Reflection post

Overall I did not like the class, because I am not a people person nor am I an online student. I thank you for at least putting up with me even though I probably wasn't your favorite or more promising student. I however do know one hundred percent for certain that I will never be a online student and do not plan to take these types of classes again. The textbook was a hard read, but I think its constant references to other sources annoyed me the most. I kinda got it towards the end of the year that the book was trying to validate itself (unnecessary) and was opening us opportunities to examine additional research to prove the subject matter to us. Which is fine, but I think the further I got into the class the more I realized that technology is a hindrance to education and does not really help it at all. The discussions were my fault you and I both know I paid them little attention at all, but I can see for other students who actually participate in them they can be very helpful. I think you found this out to be true but I noticed students would travel as far as the second page and would continue to post the same sentences just with different subjects. For example a generic formula to their responses (not all but some) Hi my name is ____, that post was so inspiring. I absolutely loved ____ and how you _____ with this _____ isn't it so cool that we ____ as educators? Awesome post. Those who used that response format didn't help much, but there were a few who clearly showed they read your post and actually responded with real substance those I actually felt were worth reading.

As for the learning outcomes I think you found the best possible way to address each one. It was simple to see how every project tied in to the lesson, but I'm not very good at independent studies I guess. All the dates were there so we couldn't act surprised we didn't know something was coming up it was very neat and organized. The project I loved the most was the PowerPoint I think that taught me how technology when properly analyzed can be used as a support role.
What I mean by that is if I told you I had a bad day that has one meaning.



 

 

Now if you asked me how my day was and I showed you this picture 

 

 



 

 

Then what I am saying has so much more meaning. That lesson has sunk in the best out of all of them. Which you I think have commented time and time again about how my visual pictures help enhance what I am saying. Which I say thank you very much professor. Also the cave of Chauvet is another cool part of this class (Cave of Chauvet 2013). It gives students and shows educators that we can show the world to our students in our classroom and can have them interact with the images they see in order to draw comparisons.

 

References:

 

The cave of Chauvet retrieved from culture.gouv.fr April 24th 2013. 

 

Maloy, R., Woolf, B., & Edwards, S. (2011). Transforming Learning With New Technologies. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Unhappy face retrieved from   https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI25HAA95R_2qyktifaKs1I49GN7r0uvclheLhqsl_RVURTcMx8pcEmzwrzEoMLj6MFeG-9Ve4_ovV0LIsixUPOJKVIDh7-WU3RAaJEujimhFqEqCVyHLmxOdwmaSiPTHcQ534_6E73G0/s1600/frowny+face.gif

April 24th 2013

 

Worst Day ever pic retrieved from http://funnymeister.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/75924_619852468040166_1450087235_n.jpg April 24th 2013.

 

 

Post #11

Focus Question #4:
 I personally have used the student participation system at my school and I absolutely loved it. The teacher whenever we had a review would create a computerized web sheet to which we could answer the questions A-D and when it was finished he saw a listing of which questions people got wrong. Coincidentally it was also a math class. I found that more students were willing to participate and distractions were taken away seeing as how the review was timed and the highest score could get a bonus on the test. Another interesting part of this is that he would hand out the remotes numbered one through twenty five and would have already known which number went to who because he would write that number on the clipboard and see how that number compared to the other numbers, but because they were random every time we never knew who had which remote. Another cool thing about it was we used it to take tests and when the tests were finished we instantly knew how we did on the multiple choice sections of the tests and would then be able to figure out how we did on the short response questions in order to know our grade in the class.

Tech tool: Taskstream
This tech tool is more for the entire school to decide whether or not they should use it. Taskstream appears to promise a lot of security on a school's sensitive student personal files. Taskstream offers constant encryption with the promise of a Https: secure URL site where as the current site collier county is using does not own rights to the Https name. The site also follows the federal section 508 guidelines along with W3C WCAG recommendations. So this site offers a large amount of security and ease with their product along with a mountain of features to incorporate. however I would not suggest this tool to any school below eighth grade, because then it serves no real purpose except for a respected performance analysis software. For the most part this site appear to be a complete package which would then advise a huge cash deposit be made for the enculteration of this product into our school system so no real decisions can be made until real problems occur with the angel program. This is because even if the Taskstream site works so much better and easier for everyone teachers will still need time to relearn all the information they have gathered from the angel program which we all know was a slow transition to begin with.

