Reflection Post

EME 2040

Finally we are finished for summer! I have learned many new and creative ways to enhance learning in a classroom through technology. Through this course I have struggled, as well as, succeeded with the various tasks at hand. I thoroughly enjoyed this class and what it had to offer...especially in such a short time period. The assignments that I was most proud of when completed were the collaborative lesson plan and the teacher webpage eportfolio. Both of these assignments allowed me to be creative and expressive in my own way. While completing the collaborative lesson plan I learned that not all group projects are going to be all discombobulated. I was very pleased that my group all communicated and gave suggestions in a cooperative and timely manner. I was overall very impressed with this experience. Let’s just say my eyes are more open to the many technological advancements that occur within a classroom setting. Please click the links to see my two favorite assignments 1. Collaborative Lesson Plan  2. Teacher WebPage. However, even though I had these assignments that I felt successful with, I did have many trials and tribulations with other technological elements. For instance the group instructional wiki page. This specific assignment at times made me want to scream. I felt like it had a great layout and was easy to follow, but was a lot more work than I had expected…especially in this condensed amount of time. Although, I had an up and down battle with some of these goals I do think I gained a lot of knowledge. I feel like I am now ready to take on the technological world in education.

Here is a video that I would like to share with my future students on internet safety and how to use the computer. 

Overall, this class gave me great insight into technology for educators. After completing all of the assignments, projects, blogs, and discussions there are a few things that I would like to suggest. For starters I felt at times that we did not have enough time to finish and submit our products. I say this because, with group projects it can be difficult to communicate with each other and make sure that all components of the combined project is being completed (with quality work) within a weeks’ time. Also, I feel that a majority of these assignments were geared for students in grades 2-12. This made it hard for me coming from a pre-k through 1^st grade background. I do feel like I adapted to the assignments, but felt like certain technological enhancements would not be needed in a lower grade classroom. However, I do feel like after learning about many of these technological resources, I do think that more primary school teachers should look into these to help within their class.  I do feel that kids learn best by doing, using, creating, and exploring with technology. One thing that I wish I could have learned in this class is how to create a SmartExchange Lesson. But overall, I do think that I will use some of these tactics in my future classes…especially the teacher web page and my "delicious" account!  Here is the link of my "delicious" account del.icio.us/katelynneg. 


References

George. (2016, June 12). Delicious. Retrieved from delicious: del.icio.us/katelynneg

George, K. (2016, June 11). Lesson Plan. Retrieved from Word Processing: https://fsw.instructure.com/courses/1035359/assignments/7382413/submissions/1968802?download=60401916

George, K. (2016, June 20). Miss George's Class. Retrieved from Weebly: http://mskgeorge158.weebly.com

Maloy, R. V.-O.-E. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. .

Youtube, I. U. (2011, May 17). Internet Safety for Kids K-3. Retrieved from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89eCHtFs0XM

EME 2040 Digital Blog Post # E

Chapter 7 Concepts

There were many concepts that grabbed my attention within this chapter. The first concept that I wanted to expand my knowledge on was Higher-Order and Lower-Order Thinking. I found it very fascinating to know that there are different forms of thinking. These forms are based off of basic recall and interpretation of information (lower-order thinking) and evaluation of theories and perspectives (higher-order thinking) (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.163). This is where we as educators conduct different tasks or activities to evoke the different levels of thinking. I have seen this done many times within the classroom. For instance I have seen kindergarten teachers have their students review and practice certain vocabulary words that pertain to their topic (meaning they are memorizing and analyzing the words, lower-order thinking) and then create a story with sentences that include those vocabulary words (higher-order thinking). Also, In the pre-k class that I work with we often try to ask as many open-ended questions as possible to evoke the higher-level thinking...this way they are not just responding to a question with a yes or no, they have to evaluate what was being asked and give a response accordingly. For example, we read the Three Little Pigs in class and when we reviewed after, we asked them if they were to build a house, what materials would they use and why? By asking this question the students actually had to think about their response...this just improves their higher-order thinking process. I feel that as educators we should be creating different activities that allow the students to think in ways that they are not used to. I think that this instructional approach will be very beneficial in the classroom and create a successful way to evaluate how the students are growing academically within the class. Click the video below to find out more about the different levels of thinking and how to apply it!

