Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
2 Favorite Web 2.0 Sites
Hey Everybody!
So this will probably be my last blog for awhile. I may keep it up and when I discover new websites, tell about it on here, but that will probably be the extent of it. I have enjoyed meeting you all and I wish you the best for the rest of your masters preparation.
1st web 2.0 site-Youtube
I have to say that I really like YouTube. It has become so popular you can find just about any video on any topic. For example, last night I was looking for a video on a book. Lo and behold, it was someone's daughters favorite book and they had put it to video where their daughter could view it at anytime. The only downside to YouTube for me is that my district blocks any video from there. Even the educational ones. There are also funny videos if you just need a laugh, want to listen to someone sing or be crazy or just watch the Christmas lights that play to Manheim Streamroller like I did a few years ago.
2nd web 2.0 site-Blogger
I know I know, I just said that I wasn't going to be updating this blog very much, but I still really like it. It has also become a popular website. My sister has one on here that she updates occasionally so that I can see my nephew. I like it because on here you can blog about anything. You can choose to blog about technology like we have been doing, you can blog about your personal life, or you can blog about your teaching. I'd be careful doing that one though. Sometimes though, you just have a lot of thoughts in your head and you need to get them out. You can make the posts private and keep those thoughts to yourself and blogger lets you do that, so yay for blogger.
Anyways, check back occasionally. There are definitely some great websites out there that I will be adding to this blog. Until then, adios!
Elizabeth
So this will probably be my last blog for awhile. I may keep it up and when I discover new websites, tell about it on here, but that will probably be the extent of it. I have enjoyed meeting you all and I wish you the best for the rest of your masters preparation.
1st web 2.0 site-Youtube
I have to say that I really like YouTube. It has become so popular you can find just about any video on any topic. For example, last night I was looking for a video on a book. Lo and behold, it was someone's daughters favorite book and they had put it to video where their daughter could view it at anytime. The only downside to YouTube for me is that my district blocks any video from there. Even the educational ones. There are also funny videos if you just need a laugh, want to listen to someone sing or be crazy or just watch the Christmas lights that play to Manheim Streamroller like I did a few years ago.
2nd web 2.0 site-Blogger
I know I know, I just said that I wasn't going to be updating this blog very much, but I still really like it. It has also become a popular website. My sister has one on here that she updates occasionally so that I can see my nephew. I like it because on here you can blog about anything. You can choose to blog about technology like we have been doing, you can blog about your personal life, or you can blog about your teaching. I'd be careful doing that one though. Sometimes though, you just have a lot of thoughts in your head and you need to get them out. You can make the posts private and keep those thoughts to yourself and blogger lets you do that, so yay for blogger.
Anyways, check back occasionally. There are definitely some great websites out there that I will be adding to this blog. Until then, adios!
Elizabeth
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Multimedia In the Classroom
Hey Everyone!
Can you believe this term is almost over? I have three more courses after this class and my other one and I am done with my Masters! I am excited and sad at the same time. I think I'm one of those dorks who has actually extremely enjoyed going back to school (despite the loans). Maybe, it is just because I am not married and do not have children so it gave me something to do. I also finally got some great news this weekend. Franklin (my nephew) had surgery on Friday. He failed a hearing test and needed tubes put in his ears and also had his adenoids (did I spell that right?) out at the same time. Things went well and he is already talking and hearing better. In fact, he was giving me kisses through the phone yesterday. His Bitsy misses him! Anyway, the other great news is that I am going to be an Aunt again! My sister is nine weeks pregnant. Fingers crossed for a girl! Anyway, back to the real writing I am writing this blog. Technology in Education.
This week we are supposed to post on two types of multimedia from ch. 6 to use in the classroom and how we would incorporate it in. So here goes....
Since starting this class, my awareness of the importance of technology in our world has increased immensely. I have already started using more of it everyday. Our Science and Social Studies is incorporated into our Reading Curriculum and so our students are not really exposed to Science until 3rd grade. So, I found Science websites that have videos the students can watch during their snack time. It gives both of us a break from each other after a grueling, intense two hours of reading groups. I also notice that I am already incorporating my first type of multimedia.
