Words, Numbers or Both?

If anybody knows anything about teaching then they'd know that it's lots of paper work. But I've got news for you, yes you. If you are a teacher and are looking for a way to save some time and paper then this post is just for you. Have you ever heard of a Word Processor? If you haven't, that's ok. A Word Processor is a program or a machine that allows you to store, manipulate, and format text entered from a keyboard and provides a print out. If you're still confused then you shouldn't be, because I'm sure you've used word processing software and didn't even know it. If you're ever created a word document using Microsoft office word or maybe a spreadsheet document using Microsoft excel, then that means you've used a Word processor before.  

Now how exactly are those going to save paper? How about creating your lesson plans and saving them on your computer? That eliminates paper use completely and it promotes the use of technology. If you want some more free time and there are just too many grades to average you can use a spreadsheet to enter grades and have your computer average them for you. Everything you need right at your fingertips. 

I like providing examples for you to see, like the good teacher that I am, so you will find below an example of a grade log that you could use with your grades. I added some colour and only initial grades and had my computer average the grades for each student for me. It was that simple. 

Like I always say, "Nothing beats a try". So if you're unsure, just try it out as I'm sure this will be as helpful to you as it is to me.

Be ASSUREd!!

       I am sure that we can all agree that to successfully complete any task we all have to have a plan. With that said, I must share my experience with using the ASSURE Model Lesson Plan. If you've ever had to plan for classes, and if you're a teacher it means everyday, then this is just for you. The ASSURE model breaks lesson planning down into subsections that are easy to follow and with enough practice, this will become quite easy to do.

The acronym ASSURE stands for
A- analyse learners. Really think about who your students are and how they learn best.

S- state objectives. Say what the students will learn in particular lessons using the curriculum as a guide.

S- select media and materials. Based on your objectives, decide what materials are best suited for your              lesson and how you will get what you need to across effectively.

U- utilise media and materials. Whatever you would have identified in the previous step, make sure to use          effectively here(kinda like keeping tabs on yourself as you teach).

R- require learner participation. Thinking? Solving? Creating? Developing? Analysing? These are all the things that your students can do during a lesson. Get them involved in their learning!!

E- evaluate and revise. This step is very important as it allows you to see just where your students are and          how you will move forward with the class. Will you need to go over or can you move on?

6 Steps and your lesson is complete, It's as easy as ASSURE!!!

       A great way to make your lesson come alive is by making use of Windows movie maker. Before my course I had no clue or interest in using this tool and now, although not quite a professional, I think I can do a thing or two. Movie maker allows you to create itemised movies for your students for any lesson of your choice. Of course you won't be able to show a movie every lesson but once you get the hang of using the movie maker tool, you won't want to stop.

      Just so that you can see how simple it is, here's a video I made using movie maker (I'm so excited). I combined pictures of the parts of the flower that I wanted to highlight with a video I found on youtube which I further edited it to only the parts that I needed.

I'm no professional like I said before, but if I can do it, then you definitely can, so just get up, get creative and try it for yourself!!

Testing, Testing, Sound Test!!!!

Have you ever heard of the term Pod-cast? If you haven't or you were like me and heard it but never knew what it was then this post is just for you. A pod-cast is a type of media that is used to create audio files that are available for download via the internet. It can be considered downloadable radio and can be available at later time for listening at a more convenient time. The great part about podcasting is that it is amateur radio and anybody can to do it. That brings us to using pocasting in our classrooms.  

Podcasts are so beneficial and there are many uses in the classroom. Podcasting is useful for recording a teacher’s lesson or a student conversation. It can be used to create a homework assignment or even be part of a test. (Students in Tom's class would listen to and anlyze historical speeches and readings.) Students can use podcasts to interview each other about what they learned during the week. They can create a newscast, hold a debate, or run a radio show. Schools can use podcasts to make announcements via their Web site. Students could read their own essays or stories. Podcasts can also be used to record guest speakers and make their presentations available online.

I think that podcasting taps into the creativity of both the students and the teachers as it is a creative way of expression. As I explore the world of podcasting on my own, I hope that you will do the same and try it out in your own classrooms!!!

