Best and Worst of Tech and Topics

I really enjoyed this class because I learned about a lot of useful web tools and and websites that I could see myself implementing when I have my own classroom. I enjoyed the discussions about various technologies and tools and I thought it was great that we were able to have hands on experience by using these for an actual educational purpose. I also appreciated that we talked about 21st century skills and what it means to teachers. I think the worst part was how tedious it was to put together the website. I thought the class allowed for plenty of time to work on it so I didn't have to put very much outside time into it but I grew weary of it very quickly. However, I felt very accomplished and was pleased with the final project once I finished.

Personal Learning Networks

Classroom 2.0 is a social network for educators that are interested in integrating technology in the classroom. It focuses on Web 2.0, Social Media, and Participative Technologies in the classroom. This sight looks like it would be helpful for beginners like me and the membership is free.

Edutopia is sight for educators that is geared toward helping teachers implement best practices for various strategies. Everything is evidence based and has resources for all grade levels. It is a great website for finding solutions, finding inspiration, and starting conversations with other educators.

Special Education Advisor looks like a useful website for teachers, parents, and other service providers who want to better understand special education rights and services. There is a lot of information on the IEP and special education law. There is also a lot of general information on various special education topics.

Cell Phones in the Classroom

I understand that there is a place for cell phones in the classroom. The argument for cell phones always being turned on is that it is a safety issue. Some schools force the students to turn their phones off and check them in to the teacher on standardized testing days to keep them from cheating. I have heard that parents have complained about this because they are worried about their kids not having their phone in an emergency situation.  If done correctly, cell phones can be used as an educational tool. For example, students can text in answers and do classroom polls. However, more often than not cell phones are a huge distraction in the classroom. I have sat in high school classes where 90 percent of the students are texting. As a grad student, I still struggle to not be distracted by my cell phone. This is why I would prefer to have cell phones turned off in my classroom.

Web 2.0 Lessons

I would use ToonDoo to create a lesson that would help with language development. In my field of special education, I may have students that are delayed in language skills. My students can use this web 2.0 tool to create their own cartoon to write a story, tell me about their day, or summarize a book that they are reading in their language arts class. It is also a fun and interactive way to make a social story for a student who has a behavior that needs to be addressed. The student and I would work together to create a comic that would demonstrate the appopriate way to behave in a certain situation.

Another great web 2.0 tool is Quizlet. I can use quizlet to introduce my student to new vocabulary words. I would create flashcards with the new words that I could use to quiz the student or have the student quiz him or herself independently. I could also add pictures to the flashcards that could help cue the student on the definition. Quizlet would also allow the student to hear the vocabulary word and would then have to practice spelling the word. I could use Quizlet to create practice quizzes or have the student practice the words independently.

Preparing Students to Live in the 21st Century

I think I'll do a good job at preparing my students for the 21st century because I am always willing to change with the technology. I think I'm interested and flexible enough to learn about what is new and what is relevant in the technology world. I also spent most of my life with computers and cellphones so I think it makes it easier for me to understand what it takes to have 21st century skills. In my classroom, I will try to implement technology in my lessons and activities as much as I can to expose my students to what is out there and why it is important in the real world.

Movie Comparison Paper

Stand and Deliver 

The teacher in this movie did not seem daunted by the attitudes of his students even though he was a first time teacher. He seemed confident and at ease with them right from the beginning. I think the students appreciated that he came from a similar background and they were able to relate to him. The teacher was also very direct with his students, which seemed to work well. I liked how he used comedy and creativity to engage his students. I thought the use of the apple at the beginning of the movie was a great visual and worked well to engage his class. I think it was great how much he challenged his students. He obviously had high expectations for them. At one point he told his coworkers that “students will rise to the level of expectations.” I thought that was an excellent statement and really proves how he was a great teacher and motivator. At times, I thought he took it a little far with the teasing and challenging of his students. I don’t think that approach would work in every environment. However, he always proved that he would protect his students and had their best interest in mind. Another important thing that he did was that he explained to students why it was important to learn math. He did a great job of connecting math to the real world and demonstrating that you need math to graduate from school in order to have a better life. I think the students really connected with this teacher because he showed that he truly cared about them and believed in them. 

