1. What was the most valuable aspect to you of creating a Personal Learning Environment?
The most valuable aspect of my creation and use of a Personal Learning Environment is that I had the opportunity to learn how to create and use a blog. Blogging is becoming more and more popular and i am so glad I had an opportunity to learn how to use many aspects of a blog like posting text, videos, slideshows, rss feeds, pictures, etc. I also like that all of our resources from the semester are on my PLE so I can go back and view them and use them in the future, when I am a teacher and have a class of my own and want to use those resources.
2. What did you like least about the Personal Learning Environment?
What I liked least about the PLE is that I felt like sometimes I was posting busy work and things that won't be valuable to me later on. I felt like it got cluttered a little bit with excess information that was not really needed to show my learning.
3.Comment on the likelihood of your using a blog or wiki for personal or educational purposes in the future.
I love the idea of having a class blog or wiki for my classroom where assignments, discussions, pictures, etc. can be posted and shared with my students and their families. I think this is a positive example of technology that can be used in the classroom and to keep parents and administrators informed about what is going on. I plan to have a class blog in the future.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Internet Safety--Watching
I watched the isafe wbcasts on privacy and the internet, cyberrelationships, cyber harrassment, and malicious code. I also watched the PBS Documentary sections 2, 4, and 6: A revolution in classrooms and social life, child predator fear, and cyberbullying. I learned many things watching these clips.
- What I learned:
It is so true that you never know who you could be talking too when involved in chat rooms or online relationships. It was sickening to me to hear of the "grooming process" cyber predators go through to select their victims. I also learned of the importance of keeping personal information safe. I learned how people steal identities. You should try not to give out social security, credit card numbers, or any other perosonal information. In the PBS documentary, it was so interesting to see the effects of cyberbulling. In this segment, i learned that cyberpredators are not the only problem. Cyberbulling is a big problem too, so much that Ryan in this documentary killed himself. I think cyberbulling is just as important to teach kids about as cyberpredators. - I can use this information in my home when i have kids or in my classroom when I am a teacher. I will be sure to inform my kids or students about the dangers out there on the internet. I would want them to be informed about the dangers of making friends with strangers on the internet, cyberbulling, cyberpredators, etc. There are so many good uses of technology but there are equally as many bad. I want my kids and students to be aware and informed and know what to do if they run into trouble. The information I learned while watching clips on internet safety really helped me to be more aware of what's out there and what things I need to teach my kids about to keep them safe.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Internet Safety Readings
1.
I chose to read Fighting Internet Filth, by Mario Hipol. In this article, he made a list of several very good points of how to protect my family from the dangers on the internet. His suggestions of filters, monitoring, using only bookmarks, and teaching children about the dangers is so important.
2.
I liked that Elder Ballard mentioned that our biggest challenge is to choose wisely what we listen to and what we watch. That was an interesting concept form me. Our biggest challenge is not that we can't find anything good on, its not that the media is becoming more and more corrupt, it is that we must choose wisely. We are responsible for our own media viewing. Their is an abundance of evil on television and on the internet, but there is also an abundance of good...it us up to us to choose.
The list of guidelines of avoiding pornography was very informative to me. The ideas listed there are definitely ones I want to implement in my home. It is so, so important to have the computer and TV in rooms that are open and high traffic. That one key will prevent so many mistakes and addictions from happening.
I liked that Brother Graham's article talked about making sure face-to-face relationships are a focus in the family. We live in a day and age where people can communicate without ever talking to each other. There is text messaging, email, instant messaging, etc. Face-to-face relationships are so important and the family is a great place to start teaching the importance of real and lasting relationships with people.
3.
When I become a parent and teacher, I will make sure I have the television and computer in a open room with the screen facing out, I will teach my children and students know about the dangers of chat rooms, internet sites, etc. I will not underestimate the infulence of media on a child. I will try to preside, protect, provide, and nurture them in a world where the media is becoming more and more prevalent.
4.
I can use what I have learned in these articles to teach my family and friends about the dangers out there and how to revent them. Internet safety is so, so important. The internet has many sites that are dangerous to both kids and adults. Everyone needs to be educated about how to stay safe, and I now can give suggestions and advice on how to do that.
