Final Technology Project

http://www.k12lessonplans.com/ktatro

Final Reflection

            This semester I have learned about a lot of different programs (glogster, prezi, storybird) that I never knew existed before.  The program I am most impressed with was prezi.  After learning about it, PowerPoint presentations are just so boring.  This one enables the common day user to create engaging and professional presentations.  I also learned we have to be careful with how we integrate our technology.  Through my own reflective blogs and reading my cohorts I have gleaned a healthy respect for technology.  It is not a silver bullet to be used every chance we get but with purpose and meaningful intent. 

            I feel I have reached a better understanding of how to get students involved in collaborative online work.  The student NET’s I focused on were “Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students”.  My technology project offered the best opportunity for learning how to integrate this concept into my teaching.  Also, as mentioned earlier, the storybird program was a great collaborative program that taught me a lot about the online collaborative process the student goes through.  The final technology project also helped with my teacher NET’s I was focused on.  My goal was to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.  The online classroom website I created to house my project was a great way to achieve this.  

Technology Project

http://www.k12lessonplans.com/ktatro

Reflection responses #2

Peter
Drew
Cassie
Beth

Reflection responses #2

Jodie
JoDee
stephanie
Angela
Drew
Beth

Reflection #12

What: http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_sabia_the_technology_of_storytelling.html
So What: I thought this was a creative and great presentation.  Not one program is used but many features of the Ipad are used to tell a story.
Now What:  How does this change the way we look at presentations or story telling?

Reflection #11

What: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/social-media-in-classroom_n_1137359.html?ref=education

This article, via Huffpost.com, from CEO Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer makes the argument that by not teaching social networking skills to students ultimately puts them at a disadvantage in the future.  The article also sites the social networking ban in Missouri that limits, completely, the contact between teacher and student.

So What: Although I am hesitant to have social networking play a totally active role in the classroom, it is something that needs to be talked about in school.  By doing what Missouri had attempted to do, the ban was later repealed, you are allowing students to explore the dangerous online world for themselves.

Now What: The online relationship between teacher and student is a difficult situation that is prime for individuals of lesser morality to take advantage of.  But that is all the more reason for use as educator to be active in that world.  Do not take those of integrity and high moral fiber out of the equation. Just the opposite, the positive presence is needed.  We can not fear our duty to effectively teach.

Week 13

Word: spell check, dictionary, thesaurus, editing features.
Excel: Goal seek, Freeze panes,
Powerpoint: sound effects, movie clips, images, graphs, text art.

Word: Students can write a paper and exchange a digital copy with a cohort. After using the edit feature students send the new copy back with editing notes made using the edit features.  Students then correct their paper and look to enhance by using thesaurus and dictionary feature.
Excel: using the goal seek and freeze panes feature student can create a work out plan including dieting goals of calorie intake and expenditure. This way student can alter different inputs and see how it effects the caloric percentage.
Powerpoint: students can use powerpoint to share their findings with the class from the previous assignment.  By using powerpoint students learn, or enhance, their ability to communicate information with technology.

Week 12 three questions for the NU Ed. Panel

1. What does technology mean to you?
2. How big of a role does technology play in the classroom of the future?
3. What advice to you have for a soon to be teacher?

Reflection #10

  What: I don't commonly think of it as technology, since I have been using it for so long, but excel is a product that can easily be integrated into the physical education class very easily.  Student and can learn, or reinforce learned skills, of excel.
So What:  I think excel is one of the most powerful tools on the computer for the everyday user.  It's multitude of functions lends it self to an ever expansive realm of uses.  Being able to manipulate excel will undoubtably have a profound effect on individuals years down the road.
Now What:  That being said I believe it was a tool not taken advantage of enough.  Their is the obvious uses in math but excel can so much more then organize a data set and graph.  It is something that I think would have made for some truly enriching high school experience.  It is not an over the top use of technology but an important one.

Reflection #9 Online testing

What: Last year I had a class with all its test online.  I though this was great because then i could not only get help from other students but take my time with it.  Ultimately though I found it to be a very cumbersome and unrewarding experience. First, it was a timed thing and so I was constantly worried time would end and I would not have submitted my test and therefore receive a zero for the test.  Second, I relied heavily on my cohorts for answer and so it was a not a genuine reflection of my understanding of the material.
So What:  Do you thing there is a place in education when an online test is appropriate?
Now What:  Have any of you had similar experience with the online testing method? Would you do online testing? How would you do it?

Reflection #8 Discovery

What: Discovery, the online Classroom for NU

So What:  So What? Does anyone every use it consistently.  I'm amazed as to how many teachers have no clue how to, or are unwilling to learn the system.  The best feature is the grade reporting feature.  An up to date grade is highly motivating and yet hardly any of my teachers use it.  It's frustrating knowing that the school spends so much of my money to create this tool and yet hardly any teachers use it.

Now What: This is one of the those teaching moments, unknown to the teacher, why I say "I know how I will not teach."  It just reminds me that learning new technology and staying up on the culture of education is important and I should do my best not to be left behind.

Reflection #7 Micro Blogging

What: the control a government agency, in this case China, has over the internet and the spread of information.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15383756

So What: I found that this article, written by Michael Bristow for BBC news, brings up and interesting point to the control one would have over an information sharing resource such as microblogging (the likes of twitter) in juxtaposed to the ever increasing popularity and growth of the medium.  China knowing the power of twitter has blocked its use in China, but that hasn't stopped people from creating their own blogging pages.

Now What: As educators, I think we should take from this article the importance of educating our students not just the tremendous power that comes with personal media outlets (such as twitter or blogging) but also the negative impact, and social responsibility one undertakes when they decided to post something for all to see.