Assignment #5

1) When I started doing this project I didn't think I was going to be able to do it, because I don't consider myself to be all that technologically savvy. At first I just sat there and stared at the screen because I didn't even know where to start. I begin with the basics I added all of the writing that i wanted on each page, and the colors that I wanted. After that I was stuck again, so I downloaded the lesson activity toolkit and read through the Notebook software activity guide. Once I had done this I begin to play around with all of the different tools i could use. Some of the features that I used out of the notebook software and the tool kit were the reveal tool, where you write something down on the page and then you put a box filled with color over it to cover the writing. Erase and reveal was another tool i used, with this tool i can write on the board then color over it with the same color as the background so that when it is erased the writing shows up. Screen shade reveal was the next tool, with this tool i can hide the entire screen and only show the parts of the page i would like to show. The last two tools I used were Infinite cloner and Drag and drop. With infinite cloner i can make an item appear as many times as i would like, and with drag and drop I can write questions and have the students match the answers to the questions.

2)My knowledge of this product has multiplied immensely! I could not believe I made the presentation that I was looking at!I feel like I have gotten a pretty good handle on what this technology is all about. I know so much more about this product now that I have played with it from the ground up. I feel like this is something i would definitely would like to use in my future classroom . I would definitely add this to my expert list! obviously I still don't know everything,and maybe there are some shortcuts could take, but i feel like i really know how to use this technology.

Observation

I just got back from observing a sixth grade classroom at BCS and i absolutely loved it! They have smartboards there which totally made the learning environment more exciting. The kids love the board, and as soon as Ms. O was off of it, they were on it. It's was really great to see how the kids get to interact with the smartboard in their classroom. She also has a scanner which makes it really easy for her to upload lessons or pictures that she would like to add to the Board. Going from a classroom in Carnation to a classroom at BCS was a huge change in not only the age group, but also in the technology that was available to them. The kids at BCS have the worksheets in front of them and on the Board so they have the option of looking at either one. This was a really great experience and i hope that i can go back soon!

The classroom of the future

I think the classroom of the future will not have note takers, but the kids who are absent for any reason will be able to podcast into the class session. I also think that students will have all of their books on their iPods and they will be able to listen to everything instead of reading it. Smartboard will be standard in every classroom and teachers will utilize them to their full extent. students will be able to carry a small library in something the size of a stick of gun (iPods). I think homework will be turned in electronically and returned the same way. Grades will be posted online and for students and parents to see. I think that we will move away from using paper so that every student will have a laptop, and teaching will be more interactive to make up for so much computer time.

What I'm working with

The kids in my classroom are working with minimal technology. there is only one computer in my classroom so there students don't really get to play with technology on a daily basis. On Thursday's they always go to the computer lab where thy get to play games, read stories online, and practice their typing. That is the only day the students really get to interact with technology. Some of the students that I'm working with in my class are ELL so those are the students that i have been working with a lot lately. The class that i am in is a low achieving class, so i have gotten to work with almost the entire class.

Parents Information

I was talking with the lady I nanny for today. While i was talking to her she started to tell me about this thing that the school has for parents. It is a website where parents can go in and check every single assignment that the student has, what the score the student got on the assignment, and what assignments are coming up. They can also sign up for e-mails to be sent to them every time the child drops below an 80% in any class. I thought this was really crazy because when I was in high school we didn't have anything like for parents. Our parents just had to trust and believe us when we said that we didn't have any homework. I think this could be really good for parents so that they can stay informed, but it could also cause a lot of drama with parents and teachers because now the parents will be aware of when their child isn't doing well.

Questions for the panel

1)how do you deal with technology in a low SES school?
2)What's your favorite thing about teaching with technology? has it made things more simple or difficult?
3)How do you feel about parents having so much information avaliable to them about their children?has it made dealing with parents more difficult?

What every teacher should know about technology

1)PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS
Every teacher should be proficient in the use of productivity tools.

2)TROUBLESHOOTING
Every teacher should be able to troubleshoot technology-related problems that commonly crop up in the classroom.

3)TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Every teacher should know where to go for technical assistance.

4)WEB RESOURCES
Every teacher should be familiar with what's available on the Web in his or her subject area.

5)SEARCH SKILLS
Every teacher should have well-honed Web searching skills.

6)INTEREST AND FLEXIBILITY
Every teacher should be open to new ways of doing things.