Choose two of your favorite Web 2.0 sites and review them on your blog. Give reasons for your recommendations.
Facebook.com~ I think facebook is a wonderful way for people to share and stay connected. It gives the user a way to stay connected to friends and family and allows them to share a wide variety of information. As for classroom usage, facebook is a great way to keep teachers and students connected 24/7. Students can get help with assignments or ask questions at any time. With this current age of smart phones, facebook makes it easy to stay connected.
Wikipedia.org~This is a wonderful site. It brings the big, bulky encyclopedias of yesteryear to the computer savy youth of today. It makes looking up something quick and simple. This site is great because it makes research easy for students and therefore makes students more likely to use it. Plus, wikipedia is a constant work in progress. People are allowed to make changes and add to the site to help it improve. This can give the students a sense of power over the site.
My family
Monday, February 7, 2011
Week 4
Select one examples of multimedia from Chapter 6 and discuss how you would incorporate them in your classroom.
One example of multimedia that I want to incorporate into my classroom is the interactive storybooks from PBS kids (http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/). This site is wonderful. It takes full stories/books and makes them fun for students. The site reads the books out loud and highlights the words as they are read. This way the students can follow along. I would use this site as a listening center for my students. That way, they are not only listening and reading, but can make sure they are following along. Some of my students struggle with words. These interactive stories make it fun to read and help the struggling readers at the same time. My students will love this site.
One example of multimedia that I want to incorporate into my classroom is the interactive storybooks from PBS kids (http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/). This site is wonderful. It takes full stories/books and makes them fun for students. The site reads the books out loud and highlights the words as they are read. This way the students can follow along. I would use this site as a listening center for my students. That way, they are not only listening and reading, but can make sure they are following along. Some of my students struggle with words. These interactive stories make it fun to read and help the struggling readers at the same time. My students will love this site.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Week 3
Give examples of the different types of software (drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, problem solving, and integrated learning systems) that you could use in your classroom.
There are several different types of software that can be used to help teachers in the classroom. Here is a list with examples:
Drill and practice- Math Manics is a drill and practice software program that I currently use in my classroom to help students learn and remember their math facts. The students work problems and advance based on how well they do.
Tutorial-Imagine Learning is a to tutorial program that I currently use in my classroom. I use this program with my ELL students. It provides them with individualized instruction to help them learn and advance with English. Another tutorial program that I would like to use in my classroom is Kids on the Keyboard. This program helps students learn to type.
Instructional Games- Primarygame.com is a great website for instructional games. It has a variety of games that are appropriate for specific ages. The website allows the students to have fun while learning a variety of topics from math and reading to science and social studies.
Problem solving- Jumpstart 2nd grade is a great program that I can use in the classroom. It is a game that requires the students to use all their skills to solve the problems and advance to the next level. I like it because it doesn't focus on one subject, but uses all.
Integrated Learning Systems-An example of this would be our Pearson Scott Foresman reading program that we currently use. This program provides a variety of educational tools for our school including an online site specific for our reading series. This site provides a wide range of tools for the teacher. It also allows the teacher to set up programs for the students to review or refresh skills.
There are several different types of software that can be used to help teachers in the classroom. Here is a list with examples:
Drill and practice- Math Manics is a drill and practice software program that I currently use in my classroom to help students learn and remember their math facts. The students work problems and advance based on how well they do.
Tutorial-Imagine Learning is a to tutorial program that I currently use in my classroom. I use this program with my ELL students. It provides them with individualized instruction to help them learn and advance with English. Another tutorial program that I would like to use in my classroom is Kids on the Keyboard. This program helps students learn to type.
Instructional Games- Primarygame.com is a great website for instructional games. It has a variety of games that are appropriate for specific ages. The website allows the students to have fun while learning a variety of topics from math and reading to science and social studies.
Problem solving- Jumpstart 2nd grade is a great program that I can use in the classroom. It is a game that requires the students to use all their skills to solve the problems and advance to the next level. I like it because it doesn't focus on one subject, but uses all.
