EDU P&L 370

2005-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

For our final project, we decided to place emphasis on learning about other states and persuasive writing. We are gearing our project towards 2nd and 3rd graders. We want our students to go online and use Encyclopeida CD-ROMs to help their search. This will allow me as a teacher to evaluate my students ability to read information that they have researched and then evaluate what is important to their project. I also think that it is important for students to be able research online. There is so much information available to them and it is important for them to learn techniques to make their searches specific. Also, once our students have gathered the appropriate information, they will be required to create a persuasive video on why someone should visit or move to their state. This will require students to use a video camera and the computer to do editing. While these students are younger, their skills and technique may not be great; however, this is a great way to introduce to them such things as Microsoft's Movie Maker. In result of their final project, students will be able to use the internet to research, become aware of using a video camera, and the skills to edit and put together a movie. Also, students will learn more about the states of our country.

2005-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

The first site that I found helpful for assisting me in finding a lesson was www.marcopolo-education.org. This site was extremely easy to use and there were a lot of examples to use and look at. It was easy to navigate because all you have to do is put in the grade level you want to teach, the subject, and the topic you want to address. I also liked how you could search by standards. This would make ones search a lot easier. I did not really realize that this resource was available; however, I think that I will use or reference it in the future. I liked that I went to the site without an idea of what to do and was then able to come away from the site with an idea and a plan. I like that I can use it as a reference and then modify it for my specific classroom of students.

2005-11-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

I believe that the internet and the computer are a great tool and assest to the classroom. On the web, there are so many interactive games available for teachers to use in their classroom. I think that this would be a great way for teacher to emphasis what they are teaching. I believe that most students learn better when they are physically doing something besides sitting in a desk in a classroom. Technology is an excellent way to get students involved in their learning. There are many games and tools available; however, I noticed that many of them that I looked at were not that interesting or extremely repetitive. I think that it is important for a teacher to look over different games available and then decide which ones will best suit her classroom. I have a lot of interest in literature in the classroom. I think that phonics is extremely important for young children. At www.pbskids.org/lions/games there are many help games to teach students about different vowel sounds. I think that this site would be great for younger elementary kids. It requires kids to read, know the difference between long and short vowel sounds and be able to sort them out. There are also many other great games on this site that would benefit children in my future classroom.

2005-11-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

I believe that we live in a time where we are so blessed to have so many technological advances. I also believe as a future educator, it is extremely important for me to take advantage of this gift. For example, the internet is an extremely useful tool in the classroom. I think that it is the schools' responsibility to provide this tool and knowledge to their students. Many students do come to the classroom with this knowledge; however, this differs among school districts. Kids can research so much information that will increase their overall knowledge. Technology surrounds our kids today, and I think that they will respond to projects and research more easily and with more excitement if technology is included. I remember creating movies all the time in my history and literature classes in high school. We were often asked to create videos that represented what we were learning in the classroom. I can still remember what we created. I think that this is true because when media is integrated into the project, it takes a lot of planning and thinking in order to put together a final project. I remember researching using the internet and then coming up an idea then putting it together and then doing the final project and then finally being tested on the information. That means that I am being involved in the information numerous times before I am even tested on the information. I would become completely involved in the text and it would stick in my head. I think that this is so much more affective then having the students listen to the teacher, take notes, and then be tested on the information. In conclusion, I think that it is so important for students to take an active role in their education, and I believe that this is made possible through having students integrate technology into their learning process.

2005-11-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Teaching with standards can be both a positive and negative thing for teachers. I think that standards should be taken extremely serious because they are believed to be the necessary topics that children should have knowledge about at that particular time. I think that it is important as a teacher to focus on these things; however, I also believe that it is necessary for teachers to use these standards as starting points in their classroom. I was observing and volunteering in a third grade classroom and noticed that the teacher was so set on staying focused just on the standards that I felt the children were being cheated out of other material. Students need to be shown the entire concept of an idea and not just what someone has decided is necessary. I do; however, think that this might be difficult as a teacher. There are so many topics and ideas that need to be covered throughout the school year in so many different topics. This is why I think that standards are good because it gives a guideline to teachers; however, teachers need to look at these standards and whenever possible it is necessary for them to expand on them or include other topics that are relevant.

