Learning Reflection

Learning Reflections:

                I have learned an abundant amount of useful information in this course. Information that will not only be helpful using in the classroom but also in everyday life. For example, the journal posts; I am glad to have had this exercise because to me it allowed me to use the computer more than once a week. As we know I am not big on computers but it allowed me the opportunity to have more patience and understanding with computers. Though it was a little tough for me, I really enjoyed most all the projects and activities we had. A few of my favorite were: WebQuest( I really enjoyed doing this one and look forward to using this in the classroom. I think it’s great to engage the students too), collaborative lesson plan ( this was great because we pretended to be the teacher and create a lesson and had a team in which we all worked together), PowerPoint presentations (I wish I would’ve done mine with Pecha Kucha, I still have not looked into it but it was great to see the others students enjoying this project too), and our last assignment was exciting too, our e-portfolios( this was a great end of semester assignment because you corporate all that you have learned in the class in one page). Though I know I am not the best at computers and did not go above and beyond on my assignments (because I just don’t understand computers) I really had a wonderful time with my professor and everything I learned, and I learned a lot, and I had wonderful classmates as well. This class is a must and there should definitely be a similar class to follow it for further learning.

Suggestions and Feedback:

                Honestly I really don’t have any suggestions to give, I think you are doing a wonderful job and I personally have learned a lot that I will be using on a daily base. One of these being bibme which is a wonderful tool I have and will use for all of my classes. I also want to thank you for having  patience with me and understanding.

Learning Connection:

                Internet based projects( the following are a few of our projects):

·         Lesson Plan

n

        WebQuest

·         TeacherWebPage

 Photo Credit to Flickr

Journal 11

Journal Post #11

Chapter 11

Learning Outcome

Describe the use of assessment in schools.

                Performance evaluation assesses work completed rather than tests taken and includes students writing, individual and group projects, homework, individual presentations, and performances, open book exams, student self-assessments, and teacher observations.

Modern technology offers educators a variety of new tools that can be used in the classroom. Technology can help teachers track and assess their students' as well as their own performance in the classroom. It can also be used to facilitate communication between students and teachers and to create digital records of student growth and development that can easily be passed along from grade to grade.

Digital Dialog

How might an incorrect answer become a positive strategy for teaching or reviewing material without embarrassing anyone who chose a wrong answer?

When students answer incorrectly, praise the student for his/her risk-taking. Some teachers feel that motivating students is really not one of their job responsibilities. However, whether they like it or not, students are expecting and collecting feedback from their instructors. Teachers need to be very aware of impact that their verbal comments and nonverbal body language have on their students' motivation level. Below are some tips for being a motivator and not a demotivator.

The process of motivation stems from stimulation, which in turn is followed by an emotional reaction that leads to a specific behavioral response. In the classroom, if a student's behavior is regarded as desirable and is rewarded, the positive reinforcement stimulates the student to repeat the desirable behavior. If a student's behavior is regarded as undesirable and the individual receives a response with a negative undertone, demotivation results. Furthermore, anxiety and frustration often result if behavior thought to be positive does not lead to proper recognition, reinforcement and reward.

 Photo Credit to crowdfundbeat

Summary

                A standard based digital portfolio serves as a way for new teacher candidates to connect work done in the classroom to the specific professional teaching standard they are required to meet in order to earn a teaching license.

                Some advantages to a digital portfolio are: easy access, readymade portability, creative information displays, and sharing information with a wider educational community. On the other hand, the disadvantages can include: the need for technical knowledge, ongoing support, and computer access.

Involving students in the process of performance evaluation builds partnership for learning a concept supported by advocates for democratic schools and classrooms.

Maloy, R. W. (2014). Transforming learning with new technologies (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Chapter 10

Chapter  #10

“Teachers should fashion teaching and learning so that all students have the chance to learn and to demonstrate what they learned-not just those who happen to be gifted with words and number.”

                                                                                                                                                 -Howard Gardner

Learning Outcomes

Give examples of how assistive technologies support teachers in reaching all learners.

                Assistive Technology refers to "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. These are tools that make academic material more accessible to students by minimizing barriers while maximizing opportunities for learning.

Some examples are: speech recognition software, text reading software, and interactive electronic storybooks are examples of technologies that can promote learning success.

Photo Credit Wikipedia

Digital Dialog

How do you learn best in school- through lectures, hands-on activities, reading texts, using technology? Do your learning preferences vary from subject to subject?

                My way of learning through lectures is by taking a lot of notes and/ or reading along with text. I am one that needs if explained and if possible given a visual example. When I am able to see how it’s done or how it should be done I know what is expected.

