Chapter 5 Researching and Evaluating Internet Information

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Questions: What pieces of information do students need to know about Internet searching?

• Goggle's system of ranking Web pages not only by keywords, but also by popularity and cross listing with other sites, has propelled it to the status of world's number one search engine.
• Searching the Web involves one of the three search strategies: 
• Free-text
• Keyword/ Exact match
• Boolean
• Search resources designed for students provide age-appropriate information and valuable Internet and information literacy learning experiences.   

Photo Credit to Keso on Flickr

There are millions of different websites in this world to search information on. We can search anything from "What time is the notebook showing" to "The history of George Washington", one major defect is that students have to know where and how to search it. Specific websites are a good source to search specific content. Google gives such a broad spectrum of what is on the internet, that sometimes the question asked to Google can be lost with too many words. When searching information on Google a student has to be very specific, and use little words. If they use more than 5 words in a Google search engine, any website with one of the words will come up. For example  Healthy foods for parents to make for a child's lunch, this sentence is so long that now Google will have any website with the word lunch show up. The word for this type of searching would be called free-text. Free-text looks for the title, keywords, and description fields of each resource for the word or phrase you type into the search command (Maloy, R. W, 2010, p. 124). A better way a student can find an exact website for what they are searching is by keyword/ exact match. It is easier for a student to find information this way because Google will look up an article that has the exact text that is given, and send you to the exact source. For example, to find information only on the 2000 president election, you need to type those exact words into the search command-- "2000 U.S president election." (Maloy, R. W, 2010, p. 124). One last way to search a specific content is by Boolean search. Boolean search means to add words, such as, and, or, and not (Maloy, R. W, 2010, p. 124). This will make the search even more specific to the content being searched for. 

Tech Tools Link 5.1 : Flickr 

Flickr has to be one of my favorite websites to use to upload, and locate pictures. It is a very organized website, and easy to navigate. For every one of my journals I use Flickr because any content I choose to search it takes me right to the picture that matches my text. I do not have to try different text in order to locate a picture; it takes me right to what I have asked for. It is free to sign up to Flickr a person just has to have a Yahoo, G mail, or Facebook account. All three of these accounts are also free to sign up for. For teachers, when using Flickr they can set up different folders so that the pictures go along with the subject that is being taught. Flickr offered a limitless way to add visual learning resources to teacher’s curriculum (Maloy, R.W, 2010, p. 122). Teachers can add students into a group, where they can add comments onto a discussion board. It is a great way to have fun teacher- student interaction. Also once a teacher has photos in the system, teachers and students can make cards, photo books slideshows, calendars, and postage stamps (Maloy, R. W, 2010, p. 122). I would recommend anyone, even teachers, to use Flickr. 

Summary & Connection: 

A term that I have never heard before is information literacy. Information literacy just means the ability to recognize when information is needed and to then have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information (Windhamd, 2006, p. 114). It is important that teachers show students how to properly use internet search engines, so that they receive useful information. Before students use a website to gather information from, they should evaluate it to make sure it is a reliable source. Anyone could make a internet page with phony information on it, that is why teachers need to teach how to distinguish a good website from a bad one. I also learned that the first thing to be on the top of the list after a student has searched something, may be a popular choice but may not be the best site for the student to use. It is very tricky using Goggle because if a student is not very specific with their search, Google may give broad results for just certain words. It is always best to have only a few words, and put them in parenthesis. Also teachers have to be very clear why plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is not taken very lightly in school setting and sometimes can cause a student to receive a zero, dismissal of a class, or school. Plagiarism is when a student does not properly cite someone else's work that they have used. If ever in doubt when to cite, cite the work anyways. It is better to be safe, then sorry.  

The video that I have posted below is a brief tutorial on how to search specific

 topics in Google. 

Enjoy!

Resources

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

Chapter 4 Integrating Technology and Creating Change

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: How can teachers integrate technology into their work as educators?

