SMART Boards are a technology that seem to have great potential and are not highly used at this point. I have been in classrooms and had the opportunity to use these boards and they provide almost endless prospects of what can be done by using them in the classroom. SMART boards have many uses in the classroom and combinations of useful tools. Using one of these boards in my classroom would be very useful; I could use it for presentations, as a white board, and to meet different learning needs among others. I learned more about SMART technologies at smarttech.com. Although they are a little expensive there are ways to get around it and they would pay themselves off with the use I could get out of them.
Classroom podcasts would be a great technology to use in my future classroom. I could use them not only as a learning tool for students to discover new ideas and thoughts, but I could also use it directly. By this I mean that podcasts could be used if I were to record my class lecture and then make it available to my students in case they miss a class. On top of this, if video were added, this would provide a convenient and easy way for students that miss class to learn what they may have missed. I learned more about this technology simply by doing a Google search about podcasts in education or some variation of that.
One of the most promising and interesting technologies that I looked at was the use of a virtual classroom. By incorporating the use of the previous two technologies among others I could provide students with a unique learning experience. Using a virtual classroom could mean that students are able to learn indifferent ways for different learning styles, learn from a distance, I could teach from distance, and students could interact with students who are many miles away. I learned more at virtualclassroom.org and other sites. Virtual classroom learning has only hit the tip of the “iceberg” there are many more opportunities out there that are untouched and undiscovered.
All of these technologies either combined or separately will add great dimension to my future classroom. These will have a big impact on the classroom that I teach in at the same providing opportunities to for the students. Although these technologies are expensive at times it is my hope that they are still a possibility. They may also become more affordable as they are used more and new technologies arise.
To prepare for a class using one or more of these technologies may be challenging. I would first have to become knowledgeable and proficient about the technology. Once I learned about them the actual preparation for each class would be fairly easy; having to prepare and set up each lesson would require the most time. The impact that using these technologies would have on students would far outweigh any preparation or cost that go into the set up. These technologies would be very helpful and efficient in covering each student learning style and interest.
In general, these technologies and many others will be the future of education. Embracing them and learning as much as possible is important and will be a great influence for student learning, the way they learn, and how we as teachers teach. New technologies are surfacing every day and will continue it is just a question of how we can use these emerging technologies to positively impact our field and future generations.
In general, these technologies and many others will be the future of education. Embracing them and learning as much as possible is important and will be a great influence for student learning, the way they learn, and how we as teachers teach. New technologies are surfacing every day and will continue it is just a question of how we can use these emerging technologies to positively impact our field and future generations.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Distance Education
Distance Education
Distance education, I would think, is teaching a class from some distance or being a learner from a distance. Distance education means you are teaching to or learning from somewhere other than a physical/traditional classroom.
Pros
Distance Education and virtual schools are a very unique idea and can provide opportunities to students.
- Unique opportunities for students
- Learn from comfort of own home
- Teachers can use resources from home while still teaching students
- Students can tailor learning to specific path
- Numerous paths of study to fit every need
Cons
Although there are opportunities there are some drawbacks to distance education and virtual schools
- No face-to-face interaction between student and teacher
- Too much freedom for students
- Lack of interaction with peers
- Students may not learn to full potential
- Teachers may not be able to provide feedback in a timely manner
How would you determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery?
I think that the readiness of students would depend on their level of maturity and their home situations. If they do not have access to computers and internet it would be hard for them to learn properly in a virtual classroom. At the same time virtual classroom’s may not be the route, but a distance education or some kind of meeting room may be more helpful to some students and may not be for others.
What would you need to do to be able to teach in a virtual school?
To teach in a virtual school I would need to be equipped with a fast and high quality computer as well as high speed and reliable internet. I would also need to become more familiar with technology and especially the system that was used for my virtual school. It seems however, especially for my area of teaching, that it might be difficult to teach in a virtual style and this would be something that would need to be practiced and looked into in greater detail.
Distance education, I would think, is teaching a class from some distance or being a learner from a distance. Distance education means you are teaching to or learning from somewhere other than a physical/traditional classroom.
Pros
Distance Education and virtual schools are a very unique idea and can provide opportunities to students.
- Unique opportunities for students
- Learn from comfort of own home
- Teachers can use resources from home while still teaching students
- Students can tailor learning to specific path
- Numerous paths of study to fit every need
Cons
Although there are opportunities there are some drawbacks to distance education and virtual schools
- No face-to-face interaction between student and teacher
- Too much freedom for students
- Lack of interaction with peers
- Students may not learn to full potential
- Teachers may not be able to provide feedback in a timely manner
How would you determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery?
