Technology in my classroom

Technology has captured our society and has become a key stone in many individuals lives. The usage of technology has swept through the world and now has become one of the most important tools in the field of education. Teachers must incorporate technology into their classroom in order to engage students and provide them the best education possible. Buy not incorporating technology into the classroom, the teacher is hindering the students' ability to reach their fullest potential. Student's in this current generation use technology in everyday life and have never lived in an environment with out technology. As an educator, you must embrace students natural ability to use and manage technology tools. As an educator, it is my job to embrace students ability, and make sure that I build on their vast knowledge and ability.

When I am able to incorporate technology into my classroom, both my students and I will benefit from the experience. Students will be able to use tools they are comfortable with, and in the process learn valuable educational lesson, such as, collaboration and creativity. When students are enjoying lessons in my class, they will be engaged and receiving the eduction they deserve. In this process I will also be growing and learning. When technology is used appropriately and correctly, everyone will have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

Along this journey their will be some challenges. Technology does not always cooperate and as a class, we will have to work around glitches. The great thing about technology is that it is always advancing and growing. I will have to remain a step ahead of my students, or I could potentially find my students uninterested in the technology, because we are using outdated tools and information.

This class has provided me the opportunity to remain up to date on technology tools and has given me numerous tools to use in my classroom. This class has taught me how to use SmartBoard Software, Inspiration and numerous other tools such as Wiki's and Word Clouds. With the use of this class, I now have an idea of how to incorporate Blogs into a classroom setting and how to use video effectively. This class was so valuable to my growth as a person and educator. Thank you for your guidance and knowledge, Ms. Mislevy!

My Digital Protfolio

Please take a few moments and view my Digital Portfolio:
http://adamburkart.webnode.com/

Digital Portfolio

Good: http://sites.google.com/site/murrayportfolio/home

Bad: http://durak.org/kathy/portfolio/

When viewing the two digital portfolios, I immediately preferred Mr. Murray's portfolio format and style. I felt his information was assembled in a better format and I felt that the videos he provided added an aesthetic appeal that the other portfolio lacked. Also, I felt that Mr. Murray's portfolio was more interactive and kept my attention longer. The poorly designed portfolio included a lot of text which explained her philosophies and credentials, which is fine, but the fonts and sizes of the text varied and I felt that it was not nearly as neat and professional as the other portfolio.

Technology Projects

While working on our Technology Notebooks, I really enjoyed reading about how technology was successfully incorporated into many schools curriculum. Technology is becoming a very important in the field of education and it is crucial to understand how to use technology effectively. All of the presentations that were done explained the importance of technology and the steps that are being taken to ensure that technology is being used effectively and appropriately.

When reviewing Katie's video I was reminded of the importance of never putting limitations on students and the technology that can help them learn. The consistent advancement of technology is rapidly being incorporated into special education curriculum and can make a huge impact on a students ability to learn and achieve academic goals.

When reviewing Kevin's narrated "PowerPoint" presentation, I was surprised to see that high education has been quicker to use technology then K-12. One advantage to waiting to implement technology is to review the success and failures of using technology. With K-12 education waiting to implement technology, they are more likely to have success with technology in the classroom.

Melissa's "Glogster Poster" emphasized the importance of giving everyone a voice and getting positive feedback from students and other faculty members. The "Speak Up" program she highlighted explains how students are often not satisfied with the classrooms technology capabilities. Students want digital rich learning and through the guidance of this class I will be able to meet the needs of students.

Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive Whiteboards have always been intimidating to me because I never knew how they worked. Throughout my whole education, this was the only class the actually used the interactive whiteboard. When reviewing the software and how the board works, I was amazed at how user friendly and simple the whole process is. Since none of my teachers and professors used the interactive whiteboards, I thought that they were complicated and a hassle. They are actually very easy to use!

