Assignment #4

Technology Project,
I had a lot of fun being creative with this technology project.  I did come across some challenges, but was able to resolve them.
I had to create a class blog, and I had to make a student blog.
My class blog: Ms. Buhler's 10th Grade English Class
My student blog: Student Project
I learned how to make additional pages this allowed my blog to not be cluttered but easily accessible.  Some things I found difficult, I wanted to have different people leave comments on my "Teacher" blog, and my "student" blog.  If I made a student blog and attached it to this blog, all the information would still link to "Ashley Buhler's" profile.  I had to create an entirely different account with a different email to create a new student account.  Then when posting comments all posts would not say "Ashley Buhler"
I think students would like this project because they will be able to create their own blog.  I remember when I was in high school everyone had Myspace, and you could design your background and personalize everything.  It will encourage students to be excited and proud of their work.  Each group will have their own individual blog in which they can personalize and all upload and update their project.  Also, the teacher can continually check on the students' progress with every post.  Students can post feedback and comment on other students' blogs.  The teacher can comment and provide input, advice and feedback on their posts.

Students will integrate their ideas using technology, their blogs, to collaborate and provide feedback and communication with each other. They also will be investigating and researching for ads with biases and post their findings, including a picture, as well as an explanation and analysis of the bias and ad, which follows component 1.3 of the NETS.


NETS:

2.3: Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively.

2.4: Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency): Transfer current knowledge to new and emerging technologies. (Grades 6-12 only)

EALR 1 — INTEGRATION

Students use technology within all content areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate and solve problems.

Component 1.3   Investigate and Think Critically

Research, manage and evaluate information and solve problems using digital tools and resources.

End of Semester Reflection

This class has taught me many valuable resources.  Not only can I use a blog and SmartBoard effectively, but I have several tools that I can depend upon when teaching.  I found out not all Education majors at Northwest U. have to take this class, but I think that is tragic.  There are some required classes that do not need to be required, but this is one that every future teacher should take.  The computer and technology skills are invaluable, especially since the world is becoming exponentially, not just increasingly, but exponentially more technologically advanced every day. Children are being raised on technology, using computers and technological software will be as easy and breathing in and out for children.  It is important that teachers have an edge in this industry.

Also, it helps the teacher.  I can create an interactive presentation in minutes, and not have to worry about spending hours on creating a bulletin board that students will get bored with the next day.  Not only is the SmartBoard useful, but one time when preparing for a lesson I had writer's block, or teacher's block, I just could not think of ideas.  I went on my teacher tool box and started browsing websites, seeing examples from other classes, from other teachers.  Once I had seen all these ideas my mind started making all these connections and adaptations I had thought of a lesson plan. I can't imagine having to teach everyday, and have six or seven lesson plans for all my classes and having to brainstorm and create every single idea and worksheet and so on from nothing. There are so many resource based web sites specifically for teachers, we should use them.

Technology is not all about making things look "cool" to students, or new, bigger, flashier, ways to entertain them.  It is also about helping the teacher, either with being more organized--online gradebook-- or giving ideas/lesson plans, or making parent teacher contact more accessible--either through email or blogs.

Technology is a resource and should not be feared by those who are not technology literate.

Comments:

Alison's blog 
Ariel's blog
Yajaira's blog
Kayli's blog
Alison's blog
Yajaira's blog

Reflection #12

When researching articles for the future of education and technology, I found a very interesting article.  I was familiar with wireless internet, communication alerts (although confused how it works, what are the complexities, etc) and interactive white boards.  All those topics I had previously learned about or knew of.  I did not realize that there are many more brands of interactive boards than I had realized. Smart Board is only one type of interactive white boards.  I had heard about Promethean Boards, but this article discussed eBeam by Luidia, eInstruction and lastly, In Focus.  All of those are brands of interactive white boards.  All of those are possibly software that I may have to learn to use and be advanced in my classroom, and I have never heard of those brands.

The concept that I had never actually heard about was cloud computing. Honestly, I had to Google it to find the definition. I discovered that I had heard of schools using systems similar, but I never knew the term was in deed called cloud computing.  Basically it is a system of internet based computing, where resources, information, files, software and so on can be shared through different computers.  This is very similar to Northwest's Discovery.  Professors can post documents or link, students can submit assignments/projects electronically, students can check grades, professors can post feedback on assignments.  It is definitely a system that is cloud computing technology.  My high school did not have this, we had an online grading system, but if we needed notes or a copy of a handout, are teacher could not simply "upload it to Discovery" he or she had to make a printed copy.  A lot of paper is wasted.  

week # 13 Future of Education and Technology

I found a very relative article titled "Technology: Making Your Schools Future Proof" by Alan Desshoff.  Basically the article is about ways to upgrade your schools technology in an effective way, so that in the future, the technology will be obsolete and the mass amounts of money spent on technology will have been wasted.

