WeEk 13: Extra BlogGing

I think this would the perfect opportunity to blog about this class. First, I really enjoyed the class because it allowed us to roam and explore new teaching methods which will come in handy when I get ready to teach. I like the technical side of this class. I plan to incorporate a lot of my teaching methods through technology. I think this class has open a lot of horizon on the different programs that are out there and available for teachers to use. I really enjoyed exploring through the program Inspiration. I thought this was probably the coolest of them all. I like the fact that it allowed students to make an easy to read notes page or diagram or even a web of notes. It then allowed students to create an outline based on the notes taken. I think this is one program I will use in my classroom setting. One of the least things I liked to do in the class is to blog or to post responses. I understand the teaching point of view of this and I will most likely do the same thing but in a students eye it's a little boring. I know we do this in order to show that we read the material and understand it. Like I said, I will probably use this same method. I think the resources online were more helpful and useful than the resources in the book. I think keeping the links is more valuable than keeping the book. Overall, I believe this course has expanded my potential in becoming a teacher. It taught me a lot of teaching methods and new ideas. This course will definitely stick with me in my teaching years.

WeEk 12: VoIcEThReaD

After exploring voicethread, i thought it was very interesting. I think it is a great tool for certain teachers to use. I think it's a great hands on tool especially when working with children with disabilities: LD, ED, AU, ADHD, and so forth. I really liked the doodler, this would be perfect for an elementary class. For example, this could be a positive reinforcement tool by allowing time to draw as a reward for good behavior or grades. I also like this site for Math class. I think it's a great way to work through math problems so that students can see step for step what is being done. Or even when reading word problems, the teacher can underline important numbers in different colors. I really liked this tool and I think it would definitely come in handy when using it in a classroom setting.

WeEk 10: Brochure and Resume

I think the activites this week went well. I really enjoyed them because it sort of put into perspective what is expected as a teacher. I liked the Resume one the best because this is the first point that we have to pass in order to start our teaching career. It will help prepare us for that first point as well. Plus, for someone like me, just getting started this can be somewhat of a template for my future resume. It is kind of exciting. The brouchure was cool because I got to read a lot of different philosophies which can help in my teaching method. I thought each philosophy was different and unique in it's own way and I really enjoyed reading them. I don't think i had any muddy points i just think it took a lot of thought to create each of the assignments. I think with Desktop Plublishing you can create a lot of activites for the classroom. Even brochures for the different Phylums or sort in Biology. I really thought it was cool.

WeEk 8: PoWeRpOinTs

I assume that the people in my group have started working on the project, but i don't know who's in my group nor the topic. I like to work by myself, but working in groups are okay too. I think sometimes you can get the work done a little faster, but realy I think working in groups is kind of lazy when one person can do a project on their own.

WeEk 7: Ch. 7 and JouRnaL

I believe it is important for teachers to match the technology they use in the classroom with instruction and activites to the same technology the students use. If the students are familiar with the technology they are more motivated to complete the assignments. It also allows the studentst to be interested in the activitiy as well as wanting to participate. If students are comfortable with the material they are more likely to pay attention in class as well.
I don't think that online chatting is valuable in the classroom. I believe it will cause disruption and the students are more likely to be distracted and talk off topic. I do believe that the teacher should set up an online chat room for the students for them to talk out of class about assignments and upcoming test or projects. I think that is the only successful way to incorporate online chatting in the classroom. In other way in my opinion will cause disruption.
I believe that their are benifits to asynchronous, text based communication over synchronous, face to face communication because students learn in their own time. If their on their own they won't feel rushed and can complete the assignment without anxiety. It also allows for immediate feedback. And when outside the class able to find answers easily.
I honestly dont believe it enhances learning. It is just a new way to deliever information. I think it's important to be in contact with teachers. It also ensures the teacher that the student is paying attention. I think one benifit for podcasting for students who missed class. They can see the lecture with ease.
I think video games can help your studying. It also depends on what type of video games being played. It helps with keeping the mind active and with small motor skills, hands eye cordiation. I probaly would let my child play video games daily but they would have to do homework and chores first. It would strictly stay a luxury for them to earn.

WeEk 6: DeLiCiOuS

I think the Delicious Site is sorta cool. I really don't use bookmarks all that often, so it's not necessarily an interest of mine. I think one positive thing out of it besides being able to get your bookmarks from any computer, is that you can look at other bookmarks that people have used. You might even use it as a lil search engine. I unfortunately will not use the Delicious Site. Like I stated before, I don't use bookmarks. I've practically memorized all the URLs that I use and never think about using the bookmark. So i think it's great for users who use bookmarks all the time and move and use different computers, but for someone like me, it's not all that great.

