Journal Post #3

Chapter 3- Developing Lessons with Technology

Focus Question #4: How can teachers evaluate and assess their students?

There are several ways teachers can evaluate and assess their students here are a few

• Teachers use test and performance assessments to measure the knowledge of students before, during and after teaching lessons.
• Technology offers multiple ways to conduct test and performance assessments, both as part of traditional measures such as tests and quizzes and in supporting performance measures such as portfolios, exhibitions, and student writing.
• Performance evaluation is based on assessing how students perform when they are asked to complete a specific task or assignment. 

Tech Tool Link 3.3 RubiStar
Is a very accessible tool not only for the instructor, but for the student as well. It is an online tool that helps the teacher create rubrics to evaluate their students. It has six areas to asses multimedia, products, experiments, oral projects, research and writing, and work skills. Rating scales can either be numbers or descriptive such as excellent or needs improvement. Students and their parents can gain more concrete feedback on what areas they are excelling in and what areas need improving.

* http://rubistar.4teachers.org/



*Photo credit
http://www.webanywhere.co.uk/blog/2011/09/primary-school-e-safety/

Summary and Connection Developing Lessons with Technology
This chapter was insightful because, in today's world technology is ever growing, especially in education. Assessments were a major part of my education growing up, and I believe that is a tradition that should continue to be used. A type of assessment I would like to explore in helping students to learn are journals. Because I write a lot and I feel if the student can write down and share their thoughts and look back on how much they've improved, its very motivating. Though these assessments may be good for some and confusing for others, I truly believe that is where your capabilities to be a teacher kicks in, to be able to help the student.

Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. New York, NY; Allyn & Bacon. 

Journal Post #2

Lucy Marc EME2040

Chapter 2
Transforming Learning With Unique, Powerful Technology

Focus question: How does technology create student engagement and collaboration?

To engage means to occupy, attract, or involve. Engaging students is at the heart of teaching and as a teacher you need to have the right tools to get students engaged and excited to learn. Technology promotes active learning or discovery learning which refers to the direct involvment of students in educational activities. Discussion boards, online publishing, digital games for learning, collaborative researching,  are some different strategies that will promote engagement of students. Teaching a child different ways to engage themselves with differnt learning tools and skills is always a win especially for a student who may not have much support at home but may have a computer to still be able to reach out to other classmates and teacher for help via blogging, emailing, conference calls even video chat! Todays technology is so enhanced that we are able to do things beyond the clasroom.

 Technology is such a powerful motivator for students when used well for example, enlarging students' technological skills, teaching a difficult area-math, science, reading and most of engaging stundents' "inner attention" which is helping students to think deeply about a topic.

Tech Tool Link: Blogs

Blogs are great for generating online discussions about academic topics. Students and teachers can post ideas and information then get electronic feedback. This is my first time having a blog and I think that it is a great engaging tool for students and teachers.
 
 
Summary & Connection
Technology can really transform a classroom into a place of creation, innovation, and collaboration.
I truly believe in active learning not just sitting behind a desk trying to absorb everything a teacher says and then hope for the best when it comes to testing. I found a lot of great points in this chapter especially the importance of engaging and collaborating.

Resources: Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 

 

http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010/learning-engage-and-empower

Journal Post #1

Lucy Marc EME2040
 Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Chapter 1 Becoming an E-Teacher

Focus Question: How do new technologies create new opportunities for teaching and learning.

 New technologies create new opportunities for teaching and learning in many ways. For the teacher, technology provides support such as classroom management, record keeping, lesson planning and presentation. New technology can always help enhance how effective a teacher would like to be in the classroom. It is important for teachers to conform and stay updated with the ever-changing technology world and expand student-teacher learning styles. A technology-based environment is an environment where students experience new and challenging things, it helps students connect  with new and different people, places, and things. Technology can take us to places we have never been nor are likely to ever go. There is always something to learn with technology and it is important that it is taught effectively and in the proper way when using it in the classroom.

 

photo credit: ruthcatchen.wordpress.com

The transforming power of information and communication in technology makes it necessary to re-examine the way technology is used in K-12 schools. Our " tech-hungry"society demands that teachers and students expand their ways of teaching and learning. Teachers prepare, deliver and assess lessons differently while students think critically and creatively with the technology they use. Though I consider myself to be a bit an old-fashioned I believe that it is important for me to be able to use new things to face new problems quickly and effectively its almost as if we have no choice but to keep up. Educational technologies offer exciting, engaging, and effective alternatives to traditional instructional methods.

 Tech Tool Link: 7 Things You Should Know About

 "7 Things You Should Know About..." is a series of short, practical briefs on new and emerging technologies written by the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. Asking yourself important questions can really give you that boost you need when getting yourself comfortable with new technology. From group texting and micro lectures to 3D painting this website really helps you to open your mind to tackle different technology forms.

The "7 Things"  

• What is it?
• How does it work?
• Who's doing it?
• Why is it significant 
• What are the downsides
• Where is it going?
• What are the implications for teaching and learning?  

Summary & Connection 
 

 This introductory chapter really gets you deep into the core of how important technology is in the classroom for a teacher and most of all for the student. The main idea is to create a highly interactive, inquiry-based environment where students can grow creatively and be able to think critically to solve problems, communicate, and work together with others in fun and innovative ways. I'm very excited to see how even more significant technology will be in the future and in schools.

Resources: Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.