Blog #5
I would agree with the opinion that Hannah and the author of the article takes. This opinion is that technology is becoming a common thing to this current generation. Technology is almost as familiar with us as exercise, sports, sleeping, going to school, etc. Everyday routines and activities now include technology. Therefore, by realizing that this is true, one can make (but doesn't have to) the assumption that technology should be embraced in academic settings. While adapting teaching lessons to include the use of technology, the role as teacher might change forms to some degree. The teacher may become more of a facilitator for the classes lessons. This would walk hand in hand with the contructivist approach we discussed many times in class. This type of approach can be taken without the use of technology, but technology is almost always used when teaching with a constructivist style. As technology is on the rise and is edging its way into every activity that we participate in, why not let it edge its way into the classroom? That is a question we all will have to ask as we pursue our lives as teachers. Everyone's answers will vary, as well as their rationale, but it is a question that all teachers will have to confront and even answer.
Blog #6
The first day of lessen plan presentation we had the special education group present. They did a great job. It did make me reflect a little on my own future teaching. At this point I am not planning on going into special education and I am not going to be teaching at the early childhood level, which is what the group presented on, but I did learn some things. I learned how to put the Smart Board to good use in the form of interactive games. It was fun to color again and to get rewarded with candy. It was also a cool experience to have to act like a younger class. It helped me put in perspective how difficult it can be to manage a classroom full of young kids. But the fun and interactive style that the group used allowed us students to want to be involved and to be quiet. This lesson helped me to reflect on how to handle a class when I am a teacher, and how to keep the students excited and involved.
Blog #4
I think that the importance of integration is different at different age levels. I know that in our ever-progressive world in 2012, computers and technology are a part of life. That being said, I think that the implementation of technology should increase with age. I agree with Monke and his cohorts who say that integrating technology too early is far more detrimental than it is beneficial. Where technology can be productive if used correctly, I think it harbors more complications and negative effects than benefits. I think that a majority of the time, technology is implemented merely because it is technology. I don't think that using a computer would help a student learn anymore than using blocks or drawing or the basic methods that I used growing up. I am not saying that computers would take over all subjects and all approaches to learning; even I used computers early on for various things. I just believe that a student should learn to work with what is physically around him/her and use their own creativity and imagination. A child who has lost or dulled their imagination is at risk of far greater problems that not using a computer when 7 years old. I do think that technology should not be implemented until the child is in about fourth or fifth grade. I just can't see a reason that it should used any earlier. There were examples given in favor of technology early on, and of of the examples given was: Thomley's class was given gummi bears to count on the screen. They were also given as actual gummi bears on the desk that the student could physically count. I don't really understand why the teacher even uses the computer if he/she has already given the actual gummi bears to the children. The only beneficial aspect of technology in this situation is that children who understand faster can advance faster ahead of the class, while the teacher can focus on the student who is having more trouble.
I do also think that some children are too young for technology, because the children need to develop themselves first and learn to think by themselves first. They need to exercise their imaginations and learn to interact with the teacher and fellow students. I do also believe that technology can interfere with young child socialization because they can become "hooked" on the computer too early when they should be making friends. I have seen many kids who grew up in technology and now really lack social skills. Some people rely totally on their technology to survive, and miss out on a lot of important things while entranced by the computer.
The computer can be beneficial, but it has to be monitored and used wisely by the teacher and student to reap the benefits.
Blogging is about writing to an audience. Do you feel like anyone is reading your blogs (aside from me!)? For this week I would like you to read at least FOUR other blog entries by fellow classmates and comment on them. Then, I would like you to write in your own blog a few insights about what you read: For example, did it feel good to read what other preservice teachers were writing? Was this medium helpful? How did you feel about posting the comments? Do you feel like this exchange gives you any insights into running blog exercises with your own students?
So far, only being four weeks into the quarter, I feel that no one else is reading my blog other than the professor. I think that if I made my blog public and told my friends and family about it, that they would definitely read it. I just feel that since it is only for school purposes at this time, that no one else is reading it. After I read some of the comments left on my page though, it was nice to know that others read my work and gave thoughtful insights. Not saying that I feel like a famous author, as the picture represents, but it is nice to know.
