My WebQuest

Creating my WebQuest wasn't really a challenge. I am a quick learner so I figured out the format fast and was able to do everything I was supposed to do. The problem that I had was figuring out what my WebQuest would be about. After some thinking, a lot of thinking, I came up with teaching the 3rd graders about the Civil War. I was told that this subject was too advanced for them but the teacher of the class let me do it. American history isn't taught in the third grade, which I don't think should be the case.
The students were historians who had to tell a man from another country all about the Civil War. After they found out, they had to draw pictures that described what happened. I provided a YouTube video and questions to help them along their way. The first day I went was just to introduce them to the subject. I asked basic questions like "What is a Civil War?", "When did the Civil War happen?", "Why did it happen?", and "Who fought in the Civil War?". They had good ideas but they didn't know what I was talking about. Their task was to research information and watch the video I provided to learn everything they needed to know so they would be able to inform the man. They were split into 3 groups and I gave them a week to complete everything.
I enjoyed having the experience of teaching this WebQuest. It was fun and exciting to stand in front of the class, ask questions, and see children get excited about answering questions. It reminded me of how I was in school. When I went to get the final papers, I was very pleased. All of the students did a great job and I knew they did their research because when i asked the same questions I asked the first day, they all were able to answer them correctly. I feel good about picking a subject they never learned about because I am responsible for teaching them something totally new. Now, because of me, when they get to the 4th grade they will know what the Civil War was about before the teacher could tell them. Creating this WebQuest was fun and I look forward to creating more in the future.

Chapter 15- Assessing and Evaluating, Including Portfolios

The main point of teaching a lesson is to make sure that at the end the students grasped what you were teaching. Assessment is very important because it lets the teacher know whether or not they can move on to another subject. Some students may need extra help understanding what is going on but without a quiz or a paper the teacher won’t know that. The same way a traditional lesson is assessed is the same way a technology rich lesson should be. Of course there will be differences, like making sure the technology was used efficiently and if the student was supposed to learn how to use technology as part of the lesson that it was learned.
As a student, I like to see rubric’s before I start an assignment because it helps me complete it. I am aware of what the teacher is looking for in an exemplary completion so I can do it without wondering if I’m doing the right thing. When I presented my WebQuest to the 3rd grade class I told them what will get them a bad grade and what will get them a good grade. All of the students did a nice job but I don’t think that would have happened if I didn’t explain the rubric.
As far as testing goes, I like taking tests on a computer depending on the subject. The information is clear, I don’t have to worry about understanding the teachers hand writing, and I may get immediate responses to my answers. For something like writing an essay I would prefer to write it out on paper but for early childhood students, this may not be the best choice. Of course students still must learn traditionally even though technology is everywhere, but using the computer is very important. Some children may have illegible handwriting and I may not understand everything they write but on a computer I am able to understand every word. Giving a test on a computer that gives immediate feedback which gives the teacher more time to plan other things. I remember in public school when we were supposed to have a quiz back on a certain day but it didn’t happen because the teacher said she was overwhelmed with work. That can be eliminated if more tests were given on the computer. Another thing that happened was the teacher would grade so many papers that after a while they began to mark right answers wrong and vice versa. That won’t happen on a computer.
Spreadsheets are an excellent way to keep records of students and grades. It’s neater and it does all the work for you, all you have to do is type a name or number and it goes in its place. This saves so much time and headaches. You don’t have to worry about forgetting the book at home or somebody taking it. Portfolios are great too. If a teacher starts a portfolio on a student when they first enter school, it will be beneficial in the evaluation of that student in their last year of school. Portfolios can be passed on so each teacher can add on to it. They also can be read by a new teacher so they can get a sense of who the student is. Books can get lost or damaged but portfolios and spreadsheets have a better chance of staying in good shape.
E-Portfolios allow children to be creative, just like multimedia presentations. This can be the one place they are free to be themselves. It is also an assessment tool because a student can look at what they did in their e-portfolio 2 years ago and notice the change. I like working on e-portfolio. I've heard about it before but never accessed it until this class. I have full control over what people can see and what I want to put on there. I like that I make the tabs and I don't have to be told what to put on my e-portfolio. Any form of technology can be useful to both teachers and students if it is used properly.

