Journal #6

With the new advances in technology it is important to see them as the asset the classroom that they are. It is common for change to be difficult especially for teacher’s that have been teaching for many years but, it is important to realize that in term of technology we must step out of our comfort zone to do what is best for the children. Yet when considering the vast dynamics differences of students learning styles and needs, suddenly a goal to reach each child suddenly become a lot more tangible with these new technological advances. Incorporating these technologies is no longer over achieving as a teacher but now as we see the benefits needs to become the standard. It is an opportunity to add depth to your lessons and meet the learning style dilemmas. This technology should hold teachers accountable, we now have the “how to” and thus there are no excuses for letting children slip through the cracks. It is important to remember that we need to give all kids the equal opportunity to learn and sometime that means treating them differently.

1.)How can I incorporate meeting multiple intelligences in my class room?

Give visual demonstrations that not only give word explanations but also with picture. I could lecture as well, offer hand outs or put the information on a class blog so that children who actually need to read the information verses hearing it could have that accessible to them as well. We could do projects often; hand on activity that could be online through www.funbrain.com for example. Bring in example that can be passed around and felt if possible. Collaborating these things not only reaches different intelligences but it also the more modalities used the better the subject is learned by all intelligences.

2.)How do you get kids from just remembering the information to being able to be innovative and contribute to it as well?

I think the answer therein lies again with how many modalities the lesson is incorporating and then if they are able to be repeated till the student is proficient. When proficiency is attained, you truly own what you have learned that is pinnalce.

References

Kuhn, M (8/1/08). Connecting Depth and Balance in Class. International Society for Technology in Education, Retrieved 8/05/08, from http://www.iste.org/

Imovie

Journal #5

In today’s new era of technology communication is potentially alot easier to facilitate and not just a one way conversation but a two way conversation. You can not only inform your staff, parents and community of thing but you also can hear their feedback on programs such as Web 2.0, face book and google doc’s. It is important when sending out mass information that you not only know you audience. It is also easy to undo misconceptions when using these mass communication devices. It is per se a way to have a meeting with out ever getting together, which saves time and is a huge deal being that the world seems to spinning faster and faster every day. I really liked that one principal Spent a day touring his school and put all the pictures and info he learned on a blog. That was a great way to keep the community connected and that is our ultimate goal. We no longer have to send things home in children’s backpacks hoping that they might actually show them to their parents but not we can take advantage of these great advances in education.

Question 1: How do I think I will keep parents connected to the classroom?

I think I will have a blog for my classroom where I can post pictures of activities and posts updating parents and staff about what is going on in my classroom and give them the opportunity to comment. This will help me gain an understanding of their attitudes, preferences and ideas. I will also use email for more personal matters.

Question 2: How can I use this technology in my personal life as well?

I could create a blog or website for my wedding to keep people posted about my wedding. I would use Facebook or Myspace to find old friends that perhaps I had lost touch with.

References

Soule, H (8/1/08). Transforming School Communities. Inetnational Society for Teaching in Education, Retrieved 8/5/08, from http://www.iste.org/

Journal #1

As a teacher nowadays, there are all sorts of ways to update your lessons plans using technology. New computer technology not only encourages collaborative learning but it also prepares children to use technology in there professional lives. It is important to teach children about technology and it is easy to incorporate it along with any other subject. Social bookmarking, blogs and wikis are a couple of ways to use collaborative learning in the classroom. Often children use some of these technologies out of the classroom as well, thus it is something that is familiar and fun to them already. Also make the students work available to fellow peer encourages them to put extra thought and effort into assignments. Blogging is particularly helpful with keeping students up to date. One suggestion in the article was a weekly class log that included class notes and assignments. This was particularly helpful for students who are absent or need extra help because they can find all class information missed online. However children must also be taught the proper ethical use of computer technology as well so that it is not misused.

1.)Which programs would be pertinent for elementary school children?

I think children at that age would probably benefit from blogging, social bookmarking and collaborative writing tools.

2.)How would incorporating technology into my lesson plans benefit my class?

It would prepare the class for their future social and professional lives which will most likely include technology. It will enable the student being that our society has become more and more web based. It gives another method of learning that is hands on and it is said that the more modalities you use in the classroom the better children learn. Also, it encourages collaborative learning and teaches children how to work well in groups.

References

Mader and Smith, Jared and Ben (2008,July). Blogging Right Along. Learning and Leading with Technology , Retrieved July 14, 2008, from http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fj

Shifflet and Toledo, Rena and Cheri (2008, July). Extreme Makeover: Updating Class. Learning Connections, Retrieved July 14, 2008, from http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjheil65.googlepages.com%2FJournal1.pdf&images=yes