Monday, April 21, 2008
End of Course Evaluation
I feel that Introduction to Educational Technology has helped me immensely in becoming technologically competent. I had always been fairly familiar with technology, but this class has introduced me to even more that I was not aware of. I feel that as a Special Education teacher of students with mild to moderate disabilities, I will be able to utilize technology extremely well in order to benefit my students and the best ways in which they will learn. Whether it is creating a Powerpoint to share basic information with my students, purchasing online games with touch-screens and large buttons to benefit reaction time and general computer skills, creating Podcasts or iMovies, or creating a blog for parents of my students, technology will be used in my classroom to its fullest potential. I do feel that I could use some more work on Macs in general because I have always been so comfortable with PCs, but overall, I definitely have a general idea on how to use a Mac computer. It is safe to say that I am fairly confident with technology in the future. I am a little bit nervous, though, because I know that new technologies and ways to further education come out all of the time. I will definitely have to familiarize myself with those new technologies, but at this point, most of the technologies I have learned about, I am comfortable with. My main personal technology goal is to become more familiar with Macs, because, as I said, I am more comfortable with PCs. Other than that, I would just like to have a general knowledge of all of the technologies that I can in order to benefit my students as much as possible.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Implementing Technology
4/21/08
This past week, I learned all about implementing technology in schools. I know that sometimes, it is rather difficult for schools to get technology, due to funding, space, etc. I think it is extremely important for technology to be used in schools. If it wasn't effective, it wouldn't be used as often as it is. Our world is growing in technology every day with items such as ipods, cellphones, and computers and everything that goes along with them. Money needs to go towards technology in schools because it is beneficial for students and the way in which they learn.
I know that as a special ed teacher, I will definitely use technology. There are so many computer games that can be beneficial to students with disabilities. I volunteered in a classroom in which several students with moderate disabilities use a computer game with a touch screen to do simple tasks to improve their reaction time and general computer skills. I plan to do the same thing with my students, if it will be beneficial for them.
This past week, I learned all about implementing technology in schools. I know that sometimes, it is rather difficult for schools to get technology, due to funding, space, etc. I think it is extremely important for technology to be used in schools. If it wasn't effective, it wouldn't be used as often as it is. Our world is growing in technology every day with items such as ipods, cellphones, and computers and everything that goes along with them. Money needs to go towards technology in schools because it is beneficial for students and the way in which they learn.
I know that as a special ed teacher, I will definitely use technology. There are so many computer games that can be beneficial to students with disabilities. I volunteered in a classroom in which several students with moderate disabilities use a computer game with a touch screen to do simple tasks to improve their reaction time and general computer skills. I plan to do the same thing with my students, if it will be beneficial for them.
iMovie
This past week, I learned all about iMovie. iMovie is a very cool program that a lot can be done with. It is basically what it sounds like - using a camera to make a short video. A lot of things can be added to the video, such as music, text, a countless number of effects, and the order of the clips can even be arranged to how the editor wants them. It is a very useful program.
I think iMovie can definitely be beneficial in classrooms. As a teacher, I can make an iMovie for my students. I don't exactly know what I'd put in it, but I'm assuming whatever is relevent at the time. I know that in future classes I will have to make an iMovie to discuss my teaching philosophy and what kind of teacher I am going to be. Learning all that I can about iMovie now will be beneficial to me in the next few years. Students can also make iMovies, although it could be a bit more difficult, but with a lot of practice, I'm sure they could learn the program very well and do a lot with it.
I think iMovie can definitely be beneficial in classrooms. As a teacher, I can make an iMovie for my students. I don't exactly know what I'd put in it, but I'm assuming whatever is relevent at the time. I know that in future classes I will have to make an iMovie to discuss my teaching philosophy and what kind of teacher I am going to be. Learning all that I can about iMovie now will be beneficial to me in the next few years. Students can also make iMovies, although it could be a bit more difficult, but with a lot of practice, I'm sure they could learn the program very well and do a lot with it.
Distance Education
4-7-08
This past week, I learned all about distance education. I agree with certain aspects of it, and there are certain aspects that I think do not work. I do think it is convenient for students to be able to take classes from the comfort of their own homes and work at their own pace. However, I think social interaction for students, especially at a younger age, is very important, as most people interact with people for the rest of their lives. Also, I think that it is kind of unfortunate that students do not get that one-on-one with teachers that is so important to a student's learning and can be so beneficial. I can't really decide how I feel about the topic on a whole.
I'm fairly positive distance education is something I will not have to deal with. I will be teaching students with mild-moderate disabilities, and one-on-one is crucial for these students to learn. Students with physical and mental disabilities have a much more difficult time taking a class on a computer without somebody there to help them, and I also don't even think it would be beneficial, as a lot of things learn in special education classrooms are things that promote self-determination skills, rather than memorizing history facts or being able to do multiplication, although a good amount of these students can do those things. They just need a bit more help.