Now that I feel comfortable working with the software and using all of the features the white board offers, I would be more than willing to have a interactive whiteboard in my classroom. I think that as a teacher you must be selective on the types of games and features you use. There are appropriate and inappropriate times to use all of the features and I think the interactive board may actually be a distraction at times.

I would say that if the teacher is creative they can really grab and keep students attention throughout a whole lesson. The students really enjoy using technology because it is something that is familiar and comfortable to them. They often feel like they may know more about technology then the teacher. It is a good way to get students to the front of the room, willing to participate and can give the teacher an opportunity to informally assess academic performance.

I really feel that it is a way to get students more engaged in the material you are teaching and if you want to keep your students attention you are going to have to continue to advance with technology. Other teachers will be grabbing students attention and when they get to your class you want to be able to match or surpass other teachers creativity and ability to engage the students. An interactive whiteboard is just one of many tools that a teacher can use to their advantage.

Technology Notebook Online Presentation

Here is a link to my Glogster Poster:

http://ajb102.glogster.com/edu-tech-class/

Video Project in the Classroom

The idea of utilizing a video project in the classroom is a very unique and valuable tool for teachers. As I was creating my video, I was continually thinking of ways that I could use the same concept in lesson plans for the future. The whole process will be simple for students to execute, but will teach them valuable lessons. We can review brainstorming concepts, the idea of making multiple drafts, using different varieties of technology, the importance of copy right laws and using creativity.

When thinking about how I could incorporate video into my curriculum, I could have my students reenact part of a book or give them an option of making a book report video. Instead of just providing information about plot, setting, time and characters, they could reenact these important concepts. They will have important decisions about what locations they should film at, the clothing of the time period and the language and dialect of the characters. It would be a challenging, but fun activity, which would incorporate technology which they are comfortable with.

Challenges with this project include limitations of technology that the school can provide, as well, the time commitment it will take from the students. I believe some students would take the project serious, where others would view it as an opportunity to fool around and try to be funny. I think the overall positive aspects of the project outweigh the challenges and it could be a very successful project.

Reflections on the Video Project

The video project was very exciting and fun. The whole process of creating a public service announcement was enjoyable, especially because we could showcase some of our creativity. Overall, I felt the key to making a positive and successful movie was to be very organized and thorough. I felt that creating an outline for the whole project was very important and we took the beginning stages very serious. We wanted to make sure that we had a plan in place and weren’t freelancing throughout the whole process.

I felt because we were very thorough from start to finish, the process of making the film went very smooth. We stuck to our plan and I felt the finished product was good. When looking back on the process, I do feel that we shot too much film. We had to spend a lot of time editing and we had more ideas and film then we actually needed for a 90 second clip. Another problem that we faced was the volume of our narration. It is difficult to hear the speaker and I believe that is the one major flaw in the PSA. As a whole, I am very happy with the process and I was surprised how smooth and easy everything went. I really enjoyed myself.

The Net Geners

The assigned reading of chapter eight was very interesting and I enjoyed seeing statistical data about the usage of technology. It is not a secret that the majority of educational settings have computers and the ability to access internet. High-speed classroom connectivity is good, but for some reason, internet isn’t used in the classroom, but most often Internet usage takes place in media centers or computer labs. This I found surprising, because the capabilities of the internet are endless and I believe teachers can find very useful and appropriate tools from the internet which can improve children’s education. Youth are engulfed by the internet in their free time, but educators neglect to find ways to use it in an educational setting.

The study went on to suggest that Internet re­sources are not yet fully integrated into the day-to-day classroom routine. This was so disappointing to me and I am so happy that I am taking this course which can help me integrate technology into my classroom. The study showed that 56 percent of respondents to the study identified integrating technology into the classroom or learning experience as their top technology challenge. After participating in this class, incorporating technology wont be a challenge and I will use technology effectively and usefully.

