Technology and the TEKS

126.2. Technology Applications, Kindergarten-Grade 2.
 (1) Foundations. The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of hardware components, software programs, and their connections. The student is expected to:
(A) use technology terminology appropriate to the task;
(B) start and exit programs as well as create, name, and save files; and
(C) use networking terminology such as on-line, network, or password and access remote equipment on a network such as a printer.

I think it’s important to teach the students when they enter Kindergarten, the foundations of using technology. Logging onto the computer with their password is part of getting ready for class. Students are assigned a login name the first day of school along with their library card and lunch account number. Technology is part of their learning process and students are taught the foundations from day one. While some schools have a technology class rotation for students to visit weekly or biweekly, it still often falls to their primary teachers to establish the foundation by incorporating technology experiences into daily lessons.

§110.13. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2,

(17) Writing/Writing Process. Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text. Students are expected to:

(A) plan a first draft by generating ideas for writing (e.g., drawing, sharing ideas, listing key ideas);

(B) develop drafts by sequencing ideas through writing sentences;

(C) revise drafts by adding or deleting words, phrases, or sentences;

(D) edit drafts for grammar, punctuation, and spelling using a teacher-developed rubric; and

(E) publish and share writing with others.

I choose to list the Writing Process TEK as an important one that should include the use of technology, in my classroom. While the technology involved may be basic, I believe it is an important tool for students to learn and improve their writing. It allows students to use elements of the writing process such as planning, drafting, editing, and publishing, while giving them the means to be creative and still organized in one place. Since I work in a Special Education classroom I see that using technology enables students another alternative to writing through typing or dictation. While this is extremely beneficial to Special Education students it also benefits general education students that perhaps struggle with fine motor skills or the labors of writing itself. In using technology in the witting process, students are also able to add different fonts, colors, graphic, audio and/or video clips etc., allowing the use of creativity in their works and it makes for an engaging and entertaining process and presentation.  

Assessing Meaningful Learning with Technology and Inspiration/Kidspiration

The three assessments tools introduced this week were the technology based rubrics, the clicker assessment tools and Inspiration/Kidspiration software. All of these resources were new to me and I could see how they could be very useful in the classroom.

The website, http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html, gives teachers great information on how to create and build their own rubric and incorporate them into their grading systems. It also includes grade level rubrics as well as project rubrics. 

The clicker assessment tools can be used in the classroom to identity understanding of covered material, as well as take quick classroom polls or opinions.

The Inspiration/Kidspiration tools looked interesting and engaging but without downloading the 30 day trial, I was unable to navigate and experience it hands on.

I never knew there were so many tools and applications available for teachers and use in the classrooms. Throughout this course, I have seen the importance of learning and staying current on technology.  I see the importance of incorporating technology into the delivery of classroom materials as well as taught to the students so that they can utilize the technology in their presentation of materials.

The tools and applications introduced in the course help to create a fun and engaging learning environment in which students help to facilitate the learning. I plan to integrate technology such as blogging, Wiki’s and Prezi into my lessons so that students will be actively involved in their learning and will see it as a creative, exciting and fun process.  I also plan to use some of the great resources that have been covered, to ease my planning, grading and assessment of the materials that I am teaching in the classroom.  

Visualizing with Technology

Using technology in the classroom enables teachers to appeal to a variety of learning styles and allows lessons to expand past the school walls. By incorporating technology into the curriculum, students are able to explore learning using a hands on approach. These technology tools engage students and make them active participates in their own learning. There are many great websites and programs, that allow students to take classroom learning and apply it by utilizing the technology. These technologies allows students to be creative and enhance their learning experiences.

Technology can also be a useful resource for teachers and educators. Discovery Education Streaming (United Streaming) offers videos for educators to enhance their own learning and knowledge and could be counted towards professional staff development hours. Safari Montage is great resources for teachers to look for ideas for lesson plans when preparing their curriculum. It also has a library of educational videos, clips and lessons that can be viewed in the classroom. This allow students to experience materials visually, as well as auditory.

The use of cameras and video cameras in the classrooms has allowed teachers to obtain an electronic record of students work, that can be filmed and later viewed by students. By placing these records on classroom blog or websites, families can also experience in their childrens' learning.

There are so many great technologies available for teachers to incorporate into their curriculum and lessons, allowing for a better learning experience for both teacher and student.

 

Designing with Technologies

The technology that is available to the classroom today is incredible! It can be used to enhance what the teacher is presenting to the class, or supplement a subject area, such as Fine Arts. Due to budget cuts, many school districts are reducing their Fine Arts programs.  Research has suggested that Fine Arts expand the boundaries of learning and encourage creative thinking and a deeper understanding of the core subjects, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Technology can be used in the classroom to help supplement the Fine Arts areas.

In the Designing with Technology activity, I explored 2 websites that could be used to encourage student’s creativity. At the website http://universe.lego.com/enUS/creationlab/Default.aspx,   students have the ability to design and create their own Lego City and interact online with other students.  This website is great in that students are able to use their creativity while using math and science skills.  At http://creatingmusic.com, students can learn about the different types of musical instruments and create their own musical compositions. While composing music does allow students to be creative, it also strengthens their math skills.