I think that the readiness of students would depend on their level of maturity and their home situations. If they do not have access to computers and internet it would be hard for them to learn properly in a virtual classroom. At the same time virtual classroom’s may not be the route, but a distance education or some kind of meeting room may be more helpful to some students and may not be for others.
What would you need to do to be able to teach in a virtual school?
To teach in a virtual school I would need to be equipped with a fast and high quality computer as well as high speed and reliable internet. I would also need to become more familiar with technology and especially the system that was used for my virtual school. It seems however, especially for my area of teaching, that it might be difficult to teach in a virtual style and this would be something that would need to be practiced and looked into in greater detail.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities
1. How can the use of Concept mapping activities engage your students in their learning? Give 2 or 3 specific examples.
In an agricultural education classroom a concept map would be very handy. One way it could be used is to discuss any concept in the classroom. For example it could be used to explore the concept of photosynthesis from how the light is converted into sugars and then trans located to the roots. Another example would be in a mechanics class where students could discover the way an engine works and what the best way would be to fix a problem. It could also be used for an FFA public speaking event to show all the different ideas for a specific agriculture issue that a student might be working on.
2. Discuss how concept mapping changes the way your students can demonstrate that they understand a concept or topic you would be teaching.
In any classroom, no matter the subject, concept mapping is a good way for students to demonstrate that they understand a concept. Instead of using a test form of assessment, a concept map could be used to assess a student's understanding of the concept. It might also be used as a brainstorming activity when beginning a new activity.
In an agricultural education classroom a concept map would be very handy. One way it could be used is to discuss any concept in the classroom. For example it could be used to explore the concept of photosynthesis from how the light is converted into sugars and then trans located to the roots. Another example would be in a mechanics class where students could discover the way an engine works and what the best way would be to fix a problem. It could also be used for an FFA public speaking event to show all the different ideas for a specific agriculture issue that a student might be working on.
2. Discuss how concept mapping changes the way your students can demonstrate that they understand a concept or topic you would be teaching.
In any classroom, no matter the subject, concept mapping is a good way for students to demonstrate that they understand a concept. Instead of using a test form of assessment, a concept map could be used to assess a student's understanding of the concept. It might also be used as a brainstorming activity when beginning a new activity.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Blogs in Education
1. Discuss your search results and why you feel they were similar or different.
My search for "Educational Blogs" on Google, Yahoo, and Ask Jeeves turned up very similar results. The links that came up on each of the searches came up results such as educational.blogs.com and the top 100 educational blogs. The only differences that I noticed were the order that the results came up. Eventually all the results seemed to be the same.
2. Indentify and describe 3 interesting/innovative ways blogs are being used in K-12 classrooms.
Three ways that I noticed that blogs were being used in the classroom that were intriguing to me were using blogs for writing projects in the classroom, to continue learning outside of the classroom, and the one I found to have the most relevance to me was using blogs to share ideas with other teachers. All of these seem like they would be very useful in the classroom.
3. Describe your search on RSS readers/aggregators and how you might use them in a classroom.
My search for RSS readers and aggregators turned up some interesting results. I found out what exactly they were, for example; I had an idea of what they were but I never put two and two together. They are synonymous with feeds, I just didn't realize it. Although there are other examples and uses for readers and aggregators these news feeds are probably the most widely used.
4. Discuss the impact you think blogging and using RSS readers may have on K-12 classrooms.
I think that blogging and RSS readers could have a great impact on classrooms. Although it seems like they are not widely used right now, they are becoming more used. Blogs and readers can be used to help in the learning process and make it that much more meaningful to the learner. There are many classes that could use blogs to provide information to parents and other teachers and RSS readers can be used to provide information to students for use in classes.
5. Describe at least 2 pros and 2 cons of using blogs and RSS readers in education.
Pros that seem the most likely are that they are helpful to both parents and students and they also provide a unique learning opportunity to learners. The only cons that seem probable are the fact that not all students and/or parents have access to computers and also not all students will learn well using this style of learning.
My search for "Educational Blogs" on Google, Yahoo, and Ask Jeeves turned up very similar results. The links that came up on each of the searches came up results such as educational.blogs.com and the top 100 educational blogs. The only differences that I noticed were the order that the results came up. Eventually all the results seemed to be the same.
