EME 2040

2006-11-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Post 10 (due November 21)

In this class I would like to learn how to create a class website and other useful ways to incorporate the technology we learn into the classroom. I like the applicable parts of the chapter that provide suggestions to creatively integrate and use technology. For instance Id like to learn about other ways to use technology when you only have one computer in the classroom, because I think that the majority of classrooms have limited access to computers and technology in general. Now Im not the big technology person, but this class has convinced me of the importance of using technology in this generation, so I would like some user-friendly ways to do that.

To achieve my technological goals in education I will make sure to incorporate technology into my lesson plans, and try to keep it in the back of my mind throughout the rest of my college classes for education. Its easy to forget about a class that you took your first semester in college, but this class has impacted the way I think about technology in general, so I will be more likely to remember what I learned and in general the ideas that technology can lead to increased learning and an environment that helps students prepare and relate to the world outside of school. Also, so I stay in practice, I will try to use the skills and programs that we learned in my future classes so I keep them in my mind.

2006-11-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Post 9 (due Novemeber 14)

What I found most interesting in my peers posts:

Tara made a good observation about how you can utilize technology even if you only have one computer in the classroom. She noted two ideas that I could really use in an English classroom. One was the class newsletter letting the students take turns on the computer, and the other was the class blog where everyone could contribute. By reading her post on Chapter 7, I had to think about the reality that I could only have one computer in my classroom and that its unlikely to have access to enough computers for an entire class, even if it is a small class.

I also noticed specifically in Lindsey's blog, that a lot of people enjoyed learning about and using the blog and the wiki assignments. They could be very useful in our classrooms for connected to other teachers and possibly making a class website or wiki. Im glad that everyone else is thinking about our future careers and how this class can apply.

This semester I have learned a great deal of new ways to use technology. For instance, like I mentioned above, the wiki and the website creations on Word, and the blogging. Of course it's always nice to learn more about Word and Excel, which are obviously useful in the classroom in everyday activities. The more effective you are at using Word and Excel, the easier they make your life. These programs are designed to help you save time and when you know how to use them properly they are extremely helpful and time efficient. Also, the book has given me many new ideas about HOW to go about integrating technology into education and the importance thereof.

2006-11-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

Chapter 8 (due Novemeber 7)

Computer Security Issues, Ethics, and Emerging Technologies in Education

A common way that computers are put in danger is by viruses, aka malicious software programs. These dangerous programs come in many different forms and can be relatively harmless or extremely corrupting. Creators of these viruses typically send them in attachments to emails. Beware of opening attachments from people you do not know and trust. There are three main types of viruses; boot sector, file, and macro virus. A boot sector virus "replaces the boot program used to start the computer with...an infected version..." When the computer user starts the computer the virus saves to the computer memory and can then spread to any storage media. The second kind, file virus, saves into program files and spreads to any program that accesses the infected file. The last kind is a macro virus. This is the one I understand the least. It saves to the macro language of an application, like Microsoft Word. Then when you open the ap, it loads into the memory and is activated by a certain action, such as saving.

Though there is no way to COMPLETELY protect from viruses, the book provides some good tips on protecting yourself from viruses...

Reliable Antivirus software- should update virus definitions every week
Scan all removable media like USB drives etc., especially if someone else has given you one that has been used in another device
Scan all internet files, and attached files- This is the MOST common way to infect a computer
Turn off email preview- Some viruses can be delivered just by viewing the message
Scan ALL software- it is possible for manufacturer products to be infected
Avoid illegal copies- favorites for viruses
Dont start the computer with unknown media in the drives
Install personal firewall program
Back up your files often
Set antivirus program to automatically scan

Firewalls are something I have never understood. I learned though that a firewall is a security system to prevent unauthorized access to a network. You can either have a network firewall, a hardware firewall, or a personal firewall- which protects your specific computer.

The book also gave some guidelines about ethics concering computers.

