So, I've let this blog die, which isn't too bad of a thing as it was quite a boring blog (no offense to my school assignment...) but I think that now I might bring it back to life.
In a way I've been bribed to restart up this blog. Shealynn's Faerie Shoppe is having a giveaway, and blogging about it is an extra entry. :)
Anyhow, here is the blog, and the giveaway information: http://networkedblogs.com/s49M2 (or, just click on the title of this blog post). Follow links from there to reach her shop.
Shaylynn's creations are amazing, well worth a look and a buy. Seriously. They are beautiful, delicate, and well made. I hope you look around her blog and shoppe, I think you will enjoy the trip.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Benefits and Drawbacks of Continuing Technology Education Requirements
Assignment question: what are the benefits and drawbacks of the requirements for teachers to continue their professional and technological education?
Teachers need to move with the times, and unless required to, many teachers may not make the time and effort to do so. This statement encompasses both the benefits and the drawbacks.
Having these requirements force and enable the teachers to keep up with a changing world. Because such development is required, there are classes available for teachers. Therefore, a major benefit is that teachers can continue to grow in their professional and technological education.
The drawbacks is the time issue: teachers don't always have a lot of extra time to spend on such classes. Also, since such learning is required, if a teacher has acquired such knowledge through his/her own compunction, it is still necessary for them to complete the class/lecture/whatever that is required by the state, to be able to prove that it was done.
Teachers need to move with the times, and unless required to, many teachers may not make the time and effort to do so. This statement encompasses both the benefits and the drawbacks.
Having these requirements force and enable the teachers to keep up with a changing world. Because such development is required, there are classes available for teachers. Therefore, a major benefit is that teachers can continue to grow in their professional and technological education.
The drawbacks is the time issue: teachers don't always have a lot of extra time to spend on such classes. Also, since such learning is required, if a teacher has acquired such knowledge through his/her own compunction, it is still necessary for them to complete the class/lecture/whatever that is required by the state, to be able to prove that it was done.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Emerging technology addaption
Assignment questions: As we have looked at some of these emerging technologies, what are your thoughts on the adoption process. Would you prefer your district be an early adopter, or wait for the data to prove its worth? If you are given leeway to use new technologies, will you be an early adopter or wait for the proof to come in?
I am the sort to wait until emerging technologies have proved themselves. As a teacher, I will not want to learn how to use a new technology, only to discover through use that it is not useful to me, or not worth the time, money and effort that I have put into it. Therefore, I would prefer a district that is similar, and if given my own leeway, I would wait till it had proven itself.
I am the sort to wait until emerging technologies have proved themselves. As a teacher, I will not want to learn how to use a new technology, only to discover through use that it is not useful to me, or not worth the time, money and effort that I have put into it. Therefore, I would prefer a district that is similar, and if given my own leeway, I would wait till it had proven itself.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Multimedia in the Classroom
Assignment questions: What are the benefits of using multimedia in the classroom? Are there any drawbacks/problems with using multimedia? What are some specific ways you might use multimedia in your classroom?
Using multimedia in the classroom broadens what you can teach, and how the students can learn. It gives them more ways than one to assimilate information, and more ways than one to express what they have learned. Using multimedia a teacher can make things come alive, and come "to the classroom" that are otherwise impossible to show. Videos and internet research can introduce students to other cultures, countries, and ways of life that they may not experience on a day to day basis.
Multimedia lessons take time, which some teachers may not have in enough excess to be able to create meaningful multimedia activities. This is one of the drawbacks of multimedia use in the classroom. Also, as with any time the internet is used, there is the issue of students safety, and students wasting time.
For me, I could see coupling videos with books: for instance, reading a book out loud with the class, and then when we have finished, watching a movie based on that book. In history, it would also be easy to couple learning about a time in history, and then watching a movie that takes place during that time. Internet work could also be sprinkled about in any lesson.
Using multimedia in the classroom broadens what you can teach, and how the students can learn. It gives them more ways than one to assimilate information, and more ways than one to express what they have learned. Using multimedia a teacher can make things come alive, and come "to the classroom" that are otherwise impossible to show. Videos and internet research can introduce students to other cultures, countries, and ways of life that they may not experience on a day to day basis.
Multimedia lessons take time, which some teachers may not have in enough excess to be able to create meaningful multimedia activities. This is one of the drawbacks of multimedia use in the classroom. Also, as with any time the internet is used, there is the issue of students safety, and students wasting time.
For me, I could see coupling videos with books: for instance, reading a book out loud with the class, and then when we have finished, watching a movie based on that book. In history, it would also be easy to couple learning about a time in history, and then watching a movie that takes place during that time. Internet work could also be sprinkled about in any lesson.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Internet in the classroom
Assignment:
What are the advantages of using the Internet in our classrooms? In what ways might it be used? Are there any concerns or problems with using the Internet? How can these problems be overcome?