Instructional Software- Instructional software includes tutorials, drill and practice, simulations, instructional games and problem solving. I realized that I am already using a tutorial based software program.I incorporate it in during my tier two math time when we are in small groups (again). Three students can work on the program at a time. It is great because everyone is involved in some type of instruction during this time. A plus is a program that our district has purchased and encourages us to use. I have been using it as a math program. The students have been assigned standards to masters. They first take a pre-test. They must make 80 percent or higher to move on to the next skill. If they do not make that it sends them to a tutorial lesson that teaches the skill. They must then study the lesson again or practice the skill. Once they have practiced, they take a post test. If they pass this time around, they move on. If not, they have to go back and do it all over again. The next thing I use is a drill and practice program. Our math program has a math fact program where they have to answer math facts in a set amount of time. We use this program at the beginning of math class everyday as a way to get them warmed up. They like it because they are being timed and want to see how many they can get right in a minute (the district requires 25). The last thing that I incorporate into my classroom is instructional games. There are boooohhoodles of games out there the students can work on. I have added several to my teacher page on the district website and I know my kids are going to it, because they come in and tell me what they went home and played. I love it because I have 100 percent engagement. Fun4thebrain is a website I have been using a lot in my classroom. It is full of instructional games for the students to play. I have mainly used it for math facts. I pull up the website if we have extra time after our lesson and say we are going to play this. The kids give me the answers and I supply them. Once they have so many correct, I choose students who are participating to come play the game portion of program. They work hard at it, because they know they will be rewarded. Their math facts have increased too!
The second type of multimedia I am going to talk about is interactive books. This one may be a bit of a challenge for me to incorporate. Not because I cannot find the time. The time to incorporate the books is easy. I can incorporate them during center time and I can also use them during our read aloud time. However, my students are going to fight me tooth and nail. It isn't that they do not like to listen to books. I have just created Junie. B. Jones fanatics and starfall fanatics. Anytime I pick up anything but Junie B. Jones to read as our read aloud, they flip out on me and complain like crazy. My fault I guess for getting into character and them trying to figure out what she is going to do next. So, I will probably incorporate e books in during center time. Come to think of it. Starfall is a bit of an e book. As they move the pointer across the word it reads it to them. If they don't know the word it sounds it out for them. I probably will incorporate other e books by giving them a choice of what they would like to go to for the day. They only get computer once a week and some of them are a bit bored of starfall by now. Hooray for first graders growing up!
Now, that I have written a book today, I hope you all have a good President's Day weekend! Enjoy the day off tomorrow!
Can you believe this term is almost over? I have three more courses after this class and my other one and I am done with my Masters! I am excited and sad at the same time. I think I'm one of those dorks who has actually extremely enjoyed going back to school (despite the loans). Maybe, it is just because I am not married and do not have children so it gave me something to do. I also finally got some great news this weekend. Franklin (my nephew) had surgery on Friday. He failed a hearing test and needed tubes put in his ears and also had his adenoids (did I spell that right?) out at the same time. Things went well and he is already talking and hearing better. In fact, he was giving me kisses through the phone yesterday. His Bitsy misses him! Anyway, the other great news is that I am going to be an Aunt again! My sister is nine weeks pregnant. Fingers crossed for a girl! Anyway, back to the real writing I am writing this blog. Technology in Education.
This week we are supposed to post on two types of multimedia from ch. 6 to use in the classroom and how we would incorporate it in. So here goes....
Since starting this class, my awareness of the importance of technology in our world has increased immensely. I have already started using more of it everyday. Our Science and Social Studies is incorporated into our Reading Curriculum and so our students are not really exposed to Science until 3rd grade. So, I found Science websites that have videos the students can watch during their snack time. It gives both of us a break from each other after a grueling, intense two hours of reading groups. I also notice that I am already incorporating my first type of multimedia.
