Miss Oney's Blog

End of Course Evaluation

2008-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Implementing Technology

2008-04-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

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.

iMovie

2008-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Distance Education

2008-04-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Wikis & Podcasts

2008-04-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

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.

All About Blogs

2008-04-01T17:25:00.002-07:00

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.

Webquests

2008-04-01T17:25:00.001-07:00

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.

The Internet

2008-04-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

3/10/08

This week I learned about the internet and how I can use it in my classroom. I am incredibly familiar with the internet, as most college students are, and I can use this tool to easily access so many things so quickly. I learned about streaming video and audio, and although I already knew what this was, I did not know the word for it. I realize how often I use the tools that the internet provides in my every day life, and I am thankful to live in an age of such great technology.
The internet can be useful in any classroom. For my students with disabilities, the internet can provide simple games for each one of them to improve their reaction time or problem-solving skills, or just general knowledge with a computer, if their abilities allow them to use computers. I will use the internet, of course, for a variety of things, whether these things be researching things for my classroom or about different disabilities, downloading videos and audio clips, finding pictures, or really, anything that can be done using this useful program.

All About Editing Photos

2008-04-01T17:23:00.001-07:00

2/25/08

This past week, I learned about photo-editing. I was excited for this chapter because I have always wanted to learn how to better edit the photos I take. The tutorials showed me how to do a lot of things with which I was unfamiliar, and I definitely think that I will be more efficient at editing photos. Photoshop is such a useful program that allows you to do so many different things to pictures to make them look better overall, and I now know how to do these things.
The Digital Images Project helped me to learn that I can take simple, everyday photos and edit them, whether editing includes adding backgrounds, words, changing contrast or resolution, or anything else that can be done to a photo, and use them in my classroom. I was surprised at myself for completing this project early, but I did not want to be stuck with it over spring break, and I accomplished this goal. I enjoyed completing the project because I found photos that I legitimately want to use and made them the way that I want them to look. I felt like I was really decorating for my own classroom.

Administrative Software

2008-04-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

2/18/08

Chapter Five was all about learning about different administrative software. I learned about databases and all of the different things I could use them for, such as filing information about my students so that I do not forget it. This week’s lab was the practice ATC. I’m semi-nervous for the ATC just because I know the pressure it on to pass, but I feel that my comfort level with computers is above-average and I will do just fine as long as I take my time and complete every step.
Administrative software, such as databases, spreadsheets, word processing software, etc., is important to learn about because all of these programs will come in handy in different ways when I am a teacher. There are countless things these programs can be used for in the classroom, and I am comfortable that I will be able to use my computer skills to utilize these programs to the best of my abilities.

Kidspiration & Virtual Reality Worlds

2008-04-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

2/11/08

This week we learned about Inspiration and Kidspiration. I thought both of these were very cool programs, obviously useful for students to create things on their own. We also discussed virtual reality. In EDTL 231 last semester, I had a teacher who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and had a difficult time walking. She logged onto a program called Second Life, which was a Virtual Reality World in which individuals with disabilities from all over the world could come together and talk as if they were all in the same room. I think these sort of programs are useful for individuals who cannot get out much due to physical restraints, but I definitely think there is a line between living online and living in the real world, and the line is very hazy.
If my students are of a high functioning level, I could definitely see virtual reality worlds being useful to them. Being able to relate to individuals who are in the same condition they are is comforting and exciting all at the same time. I could never personally get into these virtual reality worlds myself, but for those who can, more power to them.

Alphasmarts & Excel

2008-04-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

2/4/08

This week in Chapter Three, we learned about more computer basics, just as hardware, software, and school networking. We also talked about Alphasmarts. I’ve never even heard of an Alphasmart. At first, I thought they were a little silly because it seemed to be just a keyboard, but when I saw that you could upload the information onto a big screen so that the entire classroom could see it, I thought that was kind of cool. We also learned about Excel. Excel has always been something I’ve avoided because it looks messy, but after the Tutorial, I learned that it’s not nearly as bad as it seems.
In my future classroom, I do not know if Alphasmarts will be handy. It depends on the level at which my students are functioning, but if I am placed in my ideal classroom, which would be about seven students with moderate disabilities, I do not think I will have much of a use for Alphasmarts. Excel could be useful for me at the teacher, however, because I can store information about the students in an easy-to-use and easy-to-access spreadsheet.

Word & Powerpoint

2008-04-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

1/28/2008

This week we presented our All About Me’s. This project helped us to utilize the basic skills of Powerpoint and to become generally familiar with th program. We also learned about Microsoft Word through the Lab Tutorials. I have always been familiar with Word, as I have written a million and three papers, and I am proud to say that I knew how to complete all of the tasks shown in the lab. So far, everything we’ve learned in this class has come fairly easy to me thanks to my general knowledge of computers, but I expect it to get more difficult as time goes on.
I don't exactly know if my students will be using Word or Powerpoint in the classroom, but I know these are two programs that I will definitely be using. I can use Word to type up activities for my students and Powerpoint to present different concepts to my students. Students with disabilities need a lot of one-on-one instruction so I don’t know how useful Powerpoint would be, but I will definitely use it for anything I can because it is an easy, useful program.

Learning Styles & Multiple Intelligences

2008-04-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

1/14/08

This week, we learned about different learning styles and multiple intelligences. I discovered that there are many different types of intelligences, such as musical intelligence, spatial intelligence, and linguistic intelligence. I think this information is especially pertinent to my field of study because I will be teaching students with countless mental disabilities and physical disabilities. I feel that all of the information in Chapter One was very important for future teachers to learn, because most of this information was background knowledge on students and different forms of technology.
It is important for me as a teacher to find out exactly what each of my students need, as each one will be different. By having a general knowledge of the different learning styles, I will be able to get to know my students and discover which learning style best suits each individual.

The Difference Between Macs & PCs

2008-04-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

1/27/08

This week I learned about the difference between Macs and PCs. I was always a comfortable PC user, and I must admit, Macs seemed rather complicated. However, after exploring the tutorials for Macs and learning that they really aren’t that bad, I have a feeling I’m going to be okay. I surprised myself because even though I am very unfamiliar with Macs, I could have taken an educated guess at every task that needed to be completed, and I would have figured it out soon. Although I feel that I will still always be a PC user at heart, I know that is important to understand both operating systems so that I am versatile when it comes to computers.
I feel that a lot of the things I will learn in this class will not necessarily relate directly to me, as most things we have already spoken about deal with normal classrooms in normal settings. I am a special education major and I will have an entirely different classroom than most of these students. However, I think that the technology portion, at least for me, will definitely apply. Even though my students with physical and mental disabilities will not be utilizing a good portion of this technology in the same way students without disabilities can, it is important for me to learn these things and see what I can do with them.