Final Reflection

     I really enjoyed this class. I work in a technology field, Cyber Transport for the Air Force, and yet I learned some new tools in using technology that I was not aware. Concept mapping is a huge one.

     I have never heard about concept mapping before this class, but having a visual road map of lessons is a great way to keep on track. The ease of putting them together using the Inspiration software is invaluable! This can be used not only in the classrooms, but in everyday life to map out goals. I loved the ease of adding color and pictures to these as well.

     Another useful tool is the assistive technology used for special needs students. I have never really explored the different options that Windows has to offer, so I was amazed when I was shown these options. We have a secretary working with us that has trouble reading the computer screen, so I immediately went over to show her how to use these features. She now has it much easier now that she can see the screen better.

    I think the most valuable tool I learned in this class is the Turn It In web tool. I did not realize there was a place I can go and check out to make sure I am not plagiarizing. Although I cannot use this for the classes I am currently teaching, I can definitely use it as a student. I firmly believe that all students should be taught how to use this valuable tool starting in high school. 

    Believe it or not, the most helpful tool was the RubiStar for making rubrics. We learned this just in time, because I was able to use it for a homework assignment in another class. I was able to customize a template that was offered, so using RubiStar was a huge time saver for the project I created.

    My strong points in this class besides helping April and Rick through the different projects is a tie between building the student concept map and building the movie using the Movie Maker tool. I enjoyed mapping out the lesson and choosing the different pictures for the topic/subtopic nodes. I am confident that I can give that student map to any of my students learning fiber optics, and they would be more interested learning than from reading the textbooks we are currently handing out.

    Creating the movie for my painter friend, Erika was another strong point for me. I was just so motivated to create a strong, beautiful movie for her using the cool tools that the Movie Maker software provided. I loved getting to assemble the paintings, to choose the transitions and the page effects. Even searching and choosing the right music was fun. I will definitely be able to use this knowledge gained for many upcoming projects my son will undoubtedly have, as well as creating personal movies for my family who live all over the states.  

    My weak point was learning how to design the web page. I have never created one before, so diving in and trying all the different features were almost foreign in the set-up. Once I got used to where to find the different features, I was ok, but I was on shaky ground for awhile. I don’t like the limitations presented by the Google webpage, but it is free, so I can’t complain!

    Overall, this class was a high point of the semester. I looked forward to going to class, to challenge myself and to have fun. I learned new useful technology and even built myself a blog page that I hope to keep going.


:)

Google Group Reflection

   We learned how to use the Google Group class discussion boards. This is where a discussion board was created, and others in the class were invited to join. It is a great way to exchange information. With this tool, we can make a comment, ask each other questions, reply to the topic, or just take over the other person’s comments and change them. In fact, my comments were changed from “Let's sing and dance and sprinkle around pretty flowers!” to “Let's scream and cry and act like monkeys in a cage!” This was added as well, “Love the bananas!”

   This is way different from a web page or a blog since neither one can be changed by a member viewing the page. Also, with both a web page, comments are emailed through an email address listed on the web page. With a blog, comments can be entered, but in most cases, they will be monitored before they are posted to the site. This is a huge advantage of web pages and blogs over a groups session, although I do love bananas! :)

   In class, we started out with a story about Fido who was afraid to swim in the ocean. Each of us was to build upon this story which has us, the students using the Creativity and Innovation NETS-S standard. We all demonstrated creative thinking (since Fido turned out to be a beautiful parakeet), construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Unfortunately for Fido, he sang too much while he swam and lost his family to alligators.

   Read the short story developed by our class using Google Group class discussion at http://groups.google.com/group/it-365-discussion-group-/web/krj-page?version=27.

:)

Reflection on Web Pages

   
    Developing web pages for the classroom helps out not only teachers, but also the students. They help out teachers by giving them a virtual place to put information and programs or links that helps advance student learning. Web pages are fun to build and exciting for students to explore.

   On the web page I developed for a fictitious science class, I was able to find content to place on the web pages with no problem. I was able to find free pictures to decorate the pages, and found free science games my students can click on and learn more about science. The web page itself was free as well, so the only thing a teacher has to spend is time and effort.

