Technology Integration Plan

Technology is an asset in any classroom. It can be used in a number of different ways and can enhance a student’s learning. Creativity, organization, patience and cooperative learning all occur when technology is used in the classroom. After taking this course, I gained valuable skills needed in order to teach different kinds of technology. Because I am going to teach Language Arts, I plan on utilizing the different kinds of technology that I’ve learned to enhance student’s reading and writing skills.
As a future educator, I plan to use many of the different types of technology we learned in class. Specifically, I plan to use blogs in my classroom. I think it would be a great tool to use for an entire year. Students could use their blogs weekly as a journal. They could also comment on each other’s thoughts and reflections. Lastly, projects, presentations and other resources could be uploaded onto blogs. By blogging, students could get to know their classmates on a more personal level, especially those who they aren’t very close to. I could assess the student’s blogs by having them submit their journal entries each week. I will make sure that they are taking time on their journal entries and fully answering to the prompt.
I also plan on using the Wordle tool with my students. I think this is an excellent tool to use for summarizing stories or when learning vocabulary. It’s so easy to use that I could even have my students create their own Wordle with spelling words that they are having trouble with. I think Wordle would be a handy tool to use after reading a story. You could enter in the characters, setting, plot and theme and students could use it to study. I will assess how Wordle is helping my students by observing what information they put into their Wordle.
Lastly, I plan on utilizing Podcasts in my classroom. I think Podcasts would be an excellent tool to use if I was ever absent. I could record myself giving my class expectations, directions and teaching them a lesson while I am not physically in the classroom. I could assess the students by observing how well they did on the work that was given to them from the podcast.
In the future, I will use examples of blogs, wordles and podcasts to show an employer. In an interview, I could introduce how all three technologies are fairly simple to use and engaging to students.
Along with these three technologies, I plan to utilize a few of the others we learned in class. For example, the wiki, the voicethread and the interactive powerpoint would also be valuable tools to use in the classroom. Technology is an important and valuable tool that is essential in teaching students. As a future educator, I will learn as much as I can about new technologies in order to develop proficiency in different types of technology. The use of technology in classrooms is crucial.

Assignment 12B

I think technology enhances learning for the most part. I know that I've always preferred watching presentations with a powerpoint or smart board component. I think that it's important for educators to know how to use technology properly and effectively in order for it to enhance students learning.

One factor that effects technology in education is that is can sometimes be expensive and take a lot of time to educate teachers on how to use different types of technologies. In my placement, there was a technology grant where most teachers received Smart Boards. However, a lot of them don't even know how to use them. In the classroom that I'm in, the Smart Board is completely covering the blackboard and cannot be moved. In this case, technology is hindering learning.

SlideShare Presentation

Powerpoint presentation!

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Podcast

I would definitely use a podcast in the classroom. I think it would be especially useful in the future if I was absent and had a substitute teacher. You could make a podcast and put it on a smart board and use it to give your class directions and teach them while you were not there.

Learning with Games and Simulations Assignment 7B

Discovery Life

This game would be a great resource for a science classroom. It's interactive and fun, and is engaging for students.

Animal Arcade

This game would also be very informative to use in a science classroom. It's fun, easy to use and engages students.

Concept Map

Concept Map


Concept maps can be used in a variety of different ways. I think concept maps would be especially beneficial for students to use when studying. It's a great way to organize information and use pictures to enhance concepts.

Wordle

I would use wordle for voacbulary before a test. It highlights important words and leaves out information that is less important. I would also use this in Language Arts when reading a story. Wordle would be a great study tool because it only highlights significant words. Our class website states that Wordle is useful for ELL and special education students becuase it take only the most important words and puts them together in a fun and creative way.

Assignment 8: Voicethread

I think that I could use a voicethread in many different ways in the classroom. My example is an "about me" voicethread. I think this is a great way to get to know students. You could have students complete an about me voicethread at the beginning of the year and allow them to present them to their classmates. The voicethread  meets the standard to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. Voicethread is a great tool for designing and developing original pieces of work using the internet. I like this website because it incorporates images, sounds and words to tell a story.