The second concept that I found very interesting is Strategies for Using Games with Students. Who thinks of using games within the classroom? After reading this topic, I think that using games to enhance learning can be very successful to the student. The book talks about how there are a wide variety of games for students to use to help with skills in math, reading, and language (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.175). All of these subjects can be uninteresting or boring to some students. I have seen two sites used to help hone certain skills for elementary school students…the websites are called Starfall and ABCmouse. Here are the links to Starfall and ABCmouse. With these websites students are able to interact and engage themselves into the subject that they may still need help with, but in a fun and entertaining way. Also, by using Starfall and ABCmouse students can learn at their own pace. I feel that incorporating technological games within the classroom helps students that are uninterested or board with a certain subject, become engaged in learning. It is a great tool to use!

The third and final concept that I would like to talk about is Inquiry learning Using Intelligent Tutoring Systems (also known as ITS). Per the book ITS is a very powerful software program that promotes inquiry learning through computer responses to student actions(Maloy,et al, 2013, p.176). I feel like this will be a very beneficial technological tool for students who may need help with sharpening their skills for a particular subject. This is almost like a human tutor, but done in a more self-sufficient way. I like the fact that the ITS bases the learning style off of the students individual level. The computer program records the student’s responses and then adjusts the presentation of the problems that best fits the child’s learning and skill level. I personally feel that by having a program like this, students will become more interested in completing assignments or studying for exams, due to how interactive this tool is.

The link below is my Kahoot that I made to review these Chapter 7 Concepts.

Kahoot on Chapter 7 Concepts

Overall, I feel like these tools will be beneficial to the classroom. Students will be able to be creative and think in new ways. I feel like after reading this chapter, I have gained more knowledge on how to be a successful teacher in the future. 

References

Age of Learning, I. (2016). ABCmouse. Retrieved from ABCmouse: https://www.abcmouse.com/

Foundation, S. E. (2015, July 1). Starfall. Retrieved from Starfall: www.starfall.com

George, K. (2016, June 8). Kahoot.it Chapter 7 Concepts. Retrieved from Kahoot: https://play.kahoot.it/#/?quizId=841c1faf-65a7-4761-bcde-797bfc85c2e8

insipreducation. (2015, June 20). CLIL Thinking Skils - LOTS and HOTS. Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWZtiSfuo8

Maloy, R. V.-O.-E. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. .

EME 2040 Digital Blog Post # C

Chapter 3 Concepts

First, I would like to say how insightful Chapter 3 was. I really enjoyed submerging myself into these concepts. Instructional Methods to Engage Students happened to be the first concept that caught my eye. As I was looking at the four methods (one-on-one tutoring, learning groups, inquiry learning, and metacognitive thinking) I noticed that each one really allowed the student to use their minds in different ways to expand their knowledge on a topic (Maloy, et al, 2013, pg. 52). I was really pleased with how the book described metacognitive thinking and inquiry learning. These two specific methods both show in my opinion a great way for students to take learning to the next level. I recently had the chance to observe in a 3rd grade classroom and the teacher really used these methods...great first-hand experience. When I was in there, they were working on a reading assignment. While doing the assignment the students really had to use their metacognitive thinking to reflect on their task at hand and evaluate their answers. Many students that I noticed used skills that were familiar in assessing the activity and solving the problem. Also, while many used the metacognitive thinking, there were some that used inquiry learning. These students went on to investigate and analyze the material that was presented. After that they asked questions not only to the teacher, but other classmates as well to make sure that they were fully understanding what the assignment was about. I was very impressed with their sportsmanship and the fact that the teacher allowed the children to think and complete work with and engage in a teaching method that best fit their learning style. I definitely feel like I will be taking these methods with me for my future class...such a great way to submerge yourself into learning.

Second, the concept of groupwork and collaboration intrigued me. I know from personal experience that this particular topic can be either really helpful and enhance learning or make you want to run and hide. I have been on both ends of the spectrum. However, I now feel like there are many wonderful attributes to using it within a classroom setting. Like the book says this is a very attentive and engaging task that promotes student learning (Maloy, et al, 2013, pg. 61). When I was in the third grade class, I noticed that the teacher did a lot of small group activities. The one activity that really engaged the students was a review basketball game. There were two groups and each group had to work together and come up with the correct answer for the question. After the groups deliberated quietly among each other they had to write the answer on a white board and show the teacher. If each group got the answer correct, they would choose a teammate to toss the ball into to the bin for a point. I was very impressed to see how well the students worked together and really grasped the topic they were learning. I do feel that having groups for collaboration is very beneficial for students learning. It is a great way to see who understands the subject and who needs more help. The children are able to bounce ideas off of each other and get a hands-on experience with working with other people. As you view the video below, you will see how groups can work together.

