Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
VoiceThread--Week 6
I didn't like that it really didn't allow for me to make changes. Also, I don't have a microphone so I could not record my voice. This was my least favorite of the three programs.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Scrapblog--week 6
I really liked this software. It was relatively easy to you and make it simple to organize my pictures. I wish I could have uploaded my own music though.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Frontline: Growing Up Online
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
How do you view the Internet's impact on kids? Do you worry about it - or not? Do you have a story to share?
I thought this was an interesting video. I believe that the internet has a large impact on kids lives. Students have become more dependent on the computer do do things in their everyday lives. The video mentioned how students now need to be constantly in touch with the outside world and that they need everything to be at their fingertips. As a future teacher this is something that makes me a bit worried. I feel like there is more pressure as teachers to keep your students engaged in what we are teaching. Also, there is the risk that they will just use the technology they know to not really do the work they should. I know that as a student I have allowed the different things on the internet like Facebook, or AOL Instant Messenger to distract me from doing the work I should be doing.
One thing I believe teachers should be aware of with technology is that the use of technology in the classroom cannot completely replace an effective teacher. A teacher must learn to utilize the technology but not let it become so complicated or overwhelming that it distracts from what is actually being taught.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
How do you view the Internet's impact on kids? Do you worry about it - or not? Do you have a story to share?
I thought this was an interesting video. I believe that the internet has a large impact on kids lives. Students have become more dependent on the computer do do things in their everyday lives. The video mentioned how students now need to be constantly in touch with the outside world and that they need everything to be at their fingertips. As a future teacher this is something that makes me a bit worried. I feel like there is more pressure as teachers to keep your students engaged in what we are teaching. Also, there is the risk that they will just use the technology they know to not really do the work they should. I know that as a student I have allowed the different things on the internet like Facebook, or AOL Instant Messenger to distract me from doing the work I should be doing.
One thing I believe teachers should be aware of with technology is that the use of technology in the classroom cannot completely replace an effective teacher. A teacher must learn to utilize the technology but not let it become so complicated or overwhelming that it distracts from what is actually being taught.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Money for Grades
I read Patrick's blog this week. http://phogan.wordpress.com/
I agree with him on most of what he said. I believe that this could be an effect means for some students but not all. Also, I think he made a valid point about thinking about the money as an just any other reward. But the whole idea of what is school is for is presented. Is school just to prepare students for the real world? Or are schools meant to do something else for students? I personally think a truely effective teacher has to be able to do something more for a student than giving them rewards for good grades. I think that simply introduces the idea of students just "getting by" the school day instead of learning strengths and weaknesses of themselfs, how to be citizens, and how to interact with others.
I believe that the teachers that are already effective with students are the only ones who could achieve something good by using money for grades. Therefore I do not think it is a necessary thing to do.
I agree with him on most of what he said. I believe that this could be an effect means for some students but not all. Also, I think he made a valid point about thinking about the money as an just any other reward. But the whole idea of what is school is for is presented. Is school just to prepare students for the real world? Or are schools meant to do something else for students? I personally think a truely effective teacher has to be able to do something more for a student than giving them rewards for good grades. I think that simply introduces the idea of students just "getting by" the school day instead of learning strengths and weaknesses of themselfs, how to be citizens, and how to interact with others.
I believe that the teachers that are already effective with students are the only ones who could achieve something good by using money for grades. Therefore I do not think it is a necessary thing to do.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Vision of Students Today
How will you be your own agent of change in the classroom to meet student expectations - is it your responsibility?
This exact question is something I have wondered myself ever since I decided to become a teacher. I believe that most students either hate or love history because of the person who taught it. I am challenged with the notion of needing to make history relevant to students lives and also incorporating the technologies that will make them succeed in the world outside the classroom. Other than presenting my notes using PowerPoint or something similar, I am not quite sure how I will be my own agent of change in the classroom. That is something I am hoping I will learn while in this class. I do believe it is my responsibility but I do think about the schools that are not able to afford many of the new technologies. If I work at a school that can not afford to make changes in the classroom, then how will I be able to make my own changes in the classroom?
