Final Project Reflection

This was a fun project.  I was able to let my children be a part of it.  Sadly only the footage of my son Dracen would work with movie maker.  I had some other footage of my other son and some of our cousins playing for the exercise clip but it would not comply.  I also had some difficulty in uploading my video to Youtube because I used 30 seconds of each song initially and I guess you can only use 30 seconds total in sound clips.  We had a lot of fun making the videos though so it was a good experience. 

I don't think this video will be appropriate for an English class so I won;t be using it in my classroom.  I do think I could use it in the school setting for a health class so it is an option to donate it for those purposes.  I also think it could be used as an informational video for an organization such as WIC.

I think I'd like to use movie maker for my class by having my students act out their interpretations of literature. I think it would be fun for them and an entertaining way for them to learn the material. I think using multimedia benefits teachers in many ways.  One I see especially in using this project is making learning more entertaining for students and having them use technology allows them to work in their comfort zone.

Final Project

Chapter 12 Reflection

On page 288 it talks about local learning communities.  I found that you can learn a lot by knowing who the leaders in technological integration are in the school you are in.  knowing who can help you with integrating technology into your classroom is a good resource for us as new teachers.

I liked that this chapter again brings u that we shoudl monitor ourselves  as we grow proffesionally as it did in chapter 2.  I think it is important to see where you came from and where you are.  This will keep us aware of what we need to work on in the future.  I also think it helps keep teacher open minded and always looking for a new way to teach the same thing.


I woudl like to record my class periodically throughout the tear to see what is effective and if there is anything I could work on.  I think this would be a great way to keep track of how I am doing as a teacher.  I liked the suggestion

Chapter 11 Reflection

I did not know about the four components we should consider  in dealing with  the digital divide dilemma.
1.access to up  to date hardware, software and connectivity
2.Access to meaningful high-quality and culturally responsive content and the oppertunity to contribute to that content.
3. Access to educators who know how to use digital tools and resources.
4. Access to systems sustained by leaders with vision and support for change via technology
This is all on page 271.

I liked the list on pages 267 and 268 for supporting students socil needs.  I feel it is important to keep the students interacting with one another in order to help them later on in life in the work feild, I honestly wish there were more group projects when I was in school.  I believe socializing is an important part of our lives and can be very beneficial in learning.

I do plan on incorporate collaborative projects into my classroom I especially liked the idea of the reflective journal in the list. I feel that is students can reflect on what they ave read and see how others have interpreted the same  reading that they will become more open minded in what they read and how they look at things.

Pumpkin Painting at the UC

Hey guys just incase you haven't seen the flyers on campus, Sigma Tau Delta is hosting a Pumpkin Painting from 10:30am - 2:30pm this Friday the 29th at the UC.  Pumpkin an paints are $3, so come be creative and paint a pumpkin to celebrate Halloween. Hav a great week hope to see you all there!

Technology Articles Reflection

I learned that technology is over all a helpful tool in teaching. The second article, Digital Native, Digital I migrants, was the most appealing to me.  I liked how Marc Prensky vrought out that really it isnt using the technology and learning to do something new, but learning to teach old information in a new way that is the challenge.  I can completely understand this, I've seen so many teacher in my past who are unwilling to upgrade their classrooms and really the students are the ones paying for their stubbornness.  It is proven in other studies that teaching using technology is raising students scores.

I liked the points Prensky makes about any subject being able to be taught through technology.  I also liked his example of the new software being turned into a game foe people to learn it. He makes a good point in saying that we have to adapt to our environment which is always changing.  I also liked aspects of the other two articles like in the first one listed a gender study was done on people who take online courses. Also that people tend to think they know when a computer is talking compared to a person, yet the studies proved them wrong. 
I think saying that technology is changing the way we learn in a dramatic way is fitting in all three articles. 

Chapter 8 Reflection

One of the things I learned in Chapter 8 was about how people focus on hard ware.  I thought the categories you look at when  deciding on hard ware was insightful (pg. 192). Usually when I think about getting hardware it is just the typical computer, this section informed me that I really need to look at memory and all the other things that go with it.

I liked that the book made a point to say that you can have hardware but without certain software it is pretty much useless.  I actually ran into this problem a few years ago in a college course I was taking.   I had a computer but no word processing software on it. This was quickly remedied by buying the software. 

One piece of advice from this chapter that I plan to use is not being afraid to ask my students for help.  I am fullly aware that I will not always know what the newest technology is and I know younger generations grasp technological concepts quicker.  There is no shame in asking for help.

