Saturday, March 30, 2013

Chapter 9 Journal

How can teachers use video resources in their teachings? Video resources are a great tool for teachers to use in the resources because it is one of the most popular and most effective multimedia tool in the school atmosphere. Also, since it captures the interest of students and it's the most accessible multimedia tool for teachers, possibilities are endless. Teachers can use video resources in their teachings in order to capture the minds of their students and many other ways. For example, videos allow educators to pause and rewind in order to review material and discuss what just happened to make the class more interactive. Also, a teacher can instruct students to write responses to what they just viewed and use that as a tool to assess what they just learned. They also can use video resources in their teachings to expand the level of knowledge beyond what the text book covers.

Tech Tool 9.1 Visual Learning with Digital Projectors and Interactive Whiteboards Tech tool 9.1 is one of my favorite tech tools available for educators. Digital projectors and interactive whiteboards really enhance the way a student learns and grasp their material. With a digital projector you can enhance a video from a computer screen which only a few people can see to a movie size screen to capture your entire audience (students). Furthermore, with an interactive whiteboard, you have the same capability with being able to capture an entire classroom but also more things like enhancing your readings, lectures, and powerpoints. When I become an educator, I think these two tech tools will be used in my classroom very often for the the simple purposes of how these tech tools work to capture an audience and because they are so versatile.


Chapter 9 Summary Creating and Sharing Information with Multimedia Technologies Chapter 9 discusses how an educator can create and share information with multimedia technology. A multimedia technology is technology that combines multi medias like text, voice, picture, data, and data in a single technology to enhance learning and and make it interactive. Chapter 9 also provides great ideas on how to use PowerPoints in your teaching. It provides strategies on how to make your presentations interactive and memorable because as an educator we want the students to remember the information we teach them, promote visual text that enhances a better discussion, and and make slides that grab the attention of our students.

Using videos in the classroom are also a great way to enhance teaching, learning, and visual literacy. This chapter provides all the tools you need to succeed in this area. Streaming videos from the web is also a cost effective way to deliver your message to your students. Furthermore, as a teacher you always have to stay ahead of the game and think of ways to incorporate the technologies you have at hand. Cameras are great because you can use them to take photos and make videos. If this tool is available you can also have your students take pictures and make movies to give your students an unforgettable learning experience that they will always remember and it's a great way for them to document their learning.

Podcast and Vodcasts are also another great tools teachers can use for teaching. This software program is great because students could use it for free with the use of iTunes or bloglines. Another great thing about this software is that educational software is available everywhere on the web making it user friendly and FREE. As an educator we must always take advantage on the free things we have available especially when it comes to technology because usually tech tolls are costly and depending on where you teach, certain tools might not be in our budget.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Chapter 8 Journal

How can teachers use a website or blog to improve teaching and learning? Websites and blogs create many ways to improve teaching and learning, making both sources a productive in the education world. Blogging is one of the most popular tools available for the teenage society. Therefore, getting a student to be interested in using one wouldn't be difficult. In order to promote student learning, English teachers have started using blogs to promote literacy learning through writing and analysis of language. Also, for other subjects like science and social studies students are able to access news related blogs for research purposes and expand their learning. The best part about blogging for students is that all ages can find it useful, even elementary students learning how to read. Furthermore, teachers can use blogs to connect and network with other teacher for ideas to improve their teaching and receive support. Being connect as a teacher and teaching a student how to be connected is a great source for improving teaching and engaging the student to want to learn.



Tech Tool 8.1 Teacher Website and Blog-Building Resources Tech Tool 8.1 is something I've already began using in this class with this blogger site. I must admit when I first started to use blogger I had a lot of learning to do but now that I know how to use it I'm able to navigate through here much faster and get more use of the benefits is has to offer. Also, I've had some experience with godaddy.com as well because I had to help my step father build a website for his company. Therefore, I decided to explore the other sites and realized how easy it is to develop your own website and blogger through all the tools available on the internet. Also, I like the fact that many of these website are free and very user friendly.


