other classes. One day they almost finished everything I had for them to do by the time they went to lunch and they still had about 30 minutes left of class when they got back from lunch. While they were eating I jumped online and created a crossword puzzle on the APTE Puzzle Center website; it saved me because it was so easy to use and fast. The Easy Test Maker website is also a good tool to use in the classroom. I have already used it to create on test for my class. I like how it sets everything up as far as format because that was my biggest issue when creating tests. The only complaint I have is that on the free version when it prints out it separates questions depending on where the page stops. I had a multiple choice question on one page and the answer choices on the next page. So I will have to decide if I want to pay to join their website so I can print a better copy of the test.
The website was a great tool and I will definitely use it for my classes next year. It was very simple to set up and maintain. I want to create a website for each of my classes next year that way if one class is ahead on assignments, the other classes won’t have access to them early. I also like the communication aspect between the students, parents, and I. The website will be a much easier way to communicate with parents and will be a resource for them. They will have access to assignments due and when their children need to be studying for a test. Trackstar was also a good tool, and I will definitely use it on my website. I like how it gives parents and students easily accessible websites for related information.
The movie was an interesting project. I liked making it and found it pretty easy to do. I will use it in my classroom because I think the students need some visual stimulation sometimes and I think they will think it is cool to hear my voice on the video. I will also use the listserv for my class, especially with the parents of my students. This will allow for an open line of communication between parents and me, and it was fairly simple to set up. Overall I liked the class and found it very beneficial to my career in teaching. It was definitely worth the tuition and time I put into it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Week 13 ( Chapter 11 & 12) Question #3
What is educational technology literacy? Why is it important for educators?
Educational technology literacy is learning how to use the technology that is available, to its fullest advantage, for use in the classroom. It is not enough to be able to know how to set up a website, a teacher must be able to set up a website for use in his classroom. He must know exactly what to include in his website; otherwise the website would be pointless. If a teacher includes links to other sites that are helpful to a student that is doing research for class, or links to direct a parent in the right direction then the website has a purpose. A teacher can’t just create a website, put a calendar on it and an autobiography and think it has a real purpose.
Teachers must also continue to update their technology knowledge. The technology world is endlessly changing and teachers need to keep up with the changes. How can a teacher really offer the best education possible to his students if he has not continually educated himself? I use the internet all the time when creating my lessons or lectures. I teach World Geography and my textbooks are about 10 years old, so I have to find information other ways, to make sure that what I am teaching is current. Also what I learned in school may not be true anymore. For example when I was in high school there were 5 kingdoms of organisms in Biology. When I got to my 2nd year of college it had changed, just in four or five years the classification system for organisms had changed. Today there are three domains and five or six kingdoms depending on what source of information you use. The point is everything changes and teachers need to continuously educate themselves including educating themselves in technology.
Students need to learn how to use technology; it is a must in today’s world. Who is going to teach them how to use it and use it properly? We are; Educators like you and I. So in order to help students reach their full potential we need to stay on top of our game. The young people of today are our future, and we as teachers are the ones who have to make sure it is a future worth living for.
Educational technology literacy is learning how to use the technology that is available, to its fullest advantage, for use in the classroom. It is not enough to be able to know how to set up a website, a teacher must be able to set up a website for use in his classroom. He must know exactly what to include in his website; otherwise the website would be pointless. If a teacher includes links to other sites that are helpful to a student that is doing research for class, or links to direct a parent in the right direction then the website has a purpose. A teacher can’t just create a website, put a calendar on it and an autobiography and think it has a real purpose.
Teachers must also continue to update their technology knowledge. The technology world is endlessly changing and teachers need to keep up with the changes. How can a teacher really offer the best education possible to his students if he has not continually educated himself? I use the internet all the time when creating my lessons or lectures. I teach World Geography and my textbooks are about 10 years old, so I have to find information other ways, to make sure that what I am teaching is current. Also what I learned in school may not be true anymore. For example when I was in high school there were 5 kingdoms of organisms in Biology. When I got to my 2nd year of college it had changed, just in four or five years the classification system for organisms had changed. Today there are three domains and five or six kingdoms depending on what source of information you use. The point is everything changes and teachers need to continuously educate themselves including educating themselves in technology.
Students need to learn how to use technology; it is a must in today’s world. Who is going to teach them how to use it and use it properly? We are; Educators like you and I. So in order to help students reach their full potential we need to stay on top of our game. The young people of today are our future, and we as teachers are the ones who have to make sure it is a future worth living for.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
http://groups.google.com/group/nixs-world-geography
Making the video was pretty easy and I even found it enjoyable. The only thing I really got aggravated about was trying to download the free Windows Movie Maker. It took forever, maybe because this computer is very slow, I don’t know but I was about ready to throw something by the time I was able to start making my movie. It took longer to get the program installed than it did to actually create my movie! Anyway, I really enjoyed making the movie and I never thought it would be that easy or that I would ever make a movie. I am definitely going to use this technology in my classroom. I think it would be great to make a lesson as a movie and show it to my students. I think they would think it was neat to watch a movie and hear their teacher’s voice actually doing the narrating. The listserv was easy; I will use it on my website for my classroom. I think it will be a great tool for my students and parents to express their feeling and any concerns they may have concerning the class.
