Reflection
Chapter 1 (Word Processing Essay)
In today’s world there is technology everywhere. You simply cannot escape it. It is something that is at home, school, the grocery store, and even when you go to a restaurant. It affects people of every age whether you are aware of how to use the technology or not. I have been around computers for a very long time. I was one of the first young children to have a computer class. It was a lot different when I was 12 than for 12 year olds or less now. When I was in school we simply learned how to type and use word processor. Now you can make presentations, outlines, movies, anything you possibly can think of you can make on the computer, tablet or even a cell phone. It is crazy to see how much has really changed in only 10 years. Part of me cannot wait to see what will happen in ten more years but then I think, ‘how bad is it going to get?’. I feel my children will be born with the latest hottest electronic out there while they are still in the womb. It absolutely blows my mind. I love technology and can adapt easily to today’s gadgets and look forward to using them in my classroom as a future teacher. If it helps my students and myself to learn and teach better then why not?, why not use the tools given to make the experience better.
Chapter 2
p.40) I prefer to learn science and experiment things by trial and error, and I like to look up or read about history events. When a teacher lectures, I find that it is easier for me to follow along when he or she has a visual aid, like a PowerPoint for example. I learn in a variety of ways, so I believe that as a teacher, my style of teaching will reflect that. I hope to incorporate every student’s unique style of learning in all of my lessons.
p.49) As a learner, myself, I like to have encouragement and praise when I do something good or exceptional. I do not mind criticism, as long as it is constructive, and I am able to implement the advice in a positive way. Every situation is different, so depending on what I am doing and who is giving me the feedback praise, encouragement or criticism could be more appropriate. I appreciate when individuals recognize my strengths, make suggestions for improvement, and then provide me the opportunity to implement the change.
p.57) It is important as a teacher to first understand the current national expectations and guidelines. It is also important to communicate these expectations to students and their parents/caregivers. It is beneficial to work with other teachers to brainstorm best teaching practices, to implement new, and innovative approaches. Finally, it is important to utilize assignments, projects, tests, quizzes, etc to frequently measure and assess whether the new approaches are effective or ineffective. In order to meet state and local expectations, teachers should regularly examine GLCE to insure that lesson plans reflect the expectations established by the State of Michigan by grade level and subject material.
Chapter 3
p.68) I believe that educational websites are a great way to teach students. Two that I have found are: funbrain.com and brainpop.com.
p.71) As a learner, I have had teachers assess me on everything from written assignments and tests, presentations and papers, to only having one final exam and one midterm. I find it difficult for teachers to be able to asses students on a group assignment. It is hard to tell who has really put forth the effort on the project. As a teacher I hope to utilize presentations and the use PowerPoint’s for students to not only show me what they understand but help them to develop self-confidence through success in public speaking. Since some students excel in homework assignments and others in test taking, It is best to utilize both means to assess the knowledge base of students.
p.86) Implementing technology into the classroom is very important as a teacher. I hope to have access to computers or computer labs to show my students how to make a PowerPoint, play educational games on the computer and use Word processing programs. I plan to have visual aids on the overhead projection screen while I am teaching my lessons to help my students better understand the subject matter being taught.
p.110) When teaching students a lesson on the overhead I think it is beneficial (especially in elementary school) to pass out a note sheet so the students can better follow along. To help the students better participate in the lesson he could have had examples and have thestudents touch and pass around the examples. I think having students create a PowerPoint themselves is a great way to show how well they have learned the material. One thing to keep in mind is that even though technology is available and is used it is not always beneficial to the learner, if the teacher is the only one using the technology.
Chapter 5
Plagiarism to me is anything that is taken from someone else without giving them credit. Technology allows one to “copy and paste” very easily which in turn makes it easier to “steal” something off of a website and pass it along as your own. Plagiarism should not go unpunished, however the students must be educated on what is right and wrong. If a student intentionally plagiarizes an assignment, to me, there is no question and that student should be expelled/suspended. If the act is unintentional, then the student should be immediately informed of what is expected of them and they must redo the assignment, and then write a paper on what it means to plagiarize.
Chapter 6
p.145) For organizational purposes, I use a Flash Drive and each class has a separate folder. Paper resources I make a copy of and then file it according to subject. Online sources I either print out and file or I bookmark the page and place it in the appropriate bookmark folder. As a teacher you must have accurate information. This requires you to keep your files and research up to date.
p.163) Before giving students the assignment of using an educational website, the teacher must first play the “games” or do an activity off of that website. These sites are very helpful by holding the students attention, as they do not realize they are even learning while they play or do the activity. It is important to debrief after playing a game to insure that the students have mastered the skill that was intended in the lesson plan. If I were to design an educational site, I would make sure to include things for every type of learner. Videos, games, sounds (i.e saying the spelling word out loud) and large pictures. If students showed me sites that they thought were interactive, I think that some might match mine, but not all. This is because some of the sites that they pick would not have a learning aspect or might not be challenging enough for there learning level. Also, each learner has a unique perspective, and it is important that as a teacher I recognize this and implement the best and most comprehensive ways to enhance the learning environment.