Reflection on Autobiography Video

Reflection of work:

I thought this was an interesting assignment.  I was excited at the opportunity to learn how to use windows movie makes seeing as I had never used it.  I found the basis of the programs to be fairly simple and was pleased with the progress I made early in working on the assignment however I did hit some snags towards the end of it.

Fun Aspects:

As I said this project started out fun, I enjoyed going through pictures and video clips, so that was fun.  Also picking music was fun and writing the script wasn't bad either.  These task I found enjoyable and fun.

Difficulty:

As I continued with the project it became very difficult.  Adding the audio was probably the most difficult portion of making this video.  Every time I used the recording device it would freeze mt computer and I would lose my entire movie even after saving it.  So, I had to restart this project several times in order to get to the final project, and it became very frustrating. I think it must have been problems with compatibility of other software I have to use for my computer, in order to see it. I'm honestly glad to be done with it now.

Classroom Use:

I think this will be a great project later for my students to show their creativity and understanding of works of literature.  I think it would be fun for them to work in groups to make a movie or recreation of certain works that are harder for students to understand.  In being able to live it I think they will better understand the material.  I just would have to ensure that they would not get frustrated with it as I did in adding the audio.

Autobiography Video

Chapter 3 Reflection

I am so glad this chapter talked about creative thinking.  I really wasn't aware that there was so much involved in the process though, I guess I have been one of those people who thinks it is only "unique" thinking.  So I found that aspect very interesting and entertaining. It was something I learned about something I thought I knew.

I also loved that it pointed out that a teacher needs to learn as well as teach.  I had an issue with my sons kindergarten teacher recently on this matter.  I feel that people are different and time change so as teachers we have to be on our feet and consistently learn new and interesting ways to keep our students happily involved in learning.   The issue I had with my son's teacher is that her teaching was very old fashioned, not to say this is bad but my son became very bored and wouldn't do his work, the end result was me actually having to change him to a different school that could better suit his needs. So, I really liked that this was brought up in the book, because we do need to continue learning in order to teach effectively.

When I begin to teach I have many ideas as to how I'd like to incorporate  technology. As far as having it in a real world setting like the book states I think having my students make a literary journal website where they can give their personal interpretations of what is read in the English class would be an interesting project.  In having them work in groups they would learn how to work as we have to in the so called "real world" .

Reflection on Cahpter 1

I like that this chapter is basically a sum up of how technology is so integrated into our lives.  The transitions and advances we have made have brought us so far compared to where we were.  I remember back when I was growing up in the 80's that computers were rare in homes.  I also remember my mother telling me I needed to learn as much as I could because it was going to be essential in years to come. I thought it was nice that this chapter went over the different views from the past. 
I have to admit though that I do wish it had a bit more information on the history of computer evolution in general.  I think knowing how we ended up with computers is important, because then you know where you have come from.  I think here in modern time people have become so use to technology that they have forgotten how it was before, so I would have liked to see a little more on that.  I think it is humbling.
I really enjoyed learning about the different things I could use within the classroom.  There are two examples of math teachers on pages 18 and 19.  The first one Mr. Tucker seems to find teaching easier since he added technology to the class, by having his lecture notes and worksheets and so on ready to go.  I also liked that the Second teacher Ms. Williams was able to get the students to work together on a project using technology much like they would in an actual work field later in life.   I feel that is important because I felt so under prepared for the real world after high school.
I think I would definitely like to incorporate some type of activity in my class when I begin to teach that woudl help prepare the students for life after high school.   I think it is important that they know how to communicate and work with one another and so I woudl want to use that.  I feel a blog simular to hat we are using here would be benneficial and also working on a group research paper where they had to work together to get internet information and collaborately put it togther.  There are many other things I'd like to do, but these are just a few. 
The more I learn the more excited I get about begin able to pass that knowledge on, and I think that is what being a teacher is really all about so this knew knowledge of integrating technology is very exciting for me.

Introduction

This will be my third semester and ASU and I have to say so far I have enjoyed every moment of my school career.  I am going to school for my BA in English with teaching certification.  I have been pondering the idea of going for my masters so that I can either teach dual credit in high school or even at a junior college.  

I am originally from a small town outside of Lubbock, Texas called Brownfield.  It is basically just what it's name says a brown field, however the interesting thing about it is it is actually named after it founder. I graduated high school in 2001 and have lived in various places here in Texas such as Houston and College Station.  I lived in Boston, Massachusetts for about five years.

I have two little boys one is five and the other is two, they are my world.  I have an amazing boyfriend who I've been with for almost two years now, he is the key stone to my support system since I've returned to school.  I don't know how I would have made it without his and my family's support.