Chapter 5: Researching & Evaluating Internet Info.

Focus Question: What pieces of information do students need to know about Internet searching?

To start off, students should know that the most popular search engine in the world, known as Google, does not only search for webpages by keywords, but also by popularity and cross-listings with other sites. Although, Google is very well-established in today's generation, I do believe that there are more appropriate search engines that can increase accreditation in students work and also provide a more informative learning experience for students. 

Searching the Web involved one of three search strategies:
(1) Free-text
(2) keyword/exact match
(3) Boolean

I believe that it is crucial for students to be introduced to writing and researching at an early age. Some students in today's world reach high school without having the knowledge to adequately write a research paper and use accredited sources. I have come across research papers in college where at least one of there sources was Wikipedia. Now I don't really have anything against Wikipedia other than anyone being able to post anything about anything. Eventually the posts are reviewed and if found to be inappropriate or inaccurate  they will be removed.


Students need to be able to recognize an accredited site from one that is not. For example, I was taught at an early age to never use Wikipedia or Google as part of my resources, but that doesn't mean that they should be banned from being used. I, myself, use Google to direct me to pages that are relative to the subject I am researching. Most of the time, the results from Google's search engine will lead me to an accredited site and vuala!

There is also something called a Boolean search. Most search engines, such as Google, have an advanced search section. This means that it will allow the researcher to narrow down or broaden the search with a few key words such as "OR", "AND", and "NOT". This will make a world of a difference when searching for something on an enormous database, such as Google or Bing.

Tech Tool Link: Customize Your Web Browser With iGoogle


I personally like to customize websites that I use online. I have a Google account and every time I go online it automatically takes me to my homepage. You are conveniently shown everything that you have chosen to be on your homepage, whether it be the news, weather, fashion, the time in Japan, whatever you want, it's there.  This can be extremely helpful to be kept up-to-date on select topics. I could see myself using this as an attention grabber for my students; when they walk into the classroom they'll have something to read and look at. Sometimes, I might even add a video or an audio so it can be a little more interactive.

Summary & Conclusion:

When it comes down to it, students do as they are taught. If we (teachers and upcoming teachers) do not make it a priority to teach these students how to distinguish and navigate the world wide web, then they will continue to use these search engines instead of maybe using a peer reviewed article or even a book! And yes, using books is still an option when researching. Although, it might seem a bit Neanderthal, it is and will always will be the most educational source of information.


Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 

 

Chapter 4 - Integrating Technology and Creating Change

Focus Questions: How can teachers integrate technology into their work as educators?

•  Teacher can incorporate computer and other information  technologies into three major parts of their professional work:

                 1) Using classroom insructures 

                 2) Outside-the-classroom activities

                 3) Inside-the-classroom learning activities

• Computers and other new technologies can function in one of five possible formats for teachers:

                 1) Technology-based library
                 2) Technology-based workbook
                 3) Technology-based learning environments
                 4) Technology-based teaching tool
                 5) Technology-based office

 There are many ways that a teacher can incorporate technology into the classroom, no matter what subject they teach. After reading this chapter, I learned that some teachers are unwilling to change their lesson plan to integrate technology or sometimes they believe that there is no way to incorporate technology because of their subject. As a pro-technology person, I do believe that if teachers were to give technology a chance, they would realize how a students interest in the coursework will skyrocket. 

There are many outside-the-classroom activities that teachers themselves use technology to manage the administrative and professionals demand they face in schools. Some examples include using the internet browser to come up with new and exciting activities for the students or to manage their daily activities and keep track of their grade book. One of my favorite part was reading about inside-the-classroom activities. It seems to me that there are countless activities that could be incorporated into any lesson plan. There are research papers, projects, homework, etc. The possibilities to keep students up-to-date on technology are limitless.

Tech Tool Link:

After reading this middle school teachers blog (in the link above) I found her writing to be eye-opening. I feel that she has some brilliant ideas to keep her students constantly on the edge of their seats. I could imagine being a student in her classroom. She always has something unique and unpredictable to offer her students. All teachers should aspire to be as creative and motivated as she is with her students.

