Reflection

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My reflection of this semesters Intro to Technology for Teachers

When I look back and think about when this semester first started I cannot believe how fast time has went by. I did not think that I would learn much from this class, but my opinion has totally changed. I am leaving this class with new knowledge of the different technologies I can use as a teacher, and how to incorporate them. 

Photocredit to Keso on Flickr

I did not really enjoy class discussions before I started this class because I thought that they were pointless. In my previous classes I had to do discussions, but they were not so in depth like these are. The discussions for this class helped me learn how to cite all my worth that I do. I learned how to critique fellows classmates work the right way. I also learned how to discuss and answer the question that was given in each discussions. I would say that that I enjoyed having to do the discussions this semester.

The blogs that we had to do really helped me learn/ associate the things I read in the textbook. Usually it is difficult for me to take time to read a whole chapter and really understand what I read. These blogs help me read the chapter piece by piece and write about what I read and learned. I think it is a great idea to have your future classes do blogs on books because it really is a good way to break the text down. I am going to recap one thing that I learned in every chapter.

Chapter 1: 

• How new technologies create new opportunities for teaching and learning. 

Chapter 2: 

• How students can express their creativity.

Chapter 3:  

• How to create lesson plans with technology. 

Chapter 4: 

• How to integrate technology.

Chapter 5: 

• How to show students the right way to search the internet. 

Chapter 6:

• Why/ How social bookmarking, bookmarking, and information alerts are useful to teachers. 

Chapter 7:

• How to use computer games and stimulation as learning resources. 

Chapter 8:

• How to use websites and/or blogs to improve teaching. 

Chapter 9:

• How to create power point presentations for maximum teaching and learning. 

Chapter 10:

• How to incorporate technology to create universally designed classrooms. 

Chapter 11:

• How to use performance based assessments in the class.  

I believe my top 5 assignments of this class are: 

1. All the Journal Post
2. Teacher Webpage EPortfolio 
3. Website Evaluation 
4. Power Point
5. Discussion Topic #1

I would not change any of these assignments for the semesters to come. These assignments were my favorite to do out of everything in the class. My two least favorite would have to be the two collaborative projects. I would love group projects if I was physically going to class. I find it a bit difficult to communicate with people on group projects online because everyone has a different schedule. For both the assignments the communication was limited. I would not mind doing them again, but rather not do it in a group project. That is just my opinion. 

My favorite video of the semester is the one that goes along with web evaluation/ rubric.  I feel like you used the right examples and expl of how to complete this project. 

I can honestly say out of the three classes that I am taking this semester I have learned the most from this class. When I look back I can actually remember what I learned in this class, whereas the other classes I can not. I feel that all the learning outcomes that I read about in the syllabus where achieved in this class. I can also honestly say this is the first class in a while that I will carry on the material with me as a student, and future teacher. 

Photo credit to Garik_k on flickr 

Chapter 11 Engaging Teachers and Students in Learning and Self- Reflection

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Focus Question: What is performance based assessment for teachers and for students? 

• Teachers can use norm-reference tests, criterion-referenced test, standards-based assessments, and performance-based assessments to evaluate their students. Supervisors can use these same assessments to evaluate teachers. 
• Performance evaluation bases assessment on work completed rather than test taken, including such performance area as student writing, individuality and group projects, homework assignments, individual presentations and performances, open book exams, student self-assessment, and teacher observations. 
• Performance evaluation has a dual focus for teachers- they are continually evaluating their students while their supervisors are continually evaluating them. 
• Technology is a powerful tool for assessing students and teachers performance because it allows individuals to display the actual real-world learning they have experiences in the classroom. 

Photo Credit to Odegaard Library on Flickr 

I believe that teachers only get better when they understand if the students are truly learning or not. One was a teacher can verify that the students are learning the material that is needed by an assessment test. Teachers can come to the conclusion that the way they are teaching works when the entire class is getting answers right, if the entire class is getting answers wrong than the teacher can safely say she has to try something new. The teacher can also create an assessment for each individual student to let them know how she feels they are doing in the class. There is a thing called new teacher assessment is when other faulty evaluate how you are teaching in order to get your teaching license. There are many different assessments that are within a school system, we have to make sure that we are constantly using them. These evaluations will only make us better educators for our students. 

