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!