Something Old, Microsoft Word
In my time as a student, I've used Microsoft Word more times than I can count. Most of my time with Word has been used to simply write essays and research papers, but I've utilized its other features as well. I've had projects in the past where I've had to create trifold pamphlets, so I'm thankful for Microsoft Word's brochure template. I've created a couple mock newsletters as well. In high school, I used Word quite a bit to create artistic and professional resumes. In my EDF1005 class I had to create a lesson plan for the first time, and I used Word for that as well. I'm only just now finding out that under the "miscellaneous" template tab, Word has a lesson plan template -- that would've been nice to find two semesters ago...
I've received many a document from teachers over the years that I assume were made with Microsoft Word. All of the newsletters I've been sent home with, all of the tests I've taken, and all of the instructional sheets I've been handed were created with Microsoft Word. As far as college professors' relationships with Word, all of the syllabi I've read so far have been neatly typed with Word. From .doc to .docx, I'd say Microsoft Word has always been an extension of myself in my educational career.
Something Borrowed, Copyright and Fair Use
So there's a lot of jargon involving this concept that I'm not really following. I think what it's saying is simply that if you are using copyrighted material within a closed classroom, you can't be penalized for using it without explicit permission from the creator.(?) As a student, I've always been taught that any time you're using a copyrighted photo or piece of text in your paper, powerpoint, etc., you must properly cite it. I've had the fear of plagiarism deeply instilled in me.
As I make my way into the teaching profession, I'm thinking I'll need to seek out some seminar where a person more well-versed in these concepts can explain it all to me so some men in suits don't break into my classroom to take me away to copyright infringement jail someday. Once I am familiar with all of these concepts I will do my best to translate it to my little digital natives so the develop a sense of good digital citizenship from an early age.
It was interesting looking at this topic from the standpoint of a teacher creating their own instructional materials because I feel like every teacher I've had has said "Excuse this typo, I didn't make this test" or "Don't worry about this slide, I wouldn't have put this information in here if I made this presentation myself" at one time or another.
Something New and Something Blue, Twitter
I think the hardest skill to learn when using Twitter is how to convey an idea in 140 characters or less. I love the concept of creating a network through Twitter where you can connect with teachers, parents, and students (depending on the age) at any time. The most exciting part of it is the practically limitless wealth of information you can gain from other educators and organizations! Just in the past week I've found and favorited many profiles and links that I might save forever so I can utilize those specific technologies and project ideas in my own classroom someday. I find that the most creative/innovative educators are the ones sharing their ideas on Twitter, and those are the educators I want to connect with. From my experience as a student, I can say that being able to communicate with a teacher via Twitter is super beneficial and makes students a lot more invested in the class. My AP Psychology teacher in high school had a course Twitter that he used to remind us of tests and assignment due dates. He would also post articles or TEDTalks that he thought we would find interesting. Sometimes students would even tweet him asking what he though their weird dreams might mean and he would interpret the dream as best he could. It was hilarious. He was a great teacher and I think his investment in communicating with his students was a really huge part of that.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Blog1 - Technology Standards in the Classroom
Computers in the Educational Experience
I think the #1 reason that computers are such an important part of classrooms nowadays is because they are an even more important part of the everyday lives of most people. Technology has become so accessible in recent years that it has become necessary for educational environments to follow its development. For example, the book references the fact that the "3Rs" (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are no longer sufficient for fostering a well-rounded education in the 21st century -- teachers must also incorporate the 4Cs of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity from the Partnership for 21st Century Learning. These are the broader reasons that technology is vital in the classroom, but there's a very individualistic side to its benefits as well. Creating a lesson that gets through to each student's own learning style is a struggle for educators. Children can be visual, verbal, or kinesthetic learners, so addressing just one of those styles in a lesson wouldn't be wholly effective, but addressing all three styles would take time that is simply not available in most cases. Utilizing the multitude of educational tools found online is an extremely beneficial way for students to get one-on-one time with material working at their own pace and in their own learning style.
Of course, there are concerns when it comes to integrating new technologies into classrooms. Funding is probably the most prevalent concerns that educators and administrators have -- how can we provide the proper amount of computers with up to date software? I believe that spending the money on school computers will be a money-saver in the long run. Having computers or tablets in the classroom can eliminate the need for physical textbooks (a cheaper and more environmentally conscious option). Having computers can also open up the possibility for performing science experiments that have many expensive materials, because the experiments can be performed virtually instead. Another issue for many educators, is the fact that they don't possess the skill set needed for fusing these new teaching styles with the traditional ones they've been used to for decades. Teaching the teachers is very important! Many workshops are at their disposal; those who may refuse to acquire these new skills will end up being replaced by technologically inclined teachers.
