Course Reflection

BLOG: I loved creating the blog. I find it to be easy to create and setup and especially easy to make changes. I like that you can choose the layout, fonts, color, and arrangement. I like using the template approach sometimes, especially when it is something new, but I also like to change things up a bit to make them more interesting and fun. I think this was a helpful part of this class. I think writing a blog is useful to keep everything in one place. This is something I could easily access at work or home and allow me the freedom of not worrying if I brought my thumb drive with me or not – it is already there. When I do teach I will be using this tool. This will be something the students of any age would like to do and something they can easily share with friends and family. It is like being published. Their work can be put on display to a large audience. My area lends itself greatly to use this tool. For example, students can use the blog the same way we are using it for this course. It is perfect to submit a portfolio. This would also be a great way for students to post discussions, access their peer’s blog, and comment on their posts. I think this forces students to stop and think before something comes out of their mouths, so the answers are more thoughtful and insightful.

THREADED DISCUSSION: Even though there was not much we had to do with threaded discussion, I use it every week for another class. This is a good tool. You can select to thread or not to thread the discussion. This also allows for you to create a new comment or to continue with someone else’s comment. This keeps it neat and tidy and is more easily followed. I am not really sure if I would use this tool at a level other than college. I am not sure it would be something I would use at high school level. I think I would use other ways of posting a discussion. However, I think it is very useful and something I would use at the college level.

LISTSERV: I do like the Listserv tool, but I am not overly impressed by its usefulness. I think it can be very useful to manage very large lists. However, I am not sure it would save me a lot of time. I can use Microsoft Outlook to manage contacts and put them in groups and I can also use my personal email account to do the same. Then I can even delete them when I am done or keep them in a group.

PODCAST CLIPS: The Podcast clips were helpful. They are not my favorite thing, but they are a reliable resource. This gives the option for someone who learns better hearing the information rather than just reading the information. I think I would use this tool when I teach because it is something that is easily done by the instructor, easily accessed by the student, and matches one way of reaching students in regards to the multiple intelligences category. This can also be used as a teaching tool. Students would love to create their own podcast. An example of a way this could be accomplished would be as a group project. Students could be broken into groups of 3-4 students and given the task of becoming “professionals” of a specified part of a chapter or skill. The students could plan and produce their own podcast teaching the rest of the class the information from their part of the chapter or the skill. This would have to be closely overseen by the teacher to ensure the information presented by the students in the podcast is accurate.

VIDEO CLIPS: I found the video clips to be useful in some areas, but a bit boring in others. Some of the video clips just went on and on and were a bit slow. This may have been in areas I had already easily comprehended the information and/or had already known what I needed to about it. I cannot honestly say that the video clips made a big difference to me. I do think this could be a good tool to use as a teacher and one that the students would also enjoy using. This tool could be used in any subject area. I do think this would be particularly useful in mathematics. Personally, I have watched hundreds of video clips with most coming from YouTube. I have also created some clips with some being on YouTube. This is such a popular thing for everyone, not just young people and could be a really fun way to teach something or learn something. I had fun creating my video clips and it was neat having it on YouTube. My own children love doing the same thing and regularly watch video clips, so it would be a natural thing for this to be a teaching and learning tool. A good way to use this tool would be for the teacher to have a video done of the teacher completing a math problem requiring multiple steps with the teacher explaining how to complete the problem while writing it out where the person watching the clip could see. I had to try and figure out how to work a problem that my daughter brought home and this is how I learned how to complete it. This would also be a great resource for parents. Video clips could be very useful to link to the class website for students and parents alike to access to make sure they can work their math homework problems.

HANDS-ON PROJECTS: I love hands-on projects. There should not ever be any class that does not have plenty of hands-on projects. I would definitely use hands-on projects in any class I teach. I think the way students retain the information is by doing something with it and if they are not provided projects requiring them to actually do something with it I find it very doubtful they could remember the information next year, much less, the next month. There are so many ways the teacher could use hands-on projects in the classroom. Here is one example: The teacher instructs students on how to troubleshoot a hard drive when the computer is having issues. The student would actually have a computer and hard drive in the classroom to be able to work on and troubleshoot on. The teacher could guide them through step-by-step. If the teacher just presented this information to the student in a PowerPoint presentation the student would have a very difficult time relating that information to an act. The student must be able to have hands-on experiences in order to fully get it.

ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIOS: I really like the concept of electronic portfolios. I have had to create them in previous classes and actually had fun doing it. One portfolio I had to complete was with PowerPoint. It was a challenge making sure every link worked and all the slides were transitioning the way I needed them to, but I liked doing it. I would use this tool in my class when I am teaching. I think this should be used in all courses. This could be adapted to fit every class and could really be a great showcase of the students work and allows for easy access for whoever the student wants to share it with.

TRACKSTAR: I thought the Trackstar was a neat tool. I liked it and thought at first it was not very useful, but then I thought about the fact that this was great in that it keeps students focused on the websites you want them to look at and not allow them to have a free-for-all and look all over the Internet. I believe this would be something I used when I am teaching. I would have plenty uses for Trackstar, such as, when I was teaching Business & Computer Technology I and II, I had to teach about making travel arrangements and creating an itinerary. I used a WebQuest, but I believe the Trackstar would have been a better choice to use. I had a list of resources on the WebQuest, but had trouble keeping the students focused on just a limited amount of information. They kept wanting to delve deaper and learn more about their country, which is good, but it was hard to keep them on task. The Trackstar would have been a good thing to use.

My strong points are that I am open to new technology, since this is my area. My weak points are that sometimes I think I already know something well enough, but in reality I can always learn something new! My future learning goals are to learn all I can. I will continue on my path to my master’s degree. I will not ever stop learning. Learning is lifelong.

Week Thirteen Reflection Question

What is educational technology literacy?

According to Lever-Duffy and McDonald, educational technology literacy is an essential skill that must be acquired and updated regularly. This skill includes being literate in regards to technology, but also being able to use technology. No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that students be technologically literate by the time they leave 8th grade. This forces school districts to put plans in place to teach their students, but it also forces districts to develop plans for their teachers also.

Why is it important for educators?

With the new requirements of NCLB, teachers must increase their technology skills also. Many states have included technology standards for teachers and some are included in their licensing requirements. According to Lever-Duffy and McDonald, National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) released suggested standards for teachers in June 2000. 49 out of 50 states make reference to at least one set of standards in state documents. Many school districts use NETS as a guide to achieve technology literacy. Even NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) has changed their teacher preparation guidelines to support NETS standards.

In today’s society it is no longer appropriate to just teach the textbook. There is so much more out there. There are web quests, podcasts, presentations, movie makers, YouTube, Facebook, designing a website, blogging, etc. Every one of these can be used to teach any subject you can think of. How much more fun would it be for students to learn about The Gulf War than to watch video of it instead of reading about it? How about having students blog five minutes a day 3-5 days a week in English. This would be the fun way to journal (and cheaper – no book to buy each year – everyone could share with family and friends). Teachers must be up-to-date on many technological tools to keep students interested and engage them. There is so much information available on the Internet for students to research. There are also many dangers and teachers must be award of them in order to keep their students safe. School districts often have safeguards in place to keep students from accessing information on the Internet that is inappropriate, but I have been in a school that had nothing, but the teacher to make sure they were accessing the right websites. If a teacher is not savvy enough to know what is available – students can be getting away with a lot and getting themselves and the teacher is some major trouble.

ListServ & Movie

I have completed my LISTSERV. That was about the quickest and simplest thing I can imagine. (Ok - well I am exaggerating some :o)) I like the capability for change so easily! This is something I can see myself using for the classroom. I end up with additional people in my yahoo email address book and have to update it every school year with my kids’ teacher’s email and with my courses I just keep adding to the list. So, I can see how managing the list would be much easier with a ListServ for my classes when I teach for myself and parents. I also like how you can upload files and add pages.

Here is my MOVIE! I had created a movie before using Microsoft Movie Maker. I had fun creating the movie. The part I didn't like was adding the narration. How many of us are real comfortable recording our voice and then critiquing it? I wasn’t. After adding the narration I accidently deleted the wrong file and had to start all over again with the narration. So, I think it would be very useful to be able to add narration that is already completed to the movie and still have a music file also. You can add the narration like that, but you cannot have music, too. Oh, well! I like the idea of including the movie in my teaching. I think it would be beneficial to utilize this tool as the instructor and also as a project the students could complete. I believe it would be fun for them and would really get them to learn. For instance, a teacher could have students create a movie with still pictures about the parts of a plant and have them narrate it. Another example of its' use is students could do research on an animal and it's habitat. The movie could be narrated and include text about each photo. This type of tool could be the bridge between another class and the technology class. Students could be paired and work with the technology teacher and subject area teacher and then present their movies to the whole grade or younger grades. They could also be shown to parents at an event attended by the parents to find out what their children are doing in each class. It would bring some excitement to the class. I just think it has endless possibilities!