Instructional Software- Instructional software includes tutorials, drill and practice, simulations, instructional games and problem solving. I realized that I am already using a tutorial based software program.I incorporate it in during my tier two math time when we are in small groups (again). Three students can work on the program at a time. It is great because everyone is involved in some type of instruction during this time. A plus is a program that our district has purchased and encourages us to use. I have been using it as a math program. The students have been assigned standards to masters. They first take a pre-test. They must make 80 percent or higher to move on to the next skill. If they do not make that it sends them to a tutorial lesson that teaches the skill. They must then study the lesson again or practice the skill. Once they have practiced, they take a post test. If they pass this time around, they move on. If not, they have to go back and do it all over again. The next thing I use is a drill and practice program. Our math program has a math fact program where they have to answer math facts in a set amount of time. We use this program at the beginning of math class everyday as a way to get them warmed up. They like it because they are being timed and want to see how many they can get right in a minute (the district requires 25). The last thing that I incorporate into my classroom is instructional games. There are boooohhoodles of games out there the students can work on. I have added several to my teacher page on the district website and I know my kids are going to it, because they come in and tell me what they went home and played. I love it because I have 100 percent engagement. Fun4thebrain is a website I have been using a lot in my classroom. It is full of instructional games for the students to play. I have mainly used it for math facts. I pull up the website if we have extra time after our lesson and say we are going to play this. The kids give me the answers and I supply them. Once they have so many correct, I choose students who are participating to come play the game portion of program. They work hard at it, because they know they will be rewarded. Their math facts have increased too!
The second type of multimedia I am going to talk about is interactive books. This one may be a bit of a challenge for me to incorporate. Not because I cannot find the time. The time to incorporate the books is easy. I can incorporate them during center time and I can also use them during our read aloud time. However, my students are going to fight me tooth and nail. It isn't that they do not like to listen to books. I have just created Junie. B. Jones fanatics and starfall fanatics. Anytime I pick up anything but Junie B. Jones to read as our read aloud, they flip out on me and complain like crazy. My fault I guess for getting into character and them trying to figure out what she is going to do next. So, I will probably incorporate e books in during center time. Come to think of it. Starfall is a bit of an e book. As they move the pointer across the word it reads it to them. If they don't know the word it sounds it out for them. I probably will incorporate other e books by giving them a choice of what they would like to go to for the day. They only get computer once a week and some of them are a bit bored of starfall by now. Hooray for first graders growing up!
Now, that I have written a book today, I hope you all have a good President's Day weekend! Enjoy the day off tomorrow!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Types of Software
Hey Everybody!
Can you believe it? We only have a couple of more weeks left in the term and we are finished. While this class has kept me extremely busy, I have learned lots of valuable tools. For our third blog, we are suppose to post about different types of instructional software we can use in our classroom. So here we go.
The five types of instructional software are:
Drill and practice
Tutorial
Simulation
Instructional Games
Problem Solving
Drill and Practice
Drill and practice software is a directed instruction type of software. It provides exercises where students work example items one at a time and then receive some type of feedback on whether or not they are correction. An example of drill practice is this math website found on Harcourt. Our district requires our students know 25 math facts in a minute with sums to ten. It is great for them to use and it goes with our curriculum. It does not correct the child if they answer wrong, however it does show the ones missed and what the correct answers would have been.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html
Tutorial Software
Tutorial software is another directed teaching software. It is a true teaching software. It is used in place of the teacher. It makes sure students master a topic by providing information summaries, gives explanations, allows practice, gives feedback and tests the students on what they know. An example of a program I use in my classroom is another one provided by my district. It is called A Plus. I mainly use this program with my higher students in math while I work in small groups with my lower students in math. I like the program because it is directly correlated with Alabama state standards. The teachers assign skills that needed to be mastered. It provides students with a pre-test. It they make 80% or higher on the test the skill is considered mastered and they move on to the next skill. However, if they do not make that score, it sends them through a tutorial course. It introduces the topic and gives practice. They can then choose whether to study or practice the skill some more. Finally, it reassesses them. If they still do not master the skill, they have to repeat the process until they do finally master the skill.
