The blogs that I most enjoyed reading involved helpful tips and advice that I could consider incorporating into my lesson plans when I begin my teaching career. I also enjoyed when students discussed activities and projects they were involved with that I had never heard of before. I hope that the other students also attained interesting ideas that they may be able to incorporate into their lesson plans as well.
I have already learned numerous technology-related skills during the course of this class. However, I would love to learn more intense graphic design techniques. I want to be able to comfortably create websites that are attractive, appealing, organized and include a variety of special features.
In order to achieve my goal, I am going to ask for help from my peers that are graphic design majors. I am also going to practice designing websites on a regular basis and observe other websites in order to know the necessary elements.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Post #9
Blogger.com is a website where entries are written in chronological order and are displayed in reverse chronological order. Although some individuals keep blogs for personal reasons, such as online diaries, I believe they hold greater importance in a classroom. A blog forms a connection between each student and gives them to opportunity to discuss the learning material, skills and new ideas outside of the classroom. It also helps the instructor keep track of each individual student and know where they are coming from and the direction they may be heading in.
Before taking Intro to Education Technology, I had never made my own blog and made entries on a regular basis. Throughout the semester, I found this to be a very useful and beneficial web-based tool. Not only was it a convenient for me to write down my thoughts, opinions, and new ideas, but I was able to keep it in an organized fashion and could easily refer back to a specific blog entry if I needed to. I also enjoyed reading other student's blogs because if I missed something in the reading, chances are I would pick it up by reading it in their blog. I found the other student's blogs appealing because they usually consisted of new ideas and projects that I had never thought of. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. This was probably my favorite part of our blogs because I enjoy receiving feedback from my classmates. I will most likely use this website as a way for my students to communicate with each other and me outside of the classroom.
The next technology-related skill I would like to learn would be learning how to use the Mac Apple computers. I currently do not have one and probably won't in the next several years but they are becoming increasingly popular. It is my prediction that in the next decade, when I am a teacher, they will be common among school computer labs and libraries so it will be beneficial for me to at least learn the basics of how they work.
My main goal as a teacher is for my students to be comfortable while using the internet. I want them to be able to use the web as a beneficial resource. Additionally, I want them to be able to successfully complete and submit web-based assignments. I understand that everyone of my students may not have access to a computer to learn these skills and that there are only a limited use of computers in school. That is why I will do everyday practices and worksheets with my students. Additionally, I will do demonstrations for the class and have them try to repeat what I do. I think that if we practice basic computer skills on a daily basis, they will become familiar and comfortable with the web in a short time.
Before taking Intro to Education Technology, I had never made my own blog and made entries on a regular basis. Throughout the semester, I found this to be a very useful and beneficial web-based tool. Not only was it a convenient for me to write down my thoughts, opinions, and new ideas, but I was able to keep it in an organized fashion and could easily refer back to a specific blog entry if I needed to. I also enjoyed reading other student's blogs because if I missed something in the reading, chances are I would pick it up by reading it in their blog. I found the other student's blogs appealing because they usually consisted of new ideas and projects that I had never thought of. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. This was probably my favorite part of our blogs because I enjoy receiving feedback from my classmates. I will most likely use this website as a way for my students to communicate with each other and me outside of the classroom.
The next technology-related skill I would like to learn would be learning how to use the Mac Apple computers. I currently do not have one and probably won't in the next several years but they are becoming increasingly popular. It is my prediction that in the next decade, when I am a teacher, they will be common among school computer labs and libraries so it will be beneficial for me to at least learn the basics of how they work.
My main goal as a teacher is for my students to be comfortable while using the internet. I want them to be able to use the web as a beneficial resource. Additionally, I want them to be able to successfully complete and submit web-based assignments. I understand that everyone of my students may not have access to a computer to learn these skills and that there are only a limited use of computers in school. That is why I will do everyday practices and worksheets with my students. Additionally, I will do demonstrations for the class and have them try to repeat what I do. I think that if we practice basic computer skills on a daily basis, they will become familiar and comfortable with the web in a short time.
