In two words, "a lot!" I learned how to make presentations such as power points, web pages, and web casts. I also learned more about podcasts, wikis, Twitter, and blogs. My knowledge about these areas has grown in the last month. I'm more aware of technology that is easily available and easy to access.
I have already incorporated what I've learned in my lessons, and my students love seeing my projects. They have also improved due to the benefits of using technology as part of their learning. I hunger to learn more.
During parent/teacher conferences, I mentioned my web page for parents to access to find web sites I have linked so their child can practice their math facts and reading skills.
This technology class has been lots of fun!!!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Technology Intergration
How can you serve as a teacher leader for technology integration in you professional setting?
I can volunteer to serve as a teacher leader for technology integration in my professional setting by talking to my colleagues about social networks and how we might use them in the classroom. I can also share web sites with my colleagues and set up mini workshops to learn how to access the web sites or to design lesson plans using social networks or other similar web sites. Just setting up regular times to share what we are doing or share new web sites would really have an impact on us as teachers, not to mention our students. I go to my tech colleagues quite often to learn what they are doing with technology in their classrooms or asking them to share their favorite web sites.
I can volunteer to serve as a teacher leader for technology integration in my professional setting by talking to my colleagues about social networks and how we might use them in the classroom. I can also share web sites with my colleagues and set up mini workshops to learn how to access the web sites or to design lesson plans using social networks or other similar web sites. Just setting up regular times to share what we are doing or share new web sites would really have an impact on us as teachers, not to mention our students. I go to my tech colleagues quite often to learn what they are doing with technology in their classrooms or asking them to share their favorite web sites.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Concerns About Internet Technologies in my Classroom
What are your concerns about using various internet technologies in your teaching practice? My main concern about using various internet technologies in my teaching practice center around the fact that I'm not educated enough about them. I'm just now learning about them and how to use them. I'm not even sure I'm using the correct language in this blog! However, I do see the impact internet technologies can have in my instruction. For one, I can use them to add variety to my instruction, and make it more entertaining. Students need entertainment similar to how their lives are structured. They live and breathe technology......sounds, colors, actions, games, challenges, and immediate responses. I can also make it accessible for every student to access from any computer. My school district is using eLessons as a means to make up three snow days verses extending the school year. I'm excited about the eLessons, but for those students who don't have access to a home computer or the internet, they will not be able to benefit from having something educational and meaningful during the time away from the classroom. The snow day will seem as though it was a wasted day, unlike those who do have access to a home computer and the internet. My school district also doesn't have the luxury of having lots of student computers or the latest in technologies. Most of the technology is purchased for use by middle and high school students, and little is purchased for the elementary grades where technology is greatly needed.
How can you alleviate these concerns? I wish I could attend local technology workshops offered around the area, especially at SOITA in Franklin, Ohio. My school district has put a freeze on staff attending workshops or other professional meetings unless it is necessary to attend. We need to cut costs. That fact makes it hard for me and the others to learn about new technologies. As for students not having home computers or the internet at home, I have to be flexible or provide copies of the assignments that will be online to print. My school district needs to focus on purchasing technology for the elementary grades because they are at the age where they can understand how to use the technology. Technology is a learning tool. I dream of the day when every student in our district is issued a lap top computer, and every teacher has the training and the knowledge to use the latest technology in their classroom.....and my school district has the funding to purchase such technology.
How can you alleviate these concerns? I wish I could attend local technology workshops offered around the area, especially at SOITA in Franklin, Ohio. My school district has put a freeze on staff attending workshops or other professional meetings unless it is necessary to attend. We need to cut costs. That fact makes it hard for me and the others to learn about new technologies. As for students not having home computers or the internet at home, I have to be flexible or provide copies of the assignments that will be online to print. My school district needs to focus on purchasing technology for the elementary grades because they are at the age where they can understand how to use the technology. Technology is a learning tool. I dream of the day when every student in our district is issued a lap top computer, and every teacher has the training and the knowledge to use the latest technology in their classroom.....and my school district has the funding to purchase such technology.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Action Plan to Use/Improve Software Skills
What software applications do you use regularly in your teaching practice? The software applications I use regularly are Appleworks, Progress Book, Fast ForWord, and sometimes Word.
What other software skills would you like to improve to increase your professional efficacy? I would like to be more knowledgeable of the software available for use in the classroom. It seems that I'm only exposed to the basic software. My school needs to provide training for teachers and purchase software that is beneficial for 21st century learning.
The action plan I would like to see in place in my school is:
What other software skills would you like to improve to increase your professional efficacy? I would like to be more knowledgeable of the software available for use in the classroom. It seems that I'm only exposed to the basic software. My school needs to provide training for teachers and purchase software that is beneficial for 21st century learning.
The action plan I would like to see in place in my school is:
- purchase software that uses best practices in teaching/preparing students for 21st century learning skills
- support teachers with training and knowledge on how to use the software
- purchase the necessary technology equipment or upgrade any digital tool used with the software.
- offer parents and community members the opportunity to learn about the software applications being used in the school district.
Friday, September 30, 2011
My 21st Century Classroom
How well prepared do you feel for 21st century teaching and learning?
I don't feel that I'm prepared for 21st century teaching and learning. I barely know how to use a computer, the projector in the ceiling, and my new iPad. I don't know how to use a Smart Board, clickers, elmos, or any other technology tool other teachers are using. With that being said, you can tell that I'm not even aware of some of the technology tools available for teachers to use in the classroom.
Do your students leave your classroom equipped for success using 21st century skills?
