Assignment #4

Again, I created a website for my technology project, which can be found here. Throughout the process of creating my website, I have learned so much. This was the first time I have ever done so, so everything was new to me. Figuring out what I wanted to add to my site and then creating it and adding a link was a challenge. It took me a long time to do this. Over time, I think that my site will really be able to develop and become great. I love that I can change it and do whatever I want to it whenever I decide. Although, remembering to keep all of the important stuff on the website without creating too much clutter is extremely important for students. There were multiple features that I used for this project. They are:

Creating a website on webs.com and adding links on the site for the following tools-

Wiki

Photobucket 

Delicious

Podcast

Blogspot

Flickr

A NETS standard that is covered by this project for teachers:

~By creating a website that includes an array of different tools, I can show my students that I have knowledge of technology and that we will learn from one another as that knowledge increases. I will continue to add to the site so that it stays current as technology develops.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
b.	collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

A NETS standard that is covered by this project for students:

~My project meets these standards because the the student must understand the basic funtioning of the technology tools supplied in order to use them. We will work together to fix problems that we come across. By using the tools provided to create projects, presentations, and to communicate with one another, students will learn technology operations and concepts. 

6.	Technology Operations and Concepts
	Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:
	a. understand and use technology systems. b. select and use applications effectively and productively. c. troubleshoot systems and applications. d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

Future Classroom

In five years, I hope that my classroom is full of energy and interaction between all students and myself. As I use technology more and more, I feel comfortable using it and sharing it with others. My role as a teacher is to share my knowledge with the students and teach them how to use and learn from the differents tools available to us. I will be learning along with the students as new technologies develop so patience is a must. Some pieces of technology that I hope to incorporate into my classroom are the SMARTBoard (or any interactive whiteboard), Document Projector, clickers or eggs, and of course the computer. I would love to use multiple technology devices everyday and hope that my students will be excited and willing to learn to use them as well. 

Peer Comments!

Hillary O.  

Liliya P.

Annie F. 

Bailey R. 

Tammy L.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

I have used all three of these tools. The main reason for using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is for school projects and assignments. I have worked with Word the most out of the three. It has many useful features. In Word, a person can write essays, take notes, make lists and handouts, and much more. It is capable of changing font size, color, and type and adding Clip Art or pictures from the Web. Excel is an excellent program as well. I like to use Excel for making charts. It provides neat columns and rows for organization. PowerPoint is best for showing a slideshow or information that is being taught. I have used these for class presentations and have seen teachers use PowerPoint to convey their lessons. PowerPoint is like Word, but is displayed in the form of slides. The information on each slide is typically short and sweet, with pictures and colors to add to the creativity. 

With Word, I could have my students write an essay on an historical event or figure. With Excel, my students could create a timeline for a period of time that we are studying. PowerPoint could be used to create a presentation on a researched topic that will then be presented to the class.  

K12 Online Conference

One conference that I visited was called Parents Engagement in the 21st Century. There were many points that I agreed with in this conference. The first woman speaking says early on that mistakes made by children in school are natural. There are consequences for their actions, but then we move on. I think sometimes certain teachers can dwell on their student's mistakes and even hold it against them. Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of life and we need to learn to move on. The main gist of the broadcast was finding and using tools to create more parent envolvement. Supporting our students and encouraging them to act and think responsibly is vital for their success. Matt Mantagne mentions that filtering school computers may do more harm then good. It challenges the student to find ways around the filter and also can block educational content. Learning what and how our children use tools available on the internet is key to building a relationship with them. If parents use the same tools that their children use (facebook, blogs, etc.) they will better know what their kids are doing online. Although this can be time consuming, it is important to make the time to engage. For parents and teachers both, resources need to be provided in order to remain updated on technology. This is one of the main problems here. Resources can be found everywhere, so with time and determination the task is not impossible. Overall, I think that these conferences are really handy in learning something new or expanding your knowledge of a particular subject. Parents, educators, and anyone else interested in the education field would greatly benefit from visiting this site and sites like this one.    

Reflection #7

As I was reading President Obama's plan about technology (read here), there were points that I strongly agreed with and some I was unsure about. The number one point raised is to keep the internet open to keep the ability of connecting individuals across the world possible. Another area I agreed with was preparing children for the 21st century economy, including the improvement of education in the math and science fields. The whole plan seems great and that it would alleviate many problems related to technology and education, but from this article, I do not see any direct solutions. The article explains the outcomes but not how we are going to get there.    

Reflection #6

During one of our class periods, we had three former education students visit and talk about their experiences. I found this to be very beneficial and wish that we could do this more often. I think it is different when a professor is describing the first year of teaching compared to someone who is going through it right now. The teaching field is continuously evolving, so it is necessary to incorporate new thoughts and ideas to keep us updated. I really appreciated the opportunity to speak to these women, and hope that future students will be able to do so as well.