Integrated Learning Systems-An example of this would be our Pearson Scott Foresman reading program that we currently use. This program provides a variety of educational tools for our school including an online site specific for our reading series. This site provides a wide range of tools for the teacher. It also allows the teacher to set up programs for the students to review or refresh skills.
Week 2
What are two issues shaping the role of technology in education?
One issue that has an impact on the role of technology in education today is the No Child Left Behind Act. This law has created schools and teachers that feel forces to get the right "score" or grade. In order to do this, teachers feel pressure to teach to the test. They only have time to teach the children what is necessary for them to do well on the standardized assessments. Because of this, teachers are not able to devote as much time to technology since technological issues are not part of the test. Technology information as basic as typing is not always intergrated into the classroom because teacher simply do not have the time to teach to the test and prepare students for the "real" world. This is a problem that needs to be given some real attention.
Another issue that affects technology in education today is the lack of funding. The economy has taken a serious dip in recent years. States are hurting for money, which leads to cuts in school funding. "Proration" has become a nasty word. With the cuts in funding, schools have to figure out how to get everything paid for. Technology is considered a frivilous expense when compared to paying salaries and utilities, so it gets cut. This cut means that teachers can not get the needed technological supplies to assist them in the classroom. The cuts in education budgets also mean that teachers get cut. With fewer teachers to teach, classroom sizes increase. The increase in classroom sizes means that there may not be enough computers or programs to go around. Another example of the pain of proration.
What is one thing we have learned from the history of educational technology that can help us shape today's uses?
Something that we have learned from the history of educational technology is that technology can not replace teachers. No matter how technologically advance we become as a society, we will still need teachers to help mold our young people. We need teachers that can see the impact that techology has on the world right now and use that knowledge to educate the students. Technology doesn't serve to replace teacher, but instead, serves to enhance both the teaching and learning experience.
One issue that has an impact on the role of technology in education today is the No Child Left Behind Act. This law has created schools and teachers that feel forces to get the right "score" or grade. In order to do this, teachers feel pressure to teach to the test. They only have time to teach the children what is necessary for them to do well on the standardized assessments. Because of this, teachers are not able to devote as much time to technology since technological issues are not part of the test. Technology information as basic as typing is not always intergrated into the classroom because teacher simply do not have the time to teach to the test and prepare students for the "real" world. This is a problem that needs to be given some real attention.
Another issue that affects technology in education today is the lack of funding. The economy has taken a serious dip in recent years. States are hurting for money, which leads to cuts in school funding. "Proration" has become a nasty word. With the cuts in funding, schools have to figure out how to get everything paid for. Technology is considered a frivilous expense when compared to paying salaries and utilities, so it gets cut. This cut means that teachers can not get the needed technological supplies to assist them in the classroom. The cuts in education budgets also mean that teachers get cut. With fewer teachers to teach, classroom sizes increase. The increase in classroom sizes means that there may not be enough computers or programs to go around. Another example of the pain of proration.
What is one thing we have learned from the history of educational technology that can help us shape today's uses?
Something that we have learned from the history of educational technology is that technology can not replace teachers. No matter how technologically advance we become as a society, we will still need teachers to help mold our young people. We need teachers that can see the impact that techology has on the world right now and use that knowledge to educate the students. Technology doesn't serve to replace teacher, but instead, serves to enhance both the teaching and learning experience.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Week 1
My name is Kelly Ellis. I live in New Market, AL with my husband, Justin, and our two children, Wyatt and Brenna. With both of our children being under two, they are pretty much a full time job, but I do have 18 other babies. I teach second grade in Huntsville. This is my first year teaching in a regular classroom and I love it!
I am currently taking classes toward my masters. I hope that with it I will be able to better serve my students.
My favorite classroom technology would probably be the active board, although I am still learning how to use it. Overall, I would have to say that the internet is the greatest technology, though.
I am currently taking classes toward my masters. I hope that with it I will be able to better serve my students.
My favorite classroom technology would probably be the active board, although I am still learning how to use it. Overall, I would have to say that the internet is the greatest technology, though.
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