What?
In finishing up the assignment that we did in our pods last week something that I learned about a while ago was brought to my attention again. That is the ability to store documents online. So far we have learned of two places (at least) that this can be done, both on our UEN page and on Google sites. I would have to say I like the format of the Google sites file cabinet better than that of UEN, but I believe they are both very useful.
So What?
The reason I am bringing this up, even though we learned about it a while ago is that it hit me this week just how useful this will be when I am a teacher. I think my favorite part about this feature is that allows me to keep all my stuff in one place. I really like being able to consolidate things like assignments and in this case, they will be available online to both me and the students if I choose to do so. By doing this I wont have to worry about where to have students find paper documents like worksheets and study guides and electronic media such as videos and PowerPoint presentations.
Now What?
The only thing I can think to do now is practice using these online storage areas. I also think it would be good now to plan how exactly I plan to use and organize them. As I continue to learn how to create more and more things such as Webquests and online stories etc. I will make them available on my classroom website. That way I will be able to quickly find them when I need them and I can access them nearly anywhere without having to worry about flash drives or Cd's. This class has really been helpful in showing me features such as these that have saved me the time and worry that come with having to transfer documents from place to place or when I need to print them at school.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Video Reflection: Spanish Love Song
The video that I have chosen this week is one that applies to my content area. The official title of the video is the "One Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song." It is basically a comedy bit in which a guy with a very limited Spanish vocabulary tries to win over a Spanish speaking girl. The results are hilarious. I believe that this video is valuable because it shows how technology, content, and humor can be used. I plan on using this video, possibly as an introduction to the course to show the students that although learning a language can be difficult, one can have fun with it. I could also use this video as an assignment in which the students could look for mistakes. If these video reflections have taught me anything it is that I should start looking for, and compiling videos that apply to what I will be teaching now so that I will have them at my disposal when the time comes to use them. (And if you haven't seen this video yet I highly recommend it.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Weekly Reflection: PowerPoint
What?
In this weeks shortened class session (and thanks for that by the way,) we learned in our groups, just a few of the things that can be done with Microsoft PowerPoint. Although I would consider myself to be somewhat familiar with PowerPoint, I have to admit, the two activities that we did showed me that there is more to this program than just doing simple presentations. For example we made flashcards (which can be very handy in a Spanish class), and made a comic strip (which could also be useful.)
So What?
What this means to me is that I should look at PowerPoint as more than a presentation tool. Judging by the few things that I have learned how to do, I would bet there are a lot more things that this program can be used for that would be useful for my content area. (did I mention it is Spanish?) This has also made me think that there are probably other programs out there for which I believed there was only one use, when really there could be endless possibilities for these programs.
Now What?
Now I need to find out some more ways that PowerPoint, and other programs can be used. I can do this by consulting the manual as well as looking online and of course asking professors and classmates. Once I find out some of these uses I can begin to apply my own core curriculum and think of the different ways each function could be used.
In this weeks shortened class session (and thanks for that by the way,) we learned in our groups, just a few of the things that can be done with Microsoft PowerPoint. Although I would consider myself to be somewhat familiar with PowerPoint, I have to admit, the two activities that we did showed me that there is more to this program than just doing simple presentations. For example we made flashcards (which can be very handy in a Spanish class), and made a comic strip (which could also be useful.)
So What?
What this means to me is that I should look at PowerPoint as more than a presentation tool. Judging by the few things that I have learned how to do, I would bet there are a lot more things that this program can be used for that would be useful for my content area. (did I mention it is Spanish?) This has also made me think that there are probably other programs out there for which I believed there was only one use, when really there could be endless possibilities for these programs.
Now What?
Now I need to find out some more ways that PowerPoint, and other programs can be used. I can do this by consulting the manual as well as looking online and of course asking professors and classmates. Once I find out some of these uses I can begin to apply my own core curriculum and think of the different ways each function could be used.
Video Reflection: How not to use powerpoint
This weeks video was definitely the most fun video we have watched so far, mainly because the mistakes pointed out are ones that most of us have probably seen in our lifetimes. For example, putting everything you are going to say on the slide. I think this is a mistake that is especially made by students when they are doing presentations. That may be because they are nervous, but it makes sense that if all you are going to do is read the slide word for word then you are not really needed. (unless you are giving the presentation to a group that cannot read, but if that is the case then you should probably just use pictures anyway). The rest of the things pointed out have a lot to do with distractions in the powerpoint. These can be things such as bright colors, unnecessary animations and even spelling errors. There may be times when students have a hard enough time paying attention, so why should we further promote that? Just to sum it all up, I enjoyed the video and it did remind me of some important things to take into consideration when using powerpoint.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Reflection: Webquest Conclusion
What?
It is a little harder for me to come up with a bunch of new things that I have learned this week, but I have realized some things about webquests as we have been working on them. For example, I came to realize that when you come up with a webquest it is a good idea to really look at every step and exactly what you want the outcome of the webquest to be. It is also important to find out if the information you want your students to find is out there before designing a webquest around it.
So What?
The "so what?" that I draw from this is that it probably works better to design a webquest around what you would like the students to accomplish and not the other way around. This means that you should not plan something just so it fits in well to the webquest format but rather you should adjust the webquest in a way that the benefits for the students are as high as you can get them.
Now What?
Now, or better said, in the very near future I will look at the things I would like my students to know. (and not just core curriculum items but other desirable skills and qualities as well.) And design my webquests so that they make the learning process fun and out of the ordinary. I am coming to believe more and more that it is crucial to teach using a variety of activities and teaching methods, for various reasons. The webquest is just another way I can help students learn in a way that is more hands on and hopefully fun than simple lecturing and for that I am glad to be learning about them.
