Well first I would like to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our blogs and our 6010 class!!
I see myself as an Instructional Technologist for an elementary school as a computer resource teacher or as a school district facilitator in charge of elementary schools.
I found myself drawn to the Guidance System for Transforming Education (a systematic change). In my school and county, we need to make system-wide changes to make sure all of our students are receiving adequate technology use to ensure they can function well in our society. I know for a fact my students are not functioning at all when it comes to computer knowledge. I believe that there should be yearly technology assessments that are given starting in kindergarten that wouldn't take much time at all to give and record data. Basically, if a teacher has to assess it, then it will be taught, especially if the principal puts a high priority on it.
I like the way the GSTE has phases. You can not make big changes overnight but slow and steady. I would love to be a part of the starter team or the leadership team.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Instructional Media/Methods
Well there are a lot of examples of instructional media that I use and that also interest me but I haven't had the opportunity to choose yet.
I currently use discovery streaming through the discovery education website. I have my laptop hooked up to my projector and bingo you can watch a video on pretty much any topic you choose. For example, my class is thinking of science fair topics. On Friday, we watched a short video on what a science fair project is and what format to use. The kids were involved and saw much more than if I drew a project board on my white board. So on Friday I used my computer and a video from the internet. I would have to say that the internet, computers (used by my students and me) and vidoes are the examples of instructional media that I most often use.
As of now, I haven't used blogging within my classroom setting but that doesn't mean that I will not.
My students are completing a United States project where they have to prepare a powerpoint presentation on one of the 50 states. They are importing pictures from the internet and researching as well. With their powerpoint presentation, my students are watching me demonstrate how to utilize their laptop. They are also using the peer tutoring because once I have taught a group a new concept on the computer then they teach each other. It's a wonderful and powerful thing to watch: kids teaching each other!!
As for the future, I will continue to use computers, the internet, and videos. The first two intructional media pieces, right now, I use daily with my students. I would like to gain more knowledge of podcasting. I see real relevance to using this tool within my classroom. I could see my students watching me help give instructions or show a demonstration of a certain skill through a podcast while I am assisting other students in the classroom. That would be so cool!!
I currently use discovery streaming through the discovery education website. I have my laptop hooked up to my projector and bingo you can watch a video on pretty much any topic you choose. For example, my class is thinking of science fair topics. On Friday, we watched a short video on what a science fair project is and what format to use. The kids were involved and saw much more than if I drew a project board on my white board. So on Friday I used my computer and a video from the internet. I would have to say that the internet, computers (used by my students and me) and vidoes are the examples of instructional media that I most often use.
As of now, I haven't used blogging within my classroom setting but that doesn't mean that I will not.
My students are completing a United States project where they have to prepare a powerpoint presentation on one of the 50 states. They are importing pictures from the internet and researching as well. With their powerpoint presentation, my students are watching me demonstrate how to utilize their laptop. They are also using the peer tutoring because once I have taught a group a new concept on the computer then they teach each other. It's a wonderful and powerful thing to watch: kids teaching each other!!
As for the future, I will continue to use computers, the internet, and videos. The first two intructional media pieces, right now, I use daily with my students. I would like to gain more knowledge of podcasting. I see real relevance to using this tool within my classroom. I could see my students watching me help give instructions or show a demonstration of a certain skill through a podcast while I am assisting other students in the classroom. That would be so cool!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
What do I think of ISD?
My whole teaching philosophy is basically based on this model. Whenever I am planning on teaching anything new to my students, I use the ADDIE approach. I just never knew I was using it.
I do not feel there are any weaknesses but definietly wanted to point some huge strengths.
I feel that evaluation sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with teachers. I am to blame as well. Reading about this ISD model has reminded me to formatively and summatively evaluate student progress. I do a good job with summative evaluations. I am now assessing my students with shorter more frequent assessements which helps me know what I need to be teaching. What this actually does for me is I don't plan far in advance anymore. I plan according to student needs and now I know more often what they need. That probably sounds confusing but I understand it perfectly.
I use the analysis phase or I call it preassessment with everything I teach. It gets the students thinking about the topic and at lot of times gets them excited.
One of my favorite instructional practices is cooperative learning. My students sit in groups and I expect them daily to work together to solve problems or to get a task done. This helps with the amount of talking in the classroom. I give them permission to talk about their assignment so they aren't quiet very much of the day.
I do not feel there are any weaknesses but definietly wanted to point some huge strengths.
I feel that evaluation sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with teachers. I am to blame as well. Reading about this ISD model has reminded me to formatively and summatively evaluate student progress. I do a good job with summative evaluations. I am now assessing my students with shorter more frequent assessements which helps me know what I need to be teaching. What this actually does for me is I don't plan far in advance anymore. I plan according to student needs and now I know more often what they need. That probably sounds confusing but I understand it perfectly.
I use the analysis phase or I call it preassessment with everything I teach. It gets the students thinking about the topic and at lot of times gets them excited.