Summary:
For the most part this chapter is about the proper way of assessing and increasing the amount of teacher and student involvement in the course.
For some teachers it is not fair that their entire career be put to the test by a standardized test. Also because so many teachers place so much value to that test they start to make beginner mistakes and only cram testing information down their students throats and thus the students do not learn anything. Now I know the argument if a teacher cannot educate their student enough for them to pass a test then they are simply not fit to educate. That is a good point and so far through my observations I have not found one single teacher's job be put on the line by their students test results. However government's pensions based on a school's overall improvement on this test may lead some teachers to fall in this trap and go unnoticed for many years until it gets out of control. Which then leads to the opposite side do teachers need to be given full reign as to what to teach then with no boundaries? I do not believe in this solution either and whereas I was at first skeptical of a review board member coming into my class critiquing my educating style it now seems like an easier method with a lot less focus aimed at a simple test. However I believe the real sollution is choice, why not let educators choose which way they wish to be evaluated either by a set passing limit of their students passing a standardized test, and those who wish to partake in a self and third party member evaluation of their teaching style.
Students are not alone in this as well students can evaluate their progress along with the teacher's recomendations. A teacher can present a class rubric to be handed out on the first day and it can take the form of a check list of: I understand it, I do not understand it, or maybe a evaluation on the different components that make up a student's grade. For example when students record their test results they can then analyze the results and see where they need improvement on and which chapter is posing the most problems whether it was the homework, quizes, etc.
Finally the most noteable part of this chapter is the studdent participation system to which I refered to above. To me I find it amazing and extremely helpful to all those who actively participate and it gives great opportunity for those who chose not.

Reference:

Maloy, R., Woolf, B., & Edwards, S. (2011). Transforming Learning With New Technologies. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc.

TaskStream.com 2013. Retrieved from: https://www1.taskstream.com/solutions/

Journal Post #9

Focus Question #3
Teachers can use videos in their class room in four ways:

Using the pause and rewind function-
Using the pause and rewind function can greatly contribute to student's ability to accurately discuss what they have viewed. I know for our introduction to diversity class we give great importance to facts and opinions. For example a fact may be in America most firetrucks are colored red or yellow. Whereas an opinion might be the best way for people to see emergency vehicles is if they are colored red, white, or yellow. So when a students creates a statement saying that they heard a certain sentence we as educators can rewind the movie to either validate or disprove a student's theory. Thus we can see student's thought processes as they watch the movie, how capable they are at discussing what they have saw, and can educate them on the importance of facts compared to our own opinions.

Ask students to write responses-
When students know they have to write a response to what they are viewing they become more alert and pay more attention than they would normally. Teachers can then read and examine students thought processes, as well as ability to pay attention while viewing a movie clip by these responses.


Minimize the amount of class time movies take up-
Although movies can be helpful they can also be hurtful. For example if students know ahead of time what they will probably have to write a response about they will only pay attention up to the point they have gathered enough information to write about and then lose interest. When showing a movie students are switched to sit and watch mode and their brains will find new ways to occupy its new found time. We as educators definitely do not want to hurt our student's learning opportunities.





Turn off the sound or the picture-

By turning off the sound and picture we then force students to be placed in a situation that is new to them, whether they have to try to use context clues to come up with narrations to a series of passing scenes or to use their mental abilities to add images to sounds and descriptions. This seems to be very useful for preparing students for the FCAT as they will need these skills in order to be able to correctly analyze and answer the many questions of the test.


Tech tool Futures Channel The Futures Channel -
As a young student I was always so interested in math and science, but the question my teachers always hated me asking was why? 2+2=4 why? why 4? where did we come up with the number 4? Did someone see four floors and go that looks like floor to me. I think my most favorite part of this website is the fact that they have relevant videos to the materials we are learning in class. For example the video on rollercoasters is fun, because, except for very extreme cases, every student has at least hear or developed an idea about rollercoasters. What they may not know is how these terryfingly thilling amuzement rides have come from and how they work. Or possibly an educator has a classroom filled with animal lovers and need a documentary on cheetahs it is all right there with  organized and detailed subjects on the left hand side to make searching for the proper material a breeze.

Summary:
For the most part this chapter discussed how we as educators can incorporate visually apealing material into our class curriculum. As I'm sure we all know having taken EME 2040 the visual appeal of our lesson plans can be just as usefull as the lesson plan itself. Students attention seems to be decaying and as educators we must find a cure for this ailment, and not simply blame kids by saying they just do not listen.
This chapter also found it important to note that by making students film active documentaries on topics then a fun project is created, but also an enriching experience is created too. Students really seem to enjoy filming according to our book because it gives them a chance to have hand on experience with the subject at hand.
The book then talks about the point and shoot cameras which has a fixed lens and with only a few options. It also talks about digital single use cameras which are the disposible cameras we can get at a local walgreens. These devices can capture small videos as well as pictures but the most efficient tech tool to be able to use is the Single Lens Reflex Design Cameras which are cameras that give a general outlook at what one would see if the picture was taken at that moment and can offer big rewards to those who have a chance to film with those.