Summary & Conclusions:

Throughout this chapter, I was able to relate with the good and the bad. I could recall my time in school where I had teachers that would surpass my expectations in order to accommodate us and to keep us interested in the course. But I also had teachers that would never assess assignments that would allow us to use technology and keep a bland and boring routine. As a young students that was quite frustrating and I told myself that if I were ever to pursue a career in teaching I would always do my best to keep my students up-to-date and interested in my classroom, so here I am. The reason I am pursuing a teaching career is to try to make a difference in the lives of my students, no matter how small.

 Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 
 

Chapter 3 - Developing Lessons

 

Focus Questions: What is meant by "lesson development using technology"?

Lesson development refers to all the activities that teachers do as they create, teach, and evaluate lessons with students. Lesson development involves a teacher's decision about three interrelated elements of teaching lessons:

1) Academic content (what to teach)
2) Teaching goals, methods, and procedures (how to teach)
3) Learning assessments (how to know what students have learned)

Lesson development using technology involved how teachers use electronic resources to facilitate these procedures. 


 Tech Tool : 

I absolutely love this website! I made some entries into the search engine and had countless results. The results were full of activities that teachers could use in a classroom, lesson plans, experiments, etc. 
One of the neat things that I found is that it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to set up and lay out any experiments or activities. For example, I was interested in an activity for stem cell research and it explained every question I needed to ask, how to efficiently communicate the topic to the students, and how to summarize the activity. I find this to be an excellent tool when in need of an activity to tie things together towards the end of a lesson plan.


Summary and Conclusion: 

All in all I do believe that technology plays a big role in the making and integrating of lesson plans in the classroom. Teachers do have lesson plans that they have to make, standards that they have to meet and yet they find the time to make things exciting all thanks to the power of technology. Teachers have a tremendous amount of help using the internet to access lesson plans and also with assessing their students. Many teacher use programs online to assess their students with online quizzes and exams. I appreciate the fact that some teachers also allow the students to monitor their progress in the classroom online. I have always been a big fan of allowing students to monitor themselves and let them be aware of their academic standing. This chapter has opened my eyes to a lot of material that I did not know was incorporated into teachers daily lives.

 Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 




 
 


 

Chapter 2 - Transforming Learning

Focus Questions: In what ways does technology promote unique, powerful, and transformative learning for students?

The five kinds of unique, powerful, and transformative learning experiences include:
 1) Visual learning
2) Accessing and assessing information

3) Student engagement and collaboration

 4) Feedback
 5) Creativity.

When it comes to learning, many students find that visual presentations play a big role in their understanding. Any kind of visual presentations seem to enhance the understanding and tends to help the students grasp concepts. As a teacher, one of the most crucial things to ensure is that students can understand a concept and not just memorize.

Nowadays there are countless ways to access information but, the tricky part is validating the usefulness of that information. As professionals, we must learn to become the hand that guides the student to accessing and assessing information. Once the student has an understanding of what is a useful and reliable source, this will change their educational lives forever. Not only does it change the way they look for material, but it also alters the way they perceive daily bits of information, e.g. the news, social media, etc.

Tech Tool: Poetry 180

 


 I found this neat website to have some interesting use in a classroom of students. This could be used as a daily activity. For example, as the students walk into the room they are presented with a poem, the student will group into groups of three or four students and as a group they must decipher the poem. This will not only give the students a chance to collaborate with one another but, also to create opinions of their own.

Summary & Connection:

After reflecting on this chapter, I agree that there has been a positive impact brought on by technology in an educational environment. Many students are given a chance to shine with their unique creativities along with their individual personalities. Although, I do believe that there are some issues with incorporating technology into the daily routine of teaching. Some of those issues are valid ones, for instance, the abuse of technology by students. But those issues have been slowly diminishing as our school systems are becoming more aware of these issues and have been filtering what the students can and cannot do while on a computer in schools. All in all, there is no harm in incorporating technology with teaching and it should be high encouraged and even enforced to some extent. We should expose our future generations to as much of the new and upcoming technologies, no matter how corky they might seem.  

Resources: Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5