                I don’t think that my learning style varies a whole lot because I just need to be able to see what is going on in order to know what’s going on.

Summary

                A universally designed classroom using technology involves changing the classroom learning environment and/or changing the ways curriculum is delivered.          

Resources:

Maloy, R. W. (2014). Transforming learning with new technologies (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Journal 9

Journal Post #9

Chapter 9

“Today’s students want to learn differently than in the past. They want ways of learning that are meaningful to them…and ways that make good use of the technology they know is their birthright.”

-Marc Prensky

 

Learning Outcome

                Describe ways of how and why teachers can use video in the classroom.

Videos, including those from video sharing sites as YouTube, are widely used teaching tools that when well made convey important academic information in visually engaging ways. Viewing videos can be a passive experience unless teachers create opportunities for students to interact with and respond to onscreen materials.

                Strategies for interactive video viewing include using the pause and rewind buttons t view and converse about what students see. Asking students to write a response to what they see will inspire conversation.

 

Digital Dialog

                What factors make interesting PowerPoint presentations? What makes them uninteresting?

According to Edelman and Harring, some conclusions from the research at Muhlenberg are that students learn more when:

·         material is presented in short phrases rather than full paragraphs.

·         the professor talks about the information on the slide rather than having students read it on their own.

·         relevant pictures are used. Irrelevant pictures decrease learning compared to PowerPoint slides with no picture

·         they take notes (if the professor is not talking). But if the professor is lecturing, note-taking and listening decreased learning.

·         they are given the PowerPoint slides before the class.

 

Characteristics students like about professors’ PowerPoint slides

·         Graphs increase understanding of content

·         Bulleted lists help them organize ideas

·         PowerPoint can help to structure lectures

·         Verbal explanations of pictures/graphs help more than written clarifications

 

 

Characteristics students don’t like about professors’ PowerPoint slides

·         Too many words on a slide

·         Clip art

·         Movement (slide transitions or word animations)

·         Templates with too many colors

 

 

Summary

                Multimedia learning happens when multiple media are used to communicate information; Schools have largely emphasized single media, noninteractive form of information presentation, but multimedia technology offer ways to incorporate dynamic learning experiences into classroom teachings.

                PowerPoint, one of the most widely used computer application in the world, is a way for teachers and students to present information in visually engaging ways. PowerPoint has been criticized for oversimplifying complex materials and creating uninteresting presentations. Two information presentation design principles are: active participation rather than passive viewing and recognizing who the audience is and what they should leave knowing.

 

 

Resources

Center for Teaching. (n.d.). CFT RSS. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/wikis/

JOURNAL 8

Journal Post #8

Chapter 8

 

Learning Outcomes

Examine wikis as a collaborative learning strategy for students and teachers.

                Wikis are WebPages that are created and maintained by multiple computer users. Wikis become collaborative learning environments where teachers and students work together to investigate topics and share information.

                In many classrooms, the instructor provides most of the course content. With wikis, students have an opportunity to create – together – much of the course content.  Wikis shift your students from ‘consumer of knowledge’ to ‘creators of knowledge,’ which is a great way to encourage your students to develop critical thinking skills, to learn from one another, and to improve their ability to work in groups. There are many benefits of using wikis and you can probably think of other reasons your students would benefit from using this collaboration tool.

Wikis are ideal for group projects that emphasize collaboration and editing. Some common uses include:

·         Mini research projects in which the wiki serves as documentation of student work

·         Collaborative annotated bibliographies where students add summaries and critiques about course-related readings

·         Compiling a manual or glossary of useful terms or concepts related to the course, or even a guide to a major course concept

·         Maintaining a collection of links where the instructor and students can post, comment, group or classify links relevant to the course

·         Building an online repository of course documents where instructors and students can post relevant documents

·         Creating e-portfolios of student work

 

 

Digital Dialog

What factors do you think make texting such a popular communication activity among young people?

               

                Younger teenagers use both their computers and their mobile phones to surf the Internet and to send email, but post-16s primarily use their personal computers rather than their mobiles for both Internet and email.Mobile phones provide a sense of security: 87% of females, and 68% of males agree that ‘having my mobile phone makes me feel safer and more secure’. Nearly four out of fi ve females, and 64% of males, agree that their parents worry less if they have their mobiles.

 Texting is the preferred mode of communication for nearly all social and communication activities. These include getting information, arranging meetings, sending thanks, and also relationship activities such as chatting up or fl irting, and arranging a fi rst date. Text is preferred even for ending a relationship. There are few sex differences. Females have a greater preference than males have, for chatting up by text, and for arranging the fi rst date by text. Males would prefer, more than females, to end a relationship by text.

