This course has taught me many useful technology applications that I can implement to enhance my daily lesson. I have two special Aha moments during this semester; one was developing my electronic portfolio and the other while creating week four technology project using Jing and Screencast.
The electronic portfolio will be very functional to me because this will be my library of artifacts that I will begin to collect from this class and other classes I have and will take from Texas A&M-Commerce. Also, I will have use the ePortfolio to review for my comp exam, TExEs , and practicum at the end of this Fall semester. The ePortfolio will help me reflect on skills I have acquired during while obtaining my Masters in Elementary Education.
I really enjoyed using Jing and Screencast and I do intend to use those applications to help facilitate my students learning. By using the two applications I can introduce my lessons and have my students explore and construct their own learning. I am very excited to see the reactions on my students’ faces when they see an avatar speaking to them instead of me or the ability to replay instructions that they didn’t grasp. Technology is wonderful!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Week #4 Reflection
Q. Are you more comfortable with composing documents online than longhand?
A. Yes, the last time I sat down with paper and pen to write an essay, letter, etc. has been years.
Q. Have you turned your “remembering” (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device?
A. Unfortunately, YES =( When I was younger, I was the family’s telephone directory, any family members’ phone numbers I can instantly retrieve from my memory. Due to the convenience of cell phone, sometimes I have to pause a few seconds to remember my own number.
Q. Do you go to meetings with your laptop or PDA?
A. I can proudly answer NO =) I still tag along my dependable legal pad and calendar, then I return to my computer and transcribe =)
Q. How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
A. The skill of multi-tasking is bestowed upon me once I became a mom. I think three activities, maybe four max before I lose my cool.
Q. Do you play video or computer game?
A. I don’t like video games; however, I do play games on the computer but very infrequently.
Q. What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few?
A. I find myself with a mixture of Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Net Gen because my parents are Baby Boomers and I have inherited some of their characteristics. I am part of Gen X, with the I can do it myself attitude, skeptical, etc. but I have learned to adapt to the desire of instant speed of Net Gen and the dependency of technology devices.
Net Generation was raised around with technology devices therefore our teaching as to embrace the fact that traditional learning will bore them. Net Gen needs actions, vivid colors, noise, etc. Traditional teachers like to have their students sit in their assigned seats, take notes, read the chapters, turning pages… It is a challenge for today’s teachers to motivate their students to learn, for instance, instead of reading a book students can read from Kindles, iPads, and other modern devices. Net Gen communicates by reading from a screen and pressing buttons maybe it might be how they will read in the future and library books maybe obsolete.
A. Yes, the last time I sat down with paper and pen to write an essay, letter, etc. has been years.
Q. Have you turned your “remembering” (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device?
A. Unfortunately, YES =( When I was younger, I was the family’s telephone directory, any family members’ phone numbers I can instantly retrieve from my memory. Due to the convenience of cell phone, sometimes I have to pause a few seconds to remember my own number.
Q. Do you go to meetings with your laptop or PDA?
A. I can proudly answer NO =) I still tag along my dependable legal pad and calendar, then I return to my computer and transcribe =)
Q. How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
A. The skill of multi-tasking is bestowed upon me once I became a mom. I think three activities, maybe four max before I lose my cool.
Q. Do you play video or computer game?
A. I don’t like video games; however, I do play games on the computer but very infrequently.
Q. What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few?
A. I find myself with a mixture of Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Net Gen because my parents are Baby Boomers and I have inherited some of their characteristics. I am part of Gen X, with the I can do it myself attitude, skeptical, etc. but I have learned to adapt to the desire of instant speed of Net Gen and the dependency of technology devices.
Net Generation was raised around with technology devices therefore our teaching as to embrace the fact that traditional learning will bore them. Net Gen needs actions, vivid colors, noise, etc. Traditional teachers like to have their students sit in their assigned seats, take notes, read the chapters, turning pages… It is a challenge for today’s teachers to motivate their students to learn, for instance, instead of reading a book students can read from Kindles, iPads, and other modern devices. Net Gen communicates by reading from a screen and pressing buttons maybe it might be how they will read in the future and library books maybe obsolete.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Week #3 Reflection
The article, Electronic Portfolios as Digital Stories of Deep Learning, certainly made me reflect on my own learning and also the learning of my previous students. As I advanced in my studies, I wished I could have created an eportfolio to collect artifacts of my learning so I may reflect and measure my progression. Perhaps, the development of my electronic portfolio in this class maybe my stepping stone.