I chose to read Fighting Internet Filth, by Mario Hipol. In this article, he made a list of several very good points of how to protect my family from the dangers on the internet. His suggestions of filters, monitoring, using only bookmarks, and teaching children about the dangers is so important.
2.
I liked that Elder Ballard mentioned that our biggest challenge is to choose wisely what we listen to and what we watch. That was an interesting concept form me. Our biggest challenge is not that we can't find anything good on, its not that the media is becoming more and more corrupt, it is that we must choose wisely. We are responsible for our own media viewing. Their is an abundance of evil on television and on the internet, but there is also an abundance of good...it us up to us to choose.
The list of guidelines of avoiding pornography was very informative to me. The ideas listed there are definitely ones I want to implement in my home. It is so, so important to have the computer and TV in rooms that are open and high traffic. That one key will prevent so many mistakes and addictions from happening.
I liked that Brother Graham's article talked about making sure face-to-face relationships are a focus in the family. We live in a day and age where people can communicate without ever talking to each other. There is text messaging, email, instant messaging, etc. Face-to-face relationships are so important and the family is a great place to start teaching the importance of real and lasting relationships with people.
3.
When I become a parent and teacher, I will make sure I have the television and computer in a open room with the screen facing out, I will teach my children and students know about the dangers of chat rooms, internet sites, etc. I will not underestimate the infulence of media on a child. I will try to preside, protect, provide, and nurture them in a world where the media is becoming more and more prevalent.
4.
I can use what I have learned in these articles to teach my family and friends about the dangers out there and how to revent them. Internet safety is so, so important. The internet has many sites that are dangerous to both kids and adults. Everyone needs to be educated about how to stay safe, and I now can give suggestions and advice on how to do that.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Last full week of practicum
This week I had a few experiences with technology. The students had their weekly computer time in the lab. The students of Old Mill Elementary school have access to technology constantly. They have computer time, each classroom has a projecter, laptop, wireless internet access, and visualizer. Students can take tests and do activities on computers also, if the teacher desires.
This week, there was not much use of technology. I used Microsoft Word to generate several worksheets for the kids. However, there was no interaction of the kids with technology this week. My mentor teacher did not use the projector or the visualizer this week, she did create some cause and effect worksheets on the computer, however.
I had the opportunity to use the cd player to help the children listen to the story "The Gardener" and follow along. I think the students really enjoy doing this and it gives students more exposure to their weekly story and aids in their comprehension, when test time comes around.
This week, technology could have been used when our mentor teacher taught action and linking verbs. She just wrote it on the whiteboard, however, i think if technology was used, it may have been more engaging. The students really enjoy technology!! This week, Lexee and I planned our activity for Monday, which will involve a movie clip and a powerpoint. We are so excited!!
This week, there was not much use of technology. I used Microsoft Word to generate several worksheets for the kids. However, there was no interaction of the kids with technology this week. My mentor teacher did not use the projector or the visualizer this week, she did create some cause and effect worksheets on the computer, however.
I had the opportunity to use the cd player to help the children listen to the story "The Gardener" and follow along. I think the students really enjoy doing this and it gives students more exposure to their weekly story and aids in their comprehension, when test time comes around.
This week, technology could have been used when our mentor teacher taught action and linking verbs. She just wrote it on the whiteboard, however, i think if technology was used, it may have been more engaging. The students really enjoy technology!! This week, Lexee and I planned our activity for Monday, which will involve a movie clip and a powerpoint. We are so excited!!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Week 3 of Practicum!
This week, our teacher used technology to give students an online math test in the computer lab. The students took online tests, and based on the answers they got wrong, activities would appear for them to complete to reteach their problem areas. I thought this was an awesome way to use technology to meet every individual childs needs.
I used technology several times this week. On Tuesday, I taught a writing lesson involving wishes and as my anticipatory set, i created and used a powerpoint of different ways people made wishes. I had them give me a thumbs up or thumbs down relating to if they had ever wished with the object on the screen. There were items such as birthday candles, wishing well, wishbone, etc. The kids really got excited about this and I thought it was a fun way for them to interact with technology.
Also, I team taught a lesson on plural possessive nouns with Lexee. In this lesson, we generated a powerpoint with the rules and example sentences on the slides. The students all had whiteboards and interacted with the sentences on the powerpoint to identify or create plural possessive nouns. Kids really do love interacting with technology.