One of my favorite instructional practices is cooperative learning. My students sit in groups and I expect them daily to work together to solve problems or to get a task done. This helps with the amount of talking in the classroom. I give them permission to talk about their assignment so they aren't quiet very much of the day.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Question #3 How do we learn?
In my teaching experience, I believe that my students learn best by doing. They need to manipulate objects, role play, create and discover. They need legitimate chances to make decisions and talk about what they are learning.
I am an advocate of the Dual Coding Theory. It states that students learn best when given more than one source of information. For example, recently I was teaching my students about the layers of the rainforest. I showed them what these layers were in a picture from a book, had them research the layers on google and had them create a picture of these layers using only cut construction paper and glue. The students were able to see the layers, make the layers and research using the computer. Using these different ways to teach a lesson leads me to the next theory I believe strongly in, Gardner's multiple intelligences.
I believe that everyone has a learning style(s) preference, whether it's musical, spatial or linguistic. I believe that tapping into many of these styles of learning will enhance every learner whether child or adult.
The days of students sitting down all day and round robin reading a story outloud are over, thankfully!!
I am an advocate of the Dual Coding Theory. It states that students learn best when given more than one source of information. For example, recently I was teaching my students about the layers of the rainforest. I showed them what these layers were in a picture from a book, had them research the layers on google and had them create a picture of these layers using only cut construction paper and glue. The students were able to see the layers, make the layers and research using the computer. Using these different ways to teach a lesson leads me to the next theory I believe strongly in, Gardner's multiple intelligences.
I believe that everyone has a learning style(s) preference, whether it's musical, spatial or linguistic. I believe that tapping into many of these styles of learning will enhance every learner whether child or adult.
The days of students sitting down all day and round robin reading a story outloud are over, thankfully!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tech Career Question 2
I chose the job title of Education Consultant II (9-12 Social Studies Consultant)
The qualifications are: masters degree in any social studies content area and 4 years classroom teaching experience, preference will be given to someone who incorporates digital literacy into their instruction.
The position includes:
using technology tools, clarifying curriculum goals, developing training materials, identifying and locating resources related to curriculum, delivering quality training etc.
I would apply for th job. I have a love of technology and Social Studies. It would be like combining two of my loves together so I guess it would be the perfect job for me. I teach 2 classes daily of 5th grade social studies and it's my most favorite time of the day.
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/jobs/
The qualifications are: masters degree in any social studies content area and 4 years classroom teaching experience, preference will be given to someone who incorporates digital literacy into their instruction.
The position includes:
using technology tools, clarifying curriculum goals, developing training materials, identifying and locating resources related to curriculum, delivering quality training etc.
I would apply for th job. I have a love of technology and Social Studies. It would be like combining two of my loves together so I guess it would be the perfect job for me. I teach 2 classes daily of 5th grade social studies and it's my most favorite time of the day.
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/jobs/
Saturday, August 23, 2008
EDTC 6010 August 23 Define Tech
Instructional technology - teaching using any tool or machine to enhance or enable someone to gather information quickly using graphics and sound
To me technology (within the school system) consists of computers, televisions, my elmo projector, and even MP3 players that are accessible to check out by the students. In my situation I see a wide range of technology usage. I have students on the computers every day researching a topic or publishing a piece of writing. On the other end of that spectrum, I see teachers that have never been to the computer lab.
Here's an example of varying student experience with computers at my school.
Last August, at the beginning of the year, I asked my students to go to google and search for "layers of the rainforest." I noticed that none of my students knew how to begin. They had never researched anything on the computer at school. I was shocked and sad. At that point I had a beginner lesson on what google and yahoo were and why we use them. Within 2 weeks, my students were researching on their own and switching back and forth between the internet and their word document. I was a little mad that teachers before me weren't using computers. Technology objectives are a part of our North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
While all teachers are different with their teaching styles, the goals we teach each year are the same in our core subjects. Why is that not the case for technology? The computer experience each student receives relies exclusively on their teacher's confidence and knowledge of how to use the computer. That just doesn't seem fair to the students.
To me technology (within the school system) consists of computers, televisions, my elmo projector, and even MP3 players that are accessible to check out by the students. In my situation I see a wide range of technology usage. I have students on the computers every day researching a topic or publishing a piece of writing. On the other end of that spectrum, I see teachers that have never been to the computer lab.
Here's an example of varying student experience with computers at my school.
Last August, at the beginning of the year, I asked my students to go to google and search for "layers of the rainforest." I noticed that none of my students knew how to begin. They had never researched anything on the computer at school. I was shocked and sad. At that point I had a beginner lesson on what google and yahoo were and why we use them. Within 2 weeks, my students were researching on their own and switching back and forth between the internet and their word document. I was a little mad that teachers before me weren't using computers. Technology objectives are a part of our North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
While all teachers are different with their teaching styles, the goals we teach each year are the same in our core subjects. Why is that not the case for technology? The computer experience each student receives relies exclusively on their teacher's confidence and knowledge of how to use the computer. That just doesn't seem fair to the students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)