I agree that assessment of learning is essential for all students but of the ten research based principles related Assessment for Learning (AFL), I can mostly identify with learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve. I can relate more to the last tenet because the school that I am currently servicing has a 98% low SES, our students are mostly from single parent household or being raised by their grandparents; therefore, some are missing the supportive guidance to improve on their academic work and discipline. By developing an eportfolio to gather their work it will be less time consuming during weekly teacher-student conference time, so I can focus more on commending my students’ effort and recommending room for improvement.
The creation and development of my portfolio will help me know my current status in my education path. By reflecting on the artifacts I have collected in my portfolio, I will know my strengths and weaknesses, and begin a plan for improvement to help me attain my goals.
I agree that assessment of learning is essential for all students but of the ten research based principles related Assessment for Learning (AFL), I can mostly identify with learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve. I can relate more to the last tenet because the school that I am currently servicing has a 98% low SES, our students are mostly from single parent household or being raised by their grandparents; therefore, some are missing the supportive guidance to improve on their academic work and discipline. By developing an eportfolio to gather their work it will be less time consuming during weekly teacher-student conference time, so I can focus more on commending my students’ effort and recommending room for improvement.
The creation and development of my portfolio will help me know my current status in my education path. By reflecting on the artifacts I have collected in my portfolio, I will know my strengths and weaknesses, and begin a plan for improvement to help me attain my goals.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Week #2 Reflection
This week Technology Project was very interesting and fun to implement for settings of classroom, library, personal projects, and etc.. I really found that my information technology knowledge concerning websites’ origins were limited. The MAPping information activity taught me to be very selective about information on the internet. Also, I need to be more judgmental regarding the credibility/validity of my information.
I believe that it's very crucial for students to learn how to search for valid and unbiased information using the internet at an elementary level. Students may also need to learn the correct method of researching using Boolean limiters because it is vital for students to learn helpful researching technique so that they may collect narrow the retrieved data selection.
Also, I was very interested to use Delicious to better organize my information. I have bookmark many sites that will be very valuable for my HEID 595 research project. Plus, I have the opportunity to create a wiki for using PaintBrush for my reading club at school to post their comments/reviews about books they have read and students will be able to check out my new books collection too.
I love using wiki because it eliminate the email’s complication, adding the recipients, cc, and bcc fiasco. Multiple users can be an author of one document rather than one user per document. Also with the wiki, links may be added to the document, media, voices, images, and other gadgets which will entice the reader/receiver of the wiki. Some disadvantages are the “openness” for editing it may change the intended format of the creator, users need to have internet connectivity for usage for the wiki, confidentiality of documentation may be viewed by others, etc…
I would like to learn how to better embed avatars and other gadgets into wikis so it may enhance the image/format of my wiki.
I believe that it's very crucial for students to learn how to search for valid and unbiased information using the internet at an elementary level. Students may also need to learn the correct method of researching using Boolean limiters because it is vital for students to learn helpful researching technique so that they may collect narrow the retrieved data selection.
Also, I was very interested to use Delicious to better organize my information. I have bookmark many sites that will be very valuable for my HEID 595 research project. Plus, I have the opportunity to create a wiki for using PaintBrush for my reading club at school to post their comments/reviews about books they have read and students will be able to check out my new books collection too.
I love using wiki because it eliminate the email’s complication, adding the recipients, cc, and bcc fiasco. Multiple users can be an author of one document rather than one user per document. Also with the wiki, links may be added to the document, media, voices, images, and other gadgets which will entice the reader/receiver of the wiki. Some disadvantages are the “openness” for editing it may change the intended format of the creator, users need to have internet connectivity for usage for the wiki, confidentiality of documentation may be viewed by others, etc…
I would like to learn how to better embed avatars and other gadgets into wikis so it may enhance the image/format of my wiki.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
My Educational Technology Philosophy
My personal philosophy of educational technology has varied since I have the opportunity to learn more about technology in my graduate classes. I believe that there is nothing wrong with adjusting my philosophy because technology is not stagnant, it’s dynamic. I believe as a teacher, I should continually inform myself about new technology so my students may benefit from my knowledge.