Making the video was pretty easy and I even found it enjoyable. The only thing I really got aggravated about was trying to download the free Windows Movie Maker. It took forever, maybe because this computer is very slow, I don’t know but I was about ready to throw something by the time I was able to start making my movie. It took longer to get the program installed than it did to actually create my movie! Anyway, I really enjoyed making the movie and I never thought it would be that easy or that I would ever make a movie. I am definitely going to use this technology in my classroom. I think it would be great to make a lesson as a movie and show it to my students. I think they would think it was neat to watch a movie and hear their teacher’s voice actually doing the narrating. The listserv was easy; I will use it on my website for my classroom. I think it will be a great tool for my students and parents to express their feeling and any concerns they may have concerning the class.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Website Reflection
https://sites.google.com/site/nixworldgeography/
I did not have too many problems with creating my website. The program was easy to follow and the tutorial Dr. Wang provided was very helpful. I did have one mishap, I started my website the Thursday before it was due, and saved what I had done, but when I came back to finish it another day, everything I had done was gone. My website was still there and my design was still present but everything I typed and added to the web page was gone. I could of swore I saved every page. Who know? So I had to start over, but all in all the assignment was very easy. I thought before I started the assignment that it was going to be difficult because I had never attempted to create a website before, but I was wrong. I am actually thinking about creating one for my classes for next school year.
I did not have too many problems with creating my website. The program was easy to follow and the tutorial Dr. Wang provided was very helpful. I did have one mishap, I started my website the Thursday before it was due, and saved what I had done, but when I came back to finish it another day, everything I had done was gone. My website was still there and my design was still present but everything I typed and added to the web page was gone. I could of swore I saved every page. Who know? So I had to start over, but all in all the assignment was very easy. I thought before I started the assignment that it was going to be difficult because I had never attempted to create a website before, but I was wrong. I am actually thinking about creating one for my classes for next school year.
Week 11 : Chapter 9 & 10 : Question # 2
Why is it important to preview and evaluate videos? What tools should you use to be sure a video is communicating the intended message to your students? What are alternative learning systems? How might they enhance traditional education?
Alternative learning systems include many types of technological tools. Teachers and students have a whole world of technology at their fingertips. Teachers can use the internet as a resource for teaching and for displaying educational videos in their classrooms. Teachers also can have class with students from all over the U.S. by using live cams, which enable students to feel like they are a part of a class even though they are sitting at home. This enhances traditional education because students and teachers can come together over long distances to communicate and learn, and students become involved in learning by using more than one sense.
Teachers should always preview and evaluate videos before they introduce them to their students by using an evaluation rubric. Teachers need to make sure the video is relevant to the curriculum because students need to be able to relate what they are watching to what they are learning in the current chapter or unit. The video needs to be current and accurate. I showed a video in class the other day that another teacher loaned me, and I previewed it and made a worksheet to go with it. I should have never used that video, it was very outdated and some of the information was not accurate anymore. I had to stop the video to correct the information; it was very distracting to the students. Next time I will do some searching and find a more current video.
The video should be engaging. Although the video was outdated the students were still engaged, but maybe not in the way I was looking for. They laughed at the crazy hairstyles and clothing the people in the video were wearing and made jokes. The educational side of the video was not as engaging as the humorous parts. Also teachers should try to find good support materials to go along with the video, something the students can touch and be physically involved with. By bringing the tactile experience into the mix, most of the learning styles will be covered in the lesson. The technical quality needs to be good, some students are very visual and if the quality of the video is poor, they may become turned off to learning.
I learned from my experience with showing the outdated video in my class. Next time I will use the video rubric to evaluate my video before I show it. One last note, teachers are required to include a worksheet when showing a video in class at my school. By doing this, I know that my students are paying attention instead of sleeping or talking to other students. I think the worksheet is a great idea and tool and all schools should require it.
Alternative learning systems include many types of technological tools. Teachers and students have a whole world of technology at their fingertips. Teachers can use the internet as a resource for teaching and for displaying educational videos in their classrooms. Teachers also can have class with students from all over the U.S. by using live cams, which enable students to feel like they are a part of a class even though they are sitting at home. This enhances traditional education because students and teachers can come together over long distances to communicate and learn, and students become involved in learning by using more than one sense.