2005-10-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Assessibility is something that is necessary in today's classroom. I think that through the presentation in class, I have a better understanding of what the entails. I never really realized how many programs and technology is available for educators to use for those who learn in different ways. I think that it is amazing the type of tools that are there. I hope that I am in a district where these tools are assible. I think that it is unfortunate that these tools are not taken advantage of. They seem to be easy to use; however, it will require extra work on the teacher's part. However, I believe that if one is truly an educator then it is necessary for them to do whatever it takes to reach as many students as possible. When the speaker was talking about the idea of remediation or holding students back, it really made me think. I think that I agree that we need to accomodate to help these students so that they feel like they can succeed and do succeed. There is the technology available; however, it must be taken advantage of.

2005-10-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

I believe that it is extremely important for students to be well educated when it comes to technology. I think that when students enter middle school or high school, it is almost necessary for them to be proficient in using a computer. I think that this means that they need to be able to use Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and such programs as this. Also, they must be able to use the internet to benefit their studies. It is important for them to be able to do this in order to increase their knowledge and to increase the information that they are learning. The internet is a great tool in the classroom; however, it is important for students to use it properly to increase their studies. I also believe that one who is able to use all of these tools will be competitive. There are not many young people out there anymore who do not know how to use these tools. I believe that school should be used as a place to cultivate skills that will be necessary in the working world. As a future, elementary teacher, I believe that this is a time for students to learn the foundation necessary to increase their skills throughout the years ahead. I also think that in districts where there is not a lot of money in the average household, I think that it is important for these students to learn these skills in school because they are probably not receiving them at home because their parents do not know how to do it and they probably can not afford a computer. This is something extremely serious that needs to be mastered at school and schools need to take on this responsibility in order to prepare students for their lives.

2005-10-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

After completing the articles, I feel that I have somewhat of a better understanding of the idea of Fair Use. Honestly, before this class I had never even hear of the term. From what I got from reading the assigned articles, it seems that the overall idea does not have set guidelines. I did; however, find some guidelines that I think are extremely important to remember when using someone's original work. First it is important to remember that emphasis must be on the educational benefits that can come from using someone elses work. I learned that it is not okay to use someone's entire work. One should only use parts of ones work in order to better their project. I also learned that it is okay to take someone's work and transform it in order to fit into your particular needs. I learned that there needs to be an emphasis on on brevity. One of the authors talked about a "one semester rule". This means that teachers can use the information for the length of one semester. It is also better for teachers to use the same piece of work repeatedly.

I think that both teachers and students can benefit from this idea. Students and educators can use found information to help with their projects. Sometimes, it may be necessary for a teacher to use a clip of a movie or a paragraph out of a book in order to express her ideas to a group of students. Also, students that are putting together a presentation might need to use pictures from another source to visual express what they are saying. This will benefit them through their learning experience.

Overall, I think that something like Fair Use is extremely important for educators and students. I think that there needs to be guidelines and people need to abide by them; however, it needs to be remembered that students can learn an incredible amount from looking and using others' works.

2005-09-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have taken another course on computers in the classroom from another university; however, I feel that I needed to take this course becasue concepts and ideas are constantly changing in regards to media and technology. I believe that it is the duty and responsibility of an educator or teacher to be informed and current in what is available in technology. I think that it is so important for a teacher to not only know but also apply the knowledge to his or her classroom. Having technological literacy is extremely important in the world that we live in. I feel that even though I intend on teaching younger students, I need to make sure that they are well educated in how to use the media and technology that is available to them. I almost think that it is like learning how to read and write at a young age. As a future educator, I hope to give my students the foundation that is necessary to build upon when it comes to technology. Children will be using technology throughout their lives; therefore, it is imparitive that they are taught at a young age and then build upon what they have learned. I am excited to see what great ideas we can come up with this quarter in regards of using and teaching about technology to younger students. I hope that I walk away with a better understand of somethings for my personal use; however, I am more excited about learning things that will benefit my future students.