Journal #4

Focus Question- How can teachers evaluate and assess student's learning? 

      Teachers can use tests before, during and after a lesson to evaluate the knowledge of each individual students. Teachers tend to teach the way they were taught, many do not realize beside testing there are many other ways to evaluate what students gained from their lesson. Creative writing, conversations, and group work do not always come to mind as a way to assess the the information they learned.  Standardized tests are used from kindergarden to twelfth grade to test students, to confirm their understand the material in order to compare the score to other students. The scores are use to see if they are above, on or below grade level. While technology is use to accurately to measure the performance of each student, it is criticize that it leaves no room for the teacher to teach, but to teach-to-the-test-curriculum.

Tech tool-  Rubric 

Creating a rubric to fairly grade the work of every student in a class can be vey time consuming. It can also be an advantage to students and teacher, students get to know ahead of time what is required of them and it makes grading easier on the teacher. This website is very resourceful to educators no matter what the subject they are teaching. There are already made rubrics but you can also customize the rubric to how it apply to your assignments.

Summary and Personal Connection

     This chapter is about the technology that goes into designing, grading  and developing lesson plans as an educator. While technology can be an advantage it can also be a disadvantage in some cases. Teachers tend to get a little lazy when it comes to planning and creating test or assignments. In high school and even college, assignments were given to me and all I had to do was type in the first question in google and the answer was right there. In some cases you can even get the whole assignment and the answers. Technology can make teachers lazy and too dependent on it.

Resources

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

Journal Post #3

Focus Question- What is the meaning and importance of new digital literacies?

     To be skilled in accessing internet sites , encyclopedia, and even DVDs can open brand new doors to students and teachers and that also mean you are digital literate. The internet is full of useful information but there are also false informations out there. To simply log on to the web and come across information does not mean you are digital literate, you have to know if that site and sources are useful and relevant. When it comes to online information  you have to possess the ability to  locate, evaluate  and use information effectively . Digital literacy , media literacy  and visual literacy allows people to read and asses many type of information, even entertainment online .

Tech Tool Link- Granny 

    As the rest of the world become more digital literate we can't forget about the older population. When the kids go see grandma or grandma is baby sitting it shouldn't have to be a hassle for grandma or grandpa to help with homework. This video is showing an older couple who is willing to learn more about technology.

Summary and Personal Connection

This chapter is about how new technologies enable students to think critically and solve problems, develop  new digital literacies, communicate and collaborate electronically,  express themselves creatively and gain attributes to become a digital citizens.  Now a lot of institution offers classes to instruct everyone even the older generation basic technology skills. I work at Silverspot, a movie theater in Mercato. Most of their costumers are older people that are retired. It amazes them every time I explain to them they don't have to stand in a long line to get their tickets. They can either do it at a computer at home or if they have a smart phone, it could be done with it. I think even the older generation needs to be digital literate , it will allow them to connect with their children and grand children and be a more effective citizen in today's society. The term digital literate needs to apply to everyone.

Journal Post #2

What are the major issue, developments, and trends in the field of education technology?

        There are benefits to technology in the field of education but there is also  issues when it comes to technology. Lack of access , lack of time, lack of classroom equipment , lack of skills are just some, there are many more.  Teachers with 45 minutes blocks are less likely to integrate technology into the lesson plan. That makes it extremely difficult because most of the schools have blocks shorter than one hour. According to Henry Becker in the late 1990, Teachers with long block teaching schedules, that last 90 to 120 minutes are more likely  to use technology into classroom teaching... (Becker,2000; Becker Ravitz,1999,2001).

        Elementary schools have start a trend that I like extremely. They invest in many computer programs, these programs are used by the children. As one group meet with the teachers one on one, the other group use the computers to learn and work on similar lesson that the teacher is doing with the other group. One other trend that is developing in the educational field  that is very popular is the usage of videos to teach. Students spends hours watching YouTube videos , movies or TV, its only fair that some of those hours are spent watching something educational and can benefit them later on. Many developments are seen with technology today. Though many are skeptical about technology in the classroom, many are more than eager to see what can be done with the way these children learn when they do involve technology.

Tech Tool Link- Teaching Math

     In this Video we have a teacher that use the kids picture taking skills to teach them about slopes. I found it interesting because with a personal picture or a picture that a student take,
they will be more involve in the lesson.

Summary and Personal Connection

     This chapter focuses on the issues and trends that are seen when it comes to technology in the education field. They say you can't teach an old dogs new tricks but i believe that fact to be false. If teachers are willing to learn the skills to teach and incorporate technology into their classrooms . It would of been amazing to see how the schools would advance, and the progress it cause in education today. The teachers that are not willing to give technology a chance in the classroom, I believe they are selfish in a way. They are robbing their students of a better learning opportunity. They are more focus on doing what they know and how they know it without thinking of their students first.  I can personally vouch that if it was not for youtube videos I would of not pass algebra in high school. Even with this class, I wouldn't know how post videos or pictures on this blog,  if it weren't for the videos professor Colemama posted.

Resources

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

Journal Post #1

Focus Question-  How do new technologies create new opportunities for teaching and learning?


    New technologies allow teachers to meet students on the same playing field. It allows teacher to understand and learn better how their students learn. When teachers know their students connection to technology they in return are better equipped to teach their students. New technologies also create new approaches to teaching or add new ways to present information to students instead of just a boring lecture. Education is no longer pencil and paper oriented, tablets and laptops have been introduce in the classroom. New technologies also give students a head start in the work force with the skills they have and learn.

Tech Tool Link -How Stuff Works
 It's  a surprise to me that website is not much more popular than it is now. I like how it is not base only on one topic but it focuses on many categories from science to technology. Today It is very easy to find in a classroom students that spends hours at home watching you tube videos. If this were to be introduce to any classroom it would of been able to capture the students attentions very well. I also like the fact that they are not hour long videos.

Summary and Connection

     Technology is something that no matter what corner of the world you go you will find it. It is use in school and at home of every students in a very high percentages o. It is very important for the teachers to learn technology skills in order to teach this digital generation that is growing up.Though the use of technology is being introduce in the classrooms and students lives, that does not necessarily mean it is being introduce to all students. And that is something that can't simply brush aside. With the help of teachers and technology in the classroom, the only way these students can learn these skills is in the classroom. Growing up in a low income family I wouldn't even know what a computer is if it wasn't for school. That skill is  something that if I didn't possess in college, I wouldn't even have a chance of succeeding.

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

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