Tuesday, April 28, 2009
About Me
My name is Jennifer Norton and I am a junior at the University of South Alabama, majoring in Elementary Education. I am an active member of Kappa Delta sorority and have held numerous positions ranging from big to small. The positions that I am holding now are Sisterhood Chair and Shamrock Chair. I am also a mentor for the younger girls that are majoring in Education. I am 21 years old and I am currently living in the Kappa Delta sorority house. Once I graduate, my goal is to teach fourth or fifth grade. I think that those two years are the best years to teach students. The reason why I believe this is because while they are still eager to learn, they are also old enough to participate in more complex activities and projects. When I become a teacher I look forward to incorporating some of the technologies that I was introduced to this semester.
Google tools and docs
This semester I was introduced to the many different things Google has to offer. I already knew that Google was obviously a search engine but what I did not know is all the other programs that are on it. Once I became a Google member it was downhill from there. I was able to add gadgets to my homepage so that when I logged on I could find things from the local weather to what my horoscope was saying for that day.
Google also has documents on it. From Excel spreadsheets to PowerPoint presentations, I was given these programs that I could use. I think that it is great that Google has all of these different features. It is really useful for people who may not have Microsoft on their computer. When I become a teacher, I will definitely incorporate this into a project. It would really be a great way to show the students just how many resources are on the internet for their disposal.
Google also has documents on it. From Excel spreadsheets to PowerPoint presentations, I was given these programs that I could use. I think that it is great that Google has all of these different features. It is really useful for people who may not have Microsoft on their computer. When I become a teacher, I will definitely incorporate this into a project. It would really be a great way to show the students just how many resources are on the internet for their disposal.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Readers/ Writers or Listener/ Watcher
I found this topic to be very interesting. It is about how the “listening and watching” culture is replacing the “reading and writing” culture. We have entered the digital decade and with it come newer and more interesting technologies. The question pertaining to the title is whether or not the new generation of listeners/watchers could be moved from being consumers of the new media to producers, authors, or directors of audio and video products. It is for that reason why educators must learn how to use the technology and incorporate it into the classroom. The younger students are growing up with technology so they are not afraid of it and are eager to learn how to use it all. One way you could incorporate the media in your classroom is by having your class make a videocast together. It would be a fun way of giving the students experience with the many different things technology can offer us.
All in all, it is the responsibility of the teachers to educate themselves on the continuing technological advances that are going on. There are tons of resources you can find on the internet to help enlarge the world of your students. Incorporating technology into your classroom will not only show your students what is out there for them to use, it will also give you (the teacher) ideas to make your classroom a more productive learning place.
All in all, it is the responsibility of the teachers to educate themselves on the continuing technological advances that are going on. There are tons of resources you can find on the internet to help enlarge the world of your students. Incorporating technology into your classroom will not only show your students what is out there for them to use, it will also give you (the teacher) ideas to make your classroom a more productive learning place.
Wiki's and Wikipedia
First off, let me start out by explaining what a Wiki is. A Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit web page content using any Web browser. The collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia is one of the best-known wikis.
You can find anything you are looking for on Wikipedia. The only thing is that since Wikipedia is a wiki the information you read on there may not be entirely true. Because of this, most teachers will not accept Wikipedia as a resource for a research paper.
While I think Wikipedia is a fun source to look at and read I do not think that I will incorporate it into anything I am teaching. I actually did not know what a wiki was before I entered EDM 310 nor did I really realize that anyone could get on Wikipedia and change things. With that said, since I know this now I will most likely not let my students use Wikipedia as a resource as well.
You can find anything you are looking for on Wikipedia. The only thing is that since Wikipedia is a wiki the information you read on there may not be entirely true. Because of this, most teachers will not accept Wikipedia as a resource for a research paper.
While I think Wikipedia is a fun source to look at and read I do not think that I will incorporate it into anything I am teaching. I actually did not know what a wiki was before I entered EDM 310 nor did I really realize that anyone could get on Wikipedia and change things. With that said, since I know this now I will most likely not let my students use Wikipedia as a resource as well.
Youtube, Teachertube
Youtube and Teachertube are two very useful internet sources for educational purposes. They also, both have similar qualities. I found Youtube and Teachertube easy to use and I definitely plan on using them once I am a teacher!
Youtube is an online media source of videos from all over, consisting of numerous topics. As a teacher, you could put up your own videos of a lecture or something you and your class did one day. There are also videos from other teachers on the website. While this is not a predominately popular source for teachers to communicate, it is a great source if you are looking to find out “How To” do something.
I found teachertube fun and interesting! There are videos from teachers from all over. On the website are millions of videos that teachers have put up. While some of the videos consist of lectures, some are of classes doing activities together while they are at school. My favorite video is the Math rap. This video is of a teacher rapping about fractions, multiplication and division. The song was really catchy and I am sure that her students are amazing at fractions because of it. The math rap is just one example of the kinds of cleaver videos you will find on teachertube. I have to say that after looking at both of these websites I am encouraged to continue using them once I am a teacher!