An educator will...

not use it [a computer] to harm others
not interefere with others work
not look at others files
not steal using the computer
not use it to tell a lie
not use others computers without permission
not use others work
think about social impact
use it in respect and consideration for others

This chapter had a lot of information to take in, but what I wrote about is what I learned that was new, and most interesting to me. I didnt realize the impact viruses could have on a computer and had never really seen the importance of protecting against them. Now that I see how damaging they can be, and saw the tips they gave for protecting my computer, I am more likely to continue using my antivirus software etc. I also was excited to learn about firewalls, because I had never really had a concept of what they were. I always heard people talking about them. I think these things will be helpful because they will guide my use of the computer in the classroom. Not only concerning ethics but also saftey in protecting my students information etc...

2006-10-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Chapter 7 (due October 31)

"Evaluating Educational Technology and Intergration Strategies"

The main purpose of this chapter is to help me evaluate how much and what type of technology to integrate into my classroom. With the easy access of the Web, sometimes finding the right type of software and technology can be difficult. The first place the book recommends to look in the vast pool of technology resources is to the district and state software. Often teachers can obtain software packages like these on a state supported web site or in print. Other helpful tips for finding technology included asking colleagues, or attending technology conferences.

After finding a potential software package, always evaulate it. The book recommends using a rubric that includes appropriateness, accuracy, ease of use, and relevance to curriculum. Many packages provide a free trial for this purpose. There are many rubrics available through schools, (on pages 407-408) and online. However, like we have discussed in one assignment, not all web sites are reliable. Therefore, we must be able to evaluate the web site itself and test the validity of its information (rubrics on pages 412-413).

In a similar manner, as teachers we must learn to create rubrics and evaluations in order to evaluate our students.

An important part of teaching is creating lesson plans. While fitting technology into already set lessons is one method, a more effective method of utilizing technology is to rethink the lessons and creatively redesign teaching strategies with technology in mind. There is even a way to access help in this area on the web. For example, the book gives a sample lesson plan in the Language Arts area. It's an interesting assignment that uses a video camera and editing software. The focus is on analyzing, research, and writing a news report.

Since my last post, I have really started thinking about ways to change my thinking about what type of technology can be used in the classroom. In the beginning I was really skeptical as to what part technology could really play in the classroom, but now Im seeing the diverse ways that it can be introduced into all spectrums of education.

2006-10-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Chapter 6 (Due October 24)

A curriculum is defined as "the knowledge, skills, and performance standards students are expected to acquire in particular grade levels, or through sequences [of]...subject matter." It is usually dictated by the state and district levels. In recent days technology integration into curriculums is becoming more prevalent to enhance learning and meet curriculum standards. Chapter six deals with how we, as teachers, can integrate technology sucessfully and appropriately into our classrooms.

One way schools have been integrating technology is through computer labs. They provide many computers that can have tutorial software, and access to a wide range of information. While this is easier to maintain, and provides computers for teachers to schedule, the book shows that technology is more effective when actually used within the classroom. Technology is more likely to be used if it is at the tip of a finger. The convience of in-classroom computers allows teachers to respond more readily to teachable moments, which we learned about in Intro to Education recently. By using technological sources, teachers have access to a greater pool of information at a fingers click. This is very useful when it comes to wanting to allow the students to find an answer to a question on their own.

Another integral topic this chapter discussed was lesson planning and technology. When teachers integrate technology into their lessons, the book argues that students develop their own digital literacy and they are motivated to learn. This is where the ASSURE model comes into the picture. ASSURE= Analyze the learner, State objectives, Select Methods Media and Materials, Utilize MMM, Require Learner participation, and Evaluate and revise. These are pretty self explanatory but I see a connection to the description of a good teacher that we have been studying in our other class. Especially with the last point, the E. It relates to being a "reflective practioner" and a professional in the field.

In this chapter I realized that there is more to technology in the classroom then just whipping up a PowerPoint sometimes. It's important for learner growth and development, especially if I want to teach high schoolers who will be needing to be technologically literate before entering the job market. When students are involved in learning through digital media and technology in general they are more likely to be motivated to learn and retain what they have discovered. This is a fact I will take with me.