Post #8
Chapter 8 was centered around security issues, ethnics and emerging technologies in education. It first explained about computer security risks which are defined as any event or action that can cause a loss of or damage to computer equipment, software, data and information, or processing capability. A virus is designed to affect computers negatively by altering the way they work and many viruses are designed to destroy or corrupt data. Some different viruses include boot sector viruses, files viruses, and macro viruses. Two common variations of computer viruses, often called malicious software programs, are worms and Trojan horses. Emerging educational technologies that will influence public education significantly include the digital media revolution, the World Wide Web, the next generation of software on DVDs, assisting technologies, Web-based training, and wireless technologies.
Since last class, I acquired many new skills by completing Power Point assignment one. Some different concepts that I managed to successfully perform include adding new slides, incorporating different slide formats, inserting graphics and animations, inserting hyperlinks, using bullets, and including speaker notes. I also learned how to make sure the slides were clear, concise, and only included the most important information necessary for the audience. Additionally, this assignment taught me to keep in mind that my slides be aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use which dealt with color, size, formatting and assignment. This will definitely help me with my education career, because the vast majority of teachers use power points to teach students the material.
Last class we received technology tips which consisted of the "do's" and "dont's" of power point presentations. I found most of these tips very interesting because I had never considered a lot of the factors it addressed when making a power point presentation. For example, It never occurred to me that you should only insert sounds at appropriate times or that flashy and curvy fonts should not be used because it is a distraction. I also never took into consideration that the colors projected from a data projector will look different from the colors on my computer screen. Other important issues I learned about dealt with issues such as images and shapes, graphs and charts, text, transitions and practicing your presentation. It was a very helpful and useful hand out that I will definitely hold on to.
Since last class, I acquired many new skills by completing Power Point assignment one. Some different concepts that I managed to successfully perform include adding new slides, incorporating different slide formats, inserting graphics and animations, inserting hyperlinks, using bullets, and including speaker notes. I also learned how to make sure the slides were clear, concise, and only included the most important information necessary for the audience. Additionally, this assignment taught me to keep in mind that my slides be aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use which dealt with color, size, formatting and assignment. This will definitely help me with my education career, because the vast majority of teachers use power points to teach students the material.
Last class we received technology tips which consisted of the "do's" and "dont's" of power point presentations. I found most of these tips very interesting because I had never considered a lot of the factors it addressed when making a power point presentation. For example, It never occurred to me that you should only insert sounds at appropriate times or that flashy and curvy fonts should not be used because it is a distraction. I also never took into consideration that the colors projected from a data projector will look different from the colors on my computer screen. Other important issues I learned about dealt with issues such as images and shapes, graphs and charts, text, transitions and practicing your presentation. It was a very helpful and useful hand out that I will definitely hold on to.
Post #7
Chapter six covered material dealing with the integration of technology, digital media and curriculum. The book defined curriculum is as all of the experiences a learner has under the supervision and guidance of teachers. Technology integration is the combination of all technology parts, such as hardware and software, together with each subject-related area of curriculum to enhance learning. It uses technology to help meet the curriculum standards and learner outcomes of each lesson, unit, or activity. In order for one to be successful with technology integration, they must first identify what it is they are trying to accomplish in their curriculum. The book points out that when planning lessons that use technology, teachers must consider the skills and knowledge level for students to start and complete the lesson successfully. The ASSURE model is a procedural guide for planning and delivering instruction that integrates technologies and media into the teaching process.
Last class we completed assignment 7 which taught me a great deal about making a personal page using wiki. I learned how to create an individual "home" wiki page and also how to become a part of the group page. Additionally, I learned how to include my 5 external links by creating a hyper link text, how to edit the group page, how to either restrict or protect my page, and how to make the page public so anyone can edit the page.
I believe that learning how to make a wiki is a vital tool because it allows me the opportunity to create something that could be of great resource to other teachers who are interested in teaching their students on similar topics. This also taught me how to view other people's wikis that could be of great use to me as an educator, if i were looking for lesson plans or information on a specific subject matter. Wiki is so convenient because is is the simplest online database that could possibly work. I decided to learn more about wikis and found that wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective intranets or for use in knowledge management. However, some argue that these systems could be easily tampered with.