Youtube is an online media source of videos from all over, consisting of numerous topics. As a teacher, you could put up your own videos of a lecture or something you and your class did one day. There are also videos from other teachers on the website. While this is not a predominately popular source for teachers to communicate, it is a great source if you are looking to find out “How To” do something.
I found teachertube fun and interesting! There are videos from teachers from all over. On the website are millions of videos that teachers have put up. While some of the videos consist of lectures, some are of classes doing activities together while they are at school. My favorite video is the Math rap. This video is of a teacher rapping about fractions, multiplication and division. The song was really catchy and I am sure that her students are amazing at fractions because of it. The math rap is just one example of the kinds of cleaver videos you will find on teachertube. I have to say that after looking at both of these websites I am encouraged to continue using them once I am a teacher!
Podcasts/Videocasts
I had never heard about Podcasts or Videocasts before I took EDM 310. Now that I have listened and watched some I have a better understanding of the uses of them. I also have gained the knowledge in learning how to make a podcast or videocast.
Podcasts can be very helpful to use, not only as a teacher but also for the students. I could record a lecture on a lesson that we discussed in class. This would be a great way for the students to be able to go back over their notes and catch anything that they may have missed the first time. This form of podcast could also be useful to a student if they missed class that day. As a teacher I could also make a project concerning Podcasts. I could give the students a project that they need to look up and gain informative information about. Then the students could make a podcast and we could all listen to them in class.
Videocasts are so interesting to me. If I have the technology at the school that I teach at, I hope to make videocasts. Videocasts can be used different ways. As a teacher I could make a video of my students while they are engaged in a project or fun activity. I could then put it on a class blog; therefore, letting the parents see what their son or daughter is up to while they are at school. Videocasts can also be useful for teachers. I could see what another teacher is doing in her class about a particular subject they are studying and get some ideas that I could bring back to my own classroom.
Overall, podcasts and videocasts are great tools to incorporate in your classroom once you become a teacher. It is not only for fun, it also can get the students comfortable in using technology.
Podcasts can be very helpful to use, not only as a teacher but also for the students. I could record a lecture on a lesson that we discussed in class. This would be a great way for the students to be able to go back over their notes and catch anything that they may have missed the first time. This form of podcast could also be useful to a student if they missed class that day. As a teacher I could also make a project concerning Podcasts. I could give the students a project that they need to look up and gain informative information about. Then the students could make a podcast and we could all listen to them in class.
Videocasts are so interesting to me. If I have the technology at the school that I teach at, I hope to make videocasts. Videocasts can be used different ways. As a teacher I could make a video of my students while they are engaged in a project or fun activity. I could then put it on a class blog; therefore, letting the parents see what their son or daughter is up to while they are at school. Videocasts can also be useful for teachers. I could see what another teacher is doing in her class about a particular subject they are studying and get some ideas that I could bring back to my own classroom.
Overall, podcasts and videocasts are great tools to incorporate in your classroom once you become a teacher. It is not only for fun, it also can get the students comfortable in using technology.
No Burp Back Education
When I first heard about No “Burp Back” Education I had no idea what it was insinuating. After doing some reading on it I now understand what it is talking about. Being a teacher is not just about making sure your students know facts. The goal of teaching students information is that they can think and process it on their own.
No “Burp Back” Education is discussing the teachers who give all the facts that the students need to know to get A’s on their test. The teachers who go over something over and over again to make sure that it is drilled in their students head. Evidence shows that this is pointless and you are just wasting your time because once the students have taken the quiz or test they forget the information.
Dr. Strange states it best when he says “… not to teach and test for information but rather to teach students how to ask questions, describe things or events, compare and contrast what they describe, and make arguments for and against a variety of propositions.” It is important to make your students use their critical thinking skills because sooner or later they are going to need them.
I will definitely consider the No “Burp Back” Education once I become a teacher. I think it is a great idea on how to teach your students and I look forward to trying it out someday.
No “Burp Back” Education is discussing the teachers who give all the facts that the students need to know to get A’s on their test. The teachers who go over something over and over again to make sure that it is drilled in their students head. Evidence shows that this is pointless and you are just wasting your time because once the students have taken the quiz or test they forget the information.
Dr. Strange states it best when he says “… not to teach and test for information but rather to teach students how to ask questions, describe things or events, compare and contrast what they describe, and make arguments for and against a variety of propositions.” It is important to make your students use their critical thinking skills because sooner or later they are going to need them.
I will definitely consider the No “Burp Back” Education once I become a teacher. I think it is a great idea on how to teach your students and I look forward to trying it out someday.
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