Sign out: Class 2

Today I learned a lot about how to use different types of technology such as the Activboard and the ActivExpression "clicker". I also found it interesting to learn and search about technology and learning with it vs from it. I'm still slightly confused as to the fine line that is drawn between the two but I am starting to figure it all out. Today we also discussed and learned how to use Delicious :) I think it's going to be a great help for me for bookmarking important websites. I've already marked several! I'm excited to begin my book discussion. I'm glad that today we were able to see an example and discuss how it should be done.

Preface & Chapter 1

-How does this reading impact your thinking about technology's role in teaching and learning?

After reading the Preface and chapter one, I have been instilled with the belief that technology is a major component of teaching and learning. The importance and benefit of integrating technology into our curriculum and exposing children to it is great. It is critical for future educators to actively integrate technology into the classroom as much as possible so that both the children and teachers are at a full advantage. If this is not done the school systems will in be at a huge disadvantage and ultimately behind. Technology, in a broader sense, is a tool children can use to continue learning outside of the classroom as well as inside the classroom. I also learned that it is more typical for a student to have greater access to technology outside of school rather than within it. In our modern day society this needs to be acted upon. Especially to keep our tradition of attending schools every weekday. Because technology isn’t as great in schools as it is outside, many parents and students are resorting to things such as home schooling and online classes.

-What will you do differently as a future teacher as a direct result of this new thinking?

As a future teacher I will do all that I can to fight for proper technology in my classroom as well as my school. My new thinking has opened my eyes to not only the advantages technology can provide in teaching and learning but also the need we have for it in schools versus outside. Schools need to be a convenience factor for students. For example they shouldn’t have to wait to go home to do research. Computers and Internet should be available at hand during school hours for each child. I will see to it, as a teacher, that at the very least my classroom is equipped with the most appropriate technology that it available to me and my students so that we may have the greatest advantage for teaching and learning.

Autobiography: Reflection

1. 
   
• How much effort did you exert on this task? I believe that I put a lot of effort into this assignment. I spent a lot of time deciding which video picture webpage to use. I experimented with them all until I found the one that I liked the best for this assignment. I decided that I wanted to talk about each picture and vuvox gave me that ability.
2. 
   
• What is the value in completing this course task? I think that the value behind this task was to not only get to know each of our classmates a little better but to also learn to how experiment with different programs and learn how to use each. I found it interesting how each program did similar things but each were very different in the approach of which they set up and provided the tools for users.
3. 
   
• How does completing this course task impact your future teaching? After having done this assignment, I have come to believe that this task will help me as a future teacher get to know my students and have them get to know me as well. On top of this I believe that it will also help me to be open minded to new programs. It will help me to have experience with these video making programs so that I may make them in the future either for lesson plans or just introducing my students to the classroom.

Growing up online

• How does this video impact your thinking about technology's role in the lives of young learners?

The Video Growing Up Online has helped me to start thinking that technology, specially and mainly the internet, is a very big source from which young children are learning in today's society. Technology has become a main source for communication, socialization, and information gathering for these young learners. I believe that technology, for younger children, holds the role and purpose for communication with friends through texting, online chatting, and facebook, a way for them express themselves through things such as music, video,and blogs, and an outlet for research, and small discovery for their random curiosity through online searches.

What will you do differently as a future teacher as a direct result of this new thinking?

As a teacher I believe that I will incorporate technology into learning as much as possible. Young learners enjoy the easy access and fast pace of technology. It is important to meet the children's interests as much as possible appropriately and this is a great way to get students to enjoy being involved. Ways that I would be able to involve technology in my classroom would be through having children research online different topics for story writing, social studies research, and even science questions. On top of incorporating technology into research purposes I will do my best to insure that my classroom is prepared with all of the appropriate teaching technology appliances such as a DVD player, a projector, computers, and even possibly a smart board.

Autobiography

http://www.vuvox.com/collage/detail/01e0d3ccb2