Voicethread

Assignment 7: Survey and Questions

I think all of the provided ideas are useful in the classroom. However, some assignments required computers for every student in the classroom. Realistically, most classrooms do not have a computer for every student. I like the idea of using google docs to get to know your classroom. I also think the spelling test idea would be convenient if students weren't using the computers to look up words online.

After discussing the different ways of using google docs, we decided that the spelling test, emotion graph and getting to know your class were the three best uses of google docs. Some of the ideas seemed kind of time consuming and might be sort of confusing for younger students.

Survey

Assignment 6: Evaluating Webquests

An Insect's Perspective

I thought the introduction of this website was sort of vague. While it did grab my attention, it didn’t keep my attention very long. There wasn’t very much information on the introduction site. I thought the task was very clearly stated. It was direct and to the point. My favorite page on the web quest was the “process” page. It was very helpful and informative. However, I didn’t think it supported different learning styles. I thought the evaluation was fair, and accurately assessed the material on the web quest. I think I would use this web quest in my classroom because it’s informative, but short and to the point. I would have included more pictures in it though.

The Four Seasons 

This web quest was even better than the one before. It’s very bright and catches the eye. The introduction was thorough and it included a nice image. I like how it states, “be creative.” The task was straightforward and easy to understand.  I also thought the process page was easy to follow and informative. Lastly, the evaluation assessed the material fairly and was easy to read and understand. I think I would use this in a science classroom because it allows students to use their creativity.

 Rosetta Stone

This web quest seemed to be unlike the other two web quests. It didn’t explicitly state the introduction, processes or evaluation. After looking at the web quest carefully, you would notice an introductory paragraph, a problem, tasks and a conclusion. I thought it was fairly easy to read, however, it wasn’t set up the same as the other web quests. This web quest never mentioned an age group that it was appropriate for. While the web quest did seem informative, I don’t think I will use this in my classroom because it doesn’t seem age appropriate. 

Review of Algebra 1 

This web quest was my least favorite. While the introduction clearly summarized the idea of the web quest, it was very boring to look at. The task seemed a little demanding. I think if I were an 8^th grader I would be very overwhelmed when looking at the task page. The process page also seemed overwhelming. It tells students to take a quiz over and over until they’ve mastered the material. Finally the evaluation page seems to assess the material in the web quest fairly. I don’t think I would ever use this web quest in the classroom because it would stress and overwhelm both the students and myself.


My first Web Quest

Assignment 4 Website Evaluation

FAIR

I would not share this website with students as a reliable website for a number of reasons. To begin, the website is biased because it is a “membership organization of concerned citizens. Not every citizen is concerned with immigration so therefore it’s not everyone’s opinion. While the website does seem to well written and virtually free of any spelling or grammar mistakes, there doesn’t seem to be much research to back up the facts. The most recent date I could find on the website was from 2005. This website seems to think immigration is despicable, and I don’t necessarily agree with it.

Immigration Blog

            I would not use this resource in my classroom as a credible website. The first indication that this website is not credible is that it’s a blog. A lot of the imformation seems to be opinion-based. The blog also has a disclaimer where the author states that he is “obsessed” with the issue of immigration. The website clearly seems biased. I wouldn’t want to use a website with a one-sided argument in my classroom because I wouldn’t want my students to only see one side of the issue.

America.Gov

I would definitely use this website in my classroom if we were discussing immigration. The website shows the history of immigration. However, there is a short disclaimer at the end stating, “The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. government.” The author of the article is a professor at New York University. The article was written in 2008, which is adequate when discussing the history or immigration. This article is also reliable because it is from a government agency.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

This is the website that I would most likely use in my classroom when discussing immigration. The website seems to be unbiased. It states the laws and regulations but in a sensitive and non-prejudice way. It’s also a government site, which leads me to believe that it may be fairly accurate information. The group consists of 18,000 government officials with 250 offices around the world. Unlike the first site, this site seems to be fair and sensitive to immigrant’s rights.