Last class we completed assignment 7 which taught me a great deal about making a personal page using wiki. I learned how to create an individual "home" wiki page and also how to become a part of the group page. Additionally, I learned how to include my 5 external links by creating a hyper link text, how to edit the group page, how to either restrict or protect my page, and how to make the page public so anyone can edit the page.
I believe that learning how to make a wiki is a vital tool because it allows me the opportunity to create something that could be of great resource to other teachers who are interested in teaching their students on similar topics. This also taught me how to view other people's wikis that could be of great use to me as an educator, if i were looking for lesson plans or information on a specific subject matter. Wiki is so convenient because is is the simplest online database that could possibly work. I decided to learn more about wikis and found that wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective intranets or for use in knowledge management. However, some argue that these systems could be easily tampered with.
Post #6
Chapter 5 mainly dealt with digital media and and digital media applications. Digital media is defined as those technologies that allow users to create new forms of interaction, expression, communication, and entertainment in a digital format. Digital media software refers to to any computer-based presentation or application software that uses multimedia elements. Digital media involves the use of digital media technology for education, business, or entertainment. An example of digital media would be a business using it for job and skill training applications. There are many different kinds of digital media. They include but are not limited to: The World Wide Web, Web-Based Training, Stimulations and Integrated Learning Systems, Curriculum-Specific Educational Software, Entertainment and Electronic books and references.
After taking the SAM MS word test last week, and scoring a 90, I clearly was aware of my improvement within the program. I took the exact same test last year in CGS2100 and only scored in the low 80's. I sat down and throughly completed all 120 skills on the program, which greatly enhanced my ability to use the program successfully. I also learned how to create a website evaluation form and can now perform a variety of functions I previously were not aware of. This includes making check boxes, shading certain text, and organizing information in a way that can be clearly understood and easy to follow for the students.
Although I feel as though I was successful with learning how to use MS works, I think that using excel and access will be much more challenging and will take more time and in-depth studying in order to be mastered. I have really enjoyed all of the assignment we have completed so far and I like how each one is very different from the previous one. I am starting to realize the extent of how important it is to be successful in the field of technology in order to be a teacher. I just hope that I can stay on track and not too much will change in the field before I actually get there!
After taking the SAM MS word test last week, and scoring a 90, I clearly was aware of my improvement within the program. I took the exact same test last year in CGS2100 and only scored in the low 80's. I sat down and throughly completed all 120 skills on the program, which greatly enhanced my ability to use the program successfully. I also learned how to create a website evaluation form and can now perform a variety of functions I previously were not aware of. This includes making check boxes, shading certain text, and organizing information in a way that can be clearly understood and easy to follow for the students.
Although I feel as though I was successful with learning how to use MS works, I think that using excel and access will be much more challenging and will take more time and in-depth studying in order to be mastered. I have really enjoyed all of the assignment we have completed so far and I like how each one is very different from the previous one. I am starting to realize the extent of how important it is to be successful in the field of technology in order to be a teacher. I just hope that I can stay on track and not too much will change in the field before I actually get there!
Post #5
The evaluation of education technology is very important for several reasons. Educators can rely on a variety of resources to help them identify and evaluate the appropriateness of educational technologies, including resources available from school districts, state Departments of Education, professional educational organizations and Web sites. Evaluation tools include checklists, rating scales, rubrics and teacher observations. These are all valid assessment tools for technology-based student projects. Student projects should be evaluated for content, planning, and creativity; planning tools include flowcharts and concept maps, which provide visual tools for brainstorming and understanding the attributes and relationships of the main subject. In order to integrate technology into the education system, teachers are required to rethink and redesign activities and create new teaching and learning strategies.
After completing the entire MS Practice Skills Check, I acquired a number of new skills and concepts I never even knew existed withing the program. While I found some of the concepts to be rather simple, such as saving documents, creating blank pages, deleting text and changing fonts, I found many to be rather challenging. For instance, prior to this practice test, I never knew how to use the find/replace buttons, create tables, use the shading techniques, change the view, insert 3-D borders or use Word Art. After completing the practice, I fully mastered all 120 concepts and feel as though I can use the program much more efficiently.
