The Creative World of Teaching with Technology

Spotlight on Emerging Technology: Online Learning in K-12 Schools

2010-11-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here is my Voicethread presentation on online learning in today's K-12 classrooms.

http://voicethread.com/share/1538615/

EDUC 6714- Reflection

2010-10-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Differentiation is a term that I became familiar with over these last eight weeks. Having a better understanding of brain research and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has helped me develop a solid understanding of how to meet the needs of my students. This course, Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology, has also helped me learn how to utilize technology to help engage and motivate my students.
From developing technology-based assessments, participating in a social network, creating a VoiceThread, and developing an informational presentation through Wondershare, I have been able to fill my technology toolbox with many new tools and applications. Known as a tech-savvy teacher, I enjoy using the new resources that I have learned throughout my courses at Walden University with my students. I also like sharing what I have learned with my coworkers, because it helps them engage their students in the learning process.
As Tomlinson (1999) noted in our resources, it’s all about getting to know your students (Laureate, 2008). By taking the time to become acquainted with my students and determine their interests, learning styles, intelligence preferences, and learning profiles, I can develop lessons to meet the needs of each student. Understanding that what might work for one student, won’t necessarily work for another is an important skill for teachers to have. Reaching and engaging all learners is what it is all about. Giving choices and using technology are two ways I can meet the needs of my students. By differentiating my lessons, I am showing my students that I care for them and that I am genuinely interested in helping them learn.
The social network was a nice complement to our weekly discussions and application assignments. At first, I thought it was just a burden, but as a group we were able to review each other’s projects, collaborate and share resources, and help with technological problems. I think the most helpful part of the social network was the sharing of resources dealing with Differentiated Instruction (DI). I have added numerous new links to my delicious account, which will help provide my students with multiple ways to learn fourth-grade skills. After experiencing the benefits of social networking, I do see it as a resourceful tool for the classroom. However, the school district I work for does not allow the teachers to use these tools within the classroom.
As this school year continues to whirl on by, I look forward to establishing a student-centered classroom that applies the principles of UDL and DI, along with more technology rich assessments to reach and engage all of my learners. I will begin by having my students complete the survey I created in this course. The results of the survey will help me customize instruction and assessments for the diverse learners found within my classroom, which, in the end, will allow my students to become more successful in the classroom.

Reference
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Introduction to differentiated instruction. Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. Baltimore: Author.

UDL Presentation

2010-10-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is my informational presentation on UDL. Enjoy!

Final Blog Post for EDUC 6713

2010-08-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

As this class comes to a close, I now have more digital tools to use within my classroom. This class has helped me learn how to effectively and appropriately integrate technology into the curriculum. The tools I have learned to use due to this class will help me as a teacher make an impact on my students learning. Also, these tools will help my students become 21st century learners.

The GAME plan strategy is a great tool I learned from this class. It is great to use when setting new goals. I plan on modeling this strategy with my students, so that my students can develop their own GAME plans for the school year. Once I have effectively reached the goals I have established for myself, I plan on developing a new GAME plan to further my learning. I believe this will help me stay knowledgeable of new and innovated technology tools that become available for the classroom.

The one tool I learned from this class and absolutely love is digital storytelling. I plan on using this technology tool within my classroom and I hope that my students find it as interesting and fun as I do.

Overall, I now understand the impact technology can have on student learning. I plan on incorporating more technology into my classroom by taking small steps. I know that if I incorporate too much at one time my students and I will develop technology burnout. I feel that by taking small steps, I will be able to effectively show my students how to use each tool and the different ways to use them. Taking these small steps will help my students become effective and consumers of technology.

Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

2010-08-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

I would like to tell everyone that my GAME plan is now in the hands of the students, but there is still a lot of ground work for me lay before handing off this GAME plan to my students. This is the first week of school and I feel like I have run a marathon by the end of the day. (I am in no shape to run a marathon by the way). My plan is that by the end of August to have my students blogging. Then I will move to VoiceThreads.