Simulation
Simulation software models real or imaginary systems to show how the content evolves. It shows how the skill develops over time. It can be considered both a directed and constructivist strategy for learning. A program that can be used as an example is Oregon Trail. This website simulates what pioneers went through as they traveled across the country. They have to figure out foods take, an odd jobs throughout their journey. It is used more as a problem based simulation. Most simulations are currently found in space. Here is one website I would incorporate into my curriculum when talking about certain subject matters. It would help the kids to understand the content better. The videos are so realistic they made me nauseous!
http://www.wonderville.ca
Instructional Games
Instructional Games are considered a strategy that is both directed and constructivist in use. An instructional game increases motivation through adding game rules to drills and simulations. A website I am currently using in my classroom is called fun4thebrain.com. My students love it! Fun 4 the Brain incorporates math facts into a fun game the students can play. They select what skill they want to practice. Then it gives them 10-25 problems to answer. Once they get a certain number correct, it sends them to a game to play. In panda subtraction, they try to get bamboo for points. Once they lose so many lives, they have to go back and practice more facts to get more lives.
www.fun4thebrain.com
Problem Solving
Problem solving teaches students in a couple of different ways. The first was is directly. The program explain and practices the steps involved in solving problems. The second way is by helping the learner acquire problem solving skills by giving the opportunities to solve problems. It's strategy can also be considered both directed and constructivist. The website I will incorporate into my classroom is A Game A Day. Each month a new game is posted on the calendar. It encourages kids to use their brains to win the games. Each day has a new game for them to solve.
http://www.agameaday.com/
That's it for this week. Tune in to next week's blog and Happy Valentine's Day!
Can you believe it? We only have a couple of more weeks left in the term and we are finished. While this class has kept me extremely busy, I have learned lots of valuable tools. For our third blog, we are suppose to post about different types of instructional software we can use in our classroom. So here we go.
The five types of instructional software are:
Drill and practice
Tutorial
Simulation
Instructional Games
Problem Solving
Drill and Practice
Drill and practice software is a directed instruction type of software. It provides exercises where students work example items one at a time and then receive some type of feedback on whether or not they are correction. An example of drill practice is this math website found on Harcourt. Our district requires our students know 25 math facts in a minute with sums to ten. It is great for them to use and it goes with our curriculum. It does not correct the child if they answer wrong, however it does show the ones missed and what the correct answers would have been.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html
Tutorial Software
Tutorial software is another directed teaching software. It is a true teaching software. It is used in place of the teacher. It makes sure students master a topic by providing information summaries, gives explanations, allows practice, gives feedback and tests the students on what they know. An example of a program I use in my classroom is another one provided by my district. It is called A Plus. I mainly use this program with my higher students in math while I work in small groups with my lower students in math. I like the program because it is directly correlated with Alabama state standards. The teachers assign skills that needed to be mastered. It provides students with a pre-test. It they make 80% or higher on the test the skill is considered mastered and they move on to the next skill. However, if they do not make that score, it sends them through a tutorial course. It introduces the topic and gives practice. They can then choose whether to study or practice the skill some more. Finally, it reassesses them. If they still do not master the skill, they have to repeat the process until they do finally master the skill.
Simulation
Simulation software models real or imaginary systems to show how the content evolves. It shows how the skill develops over time. It can be considered both a directed and constructivist strategy for learning. A program that can be used as an example is Oregon Trail. This website simulates what pioneers went through as they traveled across the country. They have to figure out foods take, an odd jobs throughout their journey. It is used more as a problem based simulation. Most simulations are currently found in space. Here is one website I would incorporate into my curriculum when talking about certain subject matters. It would help the kids to understand the content better. The videos are so realistic they made me nauseous!
http://www.wonderville.ca
Instructional Games
Instructional Games are considered a strategy that is both directed and constructivist in use. An instructional game increases motivation through adding game rules to drills and simulations. A website I am currently using in my classroom is called fun4thebrain.com. My students love it! Fun 4 the Brain incorporates math facts into a fun game the students can play. They select what skill they want to practice. Then it gives them 10-25 problems to answer. Once they get a certain number correct, it sends them to a game to play. In panda subtraction, they try to get bamboo for points. Once they lose so many lives, they have to go back and practice more facts to get more lives.
www.fun4thebrain.com
Problem Solving
Problem solving teaches students in a couple of different ways. The first was is directly. The program explain and practices the steps involved in solving problems. The second way is by helping the learner acquire problem solving skills by giving the opportunities to solve problems. It's strategy can also be considered both directed and constructivist. The website I will incorporate into my classroom is A Game A Day. Each month a new game is posted on the calendar. It encourages kids to use their brains to win the games. Each day has a new game for them to solve.
http://www.agameaday.com/
That's it for this week. Tune in to next week's blog and Happy Valentine's Day!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ch. 1 Blog
There are several issues shaping the role of technology in education today. There are five issues in education today involving technology. They are: societal, educational, cultural, equity, and legal/ethical issues. I am going to talk about three of these issues.