Chapter 7
p.188) I believe that children who play too many violent video games do not have the best understanding of reality. I believe that educational video games can be just as much fun and are more productive than violent ones. These games can be implemented into my lesson plans by having a station that allows students to play educational games and have fun playing without violence.
Chapter 8
p.219) Teenage girls enjoy blogging because of its emphasis on social communication and networking with an instant feedback and fulfills a natural curiosity. Boys, on the other hand, tend to shy away from the attention that results from blogging.
p.237) Teachers can veer away from just lecturing each class and encourage class discussions. Discussions are a great way to get students involved; however, one must be careful to include everybody and not just focus on the outgoing vocal students in the class. Role-plays again are very useful, but not every student learns best this way. Small group work allows students to work together on a project, but not every student will do their part. There are always children that are more driven and others that would rather just watch. It is important to involve the shy, more introverted students by recognizing their strengths and encouraging them.
Chapter 9
p.247) I like PowerPoint presentations. However, they are only minimally useful. I believe correctly used PowerPoint presentations increase the student and teacher interactions. I would suggest to teachers not to put your lecture on the PowerPoint, just the main points to help the students stay on task. Include pictures and videos. The job of PowerPoint is to aid you in your lesson and interact with your students. It is not there to lecture for you and this can be very overwhelming and confusing.
Chapter 10
p.285) I would encourage the use of electronic spellers to my students all of the time. These spellers support student learning by helping the students visualize the correct spelling and provide instant feedback and helps minimize frustration.
p.287) I have used simple calculators to help me with basic math problems. I have also used more advanced calculators to help me solve complex equations. They are very helpful, without them I would never be able to complete answers on my math tests. As a teacher, I will have multiple calculators available for my students to check their work, and assign out if they would like to borrow one and take it home.
Final Reflection
There are all kinds of technology available, but different schools have all sorts of reasons for not being able to implement it into their learning environment. Whether it may be money, resources, time schools need to find away to prepare our future leaders for the real world. For a teacher and students to have these resources readily available to them allows for every child who learns every different way the assurance that they will learn the material by experiencing the subject matter from every angle. Not that I am saying the traditional method is bad or insufficient, today’s world is changing and schools and technology need to, and will change with it whether people like it or not.
Chapter 1 (Word Processing Essay)
In today’s world there is technology everywhere. You simply cannot escape it. It is something that is at home, school, the grocery store, and even when you go to a restaurant. It affects people of every age whether you are aware of how to use the technology or not. I have been around computers for a very long time. I was one of the first young children to have a computer class. It was a lot different when I was 12 than for 12 year olds or less now. When I was in school we simply learned how to type and use word processor. Now you can make presentations, outlines, movies, anything you possibly can think of you can make on the computer, tablet or even a cell phone. It is crazy to see how much has really changed in only 10 years. Part of me cannot wait to see what will happen in ten more years but then I think, ‘how bad is it going to get?’. I feel my children will be born with the latest hottest electronic out there while they are still in the womb. It absolutely blows my mind. I love technology and can adapt easily to today’s gadgets and look forward to using them in my classroom as a future teacher. If it helps my students and myself to learn and teach better then why not?, why not use the tools given to make the experience better.
Chapter 2
p.40) I prefer to learn science and experiment things by trial and error, and I like to look up or read about history events. When a teacher lectures, I find that it is easier for me to follow along when he or she has a visual aid, like a PowerPoint for example. I learn in a variety of ways, so I believe that as a teacher, my style of teaching will reflect that. I hope to incorporate every student’s unique style of learning in all of my lessons.
p.49) As a learner, myself, I like to have encouragement and praise when I do something good or exceptional. I do not mind criticism, as long as it is constructive, and I am able to implement the advice in a positive way. Every situation is different, so depending on what I am doing and who is giving me the feedback praise, encouragement or criticism could be more appropriate. I appreciate when individuals recognize my strengths, make suggestions for improvement, and then provide me the opportunity to implement the change.
p.57) It is important as a teacher to first understand the current national expectations and guidelines. It is also important to communicate these expectations to students and their parents/caregivers. It is beneficial to work with other teachers to brainstorm best teaching practices, to implement new, and innovative approaches. Finally, it is important to utilize assignments, projects, tests, quizzes, etc to frequently measure and assess whether the new approaches are effective or ineffective. In order to meet state and local expectations, teachers should regularly examine GLCE to insure that lesson plans reflect the expectations established by the State of Michigan by grade level and subject material.