ISTE Standards
The ISTE Standard that resonates with me most is 2c under the Student Standards which reads, "Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures." I think it is so important to be culturally aware, and I think it's a great idea to start fostering that awareness in students at a young age. The internet is a great tool for this because facts, photos, videos, etc. about any country or city are at the tips of our fingers. The internet is truly a window to the world. The ability to communicate with people around the world via chat rooms or discussion board threads is an incredible way to get first hand accounts of what other cultures are like. Awareness of other cultures is the first step to understanding and acceptance.
I suppose that the ISTE Standard that I feel goes beyond my current skill set is number 5 in the Teacher Standards. The points listed in number 5 go beyond the walls of your classroom and seem a bit intimidating for someone who is not yet an experienced educator. I consider myself very comfortable with technology and am excited by the possibilities it brings to a classroom, but "contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession..."sounds like big shoes to fill.
Digital Natives
Someone that is considered a "digital native" has a natural comfort with technology because it has been around for most, if not all, of what they can remember of their lives. I think that this is an accurate term for describing today's youth. Having been born in 1995 and practically developing alongside the internet and modern communication/information technologies, I am a digital native and identify rather proudly with that term. I think technology is great! I'd say there is a glaring difference in the way and most of the teachers I've had use technology, mostly in speed and creativity. Because most of my teachers had already been well-versed in other teaching methods by the time technology came around, it was harder for them to adjust to integrating them into their lessons. A lot of my older teachers would navigate their computers at an almost painful pace. They weren't familiar with any hotkeys or used the "hunt and poke" one-finger method for typing (and even thought they had to include "http://www." in every web address they typed out). You could also see a clear difference in the level of creativity in a PowerPoint made a teacher and one made by a student. Teachers generally used the standard template and that was all, whereas students would change colors and fonts, add pictures, transitions, and even animations to different components of each slide. While I don't anticipate the gap in knowledge being quite as big between my future self and students, I'm sure there will be things they'll be more familiar with than I am. I think the gap will be closer though because my growing up with the evolution of technology has made my interested in each new step in the evolution so I think I will always keep up with what is new and I'll have the years of knowledge that will help me to quickly acquaint myself with new technologies.
I think the #1 reason that computers are such an important part of classrooms nowadays is because they are an even more important part of the everyday lives of most people. Technology has become so accessible in recent years that it has become necessary for educational environments to follow its development. For example, the book references the fact that the "3Rs" (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are no longer sufficient for fostering a well-rounded education in the 21st century -- teachers must also incorporate the 4Cs of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity from the Partnership for 21st Century Learning. These are the broader reasons that technology is vital in the classroom, but there's a very individualistic side to its benefits as well. Creating a lesson that gets through to each student's own learning style is a struggle for educators. Children can be visual, verbal, or kinesthetic learners, so addressing just one of those styles in a lesson wouldn't be wholly effective, but addressing all three styles would take time that is simply not available in most cases. Utilizing the multitude of educational tools found online is an extremely beneficial way for students to get one-on-one time with material working at their own pace and in their own learning style.
Of course, there are concerns when it comes to integrating new technologies into classrooms. Funding is probably the most prevalent concerns that educators and administrators have -- how can we provide the proper amount of computers with up to date software? I believe that spending the money on school computers will be a money-saver in the long run. Having computers or tablets in the classroom can eliminate the need for physical textbooks (a cheaper and more environmentally conscious option). Having computers can also open up the possibility for performing science experiments that have many expensive materials, because the experiments can be performed virtually instead. Another issue for many educators, is the fact that they don't possess the skill set needed for fusing these new teaching styles with the traditional ones they've been used to for decades. Teaching the teachers is very important! Many workshops are at their disposal; those who may refuse to acquire these new skills will end up being replaced by technologically inclined teachers.
ISTE Standards
The ISTE Standard that resonates with me most is 2c under the Student Standards which reads, "Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures." I think it is so important to be culturally aware, and I think it's a great idea to start fostering that awareness in students at a young age. The internet is a great tool for this because facts, photos, videos, etc. about any country or city are at the tips of our fingers. The internet is truly a window to the world. The ability to communicate with people around the world via chat rooms or discussion board threads is an incredible way to get first hand accounts of what other cultures are like. Awareness of other cultures is the first step to understanding and acceptance.