What surprised me in the readings was how “Net Genres” are using technology in the undergraduate levels. Undergraduates reported a positive impact of the Internet on their aca­demic experience, but when analyzing the data, it showed that internet usage beyond e-mail remains relatively low. This was surprising to see from a generation which grew up and used these technologies. I do admit that I would respond to the questions the same way, but I thought that the internet would be used for much more because of the amount youth use the internet.

I really enjoyed all of the questions and thought that the information was useful and can impact the way people view technology. One question I would add, is ask undergraduates what they would do to improve IT services, so that it is used for more then email and asking about grades.

The Confusing World of Copyright

When analyzing copyright, the law can quickly become confusing and easy to break. Copyright really covers many categories, most of which teachers use in an educational setting. Teachers really have a difficult time managing copyright laws with the use of internet and how easy it is to find and use useful information for the classroom. It is now very easy to put resources into digital form, copy and share information amongst colleagues. What makes this idea even more difficult is how much leeway teachers are now given. The guidelines of the law can easily become blurred.

What I was surprised to discover is how many teachers actually neglect to follow the law. I have seen many teacher copy work books, textbooks and other resources. They may believe it should be considered fair use, but I believe publishers and creators of the resources would fight the notion of fair use.

The more I learn about copyright, the more I feel that it will become my job to teach students to respect copyright laws. The law covers a lot of activities that students engage in on a daily basis, and they should know the law. I will do my best to continue to review the law and interpret the information in plain terms for my students, so they are not overwhelmed by the length and complexity of some of the language involved in the law. If my students are aware of the law, then they will understand what is right and wrong and there will be no excuse for breaking copyright laws.

Social Bookmarking & Microsoft vs. Google Docs

Social bookmarking is a way for internet users to share, organize, search, and manage bookmarks of web resources. This can be a very valuable resource for both teachers and students. Students and teachers can set up social bookmarking accounts, which will enable them to share the bookmarks and resources throughout their entire education.

By using social bookmarking, students and teachers have an outlet to communicate through when they are not in an educational setting. Students can show teachers what they are researching for projects and teachers will have the ability to quickly review the source and see the content that is taken for projects. Also, students can easily collaborate and share ideas through their bookmarks and comments. Overall, the idea of social bookmarking is creative and very useful for students and teachers.

If my school district was thinking about switching to Google Doc’s, I would recommend the district to stay with Microsoft’s applications. In general, I believe that most individuals and occupations still use Microsoft’s applications. So, I believe that it would be beneficial for students to continue to taught and use Microsoft applications. Although Microsoft doesn’t currently allow individuals to collaborate and share information easily, it is simply one extra step to copy your information into Google Docs to use its current sharing features. Also, I believe that Microsoft will adapt and upgrade their current features to compete with Google Docs.

Though I do believe students should continue to use Microsoft applications, I do believe that all students should be familiarized with Google Docs and allow the students to choose which style they prefer. But, the majority of people do use Microsoft and I feel that students should know how to use all of its features.

Microsoft Excel

One of a teacher’s main objectives in the classroom is to find effective ways to engage their students. Technology, a tool which is very effective for the current generation of students, should be used to keep students interested in their school work. A Microsoft tool which can incorporate technology into the classroom and engage students is Microsoft Excel. Excel offers many creative applications and can be adopted and incorporated in any curriculum.

Here are five examples of how Microsoft Excel can be used effectively in the classroom:

1. Journal - Students can keep a journal throughout the year in one file! Encourage creative writing, keeping a log of activities, thoughts, etc.

Here is a template for the journal: Journal Excel file

This lesson matches the NETS-S Standard of Communication and Collaboration. Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

2. Social Studies or Science Activity – This is a fun and creative way to use Excel. Import digital photos or other image files into a workbook and use the comments feature to add labels to the pictures. This is a wonderful way to learn or review vocabulary terms, places, etc. (US States and capitals, parts of plant, muscles of body, planets of the solar system) Advanced students can create their own images to label! Taken from: Pics4Learning

This lesson matches the NETS-S Standard of Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making. Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

3. Combination of Literature and Math – Students and teacher read together the book "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday" by Judith Viorst. Discuss why he is no longer rich. Re-read the book with students, stopping to enter data in an Excel spreadsheet as Alexander looses or spends his money. By the end of the story your spreadsheet should reflect the total amount he started with last Sunday and how it disappeared!
   Here is a spreadsheet example and template: Alexander

This lesson matches the NETS-S Standard of Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making. Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

4. Practice Money Math – With students, discover how many different ways there are to make change for a dollar? The answer is 294! One is a silver dollar. See how many of the other 293 your students can identify. Use Excel to record your combinations of coins.

