Power Point and Camera

So much, so many, where to begin? This week we covered PowerPoints, Picasa, and digital cameras. Personally I like PowerPoints when teachers use them properly. It makes lectures much easier for me. When teachers start writing ramdomly all over the board I have a tendancy to lose interest very quickly. They can be really helpful because you can put your main points on the slide and then elaborate verbally and you can use pictures also. It also helps keep me on track if I'm speaking and if you have students who are absent they can have a printed version of the slides with you notes at the bottom. I like Picasa! I've never used it but have heard about it. I think it's great to beable to store pictures somewhere that you can access outside of your home. Digital cameras are just cool in general. I think they would be great in any field but with science it will be really cool. Instead of looking at slides of rocks you can send your students to find them weather that be in their raw form or industrial.

So again I think finding intersting ways to incorporate these tools will be the challenge. With Picasa the students could make their own photo albums for a project and do a brief PowerPoint presentation to talk about it. I really like the idea of them collecting pictures for class because really a picture sometimes is worth 1,000 words. Plus it gives students a choice instead of locking them into one type of project or assignment. It makes them be creative, which is what I will have to do with my lessons so I can use all this stuff.

Internet Safety Campaign

Hmmm, a rich paragraph? That is a word that has never been used to describe my writing. We discussed Microsoft Publisher and Inspriration this week. I have to be honest Inspiration is not something that I liked doing although I can see how it would benefit many students. It's a great way to organize things. I also think that introducing students to different types of orgaziation tools is very important. I shouldn't make my students organize like me. It won't work because we aren't all as crazy as I am. Ha Ha, humor. Seriously though I think that it would be really good in science for grouping things instead of just making lists. Inspiration also has color which is something I do like a lot. I think using color can really help in any area of teaching. I have worked a very tiny bit on Publisher before. I like the templates and I think that the brochure would be a good study tool. As for doing campaigns, not really my thing in life. The thoughts to paper process is extremely hard for so I try to avoid it as much as I can. I do think that publisher would be a good way for students to present what they know for projects. Again not everyone is as handicapped as myself! I think that in using Publisher for projects they are gaining an advantage because they're using tools that will come in handy later on. Like for myself I am making a brochure for my sister to send out in bulk mailing in the town she lives in advertising her mini storage business. I just see these tools as great ways for students to branch out and learn things. They may know technology but a lot of them don't know ways to study and organize themselves. These things give them oportunities to do that. It also gives us as teachers great ways to move away from those standard assignments that are so boring!
I think the biggest thing that I'll need to do is learning creative ways to bring them into the classroom so that I don't end up doing boring assignments out of frustration. I think that I will need to just sit and take homework assignments and try to incorrporate them into these new tools. I also think one thing not to forget is that some students do learn from writing it down on paper. That is one thing that we don't want to forget is to give choices.

3. Now What? - where do you need to go from here? Do you need to learn more about this specific tool? Is there another tool that does a similar thing that you want to learn? Do you need to find ways to use the tool in your subject area? This is a chance for rich reflection about where you are and where you need to be.

Internet Safety :Why We Should Use the Internet

Why we should or should not use the Internet in education
Why we should evaluate the sites we use
At least 3 ways you can keep your students safe while surfing

We should still use the Internet in education, we just have to be really careful and make sure we stress safety. We do a lot of things that are dangerous everyday but we are careful. The Internet is here to stay so we as educators need to embrace it and try to make students not only aware of the dangers that are out there but make them realize they are real for us. These things can and do happen to people we know or sadly to us.
We should evaluate sites because the world is filled with creeps and with a bunch of "garbage". Students may know more about using technology than us sometimes, or a lot, but they don't have the same thinking skills. That's what we need to teach them, how to look at things objectively. They need to know that just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's true. It's sad but not everyone is honest with good intentions when they post things. By teaching students to analize web content we not make them safer when surfing it teaches them a life skill about evaluating everything.

1. Direct them to safe searches like Pioneer Library for school projects. They can learn what a valid website looks and sounds like so they will be more aware when surfing.
2. Do exercises in class showing the subtle ways that some people manipulate with words.
3. Don't be preachy but really hammer in safety rules about personal information. Show them how people can get their information if they aren't careful.

UEN Reflection

This is just to make the blog a little more interesting. This is a tree in Puerto Rico that they just build around. It was growing up in the middle of the side walk and it was huge! We on the other hand chop everything down.

How/why will you use UEN in your future classroom?
I'll use the UEN website in my class as a resource. I really like the lesson plans that are posted there and I've actually used a few already. The lesson plans there are even a good jumping off spot because sometimes we just need something to spark or mind. Plus they give a great list of places to go to get more lesson plans so as a new teacher I won't be so overwhelmed. I really like the fact the you can plan a lesson plan on line. Their set up is so much easier than UVU's!