My students leave my classroom with very little knowledge of 21st century skills everyday. That's mainly because they have limited access to 21st century technology. I do feel that my third graders know how to turn on a computer, type with their index fingers only, and can find a web site. That's about the extent of the 21st century skills I can give my students.....technology wise. As far as critical thinking and problem solving skills, I feel that my third graders leave my classroom able to use higher level thinking skills that the 21st century will require. I do follow the state standards and indicators which are geared for 21st century learning.
What are your strengths and challenges in regards to 21st century teaching and learning?
My strengths in regards to 21st century teaching and learning center around my willingness to want to learn how to use new technology in the classroom. I just purchased an iPad with the thought of using it to teach with. What is challenging about 21st century teaching and learning is the rapid growth of technology, and being able to keep up with it. Also, I have little technology support from my school in regards to having the appropriate training on how to use the latest in technology teaching tools. Any technology workshops I would be interested in taking would mean I would have to pay for them and attend them after school hours or on weekends. My school doesn't have the money to pay for any technology training or to hire a substitute teacher for me. This is not exclusive to my school district. Many school districts in my state do not have funding available to train their staff to use new technology or to allow their staff to attend workshops during the school day.
I don't feel that I'm prepared for 21st century teaching and learning. I barely know how to use a computer, the projector in the ceiling, and my new iPad. I don't know how to use a Smart Board, clickers, elmos, or any other technology tool other teachers are using. With that being said, you can tell that I'm not even aware of some of the technology tools available for teachers to use in the classroom.
Do your students leave your classroom equipped for success using 21st century skills?
My students leave my classroom with very little knowledge of 21st century skills everyday. That's mainly because they have limited access to 21st century technology. I do feel that my third graders know how to turn on a computer, type with their index fingers only, and can find a web site. That's about the extent of the 21st century skills I can give my students.....technology wise. As far as critical thinking and problem solving skills, I feel that my third graders leave my classroom able to use higher level thinking skills that the 21st century will require. I do follow the state standards and indicators which are geared for 21st century learning.
What are your strengths and challenges in regards to 21st century teaching and learning?
My strengths in regards to 21st century teaching and learning center around my willingness to want to learn how to use new technology in the classroom. I just purchased an iPad with the thought of using it to teach with. What is challenging about 21st century teaching and learning is the rapid growth of technology, and being able to keep up with it. Also, I have little technology support from my school in regards to having the appropriate training on how to use the latest in technology teaching tools. Any technology workshops I would be interested in taking would mean I would have to pay for them and attend them after school hours or on weekends. My school doesn't have the money to pay for any technology training or to hire a substitute teacher for me. This is not exclusive to my school district. Many school districts in my state do not have funding available to train their staff to use new technology or to allow their staff to attend workshops during the school day.
Friday, September 23, 2011
My Use of Technology in My Classroom
How am I doing at meeting the NETS for teachers standards in my classroom?
In my classroom, I do have 3 student computers, a computer at my desk, a projector hanging from the ceiling, a TV and VCR, and for my personal use, I own a digital camera, a digital video camera, an iPod Touch and an iPad 2 3-G. I use my computer at my desk to play DVD's or to show websites via the projector in the ceiling. Whenever I can, I model how to locate info on the internet. Sometimes I use my computer/projector to play a game for whole class participation. Technology in my classroom is limited, but I try to make do with what I do have.
What are some of the barriers to technology use in your professional setting?
The main barrier in my use of technology is the lack of training. I had to learn mostly on my own how to use the technology in my classroom. I am not aware of some of the technology available for my use via the forms of technology already in place in my classroom and I'm sure there are many things I could be using. My colleagues that are tech savvy keep to themselves or if we are aware of something they are using, we have to arrange a time to learn from them. That makes it very challenging to find a common time.
How does the Biblical directive to "fear not" apply to you as far as technology use?
It really doesn't apply to me as much as it use to as far as technology use is concerned. My fear is that I'm not aware of some of the technology that I could be using and my students (and myself for that matter) are suffering. There are so many things I could be using to engage my students and for intervention/enrichment activities.
What are your personal goals as you begin this class on technology?
My number one personal goal as I begin this class on technology is to learn about some technology tools and how to use them. I want to learn how to use my new iPad 2 and add "apps" to it that I can use in the classroom.
In my classroom, I do have 3 student computers, a computer at my desk, a projector hanging from the ceiling, a TV and VCR, and for my personal use, I own a digital camera, a digital video camera, an iPod Touch and an iPad 2 3-G. I use my computer at my desk to play DVD's or to show websites via the projector in the ceiling. Whenever I can, I model how to locate info on the internet. Sometimes I use my computer/projector to play a game for whole class participation. Technology in my classroom is limited, but I try to make do with what I do have.
What are some of the barriers to technology use in your professional setting?
The main barrier in my use of technology is the lack of training. I had to learn mostly on my own how to use the technology in my classroom. I am not aware of some of the technology available for my use via the forms of technology already in place in my classroom and I'm sure there are many things I could be using. My colleagues that are tech savvy keep to themselves or if we are aware of something they are using, we have to arrange a time to learn from them. That makes it very challenging to find a common time.
How does the Biblical directive to "fear not" apply to you as far as technology use?
It really doesn't apply to me as much as it use to as far as technology use is concerned. My fear is that I'm not aware of some of the technology that I could be using and my students (and myself for that matter) are suffering. There are so many things I could be using to engage my students and for intervention/enrichment activities.
What are your personal goals as you begin this class on technology?
My number one personal goal as I begin this class on technology is to learn about some technology tools and how to use them. I want to learn how to use my new iPad 2 and add "apps" to it that I can use in the classroom.
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