Freedom Writers 

The teacher in this movie had a lot of similar qualities to the teacher in Stand and Deliver. I think she struggled more with the racial tensions in her class because she did not have a similar 

background as her students. It took her a little longer to gain her confidence. However, she took the time to understand her students and their background, which proved that she cared about them. She developed relationships with her students, which in turn developed into trust and respect. She also had the mentality that students will rise to the occasion if you have high expectations. She refused to give her class the old and lower level books because she knew that they could succeed if she showed them that she believed it. Like the teacher in Stand and Deliver, she showed her class why it was important to get an education. She gave the content meaning and related it to them by choosing books that they would connect with. Both teachers in these movies went above and beyond the call of duty. As a result, they left a legacy and had a lasting impression on their students. 

Setback with Technology

I recently had to upload a video to Vimeo for a class and had the hardest time. Although we talked about video editing and converting videos in this class, I struggled a lot with this project. It took me hours to figure out how to reformat it and then the upload process was extremely slow. I wanted to give up several times but through trial and error and watching instructional videos online, I was finally able to upload it and post it successfully!

Modern Classroom Technology

One piece of modern technology that I have seen and been able to use in the classroom is the Ipad. The Ipad has many different educational apps that I have successfully used in the special education setting. Students enjoy using it because it is cool and easy to use. It is also very interactive and works well to engage students. I have also seen the Ipad used as a communication device, which is great for students who are nonverbal.

Portfolios

Portfolios are very important to the field of Special Education. Portfolios can include work samples, records, teacher's notes, and other documentation that provides the intervention specialist with an idea of the student's progress and proof of where the student is at and what they can do. This can be especially important for IEP meetings where you need to back up your information. It is also nice to have student portfolios that they can look at and see for themselves all that they have learned.

Presentation Skills

I will be the first to admit that I'm not the best presenter around. However, I have improved slightly over the years with the use of a few helpful tips. I think the first thing a person is judged on when making a presentation is the way it is delivered. I try to make sure that I have good eye contact, speak loud enough, and trying to look somewhat relaxed. Also, I make sure that my presentation is organized and has a good flow. This can be a good indicator for whether or not it is a successful presentation. It should be easy to follow and have interesting examples and pictures...anything to keep the audience involved and interested! I find that how I feel about my topic can also make or break the presentation. The audience can tell if the presenter is confident and excited about what he or she is talking about. Even if it is the most boring topic in the world, you can bring interest and hold your audience if you show enthusiasm and passion for what you are presenting. Or I at least try to fake it. I think being a good presenter takes a lot of opportunities for practice so I hope I can continue to improve with this upcoming presentation.

Evaluating Textbooks

There is certainly value in evaluating a textbook. When determining whether or not you are going to use a new book in your classroom, it is important to know if it is going to be useful for your purposes. First, you should always know your students and understand their background and abilities. From there you can determine if the reading level and other content of the book is appropriate. If the textbook you decide on isn't meaningful or relevant information, then you will spend a lot of money on something that will ultimately end up collecting dust. It is always important to present textbooks to your students that are current and useful. Knowing how to do your own evaluation ensures that you are choosing the right one.

Educational Purpose

A while back I compiled a list of beliefs and goals I have as a teacher. I'm sure this list will grow and change as I gain more experience but for right now it explains why I decided to go into this field and the kind of teacher I hope to be in the future...

My Beliefs

· All children are capable of learning.
· Education should be meaningful and purposeful.
· Children should feel safe in their learning environment.
· Collaboration among teachers and other support staff is key and in the best interest of the child.
· Parents should play a big role in their child’s learning.
· It is never too early to start reading to a child.

Goals

· Never underestimate a child’s ability.
· Encourage children to do meaningful work.
· Provide a safe learning environment.
· Communicate and collaborate with my fellow teachers.
· Always communicate with my students’ parents.
· Know my students and understand their needs.
· Always be flexible and willing to recognize when something needs to change.

Hello World!

This is my first blog post :-)