WeEk 5: WiKi in thE ClAssRoom

To be completely honest, I hate Wiki's. I think they are in no way a reliable source. At the community college I went to in Dallas, we were not allowed to use a wiki for anytype of source. Since ANYONE can add ANYTHING to it, how can it be reliable? There are too many educational sites and books and journals out there to rely on a source that could be false in all remarks. I'm not going to take that chance, and theres no way when i start teaching will i allow my students to use a wiki as a reliable source. CAn it be used in the classroom? Well according to the textbook it can. But I dont think it's any good. One of the things they talked about was doing what we're doing in class now. That is creating a new wiki page. I think this is ridiculous. I'd rather to a research report and turn in a small book, then to create a new web page that still isnt' reliable. It can be a great study tool, according to the book, but I'll have to disagree. Students who have to create a page for a test review aren't getting anything out of it, except more work. They have to make sure that there sources are getting cited and their words are correct and w/e else, I think they'll be more focused on the page itself then the material. This can be bad for children with disablilites. If this was an assignment for them, this could add so many extra hours to their already long homework. Since they have to spend more time on homework this in no way benifits them . As teachers we have to be able to accomadate everyone, not just the "normal" students. (That would be way to easy.)

Well in order to answer that question, there needs to be some research done. There needs to be two different classses of the same subject and level to answer that question. For example on class needs to be conversing through a community while the other should be traditonally taught and see how the grades and students interest compare. In my opinion, I would rather get traditonal teaching. I find it easier to learn, and you don't have to depend on everyone else except for the teacher to teach what needs to be taught. Learning communities don't tell students what is on the test. Lets all be serious, teachers are the only ones that knows whats going to be on the test, that who should be instructing us.

No I don't believe students have different learning styles because of their personalites. I think students have different learning styles because of their mentalities. People are all biologically different. Thats why are learning styles are different. I know plenty of people with the same personality as me, and they can't learn like I do and I cant learn like they do. I learn visually, I have a photographic memory, and I think that has absolutly nothing to do with me being outgoing and a giver. My identical twin sister has to learn by reading, and that has nothing to do with her personality. To be honest it makes no sense that a personality can reflect how a student is taught. I know reserved people who need to be ttaught visually. So therefore, if an outgoing person and a shy person learn the exact way, what does that tell u?!...the test can help determine a little about your students. But like i posted before, no test can accurately describe one person. The best way to get to know your students is talking to them, not making them take a personality test.

WeEk 5: PerSonAliTy TeST ReSulTs

My PERSONALITY TYPE IS:
ENFJ aka " THE GIVER"
According to the site, I am a "people-focused individual". I care about people and am pretty outgoing. Also I apparently have a gift for "bringing out the best in others". My personality's main interest in life is " giving love, support, and a good time to other people." " Focused on understading, supporting, and encouraging others." I " make things happen for people, and get my best personal satisfaction from this." I aslo tend to "put other people's needs " in front of my own. Thats just a little what they said about my personality type.
For the most part I'll have to agree. I am a very open person, and I do spend most of time supporting others and doing things for others. I'm critized a lot by my family who says I do more for people than I do for my self. I'll have to agree. I love people, I love working with people, I just understand them. The one thing I'll have to disagree with was that it said we could take our gift and use it as manipulation. I dont think I've ever done this, maybe with my boyfriend but not on anything seriously. One thing I did find interesting it said, "ENFJs have a strong need for close, intimate relationships,and will put forth a lot of effort in creating and maintaining these relationships. They're very loyal and trustworthy once involved in a relationship." And this really stood out to me. Since my father was a football coach we never really got to see him growing up, so it was practically like I didnt have father so I always blamed that for why I constantly had a boyfriend. my mom always said i just need a mans love bc my dad wasnt always there. Well maybe its bc of my personality! All of my relationships have lasted a long time, the shortest is my current and we've been dating for 2 years now. I'm very loyal to my boyfriend and all my past boyfriends. I've always tried to make it work even if it wouldnt. I found this exercise to be revealing, but no test can accuratly describe a person.

WeEk 4: SpReaDsHeeTs

Spreadsheets are very helpful in the classroom. My father who just retired as a teacher, always used spreadsheets whether it was for classwork or keeping his grades. I like to use excel a lot with all of my classes. I make grading summaries for myself so I can keep up with my grades, plus it's super helpful when you're trying to stay organized. I would definitely use it in my class. It was fun making a crossword puzzle with it, plus it's good for studying. I would also make grade summaries for all my children that way when they go home, mom and dad can see how they are doing in the class.

