The article “Effective Classroom Management Strategies for Technology”, written by Nellie Deutsch, tackles the fact that technology in the classroom can ease learning and target many educational issues. It is also important to mention that integrating technology into the classroom is not as easy as many people might think. Having a computer or computers in a lab is not exactly teaching. But knowing the process and following certain procedures teachers can make technology fit into their classes perfectly.
Teachers should know the way to create activities which can help students develop their critical thinking. By doing, by touching, by hearing, by seeing, people can really achieve their best, rather than simply listening to the same old story.
One of the aspects that called my attention is that some teachers might think education is still a process where the teacher makes his speech and students passively hear and learn. It has changed, nowadays, students should be the ones in charge of their learning; the teacher is there to guide students in the learning process.
Another issue that attracted my attention is the fact that there are still teachers who cannot cope with technology. At the pace this world goes by, professionals should be aware of the need of using technology but first and foremost, they should know how to make it fit both their personal and their students’ needs.
In my opinion, projects which generate discussion and debates are the ones which can help students develop new skills to cope with this globalized world. I would give students a topic and promote the use of the Internet as part of research. Once they have collected the information, they either read it or summarize it, and finally, they can have a round table in order to share and exchange their ideas about the topic they worked on.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Digital Media
1. Describe the site and the information you obtained by visiting
Education city, first of all, has great colors and the web design is catchy. Thus, kids will be always be motivated by these two factors to work and to learn. It offers online games related to specific subjects. Secondly, Weekly reader seems to me the easiest one to access and to use it. For example it has the coloring option which takes you immediately to painting, rather than asking you questions before taking you to the task. It also offers classroom magazines which can provide useful help for teachers and parents. Thirdly, North Carolina Virtual Public School has a much more serious look. I believe it is because it is an institutional website and thus, they offer more information on the educational field than already-created activities; however, it does have links to certain resource-websites and also podcasts, which have really caught on the teaching area.
2. How does the site, software or digital media tool relate to using digital media in the classroom?
Education city relates to using digital media in the classroom because its contents are math, language, and science, so it focuses on subject matters students need to learn to fulfill their academic learning goals. Weekly reader actually offers you the chance to either work online or to print out templates and do it by hand. And, North Carolina virtual public school. I would not say that it relates to using digital media in the classroom; however, it is based on digital media and thus it motivates teachers to start using computers.
3. Is this site, software or tool easy to use?
I believe it will for someone who knows about computers, but I am afraid to say that it might be a pain for someone who barely uses a computer. Regarding the second site, as I previously mentioned it is the easiest one to use because of its friendly web environment. Finally, the third one, I consider that for a site to be successful, it should be pretty colorful and attractive. In my opinion, I would say that it looks to serious and has a lot of text, rather than animation or other catchy apps.
4. How could this site, software or tool be used in your classroom?
I would use these sites to either introduce a certain topic, to rehearse, or simply to wrap up. I would, also, use these sites to help children learn colors and to let their creativity flow by choosing colors and designs. I believe that once we take students into these types of activities, they will develop a sense of critical thinking and also problem solving. About the third site, I would use this site to ask teachers to get information about the educational system here in NC and may be to get some background on certain teaching-learning information.
5. What one critical detail did you learn about this site, software or tool that you did not know prior to this research?
What I learned is that there are certain areas that can be taught through technology. I basically focus on the learning of English as a foreign language, but it is always good to learn new things to have a base to adapt or change activities to fit our students’.
6. Why would you choose to use the site, software or tool in your classroom?
I believe I would choose to use them in order to improve the teaching-learning process. Whatever tool or resource we can get to improve teaching, will always be useful. The more options we have, the more chances to be successful we will have.
Education city, first of all, has great colors and the web design is catchy. Thus, kids will be always be motivated by these two factors to work and to learn. It offers online games related to specific subjects. Secondly, Weekly reader seems to me the easiest one to access and to use it. For example it has the coloring option which takes you immediately to painting, rather than asking you questions before taking you to the task. It also offers classroom magazines which can provide useful help for teachers and parents. Thirdly, North Carolina Virtual Public School has a much more serious look. I believe it is because it is an institutional website and thus, they offer more information on the educational field than already-created activities; however, it does have links to certain resource-websites and also podcasts, which have really caught on the teaching area.
2. How does the site, software or digital media tool relate to using digital media in the classroom?
Education city relates to using digital media in the classroom because its contents are math, language, and science, so it focuses on subject matters students need to learn to fulfill their academic learning goals. Weekly reader actually offers you the chance to either work online or to print out templates and do it by hand. And, North Carolina virtual public school. I would not say that it relates to using digital media in the classroom; however, it is based on digital media and thus it motivates teachers to start using computers.
3. Is this site, software or tool easy to use?
I believe it will for someone who knows about computers, but I am afraid to say that it might be a pain for someone who barely uses a computer. Regarding the second site, as I previously mentioned it is the easiest one to use because of its friendly web environment. Finally, the third one, I consider that for a site to be successful, it should be pretty colorful and attractive. In my opinion, I would say that it looks to serious and has a lot of text, rather than animation or other catchy apps.