References:

Maloy, R., Woolf, B., & Edwards, S. (2011). Transforming Learning With New Technologies. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #10

Focus question # 1:

-Differentiated Instruction is when a teacher incorporates in their lesson plan that gives students the option to choose which way they want to take in information and making sense of ideas. This is most popular in group works where some groups will be engaged in one activity, or some groups may have to write, while others are on the computer, and some students may choose to work independently.

-UDL stands for Universal design for learning. Along the lines of our engineering path through history someone realized that as new problems present themselves we needed to come up with creative changes thus requiring a new thinking process. This thinking process is what lead to UDL, UDL utilizes brand new research of how the brain takes in and utilizes information we now have with curriculum to accommodate broad student needs.

Tech Tool:

I am very skeptical about letting students use calculators in class, when it is not necessarily needed. I have found that some students become so attached to these helpful “AIDS”, which is what they were intended to be, just simple aids to help speed up calculations. Although these devices are extremely helpful and can be really helpful to keep students interest and students who may have vision problems. Martindalecenter.com is a website that has numerous mathematical and calculator tutorials it is a little complicated to get used to. When you first get on the website and you want to access the mathematical section of it click the link Mathematics center, once there you have access to over 2,000 mathematical programs and lesson guides.  

Summary:

In this chapter the main topic is to try to enhance student’s experiences with new technologies and teaching styles. It is important that we as educators do not come up with excuses why we cannot educate a special needs student, but instead try our hardest to ensure that we make accommodations for students with special needs to gain knowledge of core curriculum. As we are beginning educators our teaching style needs to be developed and there are three styles this chapter looks at. The first is the one I will use most often:

Low tech in which the classroom is taught with little to no technology relying on older teaching methods of the teacher talks and students listen or take notes. However in modern times this teaching style is less and less effective because students are not able to focus for as long as they used to, as well as the ever growing issues of ADD and ADHD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid tech which is probably the educational strategy of choice seeing as how technology is used to promote organizational skills and time management, while still keeping core teaching styles of the classroom the same as before.

 

High Tech, which is brand new, implementing full technological teaching aids in the class curriculum. This is the preferred teaching style for the new upcoming students. It has essential tools to help improve student’s educational requirements, while also bringing up students with disabilities to keep them at the same level as their peers.

journal #7

Summary:
There are two main types of software:
System software- which is responsible for all the functions and control of a computer.
Application software- performs specific functions in specialized ways to produce a variety of services.
It then talks about the standard software apps people use like word, PowerPoint, Internet explorer, etc. that people may be very familiar with. The book even talks about what constitues a bad educational software which is: 1: the program, not the child, controls the activity.
                                                  2: The game promotes competition, steretyping or violence.
                                                  3: software favors quick reactions over long termed thinking.
Now point one is obviously true. Point two I disagree with competition being a bad thing. stereotyping and violence are obvious things we want children to avoid in a school setting, but competition is what our country is born with. I mean look at Manifest Destiny, Emilia Earheart, Cold War, Pepsi Coke debate, Olympics (minus the scandalls), and Microsoft all born from competition. I mean I'm not qualified to teach, I don't have a teaching degree or nothing like that, but I mean to me it seems if we hand a student a little bit of pride and confidence and pin them against another student with pride and confidence by the end of the year we will have two students that will make einstein look like a washed up newspaper. I mean those kids would differentiate that guy's parables straight to the infinite trash bin.
Another thing I found kinda cool about this chapter was the strong pull to get backed up by the math section. I don't know by clever design of my teacher trying to tell me "Hello!!!!! read the book you idiot especially this next one seeing as how its all about your field come on!" Or if I am the luckiest guy in the world and got a textbook with a chapter all about me, but what I believe is the coolest one is the ITS Intelligent Tutoring Center. Another one good for the elementary school level is Zoombinis, and what really stood out to me as just a fun time killer before work a game called MeCHeM I hope Irobot doesn't become a reality, but the good thing is if it does we have a military training program for it so we will be good. The reason why I'm being slightly condensending to this helpful program is the fact that the authors placed this fun program 15 pages away from their standard number two thus why I say IF violence is being used here my competition idea isn't that far off.

Focus question #4
Teachers can use games to aid them with learning because games have a concept of stealth learning in which students learn without really realizing it. Also games in which students are in control makes them want to learn. Now teachers can also use this for their kinesthetic and visual learners are the main focus for these games. Which is why teachers need to understand differentiation in structure, in which teachers plan their lesson in order to fulfill all the needs of all their students.

For example this is MeCHeM which helps students with chemistry. this game teaches students about which sollutions are effective for different types of reactions. In this case it can help teachers to teach applied chemistry or create a project based around this game. Seeing as how the current generations are the ones with the most access to technology such advances in school curriculum will deffinetly aid in learning.



