Final Post

This class has been very imformative for my future teaching career. Many of the concepts were like the ones i learned in my computer class from last semester, however this class showed me how i can use different computer programs within my classroom and with my students. I enjoyed making the powerpoint and doing a interactive story, that is something i would definitley do with my students. I also was very fond of inspiron, this program is very fun and creative and i can see myself having a hay day with it.
Over all i enjoyed the class. It was rough trying to get up for class but once i got there it was fun and entertaining. Mr. Gentile is a very energetic teacher who cares about his students. This was probably my favorite class of the semester and i will take away many new thoughts and ideas from this class.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 is about security issues, ethics, and emerging technologies in Education. I am going to take a second to complain about viruses and how i hate them and have at times wanted to throw my computer out the window. In the past couple of years there have been many programs to prevent viruses and have seemed to work, these software programs have destressed me with my computer. The chapter also talks about student-teacher websites, which i think is pretty cool. The teachers have ability to access information and use government-sponsored sites. It would be something i would look into as a teacher.

I am kinda sad to be back at school. Spring break was a lot of fun and the beach was amazing! But i am excited for our last four classes and hope i will learn lots of new things! 

Chapter 6

Reading through chapter 6 the Classroom in Action section caught my attention. It was about Mr. Balado's fifth-grade classroom and a lesson on a book about a owl and a mouse. I remember when i was in fifth grade, if we had a question that the teacher did not know the answer to or wanted us to find out ourselves we would have to use books. The internet was not used as much as it is now back when i was younger. I think it is so cool how technology has progressed and being able to see it growing up.

I wish i had the advantage of technology like the fifth graders do in the story. I think that with the progress technology deffinetely has a good and positive influence on a classroom and its students. Technology like interactive white boards are a great asset to a teacher and her students. I think it helps to intreage the students and get them more involved.

Chapter 5

In Chapter 5 it talks about Integrating Digital Media and Educational Software Applications. It actually touches on all of the aspects that make up a powerpoint, which is what our assignment was on this week. The book talks about text and it consists of characters that are used to create the words, sentences, and paragraphs that we use during our presentations. In powerpoint we use many graphics. Graphics are what make a presentation more interesting. Our book tells us that a graphic is a digital representation of nontext information, such as a drawing, chart, or photograph. To make a powerpoint presentation we use animation, which is my favorite feature of powerpoints. If you are really intense, you can add audio and even video.

Something new i learned this week was that you can add notes to the bottom of you powerpoints. For some reason i never noticed the feature, and I am guilty of putting all my information in my powerpoints so i do not have to memorize it.

Chapter 2

One of the most important services i feel that the internet offers and that the chapter talks about is e-mail. I think that e-mail is one of the most popualr forms of communication. It is a great way to keep in touch with long distant friends and family. When using e-mail you have the opportunity to send files, powerpoints, pictures, music,etc. The annoying part of e-mail is all the spam you can recieve, but now they have programs to filter the span from your e-mail.

Since my last posting i have found some interesting websites to use when i become a teacher. One of the most interesting sites i was researching was sites on virtual field trips. I think it is a good approach to involve and interest students in a lesson, instead of the basic lecture.

Something i would like to share with my fellow students is Dance Marathon. Everyone should consider getting involved next year. I will be on my feet for 32 hours this weekend. I am a 2nd year dancer and i am so excited but nervous. It is a great cause for Childrens Miracle Network! Also if anyone wants girl scout cookies there will be a troop at Kappa Delta next tuesday around four!!!

Post 3

This chapter was honestly more of a review for me. It reminded me of my computer class from high school. We focused on the key points of CPU, input devices, output devices, storage devices, and main memory. I enjoy looking at the inside of computers and at the system units. My uncle is a computer technician and tried to get me to put together a computer, needless to say i could not do it, he told me he would give me $dollars if i could.

There was not to much stuff i learned that was new information, just more of a refresher. My favorite part of the computer is the monitor, because without it and the computer wouldnt really work, lol. I would like to get a PDA to try and become more organized. I think as a teacher PDAs are useful for organizing weeks and lesson plans, to remind them of important dates.

Post 2

My all time favorite application for microsoft is PowerPoint. I always get excited when i have to make one for a class. To me it is fun making them. I love the different features that the program comes with, it is almost like your making your own mini movie. I know it takes a long time to create one project from powerpoint, especially if you use features like animation and sounds. Every now and then when i am in class i always wonder why teachers don't spruce up there powerpoint presentations, but then i think back to all the ones i have made and although they may be fun, they are very time consuming.

I always love to learn new things about powerpoint and what you can do with it. I just recently learned how to set automatic timing for slides, so you dont have to click the mouse when going through the slide show. I know that in my classroom i will use many powerpoints, and assign many powerpoint projects!

Post 1

There is a section in chapter 1 of our book that discusses the reason for technology in education. This section really stood out to me because i immediatly thought of my parents and grandparents....actually just anyone who is a lot older than myself. In the book it says "Educators are beginning to recognize that they must teach students, the future learners and citizens of society, using current technologies so that these students will be comfortable using future technologies. I firmly agree with this statement. I felt that my high school was not as technologically advanced as other schools. I have many friends who still have no idea how to create a powerpoint, which i think is a basic tool on computers. Technology is going to continue to grow and become more advanced, and children need to be able to grow along with it.

I would not say i have any new skills yet with computers, but a new thing for me is the blog. I have never used one before and i really like it. It is definetly a different way to turn in assignments. I think it would be good to use in a classroom because kids like any excuse to get on a computer.

I do not have any interesting information to share right now. I went camping in 30 degree weather this weekend, which i recommend not doing! So needless to say i am feeling under the weather!

Post 0

I use technology a lot in my life. My prior experience with it ranges from every day electronics like televisions to computers. I would say that i am pretty good with technology and if there is something i do not know i can figure it out quickly. I am on my laptop everyday, maybe even too much. I probably wouldn't know what to do without technology.

In this class i hope to learn ways to teach using technology. I think it is a fun and different way to catch a classes attention.

I think that using blog as a learning style is different and fun. Kids today seem less interested with school and more intrested with electronics and video games. Getting kids to complete an assignment through the internet is a fantastic idea! I have never used a blog before but i like it better than turning in a written assignment!