After personally experiencing the GAME plan process, I believe that this strategy would be good to use with my students, because it would allow my students to become 21st century learners. My students could set goals for themselves that would allow them to meet the standards addressed in NET-S. I believe that if I follow my GAME plan, my students should be able to meet the standard communication and collaboration. As the students are reflecting on what they have learned by communicating with their classmates and then responding to their peers the students are working on communication and collaboration skills. Also, my students would meet the standard creativity and innovation. By incorporating more digital tools within, my classroom my students will be able to create original works. These original works will allow my students to incorporate higher order thinking skills and go beyond the pages of a textbook.

Revising My GAME Plan

2010-08-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

With regards to my GAME plan I believe it is still on track. I have my classroom blog set up and ready to go. I have also developed mini lessons to use for the first two weeks of school that will help my students become familiar with blogging. I have had to make a slight change to my game plan, instead of using podcast I will be using Voice Threads. The district I teach for was unable to purchase the items I needed in order to complete podcast in my classroom. Therefore I was forced to change my plan slightly. When it comes to incorporating these goals instructionally in my classroom the ideas are limitless. I am just going to start off easy and move on from there. Hopefully by October I will be able to incorporate new forms of technology to use with my students.

Once I get my two goals established within my classroom, I would like to work on communicating relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. I plan on doing this by setting up a personal classroom website. I will use this website to communicate with my parents and students by posting homework and test reminders. I could also use the website to showcase student work. Again there are many different ways that I can use the website in my classroom.

When it comes to learning approaches I think my goal this use is to incorporate more student centered technology projects within my classroom. I believe this is important because it will allow my students to develop 21st century skills that will help them develop a successful future.

Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress

2010-07-28T15:54:00.001-07:00

I must admit with the new school year approaching quickly I have been busy finding all of the resources available to me in order to achieve the goals in my GAME plan. I am currently working on my classroom blog. I am trying to make it inviting so that my students want to use it. I am still waiting on word from the technology department about microphones for the podcast. It looks like I may have to go to a local office supply store and see what kind to deal they would be able to offer me.

As I work on my classroom blog many ideas come to my mind on how to incorporate blogging into my instructional practices. This school year my administrator is pushing reading, so that is what I am gearing my blog toward. I am going to use it as an interactive page where my students and I can talk about books. I think this is a great way to motivate my students to read and discuss literature. Also, my first podcast project is going to be an oral book report. I will then take the podcast and upload them to the classroom blog. I am still trying to think of other ideas for using podcast in the classroom, so any suggestions would be nice.

I know I still have a lot to learn when it comes to effectively incorporating blogging and podcast into my classroom, that is why I am constantly searching the Internet and reading teacher forums for ideas.

As of now, no new questions have come up. I feel ready to take my GAME plan and implement it into my classroom. I also don’t see a need to adjust my GAME plan.

Monitoring My GAME Plan

2010-07-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

I am making good progress toward reaching my GAME plan goals. I am finding many resources and information that will help me reach the goals I have set for myself. I have found the site I will be using for my classroom blog and I have contacted the technology department with my school district on find the tools need to create podcast within the classroom.

As of right now I don’t see any reason for me not to be able to reach my goals. I tried to set reasonable goals that would work with the technology I have available to me. I may have to go out and purchase a set of headphones with a microphone in order for my students to create podcast themselves, but I am willing to make that investment.

So far, I have learned that there are many different avenues that I can take with my classroom blog. Narrowing down the focus will be the hard part. I am currently leading toward making the classroom blog a place where my students can discuss the books we read in class. I will also post questions that go with the books to informally assess my students understanding. As far as creating podcast the usage is unlimited. To start off the school year, I will record my lesson and post them for my students to listen to when they are absent or for clarification purposes. I will also create a podcast for my spelling words. This was an idea given to me by Kim (Thanks). I think for my first student created podcast I will have my students create an oral book report. I think this is a good starting off point for my students to get use to podcasting.

I currently have two questions that I am hoping my classmates can help me with.

1. What are some other ways to use podcast in my classroom? I will be teaching ELA and Social Studies this school year. Please share ideas!