Chapters 12 and 14- Simulations and Data Analysis and Producing and Presenting Presentations

Data analysis and simulations are excellent ways to incorporate technology in math lessons. Students can keep track of numbers such as money, time, and whatever else they may need to keep records of. Simulations allow students to mix school with their real life experiences. Children do things at home like sell lemonade and have yard sales, which all require keeping track of sales and money. Keeping records will teach them how to be responsible and as adults they will need to keep track of their finances. Everything students learn in school can be applied to real life and data analysis and simulations let them bring the two together. They will no longer need their parents to keep track of the money they made at their lemonade stand because they will be able to do it on their own. I was never a fan of math but I enjoyed doing assignments that required me keeping count of something I did. That helped me learn how to solve equations without realizing I was doing it.
Multimedia presentations were always fun and interesting to me. I like to see who has the most creative pictures or text. Students have fun creating these because they get to use their imaginations and think of how they want to present, as opposed to the teacher telling them what pictures to use or what to write. Drawing pictures and using different colors and images allows students to be creative and think on their own. While they are learning about a subject, they are also learning how to utilize different aspects of technology. Sometimes when they don’t understand something they try it out until they get it. There have been plenty of times a student knows how to use the computer or set something up that the teacher has no clue about.
I never used it before but I like the idea of recording my voice and using it in my presentation. I think this will help students who have trouble speaking in front of a group of people feel relaxed because they won’t have to say much. Children will enjoy this because their whole presentation can represent them and not what the teacher or their parents wanted them to say.
As always, teachers must be aware of all of the different problems that can occur. We must first learn about it on our own to the best of our abilities so we can teach the students and so our lessons will be effective. Another thing to keep in mind is the kind of presentation you want the students to present and which forms of technology you want them to use. I wouldn’t want my students to forget what the original lesson is so I may set restrictions on what they can use. Overall, presentations, data analysis and simulations keep students’ interest and are good ways to assess the students knowledge of the lesson learned.

Chapter 7- Planning and Developing Technology- Rich Instruction

A technology enhanced lesson requires a lot of planning and thought. A teacher has to fully understand and be aware of the kind of technology they want to incorporate into a lesson. Incorporate is the word I chose because technology has to be a part of the lesson, not just an add on. Technology is a powerful tool and can be used for many things. An effective technology enhanced lesson can do multiple things such as teach a student how to browse the web while they are learning about a war.
When I was in public school the only time we used computers was in computer class. Our lessons didn’t include technology and if it did, which was rare, we had to type our papers. Now mostly every classroom that I’ve visited in a public school has at least two computers. These computers aren’t sitting there for just any reason. They have to be implemented in some way in the lessons and it is important that teachers take the time out to learn and use them. I just went to a school where the teacher didn’t agree with the curriculum that was given by the district. She took it upon herself to buy software for her class that she thought would help them and they love it. This is an example of why teachers should be included in some of the decisions that are made, especially when it comes to teaching students. A teacher knows their students and they know what is best for them. For this reason, teachers should know how to implement all types of technology in their lessons because what worked for your class last year may not work for your class this year.

