post #12

I still think that one of the most valuable things I learned in this class was the mail merger. I didn't even know that there was such a thing. I also liked that we were able to find new ways to use technology. I knew that excel was used to put in numbers, but I never would have thought to use it for a crossword. These were definitely two things that will stay with me.

I think that it would be useful to learn how to make a website. This could be useful to have your own personal webpage for your class. This way it could be private and allow you to just focus on what is going on in your classroom. It can also allow students and parents access and they will be able to see what is going on.

I think that I just need to keep using the skills I have learned. I also need to play around with things and learn how to use different techniques. I think that as long as I stay up to date with the newest technology I will be able to provide my students with the best education. I also want to make sure that I know at least as much as my students do when it comes to technology.

post #11

I didn't really use twitter that much. It just seemed like on more thing I had to check. I only used it once to ask a question, but I felt that it would have been just as easy to email my question. I feel that twitter could be useful, but with all the other technology I already use it just seemed like one more thing.

I will probably not use twitter on my own only because I don't really have the time to address so many different technologies. I feel that I waste so much time on the computer as it is that I don't want to have to inform my family and friends about what I am doing on the internet. I like talking to people in person. I guess you could say that I am a bit old fashion, but I feel that the computer distances you from people and it becomes impersonal. I also feel that it would be better to use if you have a device that can connect you to twitter where ever you are. I unfortunately do not own a phone that does this.

I think that twitter could be helpful for high school or college students. It allows students to ask question without having to ask in class. This also gives other students the opportunity to answer other students' questions. I think that if all students have phones that connect to twitter it would be even more useful because they could check it anytime and be up to date.

My awesome podcast

Post#10

On free teacher tools there are several different things for teachers to use in the classroom. This website is great when you need a new idea or help on how to make something. There are tools to help you make quizzes and they have handouts already done. There are tools to make worksheets and even tools to help you make a bibliography. There are also links to tons of other websites that are useful.

This website also provides fun tools such as certificates and tools on how to use certain technologies. This website is also useful for students as well. It provides lessons on things that wouldn't necessarily be taught in class and provides safe links and email services for students. This website has a large variety of things and can be useful when you get stuck or need help. It can also be use to improve your lesson plans.http://www.techtrain.org/teacher_tools.htm#lesson%20plans

I think that web 2.0 is very useful in schools. They are useful for both students and teachers. They can make making lesson plans easier and they can provide tons of information. As long as students are monitored and taught how to properly use the resources than it can supplement any lesson. I think that it is important to allow students to use web 2.0 so that you can show them how to safely use it since they will probably be using in other settings as well.

#9

I think that blackboard is an excellent sight to use for college students. It provides students with everything they need for their own records and allows them to have everything on one website. It provides an email service so you can get into contact with your professors and other classmate. You can see your grades, GPA, and your classes. It also provides information about any organizations you are in or some you might be interested in joining.
There are some downfalls to the website. Some teachers do not know how to use the website, so your grades aren't posted by that professor. The tabs for certain things are not clearly labeled, so you may have to search for what you are looking for. I feel that by teaching all professors how to use the website will make blackboard more useful. I also think that it would be a great website for highschool students to use as well. I feel that it can get parents more involved with their students grades and attendance! campus.fsu.edu
I think that excel will be useful for me for recording grades. It makes everything easy to see and you can edit it at anytime. You can easliy get averages of tests and see where students are struggling and doing well. I will be teaching elementary grades, so I don't find much use for them for my actual lessons. I think that they are good for keeping record, such as attendance and for who has turned in assignments. I will probably only use excel for my personal records when I teach.

#8

I felt that my power point was pretty basic. I was aiming towards younger children and math skills. I felt that my navigation was very basic. It included a home button, a next button, and a button to go back. It is very consistent and the same fonts and colors are used throughout the presentation. My grammar is correct and the presentation is right to the point. It is easy to understand and everything is functional.

I could use pictures from a place that I am discussing in class. I can scan a copy from something in a book to bring into class. Music can be used to introduce students to different cultures. Movies can be used to help explain a lesson or topic. You can use your personal pictures in a slide show you are creating. You can post clips of your movies in a presentation. documents that you have scanned can be put into presentations. There is an endless amount you can do with outside sources and the computer.
I really enjoyed making the interactive slides. This will be helpful when I want to create practice for my students. I would also like to teach my students how to use it so they can make interactive stories. This will help with their grammar skills, and help them develop advanced skills in power points. It would also be useful in making a game to review before a test. The action buttons help to make the slide show more hands on than just a passive presentation.