Teachers should always preview and evaluate videos before they introduce them to their students by using an evaluation rubric. Teachers need to make sure the video is relevant to the curriculum because students need to be able to relate what they are watching to what they are learning in the current chapter or unit. The video needs to be current and accurate. I showed a video in class the other day that another teacher loaned me, and I previewed it and made a worksheet to go with it. I should have never used that video, it was very outdated and some of the information was not accurate anymore. I had to stop the video to correct the information; it was very distracting to the students. Next time I will do some searching and find a more current video.
The video should be engaging. Although the video was outdated the students were still engaged, but maybe not in the way I was looking for. They laughed at the crazy hairstyles and clothing the people in the video were wearing and made jokes. The educational side of the video was not as engaging as the humorous parts. Also teachers should try to find good support materials to go along with the video, something the students can touch and be physically involved with. By bringing the tactile experience into the mix, most of the learning styles will be covered in the lesson. The technical quality needs to be good, some students are very visual and if the quality of the video is poor, they may become turned off to learning.
I learned from my experience with showing the outdated video in my class. Next time I will use the video rubric to evaluate my video before I show it. One last note, teachers are required to include a worksheet when showing a video in class at my school. By doing this, I know that my students are paying attention instead of sleeping or talking to other students. I think the worksheet is a great idea and tool and all schools should require it.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Reflection on Rubistar, APTE Puzzle center, Easy Test Maker, Website Eval., and Trackstar
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnYjhmZDk0NTMtZDQyZS00MGYwLWI0N2YtMjYwYTQ0M2RhN2Ni&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMGd6N3NnN2N2&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnMWFiOGVlZTUtMGU4NS00NzhkLWJlNWMtZmJhNDY0ZmJmYjlm&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMTQyZHg4ZmQ3&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMmNyYnA4M2dt&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnZjQyM2U3MTAtMmM4MC00ZGI2LWIxZDUtODZmN2Y4Njg3NTdl&hl=enI didn’t have any problems with Rubistar; it was very easy to use. I did not know about Rubistar, and I will use it in the future instead of making up my own. I like how the choices are direct and the rating criteria are easily understood so that students would also be able to understand how and what they were graded on. The puzzle center was really neat and I didn’t really have any problems using it. The only thing I didn’t like was when I made my crossword puzzle; the program was not able to use all of my words. If I used this for my class, I would have to come up with another assignment to make sure my students received the information that the crossword puzzle did not contain. Also, I was not able to save the puzzle to a file so that I could easily access it later from my computer. When I did try to save it the format was completely messed up.
The test maker website was really awesome; I will definitely use it to make my future tests. I always have trouble with my test format, as far as the lettering and spacing, this makes it a whole lot easier, and also I have trouble with my students trying to cheat. This program offers alternate tests, which would be great and I wouldn’t have to put in all of the extra time to put together different test.
The website evaluation forms were easy and they also helped me to see what I should be looking for in a website. The Trackstar was really neat; I will definitely use it in the future for my classes. I had a teacher at USM that included a reference list of websites for the class in her syllabus. It really helped when I was trying to do projects for her class. Overall I didn’t have a lot of problems with the assignments and all of them will be helpful for my teaching career.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMGd6N3NnN2N2&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnMWFiOGVlZTUtMGU4NS00NzhkLWJlNWMtZmJhNDY0ZmJmYjlm&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMTQyZHg4ZmQ3&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AR2hDvQyhVLnZGR0OG1xcXdfMmNyYnA4M2dt&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnZjQyM2U3MTAtMmM4MC00ZGI2LWIxZDUtODZmN2Y4Njg3NTdl&hl=enI didn’t have any problems with Rubistar; it was very easy to use. I did not know about Rubistar, and I will use it in the future instead of making up my own. I like how the choices are direct and the rating criteria are easily understood so that students would also be able to understand how and what they were graded on. The puzzle center was really neat and I didn’t really have any problems using it. The only thing I didn’t like was when I made my crossword puzzle; the program was not able to use all of my words. If I used this for my class, I would have to come up with another assignment to make sure my students received the information that the crossword puzzle did not contain. Also, I was not able to save the puzzle to a file so that I could easily access it later from my computer. When I did try to save it the format was completely messed up.
The test maker website was really awesome; I will definitely use it to make my future tests. I always have trouble with my test format, as far as the lettering and spacing, this makes it a whole lot easier, and also I have trouble with my students trying to cheat. This program offers alternate tests, which would be great and I wouldn’t have to put in all of the extra time to put together different test.
The website evaluation forms were easy and they also helped me to see what I should be looking for in a website. The Trackstar was really neat; I will definitely use it in the future for my classes. I had a teacher at USM that included a reference list of websites for the class in her syllabus. It really helped when I was trying to do projects for her class. Overall I didn’t have a lot of problems with the assignments and all of them will be helpful for my teaching career.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Week 7 (chapter 7 & 8) Question # 1
What is the Internet? What value does it hold for educators?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the internet as, “an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world.” I define the Internet as the best resource for education since the first encyclopedia was published. I remember when I was a little girl whenever I had to write a report or do a project for school, my only resource was a set of World Book encyclopedias we had at home. We lived way out in the country so I couldn’t get out to the library very often. I was limited to what information I could get back then, but now there are no limits to the knowledge that is out there on the Internet.