2. Has anyone used podcasting for a center in their classroom? How did it work?

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

2010-07-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a little research this past week to help me find the resources I need in order to carry out my GAME plan. The first step I took was to look for a free blog hosting site that was accessible to me and my students. I tried finding one that was easy to use and kid friendly. After searching the web and trying many sites the only one I liked the best was www.21classes.com. I went ahead and created an account and stated working on the classroom blog. I have also recorded some good questions to use on the blog that correlates with the curriculum I teach. One thing that I will need to do in order to carry out my game plan is to set up rules and procedures for posting comments on the blog. This step will allow my students to feel comfortable with posting their comments without the fear of being ridiculed by their peers.

In order to carry out my second indicator, I looked for an easy to use freeware program to create podcast. I found www.audacity.com, which I am already familiar with. I also found a free hosting site (www.podbean.com) to use with my students. There are a few things I need for my classroom. I will need to get digital recording equipment in order for my students to create podcast. I know that podcast will help my students learn and create unique projects, but I am faced with many challenges. I think the biggest challenge I face with this indicator is effectively teaching my students how to create podcast. Also, finding ways to incorporate them into my curriculum will be challenging. Therefore, I am looking for a few great ideas to use in my classroom. If you have used podcast or have ideas that I could use within my 4th grade classroom please share.

Developing My Personal GAME Plan

2010-07-05T18:04:00.001-07:00

One of the NETS-T indicators that I would like to improve on is: promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. I will meet this indicator by starting a classroom blog. I will use this blog to help students reflect on the skills learned in class. Another purpose for this blog will be to assess student understanding. Also, many students are afraid to mention that they are struggling with a skill in front of others, but may feel comfortable asking for help through the blog. I will monitor the blog daily and encourage my students to think further on their thoughts.

Another indicator that I would like to improve on is: design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. I will meet this indicator by incorporating educational podcast into my lessons. I could use the podcast in a variety of ways. One way is that I could use a podcast in my classroom is to record the lessons I teach and then allow students who were absent to listen to the lesson. Also, my students could create podcast on numerous topics. I could use the podcast to assess for student understand.

I think both of the indicators I have chosen will help extend the learning of my students by incorporating technology into the curriculum. I will evaluate and extend my learning by first establishing a classroom blog to use in the fall and create a screen cast to show my students how to create podcast.

Reflection

2010-06-27T10:46:00.001-07:00

As I pause to reflect on the professional knowledge I have gained from EDUC 6712, I now clearly understand how much more there is to learn to help prepare my students for the future. The information literacy and online inquiry skills I have learned through this course may seem simple, but it is essential for our students to learn them. These important technology skills can help our students become better consumers of information and go on to lead more successful lives.

The most striking revelation for me in taking this course relates to teaching the new literacy skills. The standard literacies reading, writing, language, and math computational skills are the foundations of learning; however, to build our students’ knowledge further, it is important to also include the new literacy skills. Incorporating these new literacy skills helps students build higher order thinking skills and allows students to develop the skills needed to be successful in the work place. The 21st Century Fluencies Quotient Insta-Audit by Ian Jukes (2007), helped me understand that the new literacy skills are not all about using technology equipment. In fact, the new literacy skills are about working cooperatively within a group, reading and communicating effectively, and problem solving, which are increasingly important skills for today’s workplace.

The knowledge and experience I gained from this course has made me reexamine the way I teach my students. In the future, I will incorporate the teaching of the skills that I have learned from this course into my classroom because it will help further my students’ education. I will no longer take for granted that my students understand how to read content on the Web or how to conduct a Web search. This is why I will incorporate the QUEST Model of Internet Inquiry and the REAL Method into my daily instruction. The QUEST Model “engages and supports students as they tackle the complexities of reading on the Web,” whereas the REAL Method helps the students validate information on the Web (Eagleton & Dobler, 2007, p. 51). Both of these strategies will ensure that my students are able to search for information effectively, determine whether that information is useful for their purpose, and read and understand the content. These skills are crucial because they help students synthesize information and create original products.