Both of the Lego and Creating Music websites would be a great way to incorporate fine arts and reinforce math and science skills in the classroom and at home.  

Podcasts

Podcasts gives us the ability to allow several people to share information and interact with each other online. All that is required is an internet connection. Podcasts are especially convenient for those who have hand held devices, in that they could download and watch podcasts, while on the go. The big advantage of a podcast is that it is available for download and viewing at anytime. This is a great resource for teachers to use for recording activities, lectures or instructions that could be viewed by students and/or parents at their convenience and repeated times. This is a great tool for the student who perhaps was absent from a class or needs to revisit information about and assignment or project instructions. Podcasts could be useful for students who are easily distracted in the classroom, to revisit the lesson when they are in a place that would allow for better concentration.

While podcasts are similar to Web 2.0 applications, such as blogs and wikis in that they enable multiple people to interact and respond online, they would also appeal to learners that prefer an auditory delivery of information, as well as a visual. With a blog a student can read about a lesson, read instruction for an assignment or a project and interact by typing reponses. However, with a podcast a student could not just read the information but see and hear the recorded version. I would think that most students would find this to be a more entertaining way of obtaining the information. The best part of podcast is it is available to everyone worldwide for viewing, free of charge. The ability to perhaps communicate with another classroom across the world using podcasting, is lesson in itself and would be very enlightening to students.

I personally don't own an iPod or a MP3 player (of course all my children have them) but I have seen them utilized in the classrooms for instructional use. Both seem to be effective methods for instructing students in a way they appeals to their interests and learning styles. The students are using the technology in their personal life, why not use it in their academic life?

The disadvantage of using technology is that it tends to take away form the personal connections that students make when they work face to face with other students. While technological advances may allow students the ability to communicate with multiple people at various times of the day , it doesn't allow students to practice interpersonal skills such as working face to face with a partner or team. This could contribute to poor social skills, lack of communication skills and the inabilty to learn to work with others.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 has many applications that would be useful for teacher to use every day in their classrooms. Applications, such as the ability to take attendance, record grades and track progress on each student and or class, would save the teacher’s time and effort.   I work in a classroom and I am required to keep data on each individual student’s IEP goals, process, regression and behaviors each day. The applications that Web 2.0 would make it easier to record each day’s data and keep track of areas of concern that needed additional instruction.

I also thought that the voice thread and WIKI features would provide a great opportunity for students to use for a group or classroom project. The Wiki could be used to plan their projects outside of the classroom, so that all students could be included in the process, regardless of their schedule. The voice thread would allow the students to use their hands on creativity and technology savvy to showcase their project to the class.  

Post #2

My experiences with internet have included using Google and Yahoo search engines for both personal and educational information. When searching for information for personal use, I never bothered really checking to see if the website was reliable. I typed in what I was looking for and started with the first site that came up. When using the web for educational purposes I always relied on .edu or .gov sites and believed them to be legitimate. I had been warned not to rely on the information from Wikipedia and other iffy sites and made it a practice to compare several website's information before believing it and using it for research purposes. I used what I thought was”good pratice” when searching for creditable information on the web. Now I realize I was uneducated in my web experiences and probably didn't always receive the best and most accurate information and I can improve the practice in which I use the internet.

Before completing the MAPping activity, I never knew that I could see the author of the websites and check their history. The activity allowed me to realized that I needed to further checkout the credibility of the websites that I use for both my personal and especially my educational uses. I will now check further into the sites that I use to ensure their legitimately. Even sites that appear to be legitimate may be a hoax, such as Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, shown in the MAPping activity. This site is professionally set up and seems to have verified information and resources. Without further investigation, this information from this site would be believed as accurate. A child may not know how to recognize credible websites and could receive and believe false information. That that I am informed, I can also teach my own children how to properly search for information of the web.

The knowledge that I gained from the MAPping activity will be applied to my personal and educational when using searching the web. I will be more aware when I research information and I now have a better understanding of how to utilize the search engines, so that I can find pertinent information and weed out other information. Now I will feel confident when I search for web information and cite it in educational papers. As a teacher, it will be important to give my students reliable information and teach them how to find reliable information when using the web. It is important to show students to ensure their safety and knowledge. I will feel comfortable teaching students how to do a web search for information using credible search engines and valid websites. The skills that I have gained about using the web for information will be passed on to my students.

Resources

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

Post 1

Hello All-

I am creating this blog for the ETEC 424- Integrating Technology course that I am taking through Texas A&M Commerce. I am working towards completely a teaching certification EC-6 in Special Education.

I have been working in the school district for 4 years and I have witnessed the changes of technology in the classrooms. Classrooms today rely heavily on technology in both the teaching of materials, as well as the presentation of knowledge learned from the students. Even the very young students use technology daily for instruction and testing, as well as participating in interactive lessons by using classroom smart boards.

Gone are the days of a teacher standing in front of the room and teaching a lesson with just a chalkboard. Teachers today look for new ways to maintain the student's interest and attention level. In a world where technology is easily accessible and often hand held, teachers are using bringing more technology into the classrooms to appeal to students and engage them in the lesson.

In this course, I hope to learn new ways to present materials to students in a technological way, that they will find appealing and interesting. In turn, I want to learn to teach students how to use technology as a resource, for presenting the knowledge that they have learned.