Blogging Away, while soaring through the clouds!!!

As the 5 week mark approached and then faded into the past, with it has come a whole new perspective of using technology in the classroom and even as an enhancer to daily life. I now have the title of blogger under my belt and am definitely proud of it. In week 5 as a class my colleagues and I explored the use of dropbox and Google drive as alternates to storage and word processing software.

The whole blogging experience for me is not one that is entirely new as I have used blogs before for publishing my poetry. The difference from my past experiences and this one is that I have the task of keeping you my readers up to date as I explore. This is helping me to keep track of the important stuff so that I am able to look back and easily see where I was and where I am going. It also makes me responsible for myself and the work I produce. I have also been given the task of working along with my colleagues and checking up on them and having them keep track of what I'm doing. The collaboration in my opinion helps us to get into the habit of using the blog and this in turn will give us an idea of what it will be like in our own classes at the end of this learning experience. I have included a sample of some comments made by colleagues just as an example of what can be done to facilitate student centred teaching and learning through support from classmates.

If you have never explored using dropbox as an office tool then this is your time to start. If you are wondering what dropbox is, then you are in luck. Dropbox is a storage device that allows access to all of the files that you save on your computer, android enabled device or even your smart phone. With its use, you no longer have to worry about your device crashing as you can access information stored in dropbox from any device with an internet connection. That is definitely something that anybody can use. Dropbox stores your important information in the clouds as it were and you no longer have to worry about losing anything ever again. Google drive on the the other hand allows you to create word documents, power point presentations and spreadsheets and all you need is a Google account and everything is available at your finger tips.

Now can you imagine my excitement at finding all this out? I am no longer constrained to just Microsoft office suite and I don't have to panic at the thought that any of my devices will crash. I GOT BACK UP!!!!
I continue to explore on my own and I have forged ahead with using both Google drive and dropbox. They have both made my journey in technology both easier and more dependable. All these aspects have tied nicely together and continue to help me in my blogging.

Well Done!

I had the chance to view your blog posts and I must say that they were very detailed  concerning your reflections on what you learnt in class. Also I recognized that you have already completed each task given by Mrs Roberts. Good Job!!  Sweetie your page design was simply adorable. However, I thought that your reflections were a little lengthy although details are good maybe you could try to summarize a bit so that your viewers are able to quickly browse through without spending to much time on one post. Overall good job quiet creative and interesting ideas and information.

My Contribution

Hola Lauricia,

I enjoyed viewing your blog. Great diagrams, topic use and insights .....well appreciated. Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to seeing more of your thoughts and experiences.

Zeleka

Exceptional

Really impressive blog. I really enjoyed looking at your information. Your outlines and reflections were well thought out. Just a bit wordy in some areas, but overall a splendid effort

Nuff Respect 

IWA B

The Ins and Outs

Week three has successfully ended and as is the norm in this class information flowed freely. It is so natural that it's barely even noticed how much information is delivered and received. We covered two aspects of the computer this week,  the hardware and the software devices.

As was discussed, hardware devices are all the components of the computer that we can see and touch. They are the physical parts of the computer. On the other hand software devices are those programs that help the hardware devices to complete tasks. Hardware and software must work together in order to have full and successful usage.
Neither hardware or software can be used on its own, they must work together to make the computer a device worth using, and it is definitely worth using.

As a side note, I must draw reference to the method of instruction used, it was awesome... My mind keeps wondering back to my own classroom and I get more excited at the possibilities that are yet to be explored. As an icebreaker we identified using sticky notes the hardware devices on the computers in the classroom and I proudly say that it was so much fun. I felt like such a kid at all the excitement that was happening that day. It just tells me more and more that technology in classes can help students to discover their own surroundings if we only give them the chance!!

Lights, Projector,Present!!!

If you haven't noticed already, my blog entries are entirely reflective on my classes. What can I say, it definitely helps to say the things you learn, it helps them to stick where they should. 

This weeks advice definitely would be "Don't be afraid to try the things you never have before". It is often quite daunting to be faced with a task and have no idea how to start, much more to get it completed. When that happens to you, don't be afraid to ask for help. 