Post #6

Focus question #3

 

Teachers organize their preferred electronic resources by utilizing a standards connector. A standards connector is a collection of web resources organized in an easy to use, readily available format in order to assist teaching difficult to understand topics. It is a well-known fact that it is easier to perform well in a class or improve academic achievement if one is organized and consistently prepared. Well the same goes for us as a teacher if we are: sloppy, slow to return student's tests, constantly late and wasting precious teaching time fumbling for our lesson materials, then there is obviously going to be a problem with our students. Whether our bad organizational skills start to reflect in our students, or they lose confidence in us as their instructors in the end the result is the same a decrease in student’s performance. So this idea of organizing web resources in a way to easily bring up the appropriate source for the right lesson is somewhat crucial for a teacher, vital for a teacher who wishes to be a technological teacher. A good way to get your Standards connectors started is to figure out which state standard you wish to have fulfilled with the web resource you are currently looking for. Next while you’re searching match up these standards with one or two web resources and then bookmark them with a bookmarking tool. Once finished you must tag the resources with a creative tag so you will never forget what each source is to accomplish thus leading to a fulfilled and complete Standards connector.

Tech tool:

I like the idea of interactive online field trips. Especially with recent events the way they are families may not be able to afford to take their kids to these interesting cool places outside of the country. Websites like culture.gouv offer everyone a chance to experience these interesting historical sites.

 

For example this is the entrance into the cave today and it shows the rock styling and the trees indigenous to the area.  

 

 

 Also these are some statues that were found inside the cave. Dating back to 30-35 thousand years, obviously too fragile for each student to take a close examination, but pictures last a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are just some examples of the numerous benefits that can come out of taking virtual tours. I hope in the future more will arise. I can also see it becoming a valuable asset to get kids interested more in reading, because for those who have difficulty reading and creating images in their minds these websites will show visually exactly what they are talking about.

Summary: In this chapter the main focus here is to promote web resources in education and providing us with the tools and strategies we will need in order to use these sources efficiently. It describes how the internet has provided us a cornucopia of information, but with that information if we do not organize and condense the necessary information so it is easier for us to use. The book advises us to use bookmarking tools so we can organize the web resources effectively. Social Bookmarking brings communities together so that way it is not just Mrs. Suzy has a great web resource, but the entire math department now have access to it as well. Then the book goes on to talk about the different types of activities students can enjoy using the web resources we as teachers find.

Jopurnal post #5

Focus Question:
Information literacy is the ability to recognize needed information and how to use this information successfully. This means two different things for teachers and students. Teachers have to find and research the online sources they use in their classes in order to be able to properely teache their class. This is less serious for students because the only real risk the student risks is their grade, and the problem of looking unintelectual saying abraham lincon was a vampire slayer. However the sollution for these problems are the same Information and communication technology literacy. Basically everyone needs to realize that not all information is accurate and trustworthy and like our class assignment has taught me I am very stubborn and don't believe I can ever trust the internet again thank you goodnight. :)

Tech tool: LibriVox
LibriVox is a helpfull tool especially in todays education system. Students are reading less and less and its not just the special needs students who are falling behind, all students need assisted help when it comes to reading. LibriVox provides that little boost of assistance wether its listening and learning how to follow along and enunciate correctly, or its the access to all the multiple languages.

Just imagine the possibilites. Studies have shown that students who know more than one language perform better on tests, and have a higher possibility of going to college. I don't necessarily believe it but hey when the numbers work lets go with them...So as a few examples a teacher can really have a brain teaser with their students by showing them a paper written in american english and one written in great britain english and see how many times a student says its the same thing just one says He and the other says thee. Humor aside I can see a few uses and benefits for LibriVox and for it to be such a helpfull tool with 13 languages at a click of a mouse for free is really amazing. Seeing as how in order to get the same deal you have to pay Rosetta Stone $50 to learn how to say hi in another language a task easily performed by google tranlsator unless you try to speack chinese other than manderin.

Summary: Overall this chapter warns of the right and wrong way to gain information from off the web. It explains how there are three different types of search engine search tools:

Free Text: Free text search is bassically like your search engine looking at you and saying bro I

 have no idea what your looking for. It is actually a handy utensil that is a great start for anyone starting research, because it will search everything and anything looking for what could possibly have a word related to your search.

















Keyword: A keyword search is like asking your teacher or professor for help. You already know the
                                                                                     Question you are asking about and your teacher
 is more than willing to assist you with specific
answers.










Boolean Search: The last from of search I feel is like monkey logic search.
The search engine basically needs you to tell it every little piece of information it will use and not use so hence forth like every programmer will be able to tell you it makes you question the paths you have chosen in life.








Reference:
Maloy, R., Woolf, B., & Edwards, S. (2011). Transforming Learning With New Technologies. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc.
(February 15 2013). LibriVox. Retrieved from LibriVox.com