To be totally honest, I would have to say that me and spreadsheets had quite the love-hate relationship. I never liked using spreadsheets and yet I always seemed to have to use them in one way or another. Well, now I realize that my loathing for spreadsheets was only because I didn't really know how to use them so to me they were confusing and frustrating. Now I proudly can say that I have been taught and converted to the world of spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are actually pretty fun and not that difficult to use. I can use them in several places in my own teaching. I most definitely can and will use them for grading and record keeping. Using the tables and graphs I can observe each child's progress and the progress of the whole class. I can used the information to possibly see the areas that the children are not understanding and improve myself as a teacher. Spreadsheets are good for collecting and analyzing data so not only can I use it for my own purposes, I can teach my students to use it as well. Like in class we did several experiments and recorded the data on a spreadsheet. We were able to see all of the data and use the information to make prediction and conjectures about the experiment. It was a great teaching tool and a way to give more responsibility back to the student. I can use this method in my own class particularly in the areas of math and science. If I can show my students how to use spreadsheets and how beneficial they really are then I can give them a better experience then I had.
Also we used Google Docs to give each other surveys. We had a lot of fun in class doing these and I could definitely use this in my classroom. The students could use this on different projects to survey other classmates and see the results. Also we could use this in math to work on percentages, graphing, and analyzing results. These two tools can be very helpful in the classroom and can help the children learn skills on the computer.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Word Processing
I actually want to teach many different grades, but my first choice would be Kindergarten. Some ways that I could use word processing in the classroom is for one, using as my own preparation and use. I can use it to prepare for my lessons and also collaborate with other teachers to help me in my own teaching.
Also I can start to introduce my students to writing on the computer and get them motivated to write at an early age. I wouldn't start this until way later in the year because they are just beginning to understand works and reading and wouldn't know how to write anything.
Also I plan on teaching some older classes as well and this would be a good resource to use in class to help get the students writing and expose them to skills that will help them later in their educational career. They can learn to type and to write and then also help each other and learn about what makes good writing reading each other's work and editing them. I think this could be a wonderful tool to use in a classroom to help motivate and encourage students to write and also to help each other and learn skills like sentence fluency.
Also I can start to introduce my students to writing on the computer and get them motivated to write at an early age. I wouldn't start this until way later in the year because they are just beginning to understand works and reading and wouldn't know how to write anything.
Also I plan on teaching some older classes as well and this would be a good resource to use in class to help get the students writing and expose them to skills that will help them later in their educational career. They can learn to type and to write and then also help each other and learn about what makes good writing reading each other's work and editing them. I think this could be a wonderful tool to use in a classroom to help motivate and encourage students to write and also to help each other and learn skills like sentence fluency.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
YETC Resources
I had absolutely no idea all of the wonderful resources that were available to me in the YETC lab. There are so many wonderful things that I can use as a student preparing to teach. One of the cool resources is that they have the k-12 curriculum library where I can check things out. This will be helpful soon when I begin to plan lessons and create activities for the classroom. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I can just go to the lab and use what resources they have there and add a little of my own ideas. Sometimes it is hard to just come up with ideas for lesson plans so this will be a great resource to use and get ideas.
Also another thing that was amazing was all of the programs Nathan showed us online. I am not very good with computers, but the things he showed us where fun and easy ways to add a technology element to the classroom and get information for lessons. The internet is really a magnificent tool when understood how to use effectively. I really loved the one program that he showed us that can convert videos and pictures and things to different format so they can be used in different ways. Also I thought the TeacherTube was a cool site and one that I could definitely use in my classroom. I was looking on there and it has a lot of things I could use to help enhance my students learning.
I also think that the electronic portfolio is an excellent idea and one that i am most definitely going to use! I think the idea is very professional and it can show my skills and talents with using the computer. Computer skills are almost vital to any job now so it is important for me to learn as much as I can.
Also I could a lot of those resources in the media/video room. There are a lot of really good education videos that could be helpful in a classroom. One of the things that is important about teaching a concept is that you teach it in a variety of ways so every students can understand it becuase not every student learns the same so teaching with different elements is great!
Also I really liked that newsletter that he sends out. I could always use more training in how to use different technologies and it would be good to keep up with my students.
The YETC offers many great resources to me as a future teacher and I could be really dumb if I didn't take advantage of them while I am here as USU.
Also another thing that was amazing was all of the programs Nathan showed us online. I am not very good with computers, but the things he showed us where fun and easy ways to add a technology element to the classroom and get information for lessons. The internet is really a magnificent tool when understood how to use effectively. I really loved the one program that he showed us that can convert videos and pictures and things to different format so they can be used in different ways. Also I thought the TeacherTube was a cool site and one that I could definitely use in my classroom. I was looking on there and it has a lot of things I could use to help enhance my students learning.
I also think that the electronic portfolio is an excellent idea and one that i am most definitely going to use! I think the idea is very professional and it can show my skills and talents with using the computer. Computer skills are almost vital to any job now so it is important for me to learn as much as I can.
