Journal post #7

CHAPTER 7 
PROBLEM SOLVING AND INQUIRY LEARNING with SOFTWARE and WEB TOOLS

Focus Question 4: How can teachers use computer games and simulations as learning resources?

• Digital games for learning represent a new category of educationally themed games that focus on active learning, sustained concentration and focus and new ways to problem solving.
• Strategies for effectively using games in the classroom include minimizing those that teach isolated skills, carefully choosing games that solely based on winning or losing points, discussing game content with students and actually playing games with your students.
• When people play games they are learning a new literacy, one that is grounded in learning how to read visual images on screens and understanding it this promotes visual learning and visual literacy.

Tech Tool: Scratch

This chapter had some really cool resources in their "Tech Tool" section. The one that I found to interesting was a cool and highly engaged programming system called Scratch. With Scratch, you can create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art while sharing your creations on the web! As old as I am, I found myself actually enjoying this cool website and appreciating more of what technology has done and is still doing today. Below is an tutorial on how to use Scratch...enjoy:)  

Summary&Connection
Computer games are very popular among young children and adolescents today, from jumping over explosive landmines to taking care of farm animals, computer games are great at getting a child in that engaged and excited mindset so why not use them for educational purposes as well? Even though some educators might disagree with taking part with any type of gaming in the classroom I really do think that as a teacher you  have to know how to guide and direct what goes on your classroom and how you want your students to learn. I have always been a some what of a slow learner. I remember using educational websites in kindergarten and those online games and simulations really did make a difference for me when it came to me becoming a better reader and critical thinker today


Resources

Maloy, R. W. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Journal post #6

CHAPTER 6 Teaching with Educational Websites and Other Online Resources

Focus Question:How might educational websites provide interactive and engaging learning experiences  for students?

• Educational  websites provide opportunities for students to explore their own questions or through a site in a nonlinear, self-directed manner.

• Educational websites allow students to engage with online material through stories, characters, mysteries, and controversial issues.

 Interactivity, exploration and engagement are great features to look for on an educational  website. An excellent education website teaches rather than presents information just like a teacher in a classroom to students.



Tech Tool: WebQuest
Before this post I was not sure what a WebQuest was so i typed it into Google and I soon discovered thousands of online lessons created by teachers around the world. Through this i learned that a WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning. The greatest thing for me about a WebQuest is that it provides interactive virtual explorations of ideas and concepts. One of my goals in life is to travel and just explore new things I know I would really enjoy an activity involving a WebQuest. I found a really cool example of a WebQuest designed for 5th graders where they are to explore and sale the seas with a well-known explorer from the past. The student must write a persuasive letter to convince the crew to let you stay aboard and be a sailor.  http://mrshuttersclass.tripod.com/


Summary&Connection
I learned a couple things in this chapter. I know it is important for educators to switch it up a bit to keep students engaged and learning. I learned what a WebQuest was and how cool it would be to use in my own classroom. Students can even create their own Quest and have each other explore,critic or even grade each other! Educational technology is growing pretty fast these days and this chapter does well with guiding a teacher with ways they can be apart of the growth as well.

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

Journal post#5

 RESEARCHING and EVALUATING INTERNET INFORMATION

photo credit : http://www.sllboces.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=698

Focus question #1:What is the meaning of information literacy for teachers and students.

• Instantly available information on the internet is transforming the work of teachers, creating the need to teach students how to access and assess the resources and materials they find online.
• Teaching students how to do internet research is a crucial element of information literacy an dinvolves learning how to recognize and utilize high-quality electronic information
• Information literacy and Internet research together enable students to act as critical readers and thoughtful researchers in Web-based environments.

Tech Tool 5.1 : Photo and audio resources on the web
 Pictures and sound are valuable resources for creative learning and teaching. Images always make an huge impact on a students learning. Students enjoy visual images because it gives them some kind of understanding in a lesson it keeps them engaged and helps them grasp the ideas the teacher is trying to put out.. I have heard a lot about cool photo websites like Flickr as a resource to put images in projects and assignments. With Flickr you can manage and share your photos with a number of instructional options for teachers to add visual learning resources to your curriculum.



Summary and Connection

In summary this chapter is all about how teachers and students can realize the possibilities and meet the challenges of the vast library of information known as the Internet. Both teachers and students need that educational information. I believe that it is important for teachers to really know what they are doing when beginning a new lesson plan especially in ways that they can  get the message out with a clear understanding from the students . Teachers should not feel reluctant to go online looking for ideas to help with a lesson or to just do some quick research after all, the internet is great for that. The internet is full of ideas and tools for students and teachers. For myself I know I would use the internet a lot for many things because I want to make sure I am accurate about what I am doing and have enough back-up research knowledge to answer a students question.


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

Journal Post number 4

 

CHAPTER 4: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY AND CREATING CHANGE

 




Focus Question 2: What are the key stages and pressing issues of technology integration?

• Technology integration stages include entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation, and invention.  

• Even though technology integration promotes a powerful and unique transformation in a classroom a pressing issue is that not every curriculum idea or instructional activity needs to feature computers, the internet, or other electronic tools. 

other issues include

• Unwillingness to change favorite lesson plans to include technology.
• Reluctance to use technology when teaching new lesson plans.
• Using computers as a reward or punishment for students.

 Successful technology integration is affected by a number of issues within the work of classroom teachers. It can be harder for teachers with a teacher-centered approach or teachers who might feel a bit insecure to step aside and give over some of the control classroom learning to students by using computer technologies. I thought that the text did a really great job on providing tips on how to.

Tech Tool Link: Edutopia www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt          
 Edutopia is a great website with free and awesome information to inspire innovative teaching in K-12 Schools. It features a fine collection of technology integration resources. Though the site might be a little overwhelming to some, it can be a cool starter guide especially if you are a new teacher who might feel a bit clueless on how to get stared with this whole technology "stuff."


I really enjoyed this chapter! I think that it is a worthwhile challenge to make any change if it is aimed to better something especially in the classroom and with the different learning styles. So what if you are a teacher who wasn't surrounded my Ipads and computers growing up! The beautiful thing about it all is that we don't everything and everyday there is something new to learn. In all, this chapter offers practical approaches to help us connect technology into both classroom and professional work. Instead of seeing those issues as a setback we must see it as a chance to create above and beyond.


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