Digital Blog Post C: Chapters 7&8

1. Computer Games As Learning Resources
Page 168-169 {7.5}

Since my early days of school I have always resorted to older methods of learning. While I was in elementary school, the only time we spent on a computer was while completing Accelerated Reader tests. Although I do not think student time on computers should be obsolete, their time should be limited. When they are used, it should be as a reinforcement tool rather than a way to introduce a new concept. While completing elementary observations at the kindergarten level this past week, it opened my eyes to how advanced students are with technology. Every student spent about 40 minutes playing education games on either an iPad or a computer. Parents already allow their children exhaustible amounts of time using some form of technology at home; for them to use it independently at school too is unacceptable. Obviously technology enhances the learning process tremendously; but, too much of it can cause social issues when interacting face-to-face.

2. Understanding Textspeak and Textism
Page 194 {8.2} 

My dad always says that "the telephone was invented to talk on the phone; not to revert backwards to the typewriter." As I have gotten older, I couldn't agree more. The textbook argues that students could learn from texting by advancing their phonological awareness and literacy. Personally, this couldn't be more wrong. Throughout the years educators have worked hard to include and develop different skills, activities, and lessons in order to teach literacy and proper spelling and writing techniques. There is absolutely no reason a student should be using a phone in order to learn these concepts. Flashcards, worksheets, presentations, and books are older methods that have worked for years on end. If something is not broken, why fix it?

3. Creating Your Own Teaching Blog
Page 198 {8.4}

With the popularity of blogging in today's society, it can be used as a very important tool of communication between teachers, parents, and students. There are plenty of ways to make it a fun, interactive, and informative space. As a future educator in a fairly technological world, I feel as though it is important to include some kind of personal blog site or web page in order to interact with your student and their families outside of the classroom. I have already learned so many great tools to use in the classroom and I cannot wait to incorporate them into my own lessons!

Sources  

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O'Loughlin, Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Myers, Sierra. (Photograph). (2015). Cell Phones In Classrooms [photograph]. Cape Coral, Florida.

Myers, Sierra. (Photograph). (2015). Nelson Mandela Quote [photograph]. Cape Coral, Florida.

The first picture {quote} shown was made using Canva and the second was made using Toondoo. 

Digital Blog Post B: Chapters 3&5

1. Communicating and Collaborating

Page 59-61 {3.4}

Technology has introduced a variety of new ways to communicate with others who are sitting next to you or across the globe. This helps businesses, project partners, or even pen pals to collaborate in a much more efficient and timely way. Within the classroom, incorporating different web tools and forms of technology enhances every student's experience. It also introduces active learning, group work, and collaboration. Because of my progressive-essentialist approach to teaching, I am extremely passionate about including group based activities in my lesson plans. Many studies have found that when students are mobile, their brain is more awake and the result of their work is of higher quality opposed to when students are sedentary in a lecture-based classroom. There are many ways to teach the core curriculum through discovery and hands-on learning. Many group projects and collaborations are completed through the use of active learning while also incorporating the essentialism mindset. 

2. Expressing Creativity 
Page 61-63 {3.5}

Many students claim that are unable to express themselves properly in their school environment. The implementation of technology into classrooms is helping to advance the opportunities for self-expression through school work. Relating back to my approach to teaching, I hope to leave many windows open in my lessons for my students to use their creative niche. Allowing students to create prezi's, act out a lesson in groups, make a poster board telling a story line, and choosing a topic for a research paper, you are holding open the doors for students to interpret and explain different subjects however they want to.



3. Cyberbullying
Page 122-123 {5.6}

Unfortunately, the prevalence of cyberbullying {especially older grades} is no joke. Although there is no real way to prevent cyberbullying from happening, it is important to talk about it in schools. Every student has a story as to why they are the way they are; even if you don't know their story, you should be respectful. At this point, I don't have any ideas to teach the concept of bullying; but, I hope by the time I am ready for my own classroom I have some ideas. Each student's safety and comfortableness is so important in a classroom; therefore, it is extremely important to stress the zero tolerance for bullying in a classroom. No individual school or teacher is able to catch each case of cyberbullying; but, as a community I hope we can stop many of the cases to keep our students safe.

