Chapter 7

Types of Software: This section of Chapter Seven talked about the two main types of software. I have never been overly interested in computers and how they work. I enjoy using the computer but I didn’t know how important software was. I learned that System Software is what makes up things like databases and operating systems amongst other things. I also learned that Application Software are the things like Microsoft word and PowerPoint that are on most computers and used often, especially by students. When I read that many applications are available for a small cost or even free I was excited. These days everything cost money and are over prices and knowing many students and teachers use these applications I was glad to hear they are affordable. Online Software Selection Resources for Teachers: This section talked about different websites that are great tools for teaches. I enjoyed this as an up and coming teacher. I will have resources as a teacher to pick safe, rated, and age appropriate activates for my students. Also the book talked about stopbadwave.org which stops popups and unwanted images from coming up on the computer screen. It also protects against hacks that can take control of your computer and its actions. I found that to be useful not just for teachers, but for everyone. Google Earth: Google Earth is a tool that every child has a blast playing with. You can explore the world from the seat behind your computer screen. As a child I loved google earth. I loved looking up my house as well as places I have always wanted to travel. I think it is a great way to show students actual visual from anywhere in the world, but from the classroom. It can be beneficial for lessons in the classroom. Resources: Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Chapter 5

Information Literacy as a Learning Goal: This section was comparing the difference in internet access and computers at home from 1984 to 2012. I was shocked to see the difference in numbers when it came to the number of computers in homes. The number of children and adolescents with computers at home had gone up 96%. Having grown up with a home computer it was all I knew. Also all my friends had computers at home so I never knew a household without a computer. However when I read that the number of online chat and message sending has risen 76% I was not surprised in the least. I actually thought the percentage would be higher. I have been texting and chatting on line for the past eleven years and I know that people were messaging before I started . e-books and e-readers: Those who read for fun under the age of seventeen has risen from 9% to 19% from 1984 to 2004. I was never a reader until I reached middle school and I loved to get a good book and read when I had some free time. However I never had an e-reader. I think students these days would read more for fun or for assignment if they could do so with new technology. Search Engines and how they work: Search engines are used to retrieve information from the internet. They are fast and sort through millions of websites. While reading I saw the statistics of those who sent emails, used search engines, gets news online, buy online products, and uses social networks from 2002 to 2012. The statistic that had gone up most was social network. Social network has become such a big market in this world and are used by many for many reasons. So when reading that it went from 11% to 66% I was could see how that had happened. Kahoot! | Play this quiz now! Resources: Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Chapter 3

Teacher-centered and Student-centered Approaches:

This section talked about how teacher centered learning has been used for over 100 years and consists of lectures, worksheets, and multiple choice quizzes and tests. The student centered learning is when experiments and other engaging activities. I am the kind of student who struggles to sit through lectures and would much rather do group projects or fun activities. Also every time I listen to a lecture I space out. I think student- centered learning is the best type of learning. It allows every student to get engaged in activities and limits the time students will have to daydream.

Instructional Methods to Engage Students:

The four types of instructional methods were one –on –one tutoring, learning groups, inquiry learning, and meta-cognitive thinking. I personally think all these methods for great for teaching. From tutoring with the teacher and the student alone or you do group projects and presentations. I feel this allows students to learn in the best way they can. It also allows the students to change up their day and it keeps them entertained which I think is wonderful.

The Role of Feedback:

This section mostly talked about different types of technology that can be used in the classroom. One of my favorites was text-messaging in real-time charts. After playing Kahoot It in class I realized how awesome tools like that can be for teaching. I think technology in the classroom is a great idea and helps students excel. 

Chapter 2

Developing Lessons and Engaging Students: technology is used in almost every classroom these days. Teachers are raising the use of smart phones as a classroom tool. The use of other technologies and digital forums is also on a rise. Teachers have noticed blank and bored faces through many lessons and have come to realize that using technology as a learning tool has raised the amount of interest in class activities. Two- thirds of students report feeling bored every day. Also more than half of high school students feel what they learn isn’t helpful to them outside school. Integrating different types of technology keeps the students more interested and can help with dropout rates. Students found the most boring activity to be teacher lecture and the best activity to be discussion/debate and group projects.

Critics of Technology in Schools: There are still many teachers out there who don’t necessarily believe that technology is helpful in learning they believe it is over rated and under used. They believe activities such as drill and practice worksheets create a better alternative for students. Some think that computer usage puts a negative effect on the student’s brain. Also many parents have said they think their children already spend enough time with technology and that they don’t need to add more at school.

Your Teaching Philosophy: every teacher is different and therefore teach differently from others. Some are teacher-centered educators where they are more formal and use test scores to determine who has learned and who has not. There are also student-centered educators who believe in different experiences and keeping the students interested in the lessons and keeping their individual needs in mind.

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.

Chapter One

When reading chapter one of Transforming Learning with New Technologies I was really interested in three of the topics they discussed. I found myself in awe of the information and statistics that I learned from my reading. I also found myself to know a lot more than I thought I did. Here is what I thought.

The iGeneration of Technology Users: When reading out this iGeneration I was not surprised by some of the facts like that it is made up of eight to eighteen year olds. However, I was shocked to find that 95% of twelve to seventeen year olds are online. What was even more shocking was that there are 80% of kindergarten students who use technology. I think it is crazy how much time students spend online and a lot of the usage is not for school work. I loved going outside to play and doing other things beside sit on a computer all day. I also have to think we didn’t have smart phones and the other advanced technologies when I was young. I also learned that the majority of young computer users are white. I just wish children these days would take time to enjoy their surroundings and use technology when appropriate for school or something but then put the phone down or computer away and enjoys the other things life has to offer.

Your Must Have Technology for Teaching: When teachers were asked what technology was needed for a successful class most said things like laptops, smart boards, and clickers. Personally this is also what I thought. It’s the extent of the technology teachers had while I was sin school. I didn’t get to experience smartboards until my high school years. I thought the teachers were on the right track. If teachers can teach their students more effectively through technology then I think it would be foolish of them not to use it. Over 50% of teachers want student participation and technology will help.

Strategies for Learning new Technologies: while reading this I found myself already knowing what it was telling me. Although technology has grown since I was I child most of my life I have used technology. I ca learn what I don’t know quickly and I am great at passing that knowledge onto others. The four ways to learn technology according to the book was 1. Learn while teaching 2. Expand categories 3. Create small groups 4. Focus.

I think the things I learned from reading will benefit me in many ways as a student and a teacher. 

                                                     Photo Credit to Superklmbo on Flickr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyCECMxhOs

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