 

Summary

                Communicating and social networking technologies provide ways for teachers to connect with students promote meaningful learning, and extend academic learning beyond the confines of regular school days. Ways teachers use digital communication is: teaching, information sharing, and community building, publishing students work, and energizing students writing.

 

 

 

 

Resources:

Center for Teaching. (n.d.). CFT RSS. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/wikis/

Maloy, R. W. (2014). Transforming learning with new technologies (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.

http://www.ipsos-mori.com/Assets/Docs/Archive/Polls/nestlesrp3.pdf

Journal Post #7

Chapter #7

 

Learning Outcomes

Question #1

Discuss how technology generates problem solving and inquiry learning among students.

                As teaching methods, problem solving and inquiry use real world issues and situations to engage students. A problem solving framework asks to: understand the problem, use solving strategies, and check answers or results. Many real world problems are ill-structured and defy straightforward solutions.

 

Digital Dialog

Can you think of a teacher you know who is both appropriately engaging and entertaining? How might teachers successfully engage and teach students through the use of edutainment?

            I personally can’t think of one at the top of my head but I have heard of a lot of teachers that are using new technology in the classroom. And how can they not when we see that most all students are engaged in technology, it’s part of the new generation.

            Smart Songs , Sesame Street, and Bill Nye the Science Guy are examples of shows that use music and video to teach topics like math, science, and history. Using music to aid memory dates back to the passing of ancient oral traditions, including the Iliad and the Odyssey. Much of what edutainment can offer through audio and video especially, is accessible over the internet on platforms such as YouTube. These are some videos/shows that can be shown in classrooms as part of a lecture, but more entertaining than just talking to the class.

http://youtu.be/gGNxYtT_36I

(Here is an example of a short video to introduce the atmosphere, for science class, and start discussion and lesson after)

 

                       

Summary

            “Within debates to rethink traditional ideas about education and learning and recast educational practices to meet the needs of twenty-first century learners, some theorists have advocated that play, far from being merely frivolous, can provide deep, meaningful learning experiences, and develop creative thinking in ways unachievable by traditional pedagogies.” (Jeremiah McCall)

            Students play computer, video, and web based games regularly for entertainment, but educational uses are increasing. I think this is because we are presenting technology in the classroom and teaching students to use it for learning as well. The educational impacts of gaming remain intensely debated; some educators and psychologists see little value in games, whereas other researchers believe game playing supports the development of key intellectual skills.

            Digital games for learning are a new category of educationally themed games that emphasize active learning, sustained concentration and focus, and innovative approaches to problem solving. Strategies for effectively using games in the classroom include minimizing those that teach isolated skills, not choosing games that are solely based on winning or losing points, discussing game content, and actually playing the games with the students.

journal 6

Journal Post# 6

Chapter #6

Learning Outcome

Question #3

What are the uses of WebQuests, virtual field trips, and videoconferencing as instructional technologies.

·         WebQuests are virtual journeys that students visit a group of preselected websites to explore academic topics by accessing text, pictures, audio, and video.

·         Virtual field trips allow teachers and students to visit places around the world as part of their academic studies.

(An example of a website that can be used for this is, GeoGuessr.com )

·         Videoconferencing enables individuals in different places to converse electronically in real world.

(For examples: If the teacher has connections with another teacher in different part of the world, or even in another state, the teacher can connect as discuss with them!)

Digital Dialog

                How do you manage the information you need for your college courses and school teaching assignments in the most time efficient ways?

There are a few new ways I have learned in this class on how to manage important information. One of ways I can manage information is by bookmarking, this allows the computer to remember websites that you visit often. You can electronically catalog and subsequently access web pages with one simple command.

                What types of recordkeeping systems do you find best for keeping track of the information you find from paper? From electronic sources?

                The best ways to keep track of electronic sources I believe would be book marking and cloud computing. With cloud you can retrieve information anywhere, anytime from a internet capable device.

 

                                                       es.wikipedia.org

Summary

 

            Educational websites provide opportunities for students to explore their own questions freely. They also engage students through graphs, images, characters, and other catchy sources. Also, the use of webquests, virtual field trips, and videoconferencing are great tools for both teachers and students. With webquest, a virtual journey that students can visit a group of academic topics by from text, pictures, audio, and video. Virtual trips are amazing because you can literally see what is there and what you would see if you were actually there!! Technology is amazing! Videoconferencing is great too because you can talk with individual in different place electronically. A way to keep all the information you get from the internet is by bookmarking and using cloud computing. With bookmarking, your computer remembers the websites you visit often. Then with one click you can bring back any and all of your websites when you need them. Cloud computing, means using the internet to store and retrieve files. This information can be accessed anywhere, anytime, from any internet based device.