One professional goal that I would like to pursue is to establish a collaborative partnership with another classroom outside my school. I believe this partnership would help my students expand their cultural understanding of others, which is a grade-level expectation for fourth-grade students. I would need to take many steps in order to accomplish this goal. First, I would have to create an account with School Mail and connect with another teacher. Next, I would introduce my students to the Web site and show them how to log in. Then, I would teach them how to create an e-mail. Depending on where the other class is located, I might even need to do a mini lesson about their cultural and language differences. Finally, I would explain to the students that I would check the e-mails by reading them before they were sent to ensure that the messages were appropriate. I believe this goal is achievable and an important one because the experiences my students will receive from it would be priceless.

Reflection

2010-02-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

As this class comes to a close, I find myself changing the way I approach learning in my classroom. I still follow the cognitive learning theory because I strongly believe that learning “takes place when information enters through the senses, undergoes mental manipulation, is stored, and is finally used” (Duffy & McDonald, 2008, p. 16). However, I find that I am also adopting strategies from the constructivist theory. I feel that by incorporating both learning theories into my classroom my students’ learning will be enhanced because I am preparing engaging lessons that they find exciting. Also, both learning theories incorporate the use of the five senses, which helps my students comprehend what they are learning.

When it comes to planning my lessons, I find myself incorporating more and more technology, because I find that the students are more engaged in the learning process. I believe that integrating technology is the key to helping student learn. The students’ of today are born into a technology rich world and as an educator we can stimulate their learning by using a tool that interests them. One tool I will use to enhance my students’ learning is Voice Threads. I found this technology tool very easy to use and simple to integrate in all subject areas. The other technology tool I want to use more within my classroom is virtual field trips. I found many different Web sites that provide these interesting educational experiences that cover a variety of topics. I think virtual field trips allow teachers to take their students to places they would otherwise never get to experience for themselves. By incorporating these two forms of technology I will be preparing my students for their future.

In order to provide my students with the best possible education, I will first evaluate the way I am using technology within my classroom. I want to ensure that I am incorporating technology correctly and efficiently by using technology more as a learning tool and not as a teaching tool. I will do this by allowing my students to create artifacts about what they are learning through the use of PowerPoint or Voice Threads. Also, to improve the writing skills my students, I would like to develop a classroom blog that my students can use to reflect on their learning experiences and share their thoughts and feelings about a particular lesson. I feel that these two goals will help my students become stronger because they will be applying what they learn and using higher order thinking skills to develop their ideas more.

Overall, I have enjoyed this class because I have developed a personal theory of learning that I am comfortable with. Also, the new forms of technology that I have learned from this class will only help make my lessons more engaging, which will enhance the learning experiences of my students.

Super Bowl Champions!

2010-02-07T19:03:00.001-08:00

Who Dat, Baby! New Orleans Saints are the champions of the NFL!

VoiceThread

2010-02-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the Voice Thread I created on a concern I have within my school. I am new to this type of technology and see many great uses for it within the classroom. Enjoy.

http://voicethread.com/share/893252/

Connectivism and Socail Learning in Practice

2010-02-03T19:26:00.001-08:00

I see connectivism being similar to constructivism because students are able to connect what they are learning to the artifacts they construct in class. One way connectivism can be taught in the classroom is through social learning. A very well known strategy that involves social learning is called cooperative learning. Over the past few years, cooperative learning has become popular in my school district because we have received professional development in using the learning structures found in the Kagan Cooperative Learning Program. I use Think-Pair-Share each day within my classroom so that the students become socially involved in the learning environment. Most of the time I have my students turn to their shoulder partners and summarize what the lesson was about for roughly two minutes. This allows the students to process the information they received in a social manner.

There are many different technological tools out there for teachers to use that incorporates cooperative learning through social learning theories. One example that was discussed in this week’s resources was wikis. Wikis are a great tool to use with cooperative learning because it involves the students working together socially while creating an artifact. Also, the group members can be miles apart from one another and still be able to communicate and work together. Other ways to incorporate cooperative learning and social leaning is through web quest or web site creation. Both strategies involve students learning cooperatively and working socially together on a given assignment.