Also I could a lot of those resources in the media/video room. There are a lot of really good education videos that could be helpful in a classroom. One of the things that is important about teaching a concept is that you teach it in a variety of ways so every students can understand it becuase not every student learns the same so teaching with different elements is great!
Also I really liked that newsletter that he sends out. I could always use more training in how to use different technologies and it would be good to keep up with my students.
The YETC offers many great resources to me as a future teacher and I could be really dumb if I didn't take advantage of them while I am here as USU.
Friday, January 23, 2009
UEN Resources
I can use UEN resources in my future classroom several ways to enhance learning for my students and add a technology element to my teaching. There are several resources on UEN that are available and helpful. One really great service that UEN provides is Pioneer Library. Pioneer offerrs some pretty amazing resources. One component in Pioneer that I love is their Preschool Pioneer. Because I am an Early Childhood major, I love anything that has to do with small children and because we are in a digital age, younger children are becoming more technologially capable. Teaching children at a young age how to use technology will give them a great start on their education.
Also in Pioneer, they have several search engines to find information that would be helpful in the classroom. Ebsco host and eMedia are great ways to find alternative and supporting information to academic concepts. Also there is links to several news and information sites that can be used to inform your classroom on issues and events happening in the world. You can access previous articles and research information to add to lessons and really connect what your teaching to the world around your students.
UEN just provides several opportunities to access, credible and useful information to use in the classroom.
Also UEN is great to help with creating a lesson plan. They have a great feature in My UEN that can create lessons plan. I love this because when creating a lesson play, you can focus on the content and not the format stuff. It gives you a link to all the information that would be helpful in lesson plan such as ILO's and objectives and such. I am really excited to start this lesson plan and I think I will use this feature a lot in creating all my lessons.
Also in Pioneer, they have several search engines to find information that would be helpful in the classroom. Ebsco host and eMedia are great ways to find alternative and supporting information to academic concepts. Also there is links to several news and information sites that can be used to inform your classroom on issues and events happening in the world. You can access previous articles and research information to add to lessons and really connect what your teaching to the world around your students.
UEN just provides several opportunities to access, credible and useful information to use in the classroom.
Also UEN is great to help with creating a lesson plan. They have a great feature in My UEN that can create lessons plan. I love this because when creating a lesson play, you can focus on the content and not the format stuff. It gives you a link to all the information that would be helpful in lesson plan such as ILO's and objectives and such. I am really excited to start this lesson plan and I think I will use this feature a lot in creating all my lessons.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Blogging in the Classroom
Blogging can be a useful tool in the classroom and by using it responsibly and teaching my students how to use it can add a great technology element to the classroom. Today, technology is moving forward quite quickly and as a teacher, I can move forward with it, using it as a tool to motivate my students and enhance their learning.
One idea how to use blogging in my classroom that I love is creating a class page accessible to students and to parents that talks about all the things we are doing in the classroom. On the blog, I can have the topics and concepts we are currently discussing and learning about in class so parents are updated on the material their children are learning. Also I can have an additional resource link that I can post other links to some really great resources that parents can use at home to review what their kids are learning at school. There are some really great resources online (games and virtual manipulatives) that kids can have fun with and still learn academic concepts.
Also another way I can use blogs is for my students writing. With an older age group like fourth or fifth grade, I could use blogs as a way for my students to publish their writing. Students find a lot of success in their writing when they can publish what they write and by publishing on a blog, this allows their peers and possibly their parents log on, read, and comment on their writing. It would be a great way to do peer reviewing and maybe get some ideas from each other that wouldn't take too much time in class.
Also I think having a classroom blog would just be a fun way for students to learn about the great things that technology can offer and teach them how to use it responsibly. As a class, we could design the blog, discuss things we want to post on it, and allow everyone the chance to say what they want. It could be a great and fun way to connect together as a class.
I think that using blogs in the classroom could be a great tool when used appropriately. As a teacher, I need to keep up with my students and use technology in a good way instead of fighting against it.
One idea how to use blogging in my classroom that I love is creating a class page accessible to students and to parents that talks about all the things we are doing in the classroom. On the blog, I can have the topics and concepts we are currently discussing and learning about in class so parents are updated on the material their children are learning. Also I can have an additional resource link that I can post other links to some really great resources that parents can use at home to review what their kids are learning at school. There are some really great resources online (games and virtual manipulatives) that kids can have fun with and still learn academic concepts.
Also another way I can use blogs is for my students writing. With an older age group like fourth or fifth grade, I could use blogs as a way for my students to publish their writing. Students find a lot of success in their writing when they can publish what they write and by publishing on a blog, this allows their peers and possibly their parents log on, read, and comment on their writing. It would be a great way to do peer reviewing and maybe get some ideas from each other that wouldn't take too much time in class.
Also I think having a classroom blog would just be a fun way for students to learn about the great things that technology can offer and teach them how to use it responsibly. As a class, we could design the blog, discuss things we want to post on it, and allow everyone the chance to say what they want. It could be a great and fun way to connect together as a class.
I think that using blogs in the classroom could be a great tool when used appropriately. As a teacher, I need to keep up with my students and use technology in a good way instead of fighting against it.
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