Chapter 3
p.68) I believe that educational websites are a great way to teach students. Two that I have found are: funbrain.com and brainpop.com.
p.71) As a learner, I have had teachers assess me on everything from written assignments and tests, presentations and papers, to only having one final exam and one midterm. I find it difficult for teachers to be able to asses students on a group assignment. It is hard to tell who has really put forth the effort on the project. As a teacher I hope to utilize presentations and the use PowerPoint’s for students to not only show me what they understand but help them to develop self-confidence through success in public speaking. Since some students excel in homework assignments and others in test taking, It is best to utilize both means to assess the knowledge base of students.
p.86) Implementing technology into the classroom is very important as a teacher. I hope to have access to computers or computer labs to show my students how to make a PowerPoint, play educational games on the computer and use Word processing programs. I plan to have visual aids on the overhead projection screen while I am teaching my lessons to help my students better understand the subject matter being taught.
p.110) When teaching students a lesson on the overhead I think it is beneficial (especially in elementary school) to pass out a note sheet so the students can better follow along. To help the students better participate in the lesson he could have had examples and have thestudents touch and pass around the examples. I think having students create a PowerPoint themselves is a great way to show how well they have learned the material. One thing to keep in mind is that even though technology is available and is used it is not always beneficial to the learner, if the teacher is the only one using the technology.
Chapter 5
Plagiarism to me is anything that is taken from someone else without giving them credit. Technology allows one to “copy and paste” very easily which in turn makes it easier to “steal” something off of a website and pass it along as your own. Plagiarism should not go unpunished, however the students must be educated on what is right and wrong. If a student intentionally plagiarizes an assignment, to me, there is no question and that student should be expelled/suspended. If the act is unintentional, then the student should be immediately informed of what is expected of them and they must redo the assignment, and then write a paper on what it means to plagiarize.
Chapter 6
p.145) For organizational purposes, I use a Flash Drive and each class has a separate folder. Paper resources I make a copy of and then file it according to subject. Online sources I either print out and file or I bookmark the page and place it in the appropriate bookmark folder. As a teacher you must have accurate information. This requires you to keep your files and research up to date.
p.163) Before giving students the assignment of using an educational website, the teacher must first play the “games” or do an activity off of that website. These sites are very helpful by holding the students attention, as they do not realize they are even learning while they play or do the activity. It is important to debrief after playing a game to insure that the students have mastered the skill that was intended in the lesson plan. If I were to design an educational site, I would make sure to include things for every type of learner. Videos, games, sounds (i.e saying the spelling word out loud) and large pictures. If students showed me sites that they thought were interactive, I think that some might match mine, but not all. This is because some of the sites that they pick would not have a learning aspect or might not be challenging enough for there learning level. Also, each learner has a unique perspective, and it is important that as a teacher I recognize this and implement the best and most comprehensive ways to enhance the learning environment.
Chapter 7
p.188) I believe that children who play too many violent video games do not have the best understanding of reality. I believe that educational video games can be just as much fun and are more productive than violent ones. These games can be implemented into my lesson plans by having a station that allows students to play educational games and have fun playing without violence.
Chapter 8
p.219) Teenage girls enjoy blogging because of its emphasis on social communication and networking with an instant feedback and fulfills a natural curiosity. Boys, on the other hand, tend to shy away from the attention that results from blogging.
p.237) Teachers can veer away from just lecturing each class and encourage class discussions. Discussions are a great way to get students involved; however, one must be careful to include everybody and not just focus on the outgoing vocal students in the class. Role-plays again are very useful, but not every student learns best this way. Small group work allows students to work together on a project, but not every student will do their part. There are always children that are more driven and others that would rather just watch. It is important to involve the shy, more introverted students by recognizing their strengths and encouraging them.
Chapter 9
p.247) I like PowerPoint presentations. However, they are only minimally useful. I believe correctly used PowerPoint presentations increase the student and teacher interactions. I would suggest to teachers not to put your lecture on the PowerPoint, just the main points to help the students stay on task. Include pictures and videos. The job of PowerPoint is to aid you in your lesson and interact with your students. It is not there to lecture for you and this can be very overwhelming and confusing.
Chapter 10
p.285) I would encourage the use of electronic spellers to my students all of the time. These spellers support student learning by helping the students visualize the correct spelling and provide instant feedback and helps minimize frustration.
p.287) I have used simple calculators to help me with basic math problems. I have also used more advanced calculators to help me solve complex equations. They are very helpful, without them I would never be able to complete answers on my math tests. As a teacher, I will have multiple calculators available for my students to check their work, and assign out if they would like to borrow one and take it home.
Final Reflection
There are all kinds of technology available, but different schools have all sorts of reasons for not being able to implement it into their learning environment. Whether it may be money, resources, time schools need to find away to prepare our future leaders for the real world. For a teacher and students to have these resources readily available to them allows for every child who learns every different way the assurance that they will learn the material by experiencing the subject matter from every angle. Not that I am saying the traditional method is bad or insufficient, today’s world is changing and schools and technology need to, and will change with it whether people like it or not.