As a teacher there are many ways the internet can be used in the classroom. The first thing I can think of is as a resource. I use the internet to supplement the information that is provided in my teacher’s edition textbook. I can find out more interesting information for my lectures on the internet that the textbook might not have shared, and we all know a teacher has to spice it up to keep his/her students attention for more than five minutes. Also if a student asks a question about a topic I am lecturing about and I do not know the answer, I can always jump on the internet and find the answer right then for my students. Another way the internet can be used by teachers is by assigning projects for students to do at home on the internet. There are all kinds of interactive websites on the internet that gets the students involved without the teacher being there to walk them through it.
I also like the internet because of the programs offered to teachers to make their jobs easier. Gradebook is awesome; teachers keep up with attendance, grades, email, and contact information all on one program which is right at their fingertips thanks to the internet. Also teachers can stay up to date on what is happening outside of their school district or even their state by using the internet. Teachers can also share lesson plans and teaching strategies with other teachers all over the world by communicating through the internet. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have the internet as a teaching resource, let alone outside of the classroom.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the internet as, “an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world.” I define the Internet as the best resource for education since the first encyclopedia was published. I remember when I was a little girl whenever I had to write a report or do a project for school, my only resource was a set of World Book encyclopedias we had at home. We lived way out in the country so I couldn’t get out to the library very often. I was limited to what information I could get back then, but now there are no limits to the knowledge that is out there on the Internet.
As a teacher there are many ways the internet can be used in the classroom. The first thing I can think of is as a resource. I use the internet to supplement the information that is provided in my teacher’s edition textbook. I can find out more interesting information for my lectures on the internet that the textbook might not have shared, and we all know a teacher has to spice it up to keep his/her students attention for more than five minutes. Also if a student asks a question about a topic I am lecturing about and I do not know the answer, I can always jump on the internet and find the answer right then for my students. Another way the internet can be used by teachers is by assigning projects for students to do at home on the internet. There are all kinds of interactive websites on the internet that gets the students involved without the teacher being there to walk them through it.
I also like the internet because of the programs offered to teachers to make their jobs easier. Gradebook is awesome; teachers keep up with attendance, grades, email, and contact information all on one program which is right at their fingertips thanks to the internet. Also teachers can stay up to date on what is happening outside of their school district or even their state by using the internet. Teachers can also share lesson plans and teaching strategies with other teachers all over the world by communicating through the internet. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have the internet as a teaching resource, let alone outside of the classroom.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reflection on Flyer, Progress Chart, and Quiz.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnMjRhYTMyOTAtMTUzZC00YTE0LTlkODAtMDk0MjNjMWY2MGNm&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnNmY1NDU5NmMtOTYyZS00MDM4LWExNDMtN2I4N2NiMDM2OTcx&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnMzg5NmU3N2QtMTM3OC00ODU1LWI0ZDAtODFkNTBkYjc5MGFk&hl=en
I had to create a flyer, progress chart, and quiz to present during a meeting with the parent of one of my children. I am currently teaching 9th grade World Geography at Harrison Central High School, so I used my class to create the projects. The flyer was probably the easiest of the three assignments. I found a free flyer template on http://www.office.microsoft.com/, which made it very simple. All I had to do was fill in my information about the meeting; I included what the meeting was for, what I would be presenting at the meeting, where and when the meeting would be held, and my contact information. I didn’t really run into any problems.
The progress report was done on Microsoft excel. I made up eight names of people instead of using the names of my real students for confidentiality reasons. I put the student’s names running down the first column in alphabetical order, and the assignment names running across the first row. I included five grades for Unit 5, and calculated an average grade for each student using the tools offered by excel. I actually found this assignment pretty easy too, even though I have had problems using excel in the past.
The quiz was done in the form of a power point presentation. I have done many ppt presentations in the past so I was able to create it pretty quickly; the only problem I ran into was adding buttons so that I could move back and forth throughout the presentation easily. I was trying to figure out how to add the buttons when suddenly my presentation disappeared, of course I hadn’t saved it yet. I was so upset, so needless to say I redid the whole thing, minus the buttons and saved it.