   Using web pages in the classroom helps out students by supporting the NETS-S Creativity and Innovation standard where students use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. The simulations would be the games placed on the web page, and the complex systems are the materials learned. They would also demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations under the Technology Operations and Concepts standard.

   Web pages are great for helping the teachers organize their work. This can be easily done when designing the web page. A hierarchy or level of importance can be established, putting the most important information at the top of the page so it can be easily found. Tables can be created to control the layout of the page and makes the page look more attractive. Another way web pages can help organize is to develop different pages that will break down the different areas. For example, on my web page, I have three different pages with related content on them. One page is for the parents, to outline the classroom rules and to show them some of the areas of science that can be looked at through games. I have another page that gives a little more information about me, and the last page outlines my lessons for the week. 

:)

Reflection on Plagiarism

  Plagiarism is a huge problem growing as technology grows. With knowledge accessible at the click of a mouse on the vast web, more and more authors fall victim to someone who uses their works without the proper citation. If students look hard enough, they may even be able to find websites that sells completed essays. What are teachers to do?

  Breaking ethics, which isn't the goal of the majority of students, is done when the student doesn't know how to correctly cite the sources or when the student ran out of time to correctly write their own works. The American Psychological Association (APA) manual is an excellent source to help avoid plagiarism. Another resource that helps out greatly is www.citationmachine.net. This website will correctly cite your resources for you in most popular formats (MLA, APA, and others). All you have to do is enter the information you have about your source, and it will put it into proper format. You then copy and paste the format into your paper. Nice!

  Another tool both students and teachers can use is www.turnitin.com. This is a website where you can submit your paper and it will check vast databases to see how much of the paper is plagiarized. This helps the teacher by reducing his or her time checking papers and their authenticity. It helps students to understand what public domain is and what is considered someone else's works.

 
   This directly supports the NETS-T standard of "Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility". It helps teachers support:

      a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. 

      c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

:)

Web Tools Reflection

  Today’s technology is everywhere—cell phones, IPods, and computers to name a few. Technology is used from hospitals to traffic lights, so introducing and using web tools in the classroom as an introduction to technology is the smart and logical way to go.

  Most students are already exposed to technology at home from the Sony Play Station to Game Boys, to the games played on the home computer. So when they come to school, they already know how to play games and navigate a computer or some sort of game system. So why not incorporate this knowledge while teaching new material? There are many web sites offering free games geared towards learning. Using these web tools to supplement material already taught keeps students motivated and may even take the place of doing worksheets as homework.

  Using technology in the classroom in this way will support the NETS-S standard of Creativity and Innovation, where students will apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products or processes while playing technology based learning games. Under this same standard, they will use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. They will also use the NETS-S Technology Operations and Concepts standard when they understand and use technology systems as well as transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies. 

  Using web tools as a teacher helps me organize my work. There are countless programs to choose from. Database programs allows for recording, organizing and managing information in related categories, and to retrieve, manipulate, and display this information in various forms. Some examples are MS Access and FileMaker Pro. 

 I guess the most difficult part of working with web tools was trying to learn how to maneuver through the different options and settings of different programs. It takes some time to be able to go through everything to see what they do. Every program is different, so trying to remember which program had which button to do certain things was definitely a challenge. 

:)

Movie Project Reflection

  Movie Maker is a great tool to use for assignments for my students in science class. I would have my science students use the Movie Maker to make a video documentary of their progress of their science fair projects. I would ask them to take pictures of the different stages of their group science projects as they complete experiments, do research, and putting the project board together. This would be fun and would enable them to share their science fair ideas with other classes in the school and possibly even with classrooms throughout the country.

   Using Movie Maker in this way would spark other student ideas and could possibly find better ways to do their projects and find data. It may also renew student interest back into science.

   This would fall into the NETS•S standards 1 and 2, creating "original works as a means of personal or group expression" and using "digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively” as well as “communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.” 

   I really enjoyed making a movie using my friend's paintings. I just can't wait to show her the movie! I am sure she will just love it and maybe possibly use it to further her follower base.


:)
 

Attack of the widgets!!!

The widgets I had on my page were not allowing users to read my page. So I created a new page and found out that it was the widgets that were diverting everyone to spam pages. So sorry. So here is my fixed page, minus the offending widget. (And it was a nice one, too!!!) Hackers, just make more work for everyone. Hackers, I hope you are proud of yourselves! have a cookie!