4. How could this site, software or tool be used in your classroom?
I would use these sites to either introduce a certain topic, to rehearse, or simply to wrap up. I would, also, use these sites to help children learn colors and to let their creativity flow by choosing colors and designs. I believe that once we take students into these types of activities, they will develop a sense of critical thinking and also problem solving. About the third site, I would use this site to ask teachers to get information about the educational system here in NC and may be to get some background on certain teaching-learning information.
5. What one critical detail did you learn about this site, software or tool that you did not know prior to this research?
What I learned is that there are certain areas that can be taught through technology. I basically focus on the learning of English as a foreign language, but it is always good to learn new things to have a base to adapt or change activities to fit our students’.
6. Why would you choose to use the site, software or tool in your classroom?
I believe I would choose to use them in order to improve the teaching-learning process. Whatever tool or resource we can get to improve teaching, will always be useful. The more options we have, the more chances to be successful we will have.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Portable Storage Devices in the Classroom
First of all, one way to keep students from losing their portable storage devices would be by hanging them around their necks as they come with a lace. There are also ones which could easily be worn around their wrists. I think that as they have become pretty affordable students can have two, one at school and another one for their personal info. I also believe that it is time to create awareness among students so they become responsible when handling their belongings. Regarding available storage devices, there are CD’s, external hard drives, which can give you up to a tera storage capacity. But there are also on line ones. Personally, I use 4share.com, which apart from giving you up to 5GB free storage capacity, offers you the chance to share information with friends, in general. I have not used the following ones but I have heard they are common among web surfers, Snap Drive (5GB), DropBoks (1GB), MyOtherDrive, among others.
As an EFL teacher I can use it to store information by categories. Students will easily save flashcards related to any topics. They can have different files to build up vocabulary, and finally, to keep a portfolio and journals, as well. This would be of great help as they could have the information available at all times.
If I were to raise money to buy devices for the students, I would ask them to make things on their own, such as bracelets, necklaces, food, among others, to sell; and thus to collect the money.
Finally, as I previously mentioned, the online storage sites could be of great help in class in the case of not being able to afford a flash memory.
As an EFL teacher I can use it to store information by categories. Students will easily save flashcards related to any topics. They can have different files to build up vocabulary, and finally, to keep a portfolio and journals, as well. This would be of great help as they could have the information available at all times.
If I were to raise money to buy devices for the students, I would ask them to make things on their own, such as bracelets, necklaces, food, among others, to sell; and thus to collect the money.
Finally, as I previously mentioned, the online storage sites could be of great help in class in the case of not being able to afford a flash memory.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Puzzles
Puzzles created in our Technology for Educators class.
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCryptogram.asp
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCryptogram.asp
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp
Cellphones and Cheating
I consider teachers should always handle the situation him/herself. In this specific example, the teacher should have a word with the student and ask him/her straight what he/she was doing. If the teacher gets a positive answer, the student accepted he cheated but is willing to make it up, I would definitely give the student a second chance. But on the contrary, let’s say the student says he was not actually cheating; however, you know he was. I would just simply have another test and state firmly that students are not allowed, under any circumstance, to use their phones in class.
I have been teaching for almost eleven years and the place I come from, cheating is something we, teachers, have to deal with everyday. I am not saying that is acceptable; however, students believe they are not doing anything wrong, either. Thus, teachers tend to be careful when dealing with a situation like this. Then, what we normally do to keep students from cheating is setting up strict policies before either a quiz or an exam, so they know, beforehand, what the consequences will be.
I have caught students cheating, using small pieces of paper with information on it, and I have given them a zero on the exam. I strongly believe that if you go to college or university pursuing a professional degree, there is no way that cheating should be taken as a not serious issue.
I have been teaching for almost eleven years and the place I come from, cheating is something we, teachers, have to deal with everyday. I am not saying that is acceptable; however, students believe they are not doing anything wrong, either. Thus, teachers tend to be careful when dealing with a situation like this. Then, what we normally do to keep students from cheating is setting up strict policies before either a quiz or an exam, so they know, beforehand, what the consequences will be.
I have caught students cheating, using small pieces of paper with information on it, and I have given them a zero on the exam. I strongly believe that if you go to college or university pursuing a professional degree, there is no way that cheating should be taken as a not serious issue.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Digital Equity
Digital equity referes to the idea that everyone should have access to what technology offers nowadays, regardless their condition. Thus, we believe that the best way to deal with a situtation, where students have limited access to computers, is by having different stations where a group of pupils will be working on; meanwhile the other groups are working on something else related to what is being taught. These groups will be rotating, so everyone will get a chance to be exposed to technology.
I believe that the lack of rescources should not be an excuse to not deliver an accurate class. It will all depend on the creativity of the teacher to make his/her class successful.
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