Technology activity adapted from H.I.P. Pocket Exchange Math Lesson

This lesson matches the NETS-S Standard of Research and Information Fluency.Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information

5. Use Excel for a Quiz – Looking for a way to quiz your students? Look no further, excel can provide the perfect format to assemble a quiz to evaluate your students knowledge of your topic

Here is an example of a math quiz: Excel Quiz

This idea matches the NETS-S Standard of Technology Operations and Concepts. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.

Some materials were borrowed from:

http://www.lexington1.net/technology/?page=instruct/examples.htm

Standards can be found at:

http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx

Students of the 21st Century

Students today learn, act, speak and enjoy things that are vastly different from previous generations of students. A key factor to these changes is the advances of technology. So, is this evolution over the past few years, for better or worse? Well, it is simply a matter of opinion and understanding.

To the previous generations they find the advances of technology to be ludicrous and confusing. These individuals have no concept of how technology works and are simply intimidated by the complexity, speed and consistent advances. For the students who are adapting, engaging and learning all these new advances, it is simply the world in which they live and enjoy. Having the opportunity to live, grow and learn in the beginning portions of the technology era, I must agree with these students’ perspectives that technology is a great thing.

Students now learn much different and need to be engaged much different. They expect to create and share information. They enjoy and embrace the idea of collaboration, most often using the technology of blogs and wikis. Students now spend time playing video games, watching television, engaging computer programs, reading and listening to Ipods. The students enjoy different things and need to be engaged accordingly. I don't believe the majority of teachers are doing a good enough job engaging students.

Most teachers have no idea the amount creativity their students are using outside of the classroom. When students enter classrooms, they feel restricted and are more concerned about the creative things they are using at home or during free time. Teachers must use technology and other engaging activities to enhance student thinking, analyzing, applications and creativity. These students deserve a great education and it is up to a new generation of teachers to understand their students abilities and needs. If teachers are unable to adapt, what type of education system will we be left with? For me, it would be an education system that I would not want to be a representative of.

Digital Natives

Technology is such a dynamic concept, which is constantly evolving and growing. Inventors and entrepreneurs are inspired to create and develop the next piece of technology to grow both our society and economy. As our society continues to be impacted by technological advances, society’s cultures, values systems and norms are evolving too.

The youth of our society have developed in an era of technology and are truly “digital natives.” The youth of today are all "native speakers" of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet. “Digital natives” truly think differently. They are consistently exposed to stimuli, allowing them to multitask. They communicate through text messages, internet messaging, social networking, email and skype.

These new concepts have truly connected the globe and I believe have made our society smarter. I am able to still communicate with friends from Serbia, Switzerland and China, who I befriended while they were foreign exchange students in high school and college. While I took a history course in college, I frequently asked my friend questions about his culture and felt better prepared for class participation and tests.

Youth are no longer excited by school and it is truly a matter of how to engage youth and allow them to use their creative ability. As educators, we must evolve with the students and stay connected with changes. Students today are bored by old teaching methods. Students learn in drastically different ways now and it is truly a result of them developing differently. We must incorporate technology into the classroom, because that is exactly what they are accustomed to and will allow the students to be engaged in their course work. The idea of adding technology is not radical, but rather necessary, as we are continually losing bright students. We lose bright students because they are no longer engaged and believe that can find all the answers they need through their own intuition because they are quicker and more efficient then their own teachers.