News from the Onions

This website would be the last resource I would use when teaching a class about immigration. It seems to be mocking the issue of immigration and does not seem to be credible at all. The title is, “Immigration Officials Beef Up U.S.-Mexican Border with Pure Beef.” After reading the title alone you can gather that this site is not credible. The picture in the article is of a man standing on a pile of beef. The article talks about covering the border with “1,200 miles of pure beef”. I would never use this in a classroom because it’s absolutely absurd. 

Assignment 3-Powerpoint Presentations

http://ms363307.wikispaces.com/Language+Arts

I created this lesson using a powerpoint presentation. In the presentation I included music that I think appeals to middle schoolers. If the students get the answers correct the slide says "well done, you are correct" and plays music. I think I would definitely use this in my class someday. It's something much different than your typical lesson! Hope you enjoy it!

Assignment 1: Internet Resources

1. Copyright Issues and Internet Use

Copyright and Fair Use in the Classroom

    It is important that educators understand the rules and laws that apply to copyright. Like this article states, a website may have a copyright even if it doesn't say on the website. This article explains what can and cannot be copyrighted. For example, words, slogans and names may not be copyrighted but may have a trademark. Copyrights protect authors, and ensures them that people may not make copies, sell, prepare new works based on the original, and protection from performing the work in public.

Copyright and the Internet

     This article explains the issue of plagiarism. According to the article, plagiarism is "the act of stealing and passing off the ideas, words, or other intellectual property produced by another as one's own. Almost everything on the internet can have a copyright, for example links, graphics, videos and even audio clips. People may not even realize that they are plagiarizing because sometimes a copyright may not be present.

2. Equity Issues in Computer Use in Schools.

Critical Issue: Ensuring Equitable Use of Education Technology 

    This article discusses what actions schools can take when introducing technology for educational purposes. The article states that the school should create rules and policies for the entire school that makes the technology accessible to everyone. The article also states that students and teachers should be given equal opportunities to utilize technology. Lastly, the article states that technology can help close the gap between "inner city schools and suburbs."

Technology in K-12 Public Schools: What are the Equity Issues 

    This article poses questions about whether all students are receiving equal technological resources in schools. It also debates whether or not teachers are getting proper training on the use of these technological resources. This article researches and looks into the issue of whether or not less fortunate populations are receiving the right kind of technology. Lastly, this article researches whether or not students have access to any sort of technology at home to help them learn better.

3. Cultural Issues in the use of Computers in Schools

Cultural Difference and its Influence on Learning 

   This article discusses the importance of designing technology that is easy to understand for a variety of different cultures.The article summarizes research that explains how diverse ethnic groups tend to learn in different ways, so we must accommodate these different types of learners. From the research, the article states that people from different backgrounds think and use technology in different ways. To conclude, the article stated that different types of technology should be offered for different students.

The Impact of Computers on Schools

   This article showcases two different authors opinions of computers in schools. The first author, notes how children are become more literate in computer use than adults and their teachers. He explains how in Finland, 300 children are being asked to help educators learn how to use computers. Another author explains how the amount of time children spend on the computer could be effecting their well-being in a negative way. She poses the question, "are computers being used in age appropriate ways?"

4. Health Problems concerning the use of Computers.

Top 4 Health Problems Caused By Computer Use

    This article discusses the top four problems caused by computer usage. First of all computer use can create bad posture. Frequent computer use also be linked to glaucoma. People who use computers frequently also may experience hand and wrist soreness. It's important to take breaks from your computer to stretch out your hands and wrists. Lastly, computers cause stress injuries. For example, sitting too long in front of your computer can cause a great amount of stress to your body. 

Kids, Computers and Computer Vision

     This article discusses the risks of sitting in front of a computer for too long. Children who sit in front of a computer for too long may develop something called "computer vision syndrome". Eye doctors also believe that this puts children at greater risk for myopia. The article stresses how important it is to set limits on your child's computer use. You should also teach your child affective computer use skills such as good posture.

Jan. 3rd

My first blog

Class website