When I tried to submit it to drop box, I could not attach the files. I have had online classes before and have experience turning in attachment into assignment drop box. When I tried to attach the documents, the little computer that usually shows up was not there. I gave it a few minutes to load, but it never appeared, the spot was just blank. So I emailed my assignment into Dr. Wang. Overall the assignment was fairly easy, but I did run into a couple of problems.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnNmY1NDU5NmMtOTYyZS00MDM4LWExNDMtN2I4N2NiMDM2OTcx&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx2hDvQyhVLnMzg5NmU3N2QtMTM3OC00ODU1LWI0ZDAtODFkNTBkYjc5MGFk&hl=en
I had to create a flyer, progress chart, and quiz to present during a meeting with the parent of one of my children. I am currently teaching 9th grade World Geography at Harrison Central High School, so I used my class to create the projects. The flyer was probably the easiest of the three assignments. I found a free flyer template on http://www.office.microsoft.com/, which made it very simple. All I had to do was fill in my information about the meeting; I included what the meeting was for, what I would be presenting at the meeting, where and when the meeting would be held, and my contact information. I didn’t really run into any problems.
The progress report was done on Microsoft excel. I made up eight names of people instead of using the names of my real students for confidentiality reasons. I put the student’s names running down the first column in alphabetical order, and the assignment names running across the first row. I included five grades for Unit 5, and calculated an average grade for each student using the tools offered by excel. I actually found this assignment pretty easy too, even though I have had problems using excel in the past.
The quiz was done in the form of a power point presentation. I have done many ppt presentations in the past so I was able to create it pretty quickly; the only problem I ran into was adding buttons so that I could move back and forth throughout the presentation easily. I was trying to figure out how to add the buttons when suddenly my presentation disappeared, of course I hadn’t saved it yet. I was so upset, so needless to say I redid the whole thing, minus the buttons and saved it.
When I tried to submit it to drop box, I could not attach the files. I have had online classes before and have experience turning in attachment into assignment drop box. When I tried to attach the documents, the little computer that usually shows up was not there. I gave it a few minutes to load, but it never appeared, the spot was just blank. So I emailed my assignment into Dr. Wang. Overall the assignment was fairly easy, but I did run into a couple of problems.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Week 5 (Chapter 5 & 6) question # 3
What are authoring systems? What is the difference between drill-and-practice software and tutorial software? When is it appropriate to use each in teaching and learning?
An authoring system is a computer program that allows people, who are not programmers, create software with programming features. These programs include power point presentations which allow students to view lectures online, and tailored multimedia lessons, which are based on the computer. Hypermedia format, which allows students to jump back and forth throughout the presentation or lesson, is used for both types of authoring systems. For the most part, authoring systems offer a multitude of graphics, interface, and other gear educational software requires. Another advantage of authoring systems is that everyday people can create their own web pages, which would especially be beneficial to teachers who want to provide a learning tool for their students that can be accessed at home. The benefit of authoring systems is the ease with which students and teachers can create their own programs for educational purposes.
Tutorial software is designed to present new information to the student and consists of two types, linear and hypermedia. The linear approach is formatted by using a step by step process. For example, at the University of Southern Mississippi most students have to take the plagiarism tutorial sometime during their college career, which in my case I have had to take it twice for two different classes. Basically it has several sections that you read about plagiarism, what is considered plagiarism and examples of plagiarism in student’s writing. Within each section there are quiz questions you have to answer, to help you decide if you have learned enough to go to the next section. After you have finished all of the sections there is a comprehensive test that you have to pass, in order to display you know what plagiarism is, and if you do not pass, the tutorial lets you know what sections you need to review in order to pass the next time. The hypermedia approach is formatted to allow students to go through the learning program in any order they choose, but it is still similar to the linear approach because the students have to complete some form of evaluation and still receive feedback from the program. Tutorial software can be very beneficial to the student’s learning; even though they may sometimes find the way the information is presented to be boring.
Drill and practice software is intended to review earlier learned content, instead of introducing new information to the student. This software gives instant feedback to the student after answering each question; therefore the student knows where he/she stands throughout the lesson. This software can also gage what level of learning the student needs to be on by increasing the level of hardness if the student gets the question right, or decreasing the level of hardness if the student gets the question wrong. This way the student eventually masters the content of the lesson by building up to that mastery. Drill and practice software is beneficial to the student because they can find out what their weaknesses are in each lesson and then work on those weaknesses, even though it can be boring and a little repetitive. The teacher benefits because the drill and practice software helps them remediate the student, making the teacher’s job easier. Teachers should use the tutorial software at the beginning and throughout their lesson, and use the drill and practice software at the end of their lesson to make sure they go back and cover what needs to be re-taught to the students.
An authoring system is a computer program that allows people, who are not programmers, create software with programming features. These programs include power point presentations which allow students to view lectures online, and tailored multimedia lessons, which are based on the computer. Hypermedia format, which allows students to jump back and forth throughout the presentation or lesson, is used for both types of authoring systems. For the most part, authoring systems offer a multitude of graphics, interface, and other gear educational software requires. Another advantage of authoring systems is that everyday people can create their own web pages, which would especially be beneficial to teachers who want to provide a learning tool for their students that can be accessed at home. The benefit of authoring systems is the ease with which students and teachers can create their own programs for educational purposes.