What are the advantages of using the Internet in our classrooms? In what ways might it be used? Are there any concerns or problems with using the Internet? How can these problems be overcome?
http://www.webquest.org/ - this site can help one find and create webquests
http://www.uen.org/tours/fieldtrips2.shtml - this site offers virtual field-trips.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Blogs in the world of education
Blog assignment:
Can blogs be beneficial in an elementary/middle/high school setting? How are they being used in these settings? Do you see any problems or concerns with using them in any of these settings? What do schools need to be concerned about? What might parents be concerned about? If the school you work in will allow it, will you use or consider using blogs with your students?
I believe that blogs can be useful in education, but I doubt that I will personally use them. I think that they are more appropriate for older students, such as high-school and college, but not as aplicable to the younger grades. Since I wish to teach first or second grade, I doubt I will ever have my students use them. That being said, here are my thoughts on the uses of blogs, the dangers of blogs, and how they are indeed being used currently.
We were provided with three websites to start our research from that address these issues:
Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson! - explains what blogs are, and how to get started using them in the classroom, as well as some safety tips.
Log On to a Blog- notes from a teacher on the advantages she noticed in her classroom from blogging, including at the end some other sites about blogging.
Dangers of Blogging - tells how blogging can be dangerous, and gives tips and ideas for staying safe on the internet.
Some teachers use blogs to motivate their students to write their assignments well: after all, anyone in the world might be reading. They have their students write commentaries, reviews, or papers on their blogs. The dangers of blogging is that blogs are often a digital diary or journal, and some students may post things that should be kept more private. A way to overcome this issue would be to have the blog on a setting that the teacher has to give his/her okay for any post to be posted. Another safety issue is cyberstalking, and it is recommended that students do not post personal profiles on the internet. Both of these are concerns that the parents might have, and that the teachers and schools must be sure to address.
Can blogs be beneficial in an elementary/middle/high school setting? How are they being used in these settings? Do you see any problems or concerns with using them in any of these settings? What do schools need to be concerned about? What might parents be concerned about? If the school you work in will allow it, will you use or consider using blogs with your students?
I believe that blogs can be useful in education, but I doubt that I will personally use them. I think that they are more appropriate for older students, such as high-school and college, but not as aplicable to the younger grades. Since I wish to teach first or second grade, I doubt I will ever have my students use them. That being said, here are my thoughts on the uses of blogs, the dangers of blogs, and how they are indeed being used currently.
We were provided with three websites to start our research from that address these issues:
Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson! - explains what blogs are, and how to get started using them in the classroom, as well as some safety tips.
Log On to a Blog- notes from a teacher on the advantages she noticed in her classroom from blogging, including at the end some other sites about blogging.
Dangers of Blogging - tells how blogging can be dangerous, and gives tips and ideas for staying safe on the internet.
Some teachers use blogs to motivate their students to write their assignments well: after all, anyone in the world might be reading. They have their students write commentaries, reviews, or papers on their blogs. The dangers of blogging is that blogs are often a digital diary or journal, and some students may post things that should be kept more private. A way to overcome this issue would be to have the blog on a setting that the teacher has to give his/her okay for any post to be posted. Another safety issue is cyberstalking, and it is recommended that students do not post personal profiles on the internet. Both of these are concerns that the parents might have, and that the teachers and schools must be sure to address.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Learning Theories
Our assignment was to tell what learning theory we most closely identify with. Personally, I do not think that any of the theories are completely exclusive of the others in reality. So, to say which I identify with the most, I guess I will have to say which ones I would implement the most, which would probably be behaviorist, cognitive, and constructivist... which is three of the five options that were given to us in the assignment. If I have to pick just one, I would go with the cognitive theory, as I believe it incorporates some ideas from constructivist and behaviorist.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Good morning!
It is actually evening, but I won't get too technical about this. Welcome to my blog: for now it is an assignment blog, but eventually it will probably become my blog, if that makes sense.
So, about me. I am a college student (hence this assignment) getting a degree in elementary education (hence my being in this class). I'm 20 years old, currently, and gradually becoming older. Other than school, my life is spent knitting, quilling, reading, spending time with my family, and various other activities (unfortunately including wasting time on the computer). My family consists of my parents, two brothers and two sisters. My older brother is married, has three boys, and he and his wife are expecting a girl in August.
I shall return to this blog when I am in a more loquacious state of mind.
So, about me. I am a college student (hence this assignment) getting a degree in elementary education (hence my being in this class). I'm 20 years old, currently, and gradually becoming older. Other than school, my life is spent knitting, quilling, reading, spending time with my family, and various other activities (unfortunately including wasting time on the computer). My family consists of my parents, two brothers and two sisters. My older brother is married, has three boys, and he and his wife are expecting a girl in August.
I shall return to this blog when I am in a more loquacious state of mind.
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