Chapter 6- Learning and Teaching with Technology

Technology is a wonderful thing that has been introduced to everybody because it makes things easier and better. It is essential that technology is introduced to students in the classroom because school is supposed to be the place you learn about everything you will need in life. Children spend most of their time in school so learning how to use technology from their teachers helps them advance with the rest of the world. They will eventually become able to live comfortably in a technological world.
Computers assist in all of the learning theories such as constructivism, constructionism, engaged learning and scaffolding. Even if a student is working alone on a computer, they are getting instant feedback and can play games with and against the computer, which will teach them how to think on their own and give them the ability to critically think. Working on the computer is like working with someone who is teaching you. Even when I am typing a paper the computer is telling me my errors, just as a teacher would.
Technology just can’t be tacked on because it’s available. Teachers must know how and when to use technology and which type of technology will work best at that time. Teachers have to help other teachers and share information they know. Not only are they educating students, but they are also learning for themselves.
There are some people who think technology isn’t such a good thing to be used in the classroom. They think the students will become so engaged in the technology that is being used rather than getting the information. This is where the teachers discretion comes in place. Technology isn’t supposed to be thrown in every lesson, it isn’t supposed to be the only part of the lesson, and it is always supposed to serve a purpose i.e. getting information about insects so they can write about them. Times are changing at a fast pace and that effects the everyday lives of everybody. Technology in classrooms is important so the students can grow up and be able to live comfortably in a fast paced society.

Chapters 4 and 5- Advancing Technology and Its Issues

Reading this chapter was amusing because it predicted technologies that are going to happen in the future, which when this book was written means now. Everything they say is true; the small computers, the speech recognition devices, graphics on the computer that will hold students’ attention. Technology has come a long way and is advancing everyday. There is no longer a need for a PC because smart phones are capable of doing just about everything it does. Because of my smart phone I am able to receive and send emails, text messages, voice messages, listen to music, store pictures, and visit websites such as Google and Facebook. This is important because people who are always on the move, like myself, don’t always have time to sit at a computer to do all of the things we can do while were walking or working with our phone. Nowadays there is barely anybody who stays home all the time. Men and women work and go to school, have kids, and have to do other things like pay bills. Technology has become so advanced that I am able to pay my bill from my bank account by just clicking a button on my phone! How convenient is that?
Technology is great at helping all people and people with disabilities are able to fit in much more now with the general public. Deaf people and hearing impaired are able to hear and communicate with people, thanks to listening and alerting devices. People who are visually impaired can read because of large print on the computer and in books and they can enjoy the same books everybody else enjoys because of talking books.
The integration of technology is an excellent idea for classrooms because students with disabilities can feel like they are part of the general ed population instead of being isolated. There is no longer a need for bifocal glasses, or the big hearing aids that make children embarrassed and reluctant to learn with others. In the Special Education course that I was in last semester, the teacher taught about a lot of these devices and how useful they are. Without these devices, the inclusion classes wouldn’t be as productive as they are.
Technology is a great source of education in the classroom but can also be dangerous and illegal. If it weren’t for software that allows parents and teachers to keep track of what children do on the internet, there would be way more bad things happening, like abductions. More parents and teachers need to be aware of these software’s so they can protect their children.
The internet is very helpful but also very dangerous. I can’t even begin to count how many hundreds of spam email’s I receive every week. I don’t even open them but there are people who do. That’s when identity theft and other things come in. I’ve even received several emails from websites that I’ve visited that say they’ve been hacked and my information may have been given away without permission. It is so important that teachers and parents become educated about the mishaps of the internet so they can teach the children and keep them away from the negative things that can happen on the computer.

March 17 Reflection- Technology

We discussed various types of technology that can be used in the classroom. Ipods (which amazed me), internet games, video games, simulations, and virtual reality games are some ways that students can be involved with their learning. They all can be used for different reasons.Video games are great for getting a student to form ideas and strategies which call for critical thinking. Simulations are an effective way for students to experience something that can really happen. The simple games on the internet can teach them their lesson while letting them have fun, like a math game that compliments them when they are correct. Although these are all effective, there is a time for each of these. For example, I won't let my 2nd grade students play a virtual reality game if I'm teaching them Amelia Bedelia. For that, a simple game on the internet that makes them put the story in order will be just fine. It is up to the teacher to know when, where, and how to assimilate the different kinds of technology in their classroom's.