2006-10-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Chapter 5 (due October 17)

Digital Media is a branch of multimedia that has become its own discipline. One of the central parts of digital media is interaction. This allows for individual instruction and exploration, which enhances the educational value of computer technology. Software in this field is often referred to as interactive digital media, which allows users to move through the material at their own pace. This is extremely applicable to education, as all students work at different paces in acquiring information and concepts. This ability to interact with different medias is the most unique and important feature of digital media! It can aid in encouraging students to think independantly and creatively. This field of multimedia could also affect us as teachers through online professional development training for teachers.

Another application of digital media is in the area of educational software applications. These applications are used to support learning and teaching. This type of software offers many different routes such as risk-free skill checks, instant feedback, reviews, and online exploration of information. Another topic that I think falls under this is Computer-assisted instruction. This type of program helps teach facts or skills associated with a certain subject. I think this includes tutorial programs as well, such as SAM that comes along with this course.

Speaking of tutorials, since my last post I have done the powerpoint tutorial and I have learned how to do a bunch of fancy stuff on PowerPoint! I am excited to see how my powerpoint for the class comes out. This is obviously a helpful tool in the classroom. Though I dont believe that PowerPoint needs to be in every lesson I think that when used sparcely in the classroom it can be very helpful in presenting information in a creative way.

2006-10-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Chapter 4 Post (due Oct 10)

INPUT- what you enter into the memory of the computer. It is categorized into data, programs, commands, and user responses. "Data is a collection of unorganized facts." The computer then organizes it into words, numbers, etc. A program tells a computer how to perform tasks. They respond to commands issued by a user. A command is an instruction given to a program. It's given by using keywords that serve as cues to the program to perform tasks. User responses involve a program asking a question and depending on the response it performs (or doesnt) certain tasks. In order to input into the computer you need input devices. These devices are any technology that allows you to put information into the computer. Input devices include keyboards, mouses, scanners, digital cameras, etc.

On the other side is output. Output is the processed input of the computer. It comes it different forms such as text, graphics, videos, and other comprehendable uses. Output devices include screens, printers, and faxes.

From reading some of my peers posts, I have learned that many of us are in the same position. While we know the basics of what we are doing, we have been learning faster and easier ways to perform different tasks on the computer. Also, I was glad to hear that many others were not aware of how the internet functioned before the past units. I think that we are all on pretty much the same page with technology.

By understanding how computers function, I can make sure that I use the most efficient way to get things done. This way if something seems to be wrong or if there is a faster way to accomplish tasks I will know how to do that. I can also incorporate newer technology such as digital cameras in my classroom to give students different ways to express the information in class. Also, I have been finding new little tasks that Microsoft Word can do and its fun to mess around with all the interesting things involved in the program. These shortcuts can save me time in putting together whatever I need to complete. I havent had much exposure to PowerPoint so I am looking forward to learning about it in the coming weeks.

2006-10-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Chapter 3 Post (due Oct 3)

Application Software includes programs such as word processors, and email programs. Application software, or programs, is designed "to perform specific taks for users." These programs make it easier for students and teachers to create documents and communicate. They can also be used for digital gradebooks, student management, research, and email communication.

Similarly, productivity software is "designed to make people more effective and efficient." Many of the previously mentioned applications are also productivity software programs. The most widespread one is word processing programs such as Microsoft Word. These programs will be very helpful in a classroom. Teachers need to be effective and extremely efficient in their classroom so that their students can obtain the greatest amount of knowledge in and out of class.

To spice up word documents and presentations you would use a graphics or multimedia program. These programs allow you to integrate pictures, drawings, and graphics into worksheets or presentations. This can help keep student's attention, and aid in retention.

Understanding what software programs can so for me is important for learning to manage a classroom. It is helpful to realize the depth of computer use. By learning how I can utilize the computer, I can have better organization in my classroom, and increased communication with my future students.

