I have been racking my brains all week about the subject of my blog. It wasn't until I sat down and read another one of my classmates blogs that I got the idea for mine. Her blog was about the different technologies that she used in the classroom this week. Another classmate had responded by stating some of the technologies she used in class and one thing she mentioned was Youtube.
When I was student teaching, the class I was with was learning about the Winter Olympics and on this particular day they were going to be talking about snowboarding. The teacher wanted to show a clip of a an Olympic snowboarder so she went straight to Youtube, previewed the available clips, found an appropriate clip, and showed it to her class. How easy was this task? This situation made me really made me think. What would she have done before Youtube? She probably would have had to plan a few weeks in advanced, contacted the local library, asked the AEA what they had, searched video stores, etc. That process could have taken her a few days. Youtube took about ten to fifteen minutes. Think of the time she saved! While teachers will not be able to use Youtube for all of their video needs, it is still an excellent source to consider when searching for a clip. Especially if what you want the students to few is only a two to five minute clip!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Classroom Experience
This past week I had the opportunity to sub in a classroom. It was a fairly easy job. All I had to do was pop in a movie, monitor students' behavior, and then ask a few questions at the end. The very last I had to ask students was what they would change about the way they were taught. Since I'm a recent graduate with a degree in Elementary Education, I thought this question was perfect. It would give me an insight to students' opinions on schooling.
I, of course, got silly answers like nap time, being paid to go to school, being allowed to chew gum, etc. However, I did get a lot of valuable answers. The answers varied from less group work, opportunities to be more creative, more hands-on activities, ability grouping, a fun classroom environment, more art on the walls, etc.
Now you may start to wonder how this blog relates to technology, but I promise I'm getting there. Since I didn't have much to do during my teacher's prep time, I started thinking about the students' responses. I got the impression that they really didn't like school. This saddened me. I started to brainstorm things that could possibly change their views on school. What did I think of right away....? TECHNOLOGY! I haven't been in CI 556 for very long, but I have already worked with so many programs that I feel would change these students views about school. In a world that's technology driven, I feel it's important for teachers to go with the trend and try to use more technology in the classroom. I think one of the great things that we have learned in this class so far is that when you use technology in the classroom it doesn't have to be a big ordeal that takes days to finish. It can be very simple, and it will still better your lesson and possibly even make learning fun for students. If you can have all of those things, why not use technology?
I, of course, got silly answers like nap time, being paid to go to school, being allowed to chew gum, etc. However, I did get a lot of valuable answers. The answers varied from less group work, opportunities to be more creative, more hands-on activities, ability grouping, a fun classroom environment, more art on the walls, etc.
Now you may start to wonder how this blog relates to technology, but I promise I'm getting there. Since I didn't have much to do during my teacher's prep time, I started thinking about the students' responses. I got the impression that they really didn't like school. This saddened me. I started to brainstorm things that could possibly change their views on school. What did I think of right away....? TECHNOLOGY! I haven't been in CI 556 for very long, but I have already worked with so many programs that I feel would change these students views about school. In a world that's technology driven, I feel it's important for teachers to go with the trend and try to use more technology in the classroom. I think one of the great things that we have learned in this class so far is that when you use technology in the classroom it doesn't have to be a big ordeal that takes days to finish. It can be very simple, and it will still better your lesson and possibly even make learning fun for students. If you can have all of those things, why not use technology?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Facebook and the classroom
Facebook. Where do I even start? I remember when it was first started. I was unable to have it because as we all know Facebook was first started as a social networking tool for college students, and I was still in high school. They only way you could have a page was if you had a college email address. Wow, times sure have changed. Everyboy and their dog has Facebook now. This being said several young children are even starting their own page. As a teacher, I am of course thinking of how this website could be used within the classroom, and even should this website be used within the classroom.
I'm hoping to use this blog post to get feedback from my fellow classmates. I really want to know your views on Facebook and the classroom. Here is a list of questions that I hope you will answer:
Should teachers friend their students?
Should teachers friend their students' parents?
How could Facebook be used as a tool in the classroom?
Do you see any negative consequences with using Facebook in the classroom?