• Teachers can incorporate computers and other information technologies into three major parts of their professional work: 
• 1. Classroom instruction,
• 2. Outside-the-classroom activities, and 
• 3. Inside-and-outside-the-classroom learning activities for students.
• Computers and other new technologies can function in one of five possible formats for teachers:
• 1. Technology-based library,
• 2. Technology-based textbook,
• 3. Technology-based learning environments,
• 4. Technology-based teaching tool, and 
• 5. Technology-based office.

Photo Credit to ConnerJG at Flickr

 I learned in last chapter how important lesson plans are in order to teach the class correctly. Now that I have an idea of how to create a lesson plan, I have to learn how to integrate technology into my work. As I read the first focus question it made me think of classroom jeopardy. Classroom jeopardy is a great example of how a teacher can integrate technology in the classroom. Classroom jeopardy is just like real jeopardy, but the information behind the blocks has to do with the subject and section that is being taught. A teacher can set up a power point or active board to play jeopardy. This would be a good example of how to incorporate an active board into the classroom.  Jeopardy is a great way to have student’s play a game, but learn at the same time. It keeps them intrigued and they actually want to participate. I remember when my teacher had us play this game after each chapter, but before a test. She would tell us the day before we played how she was going to split up the class, and to make sure we studied. There would be a bonus of three extra credit points for the team who scored the most points. Everyone made sure that they studied because we all wanted to get the three extra credit points. Little did we know how much playing the game would prepare us for a test. It helped me remember more than I thought I could. The teacher really did a good job of integrating the technology of the active board to help us study.

Tech Tools Link: National Educational Technology Standards

This chapter was not very long, and there were not that many links to choose from. I explored the three links in Teach Tool 4.1. They were all a little tricky to navigate. It is always helpful when a website is easy to navigate because then it could be useful to a wide variety of people. The website that I felt had the most valuable information is the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T). A teacher would have to make an account on this website to get full access to all the information. I did not make an account, I simply explored the website. I clicked on the tab that says NETS, then the drop down box came down and I chose nets for teachers. This page is meant to give resources on how teachers can integrate technology in a classroom. A teacher can also purchase books, webinar, and online courses. I also explored typing in different things, such as, lesson plans and rubric in the search bar. It gives a forum where other teachers have posted blogs that were pertaining to what was typed in. I would recommend this website because it gives many different resources on how to integrate technology into the classroom. I would first sign up with an account on the website. 

Summary & Connection: 

It would have been nice if the chapter was a little bit longer because it did have useful information. I believe it went along perfectly with chapter 3 where I learned about making lesson plans. Integrating technology into the classroom means that a teacher will have to learn how to create an interactive learning experience for the students. Teachers have to think about what technology they will use, and how they will integrate it into their lesson.  Technology integration is not limited to the classroom but encouraged within the library, textbooks, and office. It can be integrated within all parts of the school. Learning how to integrate technology into the classroom has a process, and does not happen overnight. I learned that there is five stages of integration; entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation, and invention. Teachers should look at technology as a positive reinforcement for what they are teaching. Some minority and low income students do not get the luxury of owning a computer at home this is called participation gap. This is another reason teachers should integrate technology into the classroom as much as possible so that all students may get the same experience, and carry it with them. Even if the teacher has to use the technology that is out of date or up to date, it will equally benefit any student. We have to infuse technology into the classroom because the students will have a better learning experience. 

The videos that I am posting this week deal with classroom jeopardy!

This video is a news broadcast of classroom jeopardy. 

These video are an example of a class using jeopardy to learn.

(They are a little distracting, but there the best video I could find)

References:

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

Chapter 3 Developing Lessons with Technology

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: What is meant by "lesson development using technology"? 

• Lesson development is central to the work of every teacher.
• Lesson development is a process of creative design and decision-making that includes three elements: 1. What to teach 2. How to teach it 3. How to know what students have learned.
• Technology tools support all three aspects of lesson development. 