I suppose that the ISTE Standard that I feel goes beyond my current skill set is number 5 in the Teacher Standards. The points listed in number 5 go beyond the walls of your classroom and seem a bit intimidating for someone who is not yet an experienced educator. I consider myself very comfortable with technology and am excited by the possibilities it brings to a classroom, but "contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession..."sounds like big shoes to fill.
Digital Natives
Someone that is considered a "digital native" has a natural comfort with technology because it has been around for most, if not all, of what they can remember of their lives. I think that this is an accurate term for describing today's youth. Having been born in 1995 and practically developing alongside the internet and modern communication/information technologies, I am a digital native and identify rather proudly with that term. I think technology is great! I'd say there is a glaring difference in the way and most of the teachers I've had use technology, mostly in speed and creativity. Because most of my teachers had already been well-versed in other teaching methods by the time technology came around, it was harder for them to adjust to integrating them into their lessons. A lot of my older teachers would navigate their computers at an almost painful pace. They weren't familiar with any hotkeys or used the "hunt and poke" one-finger method for typing (and even thought they had to include "http://www." in every web address they typed out). You could also see a clear difference in the level of creativity in a PowerPoint made a teacher and one made by a student. Teachers generally used the standard template and that was all, whereas students would change colors and fonts, add pictures, transitions, and even animations to different components of each slide. While I don't anticipate the gap in knowledge being quite as big between my future self and students, I'm sure there will be things they'll be more familiar with than I am. I think the gap will be closer though because my growing up with the evolution of technology has made my interested in each new step in the evolution so I think I will always keep up with what is new and I'll have the years of knowledge that will help me to quickly acquaint myself with new technologies.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Blog0 - Introductory Post
Technology In My Life
First of all, I am an Apple girl through and through.I consider myself to have a pretty advanced grip on creative technology. I love both digital and film photography. I was in TV production for six years and while I was an anchor/reporter for some, I spent a lot of my time working behind the scenes. I have a good handle on how to use Photoshop, I spent countless hours in summer ITV workshops learning how to use Final Cut Pro, Motion, Photoshop, etc. After I quit TV production to do musical theatre, I didn't spend any time continuing to use FCP or Motion, but I've always kept Photoshop on my computer and thoroughly enjoy using it. Last semester I held the position of Creative Development in my service sorority, so I designed all of our tshirts for the semester which was a lot of fun. Of course other technologies are a part of my everyday life, as is the case for most millennials. I use Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook to keep up with friends far and near and with domestic/global current events. I've used Word and Powerpoint through all of my educational career, but I've never learned much about Excel or anything else in the Office world.
My Hopes For This Class
I do think that most of the topics in this class will be a bit of a breeze, but I'm excited for having assignments that are all pretty creative in how each of us will execute it. The whole atmosphere of the course seems like it will be enjoyable. I am interested to learn how to create a webpage because that's something I haven't really done before. I'm also looking forward to seeing how all of these technologies that I've become comfortable with using in my everyday and educational life will translate into my prospective career.
Learning Style
I was not surprised to see that I am much more of a visual leaner than verbal learner. I've always preferred working hands on and with graphics because they are much more digestible to me. I was sort of shocked to see that I was so in the middle of all of the other learning style spectrums.
First of all, I am an Apple girl through and through.I consider myself to have a pretty advanced grip on creative technology. I love both digital and film photography. I was in TV production for six years and while I was an anchor/reporter for some, I spent a lot of my time working behind the scenes. I have a good handle on how to use Photoshop, I spent countless hours in summer ITV workshops learning how to use Final Cut Pro, Motion, Photoshop, etc. After I quit TV production to do musical theatre, I didn't spend any time continuing to use FCP or Motion, but I've always kept Photoshop on my computer and thoroughly enjoy using it. Last semester I held the position of Creative Development in my service sorority, so I designed all of our tshirts for the semester which was a lot of fun. Of course other technologies are a part of my everyday life, as is the case for most millennials. I use Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook to keep up with friends far and near and with domestic/global current events. I've used Word and Powerpoint through all of my educational career, but I've never learned much about Excel or anything else in the Office world.
My Hopes For This Class
I do think that most of the topics in this class will be a bit of a breeze, but I'm excited for having assignments that are all pretty creative in how each of us will execute it. The whole atmosphere of the course seems like it will be enjoyable. I am interested to learn how to create a webpage because that's something I haven't really done before. I'm also looking forward to seeing how all of these technologies that I've become comfortable with using in my everyday and educational life will translate into my prospective career.
Learning Style
I was not surprised to see that I am much more of a visual leaner than verbal learner. I've always preferred working hands on and with graphics because they are much more digestible to me. I was sort of shocked to see that I was so in the middle of all of the other learning style spectrums.
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