Tutorial software is designed to present new information to the student and consists of two types, linear and hypermedia. The linear approach is formatted by using a step by step process. For example, at the University of Southern Mississippi most students have to take the plagiarism tutorial sometime during their college career, which in my case I have had to take it twice for two different classes. Basically it has several sections that you read about plagiarism, what is considered plagiarism and examples of plagiarism in student’s writing. Within each section there are quiz questions you have to answer, to help you decide if you have learned enough to go to the next section. After you have finished all of the sections there is a comprehensive test that you have to pass, in order to display you know what plagiarism is, and if you do not pass, the tutorial lets you know what sections you need to review in order to pass the next time. The hypermedia approach is formatted to allow students to go through the learning program in any order they choose, but it is still similar to the linear approach because the students have to complete some form of evaluation and still receive feedback from the program. Tutorial software can be very beneficial to the student’s learning; even though they may sometimes find the way the information is presented to be boring.
Drill and practice software is intended to review earlier learned content, instead of introducing new information to the student. This software gives instant feedback to the student after answering each question; therefore the student knows where he/she stands throughout the lesson. This software can also gage what level of learning the student needs to be on by increasing the level of hardness if the student gets the question right, or decreasing the level of hardness if the student gets the question wrong. This way the student eventually masters the content of the lesson by building up to that mastery. Drill and practice software is beneficial to the student because they can find out what their weaknesses are in each lesson and then work on those weaknesses, even though it can be boring and a little repetitive. The teacher benefits because the drill and practice software helps them remediate the student, making the teacher’s job easier. Teachers should use the tutorial software at the beginning and throughout their lesson, and use the drill and practice software at the end of their lesson to make sure they go back and cover what needs to be re-taught to the students.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Chp. 3 & 4 #2 Why is it advantageous for educators to share resources & programs on a network? What concerns are associated with program sharing?
Networking computer systems are made up of two main components. The server is the main computer which connects other computers and printers together. Many computers can be connected to one server; these computers are usually referred to as network workstations. Besides the benefit of being cost effective, sharing resources through networking has many other advantages. Data can be shared, hardware such as printers and scanners can be shared between many classrooms, and teachers and students can use e-mail and electronic pen pal to keep the lines of communication open.
Sharing programs is also very beneficial for schools. By using a network system, programs can be installed and maintained by using a server, instead of having to manually install software onto individual computers, this saves time and a lot of headache. Also, software programs are sometimes discounted by vendors when installed onto a network system, which cut costs for schools. Upgrades are quicker when using a network system because only the server has to be upgraded, and if a problem occurs with any computer’s software within the network the problem can be solved by repairing the server. Although there are many advantages of using a network to share resources and programs there is one major disadvantage. If the server has problems with its programs, all of the computers are affected. Some schools combat this problem with housing back up servers or back up program disks, which does add to the initial cost of the system.
I think networking computers should be used in all schools because the benefits far out way the problems that may occur within the system. I like the idea of being able to send emails, as a form of communication, between teachers because it is quick and easy. I also think that networking systems help give more time back to the teachers because if a teacher’s computer has problems with its software the problem can be fixed through the server and the teacher does not have to worry about fixing it on his/her own time. I also like the idea of being able to share programs with other teachers especially if they are in the same department. For example, if the whole science department had to use the same nine weeks test for all of the Biology I classes, they can share the test information through the network instead of having to print out copies for all of the teachers, or having each teacher download it to their individual computer.
Sharing programs is also very beneficial for schools. By using a network system, programs can be installed and maintained by using a server, instead of having to manually install software onto individual computers, this saves time and a lot of headache. Also, software programs are sometimes discounted by vendors when installed onto a network system, which cut costs for schools. Upgrades are quicker when using a network system because only the server has to be upgraded, and if a problem occurs with any computer’s software within the network the problem can be solved by repairing the server. Although there are many advantages of using a network to share resources and programs there is one major disadvantage. If the server has problems with its programs, all of the computers are affected. Some schools combat this problem with housing back up servers or back up program disks, which does add to the initial cost of the system.
I think networking computers should be used in all schools because the benefits far out way the problems that may occur within the system. I like the idea of being able to send emails, as a form of communication, between teachers because it is quick and easy. I also think that networking systems help give more time back to the teachers because if a teacher’s computer has problems with its software the problem can be fixed through the server and the teacher does not have to worry about fixing it on his/her own time. I also like the idea of being able to share programs with other teachers especially if they are in the same department. For example, if the whole science department had to use the same nine weeks test for all of the Biology I classes, they can share the test information through the network instead of having to print out copies for all of the teachers, or having each teacher download it to their individual computer.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Chapter 2, Question #1: How can instructional design model help you develop your instructional plan? Identify the steps of the DID model and explain.