Photo credit to dkzody on flicker

Teachers have to plan ahead of time what they are going to teach each day of the school year. Rarely do they create a meaningful creative class at the spur of the moment. It would be very hard for teachers to think off the top of their head what they teach for 190 days of the year. The curriculum would be sloppy, and a disaster.  Students would not learn what they need to learn, in the order it should be taught. Teachers should always make a lesson plan to determine what to teach it and how. The national standard of what should be taught is given to all teachers, but it does not give specifics. Teachers have to decide what is going to be explored that goes along with the curriculum. The have to make the intelligent decision of what is going to beneficial to the student and what will not. After they decide what they are going to teach, they have to think about how they will teach it. Teachers will combine goals, methods, and procedures to determine for they will present the material. Some ways that teachers could present the material are large/ small groups, discussions, role play, lectures, inquiry-based activities, creative writing, or learning games. Sometimes students learn better with more interaction, than just a simple lecture. There are also many technologies that teachers can use to teach the class that are presentation software, threaded discussions and email, assistive technologies, digital cameras, movie-making software, web-based diagram, and blogs. There are endless possibilities of technologies a teacher can use to help the class stay interested. They just have to determine what technology goes along nicely with the lesson of the day. Another thing that teachers have to consider is what the students have learned. A way they can do that is by 1. Summative summarizing what the students have learned at the end of a lesson 2. Formative- happening as a lesson unfolds 3. Diagnostic- preceding a lesson as a way to measure what students already knows. A couple different ways that a  teacher can asses what the students have actually learned if by test, quizzes, online surveys, evaluations, and portfolios. It is always important that a teacher makes sure that all the students are on the same page. Teachers have to make sure that students fully understand what they are being taught, and are able to retain it. Before moving on to the next chapter or step of the class, a teacher should always check that everyone understands. 

Tech Tools Link: Gliffy

Teachers have to make lessons plans in order to be able to effectively teach a classroom. Creating a lesson plan may not always be that easy because you have to make sure everything is being covered in 190 days, and flows together. It may be a difficult task to make lesson plans as a new teacher, but there are ways to help. The website above (Gliffy) is a wonderful website, I believe, for new/ experienced teachers. This website has different flow charts, and diagrams that would help organize how things could flow together. It is a good way to first see how you will put everything together. Lesson plans usually have to be turned into the school ahead of time, before class actually begins. Before writing in stone how you will teach the class, it is a good idea to make any type of flow chart. With a flow chart you can see what assignments can go were, what you would do certain days, when you think a test should be given, ect. Another good thing about this website is that you can make a floor chart. It is always a good idea to know what student is sitting were, not only so you know there name, but to make sure they are sitting somewhere where they can learn. Some students at the beginning of the year like to sit next to their friends, and usually talk as much as possible. With a floor chart you can keep an eye on the friends, and then make the decision of what students would work well next to another. Floor charts are also a good way to take attendance. There would be no way that a student could pose as someone else, if you know who exactly is supposed to be there. Check out the website, it could possibly help you in the future!

Summary & Connection:

This chapter has been very beneficial to me because I now I know the importance of making lesson plan. It is important that teachers now how to effectively teach the curriculum. As a future teacher I want to make sure that my students are actually learning something that they will remember, and can use in the future. Each lesson plan that is made usually goes along with the national standard curriculum. Teacher’s final goal is that the students pass the grade meeting the educational standards. Also there are state exams that students need to take in order to pass certain grades. During the year that the student has to pass the test, teachers should make sure that the students fully understand what is being taught. After reading this chapter I think I will give quizzes randomly not only for a grade, but so the students can show me their learning. As a future teacher you have to know when it is okay to move on to the next section, or stay a few more days on the same one. I have to make sure that the students are always on the same page. I will also use electronic grading so that the students can monitor their grade. It is a quick way that the students can have immediate asses to the assignment grade, and overall grade. Guardians can also review how their student is doing in the class and where they might need help. Sometimes students will go home and say they have done all their homework, but when report cards come out it shows the complete opposite. With this new technology of grading, guardians of students will know exactly what is going on in the students schooling. 

This video incorporates what was discussed in my focus question.

The video below gives a helpful example of what to think about when writing a lesson plan. 