Week Eleven Reflection Question

Why is important to preview and evaluate videos?

It is important to preview all videos before they are show each year to your class. You should watch each one to make sure the information is relevant to your lesson, engaging, of good quality, and updated with relevant and accurate information. According to Lever-Duffy and McDonald, all videos should be tested in the environment it will be shown. For instance, if the video will be shown in the classroom, the teacher should play the video in the classroom it will be shown to the students in to determine if all students will be able to see the video and hear it. That means the teacher should move to all parts of the classroom to ensure the video can be seen and heard.
Teachers can use the guidance, provided by Lever-Duffy and McDonald on page 348. This helps you to ask questions about the video as you are watching. You have to make sure all aspects of the video will add to, enhance, and clarify your lesson. You have to make sure the video is of good quality and current. There is nothing worse than watching an educational video from the 1980s (well, there is) – students will immediately think they have nothing in common and cannot be relevant to them. The teacher should make sure the video is interesting and engaging.

What tools should you use to be sure a video is communicating the intended message to your students?
The teacher can use discussion grouping after the video and listen to ensure the intended message was received. The teacher can also stop a video throughout and ask key questions to make sure students are getting the intended message. Effectively evaluating the video should help you determine if the intended message should be obvious to the students.

What are alternative systems?
Alternative systems are simply different ways of delivering instruction than the traditional method. Alternative systems of delivering instruction are now referred to as Distance Learning. They are technology-enhanced approaches to students who are “separated from their teacher by time and/or location.” This approach uses technology, such as, email, Internet, Blackboard, blogs, discussion boards, etc.

How might they enhance traditional education?
The use of technology to enhance instructional delivery in a traditional setting can seem daunting to some teachers, but the positive outcomes for their students can be well worth the effort. Special education students with a visual impairment can benefit by using a computer monitor for a visual aid. Teachers can use the computer to show something they cannot physically show in the classroom, such as, an art gallery in New York. This approach will also help students see what the possibilities are and how they might be used when they get out into the workforce. I know in my previous employments I have had to know how to use teleconferencing and videoconferencing and had to learn it OJT, but that could be something easily used in the classroom. If students are at least exposed to technology maybe they won’t be as skittish in using it. For instance, suppose you know an expert in forensic science, but due to budget and time constraints the person is unable to actually come to your class. You could have a video conference with the expert and your class.

Website

My website was created to be able to allow students, parents, and community members easy current access to information about the class I am "teaching". I created it with the thought in mind that it would be something the parents can check daily for accurate information and resources and also get homework, classroom, and test information. Being a mother, I value current information about my children's learning and wanted that for my website. I hate going to my children’s school website, Active Parent, and not being able to see what their homework is for that week, let alone for that day. As a matter of fact, my daughter in high school is not even in the class anymore and that homework information (the same words have been there since the beginning of school) is the only homework information available. I wanted better for my website. I hope I accomplished that with it. I liked creating the website. I used a template, but rather use something that is not as stringent and something more easily manipulated. I found this one more difficult than ones I had previously worked with. It was more limiting. I thought there should also be a more personal part - the pictures of the class. I know that even high school students like to have their picture posted and this would be able to be used to showcase activities to their parents and friends. This would even be good recruiting for classes that are not required in high school. One class I know this would work well for is BCT, Business & Computer Technology Classes. Creating a class website could showcase the talent in the class, but also show potential students what the course is all about, what kinds of things you learn, and the types of jobs you could get with those skills. Any course could use this tool to showcase their students’ work, help stay in contact with parents, and help keep them informed of class activities, homework, and tests. I think the biggest challenge for teachers is keeping the website updated. Students could actually help with this activity. This could be a weekly job a student holds within the classroom. Students could take turns each week during the year and keep the website updated. The easiest way to begin this assignment would be to create a basic shell together by having discussions about what should be on the website, planning on the categories, and then deciding on their placement.