Tech Tools 11.2: Survey Monkey

The tech tool for this week goes along with my focus question above. The tech tool link is a program where teachers could make a survey to give to students to see how the teacher is performing. Also the teacher could fill out a survey for each student to give them feedback on how they are doing. The definition of Survey Monkey is an easy-to-use online survey tool with multiple ways to formulate questions and collect information. When you go to the website click on how it works to start your process. I would 100% recommend this site because it is extremely easy to navigate, and it can generate performance based assessments

Summary & Connection:

It’s sad to say that this is the last chapter of the book. It has been fun doing these blogs each week because it really does help you understand what each chapter has been about. It is a nice easy way to read an entire book for a class without becoming overwhelmed. The chapter this week has been about different assessments that take place in a school setting. There is even an assessment that is taken place before you can get your license for teaching. It is important that a person does well on that assessment because it may cause them not to get there license to teach. I also learned how to incorporate digital journals into my classroom to have a better connection with students. The only disadvantage is that a person has to have knowledge and skills for the technical part of it. An advantage to assessments is that the teacher could ask questions to see how the students would relate to the information being taught. If students are having "fun" while learning the will pay more attention, and retain what they learn. One last thing before I go, always make student participation a goal in your class. It is important that the students get involved with what you are teaching so you can assess that they are learning, and what you are doing is correct. I hope you have enjoyed my blogs  I can truly say I will miss this part of the class. 

Teaching Assessment Techniques 

Assessment Measures

Sneak Peak on How to Create a Digital Portfolio 

References: 

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.

Chapter 10 Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

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Focus Question: How can teachers use technology to create universally designed classrooms? 

• Every student benefits from a wide and varied range of educational experiences that can activate her or his talents and potentials as a learner.
• Teachers are Teachers are crucial gatekeepers in how learning proceeds in schools and classrooms. They  either move students forward with lively and demanding instruction or they separate students according to perceive needs and talents. 
• Differentiated instruction (DI) and universal design for learning (UDL) involve changing in institutional practices and classroom structures to promote learning success for every student. 

Photo credit to Amanda P.WU on Flickr 

Universal design, a concept from the field of architectures is at the center of new approaches to how schools can serve all students well (Maloy, 2010, p. 279). When teachers create a universal designed classroom it can accommodate any type of student. Like I have said in previous blogs teachers have to learn how to accommodate everyone in the classroom because everyone learns differently. There are two key terms that teachers should remember; 

• DI which stands for Differentiated Instruction- is an instructional approach that gives students "Multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas" (Hall, 2007). 
• UDL which stands for Universal Design for Learning- is the application of universal design principles to educational settings. 

Those two words help the teacher remember what the idea is for universal design in a classroom.  Also the purpose of universal designed classroom is full participation and access for students with disabilities while providing individualized options for all (Maloy, 2010, p.279).  To differentiate technologies in your classroom think about low-tech, mid tech, and high tech.  Low tech refers to changes that are made easily, inexpensively, and without applying digital or electronic materials (Maloy, 2010, p.281). Med tech refers to substantive shifts in organization and delivery of curriculum that may include the use of electronic materials (Maloy, 2010, p. 281). High tech refers to changes associated with the integration of computers and other specialized information technologies in the classroom (Maloy, 2010, p.282). As a teacher just take the time to assess your students, and use whatever technology is going to fir best for them. 

Tech Tools 10.1: Calculators

I always get stumped when there are limited tech tools to choose from. Usually I like to incorporate the tech tools with my focus question, but this week I will have to talk about something else. Teachers have to learn how to deal with anything that is thrown their way. This week tech tools website is about calculators. This website is supposed to help you with different kind of calculators and how to use them. The first thing that I notice when I log into the website is the dark blue background. It is very distracting. Then, I notice the massive amounts of different links. It is very distracting trying to find what you are looking for, and there is no internal search bar to narrow down what you are looking for. I do not think I would recommend this page for people to use. I would try searching whatever calculator you are looking for individually. 

Summary & Connection: 

It is sad to say that this is the second to the last blog I will be doing for this semester. As the chapters have gone by everything is mixing in together little by little. This chapter has been about the different technologies that are available to teachers to help bring together the diverse learning in the class. No matter what the curriculum is find a way to incorporate technology into it to create a universally designed classroom. That is the way to bring all the students in the class as one. Make sure that everyone feels comfortable with the way that the technology is being incorporated. It is beneficial that they are assistive technologies that can be accessed to students without any barrier, while maximizing opportunities for learning (Maloy, 2010, p.300).  I also learned that technology is important for writing because it is usually helps students express themselves in way they cannot do on paper.  Different technologies are effective in different parts of writing process, including prewriting/ brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing (Maloy, 2010, p.293). 

UDL in the Classroom

Differentiated Learning 

References: 

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.