References: 

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

Chapter 2 Transforming Learning with Unique, Powerful Technology

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question:  How can students express their creativity using technology? 

• Word processing, desktops, design tools, digital cameras, digital video, movies, and podcast to support expressions of creativity by students and their teachers. 
• Fostering creativity involves establishing conditions in schools where students express new ideas, create new approaches, and envision new solutions.
• Using computers for writing and electronic communication establishes new patterns of self-expression and interaction among students. 

 Photo credit to Raffa LUCE Flickr 

There were 7 different questions that I could have chosen to talk about this week, but I chose the question about students expressing their creativity using technology. As soon as I read this question it just popped out at me, I can totally relate to this first hand. Creativity is the ability to transform traditional ides, rules, patterns,  and create a new ideas, rules, patterns, ect. Creativity is being able to think outside the box, and step out of ones comfort zone. When I was in high school I tried out photography because it was just something to fill my schedule, but by the end of the semester I was in love with photography. All four years I was in high school I made sure to take as many photography classes as I could, it was my new hobby. With digital cameras, students could choose from tons of different effect to do to an picture. Also with a old film camera, students could also develop picture in any way they choose  There are endless possibility what the final product of what the picture could be. One way that students could express their creativity by using technology is by creating a photography blog. The picture that I have above is just an example of what a photography blog could look like. Once a student has finished editing their picture the way the want, they can post it to a blog. On the blog the student could describe their feeling, emotion, and purpose of the picture. For one of my photography classes we had a certain kind of picture we had to take each week. It could be anything in the category that the teacher gave. Once we had the picture we wanted we could tweak it which ever way we wanted, and then had to post it to a blog. In that blog we had to state why we picked that picture, and what it meant to us. We could basically go where ever we wanted to go with the topic. It was a great way to express the meaning behind the picture. I always loved doing these assignments because not only could I show off my picture to the world, but always explain my meaning of why I took it. Technology is a big influence on today's society and how students can be creative, and expressive. 

Tech Tools Link: Digital Storytelling

Just how I have stated above about how creative you can be with your own picture blogs, I think this program is another way that students can express their creativity through pictures. There are a few different programs on this website that they can choose from, each program help create a story. The website is highlighted above. When the student gets to the website they should go to the tap that says create, and will see different options there. Students can express their creativity through making a story with a picture, audio, collages, or clip. I think this website is very useful and can help with a project, or just for fun. I looked through the website and found there was a link to download photo story. It looked very interesting to me, so I clicked on it and downloaded it. Here is the link to take you directly to the photo story page. Once it was downloaded, I tested it out to make sure it was going to be a useful website I could talk about. It is a very interesting program, and here are the steps that it takes them through.

1. Add as many pictures as you would like.
2. Make a unique cation for each picture. 
3. Record an audio of your voice for each picture. For steps 2 and 3 you can create something new for each picture.It does not have to be the same thing. 
4. Pick a song you want to incorporate with your picture that you have selected. 
5. Save
6. Enjoy what you just created!

In order to see the creation make sure that you have the latest version of windows media player. I highly recommend this page, it is fun and useful. It is a different way to express creativity other then just having a picture blog. It can also be useful towards any project. Add some spice to a power point presentation, or a photography class. 

Summary & Connection:

This chapter has taught me that there is more to learning and expressing yourself, then just showing it on paper. I now know that it is important for students to express themselves through technology. Technology can help any student in many different ways like access and asses information, learn visually, engagement and collaboration, rapid feedback, and expressing their creativity. There is no need to restrict internet access in a classroom because it is starting to become the number one way to teach and learn. After each chapter that I read I learn more and more how technology is influencing classrooms. It is no longer a bad thing to have computers in the classroom, but a blessing and a privileged to be able to access much more information than before. I have also learned about the three theories of learning, which are behaviorism, cognitive science, and constructivism. Each of the theories are based around how the student learns to what the computer can do for them. I would of never thought that a computer could be used in so many ways for education. It does not matter how you learn because there is a way that the computer technology can be useful to all learning styles. A new door is opening everyday on how technology can be incorporated into a classroom. 