Lastly, the third concept that I would like to talk about is redefining creativity. Creativity is widely used among businesses, schools, entertainment, the arts, and so much more. However, within the schools we are noticing a little bit of a stand still. There are teachers who may over-look or not incorporate creative learning in the classroom. I do think that some teachers may not view certain materials, objects, or tasks as being expressive or creative. I say this, because of personal experiences. The pre-k class that I am currently working with, I have noticed more than once the teacher view riding a bike or making robots and houses out of blocks a non-creative activity. And personally I view those tasks as very interactive and expressive. The reason being is that even though these acts may not be about drawing or composing music, they are allowing the children to think about and manipulate different objects that they may not get to do at home. They are ultimately creating unique structures and learning how to ride and maneuver bikes in different ways. Creativity should never be taken away from a student…especially when it can be a huge part of their learning. You can see more ways on being creative through this link Creativity in the Classroom and by the wordle created below.

Overall, I enjoyed learning about these three topics and the fact that they all apply to teaching and learning. It is very important as a future educator to remember that learning does not need to be all about lectures. I for one know that I learn best by doing hands-on activities. Being creative, working with groups, and submerging/engaging yourself in different ways of problem solving are all ways on creating a very successful education for students.

References

Effective Collaboration. (2013, July 30). Retrieved from Youtube: www.youtube.com

Feinberg, J. (2014). Wordle. Retrieved from Wordle: www.wordle.net/create

Maloy, R. V.-O.-E. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. .

Provenzano, N. (2015, June 25). Creativity inthe Classroom. Retrieved from Edutopia: www.edutopia.org

Reflection on Chapter 1 Concepts

My EME 2040 Blog:

Digital Blog Post #A - Chapter 1

       First, I was very excited to dig into Chapter 1 and really understand the use of Technology within a classroom. The concept that grabbed my attention as soon as I opened the text book was the Technology-based teaching environment and tools. This really helped put a lot of information about becoming a 21st Century teacher in perspective. I agree with the text book on the fact that technology allows the students to express themselves and give them the confidence they may need (Maloy, et al, 2013, pp. 8-9). I know for one, that personally I still get nervous standing up in front of a crowd and giving a strong presentation. The outlet of an iPad (especially for ESE students who are non-verbal...giving them the aid of technology for instruction or communication to become successful in the classroom.), blogs (i.e. this assignment), as well as, videos is very beneficial in our society today. For example, my mom happens to be a kindergarten teacher and this year she has the ESE inclusion class. One of her students has Dandy Walker Syndrome. He recently started using an iPad for communication. It has increased his ability to participate and join in with class discussions. Even though he is in the beginning stages of learning the devise he is catching on quickly. We are all interested to see how far these programs will take him! It is more of a relaxed situation. However, does there come a time where students are using too much of the technological devises? Also, how can we as educators balance the time of hands on teaching and the use of technology within the classroom? Just a few things to ponder as we continue learning about this subject.

       Second, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, also known as the TPACK. I would say that the saying " You learn something new everyday" is oh so true! I enjoyed the fact that this concept uses 3 different methods (Content knowledge, Pedagogical knowledge, and Technological knowledge) to create a teaching technique that allows students to really go in depth and challenge their minds through creativity. One thing that I know I look forward to is the Web 2.0 tools (blogs (this is my first one, huge learning experience), wikis, social networking (I somewhat know how to do this...Facebook and instagram), and etc.). I love being on the experimental side of life and learning the best way on becoming a model 21st century teacher. 

      Third, Digital Identity, what does this really mean? I found this concept extremely interesting. The reason being is the fact that the authors mentioned the innovation and change within a persons profession (Maloy, et al, 2013, p. 13). I am currently in my second year working as a paraprofessional and I have noticed a vast difference between the younger teachers and older teachers. With the younger teachers, most have practically grown up with the use of technology. So I've taken note that they are able to revamp their way of teaching through technology quicker (i.e. smart exchange/interactive lessons on the smart board and use of videos.) versus some of the older teachers who are more inept and stuck in their own ways (sticking to the basics...white board with dry erase, power point slide shows, and etc.). I look forward in seeing where this class takes me and the expansion of my knowledge on interactive technological learning. The video clip below hopefully will give you more insight on what this topic is about.

    In conclusion, technology has become an immense part of our society. There are more reasons than I can count, that lead me to believe that the application of technology within our schools is beneficial. It really allows more freedom to be expressive and yourself while still maintaining a quality level of education. Not only do teachers become skilled and effective, but students will be able to become more established in their ways of learning. 


Resources

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

CI Keys (2015, June 25) What is a Digital Identity?. Retrieved May 15, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJzuDcyR0WM