Week 5

This week in EDCT 203 (1/31/12) we learned more about working collaboratively in Google docs. In class, we were allotted 10 minutes to write a story in Google docs with our group members. In order to get the full effect of the assignment, we were not allowed to verbally communicate with the others in our group. This was a very neat Google function to further explore as students and future educators. Our assignment for this week (week 5), is to create a Google survey (Google form) with 10 questions of at least 3 different types. This task is a different facet of Google docs that I was previously unaware of. Teaching my future students how to work on collaborate projects via Google docs will be very beneficial because students don't have to be in the same physical location in order to work together. Likewise, I can communicate with my students on their work outside of the classroom. Creating surveys through Google form will be equally beneficial as a future educator because I can create surveys to be completed by students or parents regarding course content that I am teaching etc. As a student, I utilized the following ISTE standards:Demonstrate creativity and innovation; Communicate and collaborate; Conduct research and use information; Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions; and Use technology effectively and productively. As a future educator, I utilized the following standards: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity,Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments, and Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. I'm glad we learned about these free Google services and look forward to the other technological applications we will be learning about and utilizing in the future.

Week 4

This week (1/24/12) in EDCT 203, we learned more about the WebQuest technological application. We discussed the different components/ building blocks necessary in order to design an effective WebQuest that will be effective and engaging for students. There are various ways in which I could use WebQuest in my Middle Childhood Language Arts class(es) through interesting and multi-sensory teaching approaches. I could apply this learning tool as supplementary reinforcement for any assignment or objective the students would be learning within my class. This would be ideally be used by the student after verbal instruction of the material, reinforcing what has already been taught. Like the previous weeks in EDCT 203, I met several of the ISTE standards within today's classroom instruction. As a student, I met the following standards: Demonstrate creativity and innovation, Communicate and collaborate, and Use technology effectively and productively. As a teacher, I met the following set standards: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning, and Inspiring Student Learning and Creativity. I enjoyed today's class period very much and look forward to the exciting things we will be learning this quarter in EDCT 203.

Week 3 Blog

We learned even more new and useful information today (1/17/2012) in EDCT 203. Today we learned to edit pictures, upload pictures, make movies, and add music and sound to our presentations through the Picasa 3 program. Much of this information is easy to understand and figure once it is explained and demonstrated. This program is a great resource that I had not heard of prior to this class. Today's information built upon what we have been learning and practicing throughout the course of the past three weeks in EDCT 203. I could use the Picasa program in my lessons as a future Language Arts teacher. Using this as an interactive approach would be helpful to students who have varying learning styles because it goes "outside the box." Everything we are learning supports a multi-sensory teaching approach, namely in the area of modern technological advances. Becoming familiar in this program helps me achieve several of the ISTE standards through lifelong learning, the ability to design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for students through the use of modern technology, and apply technology to increase productivity. I learned how to make student learning even more exciting and engaging for students through the use of the program, Picasa. The Picasa program is very beneficial to me as a future educator. There are so many ways to make learning even more fun and engaging for students through the use of technology within the classroom. I look forward to all the new and innovative things we will be learning about throughout the rest of the EDCT 203 course.

Week 2 Blog Entry

This week in class (1/10/12) I learned so much valuable information regarding PowerPoint presentations and how to do the most with this program . Before this class period, I did not know how to make PowerPoint interactive for students (through games), let alone that this is even a possibility through the application. I also learned how to and practiced adding Hyperlinks and sound to my PowerPoint presentation slides. I was able to get additional practice adding photos and shapes to my slides. As a future educator, utilizing the PowerPoint application will prove very useful within my classroom. These interactive games (on PowerPoint) and lectures etc. will aid me in taking a multi-sensory learning approach within the classroom. Utilizing technology (in this case PowerPoint) within the school setting provides additional stimulation-- through sounds, picture, and the student answering questions in a game/lesson form-- in student learning. The use of PowerPoint during class today allowed me to meet several ISTE standards such as: promoting, supporting, and modeling creative and innovate thinking and inventiveness; engaging students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources; designing or adapting relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity; and demonstrating fluency in technology systems and transfer or current knowledge to new technologies and situations, among many other ISTE standards. I enjoyed this week's class and look forward to learning about many more technological advances and capabilities throughout this quarter in EDCT 203.

EDCT week 1 blog

This week in EDCT 203:

This week (1/3/2012) in EDCT 203, I learned an overwhelming amount of new information regarding technology. As someone who is not very familiar with anything beyond the basics of the Internet, I am sure I will be aquiring a bounty of technological knowledge this quarter. This week, I learned how to create a blog (via Blogger), how to create a Wiki (via Wikispaces), how to add pictures to my blog, and how to create links on a blog. I am not sure that I can yet complete these tasks flawlessly, but I am learning and trying to do master these new tasks.

What we are learning will be very helpful in my Language Arts content area, because it will allow me to reach my students in new ways using various sensory approaches. There are numerous concepts that can be accomplished through the internet and implimented within my classroom. Because the up-and-coming generation is so knowledgeable and saturated in technology, educators must be able to adapt and accomodate to the learning styles of his/her students.

I met many of the ISTE Standards today as a student. I demonstrated creativity and innovation as I worked to design sample pages and upload pictures and videos to my Wiki page. As a class we communicated and calloborated together as we discussed technology in education as well as working together on our Wiki pages to ensure effectiveness and productivity on our pages. As a teacher, I engaged in professional growth by discovering Wiki and making an effort to be successful in creating my page. I began develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools as we worked together exploring and creating our own Wiki pages. I met many of the ISTE Standards on the first day of our EDCT 203 class meeting.

As a future educator, I am excited to learn more about technology within the classroom through this EDCT 203 course offering.