The first video shows how someone animated their own short clip. The second video gives some reasons of there should be technology in a classroom. 

Hope you enjoy!

Animation!

Reasons!

References:

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

Chapter 1 Becoming an e- Teacher

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: How do new technologies create new opportunities for teaching and learning?

• Educational technologies offer exciting, engaging, and effective alternatives to traditional instructional methods 
• Computer technologies can be used in ways that promote high levels of interaction and engagement among teachers and students 
• Web 2.0 tools are a new generation of technologies that can be used to create highly  interactive, inquiry-based learning experiences at all grade levels. 

Photo credit to TinaMariposa Flickr

Referring back to the first bullet new technologies in a classroom are always a wonderful privileged. There are many children in this world that do not get to privilege the experience of learning with technologies, as people do in the United States.  The active board, as shown in the picture above, is one of the new technologies that have been put in schools to further the interaction and education of students. The teacher can now transfer information from their computers to the active board, which makes students interactions easier than the white board. Before teachers had to write the lesson plan on paper then transfer it to the white board, and once space was gone they has to erase everything and start over. Now with the active board teachers can create a lesson plan on their computers, and transfer it directly to the active board. There is no longer a worry of how space might be limited because they can jump from page to page with this software. I think it is a good thing because if a student did not catch something the teacher has and could go back a page, or always look for the specific lesson plan on the computer and go back to it. This gives teachers and students an interaction 10 times better than it was before. Teachers can create lessons that focus on the curriculum, and also the interaction between each individual student. Some web 2.0 tools that a teacher can use in the classroom are blogs, wikis, podcast, inquiry-based educational websites, social bookmarking, and other interactive tools that are starting to become popular (Dolan, 2008 ; Solomon & Schram, 2007 ; Waldrop, 2008). As technology progresses throughout the years, teaching interaction and education with students will become outstanding.  

Tech Tools Link:  Ultra Portable Laptop Computers

I believe that having a computer throughout college is an essential. I know if I did not have a portable laptop it would be much harder for me to complete my work. Not only can I move my studying around the house, I can travel with my laptop wherever I go. It is light and easier to move around then a computer with a separate modem. I would recommend anyone who does not have any type of laptop to look into getting one. The website that I have linked above is a good place to start looking for a laptop computer. It has a handful of different laptops, prices, and useful information. Someone could buy a portable laptop from this site, but I also would recommend shopping around. Make sure that you receive the best deal possible for what you are looking for. Here is a helpful link that has tips for people looking into buying a portable laptop. It is a very useful website that breaks all the essentials down to purchasing a great laptop.

Summary & Connection:    


This chapter is just a glimpse of what is to come for the rest of the book, and I cannot wait to learn. I knew that technology was present in a classroom setting, but it was not until I read this chapter that I realized how important technology actually is. Computers and software's are starting to become the number one way of learning in a classroom. It is becoming easier to incorporate technology in a classroom because many students already use it outside of the classroom. In a study it showed that 85% of students 5-17 years old use computers at school, and 68% use them at home (US Department of Commerce, 2008). Even though technology has to be involved in classrooms, never forget that we are preparing students for their future education. Students still have to think critically, make judgments, solve complex problems, think creatively, communicate, collaborate, and take charge of one’s life.

Something that I found interesting in the reading was that teachers who are tech savvy use technology in the classroom more than teachers who are not. Even though it might be required by the school that they use certain programs they do not use them because they feel that they do not get sufficient technical assistance. I can relate to that because in high school there were always certain teachers that used the active boards and technology in class more than other teachers. I feel that it is not fair to students that the teachers decide not to use certain things. It takes away from the learning experience that the student could have had in a certain class. All teachers should have better education on the technology they could use for their students. I hope to be a teacher that can easily integrate technology in the classroom for my students and be a e- Teacher. I want to make sure that when students finish my class they leave with something valuable, and actually learn something.


I have included a cool little video titled "Teaching in the 21st Century" to get your mind going! Hope you enjoy it.

Teaching in the 21st Century! 

References:

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