Sometimes teachers can become overwhelmed by the amount of information that must be taught in a school semester. By using an instructional design model; teachers can step back and look at the semester as a whole and then break it down into sections that may be more easily managed. Teachers must remember to remain flexible when implementing an instructional design model in order for it to be successful. The dynamic instructional design (DID) model is made up of six parts and allows teachers to continually monitor their progress by using a feedback system, which allows teachers to correct mistakes along the way instead of waiting until the end.
The first step of the DID model is getting to know the students. Teachers should research their students to find out what kind of learner they are and what their ideal learning environment is. Also teachers should take into account their students home life and backgrounds when preparing their lesson plans. Once teachers have a firm grasp on who their students are their lesson plans can be adapted to fit those particular students. The second step of the DID model is stating your objectives. By using performance objectives, students know exactly what they will learn and what is expected of them. Learning objectives are also beneficial to teachers because they are able to keep track of what they should be teaching and they are able to gauge whether their students successfully completed their learning goals for each lesson. Teachers must remember to be very specific when choosing their objectives for each lesson because they have to be able to measure what their students have learned. Teachers are also able to make sure they incorporate the various degrees of learning (DOK) when using specific objectives.
Step three of the DID model is establishing the learning environment. The learning environment can have a huge impact on how the students are able to comprehend the information that is taught to them. The physical and nonphysical environments should be considered by teachers when they are making their lesson plans. For example, the seating in the classroom should be organized in a way that facilitates learning and the air temperature should be suitable for the students. The atmosphere of the classroom is also very important, if the atmosphere of the classroom is hostile; students will probably feel uncomfortable and will not comprehend what they are being taught. The fourth step of the DID model is identifying teaching and learning strategies. Teachers need to think ahead and decide how they are going to plan their lessons, what new information will they introduce to the students and what past content will they have to remediate on. Teachers need to decide what methods and media they are going to use to implement their lessons, for example giving a lecture to the class using power point presentations. Teachers also need to decide how they will get their students actively involved in the learning process. The fifth step in the DID model is identifying and selecting technologies. Teachers must select the most appropriate technology for each lesson and they must be able to use that technology effectively. The last step in the DID model is evaluating and revising. Teachers need to evaluate their lesson plans and revise any parts of it that did not work as it should have. Teachers can have students take a questionnaire to find out how the students felt about the lesson and to see if the students felt like they met every objective successfully.
The first step of the DID model is getting to know the students. Teachers should research their students to find out what kind of learner they are and what their ideal learning environment is. Also teachers should take into account their students home life and backgrounds when preparing their lesson plans. Once teachers have a firm grasp on who their students are their lesson plans can be adapted to fit those particular students. The second step of the DID model is stating your objectives. By using performance objectives, students know exactly what they will learn and what is expected of them. Learning objectives are also beneficial to teachers because they are able to keep track of what they should be teaching and they are able to gauge whether their students successfully completed their learning goals for each lesson. Teachers must remember to be very specific when choosing their objectives for each lesson because they have to be able to measure what their students have learned. Teachers are also able to make sure they incorporate the various degrees of learning (DOK) when using specific objectives.
Step three of the DID model is establishing the learning environment. The learning environment can have a huge impact on how the students are able to comprehend the information that is taught to them. The physical and nonphysical environments should be considered by teachers when they are making their lesson plans. For example, the seating in the classroom should be organized in a way that facilitates learning and the air temperature should be suitable for the students. The atmosphere of the classroom is also very important, if the atmosphere of the classroom is hostile; students will probably feel uncomfortable and will not comprehend what they are being taught. The fourth step of the DID model is identifying teaching and learning strategies. Teachers need to think ahead and decide how they are going to plan their lessons, what new information will they introduce to the students and what past content will they have to remediate on. Teachers need to decide what methods and media they are going to use to implement their lessons, for example giving a lecture to the class using power point presentations. Teachers also need to decide how they will get their students actively involved in the learning process. The fifth step in the DID model is identifying and selecting technologies. Teachers must select the most appropriate technology for each lesson and they must be able to use that technology effectively. The last step in the DID model is evaluating and revising. Teachers need to evaluate their lesson plans and revise any parts of it that did not work as it should have. Teachers can have students take a questionnaire to find out how the students felt about the lesson and to see if the students felt like they met every objective successfully.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Week Two Reflection Question #3
I believe educational technology is a vital part of our school systems and is responsible for the increased success of our students’ ability to learn. My synthesized view of teaching, learning, and technology is as follows. How teachers’ approach passing knowledge to their students should be focused on the individual student’s ability to process information based on his/her personal filters, environmental factors and psychological factors. Different students are able to learn in different environments. For example, one student may need complete silence in order to take an exam while another student may perform better with a light music playing in the background. I believe finding a balance between the two extremes is very important and should be considered and researched for each individual class. I would take a poll from the class to determine the optimal learning environment for those particular students, then I would adjust their classroom environment accordingly.