We did all kinds of neat stuff in class last week! We created quizes using software found online. We also made a rubrics and that was neat making it our own by putting in our own standards for what we are looking for in graded projects. Here is part of mine!

As soon as I get more of my web page done that we are creating in class, I will post that here as well! Have a great day!

Concept Map Update

I think this one looks happier and more inviting than the original one from before.

Have a great day!!

Zippy's Concept Maps

   I had fun developing my concept map. The hard part for me was to figure out what I was going to 'teach'. Once I decided upon fiber optics, the rest came really easy. I had fun with the colors, finding pictures to adorn my map, and, of course, thinking of the activities for the students. 

     This one was a bit more challenging since I had to think of the placement of everything and the relationships to connect them. Still had fun with it, and it didn't take long at all. Best of all, it is a great tool to help teach!!

Reflections on Chapter 1

1. The role that national technology standard plays in the successful integration of technology is that it sets performance standards that should be mastered by students and should be used by teachers as guidelines to structure technology training at each grade level within schools. Studies have shown that students perform better and have achieved higher scores using technology; therefore, emphasis on it is in the classrooms at all grade levels.

2. The first step to managing the classroom during technology integration is for the teacher to get acquainted with, to learn and to be comfortable with the technology and the process that is being implemented. Other management considerations for technology integration are the management of equipment access and layout, managing time, and managing student behavior.

Under equipment access and layout, teachers need to take a technology inventory to help out with plans on the best ways to use technology with a limited number of computers, if needed. The layout should be considered so students have ample space for project work. The computers need to be arranged away from main traffic flow, close to electrical outlets and away from the glare of sunlight.

Managing time is very important since student have limited time to use computers. To help manage time on the computers, the students should clearly understand the expectations of the assignment and that planning for projects can be accomplished before going to the computer.
Managing student behavior takes into account environments that can produce opportunities for students to become distracted from the original task.  Expectations and penalties should be very clear to students and parents when working with technology in the classroom. Avoid situations when students have to wait/stand in line for an empty computer, as this may lead students to start talking in line and disrupting other students.

3. Learning outcomes are the goals of the objectives and what the students should know or be able to do by the end of the objective. Assessments are what the teacher can do during the instructional unit so they can make adjustments to the instruction and ultimately improve student learning so they can meet the objective. Assessments are done through observation, class discussion, quizzes and tests.

4.   Special learners are students who may need special accommodations in learning. For instance, translation support if they have difficulty reading in English. Some special learners may have visual impairments, may have difficulty reading, or may be deaf. Some students may have a difficulty with written expression or they have cognitive delays. 

So that's my homework! Hope I did ok on it, if not, have a smile on me! :)

Me and my job

   I teach a variety of classes for the Air Force's new course, Cyber Transport. The one I am currently teaching is Network Addressing, and I am having a blast!

   Network addressing deals with working in binary, which isn't hard in itself, but when we add in the rules of addressing, it can get a little hairy.
   What I absolutely love about teaching addressing is when I teach the concepts to a student, and when that concept finally clicks, you can see the light bulb turning on! And that light bulb doesn't just turn on--it flashes and burns brightly in their eyes! That is what makes my day!
   I also teach the basics of fiber optic communications. This in itself is an interesting and fun topic. We teach the basics of light and how we can send information on it.

   I recently bought a kit that will illustrate to the students a working fiber communications transmitter and receiver. The neat thing about this kit is that I get to put it together! So that's my goal this weekend--to finish soldering my kit together so I can take it to class and have the students actually see a working fiber communications set up.
   Am I having too much fun with my job? YES!!! But who says you shouldn't enjoy what you do at work? I know that because I enjoy what I do, my students benefit from it, and that makes all the difference to me. :)

Greetings from Sunny's Place!

Hi! Welcome to Sunny's place! This is a place where I am going to share my thoughts and musings with you. This is part of my college project, to keep a blog, so you may see lots of interesting things here.

I work full time teaching in Biloxi, MS, and I am taking night school at the University of Southern Mississippi.

I hope you enjoy my page. I hope at least something brings a smile to you! :)