As teachers, we use spreadsheets for the exact functions that it was made for: storing, calculating, and presenting information. We store information for example, each of the columns and rows are all related in some way, sort of like a database, we can use it for storing students grades and other types of information. We use spreadsheets to calculate grades or even mathematical problems. Being able to identify a solution to the problem too. WE also use it in presenting information, as our first assignment this week, we had to create a grade sheet along with a graph and material aid. All of these are use in a school year. I've never been in any class where there wasn't some type of chart, using spreadsheets are vital for the classroom. One advantage a spreadsheet has over a computer is that in a computer you must input every step one by one, where as in the spreed sheet the info is there and all you have to come up with an equation or click some buttons and your answer is revealed. Plus, it's an advantage time wise when you have 5 classes of 30 to calculate. As I mentioned earlier, I believe the 3 functions are the most useful thing that comes out of the spreadsheets. There are many things that you can do with a spreadsheet they just all fall under one of those 3 categories.

WeEk 3:InspiRaTion

Inspiration is actually very useful for teachers and students. It's a great way to take notes quickly, plus it allows you to be very organized. It's easy to switch from a visual web to a outline notes page. You can add pictures and diagrams and a lot of little extras to your notes. You can easily use this program in class. Teachers can use it to set up powerpoints. I know I spend a lot of time setting up diagrams on powerpoints, but this inspiration progam allows you to create a diagram in half the time. Students can use it to take quick notes. What I like about it, it is very helpful for children with LD (Learning Disabilities).This is a useful way to teach kids how to take notes (all grades). Since children with LD sometimes need a visual aid or help taking notes this is a perfect solution. You can guide children along on how to use it in a computer lab. It's easy to do step by step notes, it teaches the lesson, plus children have a helpful study guide to take home or access online.

I think a useful way to do writing assignments is blogging. I think the only useful way to do that is during class though. You can't always rely on children having the technology at home, so still peer reviewing on line will still take time in class. I think for peer review is to let the student take home anothers paper and review and have time. This way they dont blow it off they actually do it. Also reviewing papers on the computer helps as well. It shows what's misspelled incorrect grammar and so forth. Feedback is important it allows another perspective along with new ideas , it could help with confidence in writing too.

WeEk 2: QuEsTiOn 3

I don't ever really use blogs. I have in the past maybe two or three times just to get some ideas off my head. I've used myspace and facebook to do so. I think they are okay to use in the classroom but for personal use, they are somewhat obsolete in my opinion.
Blogs can definitely be successful in the class room. It is probably the easiest way to communicate with students and parents. Parents can go online, find out what happen in class without having to actually call the teacher. Students can go online and get missing assignments if they were sick or if they lost or misplaced their assignments they can get them that way as well. Students are more likely to be embarassed to ask the teacher for another copy, too. Plus, teachers would probably find it better to use a blog so that they have more space. By that I mean, they don't have to print out so many papers. Just like the principle said from the audio, they cut their paper budget by 50% because of the blogging.
People who believe blogging in the classroom is a waste of time probably has a point. I think blogging in class is a waste of time. It's the blogging after class that is productive. I think a teacher should take out a maximum of a week to teach the children how to use it, but other than that I would only refrence back during class if need be. Children can access the blog after class, because during class would cause for distraction. Everyone can admit if they had a chance in highschool or middle school to blog in class, they would use the internet for everything else but that. The only time I would use blogging in the classroom would be during a computer science class or where I could limit where the internet could go.
Some technology that you could use in the classroom would to be able to chat online. For instance, teachers could talk to other teachers from anywhere in the world to come up with new classroom ideas. Students could connect with other students from across the world and learn about their culture and lifestlye as well share their own beliefs and behaviors.

AbOuT mE!

I am a Junior at Texas A&M-Commerce. I just transferred from Richland Community College in Dallas, TX. I have my Associates Degree in Sciences. I plan to receieve my degree in Computer Science at A&M. After recieving my Bachelors degree, I plan to work for my Masters immediately. My parents were both teachers, so it's in my blood to like going to school. My mother taught at El Centro College in downtown Dallas, and now is the Executive Dean over Allied Health and Legal Studies and has her own building that she is in charge of. My father just retired from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, TX. He taught history and was a football and track coach. I have two older brothers, Scott who is 31 with a family of 4, his wife, my neice,and nephew. My other brother, KC, is in the Marines in the financial department. I haven't seen him in over a year so i really miss him. I have a twin sister, Colleen, who has baby that is about to be 10 months. I helped raise her the first 7 months. I love playing volleyball, I played in Highschool and on a club team. I was also Varsity Cheerleading captian at Berkner High School. I love watching football, my dad taught me a lot, so I'm a huge fan. I support and love my Cowboys, regardless if they have a good team or not i love them! There's not too much else about me!