This past week, I learned all about distance education. I agree with certain aspects of it, and there are certain aspects that I think do not work. I do think it is convenient for students to be able to take classes from the comfort of their own homes and work at their own pace. However, I think social interaction for students, especially at a younger age, is very important, as most people interact with people for the rest of their lives. Also, I think that it is kind of unfortunate that students do not get that one-on-one with teachers that is so important to a student's learning and can be so beneficial. I can't really decide how I feel about the topic on a whole.
I'm fairly positive distance education is something I will not have to deal with. I will be teaching students with mild-moderate disabilities, and one-on-one is crucial for these students to learn. Students with physical and mental disabilities have a much more difficult time taking a class on a computer without somebody there to help them, and I also don't even think it would be beneficial, as a lot of things learn in special education classrooms are things that promote self-determination skills, rather than memorizing history facts or being able to do multiplication, although a good amount of these students can do those things. They just need a bit more help.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wikis & Podcasts
3/31/08
This past week, I learned about wikis and podcasts. Wikis are a very useful tool. It is a website, and it can be targeted towards students, parents, or even co-workers to keep all of the teachers informed, kind of all in one big circle. Wikis can contain basically anything you want them to and are very useful ways to get information across. Podcasts are also a very useful tool. Audio clips can be recorded and listened to by students or teachers. Recordings are always useful so that information does not need to be memorized, but can be played over and over again.
I think I could definitely see myself using a Wiki in my classroom. Class websites are a great way to keep students and parents updated and a part of all events happening. Podcasts could also be useful. I could see myself using podcasts of myself to record pertinent information and find ways for my students and parents to access these podcasts off of the websites, as my students will have physical and mental disabilities and information may need to be reiterated in several ways.
This past week, I learned about wikis and podcasts. Wikis are a very useful tool. It is a website, and it can be targeted towards students, parents, or even co-workers to keep all of the teachers informed, kind of all in one big circle. Wikis can contain basically anything you want them to and are very useful ways to get information across. Podcasts are also a very useful tool. Audio clips can be recorded and listened to by students or teachers. Recordings are always useful so that information does not need to be memorized, but can be played over and over again.
I think I could definitely see myself using a Wiki in my classroom. Class websites are a great way to keep students and parents updated and a part of all events happening. Podcasts could also be useful. I could see myself using podcasts of myself to record pertinent information and find ways for my students and parents to access these podcasts off of the websites, as my students will have physical and mental disabilities and information may need to be reiterated in several ways.
All About Blogs
3/24/08
This past week, I learned all about blogs. After the tutorial, I felt confident in creating a Blog for my own classroom, once I knew how to do so. Blogs are a lot easier than I thought! I mean, I AM making one as we speak. Setting up a blog and actually posting in was what seemed most tedious to me, and as I soon discovered, it's not a difficult thing to do at all.
Blogs can be very useful in a classroom setting. I feel as though all parents would like to know exactly what their student is doing in the classroom. As a special education teacher, I will make it a priority to post all of the activities that my students complete so that parents can keep updated. I also think that Blogs can be a useful way to keep parents updated on everything happening in the school, such as school functions and meetings that parents can attend. All in all, I think a blog is a very useful function that can be utilized for many things.
This past week, I learned all about blogs. After the tutorial, I felt confident in creating a Blog for my own classroom, once I knew how to do so. Blogs are a lot easier than I thought! I mean, I AM making one as we speak. Setting up a blog and actually posting in was what seemed most tedious to me, and as I soon discovered, it's not a difficult thing to do at all.
Blogs can be very useful in a classroom setting. I feel as though all parents would like to know exactly what their student is doing in the classroom. As a special education teacher, I will make it a priority to post all of the activities that my students complete so that parents can keep updated. I also think that Blogs can be a useful way to keep parents updated on everything happening in the school, such as school functions and meetings that parents can attend. All in all, I think a blog is a very useful function that can be utilized for many things.
Webquests
3/17/08
This week, I learned about educational resources on the web and useful programs called webquests. Webquests are a very cool way for students to learn because it is very student-guided. The teacher can choose from webquests from the internet or create their own webquests using a variety of programs. I also learned about class websites.
I think my higher functioning students could definitely utilize the ideas that webquests have to offer. I could put together a webquest full of simple activities to that my students find them easy to understand and work through. I could obviously help my students with the difficult parts of the webquest, as I wouldn’t be a teacher if I wasn’t helping them! I could also create a class website to keep parents updated on what is happening in my classroom, so that parents know exactly what their child is doing each day. Parents like that sort of thing.
This week, I learned about educational resources on the web and useful programs called webquests. Webquests are a very cool way for students to learn because it is very student-guided. The teacher can choose from webquests from the internet or create their own webquests using a variety of programs. I also learned about class websites.
I think my higher functioning students could definitely utilize the ideas that webquests have to offer. I could put together a webquest full of simple activities to that my students find them easy to understand and work through. I could obviously help my students with the difficult parts of the webquest, as I wouldn’t be a teacher if I wasn’t helping them! I could also create a class website to keep parents updated on what is happening in my classroom, so that parents know exactly what their child is doing each day. Parents like that sort of thing.
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