Blog#6

I chapter six technology, digital media, and curriculum integration are the main focus. It discusses possible ways to integrate technology into the curriculum, such as through the use of computers, CDs, DVDs, application software, digital media applications, electronic references, and the internet. The chapter explains a five step model for instructional transformation produced by Welliver that begins with awareness of technology and continues until full evolvement of technology in all subject areas. The book believes that the best method of integrating technology into the classroom is to educate the teachers, make it easily accessible, and let the teachers decide for themselves how to integrate it. Another model that the book teaches is the ASSURE model. This is an acronym for Analyze the learner, State objectives, Select methods, media, and materials, Utilize methods, media, and materials, Require learner participation, and Evaluate and revise. This is an instructional model for effective teaching using technology.
In the last class I learned about qualified websites and how to differentiate them between those websites that may not be appropriate. There is a list of criteria that help to determine whether the website is good or bad. There are seven questions that a web user should ask regarding the website: 1. who is the authority; 2. what is the websites objective; 3. what is the accuracy of the website; 4. what is the currency of the website; 5. what does the website cover; 6. is the website easy to maneuver. They should also consider whether the web version is different than the print version, that websites are subject to change, is the web the best place to locate this information, and that anyone can post something on the web. .edu is an educational website, .gov is a government website, .org is an organization’s website, .com is a commercial website, and .net is a personal-internet service provider. The provider is an okay quick method of determining whether the website has a good authority. Finally it is important to teach our future students that not everything on the web is okay to use and they should follow guidelines.

blog#5

Chapter five contains a lot of information on digital media. That is those technologies that allow users to create new forms of interaction, expression, communication, and entertainment in a digital format, according to the text. This differs from technology in that technology is used for administrative tasks, training programs, and vocational and production education. Multimedia is simpley the use of more than one media. Digital media is a more specific term for defining the type of multimedia in use. Many classes today are enhancing the learning of their students through the use of digital media, specifically by integrating the web into the lessons- which provides students with extra resources that would otherwise be unavailable. Some educational software include computer-assisted instruction, drill and practice, educational games, tutorials, educational simulations, integrated learning systems, and curriculum-specific software. All of these are beneficial for teachers and students in helping to assure a well-rounded educational experience.
In the last lesson I learned more about Microsoft Word. I also learned a lot about the web and search engines. Before the last class I thought google search only offered one form of searching. I now know that there are advanced searching techniques which include more specific search tools. Also I found out that google also has maps, media, videos, book listings, and even scholar/academic articles. This will be very helpful when it comes to teaching. I will be able to locate various items to integrate into a lesson with little trouble.

blog#4

There are various types of devices for a computer. First are input devices, such as the keyboard (lets someone put information in the computer). Then there are pointing devices, which is a subcategory of input. This includes the mouse, touchpad, trackball, joystick, and touch screen. These help with navigating on the computer. Other inputs are scanners, pen devices, digital cameras, and audio/video. Next are outputs, which is the conversion of input to output by the computer. Some output devices are monitors/display, printers, projectors, fax machines, and audio output. Third type of computer devices are storage, which consist of magnetic disks, floppy disks (which are no longer used in new computer models), zip disks, hard disks, miniature hard disks, portable hard disks, optical disks and cds/dvds.
What was interesting to notice about the other students in the class was their different personalities displayed in their blog layout. Each student had a separate, individual and unique background and display that was to their own liking. I noticed what the other students highlighted as the most important material from the chapters, which in some cases were not the same as my interpretation of the chapters. One thing that was interesting to note was that Elizabeth mentioned herself as being an active learner, which is the same learning style that I posess.
From the last class I was able to learn hoe to organize a lecture or class assignment through the Inspiration software. There were several different options for divising a system of organization in the program. Before the class, I had never heard of Inspiration. It is a beneficial program and I am sure that I will be utilizing it in my career as a teacher. I think that it is a good program for maintaining organization and assuring that one covers all of the material that is required or that they desired to relay to their students. I look forward to trying more ways to use Inspiration in the future as a teacher.

blog # 3

Since the last class, I have learned how to divide a word document into columns. I was able to make a newsletter from a blank word document using graphics, textboxes, word art, and columns. I found the use of textboxes and columns a little challenging, but was able to learn a lot from the implementation of the tools. I plan to use the information that I gathered in my career as a teacher, sending home various classroom newsletters throughout the school year. Chapter three discusses the use of different forms of software. I was most interested in the voice regonition of some types of software programs. In this type of software, the computer has the ability to differentiate among oral words. In order to use a speech recognition software, the user must have a microphone. Once the user begins to speak into the microphone, the computer begins typing the words. As an organized person, I was also interested in the database software. This software maintains a collection of information in an easily accessible, retrieved and easy to use method. The software acts as a storage bin of data; one in which a user can store, create, retrieve, and delete information. I will find this software beneficial when keeping assignments organized and distributing borrowed texts to students. I at first thought that I would be able to keep the students' grades in the database. However as I read further in the chapter I discvoered that there are grade book software that's specific use is for maintaining and averaging students' grades and progress. The programs have included everything into them, with the ability to: take roll, keep grades, apply curves, letter grade cutoffs, and customize the grading scale. I could also easily determine the class average and the top grade in each class. All of the software that is currently in supply, makes it easier for the teacher to focus less on menile tasks and more on the actual time spent teaching.

blog # 2

New knowledge that I acquired since my last posting was learning how to hide the gridlines for a table display on a WORD document. I used a table display to formulate a matching section on a sample test. The display was distracting to the eye and would probably have been difficult for students to match. I learned how to hide the gridlines from the printing of the finished table, but still be able to view the lines while working on the table.In chapter two I learned about three different types of communications networks. These are local area networks (LAN) (which cover limited areas, such as a school); wide are networks (WAN; can cover large areas, such as a school district); and home networks, which is the ability to connect multiple home or office computers to the same network.The impact of the internet on education has increased students' ability to learn, research, and view new information. Students can interactively visit places and sources that they would physically be unable to see. The internet also allows for multiple means of communications for students, through emails, message boards, and personal websites. Students can discuss concerns with teachers, other students, and faculty all through internet resources. There is also a program called ePALS which is a foreign exchange program via the internet that students can communicate with students from other countries who even speak a different language than themselves.

blog # 1

Today students think, take in and communicate in ways different from previous generations. This is partly due to the increasing use of computers in their everyday lives. Students are constantly bombarded with the latest technology and the pressure to keep up with the newest gadgets. These "digital" kids would benefit from education most if the computer were integrated into the classroom through digital media, personal computers, and other computer forms that can hold the attention span of these fast-paced children. Computers enable students with the aid of teachers to work on skills, problems solving, interactive learning and discovery learning into a plethora of ways. Computers allow both students and teachers to be more flexible in their curriculum and meet the needs of various types and levels of learners in one classroom. Schools can use computers for communication, for research, organization, and assessment. The ARCS motivational model stands for attention, relevance, challenge/confidence and satisfaction/success. Keller, who developed this model, reasoned that children will only learn if they are motivated. With the speed of computers students can remain stimulated and on task with better ease. Computers are highly relevant to today's society which encorporates some degree of computers into every job in the market. Many students are familiar with computers, which continuous use will prove to raise their confidence on knowing the material. For those that are not fmailiar it poses a necessary challenge that they ought to partake in order to succeed later in life. Finally, with understanding and mastery of computer skills comes a feeling of satisfaction and knowing that the student acheieved a certain level of success. Thus computers and technology in the classroom encompasses every aspect of the ARCS Motivational Model.