Psychological factors also play a major role in the student’s ability to learn. The student’s home life may have a strong impact on how the student is able to communicate and receive information; therefore, as a teacher I would talk to the student to see what I could do to help clarify the information for him/her. Every student has a particular learning style, and students fall into three categories: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. For each class, I would hand out a questionnaire to determine the best learning style for each of my students and then try to incorporate those learning styles into my curriculum. Students also have personal filters in place when they walk into the classroom, I believe it is the teacher’s job to respect those filters (cultural, value systems, etc.) and to find a way to still teach the material required.
A teacher’s teaching style should be based on the learning style of the students. I learn visually, but that does not mean I should only teach my students by using visual aides and movies. I need to keep in mind the best way for my students to learn. A teacher can use technology to incorporate all three learning styles into one lesson. For example, the use of the internet in learning. I would use a power point presentation to present information about how plants produce their own food, then I would assign homework for the students. The students would have to go home and watch a video on the internet about how plants make their own food, and then use the internet to research a fact relating to the topic that was not mentioned in the power point presentation in class, and share it with the class the next day. By watching the video the visual students would be able to see how plants make their own food, auditory students would be able to listen to the video when describing each step required for plants to make their own food, and kinesthetic students would be able to actually do some research themselves. Technology is a great tool to use in the classroom and allows the physical boundaries of the classroom to disappear. I believe teaching, learning and technology requires each other to function successfully and efficiently.
Psychological factors also play a major role in the student’s ability to learn. The student’s home life may have a strong impact on how the student is able to communicate and receive information; therefore, as a teacher I would talk to the student to see what I could do to help clarify the information for him/her. Every student has a particular learning style, and students fall into three categories: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. For each class, I would hand out a questionnaire to determine the best learning style for each of my students and then try to incorporate those learning styles into my curriculum. Students also have personal filters in place when they walk into the classroom, I believe it is the teacher’s job to respect those filters (cultural, value systems, etc.) and to find a way to still teach the material required.
A teacher’s teaching style should be based on the learning style of the students. I learn visually, but that does not mean I should only teach my students by using visual aides and movies. I need to keep in mind the best way for my students to learn. A teacher can use technology to incorporate all three learning styles into one lesson. For example, the use of the internet in learning. I would use a power point presentation to present information about how plants produce their own food, then I would assign homework for the students. The students would have to go home and watch a video on the internet about how plants make their own food, and then use the internet to research a fact relating to the topic that was not mentioned in the power point presentation in class, and share it with the class the next day. By watching the video the visual students would be able to see how plants make their own food, auditory students would be able to listen to the video when describing each step required for plants to make their own food, and kinesthetic students would be able to actually do some research themselves. Technology is a great tool to use in the classroom and allows the physical boundaries of the classroom to disappear. I believe teaching, learning and technology requires each other to function successfully and efficiently.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Introduction
Hi,
I’m Linda Nix and I have a B.S. in Biological Sciences, and I am currently working on my masters in the art of teaching (MAT). I received my three year Mississippi teaching license in the areas of Biology, General Science, and Social Studies, but I have not been able to find a job as of yet. It is a hard world out there for aspiring teachers! I currently work at Academy Sports and Outdoors, where you get the right stuff at a great low price. Ha! Ha! I need to find a teaching job! I have worked there for seven years now, that’s seven years too long. I have taken six or seven online classes throughout my college career, and I find them to be very convenient when going to school and working full time. I have used power point, word, excel, and concept mapping in some of my Biology classes and I feel pretty confident when using them. However, I have never used pod casts, WIKIs, or blogging, so this should be an interesting semester. It’s never too late to learn something new especially if it will help me in my future teaching career. I have used discussion board and email in most of my online classes and find them to be very helpful when I’m having problems in the class. Sometimes it’s just easier to ask another student than to bother the professor for something minor. I hope to learn how to use many new varieties of technology that will be available to me when I finally get a teaching job.
I’m Linda Nix and I have a B.S. in Biological Sciences, and I am currently working on my masters in the art of teaching (MAT). I received my three year Mississippi teaching license in the areas of Biology, General Science, and Social Studies, but I have not been able to find a job as of yet. It is a hard world out there for aspiring teachers! I currently work at Academy Sports and Outdoors, where you get the right stuff at a great low price. Ha! Ha! I need to find a teaching job! I have worked there for seven years now, that’s seven years too long. I have taken six or seven online classes throughout my college career, and I find them to be very convenient when going to school and working full time. I have used power point, word, excel, and concept mapping in some of my Biology classes and I feel pretty confident when using them. However, I have never used pod casts, WIKIs, or blogging, so this should be an interesting semester. It’s never too late to learn something new especially if it will help me in my future teaching career. I have used discussion board and email in most of my online classes and find them to be very helpful when I’m having problems in the class. Sometimes it’s just easier to ask another student than to bother the professor for something minor. I hope to learn how to use many new varieties of technology that will be available to me when I finally get a teaching job.
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