This exact question is something I have wondered myself ever since I decided to become a teacher. I believe that most students either hate or love history because of the person who taught it. I am challenged with the notion of needing to make history relevant to students lives and also incorporating the technologies that will make them succeed in the world outside the classroom. Other than presenting my notes using PowerPoint or something similar, I am not quite sure how I will be my own agent of change in the classroom. That is something I am hoping I will learn while in this class. I do believe it is my responsibility but I do think about the schools that are not able to afford many of the new technologies. If I work at a school that can not afford to make changes in the classroom, then how will I be able to make my own changes in the classroom?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Creativity in the Classroom
I have read many of the group A student responses and I have chose to comment on two of them.
The first one is http://stacysblog88.blogspot.com/
I thought Stacy brought up one of the most important points Sir Ken Robinson made. He said "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you won't come up with anything creative". Just like Stacy I let the fear of being wrong in answering questions scare me from taking that chance. This is something that I will really need to be aware of when I am teaching. Like Ken Robinson said in the clip students learn in different ways and have different intelligences which is something teachers should be aware of. Also, like Stacy said, we should realize that not all students are meant to be professors which is not a bad thing and as teachers I think it is our responsibility to realize not every student is going to follow the same path.
The second blog I will comment on is http://nilsenbsk11.blogspot.com/
Jeff mentioned something in his post that really stuck out to me. He talked about how Sir Ken Robinson discussed that students creativity is slowly depressed as they move up in the schooling system. Jeff talked about how teachers now prefer students to memorize facts in place of more creative methods. I believe coming up with thought provoking lessons which focus on creative thinking instead of memorization is going to be the hardest challenge as a high school history teacher. I think it is easier for a history teacher to simply give the students dates and names and expect them to memorize the information. I am determined to not do this when I become a teacher. I would much rather the students to develop critical thinking skills and for them not to be afraid to be wrong in the process.
The first one is http://stacysblog88.blogspot.com/
I thought Stacy brought up one of the most important points Sir Ken Robinson made. He said "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you won't come up with anything creative". Just like Stacy I let the fear of being wrong in answering questions scare me from taking that chance. This is something that I will really need to be aware of when I am teaching. Like Ken Robinson said in the clip students learn in different ways and have different intelligences which is something teachers should be aware of. Also, like Stacy said, we should realize that not all students are meant to be professors which is not a bad thing and as teachers I think it is our responsibility to realize not every student is going to follow the same path.
The second blog I will comment on is http://nilsenbsk11.blogspot.com/
Jeff mentioned something in his post that really stuck out to me. He talked about how Sir Ken Robinson discussed that students creativity is slowly depressed as they move up in the schooling system. Jeff talked about how teachers now prefer students to memorize facts in place of more creative methods. I believe coming up with thought provoking lessons which focus on creative thinking instead of memorization is going to be the hardest challenge as a high school history teacher. I think it is easier for a history teacher to simply give the students dates and names and expect them to memorize the information. I am determined to not do this when I become a teacher. I would much rather the students to develop critical thinking skills and for them not to be afraid to be wrong in the process.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
second week of classes...
Hi!! My name is Mallory and I am a Junior at the University of Illinois. I come from a town called O'Fallon, Il (it's about 20 minutes outside St. Louis.) I am at this amazing university to become a high school teacher. My dream after graduation is to teach with the DoDDS program and be able to have the amazing experience of teaching in places like Italy, Spain, or England!
"Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children's future, is it really ok to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction?"
No, I think it would not allow our children to grow with the technology that their future success' would depend on. I don't believe that it would be extremely difficult or impossible to make available the resources for the teacher to incorporate modern technologies into their instruction. Also, I think it would make the instruction more up to date and interesting for the students.
"Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children's future, is it really ok to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction?"
No, I think it would not allow our children to grow with the technology that their future success' would depend on. I don't believe that it would be extremely difficult or impossible to make available the resources for the teacher to incorporate modern technologies into their instruction. Also, I think it would make the instruction more up to date and interesting for the students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)