What I've Learned

Throughout this semester I've been challenged not only to learn different aspects of technology, but also how to integrate technology into learning. Yes, I've learned how to create websites, share links, create and use SMARTBoard activities, use free online resources like Animoto, but even more importantly than that, I've learned how to incorporate all of these things into creating a more effective learning environment.

I think technology is vital in education because one of the purposes of education is to prepare children to become successful adults. If they are not exposed and taught appropriate technological usage, educators will not have been successful in preparing the children for adulthood.

I don't know that my view of technology has really changed through the semester, but I've become more confident in my ability to use it and become more aware of the options there are in using it. I knew there was a lot of cool stuff out there, but I thought you had to be a geek in order to learn it :-) Now I know that I'm capable of learning and implementing many forms of technology.

Reflection #10

Today I've found myself thinking a lot about how much technology has advanced in my lifetime. I still remember one birthday getting a computer. I was so excited until I got it into my bedroom and realized it took up half the room! I also remember my parents first cell phone. It was one of those box phones that must have weighed five pounds and was to be used in emergencies only. Today we have laptops with fewer square inches than a piece of paper, and cell phones the size of a credit card. The Internet was made accessible in my lifetime; wireless connections were invented, online books and shopping have all become possibilities in my lifetime. It makes me stop and wonder what kinds of technology will be available to my children? How far will we have progressed when I die?

Technology is progressing so rapidly, I just wonder, how far it will go?

Assignment #4

My final project can be found here

While working on this project I learned so much, not just about the actual technological gadgets and processes, but also about technology and learning. I think that completing the technological processes with the purpose of educating really served to cement in me just how big of an impact technology can have in education. When I was creating my project, it wasn't just about how many technological tools I could include, but about what tools would create the biggest learning opportunity for my students. What would benefit them and bring them to a higher level of learning? I think that's an important thing for teachers to remember; it's not just about using technology, but using appropriate technology. So through my project I didn't just learn technology; I learned to integrate technology into learning.

In my project I used the following technological tools:

• webs.com to create my own free website
• yousendit.com to give my students a way to submit projects online
• html to specify what colors I wanted on my blog
• online templates for my web page
• links: I embedded multiple links into my project
• I used webs.com to add graphics, music, and polls to my page
• I added a sidebar to my site
• I both created, edited, and linked wiki's to my site

This project meets the following NETS standards for students:

• 1.a) apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. Through this projects students meet this standard because they are taking ideas and processes they have learned in school like writing, performing, singing, etc and combining it with technological things like uploading onto the Internet, creating mp3's, making video's, etc.
• 2.a,b,d) interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media; communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats; and contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. Students meet these standards because they are given the opportunity to work individually or in groups to complete their holiday project. They have a variety of options for the holiday project, each of which uses a different type of technology. Through their projects they will be communicating their ideas to me the teacher, fellow students, and the families.
• 3.c) evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks. Students will meet this standard because after choosing their activity, they must find an appropriate technological tool to share their project.
• 5.a,b,c,d) advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity; demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning; exhibit leadership for digital citizenship. Students will meet these standards because students, through their project, will take ownership of the technology they use. The projects are fun so the students will exhibit a positive attitude towards technology and it will all take place within appropriate boundaries.
• 6.a,b,d) understand and use technology systems; select and use applications effectively and productively; transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies. Students will meet these standards because through their project they will learn new technological tools and applications and also been transferring classroom learning to technology.

This projects meets several of the NETS standards for teachers as well, but because of time I won't go in to all of them.

Reflection #9

While trying to gain a better understanding on how to implement technology in education today, I came across this article. This article does a fantastic job of laying out how technology can be used to enhance student learning. It talks about the various learning styles and how technology can be formatted to fit all needs. The article also discussing the changing ways in which the world is connected and communicates. I think that this article did a nice job of saying what it is I've been trying to put into words all semester but couldn't quite get my thoughts into words. I think you all should read it!

Reflection #8

As the semester comes to a close and I begin the task of reflecting on everything I've learned, Math Methods comes to mind. Throughout this semester, I've been introduced to reformed math. Reformed math couldn't be more opposite from what I learned growing up so it's been interesting learning all the differences and they ways I will be expected to teach math in the coming years.

One of the ideas I've had the most trouble with is the idea that math is no longer about having the right answer, that's certainly part of it, but the main point is the journey the child took to finding the answer they did. Growing up, it was all about getting the right answer by following a very specific set of rules. Throughout this semester I've learned a lot about the reformed method and I think it has it's good qualities, but I think that as teachers we need to remember that it's not just about the road traveled, but getting the answer is equally as important. It does no good for a child to come up with an ingenious way of solving a problem if, in the end, the problem remains unsolved.

I really feel like the ultimate math class would have a quality combination of both methods. I think the reformed method provides children with a solid number sense that is crucial to understanding math, but the traditional algorithms also provide a standard way of getting the right answer.

With the introduction of the SMARTBoard and various other technological tools in many classrooms, I look forward to seeing other new ways math can be taught and understood.

Reflection #7

I've been working on my technology project and the thing I keep running into is how much time technology takes. It seems like the more you learn, the more you realize you have yet to learn. The deeper I go into creating my website, the more ideas I get and the more widgets I am able to create, which is fun and exciting, but it also creates the feeling that it's never good enough. I feel like no matter what I do with the website, there's always going to be something else I can add, or another link I can provide to make it better. Which in some ways, is very exciting because this project is something I can continue to work with for years to come; there are so many possibilities. But, for my personality, it's also kind of frustrating. I like closure, I like having a checklist of responsibilities that I can cross off, and when they're all crossed off, I know I'm done. It doesn't work like that with technology; there is always something better.

Through this, I've come to the conclusion that I can only be expected to do my best at the time. When I find something that could make it better, great, it will be a nice addition, but for the time being, I just have to stick with as much as time allows and call it good :-)

Reflection #6

With a growing number of health concerns, many schools have begun to make rules regarding food and drinks in the classroom. Some schools only allow water and healthy snacks during class, while other schools have said that's it's ok to bring whatever you wish, while others have said no food or drinks are to be brought into the classroom.

I think each of these arguments can be made valid. Obviously we want to help children make healthy food choices, but at the same time is it our right to control what a child is allowed to eat, therefore they should be allowed to bring whatever they wish? Or to be fair to everyone, should we should just make a blanket rule that additional snacks and drinks are not allowed?

I think an important perspective to have is to remember that as a teacher, we are influencing students' lives. As such, we should be modeling not just good study habits and good behavior, but also modeling healthy living. So although we can't control our students lives, we can model a positive lifestyle and this includes healthy eating.

Overall, we can't control what goes into kids' mouths, but we can control the behavior that's modeled for them, therefore we should do our very best to model healthy living in order that the children can learn and become healthy adults themselves.