Blog # 12 Current View of technology in the classroom

I believe that incorporating technology into education is very important. To begin with, I think that using technology in the classroom is a great way to transform teaching. I believe that technology can serve as one of the best teaching tools. For example, I think some of the best benefits of technology is that it is highly motivational, increases confidence, delivers more options, spreads across the curriculum, engages students, encourages active learning, can help organize and keep track of classroom materials, saves time, connects instructors and learners to new and different methods, enhances communication and collaboration, and overall technology skills are one of the most important tools to be skillful at to succeed in the real world. With all of these areas provided and increased due to technology, students will be able to learn a lot more than ever before because of the fact that technology speeds everything up. The more materials, activities, and options that are available, the better educational experience students will receive. Furthermore, one of the benefits that I think is the most beneficial use of technology in education is how much it helps with students who have exceptionalities. These students in particular are left behind more often and there are fewer resources available to fit their particular needs, but with technology, these students can receive the general curriculum in a general education classroom. In all, I will use as much technology as possible in my classroom because I think the benefits will enhance and expand a child’s learning more than any other technology tool.

Blog # 11- Non-computer tech in the classroom

Page turner is an assitive technology that is used to hold a book for a student and turns the page forward or backwards by using a switch, joystick, or remote control. This technology is especially good for students who have disabilities because it helps students who may have fine motor skills problems or blindness. Also, students who may be paralized could benefit from this type of technology as well. This device has four modes that can be used with paperback books, magazines, hard backs, and stapled packets. Overall, this type of technology can be used for students with disabilities, as well as, students who may not have disabilities.

Blog Post # 10-ERIC Reflection

I learned a lot from the ERIC presentations and was introduced to many different ways of using technology within an early elementary classroom. Although, I feel like some of them I will not be able to utilize due to availability, but many of them, such as digital cameras can be used in many different ways, in many different subjects to enhance learning. Also, I believe that learning about the inequalities in education due to things such as race or class is very important because sometimes teachers forget that not everyone has access to learning materials and as teachers, we need to figure out ways to accommodate those children. Overall, I believe that incorportanting technology in the classroom will benefit children in all ways because technology such as the computer and internet opens access up to many ideas and resources to expand ones learning!

Blog Post # 9

http://www.gigglepotz.com/inspirek_gmath.htm

This website deals with integrating technology within the elementary classroom and would be a great source for both teachers and students. The site has an endless amount of information, games, resources, programs, quizzes, etc., that would be both useful and educational for everyone. For example, for teachers, there is information on just about everything a teacher would need to know in order to incorporate technology within her classroom. There are no more excuses because this site does everything from teaching the teacher the basics of email, to how to use programs like PowerPoint, to setting up Epals, which is a great way to learn about other cultures, develop email skills, communicate with students from around the world, and develop good writing skills. For students, there are games and quizzes in the areas such as math, reading, spelling, social studies, and science. I think this website is great because it is a new database of ideas that lead students, as well as teachers into the new technology era of information, communication, and discovery. Also, it is easy to use and all of the information needed in order to learn how to incorporate technology within the classroom is all in one site!

Pay Attention

#7- Half-Way Reflection

I think using technology within an Early Elementary Classroom can have so many benefits. I think the iMovie that we created would be a wonderful way to introduce yourself to your students and their parents. Also, if I am lucky enough to work within a school that has easy access to computers and the Internet, i will definitely make use of the different websites and online activities with my students. I feel that the only problem with using technology within the classroom is that it takes time. Creating the iMovie was not too difficult, but it definitely took time and patience. Most teachers that i talk to say that they would use more technology in their classroom if they had the time and energy to implement it. Overall, I feel that the most important lesson I have learned about is the iMovie because I believe that it can be used in so many different ways within the classroom.

# 6-Internet Use in Elementary Classroom

I believe that their are many pros to implementing Internet usage within an Early Elementary Classroom, but I also feel that their are some cons as well. To begin with, some of the benefits are learning activities and enhance multiple intelligences, teaches kids about alternate ways of communication, how to type, and also helps make learning fun and exciting! On the other hand, I believe that some of the benefits relate to topics such as the digital divide, meaning that some children will have much more experience with computers and the Internet because they will be able to use them at home, while other children will have little or no access to computers. Furthermore, another disadvantage is there is usually not enough computers provided in the classroom, so students are not getting the full advantage as it is. Personally, I can't live without my computer and the Internet. The world today revolves around computers and technology and I believe that you can never introduce children to aspects of the world around them at too early of an age. I think using a computer and Internet with young elementary students is wonderful, as long as their is guidance by a parent or guardian to make sure the children are not getting into inappropriate websites.

Blog # 5 What Kindergartners Need to Know

I think that having standards for kindergartners, along with a guide to help the teacher teach what those standards include in important and helpful, but I also feel that in many cases, such restrictive standards take away from the children’s and teachers creativity and interest. I feel that standards cause teachers to concentrate too much on what the state thinks the children need to know, which in the end, may cause the teacher to lose his/her originality in coming up with activities and being able to teach what they think is important as well. I believe that having guidelines in teaching is very important, but I think that the standards that are in place are too restrictive and do not leave enough room individuality within both the students, as well as the teacher.