These are questions that I constantly toss back and forth in my head. At this point in my life, Facebook is used for something entirely different than what it would be in a classroom and for me it's hard to think of it in any other way. I posed these questions to you all because I am still very torn on the issue and am hoping to get some insight into what others think.
I'm hoping to use this blog post to get feedback from my fellow classmates. I really want to know your views on Facebook and the classroom. Here is a list of questions that I hope you will answer:
Should teachers friend their students?
Should teachers friend their students' parents?
How could Facebook be used as a tool in the classroom?
Do you see any negative consequences with using Facebook in the classroom?
These are questions that I constantly toss back and forth in my head. At this point in my life, Facebook is used for something entirely different than what it would be in a classroom and for me it's hard to think of it in any other way. I posed these questions to you all because I am still very torn on the issue and am hoping to get some insight into what others think.
Monday, September 6, 2010
My feelings about CI 456/556 thus far...
I often think that I know a lot about technology and that I know a lot of the programs that are available. Although it seems that whenever I take a technology class, I learn how wrong I am. We have only had two CI 456/556 classes and I will honestly admit that I hadn't heard of half of the programs we talked about.
My favorite thing about experiencing these programs is hearing my classmates' ideas on how to use them. When we had to come up with an idea of how to relate our favorite children's book to Bailey's Bookhouse, I was stumped. I could not come up with anything. I thought my book was too advanced and was positive I couldn't find anything that would work. It wasn't until I listened to some of my classmate's ideas that I realized there were ways to make a lesson fit. It would be a stretch, but it would work.
I love that this class gives me the opportunity to experience different programs and also to hear how others would use those programs in the classroom. I feel that my classmates often think of things that I wouldn't have thought of and I love hearing their ideas. I think that's one of the most useful things about this class.
My favorite thing about experiencing these programs is hearing my classmates' ideas on how to use them. When we had to come up with an idea of how to relate our favorite children's book to Bailey's Bookhouse, I was stumped. I could not come up with anything. I thought my book was too advanced and was positive I couldn't find anything that would work. It wasn't until I listened to some of my classmate's ideas that I realized there were ways to make a lesson fit. It would be a stretch, but it would work.
I love that this class gives me the opportunity to experience different programs and also to hear how others would use those programs in the classroom. I feel that my classmates often think of things that I wouldn't have thought of and I love hearing their ideas. I think that's one of the most useful things about this class.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
My Very First Blog!
I was excited when Dr. Schmidt announced that we would be blogging yet a little nervous because other people would actually be reading my writing and be commenting on my thoughts. One of our requirements is to blog about potential uses of blogging in the classroom. I'm going use this first blog to talk about some of the things that popped into my head when I heard that.
My first thoughts related to how I could use this related to literacy. It seemed like ideas kept popping into my head. The first thing I thought of was rather simple. I thought blogging would be a great way to get student's reactions on the book we are reading as a class. I could create a blog and allow children to post their thoughts or questions about the story and other students could respond. I also thought student's could create a blog about the books they are reading. Each student could give a summary and a recommendation of the book and other students could read that to decide if they would like to read the book. This also provides students with a chance to practice writing summaries. I can also see blogs being used for literature circles. After each student has been assigned a role, that student could post their finding on the blog for other students in the group to respond to.
This is only a small list of the possibilities of blogging in the classroom. I find that I will be adding a lot to this list as the semester rolls on.
My first thoughts related to how I could use this related to literacy. It seemed like ideas kept popping into my head. The first thing I thought of was rather simple. I thought blogging would be a great way to get student's reactions on the book we are reading as a class. I could create a blog and allow children to post their thoughts or questions about the story and other students could respond. I also thought student's could create a blog about the books they are reading. Each student could give a summary and a recommendation of the book and other students could read that to decide if they would like to read the book. This also provides students with a chance to practice writing summaries. I can also see blogs being used for literature circles. After each student has been assigned a role, that student could post their finding on the blog for other students in the group to respond to.
This is only a small list of the possibilities of blogging in the classroom. I find that I will be adding a lot to this list as the semester rolls on.
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