It is a little harder for me to come up with a bunch of new things that I have learned this week, but I have realized some things about webquests as we have been working on them. For example, I came to realize that when you come up with a webquest it is a good idea to really look at every step and exactly what you want the outcome of the webquest to be. It is also important to find out if the information you want your students to find is out there before designing a webquest around it.
So What?
The "so what?" that I draw from this is that it probably works better to design a webquest around what you would like the students to accomplish and not the other way around. This means that you should not plan something just so it fits in well to the webquest format but rather you should adjust the webquest in a way that the benefits for the students are as high as you can get them.
Now What?
Now, or better said, in the very near future I will look at the things I would like my students to know. (and not just core curriculum items but other desirable skills and qualities as well.) And design my webquests so that they make the learning process fun and out of the ordinary. I am coming to believe more and more that it is crucial to teach using a variety of activities and teaching methods, for various reasons. The webquest is just another way I can help students learn in a way that is more hands on and hopefully fun than simple lecturing and for that I am glad to be learning about them.
Video Reflection: Do You Believe in Me?
The words of the young Dalton Sherman seemed to be powerful and motivating to those in the audience, to me they didn't inspire anything new inside me. That is not to say that I don't think this presentation was effective. In fact I can see no better way of getting the message that educators need to believe in their students than by having a student tell them that. The video didn't impact me greatly because that is something I already believed in. In my life (young as I may be considered) I have seen all sorts of teachers with different philosophies and teaching styles. One type of teacher I could never understand are those that do not even seem to like the students nor what they are teaching. Basically they (and there are very very few that come to mind) don't like the kids nor do the believe in them as Mr. Sherman put it. I don't know how a person can believe they can help someone do anything particularly learn and become anything when they do not care about that person. I could go on, but I think I have gotten my point across that I do agree with the message in this video, that teachers need to care about and believe in their students because sometimes, as Dalton Sherman put it, a teacher may be the only person a student has.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Weekly Reflection: Webquest 1
What?
In class we learned about something that is relatively new to me; the webquest. Although I have had the opportunity to complete a couple of webquests (Thanks to Dr. Cox and Doc Waters) I didn't really understand their purpose or value. Upon learning about the various necessary elements of the webquest, I now see how they are set up and why which I will discuss in the:
So what?
I webquest is a valuable, I believe, because it not only allows students to do an assignment with a little more Independence, but it also teaches them how to use technology to do projects and research. In this rapidly expanding world if a person is not familiar with technology they can quickly be left behind. I know that to be true because anytime I have neglected to learn how to use an available technology I have had to spend time catching up, time that could have been used for more worth wile things. I also like the idea of a webquest because while each one uses a similar format, the final projects can vary greatly. In other words it gives students both familiarity and variety all at the same time.
Now what?
First off I will complete my portion of the group webquest, and take note of any strengths or weaknesses in the finished product for future reference. I would also like to prepare some webquests ahead of time (as in some time before I am teaching the material) when I become a teacher and have a better understanding of the core standards. I realize that time and resources may not allow me to use every kind of technology or new idea that comes my way, but I whether or not I use them all I think knowing about them will allow me to sort out the ones that will best help my students and work with my teaching style.
In class we learned about something that is relatively new to me; the webquest. Although I have had the opportunity to complete a couple of webquests (Thanks to Dr. Cox and Doc Waters) I didn't really understand their purpose or value. Upon learning about the various necessary elements of the webquest, I now see how they are set up and why which I will discuss in the:
So what?
I webquest is a valuable, I believe, because it not only allows students to do an assignment with a little more Independence, but it also teaches them how to use technology to do projects and research. In this rapidly expanding world if a person is not familiar with technology they can quickly be left behind. I know that to be true because anytime I have neglected to learn how to use an available technology I have had to spend time catching up, time that could have been used for more worth wile things. I also like the idea of a webquest because while each one uses a similar format, the final projects can vary greatly. In other words it gives students both familiarity and variety all at the same time.
Now what?
First off I will complete my portion of the group webquest, and take note of any strengths or weaknesses in the finished product for future reference. I would also like to prepare some webquests ahead of time (as in some time before I am teaching the material) when I become a teacher and have a better understanding of the core standards. I realize that time and resources may not allow me to use every kind of technology or new idea that comes my way, but I whether or not I use them all I think knowing about them will allow me to sort out the ones that will best help my students and work with my teaching style.
Video Reflection: Three Steps
After finding the actual video (and realizing it was not about a lynyrd skynyrd song) I watched it and was reminded of a few of the other videos we have been assigned to watched in this class, such as "Pay Attention." However, this video was different in the way it presented suggestions in a more organized and numerical order, rather that a random collection of good ideas. The common theme I am noticing here and in the other video's is that teachers, especially future teachers, cannot do things the same way they were done ten years ago. The amount of technology and knowledge that exists in the world today wont allow it. "3 Steps" even went as far to say that the traditional classroom setup and the "talking teacher" need to be done away with. I agree with most of the points made in the video, primarily because I believe it goes right along with my content area, which is language. I believe that language learning is all about creativity which fits in to the advice in step 1 to have a creative classroom. I also believe language learning requires interaction; or if you would like: cooperation, collaboration and competition with others. And if this can be done say on a global level, with those who speak the language you are learning, the benefits will be great. So to sum up my overall feelings about the video, I agree with the points made, and while it didn't necessarily present anything new to me, I did like the way these ideas were consolidated into 3 steps.
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