One helpful way to manage these cooperative learning strategies is through rubrics. Rubrics give the students the guidelines and the desired outcomes that the teacher is looking for in the artifact once it is complete. I find using rubrics easy because the students use it as a guide to what they need to complete and how it needs to be completed.

I closing, I feel that cooperative learning through social learning has a place in today’s classroom if used effectively. However, making the students accountable for their work and their learning should take priority in the end, no matter what learning theory you use within your classroom.

Constructivism in Practice

2010-01-27T16:34:00.001-08:00

Constructivism is a theory of learning that involves students building an external artifact that they can share with others. In Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, I explored an instructional strategy called generating and testing hypotheses. In this strategy students “are engaging in complex mental processes, applying content knowledge like facts and vocabulary, and enhancing their overall understanding of the content” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 202). One way teachers can help students generate and test hypotheses is problem solving. Problem solving allows students to look for solutions to a problem they may be faced with or asked to solve. Technology has made the theory of constructivism much easier to use in the classroom because software allows students to “interpret the data instead of gathering the data” (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007, p. 203).

I have used the problem solving strategy in my classroom to help my students understand how to make a budget. I used the program Microsoft Excel and created an interactive worksheet for the students to use. This strategy allowed the students to see how to manage money and why creating a budget is an important life skill. Another technology tool that I frequently used with my students is PowerPoint. My students use PowerPoint to create presentations on various topics covered in class. By having the students create artifacts I am able to see the level of understanding that each of my student hold. Also, using PowerPoint as an instructional tool the students are applying what they are learning to their artifact which involves higher order thinking skills. In closing, PowerPoint and the problem solving strategy relate to the constructivism theory of learning because the students are creating an artifact that can be shared with others and can be used as an assessment instrument to gather information on students’ learning.

Who Dat!

2010-01-24T19:49:00.000-08:00

Who Dat! Who Dat! The Saints are going to the SUPER BOWL!

Cognitive Learning Theories

2010-01-19T17:50:00.000-08:00

A have always used the analogy of a file cabinet when designing effective lessons for my students. The file cabinet represents a student’s long term memory. As the student is exposed to something they feel is relevant to them they create a folder and place it into the file cabinet. This allows them to recall the information when needed. I believe that a teacher can make every lesson meaningful if they use creative thinking. One way to do this is by using cognitive learning strategies.
In the video Cognitive Learning Theories, Dr. Orey discussed how students process information. According to Dr. Orey, student learning will improve by integrating multiple senses into a lesson. The more senses that are involved in the lesson the more likely a student is able to take that information and create a long term memory. For example, when I was in Kindergarten we made butter. I can still remember the steps of making butter because all of my senses were involved in the lesson. In today’s classrooms teacher are now able to integrate multiple senses by using technology.

One strategy that relates to the cognitive theory is cues, questions, and advance organizers. This strategy relates to the cognitive theory because it “focuses on enhancing students’ ability to retrieve, use, and organize information about a topic” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 73). Incorporating technology into this strategy is quite easy. I use a lot of thinking maps in my classroom. This allows my students to use higher order thinking skills, which develops deeper thinking. The computer program Kidspiration allows me to display the thinking maps on the Smartboard and involve the students in the lesson. Also, Kidspiration allows the students to develop their own maps easily by placing their thoughts and pictures.

Another strategy that shares concepts with the cognitive theory is summarizing and note taking. This strategy allows students to “synthesize information and distill it into a concise new form” (Pitler et al., 2007, p. 119). One way I use technology with this strategy is by giving my students teacher-prepared notes. I teach younger students who are just learning how to summarize things so the notes that I give my students or clear and concise. I also use pictures to help the students develop a mental picture of the concepts being taught.

By carefully using the two strategies mentioned above teachers can help students’ process information and create long term memories. These long term memories can then be referred to during a student’s lifetime.

Behaviorism in Practice

2010-01-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

Behaviorism is a popular learning theory found in today’s classroom. Many teachers use this learning theory to manage the behavior of the students found in their classrooms. One of the most powerful strategies that come from behaviorism is called operant conditioning. This happens by reinforcing the correct behavior and punishing the unwanted behavior. Like many teachers I use this theory in order to manage the behavior of my students. However, it is also important to remember that behaviorism can be used in other ways.