Sources 

Creativity In The Classroom [Motion picture]. (2015). USA.
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O'Loughlin, Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post A: Chapters 1&2

1. Technology Based Textbooks
Page 8 {1.2}

With the turn of the century not too long ago, technological advances have become more prevelant than they ever were before. The chunk of people's time that is consumed with using technology is larger than the time it is not being used. After much thought, I realized that nearly everything I do in my life requires some form of technology. My computer is used to complete school work, my cell phone is used to access all types of social media as well as different forms of communication, and my iPod is used to listen to music while running or lifting at the gym. The amount of dependency we have on our technology to keep basically every aspect of our lives together is unreal! With all of the social advances of technology that I am more than happy about, there is one that I don't agree with. The use of "E-Books" is something I hope I never have to implement into my classroom. When it comes to school work, I'm a very old-fashioned learner. I don't necessarily mean a chalk-board and white chalk {I use a whiteboard and expo's, a HUGE advancement for me} but I like the ability to touch my textbooks and physically turn the page while highlighting and writing notes in them. While there are some technologies that are essential to have in the classroom, I believe this isn't one of them. 

2. Key Issues For Technology-Using Teachers
Page 24 {2.4}

After completing the section on issues for technology-using teachers, I have many mixed feelings. As I previously stated, I am old fashioned when it comes to my approach to learning. There are many pieces of technology that are important to use in the classroom in order to enhance a child's learning experience. With the constant sense of change and advancement, it's important to include those changes into the classroom. For example, the ability to interactively teach a lessons on dolphins was very difficult compared to now. The computer can be used to watch videos of dolphins in their habitat; the National Geographic website is available to access tools made by professionals for all grade levels; and, presentations can be made through Powerpoint and Prezi to share with the class. In the nineteenth century, a simple lecture with maybe a black and white pixelated photo was all that was available. A barrier that effects my view on technology is the ability, or in my case the non-ability, to use it. So many Web 2.0 tools are confusing and nit-picky when trying to use them. I think I would be more opened minded if they were easier to navigate. 

3. My Teaching Philosophy
Page 35 {2.6}

Educational philosophy is one of my favorite subjects covered so far. I am also enrolled in "Intro To Diversity" and we covered this subject in our second discussion. After completing an "Approach to Education" assessment, I landed somewhere between progressivism and essentialism. With progressivism and essentialism being complete opposites, I was drawn to both approaches because of different things. When it comes to the actual core curriculum, essentialism is especially important to me. There should be a standard of information set for each student to accomplish before they can move on to the next grade level. Education is primarily a "building block" principle. In order to be capable of higher level thinking and problems, one must complete the primary skills needed to do so. Within my classroom, I will take a progressive approach to convey the core curriculum to my students. Classical music is proven to trigger the brain academically, therefore during tests and group projects it will be played. Many group discussions will take place and students will be given the opportunity to make small choices. For example, if we are completing a unit regarding different climates I would use a three part lesson plan. The first day {lets say unit 1.1}, I would use a prezi and have a class discussion to see what the students already know regarding climates and to share new information with them. The second day {1.2}, I would allow students to work in small groups and choose five different places in the world. They would make a flip-book of their own describing the places and climate in their own words and draw a picture to go with it. The third day {1.3}, students would present these projects to the class. Within that lesson, I incorporated essentialism by meeting a state standard to teach climates and I used a progressive approach to do so. Personally, I feel as though the progressive approach incorporates more technology than essentialism does. Many creative tools are used to convey the information to students in a fun and interactive way. With students being so technology savvy now-a-days, it is hard to keep their attention with just a textbook. 

The following is a link to the Tackk I created. This image was taken by me. 

Tech{no}logy in the Classroom

Sources

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.