The first issue is societal. The problems that arise in this area are economic conditions, anti-technology positions, and the NCLB act of 2001.
Economics- When the economy is down, there is a decrease in funding for education. Even after the economy begins to recover from the recession, experts predict funding will not return to where it was before the recession hit.
Anti-technology- Some experts believe that technology interferes with privacy. They also say that it can create problems in one's daily life. Others believe technology is not as important as appreciation programs that are being cut, such as art and music. Finally, other critics believe internet use has become unsafe for students and there should be limited access to technology.
NCLB Act of 2001- This law requires that government programs be scientifically based research and must show students are meeting content standards.
Basically, all this means is educators are having to watch their money is going. They are having to choose between essential materials and technology and technology is not being put as a priority.
The second issue I am going to talk about is educational. There are also three parts to this issue. They are the standards movement, reliance on the internet and long distance learning, and debates over instructional teaching methods.
Standards movement: students must meet and pass content area skills in order to receive certification in a subject area. This drives teachers towards technology in hopes to pass content area subject matter.
Internet and distance education: more and more educators and students are turning towards distance education. This can in return lead to higher drop out rates, because of lack of face to face experiences. It also can create a digital divide amongst educators.
Instructional methods: There is an ongoing debate on which instructional method best serves are students. There are arguments on both the traditional and constructivist side on how technology impacts students learnin the standards.
Cultural and Equity Issues:
Digital divide: this phrase means to refer to a discrepancy in access to technology resources among socioeconomic groups. All children have access to the internet in some where or the other, but populations where students to not have access to computers at home are lagging behind their peers who do.
Racial and gender equity: the technology field is dominated by white males. Studies show other genders and minorities enter fewer fields of study involving technology. Studies also show that even children who are in title one rarely use the computers for work other than remedial skills.
Special needs: technology is available for students who have special needs. However, most of this technology is too expensive for schools to purchase. Even if the programs are purchased, the teachers have a hard time incorporating the technology into the curriculum and so the programs are going unused. Schools are also claiming insufficient funds in order to bypass government laws that state resources must be used with special needs students.
There are several things we have learned from the history of technology in education. I am going to talk about three of them. They are: no technology is a panacea for education; computer literacy offers a limited integration rationale, and teachers do not development technology materials or curriculum.
No technology is a panacea: We do not need to have such high expectations for new programs that are created. Current technology does not mean that there is a going to be a permanent fix to the problems that arise in education. We need to keep this in mind and integrate new material cautiously and know that it may cause more problems that it fixes.
Computer literacy offers limited integration rationale: Many parents and educators want technology incorporated into the curriculum because they feel it will help their students be successful in a job later in life. However, some work places limit the amount and use of technology. Teachers need to make sure the resources much match the skills needed for the current system of education.
Teachers usually do not develop technology materials or curriculum: Most teachers do not have time to develop software programs due to the demands of the job. Most of the time, the districts have funded other people to create programs teachers use. This is not likely to change anytime soon.
Doering, A. H. & Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Educational technology into teaching. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
The first issue is societal. The problems that arise in this area are economic conditions, anti-technology positions, and the NCLB act of 2001.
Economics- When the economy is down, there is a decrease in funding for education. Even after the economy begins to recover from the recession, experts predict funding will not return to where it was before the recession hit.
Anti-technology- Some experts believe that technology interferes with privacy. They also say that it can create problems in one's daily life. Others believe technology is not as important as appreciation programs that are being cut, such as art and music. Finally, other critics believe internet use has become unsafe for students and there should be limited access to technology.
NCLB Act of 2001- This law requires that government programs be scientifically based research and must show students are meeting content standards.
Basically, all this means is educators are having to watch their money is going. They are having to choose between essential materials and technology and technology is not being put as a priority.