2006-09-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Post 2 Chapter 2 topics: internet services, assistive technologies, guide to WWW sites. search techniqies, search tools

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a service available on the internet is a collection of links that make it easy to connect to web pages. A web page is synonomous with an electronic document. a web site is a collection of related web pages. They have a starting page, a home page, and then has links to other web pages that are related and provide extra information. The unique address to get to each web page called a uniform resource locator (URL). In general URL's begin with http:// which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. You view web pages through a Web browser which is a software program. A web server provides the requested web pages when you type them in the address bar.

This section is fairly applicable to the educational career. It is very useful to know how websites and webpages operate. Now I should be able to create a class website and be able to help students in a more efficient manner outside of class. I thought that all of this information is very interesting as I was not aware of most of it before. It's good to know all this for general life too. Since technology is becoming more prevalent in our society.

2006-09-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

The first major aspect of chapter one is the ARCS model created by John M Keller in 1983. Keller atrributes the differences in student learning to the amount of effort, or the motivation of the students to learn. He asserts that good teachers should be able to create a level of motivation that isnt superficial but goes deeper so that the student will be able to retain the information rather than forget it after the test.

The four aspects of the ARCS model are Attention, Relevance, Challenge (confidence), Satisfaction (success). The attention area states that digital technology has the potential to be used as a way to address all learning types in new and novel ways that will eliminate boredom. Keller proposes that since digital technology is integral in the lives of students it should be used in the classroom as a way to increase focus and curiousity by presenting lessons in innovative ways. Relevance addresses the need for the lessons to be relative to the audience or class. By utilizing technology that students are familiar with, teachers can present ideas in a way that is valuable to students. The "c" represents challenge. Digital technology, Keller argues, can be used to create lessons of different levels of difficulty...then students can acheive and gain confidence in their work. By creating several levels students can work at their own pace and gain confidence in learning. The last section, satisfaction, states that by allowing students to showcase their work and receive feedback using newly acquired skills applied in a new setting, teachers can create an environment of feedback and reinforcement among students and between student and teacher. All of these aspects are going to be important in my classroom. The environment in the classroom should always encourage students to learn and keep increasing in their desire to learn.

Recently teaching has come to include teaching students how to deal with technology and use it in a productive manner. As a result of all the technological advances that have and are occuring, teachers must include modern technology in order for students to gain skills they need in a "technology-rich society" (pg21). Technology opens up the door for students and teachers to provide unique, and effective presentations that apply to many different people of many different skill levels.

Since my last post I have learned how to make a section of a Word document have columns and not other parts of it..I have always wondered how to do that and I finally figured it out! I have also learned of the importance of using technology in the classroom and the ways that it can provide interesting means of presenting information. I had never really thought of technology as THAT important in the classroom, but I am beginning to see how it can provide options for a teacher. So I am excited to keep learning more skills that I can apply in the classroom.

2006-08-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am not experienced at all at computers! Never come to me for anything that pertains with technology, except maybe if it's for Word or possibly Excel- other than that no prior technological expertise...It usually takes me a while to get accostomed to new programs and such! I usually just call my mom and she tells me what needs to be done : )

I'm excited about learning how to use power point- that should be a lot of fun! Other than that its good practice for typing and such... umm..........i didnt really have a lot of expectations i guess before coming into the class- just thought it'd be a basic tech class. I do however expect that this course help me on my road to becoming a teacher- i think that the skills that I can learn in this class should be able to help me be organized in a classroom setting and present all my information in an appropriate manner through the different programs

For the most part I already knew what kind of learner I was (we studied that in a psychology class I took junior year). But I'm pretty much middle of the road all the way down- it depends on what I'm learning...I usually get the big picture then see how the parts fit together- and once I get the big picture I tend to try to figure out the details by myself. For example when trying to find my way around town- i like to actually drive around to get an idea of the main roads with someone else, then I like to drive around on my own and learn all the side streets and back ways and such... I just think its really interesting to see how different everyone learns and functions... I like to try to help people however they best learn since I do pretty well in all the different settings...