The main pullout quote at the top of the article states: Administrators plan ahead by implementing flexible technology now to prevent major overhauls later.
It is a practical concern for school administrations to fear money being spent on technology that made not be effective or long lasting.  However, if a school spends money on the right kinds of technology that will last into the future, essentially you are making your school "future proof."
"'A future-proof facility is “the escort to a probable future,' adds Frank Locker, president of Frank Locker Educational Planning, a consulting firm in Dover, N.H. He defines it as 'inherently a flexible building that can be used as appropriate today but allows future reinterpretation and reassignment of programs and functions,' anticipating and supporting change without expensive remodeling" (Desshoff, 2).

Some overall tips:
#1 • UPGRADES—How easy or realistic is it to upgrade?
#2 • LIFE CYCLE—How long will it be before your technology is obsolete? What happens then?
#3 • INFRASTRUCTURE—Do you have the wiring, network, and facilities to support an expansion
of your technology fi ve years from now?
And lastly #4 • SUPPORT—Do you have the tech support for such an expansion?

The main points/ideas Desshoff stated in this article is:
First of all, making your school wireless.  This reduces the amount of cables that are needed to go throughout the campus/classrooms.  Anyone can hook up to wireless as long as they are in the system and have the password.
Second, Communication Alerts.  These are essential for a school, instead of having a loud intercom dictating what drill will be done, there can be a specific message sent to every individual on campus, sometimes cell phones, email, etc.  I know Northwest has Campus Alerts, and they are sent to student's cell phones.  When school was cancelled because of snow, I got a text message.
Third, Interactive Whiteboards.  They provided a list of at least five different interactive whiteboards, and I had only heard of Promethean Board.  I use Smart Board, that was in my high school.  The future is Interactive whiteboards, a SmartBoard is standard for schools.  Projectors are becoming more advanced as well, they don't have to hang from the ceiling anymore, there are becoming more precise.  The plan is to have every school using interactive whiteboards, and this is something schools want to invest in, and it will be worth the money spent on this technology.  eBeam Edge for Education is a cheap and reliable interactive white board for schools.
Fourth, "Into the Cloud" or other wise known as Cloud computing which is basically internet based sharing of resources, files, information and software that can be accessed by many computers.  At Northwest we had Discovery, in which information can be shared and documents can be exchanged and accessed by anyone with a username and password. 

reflection # 11

I am taking Instructional Design at NU, and all my classmates that are in Technology and Education are also in Instructional Design.  However, there are students who are in Inst. Design, who are not required and have not taken Technology and Education.  It is obvious who has not taken Tech and Ed. because their lessons do not require use of SMART Board, document camera, etc.  I feel it is a disadvantage to those students, for the five of us who are in Tech, it is very easy to use Smart Notebook and create a Notebook presentation and make it very visually appealing.  We all have it on our personal laptops, and so the night before a lesson is due we can make a presentation wherever, and not have to go into the actual classroom to make the presentation.  It is very convenient.  Regardless of knowing where you might end up as a teacher, it is important to understand basic technological operations.  The other day Alison and I were discussing how it was easy for us to adapt to Notebook, because we have used PowerPoint our whole lives.  And Prof. Adair said it was easy to transition from Activ Board to a Smart Board because the programs were so similar.  By the time I start teaching in my own classroom, who knows what the latest technological savvy program will be, but at least I will be proficient in  these types of programs that the switch will be easily made.
People who do not take Tech and Ed are really missing out on valuable teaching tools.  After making the Teacher Toolkit, I had to prepare a lesson for another class, so I went on here and clicked links into some of the sites I had posted or other people had posted and found lots of templates and great ideas for my lesson plan.

reflection # 10

Professor Adair said in her third grade class a few months ago, fairness and being right is not the same.  She explained her kids are always saying "That's not fair" but it is what people need.  That is a huge statement, the traditional statement of fairness is everyone being treated equally, however this new definition is giving everyone what they need instead.
A teacher on the panel we had a few weeks back in class described the discussion she had with her class, she asked if one girl needed a shot, would it be equal for everyone to get a shot, yes, but it wouldn't be fair, because not everyone needs a shot.
In my Special Needs class at NU, there was a definition that was on a handout, fairness is giving people what they need.  And he described it as students who have learning disabilities NEED different things that normal students. Teachers say "that's not fair" to give little Billy a copy of the assignment on the board because he can't see, while the other students have to look off the board.  But it is what little Billy needs.  If someone had a heart attack, we wouldn't say, well since not everyone can get revived using the defibrillator, then we shouldn't use it on that person who's dying.
This makes me think of all the resources teachers can use with technology, especially for those students with learning disabilities.  Students who have a hard time understanding math, or English, can use computers and play an educational program that is geared to tutor and help the struggling students master their disability.  Or using graphics to illustrate something, or sounds. Using innovative and different ways to teach conventional ideas and concepts.

Small groups would also be a good idea.  Having the students pair off into groups according to skill level and providing various "stations" or activities for the students to do while the teacher meets with a small group and teaches to their learning level.