As an educator, I believe that the integration of technology into the classroom curriculum is essential for students to succeed in this society of computers and gadgets. Furthermore, to adequately teach students new technology skills, teachers need to gain knowledge of the new technology in order to deliver the skills to students properly.
My philosophy of educational technology supports Constructivism, theory of Jerome Bruner, in which the students construct their own knowledge and the teacher main task is to facilitate their learning. I believe that students need to form their own knowledge through their personal experiences, beliefs, and previous knowledge because teachers cannot teach students to think for themselves, but teachers can set high expectations for their students to attain once the learn how to construct their own knowledge.
As an educator, I believe that the integration of technology into the classroom curriculum is essential for students to succeed in this society of computers and gadgets. Furthermore, to adequately teach students new technology skills, teachers need to gain knowledge of the new technology in order to deliver the skills to students properly.
My philosophy of educational technology supports Constructivism, theory of Jerome Bruner, in which the students construct their own knowledge and the teacher main task is to facilitate their learning. I believe that students need to form their own knowledge through their personal experiences, beliefs, and previous knowledge because teachers cannot teach students to think for themselves, but teachers can set high expectations for their students to attain once the learn how to construct their own knowledge.
Week #1 Reflection
I had a very confusing first week of Summer I sessions because I have Dr. Wickersham for HEID 595 and ETEC 524; therefore, I had to double check on assignments due for each class. Hopefully, I will get it straight soon!
I believe writing my philosophy was the most time consuming of this week assignment. After reading all the links to the different theories, I successfully settle with Constructivism. I found myself agreeing to many of the bullets under the Constructivism theory. Having written my education technology on paper, I have a better understanding of my expectations not only of my students but of myself also. The educational philosophy gave me an insight of what I have to improve in my professional development so my students can benefit from my knowledge and skills.
After reading Stephen Downes’ article on Educational Blogging, I was amazed about the integration of technology in today’s education. The potential to connect with the entire world and not your immediate learning community to view your writing is mind blowing. Also, I do never think that blogging can bring equity to students; regardless of their personalities every student has a voice. Students can access teacher’s instructions and others writing, share their own thoughts, etc. is a wonderful. However, I don’t believe that we have reached the potential of educational blogging due to the school antivirus and teachers’, parents’ and administrators’ previous experiences with blogging.
Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning was a very insightful. The validity of information on the Internet stood out of all the six outline areas. It is true that students believe everything they read on the Internet; therefore, as parents and teachers we have the responsibility to teach our students to decipher the information they retrieved from the Internet.
I enjoyed using Wordle as my application for the Concept Map assignment; I found myself having too much fun after several changes of layouts, fonts, and colors. My concept map is a representation of my view of Educational Technology which is much of internet, theories, wikis, etc. The map as a whole is plus more is my personal interpretation of educational technology.
I believe writing my philosophy was the most time consuming of this week assignment. After reading all the links to the different theories, I successfully settle with Constructivism. I found myself agreeing to many of the bullets under the Constructivism theory. Having written my education technology on paper, I have a better understanding of my expectations not only of my students but of myself also. The educational philosophy gave me an insight of what I have to improve in my professional development so my students can benefit from my knowledge and skills.
After reading Stephen Downes’ article on Educational Blogging, I was amazed about the integration of technology in today’s education. The potential to connect with the entire world and not your immediate learning community to view your writing is mind blowing. Also, I do never think that blogging can bring equity to students; regardless of their personalities every student has a voice. Students can access teacher’s instructions and others writing, share their own thoughts, etc. is a wonderful. However, I don’t believe that we have reached the potential of educational blogging due to the school antivirus and teachers’, parents’ and administrators’ previous experiences with blogging.
Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning was a very insightful. The validity of information on the Internet stood out of all the six outline areas. It is true that students believe everything they read on the Internet; therefore, as parents and teachers we have the responsibility to teach our students to decipher the information they retrieved from the Internet.
I enjoyed using Wordle as my application for the Concept Map assignment; I found myself having too much fun after several changes of layouts, fonts, and colors. My concept map is a representation of my view of Educational Technology which is much of internet, theories, wikis, etc. The map as a whole is plus more is my personal interpretation of educational technology.
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