#8

I felt that my power point was pretty basic. I was aiming towards younger children and math skills. I felt that my navigation was very basic. It included a home button, a next button, and a button to go back. It is very consistent and the same fonts and colors are used throughout the presentation. My grammar is correct and the presentation is right to the point. It is easy to understand and everything is functional.
I could use pictures from a place that I am discussing in class. I can scan a copy from something in a book to bring into class. Music can be used to introduce students to different cultures. Movies can be used to help explain a lesson or topic. You can use your personal pictures in a slide show you are creating. You can post clips of your movies in a presentation. documents that you have scanned can be put into presentations. There is an endless amount you can do with outside sources and the computer.
I really enjoyed making the interactive slides. This will be helpful when I want to create practice for my students. I would also like to teach my students how to use it so they can make interactive stories. This will help with their grammar skills, and help them develop advanced skills in power points. It would also be useful in making a game to review before a test. The action buttons help to make the slide show more hands on than just a passive presentation.

post # 7

I think that presentation software is great because it gives students something to look at while the teacher is lecturing. If the presentation is good then it will attract and keep attention. Sometimes presentation software takes away from the lesson and can cause students to pay less attention. If teachers use a presentation as a supplement to their lecture than it can be executed well.
Power points allow visual learners to see information. If a teacher talks during the presentation to add extra information this will help auditory learners. They can also use different types of information in their presentation. They can use short sentences, graphs, and diagrams. A power point can allow a teacher to incorporate all different learning styles into one lesson.
I think the most interesting issues with technology is in education is copy right laws. There are very fine lines that teachers must know. It is important to know copyright laws and if you aren't sure to find out. I feel that on many occasions there could be a possibility of violating one of these laws.

#6

I feel that web 2.0 is very important to students. Students can use it to do research, blog, and create websites. I would use it to create a class website, so that parents and students could stay updated on what is going on in the classroom. I would allow students to do research. In high school classrooms it could be useful to teach students how to make web pages or to use sites such as twitter to interact with other students. I feel that technology has taken on a big role in students' lives and teachers need to keep their students updated on new technology.
I think that wikipedia could be a really useful source. Although, you must be caution. You should not use it as your only source of information since it can be edited by anyone. You should use it to compare to other information. I would make sure to always check another source before taking the information for fact.
I enjoyed using the wiki website. It was helpful in understanding how wikipedia works. I can better understand why some teacher prefer that you do not use it. I find that wikis will be useful for classroom by giving students an opportunity to share their work and research with others. This why other people can edit it and share their thoughts as well. Wikis could also be useful for teachers who work together to share information.

#5

I think that the internet is very useful in student research. I have always used the internet for research in my projects. It is much more convenient and you can even view books online so you don't have to go to the library. I think that internet research is useful when you are doing a project on a specific topic. It is helpful when writing papers and putting together presentations. I think that children should use the internet as a supplemental tool. I feel that it is important to use the knowledge you know and then use the internet to back that up.
I would probably use a webpage that parents could access so they know what their children are doing. This way the parents could get involved. I have had a teacher use a chat room to ask questions to prepare students for a test. I think that is very useful for older students.
I think my biggest concern is children coming across inappropriate materials. No matter how much protection in on a computer there is usually a way it will come up. I want to teach third grad or lower. I feel that it is my responsibility to protect the younger students from inappropriate material. I would just have to make sure to give them specific directions for the use of the internet, and know beforehand exactly where their search will lead them.

#4

I could use the ideas in chapter seven to create lesson plans. If I have a goal of what I want to teach I can map out ways to teach that lesson. I could use an outline on word to prepare how I will present the lesson and what points I need to cover. I can use a concept map such as on inspiration to find ways in which different lesson correlate. I can use all methods when I have a main idea and details about that main idea. They could also be used in powerpoint slides to outline what I am talking to the class about, so they understand the main points.
I have never really used a storyboard, but I am very familiar with concept maps and outlines. I could never understand when I was younger how they would help me. I always felt like they were a waste of time and took away from my writing. As I got older it became apparent why they were so important. When you are crunched for time it helps to put all your thoughts down and then order them. This way you don't have to focus on where to put things when you are writing. I would definitely use these in my lessons, so that students are organized.
In the past week we learned how to search for things on google and how to tell if a website is reliable. These are very essential skills. It is important to understand how search engines work, so that you can type in the right things to find what you are looking for. It is also important to understand the value of a website especially if you are going to use the information in your classroom. You must use reliable and truthful websites and knowing what to look for will help tremendously.