This week, technology could have been used to enhance the lesson that our mentor teacher taught on vocabulary. She showed them word strips with pictures on them. I thought it might have been more effective if the students could see it projected on the big screen either through powerpoint or use of the visualizer. I think the kids would have been able to see the pictures better and conect to the word easier if technology had been used to enhance this lesson.
I used technology several times this week. On Tuesday, I taught a writing lesson involving wishes and as my anticipatory set, i created and used a powerpoint of different ways people made wishes. I had them give me a thumbs up or thumbs down relating to if they had ever wished with the object on the screen. There were items such as birthday candles, wishing well, wishbone, etc. The kids really got excited about this and I thought it was a fun way for them to interact with technology.
Also, I team taught a lesson on plural possessive nouns with Lexee. In this lesson, we generated a powerpoint with the rules and example sentences on the slides. The students all had whiteboards and interacted with the sentences on the powerpoint to identify or create plural possessive nouns. Kids really do love interacting with technology.
This week, technology could have been used to enhance the lesson that our mentor teacher taught on vocabulary. She showed them word strips with pictures on them. I thought it might have been more effective if the students could see it projected on the big screen either through powerpoint or use of the visualizer. I think the kids would have been able to see the pictures better and conect to the word easier if technology had been used to enhance this lesson.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Week 2 of Practicum!
This week Mrs. Valine's students got to vote for president through an online children's voting website. They got to go to the computer lab and ote for Barack Obama or John McCain. After doing so, they recieved an "I Voted" sticker. This was so fun for the kids. They got to use the technology themselves and participate in something important that thier parents and teachers got to do in real life. Mrs. Valine's class was so excited about using the computers!
Also, Mrs. Valine incorporated a PowerPoint into her lesson on singular possessive nouns. This PowerPoint caught the students attention. Mrs. Valine designed the PowerPoint so it was interactive and had kids participating while she lectured on this topic. Mrs. Valine told me that she doesn't like to use PowerPoints too often because she doesn't want them to lose their appeal and novel excitement. I think that PowerPoints are great and should be used often, as long as they are interactive, and keep the students interest. I noticed that technology is captiating to young students and they are eager to use and learn more about it.
The students also got to participate in a computer class with Mrs. Hagan, Old Mill Elementary's technology guru. These students look forward to computer class each week.
I, once again, did a listening center with Lexee, to the story of Tops and Bottoms. The students had to listen to the story on CD and respond to any questions we asked. I also got to help set up the computers for voting. I had the opportunity to plan two lessons for next week which both will involve PowerPoints: one on making wishes and one on plural possessive nouns. I am so excited to use technology in my lessons next week. I think the kids will love it!
I think technology could have been used in writing their "I am grateful for assignment." They could have shown off their work with the visuzualizer or typed up their final drafts, instead of hand writing them. I think the students would have enjoyed some interactive, technological games, perhaps from the internet, that would help them study for the tests they had on Friday.
Also, Mrs. Valine incorporated a PowerPoint into her lesson on singular possessive nouns. This PowerPoint caught the students attention. Mrs. Valine designed the PowerPoint so it was interactive and had kids participating while she lectured on this topic. Mrs. Valine told me that she doesn't like to use PowerPoints too often because she doesn't want them to lose their appeal and novel excitement. I think that PowerPoints are great and should be used often, as long as they are interactive, and keep the students interest. I noticed that technology is captiating to young students and they are eager to use and learn more about it.
The students also got to participate in a computer class with Mrs. Hagan, Old Mill Elementary's technology guru. These students look forward to computer class each week.
I, once again, did a listening center with Lexee, to the story of Tops and Bottoms. The students had to listen to the story on CD and respond to any questions we asked. I also got to help set up the computers for voting. I had the opportunity to plan two lessons for next week which both will involve PowerPoints: one on making wishes and one on plural possessive nouns. I am so excited to use technology in my lessons next week. I think the kids will love it!
I think technology could have been used in writing their "I am grateful for assignment." They could have shown off their work with the visuzualizer or typed up their final drafts, instead of hand writing them. I think the students would have enjoyed some interactive, technological games, perhaps from the internet, that would help them study for the tests they had on Friday.
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