Images in Education Lesson

My lesson about raccoons would be for preschool aged children and would be mammal themed. First, I would begin the lesson by calling each individual child up and asking them to tell me all about this picture. They can tell me anything they want. For example, what the animal is doing, why he is doing it, and so on. I would allow their minds to be free and see what types of creative ideas they can come up with. I would then write down all of the students comments, along with a copy of the picture, and post them in the hall for all the parents to see just how creative their children can be. Then, I would continue the lesson by having a group discussion and asking the students to share what they thought about the picture. Then, I would introduce some fun facts about raccoons such as where they live, what they eat, when they sleep, where they are born, what color they are, and some dangers of the animal as well. I would then read a book about a raccoon called The Kissing Hand. Also, we would sing songs relating to raccoons by using puppets. Finally, I would end the lesson by having the students create a raccoon craft all of their own, as well as, working on an alphabet letter “R” worksheet. This would allow the kids to practice their fine motor skills by tracing the “R,” as well as their letter recognition skills. Overall, this would be a great lesson for preschool aged children because it allows them to show off their creativeness by verbal expression and also by creating a craft. Furthermore, it works on the students social skills because I have the children collaborating together by talking about the picture during the group discussion.

My Teaching Philosophy

Active Learning

Motivation (intrinsic/extrinsic)

Mulitple Intelligences

Promote postive/enjoyful learning

Know students personally

Gardner, Dale, and Bloom

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is based on the idea that there are at least seven different ways of learning. These different approaches to learning are visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, mathematical/logical, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal. What this theory is saying about student learning is that learning may be harmed if there is not a wide variety of teaching styles because not everyone learns in the same way.

Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification of levels of intellectual behavior important to learning. This classification has six levels within the cognitive domain and they are knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom’s classification levels relates to student learning because students remember more when they have learned to handle a topic at higher levels of the taxonomy.

Dale’s Cone of Experience is a tool that helps the teacher make decisions about resources or activities. The cone is based on the relationship of various educational experiences to reality. The cone helps with student learning because the closer the experience is to reality, the more students will learn from it.

Each of the above theories relates to the integration/detraction of technology within an Early Childhood Classroom. To illustrate, Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences supports technology integration because each of the seven intelligences can be practiced on the internet. There are many different websites that can help a student according to how they learn best. On the other hand, Gardner’s theory detracts from technology integration because if a child is not good at using a computer or the internet, in this case, they will not effectively be able to learn.

Furthermore, Bloom’s Taxonomy also supports and detracts technology into Early Elementary Classrooms. For example, one of the three domains within the classification system is the cognitive domain, meaning “mental skills” or “knowledge.” These can be learned by using types of technology like videotapes and/or computer assisted instruction. On the other hand, the other two domains which are Affective, meaning “growth in feelings or emotional areas” and Psychomotor, which is “manual or physical skills,” do not relate to the use of technology within the classroom environment. For example, the Affective domain relates to feelings, values, appreciation, enthusiasms, motivations, and attitudes, and none of these relate to technology. Furthermore, the psychomotor domain does not relate much to technology because it mainly deals with physical movements, coordination, and the use of motor-skills.

Finally, Dale’s Cone of Experience supports technology integration 100% because within his hierarchy, each level of experience could incorporate some type of technology. For example, watching a video or designing/performing a presentation.

Each of these three theories relate to the three types of technologies. All three theories relate to Type I technology, which is “teacher technology” because the teacher is the one that would be integrating the technology to the students. Doing this allows her to act as a tutor for the different theories, while becoming a better teacher. Additionally, Type II technology, which is programmed instruction, relates to the three theories because here the students are in charge of their learning. Finally, Type III technology, which is when technology serves as a tool for everyone. This mainly relates to Dale’s Cone of Experience because each experience level deals with using technology as a tool for learning, but the other theories do not depend of technological tools for learning as much.

Introduction

To begin with, my name is Kody and I am from Centerburg, OH. I am a junior at BGSU and I am studying Early Childhood Education. I hope to one day teach Kindergarten or first grade. I spent a majority of my life as a competitive gymnast and I feel that sport and been a major factor in forming the person that I am today. I am always very organized, on time, competitive, self-determined, and I never give up on myself. Also, I was a cheerleader for BGSU during my first year of college, but due to an injury that broke my sternum and collarbone, I no longer cheer. This past summer I worked at a childcare center where I worked with about sixteen three and four year olds. Although the job was quite challenging, it helped assure me that teaching and working with children is my passion.

During my years at BGSU, I hope to learn how I can be the most effective teacher by utilizing the information provided to me during my educational years within my classroom, so that my students can benefit from my knowledge and experiences.

I feel that using technology within a Early Childhood setting could serve as a wonderful tool to children as long as the learning tools are developmentally appropriate for the age/grade. One negative aspect of utilizing these tools in the classroom is that some children may have these tools at home and some children may not, which could cause some students to become discouraged because their peers are so far ahead of them in their knowledge of technology. Overall, I feel that as long as each child is working with tools that are developmentally appropriate, then the benefits will be positive because a majority of the world today is operated by technology.