Rubric-Puzzle-Test-Website Evaluation-TrackStar

These websites made creating the RUBRIC, PUZZLE, and TEST very easy. I had used the rubric website, as well as other rubric websites, in previous courses. I think this one in particular makes a teacher's life much easier! Creating and saving rubrics can help with continuity in regards to assessment. The student knows what to expect with each assigment by looking at the rubric. The wording for the teacher and students can stay pretty consistent throughout the year and help in student understanding. The rubric literally took me less than 5 minutes to complete - that was easy! I also like the feature on the website that allows you to save your rubric. You can also search others' rubrics and use them or at least get some ideas.

The puzzle website really was not the greatest. I like that the students can do the puzzle online, but I rather one that can accommodate all the words I wanted to use and be larger. However, this gives the teacher a tool for the students to use technology and be more likely to have fun completing the puzzle online. This also eliminates the need to print the puzzle when the teacher can walk around the view the pop-up on the screen that tells the student he/she wins when they are done.

The test maker website was great! Registration was quick and easy and you could begin immediately. This would make like much easier since you can easily copy and paste your questions in the boxes. That helps just in case you lose your connection. This helps in randomizing your questions and answers – even for each class to help keep those mischievous ones from sharing the answers with the next class. The features were great also. There is the option to download to Word, which, depending on the cost, may be well worth it. That way you could keep them in your school data folders. You could also have more options, such as color, size, font, add more to the test, etc. You can create alternate versions of the test. You can change the font and font size. You are also able to copy questions from another test. How easy was that to click once and have the answer sheet also?

I completed all three of these is less than 30 minutes, so that ought to tell you that it can be a great tool for teachers. I can see myself using the rubric and test maker websites in the future. I probably would find my own website for creating puzzles though, even if that meant I just had to print them out.

Here is my TRACKSTAR. I liked working with TrackStar. This is another neat tool for students to use technology in the classroom. This is a great way to manage the website I want my students to see and gives me time to make sure with the school's IT Department that the sites will be able to be accessed by the students. It forces you to plan ahead and not just let the students find what they want.

The Website Evaluation wasn't too bad. It did make me think about whether the site would be age appropriate and would be beneficial for the students to access.

Week Seven Reflection Question

What is the Internet?

According to Lever-Duffy and McDonald, the Internet is networking at its largest. The Internet is like a network in that it connects multiple computers and allows them to share files and communicate. The Internet is a network of networks (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/pctech/internet/internet.shtml). According to Wikipedia, the Internet “consists of millions of private and public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies.” The Internet uses an Internet Protocol Suite, TCP/IP. This is the way communication is transmitted (the rules), kind of like a radio dispatcher talking to the mobile station. The Internet carries information and services to you and me. One way is the inter-linked (joined together) hypertext (hypertexts are documents with hyperlinks so you can click on and it can take you to the source) documents of the World Wide Web.

What value does it hold for educators?

According to Lever-Duffy and McDonald, the Internet “makes it possible to seek, find, and communicate information that might otherwise been impossibly out of reach” and “makes it possible for teachers and learners to interact with each other globally to discover new perspectives and broaden personal horizons”. In other words, the Internet provides so many open doors for educators. Examples are as follows:
1. FREE reliable resources, such as, online dictionary, thesaurus, writing style resource, thousands of examples of papers, projects, and ideas
2. A way to communicate with other teachers from all over the world
3. A way to share ideas
4. A way to share common resources with others
5. A way to find interactive engaging new activities for students
6. A way to share lesson plans with others
7. A way to communicate with classrooms in another part of the country
8. A way for many people to attend classes
9. Interactive downloadable software
10. Educational games for students
11. Chat capabilities
12. Blogging capabilities
13. Wiki capabilities
14. Virtual field trips
15. A way for students to learn about cultures not in their books
16. Having students create their own web page
17. Training for teachers
18. Assessment tools
19. Tutorials
20. Faster access to information
21. Create a quiz
22. Easy way to “Go Green” by posting course information and documents to a course management system (ex. Blackboard)

The Internet has endless possibilities for teachers and students alike. There are so many ways a teacher can utilize the Internet with her students and for his/her students.