I like the interactives or at least the ones in the science section. I know that I would rather do things like that in class than worksheets or the handouts that teachers give you to review for a test. Not that the handouts are bad but they would just be so much better than if they were used with some of the interactives. Plus it's always more fun to review in a game type setting or learn things when there are pictures. It makes it seem less like school and more like fun.

(Ok these pictures don't have anything specifically to do with this but it would be cool to use them in a natural disaster lesson. They were taken in Dominica)

Pioneer Library is just too cool not to use. I think the research part is a great way for students to learn how reliable and credible web sites look and how they use language. We want our students to learn to be web savy and that's a great SAFE place for them to learn it. It's easier to spot things out of place on other web sites if you're used to really good ones. Plus the culture grams are really cool also. It lets students go other places without leaving and I think it's important for them to see the world.

I really like the fact that the core curriculum is listed there and that you can search for lesson plans that way. I think the core is a little overwhelming and having it right there to access makes it easy to double check ideas that are found there. It's a pain to have to go to other sites to get the information.

I know this wasn't requested but I love that you can sign up for classes on technology stuff! I think it is so cool. There are so many that I want to take. Plus they have all kinds of resources on Utah things which is really nice for those of us who didn't grow up here. It's so nice to have everything in one place instead of having to search everywhere on the internet.

GPS Tracking

Provide examples of how you would have your students use it and insert pictures to enhance your reflection (min of 2).

I like some of the activities that they have for field trips because I don't think those are to much of an option in jr. and sr. high. I think that I would do more of the webquests involving Google Earth. I think that it would be really cool. They could do something like a race finding clues about faults and stuff like that or solar system explorations or like this picture of the mountains in Alberta that look like a person. I could have them search for weird things like that but do it by a webquest.

Do you intend to use UEN, Google Sites, or another application for your class website? Why?

Yes I do. I just think that this fabulous things are available to us as teachers and we should grap them. I love the Pioneer Library for my students to research and I love Google everything. I really want my students to take advantage of all the free organizations things that they offer and I know I've said it before but Google Earth and Sky are amazing! It's not as good as seeing things in person but it's like a billion times better than an overhead!

Google Tools Reflection

Aahhh! I totally forgot about this until now.
I have to say that all the tools in a list like this make me dizzy. They are all really cool but since I'm just learning how to use most of them it's overwhelming.


Documents
I like the google documents because they're saved on the google site and it records the time and all that, meaning that no one can use the excuse of I lost it or the sort. I like it for myself because I can't lose things or fry flash drives with personal assignments and I really hate all the paper that is wasted on assignments.

Presentations
I've only done presentations in powerpoint before but I like them way better than just writing lectures on the board or just doing them orally.

Spreadsheets
I like spreadsheets to keep track of all kinds of things. You can do math and organize things in it and it's just another good tool to learn how to use for all kinds of things.

Forms
I've never used forms so I'm not really sure how much I will like it or apply it, but it sounds cool.

Calendar
I really like calendar because of the ability to create a bunch of different ones and not having to see everything at once. I think it would be good for students to keep track of class assignments for all their classes. I also like how it changes for all the places that it's imported to from the main page.

iGoogle
I really like iGoogle! What a great way for me to get organized and start teaching your students how to get organized. I think a lot of times unorganized people just don't know how to be up on things because we don't have the tools that work for us.

Blogger
At first I didn't think that I would use blogger but the more I think about it the more I like it for reflection type assignments. I think it's not as intimidating as telling a student to write a paragraph on what you thought. Blogging it makes it more fun than just a paper pencil activity and once again it saves paper and can't be lost!

Reader
Well if I'm going to use all these on line writing gadgets I'll definitely have to use something to read them all. It would be a living nightmare to have to go through each students separately.

Google Maps and Google Earth
I love both of these! I think that they are going to be so incrediably awesome to teach with and I think my students will really get into it.

Groups
This is so great for group projects, which I personally have always hated because of having to make time to get together. Groups totally fixes that problem plus the color coding for each student is such a great idea.

Google Search Engine
I think this is great for getting students to look at only certain material. It would take awhile to set up intially but would be easy to maintain.

Notebook
I've never used notebook but I love that it's online and can't be lost!

Scholar
I like scholar because when you just do a normal search a lot of stuff turns up that can't be used in school or isn't really academically useful. It really helps to narrow down searches. I just used it for another class and I think it would be good in helping students see the difference in the way the searches turn out.