#3

In a lesson on geography I would use the Internet to find a map that did not have the names of the continents on it. I would use this map in a PowerPoint. I would then proceed to ask the students if they know how many continents there are while showing them the map. Then I would see how many the students could name and if they could locate these on the map. Once a continent is named and located I would have each new slide with the continent's name. This lesson would be appropriate for students K-3 for a social studies lesson.
The Express website has both graphics and text on their website. There is a lot of different text styles which make it a bit difficult to read. There is limited color, but there is some red that helps you notice what they think is important. There are tabs labeled to find different clothing which makes it easy to navigate. The pages are consistent as to the location of the text description and the graphics. There is a ton of information on the main page which is overwhelming. They have bigger font sizes for specific items. They use lists effectively and the website is laid out well.Express
The only time I have had any issues with copyright was at the library. I was only allowed to copy a few pages of a book. I have be taught to use citations and bibliographies to give credit to the people whose ideas I am using. As a teacher I will make sure to use proper citing techniques and teach them to my students. I have seen students severely punished for not giving credit to someone and I would rather use it as an opportunity to teach students how to properly use citations. Most of the time students make an honest mistake of not providing proper credit and I would want to make sure they learn how to prevent that mistake in the future.

Post#2

I have mostly used MS Word to write essays for classes. I have also used it for lab reports and to type letters. My teachers have used it to be able to print out newsletters, worksheets, and notes. I have also had documents sent to me that were done on MS Word.
I thought that it was a good idea to split the students into groups and have them learn certain skills. Then they would report to another group with students who mastered different skills. They then verbally told each other how to use those skills. This is a great way to teach computer skills and to help students be able to verbally teach others. It puts two different learning styles into one lesson. I also liked the idea of turning spell check off until the assignment was complete. This will help students spelling and also will make them reread their paper instead of just relying on technology.
Learning how to use to the letter feature on MS word has been the most useful new skill for me. Teachers are always giving parents newsletters and updates. This helps cut down on the time spent writing emails to each parent. I also loved that the information imputed would be saved for future use. I definitely see myself using this skill because I want to teach younger children, and it is hard to have them relay information to their parents. Many of the other skills we are using I have already learned, but we are using them in new ways than I have before. I feel like I now have more options and abilities with MS Word.

MS word creates a blog posting

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Post#1

I think that computers play a very important role in education. Technology is a huge part of our society and it is important to teach students basic skills so they can be successful. It is important to monitor your students use of computers. This way they do not violate any laws or rules. It is extremely important to make sure that when you are using a computer lesson that you have a specific skill the students should achieve at the end. One problem the chapter brings up is that some teachers do not know even know the basic skills of computers. Teachers need to know the skills that the students they are teaching have to know.
I would like to teach anywhere from kindergarten to second grade so the computer lessons I would probably use would be pretty basic. I would probably be more likely to have students use drill and practice software to help students practice lessons. I would also probably need to teach students very basic skills on the computer, so they can navigate and use all the functions properly. I would probably be more likely to use the computer to teach the students a lesson such as on PowerPoint instead of the children using the computer. Another likely use for the computer would be in libraries to find books.
I am certainly interested in different ways I can use a computer with younger students. I remember using the computer to write stores and poems when I was younger. For the most part I don't really remember using a computer that much in class when I was in elementary school. I like using the computer now to take test and quizzes because you get instant feedback. I feel that this is useful for teachers as well because they can take less time grading and more time addressing problems students have.

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blog #0

I have had a lot of experience with technology. I took a computer class last semester. This class helped me to better understand what technology is and how computers worked. I had to do assignments with word, excel, access, and power point. I now understand how to use them to their greatest potential. I also own a laptop, cell phone, and ipod. I have learned to use all of these through trial and error. I use the computer to do most of my research and to write documents. I feel that I have a pretty good grasp of how to use basic technology and the programs that they offer.
I hope that I increase my skills and the use of the technology I use everyday. I have never used a blog before or a podcast, and I hope to benefit from learning about them. I also would like to learn how technology can be used in the classroom for teaching methods. I have had teachers use technology as teaching methods but not as much as I think would be possible. Sometimes I can very insecure about using computers and especially power point. I hope that I can become more comfortable.
I learned that I was more of a visual learner than a verbal learner. I didn't find that too surprising. As for the rest of the result I was pretty well balanced. I was a bit more of an active learner than reflective. This was surprising because I feel that I usually learn things better if I actually do an activity involving the material. I feel that I am definitely a sensory learner, but I was only slightly more sensory on the scale. I learn facts better than theories because there is concrete evidence. I think the most surprising thing to learn was that I was more of a global learner than a sequential learner. I would have thought I would have been more of a sequential learner because I like step by step problems. I think that this questionnaire was helpful to understand how I learn and could be beneficial. Since I thought I learned differently than the results, so I should try studying differently to see if I get better grades.

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