The second issue I am going to talk about is educational. There are also three parts to this issue. They are the standards movement, reliance on the internet and long distance learning, and debates over instructional teaching methods.
Standards movement: students must meet and pass content area skills in order to receive certification in a subject area. This drives teachers towards technology in hopes to pass content area subject matter.
Internet and distance education: more and more educators and students are turning towards distance education. This can in return lead to higher drop out rates, because of lack of face to face experiences. It also can create a digital divide amongst educators.
Instructional methods: There is an ongoing debate on which instructional method best serves are students. There are arguments on both the traditional and constructivist side on how technology impacts students learnin the standards.
Cultural and Equity Issues:
Digital divide: this phrase means to refer to a discrepancy in access to technology resources among socioeconomic groups. All children have access to the internet in some where or the other, but populations where students to not have access to computers at home are lagging behind their peers who do.
Racial and gender equity: the technology field is dominated by white males. Studies show other genders and minorities enter fewer fields of study involving technology. Studies also show that even children who are in title one rarely use the computers for work other than remedial skills.
Special needs: technology is available for students who have special needs. However, most of this technology is too expensive for schools to purchase. Even if the programs are purchased, the teachers have a hard time incorporating the technology into the curriculum and so the programs are going unused. Schools are also claiming insufficient funds in order to bypass government laws that state resources must be used with special needs students.
There are several things we have learned from the history of technology in education. I am going to talk about three of them. They are: no technology is a panacea for education; computer literacy offers a limited integration rationale, and teachers do not development technology materials or curriculum.
No technology is a panacea: We do not need to have such high expectations for new programs that are created. Current technology does not mean that there is a going to be a permanent fix to the problems that arise in education. We need to keep this in mind and integrate new material cautiously and know that it may cause more problems that it fixes.
Computer literacy offers limited integration rationale: Many parents and educators want technology incorporated into the curriculum because they feel it will help their students be successful in a job later in life. However, some work places limit the amount and use of technology. Teachers need to make sure the resources much match the skills needed for the current system of education.
Teachers usually do not develop technology materials or curriculum: Most teachers do not have time to develop software programs due to the demands of the job. Most of the time, the districts have funded other people to create programs teachers use. This is not likely to change anytime soon.
Doering, A. H. & Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Educational technology into teaching. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Week 1-Introduction to me
Hi everyone!
My name is Elizabeth Crosby. I am currently a first grade teacher in Flomaton, Alabama. I was born and raised in Brewton, Alabama, which is about 14 miles from Flomaton. This is my first year working there and I absolutely love it! I am not married and do not have any children. I am very devoted to my career and also grad school. However, I am very excited that I will finish M.ED this Summer. My goals for getting this online degree is really to make myself a better teacher. I feel that it is extremely important for teachers to stay up to date on all the new research that is out there for us and to use it. Taking educational courses is just one way to do that. I am excited about this technology course, because I feel it will help me to integrate more technology into my classroom as well as improve the instruction I am already giving. I do not really have a favorite technology that I use, but I do feel that I use quite a bit it. Some of examples of the technology I am using are: computers, stereos, projector, ELMO, computer programs and the internet. I am excited to meet everyone in this class and cannot wait to learn new technology to use in my classroom!
My name is Elizabeth Crosby. I am currently a first grade teacher in Flomaton, Alabama. I was born and raised in Brewton, Alabama, which is about 14 miles from Flomaton. This is my first year working there and I absolutely love it! I am not married and do not have any children. I am very devoted to my career and also grad school. However, I am very excited that I will finish M.ED this Summer. My goals for getting this online degree is really to make myself a better teacher. I feel that it is extremely important for teachers to stay up to date on all the new research that is out there for us and to use it. Taking educational courses is just one way to do that. I am excited about this technology course, because I feel it will help me to integrate more technology into my classroom as well as improve the instruction I am already giving. I do not really have a favorite technology that I use, but I do feel that I use quite a bit it. Some of examples of the technology I am using are: computers, stereos, projector, ELMO, computer programs and the internet. I am excited to meet everyone in this class and cannot wait to learn new technology to use in my classroom!
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