I really want to try and use all of these things. I'm not sure if I'll be able to but I may end up learning a lot from my students by trying to. I think by trying to move foward in technology and learn new things a teacher has a better connection with students. Plus I think that trying new things is very important to learning because that's kind of what it's all about. If I'm willing to tackle things that I don't know in technology it might make my students more willing to learn.

Google Site Reflections

1. What do you see as the potential benefits of Google Sites and/or other website development systems for you as a teacher?



I think it would be great to be able to post assignments there, make up work, announcements, and everything you do in class. I think it brings you more on a student's level of technology, not that I'll ever completely be there, and shows that you aren't so different. I also think it's a great way to involve parent's in the class. The website link could be sent to the parent's so if they choose they can always know what is going on. They can't say they didn't know and the student can't say that either. I know they will still but at least there is proof of what was available. It's just such and easy way to communicate! Plus you can post pictures and get the students involved in the website by seeing what they can contribute with new tools or easier ways to do something.


2. What do you see as the potential drawbacks of Google Sites and/or other website development systems for you as a teacher?



One of the drawbacks is that it's a lot of work when you aren't sure what you are doing! I think it could be very overwhelming as a first year teacher trying to do the website, the technology in the classroom, lesson plans, classroom management, all of it the first year could make you cry on the way home from work.

I also think that it may be a drawback for students who don't have ready access to a computer at home. It could make it hard on them but as long as the information is made available in class it should cover that.


3. Do you plan to have a class website? Why or why not? If so, what would you include on that website? Why?



Yes! I think it is so awesome. I know it will be a lot of work but I think the advantages far out weigh the disadvantages. I love the way it is so easy to update on the computer compared to having students cross out on their syllabus or handing out new ones. It can be announced in class and posted on the website. I think involving students in the website is a great way to get them to help you. They get to share their knowledge and show off some off their skills and everyone benefits from that.

My Beliefs

I believe that technology in the classroom is important, even if the students know more than the teacher sometimes! I think it makes a stronger connection between the students and the teacher also. Plus I know they love to show off what they know about computers and phones so if a teacher needs help they are more than willing to offer it. The only thing that I worry about is it can really be abused by some teachers, the bad ones. I don't want my daughters teachers having her cell phone number, it makes me uncomfortable. I certainly don't want them texting her. I think as a teacher you have to be really careful to draw a very thick line and stay far away from it. If you want to communicate with students by email then they need to have an account that the parent can access also or something of that sort.

I also don't know if I agree with holding class on the internet like they did in Park City. It's really cool for the AP students but I also think when a school closes the school they need to accept the consequenses. There are a lot of parents who aren't stay at home and can't be there to this and everyone needs to be taken into consideration. I just think that we need to be careful that technology doesn't run away from us. It's like that saying about shutting the barn door after the horse is gone.

Lessons Learned

I think one of my biggest concerns with all the technology is that I would get to caught up in it and get way off track; which is easy already. I did think some of the things were cool like digital year books. I don't even know where my are but if they were on the computer I wouldn't lose them. Plus I think touch screen computers would be the coolest thing! It would be just like the apple phones and ipods. I also loved the virtual computing labs. I think that is one of the best ideas I've heard of. It would be so great to be able to be at home with your snacks and drinks and not have that weirdo who always sits next to me for some reason in lab but still have access to all the stuff on labs computers. It would be so much more convient.

One concern I thought about was learning. I know that when I hand write something it sticks with me longer than when I type. The catch is that I type faster than hand writing and my hand writing sucks! So I get more notes on the computer but I don't retain it. I'm just curious if this is just me or it's an overall trend. Also not everyone has access to technology at home or have cell phones so it would be kind of uncomfortable for them.

Strengths and Weaknesses

I think my biggest strength and weakness is that I know some but not enough. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing! Plus I'm very unsure of myself in front of others. On my own I can muddle through things and curse at the computer but I can't really do that in front of my class. I know a lot but just not enough. I think my biggest strength is that I want to learn and that I think it's fun.

My goal is to be like the science teacher at Orem Jr. High that one of my science classes visited. He was so awesome! He used podcasts, twitter, had the clickers for class, videos, everything. He used technology as much as he could and it was totally cool. I would have loved to have him as a teacher. So I just want to learn as much as I can so that I can use it.

How I'm going to improve is by asking people and researching it. I found some websites that talk about integrating science into the classroom and I know that there are more. Plus I know quite a few people who work on computers that can help me or steer me in the right direction. So I want to practice as much as I can before I start student teaching in January.

Intro to me, how lovely!

Hi I'm Karen Harrington. I'm originally from Colorado but I've lived in Oregon, Canada, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I moved here 5 years ago to finish school. I'm a post bac in Earth Science and will be student teaching in January. I have an eleven year old daughter named Reagan.