Advances in technology happen everyday and that means that you will never stop learning something new. If you aren't quite sure about using a computer or making a presentation in your class don't be scared. Children love seeing things on a big screen, so this week I learned how to make a power point presentation and if you haven't done it already prepare a lesson just your own and create a power point presentation to teach it. The objective of this exercise is to see for yourself hands on that you can learn as you teach your students and the fact that technology does have a place in the modern classroom, in fact it MUST have one if we are going to effectively educate today's learner.

Every lesson won't mean you using a slide show, or making a presentation with a projector, but every lesson should use some form of media that will stimulate every child in your class. There are many learning styles represented in your own classroom and although it might be impossible to meet all of them at once, every student should be engaged throughout your entire lesson. Take the time out to figure out how your students learn and then find ways to teach them effectively. If what we've been doing all along isn't working then it means that we need to make changes.

Don't be afraid to try the things you never have before, you'd be surprised at the results that that you get!!

I need a "MAP"

Have you ever felt like you needed a map to get back on track, or at least a compass to be guided in the right direction? I have to admit that that is where I am or where I was for the first two days of what is my life for the next 2 years. I stand corrected, the correct terminology for that(what I'm feeling I mean) would be that I am in a temporary state of disequilibrium. My options are to assimilate or to adapt, and I have think I am doing a little bit of both.

The transition from being the person giving all the homework (TEACHER) to the person receiving the homework(STUDENT) is very different. I guess this is where I see how my students feel, when every teacher they meet gives them homework that is due next class. Putting that aside, I get to the root of the matter at hand, the reason this blog was created; TECHNOLOGY!!!

Educational technology is a wide field that may include many definitions. During my search the definition I found is suitable is; Educational technology can be considered as a collection of different research interests addressing fundamental issues of learning, teaching and social organization. Technology on its own can defined as the systematic application of scientific knowledge to practical tasks. Therefore, educational technology is based on theoretical knowledge drawn from different disciplines (communication, education, psychology, sociology, philosophy, artificial intelligence, computer science, etc.) plus experiential knowledge drawn from educational practice. It aims to improve education. Technology should facilitate the learning processes and increase performance of the educational system(s) as it regards to effectiveness and/or efficiency.

Teaching and learning can be so much fun and so easy if only we'd use the mediums that are available to us. There is a wealth of knowledge to be offered to eager minds who learn in different ways and all those styles and needs can be catered to if changes are made.

Take a look at the the technology map below and lets see if it makes sense, then you can take some time to see if this would work in your classroom...
                                                               
                                        Global Connections 
                                                      |
                                                Learning          Symbols  
                                                         \             /

                                Creativity <----Technology ----> Storing information 

                                                       /            \

                                                   Tool         Media/Medium

                                                                            |

                                                                  Manipulatives 

                                                               Resource Persons 

                                                                      Videos 

                                                                    Visual aids 

If you aren't quite sure what it's saying then here it is explained; 

1. Technology is or should be the main component 

2. Technology can be viewed as a tool for creativity which promotes learning with the use of symbols and is a wonderful storage option(no more walking around with piles and piles of notebooks)

3. Technology can be used with other mediums, therefore making the learning process so much easier.

Since we've been talking about learning and how the use of technology makes it easier to learn, it is a good idea to understand how students learn. I took a learning quiz that evaluated my learning styles and have included the link (http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire) to the website and my own results.  

Below is an example of a power point presentation that I created to use in a class. You can try creating your own and adapt it to the needs of your students.

                                  

If you haven't started as yet and you aren't quite sure how to start using technology in your classroom, we'll get into much later as I continue to make posts. In the mean time there has to be a youtube video for that. There's a youtube video for just about everything, think outside your norms and get Techno edified with me.

                                                                     

Hola, Ciao, Ni hao... Hello!!!!

In our ever changing world, technology and all things technological are the new norm. In my blog I will explore perspectives on educating today's child with the incorporation of technology in the classroom of educators today. Feel free to leave a comment and make suggestions on how things can be done, and we can collaborate and share ideas.

The ultimate idea here is using the technologies available to modernise our classrooms to make teaching and learning more effective. Don't be strangers and make sure you share a word or two!!