Chapter 8 Summary Chapter 8 concentrates on ways teachers and students can utilize computers and other technology tools to share information in the classroom and online. This chapter offers great ways on how to build a class website to show students how to look up their assignments and how to create and use blogs in the learning and teaching world. As an educator you need to be proactive and engage the student. Therefore, if you are up to date with the latest technologies and know how to utilize them properly, you can succeed with your student. For example, I know that having a discussion board really engages the student. It helps the student voice their opinion without being humiliated by other students but also makes them more interested in participation because it's fun to comment and communicate online. In comparison to a student using these tools to communicate with their classmates, teachers can also use tools like instant messaging, emailing, and teacher discussion boards to better themselves as educators.

Computers, websites, and blogs really help teachers become more interactive with their students because they can provide information to the student beyond what a textbooks offers and helps the student learn even more by conducting their own research with a website provided by the information the teacher has gathered for the student to continue and expand their learning on a subject. Furthermore, I believe that students and teachers aren't the only ones who benefit from online learning. I think that websites and blogs are also a great way for parents to stay in tuned with what their child is learning and to what to expect for their homework as well.

Chapter 8 also gives information on how to collaborate Wikis as a learning strategy. Wiki are websites or blogspace that are edited and maintained by groups of people. Teachers could also build their own Wiki and use it in the classroom. This chapter provides strategies on how to use a Wiki with your students as well.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Chapter 7 Journal

How can teachers evaluate the effectiveness of educational software? Teachers can evaluate the effectiveness of educational software in many ways, but first they must be able to identify the things that make up poor software. Poor software usually lets the students control the activity oppose to a good one were the software controls the activity. Next, if the software promotes competition, violence, or stereotyping, then the software is poor quality because it's not a good source of learning and providing bad images for the student. Finally, if the software forces a student to react quick oppose to long term thinking, then the software will also be consider poor quality and not effective. Once the teachers has identified these basics on a software they will be able to determine if it is an effective educational software.

Tech Tool 7.2 A Math Learning Game- Zoombinis Logical Journey Tech Tool 7.1 is a great math learning game. I found it pretty interesting. My nephew sometimes struggle with basic math so I tried this tool out on him. He was like a little kid in the candy store, I even caught him giggling at the animations. He thought it was really cool and said he would love to play it again. I also found it interesting because the colors and animations throughout the game are neat. Even though we only tested the game for a short period of time. Also, another thing I found interesting is that for the period of time he was playing it really engaged him in site. He did not want to give me back the computer. Therefore, I think this tech tool provides a fun interactive way to get students involved in learning math and having fun with it.

 This video was provided by YouTube user Ilikemustard

Chapter 7 Summary Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools Chapter 7 does an overview on how educational software supports and promotes problem solving and inquiry learning from students in all elementary, middle, and high school levels.It approaches the areas educators have most difficulties with in computers and software and how to find out their effectiveness. It explains the two types of software. First, there is system software, system software is responsible for the overall functioning and control of a computer and includes an operating system, database managing, and TP monitor. The second type of software is application software that performs specific functions in specialized ways to produce different services. These services include word processing, spreadsheets, slides, etc. Next, it talks about open sources software is available to the public at little or no cost. 

With all the types of software available, chapter 7 discusses how to evaluate different software and gives a general criteria to determine whether they are valuable or a wasteful source for learning. It also provides online software resources for teachers and how to use educational software for problem solving and inquiry learning in order to meet educational goals. Also, Chapter 7 gives information to the educator on how to build, invent and create software. 

Chapter 7 gives information on educational games as a learning resource. For example, tech tool 7.2 provided a great, fun, and interactive learning game for student and this is just one of many ways to show a student a fun and interactive way of learning through educational games. Even though there has been many debates on games and gaming, I feel like educational games are a great way to get a student involve, especially for those who have a hard time paying attention in class or even those students with ADD because in involves the student in many more ways then one. I love the fact that this chapter also provides the strategies on how to include games in their curriculum because we live in a technology world therefore, students must know how to approach technology properly.