In the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, “research shows that the level of belief in self-efficacy plays a strong role in motivation for learning and achievement” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p.155). This statement alone is important for teachers to remember because we are the driving force when it comes to motivating our students. Sadly, most of the students found in today’s classroom, lack the effort that is needed to be successful in school. This is why teachers need to take an interest in their students and show them how effort is related to achievement. A simple way for students to track their progress is by using a self monitoring rubric and spreadsheet software. Students use the rubric to track their progress and then place the information into a table. The students can then take the information in the table and create a graph. The graphs that are produced allow the students to easily make a connection to the amount of effort that is put into an assignment correlates to the end result, the grade. Of course this strategy would have to be used throughout the year in order for the students to understand how effort relates to achievement. In my classroom, I reward my students for doing well on assignments and motivate them to try even harder, however if they do not find the same support once they leave my classroom many of my students digress back to their old habits.

I strongly look at homework as a way for the students to extend their learning on the skills being taught in class. This does not mean that every child receives the exact same homework assignment. I will not give a child homework until I am sure they are able to complete the homework without getting frustrated. I believe that homework is pointless if a child does not fully understand the concepts it take to complete the homework. Many times I will suggest a website to the students that are having difficulties. One website that I suggest is Read Aquarium. This web site allows my struggling readers practice the different comprehension skills that are addressed throughout the 4th grade curriculum.

In closing, I believe that reinforcing effort best follows the behaviorist learning theory because if use correctly in the classroom it simulates the strategy operant conditioning. Over time, students will understand that in order to get good grades they must put forth the effort that is needed to complete the given assignments.

Reference:

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Podcast

2009-10-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

http://vicosb7.podbean.com/

Here is the podcast that I created for class I hope you all enjoy. I think if I use this technology in the classroom I will find an program that is more kid friendly.

Victoria Osborn

Self Reflection

2009-10-30T17:46:00.001-07:00

As I look back and reflect on what I have learned over the past eight weeks, I can see that my teaching toolbox has grown a great deal. My technological abilities have grown the most, because I created a blog, wiki, and podcast all of which I have never done before. These three forms of technology will reform my classroom into a 21st century learning environment. I now know and understand the impact technology can have on a child’s education. The knowledge that I gained from this one class has allowed me to go into my school and share my passion of technology with others and help expose my co-workers to the great learning resources found on the web.
This course has helped me develop many technology skills that I can now bring into my classroom and use to supplement the curriculum given to me by the state. By using the technologies that I learned in this course I am helping my students learn critical skills that will be required in the work force.
I have also deepened my understanding of the teaching and learning process. The most important thing I have learned from this class is that the students sitting in today’s classrooms do not learn the same way that I learned when I was a student. It is important for teachers to change their teaching practices in order to facilitate learning.
After reading the resources and viewing the videos for this class, I have been making changes to the learning environment. I now understand that students need to have more control over what they learn and how they learn the material. This is way I am switching from a teacher-centered environment to a learner-centered environment. By making this small change the students start to gain ownership of their learning.
I will continue to expand my knowledge of learning new forms of technology by using the web and attending workshops offered by my school district. By staying up to date, I can make changes to my teaching practices and incorporate the newest forms of technology into my classroom. I will also continue to help collogues with their technology problems and introduce them to the newest forms of technology. With these steps I can strive to increase student achievement by providing my students with a technology rich environment.
The two goals that I have set are: gaining a one-to-one computer ratio in my school, and to help educate the teachers in my school on ways to effectively integrate technology into their classrooms. I believe these two goals are reachable; however there will be obstacles in my way. In order to gain a one-to-one computer ratio in my school the main obstacle would be funding. One way I could get the funding for my goal is to write a school impact grant. This grant would provide the funding that will be necessary to purchase the computers for my school. Educating the teachers that I work with is my second goal. Many of the teachers I work with are afraid of technology and do not know how to effectively use it in their classrooms. One step that I can take in order to reach my goal is to hold informative workshops afterschool and show my fellow teachers the impact that technology is making on my students’ lives. I can then provide them with one-on-one assistance with the areas they are struggling with. I believe that these two goals will have a huge impact on student achievement once they are met.
Looking over the checklist from Week 1 I did notice a change in one area. I now require my students to take ownership of their own learning by providing them with meaningful learning experiences and ways to help them monitor their understanding. Overall, I have learned a lot from this course and look forward to learning many more thing as I complete my masters program.