Stephen King, Famous Horror author
After reading and commenting on others blogs, it did feel good to see what others were writing. I like hearing other people's viewpoints, and I think the blog is a cool way to do that. I don't want to criticize this prompt, because I understand the reason for it, but I think reading other's blogs would be much more interesting and fun when the topic is something that really interests me. This medium was very helpful, if you mean using a blog to do so. I think the blog is an effective way to share ideas and learn about other's ideas. I felt that my comments would be beneficial to the author, because maybe now they will have more motivation or excitement when writing their next blog, knowing that others are reading them. I definitely feel like this exchange has given me insights into running blog exercises with my own students. One blog I read mentioned that in high school he had to use blogs as a discussion or journal for english class. I think it would be very helpful to use a blog for these classes, although I am a fan of a traditional pen and paper journal. It would give students the opportunity to get excited to post though, since you can customize your page and you have your own blog.
We just delved into Constructivism—for some of you, this seems intuitive. Still, my guess is that for most of you this was not typical of your K-12 (or even some higher-ed) experiences. What does Constructivism, as you understand it so far, mean to you? Reflect on your past as a student and how you hope to apply this concept (or not apply it, as the case may be) in your career as a teacher.
As I think about what Constructivism means to me, several key words come to mind: interactive, engaging, modern, useful, activating. I have not really had many classes that use this method. I have had one class this year that has adapted some of its characteristic though. My biology class is taught a bit differently than I am used to. The professor assign readings, online homework, and a set of questions (called learning outcomes) to do before each class. In class, the professor spends his time going over the questions that we were assigned to do. He also has questions that appear on the screen, which the whole class answers with their hand-held response systems. He doesn't lecture very much, but instead lets our groups (which contain 4 to 6 members) discuss the questions we answered before class. Every class he has each group answer a group question that we answer as a group and turn in. This method is very beneficial, especially in a lecture hall. It engages every student and makes the huge lecture hall seem like a normal sized classroom with class participation. This method shares some characteristics of a constructivist approach. It is shaped more by the students preparation and effort in class, as opposed to a lecture with little class participation. It creates an atmosphere that is very conducive to learning, which is very hard to do in a lecture hall. This is just an example of Constructivism that I have witnessed, although there may be more to it.
Constructivism, according to my current understanding, is an engaging form of teaching that requires the students to engage their minds and activates prior knowledge, which is put to use in solving a problem or in creating something. It deviates from the traditional method of lecture, where the student sits and listens, and where the teacher stand and talks.
As a high school graduate and college student, I have seen a variety of teachers, but few used constructivism to teach. The majority of my teachers taught in the traditional way of lecture and listen, with a hope that the class would participate. I really think that the traditional method can be effective, but in certain cases and for certain people. There are some subjects or lessons that require a lecture format or are best communicated through the traditional method. Although, sometimes it can be quite boring and inneffective. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrbumvF-Oe4
I will be teaching high school students. I will be teaching science courses, mostly biology and earth sciences. I think that I should apply parts of the constructivism concept as best I can. I think that the students would learn far more than if they just sat and listened to me talk. I am not sure how well it would apply to high school students, or exactly how I would go about it, but I do think it would be beneficial. I would like to try out what my current biology teachers does and see if it benefits my future students as much as it benefits me now.
I am sure you have all read a blog, but have you written one before? What is your experience with and what are your impressions of blogging? How does it feel to be the person behind the blog?
Blogging is definitely something very foreign to me. I have never written my own blog. I have never really had the desire to write one. I consider myself to be fairly technologically behind and I enjoy it. So this is my first experience with sharing my thoughts or opinions on the internet, except for the occasional facebook post.
I have almost no experience with blogs. I have read a few blogs before, but it is mostly unexplored territory. My impressions had always been that someone creates a blog because they want to be heard or express themselves, because they deem their opinions and thoughts to be worthy of sharing. I think this is a pretty cool thing, especially since not everyone has to see these people's blog posts, but only those who are genuinely interested in what they are sharing.
It feels a little weird to be the person behind the blog, because it has never been something I have wanted to do. The fact that someone will be reading your thoughts is pretty cool though. I feel like what I am saying matters, which is not a bad thing I guess.
Although this is my first experience with a blog, I think I will learn some valuable information on using technology in more diverse ways than I am used to. So, being as technology content as I am in the shallow waters of facebook, email, and youtube, I will attempt to humble myself and see what there is to learn.