I really enjoyed chapter 7 in the textbook because I think it will apply to every single one of us as future educators. Just think about how much technology has changed since we were in elementary, middle and even high school and imagine how much more it will until the time we become teachers. We are going to have to deal with constantly making new lesson plans primarily for technological reasons throughout our entire career if we want to be successful educators.
After completing the entire MS Practice Skills Check, I acquired a number of new skills and concepts I never even knew existed withing the program. While I found some of the concepts to be rather simple, such as saving documents, creating blank pages, deleting text and changing fonts, I found many to be rather challenging. For instance, prior to this practice test, I never knew how to use the find/replace buttons, create tables, use the shading techniques, change the view, insert 3-D borders or use Word Art. After completing the practice, I fully mastered all 120 concepts and feel as though I can use the program much more efficiently.
I really enjoyed chapter 7 in the textbook because I think it will apply to every single one of us as future educators. Just think about how much technology has changed since we were in elementary, middle and even high school and imagine how much more it will until the time we become teachers. We are going to have to deal with constantly making new lesson plans primarily for technological reasons throughout our entire career if we want to be successful educators.
Post #4
The World Wide Web is an exciting and highly dynamic medium that has revolutionized the way people access information. You can display information on virtually any topic you can imagine, if you know the URL. Because finding information can be a massive chore if you do not know the URL or how to use Web search tools, the textbook offers three different resources to help you locate information and useful Web sites. First, they presented The Guide to World Wide Web Sites, which provides specific information about a variety of Web pages organized in 15 different areas of interest (examples: Finance, Travel, Entertainment). These are designed to provide you with an overview of what is available on the Web. The text also provided a variety of search techniques, including both how to use subject directories and search engines to find educationally appropriate Web sites. Successful searching of the Web involves two key steps: (1) Briefly describing the information you are seeking by identifying the main concept and determine any synonyms and (2) Use the brief description with a search tool to display links to pages containing the desired information. The two most common search tools are subject directories and search engines. Last, was provided an extensive list of popular education search tools with a brief description of each. Examples of these include Ask Jeeves, Learning Page and Education World.
In the previous class, I learned a lot about the Inspiration program and how it works. Before this assignment, I had never had to design a concept map and had absolutely no idea how to include any of the required elements. However, after working with the program and completing the assignment, I learned what a node was, how to create one, how to make lines, arrows and texts in line, how to insert shapes/images and how to insert a web link. I also found it interesting how you could see the concept map in two different formats: an actual digram or a written outline. I found the second concept map to be a little bit more difficult in the way that it had to make sense logically rather than just demonstrating technological proficiency.
I learned much more from the text that went beyond just using the World Wide Web. For example, I never knew the difference between the Local Area Network (which covers a limited geographical area such as a school or office) and the Wide Area Network (which covers a large geographical region such as a city or school network). These networks are beneficial because administrators, teachers, and students can share computer hardware, software and data resources. This allows administrators, teachers, and students to instantly access the unlimited educational resources available on the Internet and communicate with other educators and students all around the world. I believe that knowing this kind of information will be very useful when I am an educator.
In the previous class, I learned a lot about the Inspiration program and how it works. Before this assignment, I had never had to design a concept map and had absolutely no idea how to include any of the required elements. However, after working with the program and completing the assignment, I learned what a node was, how to create one, how to make lines, arrows and texts in line, how to insert shapes/images and how to insert a web link. I also found it interesting how you could see the concept map in two different formats: an actual digram or a written outline. I found the second concept map to be a little bit more difficult in the way that it had to make sense logically rather than just demonstrating technological proficiency.
I learned much more from the text that went beyond just using the World Wide Web. For example, I never knew the difference between the Local Area Network (which covers a limited geographical area such as a school or office) and the Wide Area Network (which covers a large geographical region such as a city or school network). These networks are beneficial because administrators, teachers, and students can share computer hardware, software and data resources. This allows administrators, teachers, and students to instantly access the unlimited educational resources available on the Internet and communicate with other educators and students all around the world. I believe that knowing this kind of information will be very useful when I am an educator.
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