Evaluating 21st Century Skills

2009-09-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today I spent some time reviewing the Web site Partnership for 21st Century Skills and found it to be a very resourceful site for educators and business leaders. The overall web site is very easy to navigate and it is very simple for anyone to find information relating to 21st century work skills.
After reviewing the site and reading the history of the organization I was surprised that it was only developed in 2002. Growing up in a technology rich household I saw firsthand the impact that technology was making on the world and developed a love for this new science.
As I entered the classroom, I tried my very best to incorporate technology into my lessons because I knew that it was the pathway to learning. Throughout my years in the classroom, I noticed more and more of my students were also becoming aware of these new technologies and becoming very eager to learn them. In fact, after receiving my ACTIVboard the discipline problems that I was experiencing disappeared.
The information I gathered from this site only helped me reevaluate my teaching skills to ensure that I am teaching the skills that the students need in order to live successful lives. I did not find anything that I disagreed with, however I do like how this organization is working with the government, business leaders, and educators in order to make future leaders out of our students.
The ideas and information presented on this site will have a huge impact on our students because it will allow them to compete with other students around the world. It will also allow them to be successful in life and become a leader in the workforce. As an educator, I can use this site to become more knowledgeable about the 21st century work skills; by watching videos from the Route 21 link. I found this link to be the most useful because teachers can watch videos and see firsthand how these skills impact education. In closing, I found this site to be very useful and will recommend it to my coworkers so they can become aware of the skills students need to know before leaving our classrooms.

Wiki

2009-09-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well I have been introduced to the wonderful world of Wiki. I am excited about learning this new technology; however I am a little intimidated by the process. Hopefully, I can learn by play which is how I have learned how to do so many of the things I already know how to do. If anyone has any websites or experience in using Wiki please share.

How I Might Use Blogs in My Classroom

2009-09-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

I am a 4th grade ELA teacher and this is how I would incorporate blogs into my classroom.

After reading the book called Blog, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, I think the most powerful way that I could use blogs in my classroom is to create a reading circle/book study like the one found in Richardson’s book. I feel that this type of blog would allow my students to think deeper about what they are reading and pose questions to their classmate to further their understanding of the book. As the teacher, I can read what the students are writing and get a picture of their thoughts. This will allow me to see if they truly understand the book as they read. I think the first book I would use for this my blog would be Stone Fox. The reason I am choosing this book is because the students can relate to the main character. Also, I could enhance the lesson by providing links to web pages on the subject of dogsled racing. I believe this blog would allow my students to interact by asking and answering questions and by gathering knowledge on dogsled racing. I now have a better understanding on how blogs can help supplement my curriculum.

Introduction

2009-09-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. The purpose of this blog is to share information with other educators across the world. I will be focusing on technology in the classroom and how it impacts students’ learning.
I would not call myself an expert, but I am very knowledgeable in this field. I am very passionate about technology and look forward to sharing my passion with you. Technology has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, because of this I have started my master’s program with Walden University in Integrating Technology into the Classroom. I chose this career path because I strongly believe that technology is a great learning tool to use with our students.
I have noticed two major problems with technology. First, our school systems are falling behind when it comes to incorporating technology into the classroom. Yes, many schools have computer labs for students to use, but how many have a computer for each student? The second major problem with technology is the fear of the unknown. My main goal for this blog is to help teachers across the world tackle their fears and begin using technology in their classrooms. Please feel free to post questions and add comments. I hope you find this blog helpful, and I look forward to learning from each of you. Remember the following: By collaborating together we can only make a difference in a child’s life.