Friday, October 14, 2011

Journal 4

 It's in the Bag

Basham, J., Perry, E., & Meyer, H. (2011). I's in the bag. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(2), 24-25. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-september-october-2011.aspx

Summary:This article, “It’s in the Bag” provided information about a new method of how students can benefit from technology. Students will have technology tools which will enable them to have access to an expansion of sources. For example be connected with Twitter, facebook, and as well as having a Blog. Many of these networks will teach the students many important facts. Having access to I-pads, laptops, cameras, and many others will teach the children a smarter way to do anything. If teachers would promote opening a Blog in a educational way and continue until you graduate I feel students would enjoy school much more. Being able to use all these tools would definitely get the students more interested in school work. If all schools would focus more on technology the school would first save a lot of money and students would be more efficient when it came to going to college. I do agree that by students having this type of bag it would make them love technology and make school more fun.

Question 1: How do you think students will react to a tool bag?
I believe that students would definitely enjoy this method of learning. Technology is huge here in the US which means it is necessary that we teach our students how to have access to all this tools. If elementary students had access to a tool bag pack it would be easier for them to get familiar with all that it has to offer. 

Question 2: How would you control this new method before students take advantage?
This is a hard question because even young children know so much about technology that we need to educate them to use technology in a safe way. When I become a teacher and lets say we would provide this method I would definitely have to be involved with all my students. Now there is programs for teacher to be able to monitor and protect our students.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Journal 3

Students Dig up Dirt to Learn about Internet Safety 

 Morehouse, J. (2010). Students dig up dirt to learn about internet safety. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(2), 34. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-september-october-2011.aspx
Summary: In this article it provided information regarding the safety ways to use the internet. As we all know almost everyone can be searched on line and be able to find a lot of information. Morehouse gave his students 10 minutes to gather as much information online as possible and the students realize that almost his whole life was online. He then wrote all the different things the students found on the board, with all the information the students gathered they were able to create an image of him. Morehouse delivers many great facts regarding this issue. I have created many accounts over the course of my internet usage which frighten me, because is true without people knowing me they can investigate me and they will gather a lot information about me. After reading this article I will incorporate this in my classes but most importantly to show my students the importance of internet safety. Being able to provide this to students at a young age will expand their awareness on how internet can be dangerous if not used responsibly.

Question 1: What can parents do to monitor their children using the internet? 
In many social networks there is an age requirement which in many cases is easy to bypass and lie about your age. Because social networks are popular I agree with children wanting to open one, but parents have to be involved. This depends on the parents if they get an account as well or get the password to his Child's account to monitor. I would say that although we might trust our children there is many creepers out there that can be dangerous. 

Question 2: How dangerous can internet be?
I would say that it can be harmless but yet very dangerous. It really depends how we all use these types of sites. But children though they do not always know how dangerous it can be. Which means that its our jobs to educate them to use these websites responsibility.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Journal 2

"Join The Flock"

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning and Leading with Technology , 37(8), 12-15. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-september-october-2011.aspx

Summary: This article explained the ways we are able to communicate with strangers in an educational way. It provided many great facts for example that Twitter can enhance our education in many ways. Ferguson provided step by step on how to start a Twitter account and how slowly it will benefit us. She explained that by having a Twitter account it will help start a community that will become a great source. By building this community it will help grow debates as well as discussions that we are able to join. Slowly our communities will grow and provide us a better communication with expansions of new ideas. Ferguson also suggested that when we follow people that seem interested it will enable them to start reading our ideas. Being able to communicate with strangers with our same interest can definitely help us become better teachers. I definitely see myself following professors that have had experience in the teaching field, because it enables me to look up to them in a way that we were not able to do so before.

Question 1: How is Twitter is an educational source?
I have to say that Twitter can be used as what you wanted to become. In many ways it can be used as a communication source with all sorts of people. Before I took this class I saw Twitter as a place where celebrities would communicate with their fans. I never thought of Twitter as an educational source. Although, after reading, “Join the Flock” I have definitely changed my mind about Twitter. Twitter is a place to connect with people that will help grow my teaching skills.

"Enhance your Twitter Experience"

Mclintock, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience . Learning and Leading with Technology , 37(8), 14-17. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-september-october-2011.aspx


Summary: This article provided a better understanding of how to make Twitter a better experience. McClintock provided a chart of Twitter terminology which will help new users navigate this source. She also went into detail on how to find people that have our same interest. McClintock gave some great ideas on how to find a person that connects to your profession. Also, she explained that by using an organizer with a Twitter account will help us manage it better.
           
Question 2: How much time should we spend on Twitter?
I believe that the amount of time that we need to spend on Twitter depend on each person. For example in my situation the only time I check my Twitter account is while I am doing my homework.  

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Technology Self-Assessment: School 2.0

I chose module number 1 from my results in NETS-T. Sir Ken Robinson captured my attention when I was viewing my results. I saw the twenty minute speech video which gave me a better understanding about ways to maintain creativity in the classrooms. Mr. Robinsons gives great facts that I had not thought about before. For example, in the beginning of his video he describes how students believe that being wrong is not good which is when creativity starts vanishing. Students grow up thinking that being correct is the only way they will have a bright future. Mr. Robinson explains that we are all born with creativity but over the years it disappears. He also said that creativity is created by many wrongs which makes creativity that much better.

Watching this video provided many great facts that will help us better our education system. During the years I am sure we have all made mistakes, but at the end it made us that much stronger. Students in their early years have huge imagination that we should let them explore. By providing fun ways to teach students they will enjoy school and will be eager to learn. I will definitely incorporate these resources with my students because it will make me a better teacher.