2. Indentify and describe 3 interesting/innovative ways blogs are being used in K-12 classrooms.
Three ways that I noticed that blogs were being used in the classroom that were intriguing to me were using blogs for writing projects in the classroom, to continue learning outside of the classroom, and the one I found to have the most relevance to me was using blogs to share ideas with other teachers. All of these seem like they would be very useful in the classroom.
3. Describe your search on RSS readers/aggregators and how you might use them in a classroom.
My search for RSS readers and aggregators turned up some interesting results. I found out what exactly they were, for example; I had an idea of what they were but I never put two and two together. They are synonymous with feeds, I just didn't realize it. Although there are other examples and uses for readers and aggregators these news feeds are probably the most widely used.
4. Discuss the impact you think blogging and using RSS readers may have on K-12 classrooms.
I think that blogging and RSS readers could have a great impact on classrooms. Although it seems like they are not widely used right now, they are becoming more used. Blogs and readers can be used to help in the learning process and make it that much more meaningful to the learner. There are many classes that could use blogs to provide information to parents and other teachers and RSS readers can be used to provide information to students for use in classes.
5. Describe at least 2 pros and 2 cons of using blogs and RSS readers in education.
Pros that seem the most likely are that they are helpful to both parents and students and they also provide a unique learning opportunity to learners. The only cons that seem probable are the fact that not all students and/or parents have access to computers and also not all students will learn well using this style of learning.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom
1. Identify which of the multiple intelligences you have strengths in and then discuss some of the core characteristics of that (or those) intelligences. Discuss which of the core characteristics best describe you and your learning style.
My greatest strength is in the Intrapersonal catergory. Being strong in this category means that I am true to myself and my values and that I relate to people based on their sense of self. Based on the core characteristics, I would say that in some way I can relate to all of these. However, I am most strongly described by intrapersonal, logical and visual learning styles.
2. Discuss what students with this type of intelligence enjoy, are like, or tend to do within classroom settings.
To teach students that are strong in the intrapersonal category it is important to have students set goals and provide opportunities where they are able to express themselves. Ways to express could include journal activities or self-assessments.
3. Discuss how you will support this type of intelligence within your classroom and within your teaching.
To support the intrapersonal intelligence in my classroom it will be important to mediate and provide differentiating instruction. It is also important for me to provide opportunities for students to discuss and set goals and also to evaluate themselves throughout the course of the school year or semester.
4.Discuss what technologies stimulate this type of intelligence.
Using technologies to stimulate intrapersonal intelligence in my classroom one of the easiest things to do would be to have an entrance or exit journal activity during the class period. In-class discussions, self-assessments, and online activities are activities that I could use within my classroom to encourage this type of intelligence.
5.And finally, discuss how you see your attention to multiple intelligences could impact student learning within your classroom.
I believe that if I focus on multiple intelligences as a whole, not just on my learning style, I will provide a classroom experience that all are able to enjoy. I also hope that the learning environment I create will serve all students equally and give them their greatest chance to succeed.
My greatest strength is in the Intrapersonal catergory. Being strong in this category means that I am true to myself and my values and that I relate to people based on their sense of self. Based on the core characteristics, I would say that in some way I can relate to all of these. However, I am most strongly described by intrapersonal, logical and visual learning styles.
2. Discuss what students with this type of intelligence enjoy, are like, or tend to do within classroom settings.
To teach students that are strong in the intrapersonal category it is important to have students set goals and provide opportunities where they are able to express themselves. Ways to express could include journal activities or self-assessments.
3. Discuss how you will support this type of intelligence within your classroom and within your teaching.
To support the intrapersonal intelligence in my classroom it will be important to mediate and provide differentiating instruction. It is also important for me to provide opportunities for students to discuss and set goals and also to evaluate themselves throughout the course of the school year or semester.
4.Discuss what technologies stimulate this type of intelligence.
Using technologies to stimulate intrapersonal intelligence in my classroom one of the easiest things to do would be to have an entrance or exit journal activity during the class period. In-class discussions, self-assessments, and online activities are activities that I could use within my classroom to encourage this type of intelligence.
5.And finally, discuss how you see your attention to multiple intelligences could impact student learning within your classroom.
I believe that if I focus on multiple intelligences as a whole, not just on my learning style, I will provide a classroom experience that all are able to enjoy. I also hope that the learning environment I create will serve all students equally and give them their greatest chance to succeed.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Day One Post
This is the first time I have ever set up a blog. It's pretty interesting and it's good to be learning something new. I hope that I will learn a lot of new things in this class. Today was also the first time I have used photoshop and I look forward to trying other new things throughout this semester.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)