Week Seven Response

     Knowing what is going on in the world is extremely important.  It wasn't until I was in High School that this became really important to me, and I think that is because all through elementary and middle school we were never taught about world events.  I think that is probably because adults feel there is a greater need for teaching students other things rather than whats going on in the world.  While I completely agree that there are certain events in the world that are not appropriate for children; however, I also believe that we should try and explain as much as we can what is going on in the world around us to these kids. One way to explain these events to kids or to make it maybe even more fun for them to want to learn is using maps.  

     I think it would be really fun to out a map of the world up and have the students throw sticky darts at it where ever the darts lands is the area we will look at.  This process will happen many times in order to narrow it down form an entire continent to a specific country.  

     Say we have had the kids do this activity and it lands on Iraq or Afghanistan.  We could then take the time to explain in depth what is happening with the conflict with these two places and the United States.  Once we have gone through and talked about this conflict.  I then could have the students go through and create a map that is representing these areas and we could then go through and label the different types of government in these areas.

     I think this lesson would be really fun to do during the entire school year, every Monday we start with the first map and once that area has been selected I will research current events for that area and then create a lesson based on what I find. 

Week Six Response

This was my first time using Garage band, and the podcast software within this program.  What an awesome program though.  

As a future teacher I think it would be awesome to have podcast set up for when students will be gone, yet still need the information that was presented in class.  I know this will take several hours to make happen for all lessons, but if I know a student will be gone for an extended amount of time I could go through my lesson plans and find the most important lessons, which would be the most crucial to them while they are gone, and have them watch and listen as if they were sitting in class.  

As for how my students will use this program, I think it would be really awesome to have the students tell a story to the computer and have to draw pictures, which I would upload for them, to go along with what they are saying.  This could be a fun way for the students to use a new piece of technology; however also incorporating other aspects such as planning what to say, writing a script and drawing pictures. 

Anytime technology is used in the classroom there are hurdles that must be jumped over.  One big hurdle I feel would pose a huge problem is that not all classrooms have access to computers with a garage band software.  Even though my laptop has this program, one computer is not very practical for 25 to 35 students.  I would have to come up with a way to get this program installed on computers in the computer lab.  Which would allow all students to work on this program at the same time. 

One benefit to incorporating podcasting into my classroom is just showing the students one more piece of technology they can use in their everyday life.  In my opinion you can never know too much about technology.  

These are just a couple ideas of how I will use the podcast software in my classroom. Once I become more familiar with this program, I'm sure I will come up with more ways to integrate the use of this program in my classroom. 

Week Four Response

     In ten years education will look extremely different.  In order for me to really look at how much of a change there will be I first need to look at the last ten years in education.  Ten years ago I would have been in sixth grade.  When I was in sixth grade there was little to no technology integrated into the classroom.  The entire school district, which consisted of seven schools had a laptop lab (30 or so laptops), which was transported from school to school as needed, these computers were very generic dell laptops.  This was the only technology in the classrooms besides the overhead projectors.  Throughout the next few years Pendleton School District began to integrate more and more technology into their classrooms.  Now each and every classroom has their own smart board, document camera, projector, and most have an ipad or two.  While ten years seems like a really long time to finally have more technology in the classroom it really is not, especially when thinking about the cost of all this technology.
      Ten years from now is hard to predict for the mere reason that technology is ever changing.  Yes, in ten years there will be more use of technology in the classroom, however I could not begin to tell you what that technology would be.  As the years pass, we as a society will become more and more dependent on technology and as teachers it is our duty to make sure that the students do not get "left behind".
     The biggest change in education I see happening is the switch from paper books to electronic books.  Information is constantly being updated, because of more research; it is important to have the most up to date information possible.  In order to do so, cost effectively, e-books are the way to go.  While there may be more of a cost at the beginning, buying the tablets, in the long run the tablets will pay for themselves because of the cost saved by not having to rebind books or even buy 30 more copies of a new book. With e-books you can download and pay for the book once for several tablets. 
    A change in technology for the classroom is going to happen so we might as well embrace it and learn ways to use this wonderful tool in our everyday classrooms!

Week Two Response

     There is an abundance of ways in which to use technology in the classroom, especially when looking at digital photography.  In looking at the technology standards I was intrigued with the Creativity and Innovation standard.  In particular letter B.
     Group projects, in my opinion, are extremely helpful.  Group projects allow the students to learn how to work cooperatively.  This is extremely important in any job they will have later in life, so why not begin helping theses students with these skills now?
     The project that the students would be required to do, is, they have to create a poster/ collage that represents each and every one of the group members, yet also making sure that they are incorporating everyone's ideas into a visually pleasing, organized final poster. In order to complete this project the students will have to go out and take pictures of certain aspects in their life that defines who they are.    
     This project would be great for the very beginning of the year, to help the students to get to know each other more and also for the teacher to be able to know a little about the students; which, will help them to maybe relate so they can figure out their learning process and or home life. 


 

Week One Response

     Technology use in the classroom is extremely important.  By incorporating technology into the classrooms everyday schedule, the students will become more and more familiar with just how powerful and helpful it is.  I know from working in several classrooms over the past few years the teachers who use a multitude of technology applications in their classrooms have students who enjoy learning.
     Just this last month I was working in a fourth grade classroom in Pendleton.  The teacher works very hard at making sure the students use any and all technology available in the classroom; some of which are the classroom computers, ipads, ipods, smart board, and neos'.  These tools are used during the students "break time", each of these technology appliances have certain games or activities for the student(s) to use.  What is really interesting is that all of these, pre-approved, games are all educational so while they are having fun using technology, they also are learning reading, writing, and math skills.
     Having worked in both classrooms that use and do not use technology I have noticed that the classrooms which use technology the students are more willing to sit and listen when it is a time to be sitting in the desks listening to instruction.  I believe that by allowing students the freedom and responsibility of using technology equipment appropriately they realize the importants of learning and also the skill of learning just what technology can do for them.  How it can help them understand math objectives, reading objectives and even spelling.  What a great resource we as teachers have to further students who are craving more information that maybe the rest of the class is not yet ready for.  

Introduction

My name is Josh and I am a Junior at Western Oregon University.  I am studying elementary education and hope to teach 4th grade once I graduate. I will also be minoring in both American Sign Language and Spanish. These languages will allow me to interpret during the summer months.